USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II > Part 15
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Municipal election, Dec. 1859, and State election Nov. 1859. For mayor, Benj. C. Sargeant (Rep.), 1772; Levi Sprague (Rep.), 1457. For Governor,
N. P. Banks, 1612; Benj. F. Butler, 1140 ; Geo. N. Briggs, 342. Mr. Banks was elected Governor. Mr. Sargeant, candidate of the American Republican party, defeats Mr. Sprague, candidate of a Citizens' movement. Mr. Sargeant was a bookseller, and Mr. Sprague a contractor.
Municipal election Dec .. 1860, and State and Na- tional election Nov., 1860. For mayor, B. C. Sar- geant, 2073 ; Francis H. Nourse (Rep.), 1393; John O. Green, 138 ; James K. Fellows, 105. For Gover- nor, John A. Andrew, of Boston, 2750 ; E. D. Beach, 988 ; A. A. Lawrence, of Brookline, 443. For Presi- dent, Abraham Lincoln, 2776 ; Stephen A. Douglas, 1002; John Bell, 435; John C. Breckenridge, 142. Mr. Andrew was elected Governor, and Mr. Lin- coln President. Iu the city election Mr. Nourse, a Republican, was put up by those who had become disaffected with Mayor Sargeant's administratiou in 1859. John O. Green represented the peace party, and J. K. Fellows the Democrats. Mr. Nourse was engaged in railroad business, and Mr. Fellows was a watchmaker. In the National election Bell was the candidate of the " Union " party, commonly called the "Bel! and Everett " party, and John C. Breckenridge of the regular Democrats. Mr. Douglas had the sup- port of the Douglas Democrats. The threatening war had drawn new party lines. The population of Lowell in 1860 was 36,827.
Municipal election, Dec. 1861, and State election Nov., 1861. For mayor, Hocum Hosford (Rep.), 1719; John W. Graves, 1664. For Governor, John A. Andrew, 2139; Isaac Davis, of Worcester, 1003. Mr. Andrew was elected Governor. Mr. Hosford was a merchant and was known as Lowell's "War Mayor."
Municipal election Dec., 1862, and State election Nov., 1862. For mayor, Hocum Hosford, 1876 ; Ar- thur P. Bonney (Rep.), 1320. For Governor, Jolın A. Andrew, 1977 ; Charles Devens, Jr., of Worces- ter, 1427. Governor Andrew was re-elected. Mr. Bonney was a Republican, and was the regular Re- publican candidate. He was a lawyer.
Municipal election Dec., 1863, and State election Nov., 1863. For mayor, Hocum Hosford, 1231 ; others, 18. For Governor, J. A. Andrew, 1723; Henry W. Paine, of Cambridge, 669. Gov. Andrew was re- elected. In this year the war was upon us, and Mr. Hosford was kept in office by common consent. In no city election had there ever been so few votes. Two causes conspired to render the vote small,-first, there was no party contest, and second, the day of election was, in the afternoon, very rainy.
Municipal election Dec., 1864, and State and Na- tional election Nov., 1864. For mayor, Josiah G. Peabody (Rep.), 1699; Abner W. Buttrick (Dem.), 944. For Governor, John A. Andrew, 2401; Henry W. Paine, 1106. For President, Abraham Lincoln, 2473; Geo. B. McClellan, 1096. Gov. Andrew was re elceted. President Lincoln was re-elected. Mr.
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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
Peabody was a door, sash and blind maker, and Mr. Buttrick was a grocer.
Municipal election Dec., 1865, and State election Nov., 1865. For mayor, J. G. Peabody, 1517 ; B. C. Sargeant, 1513. For Governor, Alexander H. Bul- lock, 1875; Darius N. Couch, of Taunton, 587. Mr. Bullock is elected Governor. At the city election Mr. Peabody, candidate of the Workingmen's party, defeats Mr. Sargeant, candidate of the Union Repub- lican party, by a plurality of four votes.
