History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 249

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 249

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But the most eminent and best-beloved son of Haverhill is also the most eminent and best-beloved son of Essex County-nay, of the Commonwealth and of the nation. It would not be necessary to name him, for this work can go into no household where John Greenleaf Whittier is not enshrined an honored and familiar guest. No Essex County man is so ob- tuse or so spiritless as not to claim participation in his pure fame. No schoolboy in the land is so ignor- ant as not to know that on the 17th of September,

1887, a simple and unique testimonial was presented to the aged poet to mark the popular recognition of the fact that eighty years ago he was born at the hill- side foot in the East Parish of Haverhill. To attempt to detail the events of the lite of Whittier, or to point out his merits, would be to insult the intelligence of the readers of this page. The reason why the right is claimed to speak of him here is, that his ancestors were among the earliest settlers of the town, and that it holds his birth-place. What his own feeling has been about that spot, let the aged poet delineate for himself: "The old farm-house nestling in its valley, hills stretching off' to the south and green meadows to the east; the small stream which came noisily down its ravine, washing the old garden wall, and softly lapping on fallen stones and mossy roots of beeches and hemlocks; the tall sentinel poplars at the gateway ; the oak forest, sweeping unbroken to the northern horizon, the grass-grown carriage path, with its rude and crazy bridge-the dear old land- scape of my boyhood, lies outstretched before me like a daguerreotype from the picture within which I have borne with me in all my wanderings." The only education which schools gave the farmer's boy he received at Corlis' Hill, and during the brief time he was at the Haverhill Academy. He was an early contributor to the Haverhill Gazette and at one time its editor. Nearly sixty years ago he thought to write the history of the town. From infancy he drank in its legends, and, though a sincere Quaker, he understood and would have done justice to the motives and policy of its founders. In 1835 the town sent him to the Legislature-the only position of the kind he ever held. And whilst its Representative, he did a thing without instructions from his constit- uents, which, at this late day, they will not repudiate. William Lloyd Garrison was lodged in jail in that season to save his life from the fury of a Boston mob. Never- theless, in the afternoon he had two visitors, one of whom was Greenleaf Whittier, the Haverhill Represen- tative. In 1885, when Whittier's portrait was unveiled, he wrote Major Sheldon : " Few marks of esteem have given me so much satisfaction, proving as it does that I am not without honor among 'mine own people,' where, indeed, I most desire and value it." And on the 16th of January, 1888, he sent in aid of the new City Hospital, of Haverhill, a substantial and wel- come recognition of its latest charity.

At the moment of this writing there are suggestions that the old homestead should be purchased and sacredly preserved as the memorial of a gifted poet and noble man. It is fortunately now the property of a gentleman who duly appreciates the honor his title-deed confers upon him. There is no decay there, nothing to offend the taste of those who love and honor the grand, good songster of the people and of liberty. It is the substantial, well-preserved farm-house in which his ancestors were born, lived and died. Were it desirable to place the homestead in a public trust, it

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could easily be done. The suggestion was made in 'has soberly admitted : "It has been given as the Haverhill many years ago, and the last words spoken at the unveiling of his portrait were these : "I used to think that the public-spirited people of Haverhill should unite in an effort to secure the birth-place of Whittier, as it were a shrine for the visiting of his admirers. But it is unnecessary. The East Parish, nay, the whole valley, is his monument !"

Among the social agencies of Haverhill, should, perhaps, be mentioned the Monday Evening Club, organized November, 1860, for intellectual and social purposes, composed of professional and business men. It has celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary, is still flourishing, and is accredited as the parent of several similar organizations in other cities.

The Fortnightly Club is a junior association, of much the same purpose and scope.

General William F. Bartlett was born at Haverhill, June 6, 1840, and died at Pittsfield, December 17, 1876. His career was brief but brilliant. A member of the junior class at Harvard, his political sympathies and the maturity of his mind can be judged by his writing to a friend, April 17, 1861 : " I have stuek up for the South all along." That very day he enlisted in a militia battalion. Afterwards he received a cap- tain's commission in the Twentieth Massachusetts. He was at Ball's Bluff, lost a leg at Fair Oaks, Va., May, 1862 ; after was colonel of Forty-ninth Mass- achusetts-part of General Augur's division in Louis- jana. At the assault of Port Hudson he was wounded in wrist and heel. Returning to Massachusetts, he organized the Fifty-seventh Regiment, and was wounded at the battle of the Wilderness, taken prisoner, and in the Libby prison at Richmond. He was brigadier-general June 20, 1864, and assigned to the Ninth Corps. After exchange he was breveted major-general. One account says he was also captured at the affair of the Crater. After the war Gen. Bartlett engaged in the iron manufacture at West Stockbridge,

General Bartlett was a young man of spirit, courage and high personal honor. His was the material of which successful soldiers are made. Though indiffer- ent to the cause of the Union at first, he was faithful to his flag even unto death. His high gallantry, des- perate wounds, cruel sufferings and early death make him the ideal hero of Massachusetts in the War for the Union.

