USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lawrence > History of Lawrence, Massachusetts : with portraits and biographical sketches of ex-mayors up to 1880 and other distinguished citizens, including many business and professional men now living > Part 14
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THE CITY'S GROWTH.
Population.
1845
( estimated,) 150
1855 16,084
1865
21,723
1875
34,916
(estimated,) 39,000 1878
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Valuation.
$2,292,372
1847
5,577,944 1850
1855 9,954,041
10,586,023 1860
1865
12,683,273
1870
17,912,500
1877
23,902,537
City Debt.
1847
$15,000
1850
98,325
1855
137,500
1860
172.233
1865
283,450
1870
413,889
1875.
485,028
1877 (excluding water loan)
382,585
THE STREETS.
The streets of Lawrence are generally fifty feet wide. Essex street is eighty, Broadway sixty-six. Canal, Jackson, Appleton, Common and Haverhill, from Broadway to Spring street, sixty feet ; Mechanic street is only forty feet. The highest elevation between Broadway and the Spicket is at the corner of Cross and Franklin streets which is seventy-five feet above the Essex Company's base line. At the corner of Essex and Lawrence streets it is thirty-eight feet above that line, and four feet higher than the crest of the dam.
OLD RESIDENTS' ASSOCIATION.
In order to preserve the facts pertaining to the history of Lawrence, an Old Residents' Association was formed December 22d, 1877, as
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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE, MASS.
follows : President, Daniel Saunders; Vice President, Robert H. Tewksbury ; Executive Committee, W. H. P. Wright, William R. Pedrick, Nathaniel Ambrose, Nathan W. Harmon, Patrick Sweeney, Dr. Aaron Ordway, Mrs. Caroline L. Bartlett, Mrs. Abbie A. Wilcox, Mrs. Uretta E. McAllister, Mrs. Caroline E. Fay, Miss Katharine A. ()'Keeffe, Miss Francis Paul ; Historian, John R. Rollins.
THE PIONEERS.
Of the settlers in Lawrence during the early months of its history, few remain ; during the first ten years of its existence hardly any one came here with a purpose of making it a permanent settlement ; its growth from the desert had been so sudden, so mushroom-like ; everywhere reigned such supreme disorder and incompleteness that it presented few attractions other than the advantages of its busy, bustling thrift and business opportunities ; within the past half score of years this has changed ; the character and permanence of a city established, its growth and future assured, it has become a place of homes instead of stopping places, and the former ever shifting char- acter of its population is solidified into a permanence and stability eminently gratifying. But of the immigrants of 1845 to 1848, very few remain ; of a dozen resident physicians in 1848, only three, Drs. Wm. D). Lamb, Isaac Tewksbury, and David Dana, now remain here in practice, although Dr. Blanchard, for some years absent, has since returned, engaging in business pursuits. Of an equal number of attorneys, only three, Daniel Saunders, Jr., Thomas A. Parsons and Ivan Stevens, remain, and not a single clergyman ; of the merchants, less than a dozen, and of the entire population, not above a hundred are now resident in the city.
XVI.
LAWRENCE IN THE REBELLION.
* The first meeting of the City Council, to act upon matters con- nected with the war, was a special meeting held April 16th, 1861, at which the following preamble and resolutions were adopted :-
Whereas the President of the United States, in view of the dan- . gerous Rebellion now existing in several of the Federal States, threat- ening alike the security and liberty of our homes, has seen fit to make a requisition upon the Governor of this Commonwealth for a certain number of troops to assist in quelling said Rebellion ; and as the two military companies of Lawrence comprise a portion of the Sixth Regiment of militia who, in obedience to said requisition, are now on their way to report themselves at headquarters; therefore be it
Resolved, By the city of Lawrence, that the sum of five thousand dollars be, and hereby is, appropriated, to be used in case of need, to provide for the wants of those who comprise these companies, or their families.