Municipal election Dec., 1866, and State election Nov., 1866. For mayor, Geo. F. Richardson (Rep.), 1923; Albert B. Plympton, (Rep.), 1089. For Governor, A. H. Bullock, 2602; Theodore H. Sweetser, of Lowell, 766. Gov. Bullock was re-elected. Mr. Plympton was a master mechanic and a Republican. He was put up by the workingmen and the citizens against Mr. Richardson, the Republican candidate.
Municipal election Dec., 1867, and State election Nov., 1867. For mayor, G. F. Richardson, 3214; scattering, 13. For Governor, A. H. Bullock, of Worcester, 2395; John Q. Adams, of Quincy, 1598. Gov. Bullock was re-elected. Mayor Richardson had no opponent.
Municipal election Dec., 1868, and State and Na- tional election Nov., 1868. For mayor, Jonathan P. Folsom (Rep.), 2008; E. B. Patch, 1850. For Gover- nor, Wm. Claflin, of Newton, 3135; J. Q. Adams, 1622. For President, U. S. Grant, 3152; Horatio Seymour, 1593. Mr. Claflin was elected Governor, and Gen. Grant President. Mr. Folsom was a dry- goods inerchant.
Municipal election Dec., 1869, and State election Nov., 1869. For mayor, J. P. Folsom, 3133; scatter- ing, 2. For Governor, Wm. Claflin, 2306; J. Q. Adams, 1413; Edwin M. Chamberlain, of Boston, 235. No mayor of Lowell has received a vote so nearly unanimous as that given to Mr. Folsom in 1869. Gov. Claflin was re-elected. Mr. Chamberlain was the candidate of the Labor Reform party.
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Municipal election Dec., 1870, and State election Nov., 1870. For mayor, Edward F. Sherman (Rep.), 2246 ; Charles A. Stott (Rep.), 1667. For Governor, Wm. Claflin, 2002; J. Q. Adams, 1003; Wendell Phillips, of Boston, 646. Gov. Claflin was re-elected. Mr. Phillips was the " Labor Reform candidate." Mr. Stott was a manufacturer. Mr. Sherman was a lawyer. He was nominated by the "Citizens" in opposition to the Republican nominee, Mr. Stott. He was not a politician and did not seek the mayoralty, but was selected on account of his well-known ability. But both he and the City Council of 1870 incurred great reproach and blame for their course of alleged inaction in checking the spread of the small-pox, which prevailed to an alarming extent this year. The population of Lowell in 1870 was 40,928.
Municipal election December, 1871, and State elec- tion November, 1871. For mayor, J. G. Peabody, 2136; Charles A. Stott, 1709. For Governor, William
B. Washburn, of Greenfield, 1598; J. Q. Adams, 1046; Edwin M. Chamberlain, of Boston, 237; Robert C. Pitman (Temperance), 97. Mr. Washı- burn was elected Governor. Mr. Stott was the Citi- zens' candidate against Mr. Peabody, the Republican candidate. The Citizens' movement this year was less popular on account of the fact that the officers elected by that movement in the preceding year had incurred so much blame in regard to the prevalence of small-pox.
Municipal election December, 1872, and State and National election November, 1872. For mayor, Francis Jewett (Rep.), 2378; Hocum Hosford, 1968. For Governor, William B. Washburn, 3474; Frank W. Bird, of Walpole, 1681. For President, U. S. Grant, 3467 ; Horace Greeley, 1673. Governor Wash- burn was re-elected. Gen. Grant was also re-elected. Mr. Jewett was a butcher. Mr. Hosford was the can- didate of the Citizens' party. At this time very many citizens favored non-partisan municipal nominations. In this year the mayor was elected by the Republi- cans, but the aldermen by the Citizens'. Both can- didates for the mayoralty were Republicans.
Municipal election December, 1873, and State elec- tion November, 1873. For mayor, Francis Jewett, 3390 ; scattering, 3. For Governor, William Gaston, of Boston, 2150 ; William B. Washburn, 1584. Gover- nor Washburn was re-elected. Mayor Jewett was re-elected almost without opposition.
