USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : containing carefully prepared histories of every city and town in the county, Vol. II > Part 88
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Alpheus Bigelow, born September 28, 1784, graduated at Harvard College in 1810. He fitted for college under Dr. Kendal ; studied law with Hon. Isaac Fiske, of Weston, and Tyler Bigelow, of Watertown; was admitted to the bar of the Court of Common Pleas at the December term of 1815, and to that of the Supreme Court at the March term of 1817. He was a member of the Honse of Representatives in 1827-28, and was for several years chairman of the selectmen of Weston, and held other town offices. He was a thorough musician, and the founder of the Pierian Sodality, of Harvard College. Under the rule of the college requiring the music arranged for Commencement to be first submitted to the president for approval, he, on one occasion, handed in several pieces of music, which were duly ap- proved, with one or two exceptions, and returned to him. The pieces were taken in haste by him from the miscellaneous pile lying on his piano, and tossed back to their place after the approval, while he went on with his preparation of the Commence- ment music as he had planned it.
Abraham Harrington, born November 16, 1790, graduated at Harvard in 1812. He died at Hop- kinton, in August, 1828.
Ebenezer Hobbs, Jr., born April 17, 1794, graduated at Harvard College in 1814, having as classmates William H. Prescott, Benjamin A. Gould, Gamaliel Bradford, James Walker, and other notable alumni. He took the degree of M. D. in 1817, and immediately settled in Wal- tham. He married, in 1819, Mary Derby, of Weston. He was the chief agent of the Boston Manufactur- ing Company for nearly forty years, and an honored resident of the town. In the latter years of his life he contributed to the Sentinel and Free Press several interesting papers concerning the local his- tory of Waltham, valuable and reliable by reason of the fund of information at his command, accu- mulated during a residence of forty-five years in the town. He died, December 11, 1863, from an epileptic shock in the autumn of 1862. Two of his sons died young, while in college.
Frederick Hobbs, son of Isaac Hobbs, Jr., was born February 28, 1797, graduated at Harvard College in the class of 1817, having George Ban- croft, Caleb Cushing, and other distinguished men as classmates. On his mother's side he was a lineal descendant of Rev. John Cotton, minister of the First Church in Boston, and as such descendant was entitled to and received, while an undergraduate, benefits accruing from bequests to the institution from the Cotton family. After graduating he read law in the office of Daniel Webster, in Boston. In 1820 be went to Eastport, Maine, opened an office, and soon entered upon an extensive practice, gaining a high position at the bar of Washington County. He was elected to various municipal offices in Eastport, and was sent to the legislature one year. He once received the Whig nomination for representative to Congress from the Eastern Con- gressional District, and received the solid vote of his party ; but, it being in the minority in that district, he failed of an election. He removed to Bangor in 1836, and became eminently successful in his profession, having up to the time of his last ill- ness more business in the United States Court than any practitioner east of the Kennebec River. He was equally prominent in the municipal affairs of his adopted city, was president of the Musical As- sociation, and a great friend to horticulture, being among the founders of the Bangor Horticultural Society, and for some time its president. " He was a good and useful citizen, of stern integrity, of strict honesty, and highly exemplary in all his habits." In February, 1849, while engaged in an important case before the Supreme Court of Mas-
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sachusetts, he was stricken down with a sudden attack of blindness and dizziness. Rallying from this, he continued his labors for three years, until February, 1852, when he was attacked by paralysis as he was finishing a written argument to be deliv- ered before the United States Court at Washing- ton. During his last illness he presented a rich silver communion service to the Unitarian Church where he worshipped, in Bangor. He died. Octo- ber 10, 1854, aged fifty-seven.
May Newell, of Weston, entered Harvard Col- lege in 1814, and remained two years, but did not graduate.
