History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 104

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1672

USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II > Part 104

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When it is taken into consideration that the " Faraday " arrived twenty-four hours before she was expected, therefore before the plans of the committee could be perfected,-thus everything considered, the reception was a success. It was a pleasant time for the citizens of Rockport, and the visitors were lavish in their congratulations of the success of the enter- prise and the attention paid them.

It was arranged by those that had charge of laying the calle, to continue from Dover Bay to Rockport ·hireet ; thus when the shore end was laid, the circuit would be complete, and it would have consumed twenty - four hours more of time before she could have reached here. But when within two hundred and My miles of the cape, it was found necessary to cut tho caffe abd buoy Wand make directly for our shore And land the shore-end, then steam back and make the emneeti m.

DONATION OF A CLOCK, A clock was donated to the town by John G. Dennis in April, 1885,

At a special town meeting held by adjournment on the 18th day of April, 1885, the following resolu- tion was presented by N. F. S. York, Esq., chairman of the Board of Selectmen :

" Resolved, That we, citizens of Rockport, in Town- Meeting assem- bled, do hereby tender to our esteemed friend and fellow-citizen, John G. Dennis, Esq., our sincere thanks and grateful acknowledgments for the donation of the beautiful clock which he has made to his native town, and bas cuused to be placed upon the gallery of this hall."

The foregoing resolution was accepted and adopted by a unanimous and a rising vote. It was voted that this resolution he printed in the history of the town, which is now being written.

Mr. Dennis was our Representative to the General Court this year (1885). He was also president of the Granite Savings Bank.

He died June 29th, a little more than a month after the passage of this resolution, much respected and lamented. He was always interested in the welfare of his native town, and labored for its prosperity.

DECEASED PHYSICIANS .- The following are the physicians who have died in Rockport: Dr. John Manning died November 25, 1841, aged eighty years. His father was Dr. John Manning, of Ipswich, whose father was Dr. Joseph Manning, of the same town, both of whom lived to an advanced age. At the age of seventeen he joined the American army in Rhode Island as surgeon's mate. Afterwards he practiced four years in Chester, N. II., and removed thence to Gloucester Harbor, about 1786, where he lived about two years, when he moved to Sandy Bay,-his home for the rest of his life. His attention to pursuits out of his profession was given first to commerce, after- wards to agriculture. The ample estate he acquired came principally from his medical practice, in which he was distinguished for skill and success. Ile served six terms as Representative to the General Court. He was a man of considerable eccentricity of char .. cter, which did not forsake him even in his last hours. Ils wife was Miss Hannah Goodhue, of Ipswich ; her death occurred January 22, 1840, the first death in her household for forty-one years.

Four sons of Dr. Manning survived him,-Joseph B., John and Charles B., who graduated at Ilarvard College respectively in 1808, 1810 and 1819, and James. Joseph B. studied law, but never engaged in active practice. He died a bachelor in Ipswich, May 22, 1854, aged sixty-seven years. John commenced prac- tive as a physician in Waldoborough, Maine, in 1813, where he remained until 1842, when he removed to Rockport and practiced until his death, February 7, 1852, aged sixty-two years, leaving four sons, one of whom (William II.) was collector of customs m Glou- cester four years. Another (Joseph) is a practicing physician in Rockport (he has ason, Charles B., about entering the medical profession ; he surely has a long line of medical ancestry).

Charles B. was a physician in his native place and died there December 16, 1843, aged forty-four.

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ROCK PORT.

James, whose occupation was farming the most of his days, is yet living here, hale and hearty, at more than eighty years of age.

Another aged physician of the town, Dr. James Goss, died November 29, 1842, aged seventy-nine.

He was a native of Billerica, and settled in his pro- fession in Sandy Bay about 1792. Besides his medical practice, he was often employed in writing deeds and other instruments. In the early days of his settlement here he taught school in the old log school-house. By his various services he seeured the respect of society, and the reputation of a useful man. He was Representative to the General Court. In 1832, Dr. Goss was twice married, first, to Polly Jaquith, of Wilmington, and next to Hannah Smith, of Ipswich. There were two sons by his first wife,-Sylvester and George ; they became printers, married and settled away from home, and are long since dead. Eliza, the only child by his second wife, married William Cald- well, and are both dead. Their daughter Eliza has been one of our most efficient school-teachers for several years.

Edward E. Barden, M. D., died December 3, 1875, aged twenty-nine years and seven months. He was a son of Rev. Stillman and Sarah Barden, who minis- tered to the Universalist Society of this town several years, and was a young man of much promise.