Municipal election December, 1874, and State elec- tion November, 1874. For mayor, Francis Jewett, 3221 ; H. Hosford, 1386. For Governor, Thomas Tal- bot, of Billerica, 2939; William Gaston, 2655. Mr. Gaston was elected Governor. Mr. Hosford was the nominee of a Citizens' movement.
Municipal election December, 1875, and State elec- tion November, 1875. For mayor, C. A. Stott, 2578 ; J. C. Abbott (Dem.), 2027. For Governor, Alexander H. Rice, of Boston, 2583; William Gaston, 2533; John I. Baker, of Beverly, 42. Mr. Rice was elected Governor. Mr. Abbott, the Democratic candidate for mayor, was a lawyer.
Municipal election December, 1876, and State and National election November, 1876. For mayor, C. A. Stott, 3013; J. A. G. Richardson (Dein.), 2897. For Governor, A. H. Rice, 3831; C. F. Adams, of Quincy, 2919. For President, Rutherford B. Hayes, 4003; Samuel J. Tilden, 3089. Governor Rice was re-elected, and Mr. Hayes elected President. Mr. Richardson, the Democratic candidate for mayor, was a provision dealer.
Municipal election December, 1877, and State elec- tion November, 1877. For mayor, J. A. G. Richard- son, 3068 ; C. A. Stott, 2988. For Governor, A. H. Rice, 2808; William Gaston, 2650; Robert C. Pit- man, of Newton, 727; John I. Baker, of Beverly, 223. Governor Rice was re-elected. Mr. Richardson was the Democratic candidate for mayor.
Municipal election Dec., 1878, and State election
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LOWELL.
Nov., 1878. For mayor, J. A. G. Richardson, 4138 ; Na- thaniel C. Sanborn (Rep.), 1859. For Governor, Benj. F. Butler, of Lowell, 4238; Thomas Talbot, 3775; Josiah G. Abbott, of Boston, 132. Mr. Talbot was elected Governor. Mr. Sanborn, the Republican candidate for mayor, was a photographer.
Municipal election Dec., 1879, and State election Nov., 1879. For mayor, Frederick T. Greenhalge (Rep.), 4092 ; Jeremiah Crowley (Dem.), 3148. For Governor, B. F. Butler, 4397 ; Johu D. Long, of Bing- ham, 3332; J. Q. Adams, of Quincy, 110; Daniel C. Eddy, of Hyde Park, 55. Mr. Long, Republican, was elected Governor. Mr. Greenhalge, the Repub- lican candidate for mayor, and Mr. Crowley, the Democratic candidate, were lawyers.
Municipal election Dec., 1880, and State and Na- tional election Nov., 1880. For mayor, F. T. Green- halge, 4954; J. G. Peabody, 1279. For Governor, John D. Long, 5411; Charles P. Thompson, 3893; Charles Almy, of New Bedford, 35. For President, James A. Garfield, 4513 ; Winfield S. Hancock, 3917. Gov. Long was re-elected and Mr. Garfield elected President. Mr. Peabody was the nominee of the Prohibition party for mayor. The population of Lowell in 1880 was 59,485.
Municipal election Dec., 1881, and State election Nov., 1881. For mayor, Geo. Runels (Rep.), 3794; J. A. G. Richardson (Dem.), 2411. For Governor, John D. Long, 2972; C. P. Thompson, 2817; Charles Almy, of New Bedford, 178. Gov. Long was re-elect- ed. Mr. Runels was a stone-mason.
Municipal election Dec., 1882, and State election Nov., 1882. For mayor, J. J. Donovan (Dein.), 4257 ; Francis Jewett (Rep.), 3816. For Governor, B. F. But- ler, 5065 ; Robert R. Bishop (Rep), of Newton, 3538 ; Charles Almy, of New Bedford, 51. Mr. Butler was elected Governor. Mr. Donovan was a grocer.
