History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 150

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed. cn
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1226

USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II > Part 150

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

One of their sons, Charles S. Hartwell, born Sep- tember 3, 1885, graduated at Amherst College, 1877. Their daughter, Emily S., born April 7, 1859, was ed- ucated at Wheaton Seminary, and is assistant mission- ary to her father, especially for the instruction of women and girls.

Rev. John Hartwell, brother of the preceding, born December 20, 1827 ; Amherst College, 1855 ; studied in the East Windsor Seminary and was ordained pastor of the church in Leverett, in 1859, where he remained about five years. He was pastor of the church in Becket six years, and pastor in Southbury, Conn., seven years. He married, June 20, 1860, Sarah W. Southmayd, of Middletown, Conn., and died in South- bury, December 13, 1878.

Rev. Ephraim Flint, D.D., son of Major Ephraim and Susan (Bemis) Flint, born November 29, 1828; took a preparatory course of study at Phillips Academy, Andover, and Lawrence Academy, Groton, and graduated at Williams College in 1851. He taught the academy in Orleans and the high schools of Lynn and Lee, and obtained an excellent reputa- tion as a teacher. After teaching nearly fourteen years, he pursued a theological course in the seminary at Andover, and was ordained pastor of the Congrega- tional Church in Hinsdale in the autumn of 1867, where he remained until his death.

He married, April 7, 1857, Miss Orilla J. Hagar, of Lincoln, and died suddenly, in the evening of Novem- ber 28, 1882-the day that completed the fifty-fourtli year of his life.

Dr. Flint was a man of great industry and of singu- lar beauty and purity of life and character. Possessing a large share of sound common sense and a sweet dis- position-gifted with the talents and graces which adorn the ministry-he was one who might well in- scribe on his banner

"I am a soldier of the Cross, A follower of the Lamb,"

and engrave on his shield the legend of Sir Hilde- brand,

" My strength is as the strength of ten, Because my heart is pure."

Cornelius Fiske, son of Esq. Elijah and Mrs. Bath- sheba (Brooks) Fiske, born March 24, 1830 ; A.B. Har- vard University, 1853; studied law in the offices of Hon. F. B. Hayes and Messrs. Hutchins and Wheeler in Boston, and was admitted to the Suffolk bar in 1855. Immediately after his admission to the bar in Boston he went to New York and entered the office of Messrs. Benedict, Burr & Benedict, and six months later was admitted to practice in all the courts of New York and the District and Circuit Courts of the United States, and opened an office at 37 Wall Street, May 1, 1856.

He married, August 25, 1858, Mary Amanda, daughter of Henry B. and Mary E. Greenwood, and has two sons and four daughters.

Lewis Everett Smith, son of Cyrus and Tryphena (Brooks) Smith, born Jan. 2, 1831; graduated Brown University, 1853. He taught the high school in Ports- mouth, N. H., and subsequently established Smith's Academy and Commercial College there, of which he is principal. He married, June 17, 1856, Eliza Abbott, of Charlestown.

Dr. George Grosvenor Tarbell, son of Charles L. and Martha E. (Fiske) Tarbell, born September 9, 1841; A.B., Harvard University, 1862; M.D., 1865." He served as assistant surgeon in the Union Army in 1865, and has since been a practicing physician in Boston and a member of the staff of the Massachu- setts General Hospital, 1868 to 1889.

Dr. Leonard Wheeler, son of Abel and Charlotte ( B(mis) Wheeler, born August 31, 1845; fitted for college at Exeter, N. H., and graduated A.B., 1866, M.D., 1867; was in the Massachusetts General Hos- pital one year, 1869-70. Since 1870 he has been a successful practitioner in Worcester.

Charles Francis Tarbell, son of Charles L. and Martha E. (Fiske) Tarbell, born May 6, 1853 ; Har- vard University, 1873. Since his graduation he has been engaged in manufacturing and mer cantile pur- suits. He married, June 6, 1883, Ida Adams, daugh- ter of C. C. Adams, of Brooklyn. They have two children-Sarah Adams and George Grosvenor (3d).

Frank Webster Smith, son of Francis and Abigail E. (Baker) Smith, born June 27, 1854; fitted for col- lege in the public schools of Lincoln and Phillips Academy, and graduated in 1877. He taught classics and mathematics four years in Atlanta University, Georgia ; pursued a post-graduate course at Harvard two years, and since 1883 has been a teacher in the State Normal School at Westfield.

