History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 20

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 20

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Mr. Peabody made this institution the depositary of the most cherished and valuable gifts which he had received in recognition of his munificent and remarkable charitable donations. When the buikl- ing was enlarged a large fire-proof safe was built with an ingenious arrangement of sliding ease, in which are displayed the most valuable of these gifts,-the portrait of Queen Victoria enamelled upon gold, hier own gift to him in recognition of his friendly gift for homes for the poor of London ; the gold box con- taining the freedom of the city of London and that given him by the Fishmongers' Company, one of the ancient Guilds of London, in recognition of his char- ities; the gold medal presented to him by Congress in commemoration of his gift to the Southern Edu- cation Fund, and that awarded at the Paris Exposi- tion for the work of that Fund. Valuable anto- graphs, including letters from the hand of Queen Victoria, and a collection of American autographs obtained by Mr. Peabody in London, illuminated memorials from various societies and portraits of great interest, form part of the treasures of the P'ea- body Institute in Peabody. A fine portrait of Mr. Penbody, his own gift, hangs in the hall. Other interesting portraits, including those of Rufus Choate, Edward Everett, General Foster and President Har- rison, have been presented to the Institute by its friends, several of them being the gifts of Elijah W. Upton.

The number of volumes in the Peabody Institute Library in February, 1887, was twenty -six thousand two hundred and twenty-five. It is estimated that the whole amount expended for books from year to

year up to the present time, including books bought by Mr. Peabody for the library, is upward of thirty- seven thousand dollars, making an exceedingly useful and well-selected library for practical use in a com- munity like that of Peabody.

THE EBEN DALE SUTTON REFERENCE LIBRARY. -In October, 1866, Mr. Peabody met the school chil- dren of the town in the Peabody Institute Hall; and in the afternoon the hall was filled by the adult pop- ulation, and the medal scholars of the Peabody IIigh School. It was announced by Mr. Peabody that he had a communication for them, which he should make "with a degree of pleasure and satisfaction which could only be equalled by that felt by his hearers," and then with a few happy words of introduction, he read the following letter from Mrs. Eliza Sutton, of South Danvers :

" SOUTH DANVERS, Oct. 15, 1866.

" To the Trustees of the Peabody Institute :

" GENTLEMEN-The rare advantages conferred on our community by the establishment of the Peabody Library are fully appreciated and gratefully acknowledged by all who have been privileged to enjoy them. Having had favorable opportunities for observing its beneficent results hitherto, I could hut cherish a deep interest in its continued prosperity and success. This interest has ripened into a feeling akin to personal affection, through recollection of the delight and improvement which its treasures afforded to my dearly beloved soo, bow deceased, Eben Dale Sutton.

" Asa memoria! of this departed sou, I have desired to make to the Institute some offering, which should permanently connect his name with this noble public benefaction.

" Having received from Mr. Peabody a kind and cordial approval of my plan, I propose to present for your acceptance, as Trustees of the Penbody Library, the sum of Twenty Thousand Dollars, for the further- ance of the objects had in view by its founder. In making this gift, it is my wish not to trespass upon the ground already so successfully occu- pied by the present library for circulation.

" I desire that it may be invested as a permanent fund, to he called the Eben Dale Sutton Fund, the income of which, as it acrrues, shall bs devoted exclusively to the establishment of a Reference Library ; that the books purchased for it shall be of enduring value, and such only as are desirable and indispensable for the use of scholars ; that they sball be kept together in some room of the Institute Building, especially as- signed for their accommodation, from which they shall never be losued or taken. It is not my purpose to attach any onerous conditions to this donation ; but at a future time, should my proffer be acceptable to you, I will express muore fully my wisbes and plans for its disposition snd. management.

" I shall place this gift in your hands, gentlemen, associated as it is with tender memories, with full assurance that it will be wisely admin- jstered, and will prove a lasting blessing to the present, and to future generations.

" Yours, respectfully,

" ELIZA SUTTON."

This letter was formally answered, and the gift ac- cepted, by the trustees on January 5, 1867, and the trustees indicated their intention to accede to the donor's views and wishes in accordance with any suggestion that she might wish to make as to the dis- position of the funds.