Municipal election Dec., 1883, and State election Nov., 1883. For mayor, J. J. Donovan, 4952 ; J. H. McAlvin (Rep.), 4111. For Governor, Benj. F. Butler, 5445 ; Geo. D. Robinson (Rep.), of Chicopee, 4373; Charles Almy, 48. Mr. Robinson was elected Governor. Mr. McAlvin, the Republican candidate for mayor, was for many years treasurer of the city.
Municipal election, Dec., 1884, and State and Na- tional election Nov., 1884. For mayor, Edward J. Noyes (Rep.), 5012 ; Geo. W. Fifield (Dem.), 4477. For Governor, G. D. Robinson, 4982; Wm. G. Endi- cott, 3613 ; Julius H. Seely, of Amherst, 127; Mat- thew J. McCafferty, of Worcester, 800. For President, Grover Cleveland (Dem.), 3710; James G. Blaine (Rep.), 4785. Gov. Robinson was re-elected. Mr. Cleveland was elected President.
Municipal election Dec., 1885, and State election Nov., 1885. For mayor, E. J. Noyes (Rep.), 4316 ; James C. Abbott (Dem.), 4571. For Governor, G. D. Robinson, 3918; Fred. O. Prince (Dem.), 3876; Thomas J. Lothrop, 56. Gov. Robinson was re- elected Governor and Mr. Abbott mayor.
Municipal election December, 1886, and State election, November, 1886. For Mayor, J. C. Abbott, 4843; Albert B. Plympton (Rep.), 4022. For Gov- ernor, Oliver Ames (Rep.), of Easton, 4171; John A. Andrew, 4271; Thomas J. Lothrop, of Taunton, 137. Mr. Ames was elected Governor.
Municipal election December, 1887, and State elec- tion November, 1887. For Mayor, Charles D. Pal- mer (Rep.), 5605 ; Stephen B. Puffer, 4520. For Governor, O. Ames, 4896; Henry B. Lovering (Dem.), 4429; William H. Earle, of Worcester, 90. Gov- ernor Ames was re-elected; Mr. Palmer had been a manufacturer, aud Mr. Puffer was a dealer in pro- visions.
Municipal election December, 1888, and State and National election, November, 1888. For Mayor, C. D. Palmer, 5636 ; Nathan D. Pratt (Dem.), 5059. For Governor, O. Ames, 5566; William E. Russell, 5274 ; William H. Earle, 128. For President, Benjamin Harrison (Rep.), 5630 ; Grover Cleveland, 5226. Gov- ernor Ames was re-elected, and Mr. Harrison was elected President ; Mr. Pratt was a lawyer.
Municipal election December, 1889, and State election November, 1889. For Mayor, C. D. Pal- mer, 5465 ; J. Crowley (Dem.), 5208. For Governor, J. Q. A. Brackett (Rep.), 4313; W. E. Russell (Dem.), 4856; John Blackmer (Pro.), 284.
MUNICIPAL OFFICERS .- The presidents of the Com- mon Council have been : John Clark, 1836 and 1844; Elisha Huntington, 1837-39; Pelham W. Warren, 1840; Tappan Wentworth, 1841; Joseph W. Mansur, 1842; Oliver March, 1843; Daniel S. Richardson, 1845, '46; Joel Adams, 1847; Thomas Hopkinson, 1839 and 1848; John Aiken, 1849; Ivers Taylor, 1850; George Gardner, 1851; Benj. C. Sargeant, 1852, '56,' 58; Wm. A. Richardson, 1853, 54; Alfred Gilman, 1855 ; Frederic Holton, 1857; Win. P. Web- ster, 1859; William F. Salmon, 1860; Wm. L. North, 1861; Geo. F. Richardson, 1862, '63; Gco. Ripley, 1864, '65 ; Gustavus A. Gerry, 1866, '67; Alfred H. Chase, 1868 ; Wm. Anderson, 1869; Albert A. Hag- gett, 1870, 73, '75 ; Henry P. Perkins, 1871,'72; Nathan W. Frye, 1874; Benj. C. Dean, 1876; John F. Kim- ball, 1876, '78 ; E. B. Pierce,1879,'83 ; Earl A. Thissell, 1880; C. C. Hutchinson, 1881; Wm. N. Oxgood, 1882; John J. Hogan, 1884; Alfred W. Chadwick, 1885; Walter M. Sawyer, 1886; James H. Carmichael, 1887 ; Edmund B. Conant, 1888; Wm. E. Westall, 1889.
