History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 35

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 35

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Among other interesting incidents of this memora- ble day was the first appearance of the military com- pany known as the Lafayette Guards, which had been organized a short time before, under command of Capt. William B. Adams.

Early in this year a society was incorporated by the name of the "Columbian Society," which, for more than fifty years, exercised a perceptible influence upon the political sentiments of the citizens. For many years the best moderators of our town-meetings were graduates of the president's chair of the Colum- bian Society, and the most skillful debaters who par- ticipated in town-meeting discussions obtained their experience at the weekly meetings of that institution.

During this year the public streets were named by vote of the town. Nearly all of them had been known as " lanes," from the time of the settlement of the town, and Mugford, Green and State Streets are still familiarly known to many of the older inhabitants as "New Meeting-House," " Ferry," and "Wharf" Lanes. Previous to the breaking out of the Revolu- tion, State Street was known as " King Street," but the patriotic citizens declined to recognize the name after the close of the war.

As early as 1825 the manufacture of misses' and children's shoes was introduced into Marblehead. Previous to this time the only boots and shoes made in town were heavy leather boots for the use of fisher- men and custom shoes for ladies and gentlemen. The first manufacturer to engage in the new enter- prise was Mr. Ebenezer Martin, who made his own shoes and sold them at retail. His work-shop was in the old "Reynolds House," on Darling Street. It was his custom to carry his goods about in a cart, and

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drive from one town to another, until he disposed of them. The next earliest manufacturer was Mr. Thomas Wooldredge, whose factory was on Orne Street; and a few years later Messrs. Benjamin Hawkes, Thomas Garney and Adoniram C. Orne engaged in the business as a firm. Shortly after, Messrs. Samnel and Peter Sparhawk began business.

On Saturday March 13, 1830, the first local news- paper ever established in town made its appearance. It was called the Marblehead Register, and was published by Henry Blaney. For three years the editor struggled heroically to make the enterprise a success ; but his efforts were futile, and he was obliged to suspend publication. Several newspapers have since been established, but a similar fate has befallen them all except the Marblehead Messenger, which was established in 1871, and is still published.

During the year 1831 several important local insti- tutions were established.

On the 18th the Grand Bank was incorporated with a capital of $100,000. Joseph W. Green was the first president, and John Sparhawk, Jr., cashier.

On the 30th of August the town voted to petition Congress for the erection of a light-house on Point Neck. The light-house was erected in accordance with the wishes of the town, Mr. Ezekiel Darling be- ing the first keeper.

Early in this year the Marblehead Seamen's Charitable Society was organized. This society is still in existence, there being only one older society in town. The Marblehead Female Humane Society antedates it, having been organized in 1816.

In the summer of 1833, President Andrew Jackson, who had entered upon his second term as the exeen- tive of the nation, made a tour of the Middle and New England States. On the 28th of June, accept- ing the urgent invitation of the citizens, he visited Marblehead. He was received at the entrance of the town by a procession consisting of the military com- panies, a cavalcade of fifty horsemen, the Fire Depart- ment, pupils of the public schools and a large con- course of citizens. Along the route of the procession triumphal arches, decorated with flowers and bearing appropriate mottoes, were erected, and many private residences were elaborately decorated. President Jackson rode through the principal streets in an open carriage, after which the procession halted at the " Lee Mansion" where an address of welcome was delivered by Frederick Robinson, Esq. A dinner had been provided for the occasion, but to the great disappointment of the citizens, their distinguished visitor was obliged to proceed as soon as possible to Salem, and they were deprived of the pleasure of his company.

The violent opposition to the measures of Presi- dent Jackson's administration gave rise to a new political organization, known as the Whig party. Between this party and the Democrats there existed a feeling of the most bitter hostility. This was especi-

ally true of the adherents of both parties in Marble- head. Their opposition to each other was so intense that on the occasion of a Fourth of July celebration in 1834, they refused to act in concert, and the re- sult was two rival celebrations. The Democrats formed a procession, and, escorted by the Lafayette Guards, with a drum and fife and two bugles, pro- ceeded to the Methodist Meeting-IIonse, where an oration was delivered by Mr. Frank Knight, a native of the town. They then marched to Fort Sewall, where a dinner was provided, and appropriate speeches were made by prominent members of the party. The Whigs were escorted by the Marblehead Light Infantry,a majority of whose members were of that political faith. Led by a band of music, they marched to the old North meeting-house, where an oration was delivered ; after which they sat down to a dinner at Academy Hall.