Edward Irving Smith, son of Cyrus G. and Emily (Hnddleston) Smith, born October 20, 1862; fitted for college in the public schools of Lincoln, and grad-

631

LINCOLN.

uated Harvard University, 1SS5. He was a private tu- tor one year, and graduated at the Law School in 1889. He attained a high rank, both in the academi- cal and professional departments of the University.

Edward Francis Hodges, son of Edward Fuller and Anne Frances (Hammatt) Hodges, born August, 1851; Harvard University, 1871; M.D., 1876 ; settled in In- dianapolis, Ind., where he is a successful practitioner.

George Ciarendou Hodges, brotlier of the preced- ing, born October 14, 1857; Harvard University, 1877 ; studied law and entered on his professional career in Boston in 1SS0.

George Henry Flint, son of George and Caroline A. (Rice) Flint, born January 25, 1865 ; graduated at Williams College, 1886. After his graduation he taught in the academy at Peekskill, N. Y., and is now an instructor in Williams College.

PHYSICIANS .- Dr. John Binney lived in that part of Weston which became a part of Lincoln upon incorporation of the town in 1754. He was son of Deacon John and Hannah (Paine) Binney, and was born in Hul! April 23, 1705. He married, October 21, 1726, Hannah Jones, and settled in Mendon as a physician, and afterwards removed to Weston. He died in Lincoln August 14, 1760. His widow mar- ried, October 30, 1765, Captain Daniel Adamns, and died June 11, 1776.

Dr. Charles Russell, son of Hon. James and Cath- arine (Graves) Russell, was born in Charlestown, De- cember 27, 1738. He graduated at Harvard, 1757, and received a medical degree at Aberdeen. After the death of his uncle, Hon. Chambers Russell, in 1767, he came to reside and practice in Lincoln. He was a Loyalist, and left Lincoln on the 19th of April, 1775. He subsequently went to the West Indies, and died at Antigua May 27, 1780. He married, February 15, 1768, Elizabeth Vassal, daughter of Henry and Penelope (Royal) Vassal, of Cambridge. They had four daughters born in Lincoln : Penelope, born March 17, 1769; married, November 7, 1808, Hon. Theodore Sedgwick ; died May 18, 1827. Eliz- abeth Vassal, born January 10, 1771 ; married, June 12, 1797, Charles Furlong Degen; died in Marion County, Miss., August 28, 1824. Catharine Graves, born January 9, 1772; died unmarried in Roxbury September 5, 1847. Rebecca, born February 20, 1773 ; married, first, November, 1793, David Pierce ; married, second, Joseph Ruggles, and died in Phila- delphia December 15, 1825. Mrs. Elizabeth (Vassal) Russell died in Plymouth February 23, 1802.

Dr. Oliver Mann, son of Ebenezer and Mary (Gould) Mann, was born in Wrentham June 5, 1756. He practiced in Lincoln between 1777 and 1783. He was a surgeon in the Revolutionary Army, and, after the close of the war, removed to Castine, Me. He represented Castine in the Massachusetts Legislature in 1798, 1802, 1803 and 1807, and died in Castine July 4, 1832. He married Lucy, daughter of John and Lucy (Hubbard) Adams. They had several children,

two of whom were born in Lincoln : Nancy, born April 25, 1780 ; Lucy, born September 1, 1781.

Dr. Richard Russell, sou of Richard and Mary (Cary) Russel), was baptized in Charlestown Febru- ary 24, 1750. He served an apprenticeship at the tanner's trade with Deacon Joshua Brooks in Lincoln On the morning of the day he became of age he rose early, washed his hands thoroughly, and made a vow never to put them into the tanyard again. He im- mediately commenced the study of medicine, and subsequently commenced practice in Lincoln. He married, July 28, 1777, Elizabeth, daughter of Nathan aud Rebecca (Adams) Brown, of Lincoln. He was drowned by the upsetting of a boat in Beaver Pond, August 12, -1796. His widow died May 18, 1838. They had a family of six sons and three daughters. Of the sons, James was a dry-goods merchant in Bos- ton, aud George was a physician. The other children died young or unmarried.