In 1839 and 1876 there were two presidents, each serving a partial term.
The city cleiks have been : Samuel A. Coburn 1836 to 1837 inclusive (he was also town clerk from 1826 to 1835) ; Thomas Ordway, from 1838 to 1853 ; Wm. Lamson, Jr., from 1854 to 1857; John H. McAlvin, from 1858 to 1868 ; Samuel A. McPhetres, from 1869 to 1881; David O'Brien, from 1882 to 1884, also in 1887; Samuel M. Chase, from 1885 to 1886; Girard P. Dadmun, from 1888 to 1889.
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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
The eity treasurers have been : William Davidson, 1836 to 1882; Jolin A. Buttrick, 1843 to 1846; Itha- mar A. Beard, 1847 to 1850; John F. Kimball, 1851 to 1855 ; Isaae C. Eastman, 1856 to 1860; Geo. W. Bedlow, 1861 to 1864; Thomas G. Gerrish, 1865 to 1869; John H. MeAlvin, 1869 to 1882; Van Buren Sleeper, the present ineumbent, 1883.
The eity physicians have been : Charles P. Coffin, 1836, '39 ; Elisha Bartlett 1840, '41 ; Abraham D. Dear- born, 1842, '43; David Wells, 1844-46; Abner H. Brown, 1847-50 ; Joel Spaulding, 1851-55 ; Luther B. Morse, 1856, '57; John W. Graves, 1858-60; Moses W. Kidder, 1861-63; Nathan Allen, 1864, '65 ; Geo. E. Pinkham, 1866-68; John H. Gilman, 1869 '70 ; Wal- ter H. Leighton, 1871, '72; HermonJ. Smith, 1873-77; Leonard Huntress, 1878; Edwin W. Trueworthy, 1879-81; Willis G. Eaton, 1882-84; J. J. Colton, 1885-87; J. Arthur Gage, 1888, '89.
The eity auditors have been : John Nesmith, 1836; Joseph W. Mansur, 1837 ; Horatio G. F. Corliss, 1838; John G. Loeke, 1840-48 ; Geo. A. Butterfield, 1849, '50 ; Wm. Lamson, Jr., 1851-53; Leonard Brown, 1854, '55; James J. Magnire, 1856 ; Henry A. Lord, 1857 ; Geo. Gardner, 1858-74 inelusive; David Chase, 1875 to the present time, except that in 1887 Wm. J. Cough- lin was auditor.
The eity marshals have been : Zaccheus Shedd, 1836, '37, '40, '41, '48, '50; Henry T. Mowatt, 1838; Joseph B. Butterfield, 1839; Charles J. Adams, 1842-47 ; Geo. P. Waldron, 1849; James Corrin, 1851; Edwin L. Shedd, 1852-54; Samuel Miller, 1855; Wm. H. Clemmenee, 1856, '58, '74, '77; Eben H. Rand, 1857, '59; Frederie Lovejoy, 1860, '61, '78 ; Biekford Lang, 1862-71; Charles P. Bowles, 1872, '73; Albert Pinder, 1879, '80 ; Edward J. Noyes, 1881, '82, '88, '89; Michael McDonald, 1883, '84; Jacob B. Favor, 1885, '86 ; Frank Wood, 1887.
CHAPTER VI.
LOWELL-(Continued).
BANKS.
THE national discount banks of Lowell are all be- lieved to be in a sound finaneial condition. The faet that the stoek of every one of them is far above its par value indieates the popular confidenee in the safety of their management. For many years very few semi-annual dividends have been omitted. Their general management has been conservative, and all of them have a surplus sufficiently large to ensure sta- bility in times of financial reverses.