Five thousand dollars additional were appropriated for the same purpose, May 16th, and in October following another appropriation of three thousand dollars was made.
On the 18th of April a petition of Daniel Saunders, Jr., and others, was presented to the City Council, asking an appropriation for the * Schouler's History.
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MELVIN BEAL,
Mechanic ; residence, 213 Broadway. Has been in Lawrence nearly twenty-six years. Born at Guilford, Me., Oct. 31, 1832, Attended the common school and worked on a farm until sixteen. Married Emily M. Goodhue of Salem, N. H., Nov. 9, 1853 ; has one son. At- tends the Universalist church. Left Maine in 1850, going to Pelham, N. H., and working at carding and spinning in a woolen mill until Oct. 1852, when he came to Lawrence and worked in the Bay State Mill as spinner and second hand of spinning till 1856, when he went painting, which he followed when not in the army till 1866, when he was appointed State Constable, which position he held for nine years. Councilman for Ward I, 1866 ; two years assistant and two years chief engineer of fire department ; 20 years a fireman. Representative from 2 Ist District in the legislature, 1878, and was a member of the mili- ary committee. Colonel of 6th Regt. M. V. M. For full military record see history of regiment.
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QUARTER-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF LAWRENCE, MASS. 167
purpose of equipping a regiment of volunteer militia ; and five thou- sand dollars were appropriated for that purpose. At the same meet- ing the Mayor was requested to cause the national flag to be raised upon the flagstaff on Lawrence Common, "there to remain as a per- manent evidence of our devotion to our country." April 24th, fif- teen hundred dollars were appropriated "for the purchase of flannels and other 'materials asked for by the Ladies' Soldiers' Aid Society of Lawrence," to be made into articles for the use of the volunteers.
On the receipt of the news of the death of Sumner Henry Need- ham, who fell in Baltimore on the memorable 19th of April, and whose name has become historical as one of the first martyrs of the Rebellion, the following resolutions were passed by both branches of the City Government :-
Resolved, That to the afflicted relatives and friends of the dear departed, in this hour of their deep heart grief, we extend our ten- derest sympathies ; and, while we would not invade the sanctity of their sorrow, his loss to us, as a community, a people, and a nation, and the remembrance of the noble patriotism and holy devotion in- spiring the mission in which he has fallen, throws upon our hearts the same cloud of sadness, and unites our grief to theirs.
Resolved, That in respect to the memory of the deceased this City Government will attend the funeral in a body ; that we invite our fellow-citizens generally to join in paying a fast tribute of respect to the departed, and we recommend the closing of all places of business in our city on the occasion of his interment .*
The city of Lawrence continued its activity in behalf of the great cause until the end of the war, making liberal appropriations of money to encourage recruiting, and for the payment of State aid to the families of volunteers, for which a special agent of the city was
* Mr. Tewksbury, the City Treasurer, writes : " In accordance with the resolves, the City Government attended the funeral in a body, with distinguished State officials, and a count- less throng of citizens. He was buried from the City Hall, all business being suspended for the time, and the flags displayed at half mast, with general evidence of mourning on every hand. A suitable granite monument in the Lawrence Cemetery marks the last resting place of the martyr."
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placed in charge. Each company belonging to the city, on its return from the front at the close of its term of service, was received "with fitting welcome and suitable demonstrations."
Lawrence furnished two thousand four hundred and ninety-seven men for the war, which was a surplus of two hundred and twenty-four over and above all demands. Ninety-two were commissoned officers. The whole amount of money appropriated and expended by the city on account of the war, exclusive of State aid, was one hundred and fifteen thousand six hundred and thirty dollars and ten cents, ($115,630.10).
The amount of money raised by the city during the four years of the war for State aid paid to the families of volunteers, and which was afterwards repaid by the Commonwealth, was as follows: In 1861, $14,524.05 ; in 1862, $52,555.52 ; in 1863, $58, 153.48; in 1864, $45,000.00 ; in 1865, $22,000.00. Total amount, $192,233.05.
