USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, 1864-1890 > Part 10
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, 1864-1890 > Part 10
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lynnfield > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, 1864-1890 > Part 10
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Nahant > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, 1864-1890 > Part 10
USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lynn > History of Lynn, Essex county, Massachusetts: including Lynnfield, Saugus, Swampscott, and Nahant, 1864-1890 > Part 10
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In person, Mr. Mudge was of full medium size, remarkably well formed, dignified in manners, and always attentive to those who addressed him, whether high or low. He was quick of ap- prehension, self-possessed, decided in his views, and able at all times to give a reason for the faith that was in him. It was impossible for one to have intercourse with him for an hour and not perceive that he was a man of superior mental endowment. And those who had fellowship with him in church work were at once impressed with his fidelity to his clearly-defined principles, his bright, cheerful anticipations, and his freedom from bigotry.
For political honors he did not aspire, though at one time he served in the State Senate. Yet he took commendable interest in public affairs, labored and expended hberally for the advance- ment of enterprises that he believed were for the public good. He manifested especial interest in the young business men - they who were soon to take the places of the generation of which he was a member - gave lectures to them, in Boston, and im- proved every opportunity to urge upon them the formation of habits of strict integrity, industry, and moral rectitude, as the ground on which alone permanent prosperity could rest. Though he made no pretensions as an orator, he was yet a very effective speaker, and one who always secured the close attention of his auditors. His style was carnest and indicative of his own deep convictions. His language was well chosen, his points concisely presented, and his arguments effective from resting on a basis of sound common sense.
The burial service over the remains of Mr. Mudge was held in St. Stephen's Church - then just on the verge of completion - on Tuesday, October 4. It was the first service ever held within those walls, was simple, and in strict accordance with the rubrics. The edifice was entirely filled, large numbers of distinguished persons from abroad, and many of the clergy being present. And the large attendance of our own citizens of all classes, afforded grateful assurance of the wide-spread sympathy for the bereaved family. The remains were conveyed to the cloister garth, and there, with prayer, and sacred melody, and words of heavenly promise, and amid the tears of loved kindred, committed to their final resting place.
Mr. Mudge was born in Orrington, Me., on the twenty-second of March, 1812, and was a son of Rev. Enoch Mudge, a native of Lynn, of whom a brief biographical notice may be found in our 1865 edition of the History of Lynn. At an early age he was united in marriage with Miss Caroline A. Patten of Portland, Me., and they became the parents of seven children, the mother,
ـنجم
INTEERTE OF STE STESILEN CIOSGHI
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one son, and two daughters surviving him. His eldest son, Charles Redington, a lieutenant-colonel in the Union forces, was killed in the battle of Gettysburg, July 3, 1863, and his eldest daughter, Fanny Olive, died July 23, 1879. And in memory of those beloved children the costly tablets in the south interior wall were placed at the time of the crection of the church.
A fire occurred early on the morning of October 27, in the stable of A. H. Bosworth, on Willow street, destroying property to the amount of $600.
The National Security Bank of Lynn commenced business on Tuesday, November 1, Benjamin F. Spinney, president, David J. Lord, cashier ; capital, $100.000. This is the fourth bank of discount in Lynn.
St. Stephen's Memorial Church was consecrated on Wednes- day, November 2, and the services, conducted according to the prescribed order, were extremely impressive. Many distinguished clergymen and others from abroad were present, and there was a large attendance of our own citizens. Bishop Paddock of the Massachusetts Diocese and Bishop Neely of Maine, took parts in the exercises ; and Bishop Huntington of Central New York, delivered the sermon. The beautiful edifice was erected by Hon. Enoch Redington Mudge, for the use of St. Stephen's parish, and had become doubly hallowed by his own sudden decease and burial within its walls. What wonder then that a large and sympa- thetic concourse should have gathered. The corner stone was laid on the 19th of May, 1880. There were present on that occasion also a large number of prominent clergymen. Bishop Paddock delivered an address ; and under the stone was placed an engraved copper tablet stating that the building was to be reared as a thank-offering to God and in memory of a deceased son and daughter ; to remain a house of worship, for the use of St. Stephen's parish, in conformity to the rites, ceremonies, usages and canons of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States. The edifice will be known as St. Stephen's Memorial Church. But the design of the donor was not merely commemorative of his deceased children, dear as they were. His greater object was to do something noble for the spiritual eleva- tion of the community in which he felt such a glowing interest ; and had his children lived he would have done some great work for that end. But his martial son had laid his life on his country's altar, and the thought came of a Christian soldier's most befitting monument.