In studying the history of Haverhill, it is painful to read about the dissensions which rent the parishes in turn. In the First Parish, Dudley Phelps forced the fighting which resulted in his own dismissal, in the separation of eighty-nine of the ninety-one men- bers of the church, and the formation of the Centre Congregational Church. As a consequence, the par- ish has ever since been Unitarian. High authority

opinion of some candid observers, that the division might not have occurred, and the whole body might have remained substantially orthodox, had the min- ister of that day been one who could be nominally orthodox and at the same time not constitutionally and internally controversial." And a wise observer added, "There is reason to believe that this is not the only instance in which a New England Unitarian Church originated in a reaction against an utter angular and pugnacious orthodoxy." The temper in which these reflections are made, at any rate, is admirable.

After the death of the Rev. Phineas Adams, dissen- sion reigned supreme in the West Parish for a long time. There was war between the orthodox element and the opposition ; there was quarreling also about funds; but at last there was a truce and the combat- ants separated. As a consequence, there came an op- portunity to hold " Exercises commemorative of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the West Con- gregational Church," October 22, 1885, published in a neat pamphlet. The "Historical Discourse," by the pastor, Rev. John N. Lowell, and indeed all the proceedings, were very interesting.

In the North Parish there has also been a contest about dogmas and funds, carried on with less bitter- ness. In the long legal and legislative struggle for control of the parish funds the Congregationalists were defeated, and there also is quiet now. A church was built in 1878, where the Rev. T. E. St. John has preached for a number of years. The non-orthodox or liberal elements are gathered there. The orthodox people have recently dedicated a new chapel.

In the East Parish, dissension began with quarrels about the salary of Rev. Benjamin Parker before the Revolution ; it was much aggravated when Mr. Parker took the Tory side, as was alleged, and at last the connection between him and his parish was dissolved. From 1797 to 1826, during the pastorate of Rev. Isaac Mass., and at Richmond, Va. He considered himself | Tompkins, there was harmony. He was a decided an Independent Republican, and declined the Demo- cratic nomination for Governor of Massachusetts in 1875.

Calvinist, but a well-read, able and prudent man, un- exceptionable in demeanor.

The Second Baptist Society was organized in the East Parish in 1821, and the meeting-house was built in 1822, and dedicated February 22, 1823. The semi- centennial was commemorated January 3, 1872.

The Riverside Congregational Church is an offshoot from the Fourth Congregational or old East Parish Church. Rev. Albert Donnell is the acting pastor.

The First Universalist Society was organized March 17, 1823, and built its first meeting-house, in 1825, on Summer Street, then newly opened. The society has had a number of interesting and talented pastors.

The Winter Street Congregational Church had a brilliant but brief history-1839 to 1860.

The Third Baptist Church was organized in 1858, and the Free Will Baptist Church in the same year. The latter, in 1860, purchased the meeting-house of

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the Winter Street Congregational Society, recently disbanded.

On the second Sunday in September, 1850, Mass was celebrated in Haverhill by Rev. John T. Mc- Donnell. Previously, the town had received a few visits from the officiating priest at Lawrence. July 4. 1852, a new church was dedicated and a commodious house for the priest was built. In 1859 the church was enlarged.

A sketch of the large and substantial new church. St. James' Catholic, will be found elsewhere. For several years Rev. Father O'Doherty has administered the affairs of this parish with extraordinary ability.

The French population of Haverhill has largely increased of late years. It is stated as two thousand nine hundred and seventy-two, but this is thought to be an overestimate. The Society of St. John the Baptist, organized February 23, 1870, to support sick and bury deceased members, had, in October, 1887. one hundred and fifty-four members.

The Church of St. Joseph, Rev. Fr. Oliver Boucher pastor, has cost about thirty-two thousand dollars, and will seat eleven hundred persons. Schools are conducted in connection with it by the Sisters of Charity from Ottawa, Canada.