The "Ladies' Soldiers' Aid Society " of Lawrence continued their patriotic work during the continuance of the war. They held weekly meetings in the Common Council room in the City Hall, to make under-clothing, bandages, lint, and other articles, for the sick and wounded in the hospitals. They also contributed upwards of seven thousand dollars in cash, in various practical charities to the soldiers."
The history of the Sixth Regiment, which is so closely identified with this city was one of the most eventful of the war. The first to respond to the call for the country's safety, and the first to bleed in the mighty struggle. This regiment has the undisputed honor of first reaching Washington after the famous fight in Baltimore on the 19th of April, 1861.
As early as January 21st of that year the officers of the Sixth Regi- ment had authorized Colonel Jones to pledge the service of the Regiment to the government. Major B. F. Watson presented the resolution. On the 15th of April Gov. Andrew ordered Col. Jones
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SMITH M. DECKER,
Grocer, 36 Amesbury St. Resides at 333 Haverhill St. Has been in Lawrence 18 years. Born in Swanton, Vt., 1843. Liberally edu- cated at Franklin Academy, Vt. Has been in business at the present place 11 years. Firm name now Decker & Whittier ; first three years was Decker & Andrews, the latter retiring on account of ill health. Col. Decker enlisted in 1862 in the 13th Vermont Regiment ; commis- sioned 2d lieut., 1863. In 1864 enlisted in the 6th Mass. Regiment. Served as sergeant, Ist lieutenant and captain in Co. K of this regiment. July, 1872 was made lieutenant-colonel of the Sixth. Was mustered out at the re-organization, and appointed provost-marshal on the staff First Brigade. In 1877 was commissioned major of the Sixth Reg't, which position he at present holds.
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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE, MASS. ,169
to muster his command on Boston Common and proceed to Wash- ington. Lawrence furnished two companies, I and F, and Lieut. Colonel B. F. Watson. Co. F, the "Warren Light Guard," was organized March 3d, 1855, and named in honor of General Joseph Warren, and Co. I, the "Lawrence Light Infantry," was organized in 1849. Company F was commanded by Capt. B. F. Chadbourne, Melvin Beal 2d lieutenant, Thomas J. Cate, 3d lieutenant, Jesse C. Silver, 4th lieutenant. Company I was commanded by Capt. John John Pickering, Ist lieutenant, D. S. Yeaton, 2d lieutenant, A. L. Hamilton, 3d lieutenant, E. H. Ellenwood, 4th lieutenant, Eugene J. Mason.
The regiment reached Philadelphia at midnight of the 18th, and trouble being feared in their passage through Baltimore, ammunition was distributed and orders given to the men that trouble might be expected. Baltimore is a city of 200,000 population, and at that time more than half of the population were rebels. People not acquainted with the railroad accommodations at Baltimore do not exactly understand the situation and how the fight came about. The cars from Philadelphia enter the city on the north side ; here they are detatched from the locomotive and drawn through the city for two miles by horses to the Baltimore and Washington depot. The train containing the regiment consisted of eleven cars. Seven of them were hauled safely through. The remaining four containing the band, Co. C, and D, of Lowell, Co. I, of this city, and Co. L, of Stoneham, were started shortly after, but the infuriated mob be- coming more determined, barricaded the track and would not allow them to proceed. These men then left the cars and proceeded to cross the city on foot to the depot for Washington, and it was at this time that the troops were fired upon, and one of the first that fell was Corporal Sumner H. Needham, of Co. I. He was born in Bethel, Maine, and had lived in Lawrence about twelve years. A monument
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marks his resting place. The monument was erected by the City Government.
The regiment quartered in Washington till May 5th, when it was ordered to the Relay House, where it remained till July 22d, the ex- piration of the three months for which it was called into action, and it was dismissed. The Lawrence companies were welcomed home with great enthusiasm, congratulatory speeches, a procession and other features characterizing the day.