Dr. Grosvenor Tarbell, son of Lieutenant John, Jr., and Susanna (Hobbs) Tarbell, was born in Sturbridge February 3, 1768, and graduated at Yale College, 1793. He studied for his profession in Boston, and came to reside and practice in Lincoln in 1796. He received a degree, A.M., Yale, 1806, and an honorary degree, A.M., Harvard University, 1810. He mar- ried, Angust 25, 1801, Thankful, daughter of Hon. Samuel and Susanna (Pierce) Hoar. He was emi- nently skillful and successful in his profession, an excellent town officer and an enterprising and useful citizen. He died, universally lamented, March 19, 1822. His widow died February 7, 1861. They had the following children : Louisa, born May 23, 1802 ; died July 17, 1825. Sarah (name changed by Legis- lature to Sarah Harding), born September 16, 1803; died, unmarried, October 19, 1866. Lucia, born July 27, 1805; married, June 10, 1830, Stephen Swift. George Grosvenor, born Junc 10, 1807 ; died Deceni- ber 23, 1889. Jane, born January 24, 1810 ; died De- cember 22, 1888. Charles Lee, born January 22, 1812; married, on December 25, 1838, M. E. Fiske; died December 24, 1889. Mary Elizabeth, born August 27, 1814; died August 30, 1818.

Dr. George Russell, son of Dr. Richard and Mrs. Elizabeth (Brown) Russell, born Sept. 23, 1795; gradu- ated at the Harvard Medical School in 1820, and com- menced practice in Lincoln in 1822. He removed to Waltham in 1838 and soon after to Boston, where he obtained an extensive practice. He bequeathed his library (except the medical books) to the town of Lincoln; also $1000, the annual income of which is to be expended for the purchase of books for the pub- lic library. He married, December 5, 1826, Miss Hannah Green Cole, daughter of Capt. Abraham Cole, of Lincoln, and died in Boston, February 18, 1883. Mrs. Hannah Green Cole Russell died in Bos- ton in 1882. They had one daughter, Ellen Lonisa, born in Lincoln, September 11, 1828, and died in Boston, November 11, 1854.

632

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Dr. Henry C. Chapin, son of James and Apuma (Parsons) Chapin, was born in Greenwich, N. Y., Dc- cember 25, 1815. He was educated at the academies of Monson and Amherst, and graduated at the Berk- shire Medical College, Pittsfield, in 1840. Immedi- ately after graduating he came to reside and practice in Lincoln, and still continues in the active duties of his profession. He married in Southbridge, Decem- ber 30, 1840, Lydia Bacon. They had a family of three sons and two daughters.

SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL-HOUSES .- At the time of the incorporation of the town there were within its limits three school-houses, one near what is now the Snelling place, one near the railroad crossing on the South Road and one on the Common near the old chestnut tree, now standing. Soon after the incor- poration of the town school-houses were built in the north and east parts of the town seemingly partly at the expense of the town, and partly by contributions of labor and materials from persons living in those localities. The first recorded action in relation to schools was taken September 2, 1754, when it was " Voted, that there shall be a moving-school kept in said town, and to remove to three several places, and that the selectmen provide a schoolmaster ; " but the payments do not seem to be in accordance with this vote, Samuel Farrar and Amos Heald being paid, February 14, 1755, £1 28. 8d. each for teaching school, and Timothy Wesson, Jr., and Ephraim Flint were paid, March, 1754, £2 138. 4d. each for teaching school two months. In the following years a movable school was usually kept, the teachers going from one house to another, according to the directions of the select- men.

Mr. Joseph Brooks, who died September 17, 1759, after giving legacies to the church in Lincoln, to Rev. William Lawrence and various relatives, devised the remainder of his estate to the town of Lincoln, " the income therefrom to be applied to the support of a grammar school in said town forever." The amount received was £388. As there were no books on Eng- lish grammar then in existence, the words "grammar- school " were construed to mean a Latin school, and for more than sixty years the income of the legacy was paid only to such teachers as were qualificd to give instructions in Latin and Greek. This led to a more general employment of graduates and under- graduates of colleges, and tended to elevate the char- acter of the schools. Among the teachers in the last century were Stephen Farrar, Timothy Farrar, Jacob Bigelow, Micah Lawrence, Joseph Willard, Abel Flint and Fisher Ames, all graduates of Harvard, and in later times Rev. Drs. Lamson, Hosmer and Hill.