The South Christian Church was organized April 9, 1806. Its membership in 1887 was one hundred and four. Rev. John A. Gross has been pastor since June, 1885.

January 22, 1888, the public were invited to attend divine worship at the following churches and places of gathering : Trinity Church, Rev. D. J. Ayres, rec- tor; West Parish Congregational Church, Rev. J. N. Lowell, pastor; First Parish (Unitarian), Rev. T. E. St. John, pastor; Mt. Washington Baptist Church. Rev. L. A. Freeman, pastor ; Wesley Church, Rev. 6. W. Taylor, pastor ; Fourth Congregational Church, East Parish; Church of Christ, G. A. R. Hall; St. James' Catholic Church, Rev. Father O'Doherty, pas- tor ; St. Joseph French Catholic Church, Rev. Father Boucher, pastor ; Second Baptist Church, Rocks Village, Rev. O. D. Ordway, pastor; Grace Church, Rev. H. H. French, pastor ; Portland Street Church. Rev. Welcome E. Bates, pastor; Salvation Army ; Centre Church, Rev. Edwin C. Holman, pastor ; First Baptist Church, Rev. W. W. Everts, Jr., pas- tor ; Church of St. John the Evangelist, Rev. Charles Wingate ; Riverside Church, Rev. A. Donnell, pas- tor ; South Christian Church; First Spiritualist So- ciety at Unity Hall ; J. William Fletcher at Brittain Ilall ; Advent Christian Church, Walnut Street, G. W. Jederquist, pastor ; North Church, Rev. N. Boyn- ton, pastor ; Gospel temperance meeting in First M. E. Church, addresses by Rev. Mr. Farley ; Summer Street Church, Rev. J. C. Snow, pastor; Winter Street Free Baptist Church, Rev. C. A. Hilton, pastor. The Calvary Baptist Church, on Ashland Street, had just settled a new pastor, Rev. Mr. Roberts, lately from Liberia.

Many things indicate a harmony of feeling and unity for work that would perhaps have been impos- sible at any previous period in the history of the town. Thus, one reads with admiration, and gratifi- cation as well, the story of the organization of a Pas- tors' Association and of proceedings at its meetings. Taking up the report of a recent Conference, it is found that letters of regret at inability to be present were read from an Episcopal and a Universalist elergyman. A Unitarian minister made a report, which was accepted. It was voted to hold a union meeting on Thanksgiving Day in a Methodist meet- ing-house. The pastor of that church, a Congre- gationalist, and a Free-Will Baptist clergyman, were appointed to arrange the order of exercises. And a committee, comprising a Methodist, a Baptist and a Christian clergyman, was appointed to select a subject for the next meeting. If such a meeting could by any possibility have been held fifty years ago, the participants could not have looked their parishioners in the face, any more than the Roman augurs could look at each other without laughing.

It would be neither possible nor profitable to com- pare the work of different denominations or churches. But it is a pleasant thing for the writer of a general sketch like this to be able to record that from an un- prejudiced stand-point, he believes that all the reg- ularly organized churches are doing a good work, es- pecially with the young. And there is need enough of it in this place, as in every other. The pastors of most of the leading churches are young men, highly edu- cated, energetie and emulous in doing good. They have the loftiest stimulus for individual and united Christian endeavor.

What work could be so noble ?

There is a burning question which it would be im- pertinent to discuss in this place-that of parochial schools. The experiment is now being tried in Haverhill upon a large scale. It will be watched with deep interest.

Certainly all who love the common weal will admit that it is no time to lower the standard of the public schools. There is every inducement, on the other hand, to hold it higher and still higher.

It seems to be admitted that the first superintend- ent of schools in the city has done excellent work, and general regret is expressed that he is about to pass to another scene of labor. May the city be equally fortunate in his successor! His report for 1887 will soon be in the hands of the citizens, and will be much more valuable than any imperfect sketch attempted here, npon insufficient knowledge, would be.

It is gratifying to observe an increasing disposition to do justice to the work of the Catholic clergy with the great cougregations over which their influence is so extensive. And the candid admit that this influ- ence is exerted with great efficiency in the cause of temperance and of law and order.

REV. JAMES O'DOHERTY, PASTOR.

P. W. FORD, ARCH'T.

ST. JAMES' R. C. CHURCH, HAVERHILL, MASS.

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CHAPTER CLXIII.

HAVERHILL-(Continued).

History of Haverhill Newspapers-Associalians, Charitable and. other -- Bus- iness and Public Corporations-Manufactures-Position of City.