On January 28, 1867, Mrs. Sutton placed the fund in the hands of the Trustees, together with a com- munication in which she embodied some additional suggestions as to the plan of the Reference Library. The income, without any abatement, is to be " passed to the credit of the Lyceum and Library Committee

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of the Institute, and is to be wholly expended in the purchase of books of practical and enduring value, together with charts, maps, diagrams, models and such other helps to the acquisition of knowledge as are to be found in the best libraries established for the use of students and scholars; and in defraying such incidental expenses as may become necessary for the preservation and perpetuation of the books and apparatus constituting the library ; and for no other purpose." The books are to be substantially bound, and to be kept together in a room from which they are not to be loaned or taken. A seal is to be affixed to the inside of the cover of each volume, in- dicating the source of the fund. The committee are prohibited from accumulating more than one year's income at any time. The privilege of consultation of the collections is extended to "any desirous of prof- iting by their use," though the design is primarily and chiefly for the use and improvement of the townspeople.

The room assigned to this Reference Library in the enlarged building was richly and conveniently fur- nished by Mrs. Sutton, and a fine portrait of the son, in whose memory the gift was made, was placed on its walls. The room was thrown open to the public June 14, 1869. Besides the books purchased from the income of the fund, Mrs. Sutton has, from time to time, given to the library many rare and valuable volumes and collections, including fine sets of Au- dubon's " Birds of America," "The Description of Egypt," the famous work prepared at the direction of the First Napoleon, Kingsborough's " Antiquities of Mexico," and other important works.

On the opening of the library Mr. Fitch Poole, the librarian of the Peabody Library, was appointed superintendent, and Miss Mary J. Floyd, of Peabody, was chosen librarian. After the decease of Mr. Poole, in 1873, no other superintendent was appointed, but Miss Floyd continued to be the librarian until June, 1881. Miss S. E. Perkins acted as librarian until November, 1882, when Miss Augusta F. Daniels, the present librarian, assumed the duties of the office.

Since the foundation of the Ebeu Dale Sutton Reference Library, about twelve thousand dollars has been expended upon books, besides the books given to the library by Mrs. Sutton and others. Fine sets of the Greek and Latin Classics and other useful books are on the shelves ; there are rare and beanti- ful collections of engravings and works on art, archi- tecture and design, and standard works on literature, science and all subjects embraced within the objects of the library. The beautiful and artistic bindings of the books make their appearance exceedingly attractive; and the rich furnishings and the unusual character of the books make the room an object of interest to many visitors, while its quiet seclusion gives it great attractions for the student. The con- trol of the library is in the hands of a sub-committee of the Lyceum and Library Committee of the Pea-

body Institute, whose management has been most judicious and efficient.

GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC .- Before 1870 there was an association of veterans called the Army and Navy Union, organized with objects similar to those of the Grand Army.

Post 132, Grand Army of the Republic, was organ- ized under charter from department of head-quarters, July 7, 1870, and the installation of officers took place in Masonic Hall, at the same date. The officers were:

Commander .. R. S. Daniels.

Senior vice-commander. J. W. Stevens.

Junior vice-commander. Wm. F. Wiley.

Adjutant.

E. C. Spofford.

Quarter-master

L. A. Manning.

Surgeon F. G. Kittredge.

Chaplain E. I. Galvin.

Officer of the day

R. B. Bincroft.

Officer of the guard.

W. H. Hildreth.

Quarter-master's sergeant.

Benj. Beckett, Jr.

Sergeant major ..

P. L. Winchester, Jr.

The Post was at first named for Gen. Grenville M. Dodge, a former resident of the town, who won an enviable record in the war, and rose to the rank of major-general. Its name was afterward changed to that of a former townsman, a young man who fell early in the war, and whose letters from the front were marked by more than usual ability-Mr. Wil- liam H. Shove.

Owing to difficulties in the Post, a part of the members left it, and on November 19, 1872, the so- ciety known as the " Veteran Soldiers' and Sailors' Association " was formed for the declared object of " Charity and Brotherly Love." Citizens of the town contributed liberally to the fund of the Association, and many cases of necessity were relieved through its means. On April 19, 1875, this Association did escort duty for a company of citizens that went to Lexington to celebrate the one hundredth anniver- sary of the battle of Lexington. On July 3, 1876, the name of the Association was changed to the " Army and Navy Union." The last meeting of the Union was May 31, 1879.