The Sanborn School House, in Ward 2, (Glenmere,) was dedi- cated on Monday, December 5. The name was in honor of Jere- miah Sanborn, a former teacher in the ward.
As noted under the proper date, horse rail-road cars first began
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to run in the streets of Lynn, Nov. 29, 1860. They were found to be of very great convenience, especially to working people whose employment was in the manufactories in the central parts. And though for some time the pioneer company did not realise much from their pecuniary investment, by perseverance, fair dealing, and efforts to accommodate, they gained the confidence and good-will of the community, and finally secured to themselves generous returns. As exigences seemed to require the lines have been extended to different neighborhoods, and come to be con- sidered very important auxiliaries to our prosperity. The cheap lands in the suburbs afford opportunities to many of limited means to secure pleasant homes, free from the damaging neces- sity of frequent removals ; and by such the street rail-way is highly appreciated.
Some of those wise prognosticators who may always be found endeavoring to disturb the equanimity of naturally apprehensive minds, predicted that the year 1881 would be distinguished for remarkable and disastrous occurrences if indeed it was not to witness the end of all earthly things. Dire celestial phenomena, atmospheric disturbances, calamities by fire and flood, were among the promised woes. As far as certain parts of the world were concerned there was a verification of some of the predictions, hurricanes, floods, and conflagrations, attended by startling inci- dents, taking place. The number of shipwrecks was remarkably large, and the loss of life by their means and by conflagrations was appaling. But in this favored region nothing of a very ex- traordinary nature took place. A couple of rather pale comets decorated the heavens in the latter part of the summer ; indeed not less than seven of those erratic wanderers were reported as appearing within the range of telescopic vision during the year. A rattling thunder storm occupied the evening of Decoration Day. And a few uncomfortably sudden changes of temperature took place. Then there was the " yellow day," September 6, and the beautiful arial phantom on the night of September 12. These were about the sum of our share of wonders. We had no severe drought, steam-boat or rail-road disaster, no great conflagration, hurricane, or flood. Still, in many unreflecting and superstitious minds there lingered through the whole year vague apprehensions of brooding evil. The literary forgery known as " Mother Ship- ton's Prophesies," purporting to have been made in 1448, and to foretell at least one event of some importance that was to happen in this pregnant year 1881, strangely enough, created real alarm in minds that would have been supposed far above such influ- ences. The matter was rather cunningly devised, and to the unthinking mind that entertained no doubt of the genuineness of the predictions, the allusions to steam, the electric-telegraph, iron ships, California, the British premier Disraeli, &c., must have
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come with alarming force. But let us give place to a few of the occult lines, for it is not unlikely that the " Prophesies " may in the future, with a modification or two be presented afresh. It does seem as if every generation must have some such mysteri- ous chapter to ponder over.
"Carriages without horses shall go. Around the world thoughts shall fly In the twinkling of an eye. Iron in the water shall float As easy as a wooden boat. Gold shall be found, and found In a land that 's not now known.
Fire and water shall more wonders do. England shall at last admit a Jew.
* The world then to an end shall come In eighteen hundred and eighty-one."
In concluding these remarks on what may be called some of the popular vagaries of the day, it may be well to add that in various parts of the country professed scientists, who are expected to keep an eye on nature as she pursues her marvelous develop- ments, propounded new theories and claimed extraordinary dis- coveries. It was alleged, for instance, by an Ohio astronomer, that in consequence of "the change in the parallelism of the axis of rotation of the earth, which took place during a superior planetary conjunction, October 11, 1877, the United States are now in the torrid zone." Finally, we may as well record our own " prophecy ;" which is that all such predictions as the foregoing will fail in the future, as they have failed in the past.