His wife, Alfarata, daughter of Addison and Abigail Gott, died April 1, 1876. Their infant child died March 27, 1875 ; thus within a few days more than one year the entire family passed away.

On the 21st day of January, 1878, Benjamin Haskell, M.D., aged sixty-eight, died after an illness of a few days. He was born in Rockport, graduated at Amherst College in 1832, and was also a graduate of Bowdoin College, Maine, where he received his medical education. He spent nearly all his pro- fessional life in his native town. Ile was skillful and popular as a physician, and much respected as a citizen. In his later years, in addition to his profes- sional life, he was interested in agriculture and farm stock, from which he derived a great deal of pleasure. He left a widow, Jane Caleb, but no children.

Out of respect to his memory a public meeting of the citizens was held in the Town Hall the evening after his decease. A large audience was present. John W. Marshall was called to the chair. Calvin W. Pool was chosen secretary. Prayer was offered by Rev. C. C. McIntire. Dr. J. C. Sanborn paid a trib- ute to his professional character and his usefulness by an interesting and appropriate address, which was listened to with marked attention. His address was supplemented by appropriate remarks by several other of the long-time acquaintances of the deceased. A committee was chosen to draft resolutions, and another committee to make arrangements for the funeral, after which the meeting dissolved.

SEA-SERPENT .-- The sea-serpent has visited this coast several times in years past, and his appearance

has been witnessed by so many persons of undoubted veracity and quick discernment, that the existence of such a sea animal is placed beyond a doubt.

He last appeared here in August, 1886; he was seen and his movements were witnessed by abont forty persons, one of whom was Granville B. Put- nam, of the Franklin School, Boston. By his per- mission we publish his statement :

"On the afternoon of the 12th day of Angust, 1886, I heard the voice of Calvin W. Pool, town clerk of Rockport, at the door of my cottage at Pigeon Cove, saying, 'There is some strange thing in the water; I think it is the sea-serpent.' I qniekly took my station upon the rail of my piazza, so that my marine glass was about fifty feet above the water and but thirty-six feet from the shore. The creature was advancing in a northerly direction, and buf little more than one-eighth of a mile from me. I saw it approaching, passing and departing, and watched it most attentively for about ten minutes. Judging hy the apparent length of yachts whose dimensions I know, as they appear at that dis- tance, I estimated the length to have been not less than eighty feet

" The head short, and about the size of a nail-cask, while the middle of the body was larger than that of a large man ; the color was a dark brown, and it appeared to be somewhat mottled with a lighter shade. As the head was at no time raised above the water, I could not determine the color of the throat. The surface of the head and back was very smooth, and no one of the forty or more persons who saw it detected anything that looked like a fin or flipper. Its movement was not that of a land-serpent, but a vertical one, resembling that of the leech or the bloodsuckers of my boyhood. I could distinctly see perhaps fif een feet of the forward portion of his body, while back of that, the convolutions being greater the depressions were below the surface, so as to present ut series of ridges, some ten or fifteen in number at a time. The extreme of the tail was not visible. During the whole passage of a mile and a quarter, either the muzzle or cranium ent the water, so as to lead sev- eral to exclaim, 'His head is white !' This fart would remove the pos- sibility of its being anything floating with the tide The cutting of the water was by something at least a foot wide, and caused wakes on either side.

" From my elevated position I could plainly see the movements of the body between them, while the rear portion caused another wake be- hind. Its course was a direct one, and its speed uniform, and not more than five miles an hour. When it reached a point about half a mile north of us, the undulatory movement seemed to cease, and the body was for a moment extended along the surface. There was then an ap- parent gathering of the caudal extremity into ridges nearer together than those previously Heen, after which he disappeared. I judged that this latter movement was to aid in diving, but of course this is only con- jecture. On the 19th, a week later, the same creature, or one like it, appe .red north of us, going in an easterly direction, and, although per- laps half a mile away, it was distinctly seen by Rev. David Brewer, assistant pastor of Park Street, Boston, by his wife and servant, and by several others. My attention was not called in season to permit me to see anything of additional interest."

A BOMB-SHELL IN CHURCH .- On Sunday evening, November 1, 1861, there were in the Universalist Church an audience of about seventy persons listen- ing to an address on the slavery question, by Parker Pillsbury. While he was speaking some person threw a sort of bomb-shell through a window on the north side of the house ; it fell near Mr. Pillsbury's feet and exploded. The audience were greatly frightened and left the house, which was filled with smoke.