Nathan Welby Fiske, born April 17, 1798, graduated at Dartmouth College in 1817, and was a tutor there from 1818 to 1820; studied at Andover Theological Seminary, and in 1823- 24 spent a winter in Savannah, Georgia, in missionary labors ; was Professor of the Greek Language and Literature at Amherst College from 1824 to 1836, when he was transferred to the chair of Intellectual and Moral Philosophy. He was "a man justly esteemed for his eminent talents as well as his vir- tues." Speaking of him and his associates, Dr. H. B. Hackett, at the semi-centennial of Amlierst College (1871), made use of these words : "The age is heroic that produces heroie men ; and it was these early trials of courage, faith, and disinterest- edness, which gave us such characters as those of Heman Humphrey, Edward Hitchcock, Nathan W. Fiske, and others. I account it one of my greatest obligations to the college that it gave me the benefit of the example and teachings of such men. I can truthfully say that my remembrance of their disinterestedness, fidelity, and self-denial has ever been among the best inspirations of my life." He died in Jerusalem, May 27, 1847, while on a journey in Palestine for the recovery of his health, and his body was buried in a small cemetery on Mount Zion, near the tomb of the Psalmist David. Five years later Dr. Hackett, on his visit to Jerusalem, made arrangements for the planting of two cypresses over the grave of his honored teacher and well-beloved friend. A Latin epitaphı, setting forth his character in just terms, is inseribed upon his tombstone. He pub- lished a Manual of Classical Literature, based upon the German work of J. J. Eschenburg, with large additions and a supplementary volume of plates, Philadelphia, 1836 (fourth edition 1843) ; also Young Peter's Tour around the World, and Story of Aleck ; or, History of Pitcairn's Island.
Bradford Russell, born November 17, 1796, was graduated at Harvard College in 1818. He studied law with Hon. James Prescott, of Groton, three years ; was admitted to the bar, and estab- lished himself in the practice of his profession in Groton. He died July 8, 1864, in Clinton, Massa- chusetts.
Elijah Bigelow, born November 3, 1799, brother of Alpheus, graduated at Harvard College in 1819. He died May 31, 1830.
Henry Payson Kendal, youngest son of Rev. Samuel Kendal by his second wife, was born Jan- uary 31, 1800 ; baptized as Payson, and afterwards had Henry prefixed to his name. He graduated at Harvard College in 1820, and died in Weston, at the house of his mother, February 4, 1832.
Charles Flagg, born April 25, 1799, graduated at Harvard College in 1820. He became insane, and was placed in the McLean Asylum, December 3, 1825, where he died August 26, 1832.
Augustus Henry Fiske, born in Weston, Sep- tember 19, 1805, was fitted for college at Framing- ham Academy, and graduated at Harvard in 1825. He studied law at the Law School in Cambridge, and with his father, and established himself in Boston, where he met with remarkable success. He entered into a partnership with Benjamin Rand, which continued until the death of the lat- ter. Charles Sumner was a student at their office. " He was a most thoroughly read lawyer, and his practice was extensive, almost without a parallel in Boston." He married Miss Hannahı R. Bradford, daughter of Gamaliel Bradford, by whom he had ten children. He died in Boston, March 22, 1865.
Francis Gourgas, of Weston, was a member of the Freshman class at Harvard College in 1826.
Samuel Warren, of Weston, took the degree of M. D. at the Harvard Medical School in 1829.
Josiah Quincy Loring, born in Boston, April 10, 1811, was fitted for college at the Boston Latin School ; entered Harvard College in 1825 ; left at the end of his Sophomore year, but rejoined his class at the beginning of the Senior year, and grad- uated with them in 1829. He spent one year in the Law School ; tried teaching and the mercantile business, but finally removed to Weston, where he purchased a farm, and engaged in agriculture the remainder of his life. He married Miss Chris- tian W. Renton, daughter of Dr. Peter Renton, of Boston. He died April 6, 1862. He donated a fine set of the ancient classics and several rare volumes to Harvard College Library.
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WESTON.
Andrew Fiske was a student at Harvard College from 1832 to 1834, but did not graduate.
Alphens Hubbard Bigelow, of Weston, was a member of the Freshman class at Harvard College in 1834.
James Melledge Flagg, born April 18, 1817, graduated at Harvard College in the class of 1839. He received the degree of M. A. in 1858. He was the inventor of a remarkable loom by which weav- ing could be done in an entirely different manner from that now in use. He had exhibited his loom to the leading cotton and woollen manufacturers, and it had received much attention. He was un- successful in completing negotiations for its manu- facture, and becoming despondent at his failure, he committed suicide at Providence, December 18, 1879.
Frank Winthrop Bigelow, son of Alpheus Bigelow, graduated at Harvard College in the class of 1854 ; received the degrees of M. A. and LL. B. in 1857. He is now living in Weston.
John Lawrence Slack was a member of the Freshman and Sophomore classes at Harvard Col- lege from 1852 to 1854, but did not graduate.