In closing our chapter of Annals, it is not deemed necessary to occupy space with a formal recapitulation. The matter has been so arranged that it is thought anything in the book can be readily found by reference to the index. Such statistical items as seemed most aptly to exhibit our progress and condition at different periods, and most interesting to the general reader, have been given. But for many details, useful and interesting to a class, but dry and useless to others, resort may be had to published municipal documents.
In the matter of business energy and enterprise, Lynn stands among the foremost in New England. But for some reason her reputation abroad for intellectual development and scholarly attainment has not been enviable. We must work for a change. It is not easy to give any reliable data on which an accurate judgment of the progress and condition of intelligence and mental discipline among us, can be predicated. Our people are great readers ; but the quality of the reading should be taken into account before a proper estimate of its usefulness can be made. The Free Public Library has now about 30.000 volumes,
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and the average daily delivery amounts to about 500. This is a large circulation, and to a considerable extent lies with the young work-people, who, in some sense as a relief from daily toil, peruse the lighter works, which, though by no means positively perni- cious, arc liable to usurp the place of those which would be more conducive to mental health and growth. It may be said that if the class to whom we refer cannot procure the desired books they will not read any thing ; and in that light it is per- haps well to keep up the supply, looking to reformation in the future, which may gradually come about, for the shelves are well provided with attractive works of solid character. The circulation of newspapers in Lynn has increased with astonishing rapidity within a dozen years. Almost every one must now have his daily paper, and if all those connected with the editorial profession would maintain the dignity of the press, avoiding the merely sensational and frivolous, what an influence they would have in elevating the tone of society and shaping its destinies. At this time there are not probably less than 14.000 daily papers circu- lated in Lynn, and of other publications large numbers ; and while, for the most part, they are of a character worthy of com- mendation, a few could be spared without detriment. All that it seems necessary to say of our 65 public Schools, appears else- where. They are doubtless in good condition as measured by the apparent requirements of the day and as compared with institutions of similar grade in other places ; but future times will have other views and demands.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
"On, on, the generations march ! Resistless, pauseless ! But they leave Their footprints ineffaceable As is the starry tracery on high.
· Their words still linger, airily, Like breathings from the spirit homes !"
INTRODUCTION.
IT is proposed to give, in this Chapter, Biographical Sketches - or perhaps it should rather be said in regard to many of them, brief Personal Notices-of some of the people of Lynn who have become more or less strongly marked by their integrity of character and their efforts to promote the best interests of the place ; or even, peradventure, of those who by their abnormal ways have afforded useful allurements or warnings ; for, from the delinquences and miscarriages, the buffetings and failures of some, as well as from the fidelity and success of others, we may as certainly receive useful guidance as may the mariner from the occasionally lurching as well as from the ever-constant buoy.
As the parent survives and continues an extended existence in the lives of his offspring, so the good member of society lives an extended life in the enduring influence of his deeds and exam- ple, often accumulating power as time recedes. There is a fasci- nation in the tracing of family connections. In so doing, to be sure, one sometimes falls on an individual who does no credit to his lineage ; but such may be silently passed by ; and it must be a very low-conditioned family that in the course of generations can present no honorable example. But how little do we know of the estimation in which an individual who lived even a few years
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before ourselves, was held by his cotemporaries. The prominent features of character survive ; but the minor lights and shades are obscured ; the petulance of the churlish and the vagaries of the conceited have faded away in the lustre of their better qualities.
The plan adopted in the 1865 edition of our History of Lynn, will not be so closely followed, here, as has been done in the chapter of Annals, as it is thought that some variations will be improvements. As alphabetical arrangement is always conve- nient, that will be pursued. And to make the whole as plain and comprehensive as possible, the names of a class of individ- uals, who were not natives, will appear, with references to the dates in the Annals under which some account of them may be found. In short, it is proposed to give in the following pages what will enable the reader to refer to any biographical notice, whether of a native or otherwise, or whether it is to be found in this volume or in that of 1865. In a few instances, too, notable persons spoken of under different dates in the Annals will receive brief connected notices. And furthermore, lest the reader who may not fully observe our plan, should discover a seemingly unwarrantable omission, here and there, it is thought proper to introduce a few names with references to accounts in other places than the regular History ; for instance to the Mayors, of whom sketches, with portraits, are given in the " Centennial Memorial."