Successful efforts were made to unite the organiza- tions, and April 12, 1879, Union Post No. 50 was or- ganized, with one hundred and forty-two charter members, and the following officers were chosen :

Commander .. Cyrus T. Batchelder.

Senior vice-commander. Winsor M. Ward.

Junior vice-commander .. Frank E. Farnham.

Chaplain Volney M. Simons.

Surgeon .Charles C. Pike.

Quarter-master Levi Prestou.

Officer of the day. Alfred E. Johnson.

Officer of the guard Benj. Beckett, Jr.

Adjutant .W'n. H. Hildreth.

Sergeant major.

George O. Pierce.

Quarter-master's sergeant. Albert H. Whidden.

A large amount of money has been expended in charity from the Post fund, aided by liberal sub- scriptions from comrades. The organization is in a flourishing condition, and is so conducted as to sub-

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

serve the interests which it is the object of the .1-so- ciation to care for and protect. Although there are none to replace the comrades who fall out as death thins the ranks of this veteran organization, the Post still presents a fine body of soldierly men in its an- nual parade on Memorial day, and whenever the or- der is called on for public service.

The Women's Union Relief Corps (G. A. R.), was organized May 27, 1885.

OLD LADIES' HIOME .- At a public meeting of the Ladies' Benevolent Society at Warren Hall, February 1-1, 1867, the following letter was read, addressed to Messrs. Ilenry Poor, Warren M. Jacobs and Elijah W. Upton.

"GENTLEMEN,-having noticed a suggestion made by a prominent member of the Ladies' Benevolent Association, that it would be expe- dient und proper to provide suitable homes or houses for elderly women of American parentage of this town who are in destitute circumstances, where they can be made comfortable and happy in their declining years, we, the undersigned, this day jointly agree to place in your hands, as trustees, the sum of $2000 as the commencement of a fund for the pur- pone above indicated, the said amount to be securely invested until enough is added to this fund by donation or otherwise, to accomplish this object.

"In the event of the death or resignation of either of the above named Trustees, the remaining Trustees may appoint his successor. We would suggest that the Trustees, together with the President, Vice-Presi- dlent and Treasurer for the time being, be constituted a board of mana- gers to carry out the intentions of the donors, whose acts shall be sub- ject to our approval.

" In making this gift we wish it to be understood as being the foun- dation of a benevolent enterprise, and we solicit the aid of those of our people who are blest with means, to unite with us in the furtherance of this object.

" Respectfully Yours,

"ELIZA SUTTON. " MARY UPTON."

The trustees petitioned the General Court for an act of incorporation as "The Charitable Benevolent Association of the town of Peabody," which was granted April 27, 1869.

Initiatory steps were taken at a meeting held No- vember 1, 1871, towards building a house for the pur- pose specified in the act, and a contract was awarded for two thousand dollars, for a house on Washington Street, above Dak Street. A levee was held at P'ier- pont Hall on December 31, 1861, at which there was realized for the purposes of the association the sum of $8-17.53, including a contribution from Elijah W. Upton.

In 1883 renewed interest was taken in the move- ment, and it was decided to reorganize the association on the basis of the original trust. An auxiliary so- | he presented himself and was accepted. Several ciety was formed, and earnest efforts were made to in- crease the funds ; the house built for the Charitable Tenement Association was sold in 1875, and the pro- cecils, with other funds, were employed in purchas- ing the former residence of the late General William Sutton, with the intention of fitting it up at some future time as a Home for Aged Women. Until the resources of the society shall be sufficiently great to midlertake the active support of such a home, the building is let by the society, and the income accu- mulated. It is hoped, at no very distant day, to open

the home for the beneficiaries who will share in its protection and support.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

GEN. GIDEON FOSTER,-Gideon Foster was born in the house which formerly stood on the corner of Lowell and Foster Streets, February 24, 1749. His father, Gideon Foster, was a native of Boxford; his mother, Lydia Goldthwait, of the middle preeinet. He improved the opportunities of education furnished by the schools of the parish; he wrote a handsome hand, was a correet draugbtsman and skilful surveyor. He was employed for several short periods in keeping school. He was a mechanic of more than common ingenuity ; the machinery of his mills was of his own planning and construction.

