History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 160

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 160

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His literary work since he resigned his professor- ship cannot receive here any adequate discussion. In amount it is very large. It is the matured fruitage of the industry of his whole previous life. It belongs to the best thinking of his time. Of the aggregate influence of his professional labors it is impossible as yet to take the measure. Of one of his lesser books, the circulation has reached 150,000 copies. His tem- perament, and the naturally disheartening effect of ill- health, led him to deplore the relinquishment of his chair as " the premature closing of a life's work." Really, however, his pastorate, his professorship and his hfe in retirement present to a juster estimate three periods of cumulative usefulness. llis latter days must be recognized as the most fruitful of all.

With the name of Andover is associated the fame of many eminent men. It has been the home of not a few of the first rank of able preachers and success- ful teachers. Among these Professor Phelps has taken his abiding-place in the history of the Ameri- can churches.

Dr. Phelps married, first (September, 1842), Eliza- beth, the eldest daughter of Professor Moses Stuart. She was the author of ten volumes for use in Sunday- schools, which have reached an aggregate sale of be- tween two and three hundred thousand copies. She died in Boston, November, 1852, at the outset of what promised to be a brilliant literary career.

Of this marriage were born : 1st. Elizabeth Stuart (August 31, 1844), who has become widely known as the author of "Gates Ajar" and twenty-six other works of fiction.

2d. Moses Stuart (March 16, 1849), who, after graduating at Yale College, 1869, served as tutor in that institution three years, and as Professor of Men- tal Philosophy in Middlebury College one year, and as professor of the same department in Smith College, Northampton, five years, till his death, in 1883.

3d. Lawrence (August 22, 1852), graduated at Middlebury College, 1876, and is now pastor of the C'on, egati mal Church at Gardner, Mass.

Protosor Phelps married again, April, 1855. Mary, me Dord d wwhter of Professor Stuart. She died

le mari olacağı, Ju . 1558, Mary A., the young- - dal ab rh Suetel John on. Esq., of Boston. Of then att or have le a loro, Ist. Francis Johnson, De 1 - 7. 13.0 20 20 Elward, April 18, 1863, hoch soulless Hely finished their studies at

Of Dr. Phelps' published discourses the following deserve special mention, viz. : A Sermon before the Pastoral Association of Massachusetts, in 1851; A Sermon before the General Association of Massa- chusetts, in 1853; A Sermon before the Conven- tion of Congregational Ministers of Massachusetts, in 1859; An Election Sermon before the Govern- ment of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in 1861; and several addresses before Collegiate and Theological Societies, 1848 to 1868.

Ilis published volumes are the following, viz. :

1. " The Still Hour," a work on prayer, which has been republished in England, Scotland, and translated into the German, the French, the Dutch and the Italian languages.

2. "The New Birth," atreatise ou regeneration, also republished in Europe.

3. "Studies of the Old Testament," a collection of sermons on events aud characters in the Old Testament.

4. " Sabbathı Hours," a small volume of religious essays.

5. " The Solitude of Christ," meditations suggested by the sacrament of the Lord's Supper.

6. "The Sabbath Hymn Book," "The Sabbath Hymn and Tune Book," ' The Sabbath Tune Book," "The Sabbath School Hymn and Tune Book," a series designed for public worship, constructed jointly with Rev. E. A. Park, D.D., and Dr. Lowell Mason. Baptist editions of the same revised by Rev. Francis Wayland, D.D. Sale about 200,000 copies.

7. " llymins and Choirs," essays on Hymnology, constructed jointly with Rev. E. A. Park, D.D , and Rev. Daniel Farber, D.D., of Newton, Mass.

8. " The Theory of Preaching," a series of lectures on Homiletics, de- livered in Andover Theological Seminary.

9. " Men and Books," a second series of lectures on homiletics.

10. "English Style in Public Discourse, with special reference to the dialect of the Pulpit, " a third series of homiletic lectures.