During the year 1835 the Fire Department was thoroughly reorganized. The town at this time owned four hand-engines,-the " Friend," the " Endeavour," the "Union " and the "Liberty." Beside these, there were two engines owned by private parties, one of which was named the "Torrent," and the other the " Relief." A committee, appointed by the town to examine the several engines belonging to the Fire De- partment, reported that only one, the " Liberty," was "worth spending a dollar on." That engine was accordingly repaired, and refitted with all the modern improvements, and two new suction engines-the " Marblehead " and " Essex "-were purchased.

During the year 1836 the Universalist Society was organized. For a time the meetings were held in the hall on the corner of Washington and Darling Streets ; but the following year, so rapid had been the growth of the society, that a church edifice was erected on the corner of Pleasant and Watson Streets.

For years the town had maintained three grammar schools, known as the North, Centre and South Schools. In 1837 it was voted to establish a High School, with separate departments for boys and girls. The school was established in accordance with the vote of the town, and the building known as the Masonic Lodge was rented for its accommodation.

It was during this year, also, that the famous con- troversy over the "Surplus Revenue" took place. During the administration of President Jackson a large amount of money accumulated in the treasury of the United States. By an act of Congress the Secretary of the Treasury was authorized to distribute the amount among the several States, and the State of Massachusetts, on the reception of its proportion, distributed it among the towns of the commonwealth. By this act of the Legislature the town of Marblehead received about thirteen thousand dollars. The town voted to appropriate the money for the purchase of a town farm and the erection of a new almshouse. A controversy ensued in regard to the matter, and after the vote had been several times reconsidercd,

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it was ascertained that the town was noder legal ob- igation to purchase the farm belonging to Humphrey Devereux, Esq. The farm was accordingly purchased for thirteen thousand dollars. Two years later the farm was sold for deven thousand dollars, and the money was turned over to the treasurer, the town losing two thousand dollars by the transaction.

The dat . of the regular establishment of stage com- munication between Marblehead and Boston was about the year Fits. The establishment of a regular line of stages between Marblehead and Salem, how - ever, did not take place until twenty-six years later. The first proprietor of a line of stages in Marblehead, of whom we have any knowledge, was Mr. Hooker Osgood, who drove regularly to Boston for many years previous to the War of 1812. He died in 1x11, and the business was purchased by Messrs. Israel Putnam and Jonathan d'ass. This firm subsequently sold out to a company, under whose management the business was conducted for several years. Upon the abandonment of the enterprise by the company, Mr. C'aww resumed the business with Mr. Increase H. Brown as a partner. In 1829 Mr. Cass withdrew, and Mr. Brown entered into a co-partnership with Messrs Stephen P'. Hathaway and Benjamin Thomp- son, the style of the firm being I. H. Brown & Co. A stage was driven to Boston daily, and to Salem twice a day, Mr. Thompson being the driver of the former, and Mr. Hathaway of the latter. On the opening of the Eastern Railroad between Salem and Boston, in 1-3s, the stage to Boston was discontinned, and, instead, stages were driven four times a day to the Marblehead Depot, then located in Swampscott. on what is now known as the "Old Lynn Road." On the opening of the Marblehead and Salem Branch of the Eastern Railroad, in 1839, the stage to Salem wn- discontinued.

The year 183? may be said to have been the period when the fishing business of Marblehead reached the zenith of its prosperity. At that time ninety-eight Vessels, only three of which were under fifty tons burden, were employed in the business a larger number than had ever sailed from this port since the tume ot Jefferson's embargo.