On the breaking out of the Revolution, he marched to the scene of the battle of Lexington in command of a company of minute-men which had been drafted from Capt. Samuel Eppes' company of militia a few weeks before, - February 27. The company arrived in season to give the retreating British considerable trouble at West Cambridge. Captain Foster served as a captain in Col. Mansfield's regiment in the siege of Boston. At the battle of Bunker's Hill, Captain Foster's company was stationed at Brighton, then called little Cambridge. He was ordered by Gen. Ward to escort a load of ammunition to Charlestown. In carrying out this order he met the Americans when on their retreat. Their powder was eonsumed, and he supplied them with ammunition loose in casks. In his old age he revived the reminiscence thus :

" We took the ammunition in casks, and conveyed it in wagons, and delivered it freely with our hands and our dippers, to their horns, their pockets, their hats, and whatever they had that would hold it. I well remember the blackened appearance of those busy in this work, -not unlike those engaged in the delivery of coal on a hot summer's day. At the same time we were thus occupied, the enemy's shot were con- stantly whistling by ; but we had no time to examine their character or dimensions. I have often thought what might have been our con- dition, had one of these hot shot unceremoniously come in contact with our wagons. '

Another favorite reminiscence was of the time when Col. Mansfield's regiment was stationed on Prospect Hill, where Gen. Putnam was in command. The captains were called together, and a volunteer was called for to engage in a very ardnous enterprise. When Foster found no one willing to offer his services,

soldiers were drawn from each company, and properly armed, they repaired to Gen. Putnam's quarters to receive instructions. After reviewing them, "Old l'ut " deprived them of their equipments, and furn- ishing them with axes sent them into a swamp, where they were engaged in cutting fascines and bringing them in on their backs. "The men expected to gain honor by their exposure to unknown dangers: but their greatest danger was from the attack of musqui- toes, and their greatest exposure was to the mirth of their fellow soldiers."

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PEABODY.

Capt. Foster served throughout the war, and held an honorable place as a good soldier and brave officer. In 1792 he was promoted to the rank of colonel; in 1796 he was chosen brigadier general; in 1801 he was elected major-general by the Legislature. In the War of 1812 he was chosen commander of a company of exempts, and assumed the duties of his command with the same enthusiasm that he showed in his early days, taking an active part in the movements of the militia on the two or three occasions when an alarm was spread. It is recalled that the old soldier's tac- tics and drill orders were somewhat antiquated, and the order "shoulder firelocks" spoken from early habit, furnished amusement to himself as well as to his little command; but he never lost his military ardor, and as was said by Hon. Daniel P. King in his eulogy,-

" To the last, the sound of the drum and trumpet was music to his ear ; indeed for almost a whole century, there has been no day when the sword of the old soldier would not have been drawn aod a vigor- ons blow struck for the defence of his country's rights ; nurtured in that school of patriotism which taught that opposition to tyrants is obedience to God, and which inculcated love of country next to love of heaven, his strong indignation was roused by any wrong done her or danger threatened. Liberty and love of country were his early and abiding passions. His country's free institutions, good order, good laws and good rulers were the objects of his strongest affections; he not only loved them but he did what he was able, according to his judg ment and noderstanding, to maintain and perpetuate them. No dis- tance of place, no severity of the weather, no bodily infirmity, from the adoption of the constitution till the day of his death, more than sixty years, detained him from depositing his ballot for State Officers."

For the last thirty years of his life it was his ambi- tion readily indulged by his fellow-citizens, to be the first to vote in all important elections. So unerring was his judgment, that he never failed to be the file leader of the majority, nor wavered from the genuine Whig principles of '76. In his time as Mr. Proctor observes, there was no doubt where Danvers would be found.

For more than seventy years, he was one of the most active and influential citizens of the town. He was called upon to hold all the important offices in the gift of his townsmen ; he was nine times a Repre- sentative to the General Court, in 1796 and from 1799 to 1806. He served as town clerk from 1791 to 1794. He was deeply interested in the schools of the town, and in 1794 was one of those who proposed the divi- sion into school districts. He was also interested in the Fire Department of the town, and one of the early fire-engines was named for him.