11. " My Portfolio," a memorial of his father and other essays on topics of current interest.

12. " My Study," a memorial of the founders of Ando ver Theological Seminary and other essays on topics of current interest.

13. He has now in preparation a volume entitled " My Note Book ; or, Fragmentary Studies in Theology."

EDWARDS A. PARK, D.D., LL.D., Professor Emeri- tus of Andover Theological Seminary.

[The following sketch has been compiled from sev- eral bibliographical narratives-particularly from the new "American Cyclopedia," "Allibone's Dictionary of Authors " and the supplement to the "Schaff-HIer- zog Encyclopedia."]

Edwards A. Park, D.D., LL.D., was born in Providence, R. I., December 29, 1808. lle is de- scended on the paternal side from Richard Park, one of the original settlers of Newton, Mass. (see Jack- son's " History of Newton "), and on the maternal side from Robert Ware, one of the original settlers of Dedham, Mass. (see the "Genealogy " of the Ware family). His father was Rev. Calvin Park, D. D. formerly professor in Brown University, afterward Congregational pastor in Stoughton, Mass. Ilis mother was Abigail Ware, daughter of Capt. Na- thaniel Ware, of Wrentham (which was formerly part of Dedham, Mass.). The subject of this sketch was graduated at Brown University, 1826; at Ando- ver Theological Seminary, in 1831 ; pastor at Brain-

1 By Rev. Daniel L. Furber, Newton Centre, Mass.

Eduardo a. Park.

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ANDOVER.

tree, Mass., 1831-33; Professor of Mental and Moral Philosophy at Amherst College, 1835-36; Professor of Saered Rhetoric at Andover Theological Seminary, 1836-47; Professor of Christian Theology at Ando- ver, 1847-81. He held a professorship at Andover forty-five years, and has had some connection with the seminary nearly fifty-five years. In the years 1852-62 he devoted much time and labor to the plan of enlarging the endowments of the seminary, of creating new professorships, erecting new build- ings, improving the accommodations of the library, etc., etc.

During the years 1842-43 he spent sixteen months in Switzerland, and at the Universities of Berlin and Halle, in Germany; during 1862-63 he spent the larger part of sixteen months at Hanover and at the Universities of Marburg, Berlin and Halle, in Germany; during 1869-70 he spent about sixteen months in Great Britain, Italy, Egypt, Palestine aud Greece.

He began to write for the secular newspapers in 1826, and for the religious periodicals in 1828. Since that time he has written for the American Quarterly Reg- ister, the Spirit of the Pilgrims, American Quarterly Observer, American Biblical Repository, the Congrega- tional Quarterly, the Christian Review, the Bibliotheca Sacra, and for various cyclopædias, theological and ecclesiastical dictionaries or histories.

He has published sixteen or seventeen separate pamphlets ; one, a Sermon at the Funeral of Rev. Charles B. Storrs, President of Western Reserve Col- lege (Boston, 1833); one, a Sermon at the Funeral of Prof. Moses Stuart; one, a Sermon commemorative of Prof. B. B. Edwards; one, an Essay commemorative of Rev. Joseph S. Clark, D.D .; one, a Sermon at the Funeral of Rev. Richard S. Storrs, D. D., of Braintree ; one, a Sermon at the Funeral of Rev. Samuel C. Jack- son, D.D. ot Andover ; one a Discourse commemorative of Dr. Leonard Woods, president of Bowdoin College. Besides these biographical essays he has published four lengthened biographies,-one of Rev. William Bradford Homer, pp. 136, 12mo., first edition 1842, second edition 1848, with an introductory essay of forty-nine pages ; one, of Prof. B. B. Edwards, D.D., pp. 370, 12mo., 1853; one, of Rev. Samuel Hopkins, D.D., pp. 264, 8vo., 1854; one, of Rev. Nathanael Emmons, D.D., pp. 468, 8vo., 1861.