Charles Henry Fiske, son of A. H. Fiske, Esq., born in Boston, October 26, 1840, graduated at Harvard College in the class of 1860. He then studied law in his father's office, and was admitted to the bar, December 6, 1864, and began practice in Boston. After his father's death, in March, 1865, he formed a partnership with John A. Loring, which continued two years. He is now practising in Boston.
Henry Slade Milton graduated at Harvard Col- lege in 1875; studied law at the Boston Univer- sity Law School, taking the degree of LL. B. in 1876. He married at Weston, November 7, 1877, and is now practising law in Boston.
John Luke Parkhurst, great-grandson of Deacon John Parkhurst, born September 7, 1789, gradu-
ated at Brown University in 1812; studied the- ology at Andover Theological Seminary, and was licensed to preach by the Mendon Association, but devoted his life to teaching. He died at Gorham, Maine, May 30, 1850.
Alfred Wellington Cooke, born in Cambridge, August 25, 1830, graduated at Harvard in 1852, and died August 3, of the same year. He was an earnest student, and gave great promise of emi- nence as an artist and musician.
Daniel S. Lamson, born in Boston, June 2, 1828, was educated in France, and graduated from the Royal College Bourbon in Paris, in 1846; passed one year in Harvard Law School in 1852, two years in office of Sohier and Welch, and was ad- mitted to the bar in 1854, but never practised law. He was appointed major of the 16th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry in 1860, and was promoted in 1862 to lieutenant-colonel, com- manding regiment ; was discharged for disability in 1864, and has since resided in Weston.
Edward Fiske, son of Augustus H. Fiske, born in Concord, Massachusetts, September 2, 1832, graduated at Harvard in 1853; studied law with his father, and practised in Boston a few years ; died in Weston, January 31, 1870.
George Fiske, brother of Edward, born Decem- ber 28, 1850, graduated at Harvard in 1872, and lives in Weston.
Andrew Fiske, another brother, born June 4, 1854, graduated at Harvard in 1875, and at the Dane Law School in 1878. He married, June 22, 1878, Gertrude, daughter of Professor E. N. Hors- ford, of Cambridge. He studied law in the office of E. R. Hoar, Esq., in Boston, and was admitted to the bar, February 16, ISSO.
Edmund Hamilton Sears, son of Rev. Dr. E. H. Sears, was born April 20, 1852 ; graduated at Harvard in 1874, and is now teaching in Cali- fornia.
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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
WILMINGTON.
BY LEMUEL
C. EAMES.
ILMINGTON is situated in the northeast part of Middlesex County, and is bounded south by Woburn and Burlington, west by Billerica and Tewks- bury, north by Andover, and east by Reading and North Reading. It is sixteen miles north from Boston, and the same distance west from Salem. The population in 1875 was eight hundred and seventy-nine.
The surface of Wilmington is not remarkably level, but presents several level plains which pleas- antly contrast with some hills of prominence and beauty. And the placid Silver Lake should not be passed by. The stranger who visits it in sum- mer cannot fail to admire its natural beauty. It is situated in the northwest part of the town, and contains some thirty-five acres. The character of the soil is not very generally celebrated for its productions ; yet a large portion will well reward judicious cultivation.
The territory of Wilmington was nearly all origi- nally included in the grant by the General Court to Charlestown, and was called " Charlestown Vil- lage."
The purpose seemed to be to encourage agricul- tural pursuits ; and thus be the better able to in- duce settlers of like faith and courage with the Massachusetts Colony to establish here a home for themselves and children. And it is interest- ing to notice how soon this enterprise took such form as to induce the people in two years to apply to the General Court for a change of name from Charlestown Village to that of a township called Woburn, which change was successfully accomplished in 1642. Thus there was a town government and a church organized to the satisfac- tion of those directly interested. We cannot fail to comprehend something of the advantages, in those early times, of a speedy increase of settlers whose common purpose was to subdue the howling
wilderness, and to plant and uphold the principles of the heroic little colony. Each new addition to their number must have been hailed with peculiar joy, as affording strength and material protection to the settlement in all perils and dangers which surrounded them. The wild and unexplored con- dition of the country called for work and activ- ity ; the great obstacles to be met with were so constantly menacing in their nature as to give scope to the exercise of both courage and pru- dence.