After the smoke cleared some few persons returned to the church, and Mr. Pillsbury resumed his lecture. There was no other disturbance.

This missile was made by wrapping a few pieces of coal and a quantity of powder in a cloth and securing it by a cord tightly drawn around it ; the whole satura- ted with spirits of turpentine. The whole thing was about six inches in diameter.

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Some four or five rows of pews nearest the pulpit were not occupied that evening. The why has not been known.

A considerable portion of the society were opposed to opening the house for such lectures.

DECEASED CLERGYMEN .- The clergymen that have officiated in and died in Sandy Bay or Rockport are as follows : Rev. Ebenezer Cleaveland, Congregation- alist, diedl July 4, 1805, aged eighty ; Lieentiate Capt. Benjamin Hale, Baptist, died June 10, 1818, aged forty-two; Rev. Levi B. Hathaway, Baptist, died August 1, 1823, aged thirty-three; Rev. Samuel Gil- bert, Baptist, died JJanuary 25, 1850; Rev. Elijah Mason, Methodist, died 1863; Rev. Stilman Barden, Universalist, August 7, 1865; Licentiate Capt. Levi Cleaves, Methodist, died June 16, 1865, aged fifty- eight years and nine months ; Rev. Samuel Roy, Methodist, died October 24, 1874; Rev. llenry C. Leonard, Universalist, died March 7, 1880, aged sixty-two years.

At the time of his death he was chairman of the School Committee, which position he had occupied several years; he was popular with the scholars, teachers and the people ; he in 1844 and '45 was pastor of the Universalist Church in this town ; at the time of his death he was pastor of the church at Annis- quam. He bad heen pastor of a church at Orono, Maine, Albany, N. Y., and at Philadelphia. Ile also served as chaplain of a Maine Regimeut in the Civil War.

THE ROCKPORT REVIEW .- The Rockport Review, a newspaper, published every Saturday, was estab- lished here by 1I. C. Cheever in 1880. After a few years Mr. Cheever sold the whole printing and pub- lishing establishment to Joseph Lemon, who is both editor and publisher ; his business is on the increase and the Review is increasing in favor. We trust that it is an institution that has come to stay and prosper. Office on Bearskin Neck.

In 1872 the Rockport Gleaner, a monthly news- paper, was published by Levi Cleaves, of this town. It was printed at the office of the Cape Ann _Advertiser, and was distributed gratuitously, therefore depending upon advertisements for support. It has now ceased to be published after fifteen years of service.

V'OAL. The first anthracite coal brought to Sandy Bay was by the schooner " Franklin," Captain A. T. Doyle, 10 1832, a few lime-casks full from Boston.

The next was about eighty tons, by the schooner Stephen ('. Phillips," Captain John .1. Giles, from Philadelphia, in 1847. Nearly two years expired before it was all sold ; the price was eight dollars per ton. The demand gradually increased in those earlier years of its introduction until it became of general use. Now, in Iss7, some six thousand tons are ca led for to supply the annual demand.

February following he stored about four hundred tons. He continued the business a few years, then sold the property to C. Jerome Norwood, who has built two more houses and conducts the business suc- cessfully by his agent, Reuben Norwood.

John B. Hodgkins, a few years later than Manning, excavated a meadow and made an artificial pond and conducted the iee business a few years, then sold the entire premises to Anson Stimson. His sou Fred. E. enlarged the pond, erected another house, and is suc- ce-stul in the business.

There is now sold from twenty-five thousand to thirty thousand tons annually.

TELEGRAPH COMMUNICATION .- Telegraph wires were extended to this town in 1858. Henry Clark was appointed operator, and continued in that posi- tion twenty years; when he resigned G. Tucker Mar- geson was appointed, and is the present incumbent.

The first message over the wire from here was to Winthrop Thurston, at Montreal, January 22d.

Addison Gott, Esq., was much interested in this enterprise.

MUTUAL MARINE INSURANCE COMPANY .- A Mu- tual Marine Insurance Company was organized here in 1827, with thirty-six members, and for more than forty years it continued in successful operation ; it was finally dissolved, as by the terms of its organization and its manner of transaeting business (it not being incorporated) was rather in the line of a eopartner- ship, it was not considered prudent to continue busi- ness on that line.