The Liberal School, an institution differing in no respect from the academies of the time, was estab- lished in 1792, and Mr. Stearns became its first pre- ceptor. The origin of the school was on this wise : Dur- ing the middle and latter part of the last century many

families from Middlesex County removed to the border towns of New Hamphire and Vermont. Amongst the first settlers of New Ipswich, Stephen Farrar, its first minister, and Timothy Farrar, its first lawyer, were from Lincoln. The wife of Dr. John Preston, its first distinguished physician, was a sister of the Farrars. Other men and families from Lincoln emigrated to the same place. After the close of the Revolutionary War the people of New Ipswich, feeling the need of better facilities for the education of their children, projected 'and established the New Ipswich Academy, which afterwards became one of the best educational institu- tions of the State. The articles of the associate founders were signed in 1787, and the school was opened the same year. Five of the thirty-two original members of the association were natives of Lincoln. During the three following years several young ladies of Lincoln, who had relatives in New Ipswich, at- tended the academy there. The fame of the academy, and the superior advantages enjoyed there, led the people of Lincoln to wish for a similar school here, and in 1792 articles of association, similar to those of the founders of the New Ipswich Academy, and prob- ably drawn by the same hand, weresigned by twenty- one of the leaading men of Lincoln, under the name of "The proprietors of the Liberal School in Lin- coln." The names of the proprietors, in the order in which they first appear, were Abijah Peirce, Edmond Wheeler, Eleazer Brooks, Joseph Adams, John Cod- man, Samuel Hoar, Samuel Farrar, Daniel Brooks, Joshua Brooks, William Lawrence, Bulkley Adams, Leonard Hoar, Abner Mathies, John Adams, Zecha- riah Smith, Ephraim Flint, Ephraim Weston, Andrew Adams, Isaac Monroe, Elijah Fiske.

A house was built and the school opened in the spring of 1793. Instruction was given in rhetoric, as- tronomy, the higher branches of mathematics, and in the principles of religion and morality, text-books being prepared by Dr. Stearns and transcribed by the pupils. Instruction wasalso given in Latin and Greek, and particular attention paid to manners and morals of the pupils. This school gave a new impulse to the cause of education and tended to elevate the character of the town. The first exhibition was given Septem- ber 27, 1793, Misses Anna Harrington, Hannah Fiske and Susannah Hoar being assigned the highest parts. The innovation of allowing young ladies to speak in public caused considerable discussion and some cen- sure, but Dr. Stearns was able to sustain himself and his school. If any other town in Middlesex County led the way of allowing young ladies to speak in public on the stage, let it be proclaimed. If any one knows of any evils arising from the custom inaugu- rated here, let him cry out.

The school continued in successful operation about fifteen years. In it, under the tuition of Dr. Stearns, Samuel Farrar, Esq., Prof. Jolin Farrar, Hon. Samnel Hoar, Hon. Nathan Brooks, Nathaniel Bemis, Francis Jackson, Dr. Winslow Lewis, and Rev. Cyrus Peirce,

633

LINCOLN.

better known as " Father Peirce "-the first principal of the first Normal school established in the United States-were prepared for admission to Harvard. Prof. Farrar and Father Peirce were known throughout the land for their great attainments in knowledge and eminent abilities as teachers. How much they were indebted to their early preceptor for their success in after life the muse of history saith not. It is presum- able that they got a good start.

In 1810 the building was sold to the town, and was used for a school-house until 1872, when the present high school building was erected at a cost of $8000. In 1852 a high school was established and the lower room of the town hall fitted for a school-room. After the removal of the high school to the new building the room was used for the public library until the erection of the present library, the munificent gift of Mr. George G. Tarbell, in 1884.

The town was never divided into school districts, and the difficulties which attend the abolition of the district system were unknown here. Seventy years ago the examinations of the schools were usually at- tended by as many as could find sitting-room, and sometimes by more than could find standing-room, and jealousies were engendered if one school or teacher was praised or censured more than another.

Sixty years ago Mr. Shattuck wrote : "Lincoln has always given liberal support to her common schools and has been rewarded in the distinguished character of its educated sons." As it was in the beginning so is it now, and so may it be forever.

BURIAL. PLACES .- Soon after the incorporation of the precinct, Mr. Ephrain Flint gave an acre of land for a burial-place, and Mr. Jonathan Gove, who died in 1747, was the first person buried in it. Soon after the incorporation of the town, Deacon Samuel Far- rar purchased and presented to the town an acre of land near the meeting-house for a burying-ground.

In 1832 the town bought of the heirs of Abraham Cole about an acre of land for a third burying- ground. This place was not well or wisely chosen, being a triangular piece of ground bounded on all sides by highways. In 1882 Mr. George F. Bemis gave upwards of ten acres of ground to enlarge the oldest cemetery. Mr. Bemis' gift had an intrinsic value far beyond the cost of the land. The town had struggled for two years over the question of a new cem- etery, and had several meetings without being able to agree upon a location. Mr. Bemis settled the matter quietly and in the best way. No other spot possesses such peculiar attractions and associations. There the spring comes early and the summer stays long, and nature has done her part to make it a beautiful rest- ing-place for the dead. There 'neath grass-grown graves aud moss-covered stones repose the founders of the church and town. There too, victors and vic- tims of the first battle of the Revolution sleep in kin- dred dust and have memorial stones.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

HON. ELEAZER BROOKS.