The year following, 1862, when the government issued a call for nine months' men, the Sixth Regiment was again recruited to help fill the quota. Company I was organized from this city with A. L. Hamilton as captain, E. H. Ellenwood ist lieutenant, and R. H. Barr 2d lieutenant. Upon the staff from this city was Melvin Beal, Lieut. Colonel. The regiment did duty on the Blackwater and were en- gaged in several fights. It was mustered out May 25th, 1862. The last active campaign of the Sixth was as one hundred days' men, and it was quite monotonous, duty Col. Beal was still Lieutenant Colonel. Company K was mustered from Lawrence, with E. J. Sherman as captain, Moulton Batchelder Ist lieutenant, and John D. Emerson 2d lieutenant. The time was spent mostly in forts.
In the 14th Infantry, commonly known as the Essex County regi- ment, Lawrence was represented by two companies, F and K. On the staff during the war, there were from this city; Lieut-Col. Levi P. Wright, Major Frank A. Rolfe, (killed) and Frank Davis. Company F was commanded by Captain Samuel Langmaid, J. W. Kimball Ist lieutenant, John H. Glover, 2d. Company K by Captain Frank A. Rolfe, Caleb Saunders, Ist lieutenant, William Preston, 2d. On the first of January, 1862, it was changed into the First Massachusetts Heavy Artillery. Early in April the regiment was required to furnish garrison for several forts in Virginia, and August 26th they received orders to participate in the battles of Bull Run, but did no fighting at that time. They lay on their arms one night. The regiment sub-
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DANIEL F. DOLAN,
Wool Hat Finisher. Place of business, Methuen. House, 85 Cross St. A resident of Lawrence twenty-three years. Born in Ireland, March 19th, 1847 ; is not married, and is a Roman Catholic in his church connections. Served in the Common Council, from Ward IV, in 1874, and was president of the body during that year. Was elected commanding officer of Co. I., 6th Reg't M. V. M. in June 1877, and commissioned the following month. Is at present the Captain of said company.
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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE, MASS.
sequently returned to garrison duty. In May 1864 the regiment marched to join the army of the Potomac, and was assigned to Tyler's division, Colonel Tannatt commanding. On the 19th, the regiment was in a severe engagement in which two officers were killed, fifteen wounded, fifty-three men killed, and two hundred and ninety-seven wounded, and twenty-seven reported missing. June 3d, occurred the battle of Cold Harbor, the regiment being engaged in charging on the enemy's works in the morning, and the repulse at night. . In frequent engagements during the summer, it lost heavily. In February 1865, the regiment began active service. On the 25th of August, 1865, the regiment was discharged, having been in service four years, one month and twenty-one days,
In the 26th regiment Companys F and I were recruited in this city. Company F was commanded by Captain Annabel, with E. Caufy as ist lieutenant, George E. Yerrington, 2d. Company I was commanded by Captain John Pickering, Ist lieutenant Charles E. Drew, and Badger 2d.
In the 4Ist Infantry, changed to Third Cavalry, was Company B. E. L. Noyes, captain, C. T. Batchelder, Ist lieutenant, Chas. Stone, 2d lieutenant. Colonel L. D. Sargent also belonged to this regiment.
Company C of the 40th regiment was mustered also from this city, with Stephen D. Stokes captain, Eugene J. Mason Ist lieutenant, J. F. Weare 2d lieutenant.
In the 17th regiment this city was represented by Company I, Thomas Weir captain, Michael Burns Ist lieutenant. The second lieutenant did not belong to this city.
One company of three years' men were also recruited from this city that joined the New York Mozart regiment.
In the nine months' regiments, two companies were raised in this city for the 4th regiment, B and H. B. was commanded by Captain
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E. T. Colby, with Geo. S. Merrill as Ist lieutenant, and John K. Tar- box as 2d lieutenant. Company H, John R. Rollins captain, J. G. Abbott Ist lieutenant, and Hiram Robinson 2d.