In February, 1541, an Anti-Slavery Convention was held at Georgetown, Massachusetts, and, as a result of its de flurations, the political organi- cation known as the Liberty party came into ex Istence. Hos party advocated the total abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia, over which Congres led the sole legislative power. The only person tom Malichand who attended the Conven- tivo at Lecorretown was Mr Samuel Goodwin, A gen- tlen th who hol omer been an earnest and outspoken Abobtomat Three years later, at the Presidential de tim of lattes votes were cast in Marblehead for the andplates of the Liberty party. These voters appeared to mars at the polls at each recurring Stateve tion, and then party gradually increased to

fifteen members. For years they made little or no progress, but they succeeded in maintaining their organization, forming the nuclens of the great anti- slavery party, which, under two names, has assumed such proportions in Marblehead.

The year 1844 was marked by the erection of the building known as "Lyceum Hall," and by the or- ganization of two of the most prominent and influen- tial societies in the town. These were Samaritan Tent of Rechabites and Atlantic Lodge of Odd Fel- lows.

In 1845 another engine was added to the Fire De- partment. This engine was the "Gerry," and upon its reception the engine company of that name was organized.

The year 1846 marked a memorable period of dis- tress in the annals of the town. On the 19th of Sep- tember of that year one of the most terrible gales ever known took place on the Grand Banks of New- foundland, and ten vessels belonging in Marblehead, containing sixty-five men and boys, were lost. Forty- three of these unfortunate seamen were heads of families, leaving forty-three widows and one hundred and fifty-five fatherless children. This great calamity may be said to have given the death-blow to the fish- ing interests of the town. Gradually, as the years have passed, one vessel after another has dropped from the roll of " Bankers," uufil not one remains, and the great industry of former years is but a memory of the past.

In 1848 the Marblehead Seamen's Charitable So- ciety erected a monument in the " old Burying Hill," in memory of its deceased members, fourteen of whom were lost in the September gale of 1846. The monu- ment is of white marble, fifteen feet high, and stands upon the highest point of ground on the hill, being visible from ten to fifteen miles at sea.

The inhabitants had not recovered from the calam- ity of 1846, when another of a different nature, but not less appalling, east a gloom over the entire com- munity. The Presidential campaign of 1848 had nearly drawn to its close, when, on Thursday evening, November 2d, two large political gatherings were held, one in Lynn and the other in Salem.

The lon. Daniel Webster was advertised to ad- dress the Whigs at Lynn, and Gen. Caleb Cushing the Democrats at Salem. Special trains were run to these places from all the towns in the vicinity, and more than two hundred citizens of Marblehead availed themselves of the opportunity to listen to the eloquence of the grent orators. At twelve o'clock that night, as the Marblehead train was returning from Salem, a collision took place with the down train from Lynn. The engine, tender and forward car of the Marble- head train were utterly demolished. Six of the ocen- pants of the car were killed, and five were seriously wounded.

During the year 1819 the ship " Robert Hooper," owned by Mr. Edward Kimball, was built at " Red

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Stone" Cove. The launching, which took place on the 31st of October, was witnessed by hundreds of people, many of whom came from the neighboring cities and towns. Business was generally suspended, and the day was observed as a general holiday through- out the town. The enterprise thus begun, for a time, gave promise of becoming one of the permanant in- dustries of the town. Six other ships, of from eight hundred to twelve hundred tons hurden, were sub- sequently built for Mr. Kimball; and within a period of nine years twenty schooners, of from eighty-seven to one hundred and twelve tons burden, were built for various persons engaged in the fishing business.

In 1850 a hook-and-ladder carriage was bought and placed in the Fire Department. It was named the " Washington," and a company was organized for its management.

In 1852 the infantry company known as the Glo- ver Light Guards was organized. The first captain was Mr. William H. Hooper, a descendant of General Glover.

On the 31st of March, 1853, Mr. Moses Allen Pick- ett, a gentleman who had for years been a noted character in the town from his odd, eccentric man- ners, died and was buried. The event attracted little or no attention at the time beyond the circle of his few immediate relatives and friends ; but when his will was opened it was found that he had bequeathed the entire residue of his estate, after paying a few small legacies, to be used as a fund to " comfort the widow and the fatherless, the aged, the sick and the unhappy." His honse he directed should be kept in repair and "let to widows at a moderate rent." The entire amount of the bequest was about $13,400.