LYCEUM .- In 1830 a lyceum was established in this village ; connected with it was a library. The fee for membership was one dollar. It was a useful institu- tion, and continued in successful operation quite a number of years. Many interesting leetures were given, meetings for debate were held and were quite well attended. The library was well patronized, but like many other good and useful institutions, it had its day and filled its place, acted well its part, and then joined the institutions of the past.

CALIFORNIA GOLD-FEVER .- When the California gold-fever broke out it affected the young men of this town, and in January, 1849, ten of them sailed for that place, ria Cape llorn. Several others soon followed. From January, 1849, to February, 1850, about fifty of our young men went from home to the Golden Gate. Several of them made California their permanent home. Since 1850 a number more have gone to the land of gold.

In October, 1850, George D). Hale, Esq., received from his son George, who was one of the first to leave home for California, a specimen of gold weighing ten ounces. Dr. John Manning also received a fine speci- men from his son Charles, who was early in the field.

Rockport, during these years since 1850, has been well represented on the Pacific Coast.

The ice busDress of this town was commenced by Jedes Manning, Esq. He built a house for its YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION,-Sometime storage in los2, and on the God and 24th days of during the year 1869 the Young Men's Christian As-

1405

ROCKPORT.

sociation, that had been organized and doing good work some twelve years, purchased the chapel that was built in 1855 for the Second Congregational- ist Church and Society.

It was dedicated to their use on Monday evening, November 16th. Calvin W. Pool gave an interesting history of the organization,-other exercises hy Revs. Otis Leonard and W. D. Bridge. Also remarks were made by Levi Cleaves, Z. A. Appleton, N. Burnham and others. This association seemed to have com- pleted its work and dissolved its organization a few years since.

ALMSHOUSE .- Previous to 1852 the town boarded out its paupers, but in that year they purchased about four acres of land and built an almshouse and barn at a cost of five thousand one hundred dollars. Sylvester Pierce was appointed superintendent. After a few years' service he resigned. Nehemiah Knowlton suc- ceeded him ; then William Knight-, Samuel N. Burt, Caleb R. Bray, Abraham Lurvey, the present incum- bent.

Whole number of inmates, February, 1887, was thirteen.

ROADS .- The road from Annisquam to Pigeon Cove was laid out and recorded by the selectmen October 21, 1707. It was continued through Pigeon Cove and over the Back Beach and Hale's Point to Pool's Bridge in or about 1716.

The road from the First Parish meeting- house, through the parting paths over Beaver Dam Brook, up the Great Hill and on by Richard Tarr's house to the brook, or Pool's Bridge, Sandy Bay, was laid out and recorded by the selectmen June 2, 1707.

The road from the head of Long Cove, over Cove Hill (Mt. Pleasant), by Peter Bennett's house to Salt Island, and to connect with the road from Witham's Corner and through the farms, was laid out and recorded by the selectmen in 1708. This was laid four rods wide.

We find no record of a road being laid out from Pool's Bridge, or brook, through Sandy Bay village to the head of Long Cove.

In the year 1847 a stock or land company purchased quite an extensive tract of land in the centre of the village, and laid out and built Broadway. Over this purchase they laid out lots on each side thereof and put them upon the market, with the injunetion that no building should be placed within ten feet of the line of the street. John W. Hadlock built the first house upon this street. It is now (1887) ocenpied by Wakefield Hodgkins as a residence and dry-goods store.

In the year 1852 the proprietors offered the street Broadway and all of the minor or by-way street priv- ileges to the town free of cost. The town accepted the proposition.

Gott Street was laid out by the selectmen in 1838.

Pleasant Street and a part of School Street was laid

out and opened for travel by Captain John Gutt, through his land, about the year 1836.

Prospect Street was laid out and opened for travel by Andrew Lane, over his land, about the same year.

A piece of road near Gallop's Folly was built in 1852, by order of the county commissioners, at a cost of five hundred and seventy dollars. Other improve- ments by the same order were made at a cost of four hundred and ten dollars.

Marshall Street was laid out and built in the year 1856, at a cost of four hundred and eighty-nine dol- lars, including land damage.

In 1857 Pleasant Street, from Marshall Street to the cemetery gate, was opened at a cost, including land damage, of six hundred and eighty-nine dollars.

In 1860 Broadway Avenue was built from High Street to Broadway, at a cost, including land damage, of $711.50.

Railroad Avenue, from Main to King Street, was laid out by the county commissioners in 1861, and was built in 1861-62. Including land damage, it cost $3834.18.

School Street, from Main to High, was laid out by the county commissioners about the year 1836.