GREAT pains had been taken to search the files of Haverhill papers, from the earliest date and wher- ever accessible. Copious notes were taken, in the hope of presenting a good deal that might be novel and interesting, and of being able finally, somehow, to digest the results of Haverhill journalism in a brief essay. But the limits of our sketch forbid such an effort at the present time.

It has already been mentioned that the first news- paper-the " Guardian of Freedom"-appeared Sep- tember 6, 1793. Chase, in his history, has given a full sketch from that initial point of the changes of control and the vicissitudes of the journals them- selves. For the reason already given, we will not at- tempt at this time to follow him, but refer the curious reader to his chapter upon the subject. Some obser- vations may perhaps be profitably made upon the characters of some of the men connected with these papers at different times.

In 1824 Nathan Burrill sold the printing business and the paper-the Haverhill Gazette-to Isaac R. Howe. Mr. Howe edited and published the paper until October, 1826, when he engaged the services of Abijah W. Thayer to edit and superintend the publi- cation.

But during a part of the two years, E. W. Reinhart was the editor and John Varnum was joint proprietor with Mr. Howe. Both Varnum and Howe have. per- haps, already been sufficiently spoken of. Mr. Howe probably purchased the paper in the interest of Var- num, who was at that time in Congress, and who, as we have intimated, had eager young rivals who grudged him the seat. Varnum and Howe were law partners and connected by marriage. One of them was indolent and luxurious, the other somewhat chi- merical. However, they were well educated gentle- men and conducted the paper in excellent tone and temper, though hardly with what would now be called enterprise. Reinhardt was a man of considerable ability and wrote good articles. After leaving Haver- hill, he drifted about the country, starting a number of papers without much success.

In February, 1827, Mr. Thayer purchased the estab- lishment and changed the name of the paper to the Essex Gazette. He was a printer by trade, and had previously superintended the publication of the Gazette. He had then lived several years in Maine, also connected with a newspaper there, the Indepen- dent Statesman, of Portland. After his return to Haverhill, he resided here from October, 1826, to July, 1835. He was active and eager, as well as pos- itive about everything. Mainly through his efforts,

occasional Episcopal services were held between 1833 and 1835. He was a live man. Chase says that " his Gazette was the first politieal paper that ever came out in advocacy of total abstinence from intoxicating liquors, and the second of any kind, either in America or in the world." There were then twenty-nine places where liquor was openly sold, but in five years there was only one where it was supposed to be sold secret- ly. Mr. Thayer's wife, who died within two or three years, was well known in Haverhill, where she had family connections. She was a very interesting woman, of strong convictions, and sympathized warm- ly with her husband. " I always," she said not long before her death, " did what I could to uphold my husband in his work." After their removal to Phila- delphia, John G. Whittier lived for a time in her family. Mrs. Thayer and her husband took a deep interest in him, and her husband exerted himself in behalf of advanced education for the young farmer. She always spoke of Mr. Whittier with the affection- ate interest of an elder sister. One of their sons, a journalist, was some years consul general in Egypt ; another, James B. Thayer, is professor in the Law School at Cambridge.

Mr. Whittier was connected with the Gazette from January to Jnly, 1830, and from May 4 to Dec. 17, 1836.

In 1835, Erastus Brooks, who had learned the trade of a printer in Portland, of Mr. Thayer, bought the Gazette of him. As is well known, the Gazette held high rank under Mr. Thayer's management. Mr. Brooks ultimately went to New York and made asuc- cess of the Express.

For many years, Dr. Jeremiah Spotford, of Grove- land, was connected in some way with the Gazette. He was a ready and interesting writer.

Iu July, 1864, Rev. Thomas G. Farnsworth started the Essex Banner and Haverhill Advertiser, as a Demo- cratic weekly paper.

Eben. H. Safford, who was a printer, came to Haverhill about 1834, and soon became connected with the Banner. William Taggart was editor and joint proprietor from Jan. 6, 1838, until March 11, 1843, when Mr. Safford took the sole charge and pro- prietorship of it, so continuing until his death, with the exception of a short interval when James Bu- I chanan was President. The paper was always Demo- cratic. Mr. Safford died Dec. 12, 1887. It is an- nounced that the paper will continue to be carried on by his daughter.

Jan. 1, 1859, Z. E. Stone began to publish the Tri- weekly Publisher, an independent paper. In 1859, D. P. Bodfish and A. L. Kimball began to publish a weekly paper called the Essex County Democrat.