In the ninety days men the eighth unattached company was com- manded by Captain A. L. Hamilton, with E. H. Ellenwood as Ist, and Fred. G. Tyler as 2d lieutenant.
What the "boys" endured in the way of suffering and hardships while in the army of the rebellion will but a small part ever be told. Many were killed, many died of wounds and disease, and many others were diseased and maimed for life. The personal history of several of them would of itself make a volume. We will briefly follow the history of but one and from that the reader can glean something of the experience of many who took part in the whole campaign. Captain L. N. Duchesney whose portrait is in this book enlisted as a private in Company F, Sixth regiment, at the first call "to arms " and was with the regiment in its "march through Baltimore." Arriving at Washington he was detailed as telegraph operator. Came home and was mustered out August 2d, 1861. Enlisted as private in Company H, Ist Mass. Cavalry. November 22d, was promoted to corporal and shortly after to sergeant, and then to orderly ; commissioned 2d lieutenant January 16th, 1863 ; Ist lieutenant February 16th, 1864. Mustered out April 3d, 1864. Was subsequently commissioned cap- tain Ist battalion of Ist Mass. Cavalry, in the 26th New York Cavalry, March 1865, and was stationed on the frontier at Ogdensburg and Champlain. Since the war Captain Duchesney enlisted as private in Company C, 6th regiment, M. V. M., May 3d, 1871. Ist lieutenant, May 1871. Resigned and discharged Nov. 20th, 1872. Elected and commissioned Captain August 23d, 1873, and has held this posi- tion since that time.
The above tells only the bright side. But while in the army earn- ing these promotions Captain Duchesney took active parts in the following battles. Fredericksburg, Chancellorville, Rapidan Station,
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LAURENCE N. DUCHESNEY,
Inspector of Customs at the Boston Custom House. Residence, 46 Lowell St., Lawrence. Born in Canada, Sept., 1842. Came to this city in 1858. He was employed in the packing room at the Pacific Mills until the war of the rebellion broke out. For his army record see pages 172, 173 and 174 of this history. Capt. Duchesney has been commander of Needham Post, No. 39, G. A. R. His family consists of a wife and two children.
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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE, MASS.
Rappahanock Bridge, Stevensburg, Brandy Station, Culpepper, Kelly's Ford, Popple Grove Church, Union Mills, Aldie, Secessionville, all in Virginia in the Army of the Potomac. He joined the department of the South and took part in the battles at French Brook, Raytown, Granville, and Chockee River, in East Tennessee.
At the last fight in Virginia he was taken prisoner of war June 17th, 1863, and taken to Richmond to Libby Prison. While here he was selected as a hostage and sentenced to be hung. Put into solitary confinement for sixty-nine days and nights, half starved, and expected every moment to be taken to the scaffold for execution. At the ex- piration of this time he was taken to Salisbury, N. C., and for three months with three others were under orders to be shot in retaliation for four bushwhackers hung by Burnside in Tennessee. When the au- thorities at Washington found out that they were thus sentenced they sent word to the "rebs" that if these men were shot the government would immediately shoot Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, a son of Gen. Winder, and two other noted Southerners who were then prisoners of war held by the U. S. government. This caused the sentence to be deferred and finally abandoned. He was then taken to be carried to Dan- ville, but while on the way he escaped by jumping from the cars while in motion about ten o'clock at night. This was twelve miles from Greensboro'. Three others escaped at the same time, Captain E. M. Driscoll, Third Ohio Infantry, Lieut. Quimby, Ninth New Hampshire, and Sergeant Hayes of this city. The latter was cap- tured and taken back. These other three wended their way due westward, travelling nights and stealing or begging scanty supplies to sustain life as the case might be, going 1500 miles through the enemy's country, arriving at Knoxville, Tennessee, January 13th, 1864. While passing through the mountains Captain Duchesney joined himself for a while with bushwhackers and finally with Col. Kirk's North Carolina Cavalry, all of whom were engaged in guerrilla warfare against the Secessionists. Upon arriving at Knoxville he
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QUARTER-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF LAWRENCE, MASS.
reported to General Green, Provost Marshal, and was at once by order of Secretary Stanton sent to Washington and mustered out of service, his time having expired.