To this territory was added a narrow strip of land lying on the westerly side of Reading, which was also early open to settlement. The names given to particular localities as early as 1658 are still retained, - as Goshen, Nod, Maple-meadow Brook, Lebanon, and Ladder-Pole. The two last are extensive cedar swamps which still maintain their early signification and value. Maple-meadow Brook is the main branch of Ipswich River, which takes its rise in Burlington, and after entering Wilming- ton takes a northeasterly course for about five miles, when it enters North Reading. There are also five brooks whose waters flow into this one from the west side; four of which each operate a mill for a portion of the year.
The town, from its earliest settlement, has been a farming community. Indian corn, rye, and oats were the staple crops, and were raised for the mar- ket and home consumption. These continued the farm products, year after year, from 1660, the date of some of the earliest permanent settlers, for nearly a century.
In the year 1706 five Indians from a party who had attacked Dunstable ventured down to this town and attacked the family of John Harnden, who occupied a small cottage in the northwesterly part of Reading, now in the limits of Wilmington. The house stood in a pasture some sixty rods south of the road from Samuel Gowing's to the centre of Wilmington. The land is now owned by William Beard, and the old cellar and well may be still seen.
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WILMINGTON.
The attack was made in the night, Mr. Harnden himself being absent, having left his wife and eight children at home. The Indians forced an entrance into the house, and killed Mrs. Harnden and thirce of the children. The others lid behind a large rock near by, which is now known as Indian Rock. It is said these children were found and carried away, but were recovered by a pursuing party of whites.
It is claimed that the provocation for the above brutal massacre was as follows: A man with his team was coming up the main road from Woburn, which winds its way between two high hills, when, in the darkness of the evening, he drove over a drunken squaw, who was in the road. In the morning she was found dead. The Indians then attempted to pursue the track for some distance, and finally, through a mistake, made the assault upon an innocent and unsuspecting family, - hence the name of Squaw Pond.
In these and numerous other hardships during the period we are considering, it is refreshing to notice the courage and heroism which enabled the people to surmount obstacles, and secure that de- gree of prosperity which induced them to put forth efforts in an orderly manner for securing to them- selves and posterity invaluable privileges.
In like manner the tyranny of the mother coun- try, which brought on the Revolutionary War, was met and resisted with patriotic ardor and deter- mination. Wilmington in that struggle was up to the exigency of the hour, and honorably took her share of the burden. A company of men was here enlisted, under the command of Captain John Harnden, whose name was a guaranty of valor and success. Colonel Henry Harnden, a descendant from a branch of the captain's family, and a native of Wilmington, rendered distinguished service at the head of a Wisconsin regiment in the War of the Rebellion.
The people living in the northerly part of Wo- burn, feeling the great inconvenience in attending public worship, especially in winter, they being situated nearly or quite seven miles from the meet- ing-house, in 1725 began to seek a remedy, and after repeated efforts and defeats succeeded in attaining their object.
November 26, 1729, was presented to the Gen- eral Court the petition of Daniel Peirce, Benjamin Harnden, and Samuel Walker, - a committee ap- pointed by sundry inhabitants of the north part of Woburn and the westerly part of Reading, - set-
ting forth the difficulties they were under by reason of their remoteness from the places of public wor- ship in their respective towns, and praying that they might be set off and constituted a distinct township.
This petition met with a favorable reception, and after previous notice to all parties in interest, the committee personally viewed the lands described, and reported, "That it is highly reasonable that the Prayer of the petitioners be granted."
The act of incorporation, passed September 17, 1730, defines the boundaries, and declares the lands described to be a separate town by the name of Wilmington. It also contains the following requirement : " And the Inhabitants of the said Town of Wilmington are hereby required within the space of three years from the publication of this act, to procure & settle a Learned Orthodox Minister of good conversation, and make provision for his comfortable & honorable support, & also with convenient speed erect & furnish a suitable & convenient house for the Publick Worship of God in said Town; and the said Town of Wilmington is hereby accordingly endowed & vested with all the Powers, Privileges, Immunities & Advantages which other Towns in the Province by Law have & enjoy."