For the statistics of the discount banks given below I am mueh indebted to the late Mr. Charles Hovey, who, on February 4, 1886, read a valuable article npen
these banks before the "Old Residents' Historical Association."
Of the Savings Banks of Lowell it may be said that they all have the confidenee of the community. All are now paying dividends amounting to four per cent. per annum. But extra dividends are rarely paid. With the low rates of interest now prevailing in the business world, savings banks, for years to come, will hardly be able to pay annually more than four per eent.
The law of the State forbidding these banks to in- vest in Western mortgages tends to keep down the dividends, while it also tends to give security and safety to the institutions.
DISCOUNT BANKS OF LOWELL-Old Lowell National Bank .- This bank, under the name of "The Lowell Bank," was ineorporated Mareh 11, 1828, two years after Lowell became a town. Of the persons named in the aet of incorporation none are living. They were Phineas Whiting, Samuel Bachelder, Thomas Hurd, Daniel Richardson, Kirk Boott, Paul Moody, Josiah Crosby, Nathaniel Wright. The Board of Di- rectors eleeted in 1828 were Nath. Wright, Josiah B. Freneh, Kirk Boott, Joshua Bennett, Jonathan Morse (2d), Phineas Whiting, Thomas Hurd, Amos Whitney, Benj. F. Varnum, Daniel Shattuck.
The capital of this bank has been from its origin $200,000. It was authorized to eommenee business as a National Banking Association June 22, 1865, and it has sinee been known as "The Old Lowell National Bank." Its first place of business was in the briek bloek next west of Worthen Street, which was then known as the " Bank Block." From 1833 to 1845 its banking-rooms were in the old Wyman's Exchange on Central Street. From 1845 to 1878 its place of business was in the second story of the bank building on Shattuck Street, ereeted by "The Lowell Institu- tion for Savings." Sinee the latter date it has oeeu- pied rooms in the second story of the new Wymau's Exchange, corner of Merrimack and Central Streets. The new Wyman's Exchange is a substantial briek edifice; but the old Wyman's Exchange, which stood for many years as a eonspieuous land-mark of the city, was a lofty stone building so profusely lighted with windows as to present to the eye the appearance of dangerous instability. It was the prevailing belief that in ease of fire it would surely collapse. "There is a tradition that the first eashier, who was a careful man, always intended to run into the bank-vault whenever the building should fall." The building was taken down in 1878.
Below are the names of the presidents and cashiers of the bank, with the date of their appointment and the number of years of service.
Presidents : Nathaniel Wright, 1828 (30 years) ; James G. Carney, 1858 (1 year); John O. Green, 1859 (2 years); Joshua Bennett, 1861 (4 years); Edward Tuck, 1865 (19 years) ; John Davis, the present ineum- bent, 1884. Cashiers: James G. Carney, 1828 (17 year-); David Hyde, 1845 (4 years) ; John L. Ord-
Enmand Juck
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LOWELL.
way, 1849 (14 years): Charles M.Williams, the present incumbent, 1863. The present board of directors is: Edward M. Tucke, Phineas Whiting, A. B. Wood- worth, George F. Penniman, Ed. T. Rowell, John Davis, Jacob Nichols, Joseph L. Chalifoux, James F. Putfer.