Forest Street, from King to Granite Street, was laid out by the county commissioners and built by the town in 1874, at a cost, including land damage, of $1599.

The continuation of Summer Street to connect with Prospect Street was done in 1872; it cost $563.

Improvement of Granite Street from Ephraim Nick- erson's to Samuel Parker's house, as ordered by the county commissioners, cost $6725.

In the year 1870 the town expended in widening road at Folly Cove 8265.

And on widening Mt. Pleasant Street $404.

In 1871, expended in widening and improving road at Pigeon Cove, $604.

In 1872, improvements on School Street, from Main to Broadway, the town expended $631.

In 1874 Jewett Street was built at a cost, including land damage, of $893.25.

Parker Street was laid out by the county commis- sioners, and was built in the year 1881, at a cost of $3348.88.

Improvements on South Street, as ordered by the county commissioners, have cost about $2000.

TOWN CEMETERIES .- The town, in these later years, has purchased two tracts of land for cemetery purposes, one in each village, and has laid out lots therein for sale, as they may be called for by indi- viduals.

Beech Grove, in the South Village, contains about fifteen acres, and was purchased in 1856; it has cost, with the improvements therein made, $11,219.18. A large part of the lots have been sold, from which sale the town has realized $5459.78. This cemetery is well situated, and receives considerable attention fromi lot-owners and from the town.

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Locust Grove Cemetery, at the north part of the town (Folly Cove), contains about ten acres; it was purchased in small parts and in different years, viz., 1454, '64, '70. The whole cost, with the improve- ments, is $5340.43. The town has received from the sale of lots, $2252.59. A large number of good lots remain unsold. This ground is well located, and is well fitted for cemetery purposes, and is tolerably well cared for.

SECRET SOCIETIES .-- There is an institu'ion of Odd Fellows in town. Granite Lodge, No. 127, was organ- ized in May, 1848, with thirty members. Its object is to promote good morals and to watch over and pro- vide for their needy brethren. It has always been in a healthy condition ; has disbursed a large amount of money in relieving the wants of the brotherhood. It now has a membership of two hundred and twen- ty-eight. They own a neat and pleasant hall, situated on the corner of School Street and Broadway, well appointed for the use of the order.

Axhler Lodge of Free Masons was instituted here in the year 1852, with nine members from other lodges. Eben Blatchford, Esq., was the first Grand Master. Their motto is " Faith in God, a hope of Immortality ; Charity for needy members." It has disbursed a considerable amount of money to its needy mem- bers and is in good standing. It has a membership of about one hundred.

Bay Tent, No. 224, Independent Order of Rechabites, was instituted here March 11, 1847. October, 1849, it numbered one hundred members. Its object is to promote the cause of temperance and morality ; to watch over and provide for its members when sick or needy. It yet continues its organization, though with reduced numbers, on account of many of their mem- bers leaving this organization and connecting them- selves with the " Rechabite Temple of Honor." It is a good institution and has exerted a good influence.

Ofis W. Wallace Post, No. 106, G. . I. R., is in a healthy condition and doing a good work, although it is a time of peace.

The organization of the Sons of Veterans is com- posed of young men whose hearts are full of loyalty to the Old Flag.

TOWN OFFICERS AND REPRESENTATIVES TO THE

GENERAL COURT.

Selectmen of Gloucester from Sandy Bay before the Incorporation of Rockport.

1975. &.

1976. Same.

1777. Stephen Porl.

177% John Rowe.

180. Mark Pool.

1781. Samn.

1742 Ebenezer Cleaveland.

1860. John W. Mar-hull.

William Marebant. Addison Gott.

1811. Same. 1502. Joshna Tarr.

Austin W Stary. Walham IF Bradley, Jr.

1×14. Same.

1815. Same.

1791. Same.

1825. Winthrop Pool.

1792. Same.

1826. Aaron Gildings.

1793 Same.

1827. Same.

1794. Same.

1828. Same.

1795. Same.

1796 Ebenezer Pool, Jr.

1831. Same.

1707. Benjamin Turr.

1832. Same.

1798. James Goss. 1805. Jobn Manning.

1833. Same.

1806. Ebenezer Oakes.

1834. Same.

18 17. Caleh Norwood.

1835. Samic.

1809. Caleb Norwood, Jr.

1×36. Jobn W. Marshall.

1810. Francis Norwood.

1837. Same.

1812. Samme.

1838. Same.

1813. Ebenezer Oakes.

1839. James Haskell.

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History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 104

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed Publication date: 1888 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1672

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1672