In compliance with the foregoing, the inhabi- tants of the new town erected their first meeting- house in 1732. The church was organized with seventeen male members, October 24, 1733, and Mr. James Varney was ordained its pastor on the same day. Mr. Varney was born at Boston, Au- gust 8, 1706, graduated at Harvard College in 1725, and was dismissed April 5, 1739, on account of infirm health. The next minister, Rev. Isaac Morrill, was ordained May 20, 1741, and continued here in the relation of pastor until his death, which occurred August 17, 1793, at the age of seventy- six years. It is evident that he was a man devoted to his high calling, and labored to promote the spiritnal and temporal good of his people. There was scarcely a year during his long ministry that did not bring in additions to the church. He ac- tively identified himself with the interests of the people, in times of war and peace. In the French War of 1758 he served as chaplain with such patriotic devotion as to make his example strongly felt, frequently preaching two sermons on the Sab- bath, as we learn from the diary of a soldier in that expedition. There were several men from Wilmington who served in that war, but the num-
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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
ber is not known. In the same diary it is stated that Captain Ebenezer Jones, from Wilmington, with fourteen other soldiers, was killed in an en- gagement ; and the writer adds, "They were all burried in one grave and Mr. Marrill made a prayer, and it was a solmn funeral." Mr. Mor- rill, having been paid in silver dollars on his return, caused a sufficient number of them to be wrought into a tankard, which was used at the communion service of his church for many years.
This ministry of more than half a century was. marked with great changes to the town and country. The savage beasts disappeared. The last wild bear killed in this vicinity was shot by Ephraim Buck in August, 1760, from beneath the branches of an ancient oak, now standing near the road leading from Wilmington Centre to the east part of the town, at the edge of the meadow. This event took place on an estate which has been held in the Buck family since 1685, and is now owned by Mr. Benjamin Buck, a grandson of Ephraim, who still has the identical gun that did so good execution in the hand of his grandfather.
The next minister was Rev. Freegrace Raynolds, who came to Wilmington when a young man, rep- resenting the " Emmons school of theology." The first council called to examine and, if deemed ex- pedient, to ordain him, was equally divided, six voting in favor and six against it. It was then dissolved, but he was ordained by a second council, October 29, 1795. His ministry was marked by an earnest faith which endeared him to the church and secured the general respect of the people. The next year there were nine members added to the church. In 1813 a new meeting-house was erected, after the style of architecture of that day. Mr. Raynolds was greatly interested in the education of the young, and in favor of progressive move- ments. It may be stated that he was one of the few clergymen who were present at the preliminary meetings held in Andover for deliberation on what afterward developed into the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. His pastoral relation with his church terminated June 9, 1830. He continued to preach for several years, his last field of service being in. Leverett, Massachusetts. At the close of his ministry there he returned to Wilmington, and remained here to the time of his death, which occurred December 6, 1855, at the age of eighty-eight years.
The fourth minister, Rev. Francis Norwood, was installed May 18, 1831, and was dismissed Octo-
ber 25, 1842. His ministry tended greatly to the enlargement of the church.
In 1840 a new religious interest was commenced under the direction of the Free-will Baptist denomi- nation, with such encouragement as led to the organization of a church and the building of a meeting-house in 1841. This church for several years was principally under the care of Elder John M. Durgin. He was a genial man, and earnestly engaged in his work, and was instrumental in doing much good to his people; but removals, deaths, and other causes so diminished their num- ber that the organization was given up, and the meeting-house sold to the town. It is now used for town purposes.
The fifth minister, Rev. Barnabas M. Fay, was installed April 23, 1845, and was dismissed July 30, 1850. The sixth, Rev. Joseph E. Swallow, was installed March 26, 1851, and was dismissed Janu- ary 1, 1856.
In 1854 a convenient and approved parsonage was bought by private subscription and donated to the society for the use of the pastor. Mr. Swal- low was succeeded by Rev. Samuel H. Tolman, who was ordained August 14, 1856, and was dis- missed June 7, 1870. The burning of the meet- ing-house occurred during his temporary absence in February, 1864. His labors, incident to the re- building and furnishing of the present house of worship, when considered in connection with the purpose and spirit of his ministry, will keep his memory in grateful remembrance. The eighth min- ister was Rev. Benjamin A. Robie, who was installed April 13, 1871, dismissed April 9, 1874, and is now at Groton. Rev. S. S. Mathews was ordained Octo- ber 23, 1874, dismissed October 29, 1875, and is now settled at Jamaica Plain.
The present and tenth pastor, Rev. Daniel P. Noyes, was installed October 11, 1877. The part that Wilmington was permitted to take in the liour of the country's peril, in 1861, shows the same spirit that characterized the cities and towns of Massachusetts, especially those of old Middlesex County. The number of men furnished from all sources was ninety. From the number of her own honored citizens, eight met a soldier's death.
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