EDWARD TUCK belonged to that class of sturdy men of business who, starting life upon an humble New England farm, have, by their native force and en- ergy, achieved a distinguished success and left an honorable name. He was born in Fayette, Me., March 31. 1806. and died at his home in Centralville, Lowell, November 14, 1SS5, at the age of nearly eighty years. He was of pure New England descent, the following being the direct line of his American ancestors :
1. Robert Tuck, who, about 1636, came to America from Gorleston, a town lying 124 miles northeast of London, and now containing about 4000 inhabitants. In 163S he settled in Winnacunnet, (now Hampton), N. H. He kept the first public-house in the town, was a chirurgeon by profession, a selectman and town clerk, as well as " clarke of the writts." 2. Edward Tuck, who came to America with his father and set- tled in Hampton, where he died in 1652. 3. John Tuck, a carpenter by trade, who was born in 1652, near the time of his father's death, and lived in Hampton to the age of ninety years. He erected a grist-mill and a fulling-mill on Nilus River, and was probably a man of property. He was a devoutly re- ligious man, who read his Bible through twelve times, and was deacon of the church for twenty-seven years. He was also a selectman and representative of Hamp- ton in the Legislature of the State. 4. Edward Tuck, a carpenter by trade, who was born in 1694-95, and lived to the age of seventy-eight years in Kensington, N. H. 5. Jesse Tuck, who lived upon the paternal estate in Kensington. He was born in 1743, and died in 1826, at the age of eighty-three years. 6. Jesse Tuck, father of the subject of this sketch, who was born in Kensington, in 1773 or 1774, and set- tled in Fayette, Kennebec County, Me., where he died in the sixty-eighth year of his age.
Edward Tuck remained upon his father's farm until he was twenty-one years of age, receiving his educa- tion from the schools of the town and from the acad- emy in the neighboring town of Farmington, Me. He came to Lowell in 1828, while only a few of the mills were, as yet, in operation, and found employment in the hotel of S. A. Coburn, which is now known as the Stone House, on Pawtucket Street, the late resi- dence of J. C. Ayer. After two years of service in the hotel and in one of the factories, he engaged in trade for about eight years. In 1832 he married Miss Emily Coburn, of Dracut. In 1838, when thirty- two years of age, he entered upon the express busi- ness between Boston and Lowell, in which he con- tinucd with marked success until 1855, a period of seventeen years. It was in this business that he laid 5-ii
the foundation of his estate. In 1855 he became a broker in Boston, still retaining his home in Lowell. This business he followed until advancing years de- manded that he should relinquish it.
It was as expressman and broker that Mr. Tuck became more familiarly known in the streets of Lowell than almost any other citizen. He was a marked man. His strong constitution, firm health and fine physical development left the impression upon those who met him that he was a man of no ordinary ability. He was a man of force, will, en- ergy, dispatch. He kept his object steadily in view. He meant business. He was never in a hurry, but always on time. He was noted for system, method. and punctuality. A writer for the press once playfully re- marked of him : " Probably there is no man in Lowell who has been over the Boston and Lowell Railroad . as many times as Edward Tuck, president of the Old Lowell National Bank. Rain or shine, every day of the week, excepting Sundays and holidays, he may be found on his way to Boston. His companion down is the Boston Post ; returning, the Transcript. He quietly absorbs his paper, giving especial attention to the financial and commercial department."
On returning from Boston Mr. Tuck brought with him not only the documents pertaining to his busi- ness, but a hearty good-cheer for his friends, the most recent news from the commercial world, and the last good story which he had heard on 'Change and which he knew well how to repeat and adorn.
Though Mr. Tuck possessed that buoyant and cheerful spirit which good health and love of action are wont to bestow, yet few men have drank more deeply of the cup of sorrow.
Of his three children, his eldest daughter, Angusta, wife of Captain T. W. Hendee, shipmaster, died in 1864, on board her husband's vessel in the Indian Ocean. Her two only children did not long survive her. Eleanor, the second daughter of Mr. Tuck, be- came the second wife of Captain Hendee. After four short years of married life spent in England and Bombay, the husband died upon his vessel, leaving his wife thus bereft upon the ocean. Returning to Lowell, she also died in four years. Thus in the brief space of a few years the father was bereft of his son-in-law and all his children and grandchildren, with only one exception. He bore his decp affliction with exemplary fortitude.
Mr. Tuck, on account of his marked ability, was often placed in positions of trust and honor. He was alderman of Lowell in 1856, 1859 and 1873, a member of the State Legislature in 1870, and for fif- teen years president of the Old Lowell National Bank. In every position he earned the name of an honest and able man, who had a wholesome contempt for all pretence and sham.
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