In his lifetime Mr. Pickett had been considered a man of a very penurious and miserly disposition ; but when the contents of his will were made known, the mouths that for years had been sealed were opened. Then, for the first time, his quiet and unostentatious charities were made known. The widow, the fatherless, the aged and the sick had many times been the recipients of his never-failing help in time of need. They had not known the name of their mysterious benefactor, and the local dealers who were the almoners of his charity had been pledged to secrecy. It was not until he had been called to his reward that his fellow-citizens saw and appreciated the true worth of the man who had lived among them.

The remainder of the year 1853 is chiefly men- orable on account of the three great military festivals which took place before it closed. On Tuesday, June 28th, the Marblehead Light Infantry, which had adopted the name of "Sutton," in honor of Gen- eral William Sutton, appeared under command of Captain Knott V. Martin. Among the distinguished visitors present were His Excellency, Governor Clif- ford, the Hon. Charles W. Upham, who at that time represented the Essex District in Congress, and

a large number of military officers from other towns. The Glover Light Guards, under Captain John M. Anderson, appeared in a grand parade on the 29th of September, and on the 19th of October the Lafayette Guards, under command of Captain John Carroll, Jr., made a similar demonstration. On each of these occasions the company parading was presented with a silk banner, the gift of the ladies of the town.

The anniversary of American independence had been celebrated from time to time with great parade, but probably the greatest celebration of the kind ever known in town up to this time was that which took place on the 4th of July, 1856. At nine o'clock in the morning of that day a procession was formed in seven divisions, consisting of the three military com- panies, the entire Fire Department, the pupils of the public schools, the town officials and their predeces- sors in office, aged citizens in carriages, a party of mounted Indian warriors and a cavalcade of horse- men. Mr. Joseph P. Turner acted as chief marshal. The procession moved through all the principal streets to the "Old North Church," where an oration was delivered by W. C. Endicott, Esq., of Salem. The other exercises consisted of prayer by the Rev. B. R. Allen, and reading of the Declaration of Indepen- dence by Mr. Franklin Knight. An ode, written for the occasion by Mrs. Maria L. Williams, was sung by the choir. In the evening there was a brilliant dis- play of fireworks, under the direction of a Boston pyrotechnist.

In 1856 a lodge of the "Sous of Temperance," was organized, known as " Washington Division, No. 3." The following year the Marblehead Musical Association was organized.

In 1858 several communicants of the First Con- gregational Church withdrew from that body and or- ganized the society which, for nearly twenty years, was known as the "Third Congregational Church." During the year 1860 the society erected the house of worship known as the "South Church," on the cor- ner of Essex and School Streets. This building was destroyed in the great conflagration of 1877, and the society united with the First Congregational Church.

On the 5th of December, 1858, the Hibernian Friendly Society was organized.

The year 1859 was as remarkable for local events as any in the history of the town. On the 1st of January a new engine, named the "Mugford," was added to the Fire Department, and the engine com- pany of that name was organized.

A controversy had arisen relative to the purchase of another hand-engine, and many of the firemen were loud in their praises of a machine known as the "Button Tub." The town decided adversely to the proposition to obtain one, however, and the engine known as the " General Glover " was purchased. The "General Glover" Engine Company was organized upon its reception.

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

On the lith of October the Waterside Cemetery was worsecrated with appropriate exercises, consisting of prayer, s'ny ng and an address by the Rev. Benjamin R Allen, pastor of the North Congregational Church.

For several years the people professing the faith of the Ranan Cathohe Church had maintained occa- sional services at private houses and in various halls in the town going to Salem to receive the holy com- munion. In 1859 the Church " Our Lady Star of the Sen" was erected, and since that time services have been regularly held During the same year Wash- ington Lodge of Good Templars and the Young Men's Christian Association were organized.

On the 26th of January, 1860, a large building on Lssex Street, known as Bassett's Hall, was totally destroyed by tire. This hall had been erected but a -hort time before, and was dedicated to the use of the Spiritualinte of the town. The house of the General Glover Engine Company was also destroyed. An- other honse was erected on Pleasant Street, for the use of the company, and at the same time a house was built on State Street for the use of the Gerry En- giue Company.