Gen. Foster developed the water power of Goldth- wait's Brook. In ancient times, the whole region in the vicinity of what is now Foster Street was marshy land. He acquired the ownership of a large tract of land in this region, and about 1817 built a dam which can still be seen, from which he conducted a part of the water through a canal along the edge of the up- land to the north of the low ground. He had a bark- mill at the upper dam, and a mill used as a grist-mill at the end of the canal, and he also had a mill for the manufacture of chocolate. The water-works thus

constructed by him furnished water for manufac- turing purposes to those located on the lower land along the course of the canal. Foster's lane, near Foster Street, led to these mills and manufactories, and was extended to the old Boston road.

General Foster was an enterprising and successful manufacturer, and his improvements increased the value of the land owned by him, and enabled him to sell it at fair prices ; but he twice suffered loss by fire, and on October 23, 1823, his mills were totally con- sumed. He never fully recovered from this loss, and in 1828 he sold bis mill property. Ile continued to assert the same spirit of independence which always supported him. He had a small pension, quite in- adequate to his needs, and up to a short time before his death he cultivated with his own hands his little farm, guiding the plow over his scanty acres till more than ninety-five years had bowed his venerable form, content so long as he was self-supporting.

He was a sincere and devout Christian. He joined the Unitarian movement, and was to the time of his death an officer of that church, coustant in attend- ance and faithful in his duties, and himself harness- ing his horse in his later years to go from his farm to divine service.

His private virtues, no less than his distinguished services to his country, endeared him to his towns- men, and his death, which occurred November I, 1845, at the age of nearly ninety-seven years, was sin- cerely mourned. On the third of November a funeral oration was pronounced in the Unitarian Church by Hon. Daniel P. King, and he was buried with mili- tary and civic honors, suited to the brave soldier and the faithful citizen. The following order of proces- sion has been preserved, and may be of interest from its local references :

ESCORT,

Consisting of the Salem Artillery, the Danvers Light Infantry, the Salem Light Infantry and the Lynn Rifle Corps (the latter bearing a banner presented by the bands of Gen. Foster to the company in 1836. This banner was shrouded in craps. The escort was a detachment from Gen. Sutton's brigade, and was under the immediate com- mand of Col. Andrews). Hearse, flanked by a military guard. Family of the deceased in Carriages. Brig .- Gen. Sutton and staff, and Military Officers in uniform in Carriages. Committee of Arrangements. Officiating and other Clergy. Civil Officers of the town. Danvers Mechanic Institute. Fire Department. "Gen. Foster" Eogive Co., No. 7, in dark dress with badges.

" Volunteer Engine Co., No. 8, with badges and in firemen's uniform. Citizens of the neighboring towns. Citizens of Daovels.

General Foster was buried in Harmony Grove Cemetery, in a lot given by General Sutton, near the Peabody entrance on Grove Street.

A fine portrait of General Foster hangs in the trustees' room at the Peabody Institute. It was painted by Osgood, of Salem, and is the gift of Elijah W. Upton.

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

DR. ANDREW NICHOLS,-Andrew Nichols, the son of Andrew and Eunice Nichols, was born in the North Parish of Danvers November 22, 1785. He worked on his father's farm till he was eighteen years old, gaining his education from the common schools of the town. He took a course of study at the academy in Andover, and in April, 1805, hc be- gan the study of medicine with Dr. Manning in Bil- Jerica, going with him to Cambridge and Harvard. In July, 1807, he became a student with Dr. Water- house, of Cambridge ; and a year later, in July, 1808, he began the practice of medicine in South Danvers.

Hle soon attained a leading position as a practicing physician, and his energetic disposition and sincere public spirit brought him into prominence in town affairs.

He was a progressive and original thinker, a man of vigorous mental fibre. He was an enthusiastic vo- tary of natural science, a fearless advocate of temper- ance reform, and an early adherent of the anti- slavery movement. He undertook many offices of public trust in the town, and was particularly inter- ested in educational matters. With all the require- ments of his profession, he found time not only for the pursuit of scientific knowledge, but for the study of local history and antiquities, for active engagement in temperance and other reform movements, and the faithful performance of duties assumed by him in town atlairs, especially in the conduct of the schools.

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History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 20

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