In our many notices we shall endeavor to give fair glimpses of character, not unreasonably magnifying mediocrity nor unjustly exhibiting blemishes. The more prodigal one is of his compli- ments, the more he lessens their value ; and unjust censure recoils upon himself. It will not be inferred that the individuals here brought to notice are the only ones spoken of in our An- nals. Many more are there named and their meritorious doings alluded to, as a reference to the indexes will enable any one to perceive. Mere genealogies of families, of course, are not to any extent given. They are but skeletons without flesh ; inter- esting, indeed, to the near kindred, but not to the general reader. Of course the names of a great many worthy people do not appear at all in the connection, as it is by no means intended to present an annotated directory. But it is sought to introduce a meet representative or two from the various walks of life. No
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person living has not, in addition to his modest self-appreciation some friend to whom he would be glad to see a tribute paid. But in a work of this kind it devolves on the author to discrim- inate, and endeavor to present, within reasonable limits, what seems, on the whole, to be likely to result in the greatest good.
An attempt to delineate character is always a delicate task, and especially so when a cotemporary is the subject ; for we necessa- rily view our travelling companions along life's road in different lights and from different stand-points; and hence what one might pronounce a faithful delineation, another might look upon as distorted. Some look deep down for the principles from which actions spring, while others look only to surface indica- tions. But there is a kind of fellow-traveller whose companion- ship very few of us much esteem ; namely, the one who is prone to make those about him uncomfortable by unnecessary com- plaints, ill-formed conceits, and irregularities of temper. To his cotemporaries he is always disagreeable ; and if he be a man of real genius and worth must look to future generations for a just estimate of his merits, they not being tried by his vaporings. This reflection, perhaps impertinent, forced itself upon the writer as the image of one of whom a sketch has already been prepared, came up before his mind. We will call him Mr. G. He long since passed away, and his name is now among the choicest in the keeping of our people. A little anecdote will serve to illus- trate our meaning as well as the degree of honor awarded him in his own time; though it is not to be denied that there were those who, while he yet remained among us, duly estimated his superior endowments, having power to penetrate the sometimes repulsive haze that obscured his better nature. On an afternoon, nearly forty years ago, the writer, in passing through Central square observed mounted on a wagon that stood there an indi- vidual well known throughout the town as a half-lunatic, but shrewd, observing, and fond of indulging in sarcastic remarks. He was delivering a rambling oration to the motley assembly gathered around. Just then Mr. G. came along. The orator caught sight of him, and suspending his discourse called out, " Here, here, Mr. G -- , I have something to say to you. Pray stop a moment and hear me." This salutation was of course unheeded, and Mr. G. moved along with his accustomed dignity.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Adams. Alley.
The other repeated the call, but with no better success ; and then, with an air of mingled chagrin and contempt, added, " Well, well, my friend ! so you won't notice me, will you ? I suppose you call yourself up in the world and think I'm down, do n't you ? We all know you 're up-ish, and I 'm derry-down. But before heaven I don't believe there 's much to choose between us. We both act like the devil!" The shout that went up from the crowd at that sally may be imagined. After the explosion, the orator calmly resumed his harangue, and the whole assembly seemed to feel that the popular mind had been expressed. But the time has now arrived when the displeasing foibles of Mr. G. are forgotten, and his name stands high on the roll of those we delight to honor. His many worthy deeds are gratefully remembered ; his minor blemishes, which so an- noyed those of his own generation, are buried with him. As there are among the individuals of whom we shall speak, some of like characteristics, this illustration may not be without its use in making up our judgment. It will, however, be borne in mind that moral defect is to be regarded in a very different light from mere social indecorum.
With these remarks and explanations we proceed to give our imperfect notices.
ADAMS, Rev. BENJAMIN, minister of Lynnfield parish twenty- one years, including the trying period immediately preceding the Revolution, and the opening stages of the conflict. He was patriotic, though less stirring and conspicuous than the two other ministers - Roby and Treadwell -then settled in Lynn. The ministers of the country parishes, very generally, manifested commendable zeal in the provincial cause, and in their ardent exhortations frequently exhibited a spirit that would ill-accord with modern views of the sacred vocation. The ultimate success of the cause is in no small degree attributable to their urgent and persistent appeals. The Lynn ministers certainly did their part. Sec Annals, date 1777.