Some of his pamphlets have been repeatedly republished-as his sermon preached before the Legislature of Massachusetts in 1851, on the "Indebt- edness of the State to the Clergy." Some have started some controversy. One of these was his. ' Dudleian Lecture," delivered at Harvard College in 1845, on the "Intellectual and Moral Influence of Romanism," pp. 37, 8vo. This was controverted in an elaborate review by Dr. Orestes A. Brownson, who had then recently joined the Catholic communion. The sermon delivered in 1850 before the convention of Congregational ministers of Massachusetts, on the

"Theology of the Intellect and that of the Feelings," pp. 36, 8vo., called forth various replies. One of them was an essay published by Rev. Dr. Charles Hodge, of Princeton, New Jersey, and was soon followed by two essays from the same writer on the same theme. To these three essays Professor Park responded in three separate pamphlets, all of them originally pub- lished in the Bibliotheca Sera, as Professor Hodge's criticisms were first published in the Princeton Bib- lical Repository.

A large part of his work has been editorial. In connection with Prof. B. B. Edwards, in 1839, he edited and translated an octavo volume of 472 pages, entitled "Selections from German Literature." In 1842 he edited the writings, to which he prefixed his memoir, of Rev. William Bradford Homer. In 1845 he edited the "Preacher and Pastor," a collection of treatises on homileties and the pastoral care, to which he prefixed an introductory essay of thirty-six pages. In 1859 he edited a collection of "Discourses and Treatises on the Atonement," to which he prefixed an introductory essay of eighty pages. Ile has also written introductory essays for several other volumes not edited by him. The last two of these essays are one of twenty-seven pages, prefixed to the volume on the " Life and Education of Laura Bridgman," the deaf, dumb and blind pupil of Dr. S. G. Howe; and one essay of about the same length, prefixed to the "Autobiography of Rev. W. G. Schautfler, D.D." In connection with Professor Austin Phelps, D.D., and Dr. Lowell Mason, he compiled and edited the "Sab- bath llymn Book." Between the years 1859 and 1866, with the appendages of tunes for congregational worship, it reached a circulation of about 120,000. In relation to this hymn-book, he, with Drs. Austin Phelps and Daniel L. Furber, published a volume entitled " Ilymns and Choirs." Of this work an essay of sixty-one pages, on the "Text of Hymns," was written by Prof. Park. In 1844 Prof. Edwards and Prof. Park established the Bibliotheca Sacra on its new plan. Prof. Edwards was editor-in-chief from 1844 till 1851. Prof. Park was editor-in-chief from 1851 till 1884. Having been engaged forty years in the editorship of the work, and in the preparation of its forty volumes for the press, he has continued to interest himself in the work since it was removed from Andover to Oberlin. In 1883 he published a pamphlet containing ninety-eight pages, on the " As- sociate Creed of Andover Theological Seminary." His last publication was "Discourses on some Theo- logical Doctrines as related to Religious t'haracter," 1883, pp. 398, Svo.

For more than thirty years he has been president of the board of trustees of Abbot Academy at Ando- ver ; by the the will of the founder he was appointed one of the original trustces of Smith College at Northampton ; since 1863 he has been a member of the Board of Fellows of Brown University. Ile has been elected a member of the Victoria Institute in

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

England, and of several historical societies in the United States.

CHAPTER CXXXVIII.

ANDOVER-(Continued).

MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES.

AT quite an early period of its history the town hell out substantial encouragement for the establish- ment of manufacturing industries within its borders. In 1673, by vote of the town, there were "granted to Edward Whittington and Walter Wright, five aeres of land for encouragement of erecting a fulling-mill, which they promise to set about the next spring." In 1675 "liberty was granted a tanner that he shall be allowed by the town to make use of what bark is needful for his works in town, provided he fell no trees that are fit for building or mill-timber." In 1682 "liberty was granted to any man that the town or committee shall choose, to set up a saw-mill, full- ing mill and grist-miil upon Shawshin River, near Rogers Brook, to take up twenty acres of land adjoin- ing said place and to enjoy the same forever, with the privilege of a townsman."