A reduction in the price paid for labor by the shoe manufacturers of Lynn and Marblehead in the spring ot the year Isto resulted in one of the greatest strikes ever known in either place. Nearly every man, woman and child employed in the manufacture of shoes in Marblehead participated in the movement, And there was a general determination not to submit to the reduction. On the 2d day of March the ""triker4 "made a grand demonstration, and in their parade about town they were escorted by the entire Fire Department and the three military companies. Five days later a similar demonstration took place in Lyun, when the shoemakers of Marblehead, escorted by the tiremen and military, visited that city and participated in the proceedings. On the 29th of March the "women strikers" paraded about town od one of their number acted as drummer. With commendable gallantry the firemen and military Again tendered their services as an escort, and the a lair passeel off very pleasantly for all concerned. At length, after n strike of six weeks in duration, the -how in there accepted the terms of the manufacturers, add returne l to their labor.

CHAPTER LXXXVIII.

- -

Ity the People-1

bin dul of the year last closed a quarter of a « Ery of great industrid development in the his-

tory of Marblehead. For a period of fifty years pre- vious to the year 1835 not a street or road was laid out in the town. Nearly every street was over- crowded with houses, and there were few vacant lots to be obtained in the settled portion of the township. A general apathy seemed to have settled over the entire community. Those who owned land would not sell it for business enterprises or other purposes, and, as a natural consequence, there came to be little or no demand for it. In 1835 a new order of things was inaugurated. During that year, through the persistent efforts of Mr. Adoniram C. Orne, a road was laid out by the county commissioners, which may properly be called an extension of Pleasant Street. This road began at a point near the corner of Spring Street, and extended through a field known as the "tan-yard," in which the "Brick Pond" was situated, into Washington Street. This was a great improvement, as previous to that time Pleasant Street opened into Washington Street through what is known as Essex Street.

With the opening of the railroad to Salem in 1839, an impetus was given to the manufacturing interests of the town and an era of prosperity began. One of the first to avail themselves of the advantages pre- sented by this ready means of transportation by rail was Mr. Joseph R. Bassett, an energetic and enterpris- ing young man, who had established himself in the shoe business a few years before. As his business in- creased he built a factory near the depot, and began to devise measures for the improvement of the town. For years a twine-factory or rope-walk had been sit- uated in a field fronting on Washington Street, and a few feet back of this building there was a tan-yard and cordage-factory. The only access to these build- ings, until another way was opened by the extension of Pleasant Street, was by means of a narrow foot- path which led from Washington Street to a gate at the entrance to the pastures on Reed's Hill. The first venture of this enterprising shoe manufacturer was to purchase the field in which the rope-walk stood, and in a short time the foot-path was trans- formed into a street, now know as School Street. A short time after he purchased the "Sewall Lot," through which a street was laid out from the Cornish and Evans estate to a point on " Reed's Hill." This street was accepted by the town in 1844, and has since been known as "Sewall Street." "Spring Street" was laid out during the following year, and was so named from a spring of pure water on the premises. Mr. Bassett's next movement was to lay out and build four streets over Reed's Hill and in that vicinity.

The question which now perpexed the people was, " How could the house-lots on all these streets be sold, and by whom would they be purchased ?" The problem was soon solved. On every street that he had laid out Mr. Bassett began to build neat and comfortable cottages, agreeing to furnish those of his

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workmen who purchased them with constant en- ployment, and to deduet a certain proportion from their earnings every week, until the houses and lots were paid for. This proposition was readily accepted by many of his workmen ; and in a few years the en- tire section in the vicinity of the new streets was covered with houses.

During the year 1847 Mr. Bassett erected a steam saw-mill on the shore in the section known as the Ship-yard. This was for the manufacture of wooden shoe-boxes; but it had an effect little dreamed of, even by the sanguine projector. The necessity of a good road to the mill suggested the laying out of streets, and the founding of a new settlement. The idea was speedily put in execution. A large tract of land in the vicinity was purchased, and Com- mercial Street, the two streets running parallel with it, and the cross-streets intervening, were laid out. The growth of the settlement in this section was hardly less rapid than that of those in or near the depot and on Reed's Hill.

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History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 35

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