Chase says that on the Ist of July, 1861, four news- papers were published in the town, with an aggregate circulation of a little over four thousand copies per week. They were the Haverhill Gazette, Essex Bun- ner, Tri-weekly Publisher and Essex County Democrat.

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

The latter was a short-lived publication. The Tri- weekly Publisher continued till July, 1878, when its publication ceased. Its list and good-will were sold to the Bulletin. In 1861 Mr. E. P. Hill became con- nected with the paper and so continued for several years. Mr. ITill is a veteran journalist, who, Moore says, in his "Historical Notes on Printing," wrote his first newspaper article for a campaign sheet in New Hampshire in 1846.

Thomas Tileston was connected with the Merrimac Intelligencer, in Haverhill, from Nov. 5, 1814, till Jan., 1818. Tileston went to New York, helped to found the great wholesale shoe house of Spofford & Tileston, became a famous merchant and the friend of famous men.

Nathaniel Greene was Isaae Hill's first apprentice in the New Hampshire Gazette, at Concord. In 1818 Burrill & Tileston turned over the Merrimac Intelli- gencer to Greene as a gift. It died in a few weeks. In 1818 Greene started the Essex Patriot, which lie published for three years, wben he sold it ont. After- wards, in 182], he got to the Boston Statesman, and success.

The first daily newspaper ever published in Haver- hill was the Daily Bulletin, established by A. J. Hoyt & Co., July 1, 1871. The following January the Weekly Bulletin was issued. The present proprie- tors, J. L. Mitchell and Warren Hoyt ( Mitchell & Hoyt ), purchased the property Sept. 17, 1875, since which time its growth has been steady and constant. The Tri-weekly Publisher was merged into the Bulletin in 1877-78. Since its beginning the paper has from time to time been enlarged from six columns to nine. At the present time its certified circulation is stated at over 2500 copies per diem, while the weekly prints over 3000. The paper has always been Republican.

Jannary 7, 1837, the Essex Gazette being then pub- lished by Dr. Spofford and John H. Harris, the name was changed to the original one-Haverhill Gazette. December 28, 1838, Mr. Harris became associate editor as well as proprietor and publisher. July 5, 1839, he bought the interest of Dr. Spofford, who retired. May 1, 1840, Mr. Harris sold the establishment to Wm. E. I'. Rodgers, who edited and published the paper till October 1, 1843, when he transferred it to Mr. Ed- ward G. Frothingham. It was successively Whig and Republican. About the year 1854, Mr. E. P. Hill became a contributer to the Gazette, so remain- ing through the Fremont and Lincoln campaigns. In 1869, Mr. Frothingham sold the paper to Alfred Kit- tredge, who changed it to a semi-weekly, continuing to be its proprietor and editor till his death, May 1, 1877. In the following June it was sold to Dr. F. J. Stevens; and in June, 1878, it was changed from a semi-weekly to a daily and a weekly, but it was not a success. The establishment was sold at anction, April, 1878, to Drs. O. D. Cheney and C. D. Hunking and Mr. Amos W. Downing. In 1879 it was sold to Messrs. Bridgman, Gay & Co., who continued it as a

morning daily and weekly, connecting with it a por- tion of the time an evening edition in the name of The Telephone. In 1882 it was purchased by Messrs. F. A. Howard and A. A. Hill, who soon enlarged it and continued it as an evening daily and weekly until July, 1886, when it was again sold to the Haverhill Gazette Publishing Company-A. A. Hill, publisher and editor, Seth C. Bassett, business manager; with Austin P. Nichols as the other member of the com- pany. It is now continued as an evening two edition daily, and a weekly. The paper has passed through many hands, but it has to-day a larger circulation and more widely extended influence than at any pre- vious period of its history.

The Haverhill Daily Laborer is published by the Knights of Labor Co-operative Publishing Company, organized September 3, 1884, with a capital of $10,000 in shares of $500. President, Wm. A. Robertson ; Manager and Editor, Mr. M. E. Parker. The circu- lation September 17, 1887, was 2976 and was increas- ing. Its platform is well-known.

The Haverhill papers were never as well conducted as now, and never as enterprising. It is unfortunate that the people of the town do not feel more local pride in their journals. Perhaps there may have been in the past some cirenmstances in the history of the papers to excuse indifference, but at present the leading papers seem to be striving to deserve public favor. On the other hand, there is nothing that bene- fits a town so much as a good newspaper.

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History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 249

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