In 1688 " it was voted that the twenty acres of land shall be improved by Joseph and John Ballard and their heirs, so long as they shall keep up a grist-mill, fulling-mill, &e. In the same year it was voted to encourage setting up iron-works."

In 1768 the town raised an influential committee " to consider of some measures that may tend to en- courage prudence and manufactures, and to lessen the use of superfluitics." This committee, in their report, among other valuable recommendations, to further which the inhabitants of the town should use their utmost endeavors, mention this, "to promote and encourage manufactures in the town."

In 1770, when taking action concerning the distress in the province growing out of the operation of the late act of Parliament, imposing duties on tea, paper, etc., the town votes to " encourage frugality, industry and the manufactures of this country." And again, in 1775, the town votes "to discountenance and dis- courage every species of extravagance and dissipa- tion," and "to encourage frugality, economy and industry, and to promote agriculture, ar's and manu- future." We thus find, continually, manufactures Associated with the economic and moral virtues, as things which are to be distinctly and specifically en- omuraged and promoted.

lo dh and John Ballart are mentioned as having received Frants of and, on the condition of building anl keepite up gist and fading mills, where is now BaHar IVale. Frye Villia takes its name from Sam'l Frye, who, in 1215, built a saw and grist-mill at that

place on the Shawshin River. A fulling-mill was added by a son of Mr. Frye.

Not far from the spot where the mills of Hon. Moses T. Stevens are now located in Marland Village, the Lovejoys had iron works. The business of these mills was necessarily on a small seale, and not always profit- able to the owner. While on the Shawshin River there were, first and last, quite a number of small mills established, employing a few operatives, not till 1775 was there any very extensive or important manufacturing enterprise established in the town.

In the winter of 1775-76 Mr. Phillips built a powder-mill on the Shawshin River, in what is now Marland Village. This mill, as has been previously mentioned, was erected to meet a pressing necessity of the Continental army, not as a business venture. It proved to be, however, not only of immediate service to the army and of immense importance to the country, but of large pecuniary profit to its owner. When it ceased to be a necessity to the army and country it was eontinned for a number of years as a strictly business enterprise; and this was not aban- doned till the year 1796. In October of that year an explosion took place, which killed two men and made havoc of the mill.

Some few years previous to this, the demand for powder having slackened, Mr. Phillips had introdue- ed the manufacture of paper, for this purpose using the powder-mill, when there were no orders for powder. In 1789 he erected a paper mill. The as- sociate of Mr. Phillips in this business was Mr. Thomas Houghton, an Englishman, a practical paper manufacturer, who, having met with reverses in his own country, came here to retrieve his for- tunes. Ile was a devont Quaker, persistent, hope- ful, energetic and well-trained to his business. By agreement, as Mr. Houghton states it, "Mr. Phillips builds the mill and I am to manage the work. My care and management is to stand against the Rent and we are to share profits equally." The "building occupied as a paper-mill," as described by Mr. Phillips, was " thirty-six by thirty-two feet, with two vats upon the ground floor, which have a Cast Iron pot in each of them,sunk into Brick chimneys, for heating the vats. The first floor has two engines for beating- stuff, a room for dressing rags, with a brick chimney and fire-place, also two other rooms for rags. The second floor is occupied for a Rag ware-house.

"Another building connected to the mill by a eov- ered passage way of 20 feet long, used for drying and keeping paper before finished, 20 by 24 feet, at the und next the mill; a part of the drying-house is taken off' for a finishing room, 27 by 24 feet, in which is a cast-iron stove used in the winter season. At one side of the finishing-room is a sizing copper, set with bricks and brick chimney. Another building, 35 feet from the mill, that is 24 feet by 20, for Rags and finished paper. Another building, 131 fect from the mill, 20 by 13 feet, for Rope and other lumber. No

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ANDOVER.

other building near on the same side of the river. A Grist Mill upon the opposite side of the river, at about 140 feet distance."