ALLEY, HUGH and JOHN. These two settlers, who appeared here as early as 1640, were farmers, and located in the vicinity
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Armitage.
of Market street. From them descended the numerous persons of the name who have for many years been numbered in our population. Some of these descendants have made favorable marks in their generation. Solomon Alley was one of the "Flower of Essex," in Lathrop's command, and was killed in the Indian massacre at Bloody Brook, in 1675.
In former years many of the family were members of the Quaker society, which may in a measure account for their not more frequently appearing in public life. In the letter of the Quakers of Lynn, to Governor Dudley, dated "22th 4mº 1703," giving a list of those of the faith here, appears the name of Hugh Alley, who was probably a grandson of the one whose name stands at the head of this notice. There was a Captain Hugh Alley who commanded a small schooner-rigged vessel running from Lynn to Boston, which seems to have been very successful in his day of limited carrying trade. He continued in the business some years, the land route being circuitous, rutty and rough. Hon. John B. Alley, the first Congressional Representative from Lynn is of this respectable lineage. John Alley, father of the last named, was a very stirring and thrifty business man, though not without conspicuous eccentricities. He built the Railroad House, opposite the southern end of Mar- ket street ; also the dam near the foot of Pleasant street, thus forming the capacious mill-pond. He was, in his earlier years, a member of the Quaker society ; participated in the troubles there, in 1822, and subsequently seemed quite unsettled in his religious views ; yet he maintained a high character for integrity and neighborly-kindness.
The christian names Hugh and John seem to have prevailed in the Alley family for many generations. Hugh Alye, "citizen and wever, of London," died in 1533, leaving a son John and daughter Elizabeth. He was buried in Saint Mildred's, and " Maude Croumwell, late wife of Richard Croumwell " was exec- utrix of his estate. See Annals, 1640 and other early dates.
ARMITAGE, JOSEPH. This individual figures somewhat largely in our early history. He made his appearance here in 1630, and was a tailor by trade. In those primitive times, however, the permanency of fashions, the scarcity of material, and the necessity
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of household economy, conspired to make the calls for the exer- cise of his artistic skill quite limited, and we are not surprised to find him turning his attention to occupations that promised more satisfactory returns. In him was exemplified that fruitfulness of resource which lies at the foundation of at least one leading trait of true Yankee character ; and very likely, had a wider field opened for the exercise of his peculiar talents, he might have attained a more conspicuous position, and been more thrifty in a pecuniary way ; as, after all, notwithstanding his industry and frugality, he lived and died a poor man. There is, indeed, little art in financiering, for whoever lives within his means and pays his debts is successful. And this simple rule applies as well to nations as individuals. But the speculative mind is not content to take this rational view, and must experiment among doubtful projects.
The ill-success of Mr. Armitage, however, may, in part at least, have been attributable to his fondness for lawsuits, than which hardly anything can be more detrimental, directly and indirectly, to the interests of the average citizen. The law is an extremely hazardous resort ; and it may be safely said that if some among us who waste their substance in pursuing it, would only apply the means thus squandered to the payment of their honest debts, they would not pass their whole business lives on the verge of bankruptcy, nor be always forced to confront the claims of charity with the argument of an empty purse. The writer once knew two brothers in the very neighborhood where the humble dwelling of Mr. Armitage stood, who began life as prosperous farmers, and soon, with what they inherited, possessed enough to call themselves moderately rich. But unfortunately, from some unaccountable cause, both became fascinated by the law and were seldom without a suit or two on hand. When they were well along in years, the writer asked one what made him waste so much time and money in such unprofitable business. " Why," said he "it is the best amusement I have. It is an exciting game of chance, and I like it. I sometimes gain and sometimes lose. My brother likes it, too ; and when we cannot get up a lawsuit with any one else we can with each other." Both of these sturdy yeomen are now dead ; and they died poor ; they had the music and paid the piper. It is safe to conclude that
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