THE MILITIA.
The headquarters of the Sixth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Militia are in this city. Colonel Beal, the commander at the first call for soldiers to put down the rebellion, was a member of the State Militia, 2d Lieutenant of Company F, Sixth Regiment. On the 6th of May, same year, he was commissioned Captain. When the regi- ment was recruited for nine months service in 1862 he was commis- sioned Lieutenant Colonel, serving in this capacity during this enlist- ment, and the subsequent 100 days' service. January 30th, 1863, had his horse killed at his side in the battle on the Blackwater, and also received honorable mention for bravery. Since the close of the war Colonel Beal has been the commander of the Sixth Regiment, M. V. M. Company I, Captain Daniel F. Dolan, and Company K, Captain L. N. Duchesney, of this regiment are located here. Major Smith M. Decker, and Adjutant Charles H. Littlefield and pay- master L. G. Holt of the Staff also belong to Lawrence.
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TIMOTHY DACEY,
Hotel Keeper, of firm of T. Dacey & Co., proprietors of Boston Hotel, 200 Essex St. Has been in Lawrence since early childhood. Born in Clonakilty, Cork Co., Ireland, 1837. Was a member of the com- mon council for 1871-2, a member of the police force in 1868, and a member of the house of representatives, 1877. Captain Dacey was formerly prominently connected with the Fenian movement, and was sent in 1865 by the Lawrence Fenian Club to England, where he was arrested soon after his arrival. He was released and subsequently ar- rested and rescued, several of his rescuers being hung for the offence. Enlisted in Co. I, 9th Mass. Reg't, June, 1861 ; promoted to sergeant June, 1861, 2nd lieutenant, Sept., 1862, Ist lieutenant, April, 1863. Was wounded in the " Battle of the Wilderness," May, 1864. Mus- tered out June, 1864. Enlisted in Co. I, 6th Reg't, M. V. M., Jan. 1871 ; was elected captain in February, same year ; resigned June, 1877.
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XVII.
THE CITY MISSION-CATHOLIC SOCIETIES, NEWSPAPERS, ETC.
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LAWRENCE CITY MISSION.
In a new city like this, the philanthropic people soon saw the need of caring for a certain class, unfortunately destitute, who were not and ought not to be classed paupers. Rev. Mr. Harrington of the Unitarian church was the first to apply this principle, and in the years 1852-3 solicited contributions throughout the parish and acted himself as distributing agent. This worked so well that on the 29th day of December, 1854, an assembly was convened agreeably to call and an association organized called the "Lawrence Provident Asso- ciation." The officers elected were, President, John C. Hoadley ; Vice Presidents, George Packard and J. D. Herrick ; Treasurer, W. D. Lamb ; Secretary, Richard H. Rust, who was at that time pastor of the Haverhill street M. E. church. The plan of the work was to raise funds by contributions and distribute them through ward committees, three from each ward being chosen for that purpose. Monthly meetings were held and reports made on the condition of the work. January 6th, 1857, George P. Wilson was elected general agent and treasurer, but declined the position at that time owing to other engagements, and Henry Withington was chosen in his stead.
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At the annual meeting in October, 1858, Dr. Packard was elected President, N. P. Houghton Secretary, and George P. Wilson General Agent and Treasurer, at a salary of $600 per annum. At length it was thought that an organization more comprehensive would better serve the purposes of the people, and in accordance with the follow- ing vote delegates were chosen :
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