This may seem to us insignificant as compared with the more numerous and much more extensive build- ings and appurtenances of the mills owned by Mr. Stevens, now occupying the same site, but, in these days of beginnings in manufacturing, this was an ex- tensive plant and worthy of minute description. As a new enterprise, competing with others in the neigh- borhood of like character, with a scarcity of material · and with untrained workmen, its success at first was not up to the expectations of its projectors. In time, however, when experience had brought skill to the workmen, and the rag-bag material to the mill, and the market had enlarged, the business became profitable.

Mr. Houghton, after an experience that tested his faith and strength of character, emerged from his im- poverished condition to one of comparative ease. His son succeeded him. Colonel Samuel Phillips succeeded his father in the ownership. On the death of Colonel Phillips, in 1820, the property changed hands. Messrs. Amos and Abel Blanchard and Daniel Poor carried on the business. The financial results not proving satisfactory, the manufacture of paper was abandoned after a few years, and the property fell into the hands of Mr. Peter C. Brooks, and ultimately into the possession of the Marlaud Manufacturing Company.

This company came into existence through the perseverance, energy and ability of one man-Mr. Abraham Marland.

MR. MARLAND was born in Ashton Parish, Lan- cashire, England, February 22, 1772. His father, Jonathan Marland, was a millwright and afterwards a linen-weaver. Losing his mother at the early age of four years, he was taken into the family of a maternal uncle. For three years he enjoyed the privilege of attending a school where the younger children, of whom he was one, learned to read the New Testa- ment, and little else. At less than eight years of age he was put into the woolen-mill of his uncle, where, by practice for seven years, he learned the business of weaving. On the death of his unele, preferring to rely upon his own efforts for a living, rather than re- turn to the house of his father, who had married again, he entered the service of another woolen man- ufacturer, earning here three shillings a week above his board, and thinking himself quite well off at that.

It was while in this place that he sought and ob- tained confirmation in the Established Church of England, for which he ever after had a strong predi- lection and warm affection. He continued in the same employment for two years, acquiring a good knowledge of the business, and a reputation for fru- gality, ingenuity, persistency and application.

In 1790 he was chosen to take charge of carding and spinning in a new mill in Shrewsbury, at a sal-

ary of a guinea a week. His success was such that his compensation was soon raised. Ile continued here for two years, when, by some misfortune of the owners, the enterprise failed and was closed up. Not finding conge- nial employment in that vicinity, young Marland next went to London, seeking his fortune. Here for a time he found employment in a flannel-mill at low wages. Becoming restless, he was induced by certain allurements to enlist in the service of the East India Company. But while on shipboard, waiting the day of sailing, he became disgusted by his taste of subor- dination and the prospect before him. Unceremo- niously, without bidding good-bye to any one, on the night previous to the sailing of the ship, he slipped from her deck, boarded a small boat, landed on the wharf, and put a long distance between the vessel and himself before the morning dawned. After much waiting and destitution, he found employment in the ware-house of a firm of linen drapers and cotton man- ufacturers. He soon after went to Leeds, where he engaged in the manufacturing business, first as an employé, and afterwards on his own account with a partner, and then again as a manager of a manufac- tory owned by Mr. John Wood. Here Mr. Marland married, his wife bringing a dowry of two hundred pounds.

In 1801, investing his savings and the property of his wife in woolen cloths, he embarked for America with his family, landing in Boston September 17th.

It ought not to be passed over, in this connection, that the cloth Mr. Marland brought with him to this country was placed in the hands of a merchant in Bos- ton for sale. Before any returns were made, the mer- chant failed, and Mr. Marland lost nearly the whole of his venture, which represented his own savings and the dowry of his wife. This heavy loss, instead of depressing the new immigrants, only gave steadi- ness to their courage and vigor to their efforts. He is reported to have said that, on starting in this coun- try, he had but one hundred dollars in his pocket. The success of Mr. Marland has been attributed, in part, to his admirable wife. She was distinguished for her courage, industry, frugality, helpfulness, good management of family affairs and religious character. She gave aid and comfort to her husband under all circumstances, and was especially helpful in times of disaster or discouragement.

Soon after landing in Boston, Mr. Marland went to Beverly, and entered the employment of Colonel Burnham, a superintendent in cotton-spinning and in the manufacture and running of factory machinery. Ilis compensation, esteemed by him, at the time, large, was seven shillings a day. After two years he removed to Lynntiekl, where he engaged in the man- ufacture of wick-yarn on his own account ; to this was soon added custom carding of wool for the farmers. In all this business Mr. Marland succeeded beyond his expectations. As his business increased he was embarrassed for want of power, and, to remedy this

1616

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

want. removed to Andover in 1807. Here he at first established himself in Abbot Village, engaging in the manufacture of cotton, the yarn being spun in his factory and woven into cloth by hand, by women living in the neighborhood. This was a day of small things, demanding economy, industry and energy.

The business of manufacturing cotton being injuri- ous to his health, on account of the dust arising from it, Mr. Marland turned his attention to woolen manu- facturing-the employment of his youth.

In 1820 the mill privilege and property formerly belonging to Judge Phillips came into the possession of Mr. Peter (. Brooks, a wealthy merchant of Bos- ton.

Mr. Marland, desirous of enlarging his business, entered into negotiations with Mr. Brooks, which re- sulted in his leasing the property for a term of twenty years. By the terms of this lease Mr. Brooks was to erect a new brick mill and a large tenement block, and to receive nine per cent. on the entire property.

years. Mr. Frye was highly esteemed by his fellow- citizens and business associates for his courtesy, integ- rity and public spirit. For a time under his manage- ment the mills prospered, but, in a season of finan- ciał embarrassment, they suffered losses, were finan- cially crippled, and finally the company was obliged to sell out and wind up its affairs.

Ilon. Moses T. Stevens, of North Andover, became the purchaser of the property in 1879. Mr. Stevens, the son of one of the earliest manufacturers of the undivided town, himself an experienced, extensive and successful manufacturer of woolen goods, has re- ' paired and refurnished the old mills, built new ones and furnished them with the best styles of machinery, repaired the old tenement-houses and erected others, thus putting the whole property into first-class condi- tion. For the last eight years these mills have been in successful operation, the class of help employed has been improved, and the whole aspect of Marland Village has been greatly changed for the better.

After eight years the business had been so profita- ble, and was so well established and extended, that Mr. Marland was prepared to purchase the entire plant -buiklings, machinery, land and power. This he did for $22,000. The year after, he built a new mill, larger than the one standing, and at that time es- teemed a very large structure. MR. JOHN SMITH was born in Brecbin, Forfarshire, Scotland, May 19, 1796, an ancient city, noted not so much on account of the number of its inhabitants, or the extent of its commercial or manufacturing enter- prises as for its antiquity, and that it has been a cathedral town since 1150, when it was created an Episcopal See by David 1. then King of Scotland. John's father, whose The business still increased in profitableness as it increased in extent, and in 1834 Mr. Marland took his two eldest sons and Mr. Punchard, his son-in-law, into partnership, they forming a stock company and obtaining from the Legislature an act of incorporation as "The Marland Manufacturing Company." The elder of the two sons, John Marland, receiving a flattering offer, went to New Zealand the next year to purchase wool for a Boston company. On his return, the following year, he and name was Peter, was a carpenter by occupation. John was the second of five children. His father died in 1809, when he was a little over thirteen years old, leav- ing to his mother the support oftwo children younger than himself. The circumstances of his father were such that, from the age of nine years, John had been placed at work on a farm in the neighborhood of his home during the summer to assist in the support of the family, while during the winter he was permitted to remain at home and attend school. On the death his brother William withdrew their interest in the of his father he was apprenticed to learn the trade of

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History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 160

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