In the early history of the town and the subse- quent years of the Revolutionary War no man rose higher in the esteem of his fellow-citizens, or exerted a more commanding influence in the affairs of the town and councils of the State, than Gen. Eleazer Brooks. In the discussions and contests about the Stamp Act, the Writs of Assistance and the declara- tion of the English Ministry, "That the Parliament had, and of right ought to have, power to bind the Colo- nies in all cases whatsoever," he came early to the front, and maintained his position there to the close of the war and the century. He was cominissioned by Gov. Barnard, May 11, 1768, a lieutenant in the company in Lincoln commanded by Captain Abijah Pierce, and a captain by Gov. Hutchinson, July 13, 1773. When a collision between the Colonies and the British Parliament becamc inevitable, he returned his commission to the Royal Governor, and was pres- ent at Concord on the 19th of April following as a private citizen. From the breaking out of the war in 1775, to the adoption of the State Constitution in 1780, the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, in New Eng- land, had no executive officer styled Governor, the executive powers being exercised by "The Major part of the Council." By the Council he was ap- pointed colonel of the Third Regiment of the Mid- dlesex troops, February 14, 1776, and a brigadier- general October 15, 1778, and re-appointed to the same office under the new Constitution, August 22, 1780.

The laborious duties which his military offices im- posed upon him were performed with marked ability and precision. He was cautious and considerate in the formation of his plans, prompt, diligent and per- sistent in the execution of them-elements essential to success in all the great enterprises of life. To him, to resolve was to do, and seldom, if ever, did he fail to accomplish his purpose.

Once, and only once, as far as can be ascertained, was he ever accused of any neglect of public duty. On the 10th of November, 1779, the Council sent him a letter, censuring him for not forwarding to General Washington " certain recruits enlisted at Medford, within the limits of your brigade, who arc greatly needed for the public service, and are said to be loit- ering about in idleness, instead of being at the place of rendezvous." Gen. Brooks promptly asked for a committee of investigation, and his request was as promptly complied with. Nine days after the com- mittee reported as follows :

"The committee appointed by this board on the Hon'ble Brigadier Brooks' memorial of the 11th inst., have attended that service, heard the Hon'ble Gentle- man on the subject matter thereof, inspected thic pub- lic orders which the said Brigadier issued in conse-

634

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

quence of an order of the General Assembly of the ninth of October last, and are unanimously of the opinion that said Brigadier has in this instance aeted up to his duty as a General officer, and fully complied with the order aforesaid, and should be exonerated from all blame," which report was unanimously ac- cepted.

He was elected a representative to the Colonial Legislature in 1774, and continued by successive elec- tions either a member of the House of Representa- tives, the Senate or the Executive Council, for twen- ty-seven years. In 1801 he declined a re-election, and retired to private life. The journals of the House of Representatives and Senate, and the records of the Council, show that he was an active and influential member, seldom absent from the sessions, except when engaged on his military expeditions. He was appointed a justice of the peace in 1777, and special justice of the Court of Common Pleas March 27, 1786. He was a delegate to the convention to form a Constitution for the State at Cambridge in 1779, and a delegate to the convention at Boston in 1788 to ratify the Constitution of the United States. He was often appointed on committees for laying out and eonstrueting roads, and many times engaged in set- tling the estates of deceased persons.

In reviewing the life and services of Gen. Brooks it is not easy to find a standard by which to measure him, or a man among the natives of the town to eom- pare him with, unless it be Judge Timothy Farrar. Both typical men-typical Puritan gentlemen-both were eminently soldiers of the cross, and followers of the Prince of Peace. Both were conservatives of the strongest kind in matters of faith and doctrine; both progressive and aggressive in asserting the rights of man, and advocating the independence of the na- tion ; both gave many years of their lives to the pub- lie serviee, and enjoyed the confidence and respect, the love and esteem of their fellow-citizens, from the beginning to the end of their careers.

In other respeets they greatly differed. Judge Far- rar was edueated in the best schools and highest in- stitutions of learning in the land, enjoying the coun- sels and assistance of an elder brother, who had graduated at Harvard and was settled in the ministry in the town and State of their adoption, while Gen. Brooks had no other opportunities for education than those afforded by the common sehools of the time, and, for some unexplained reason, we read that his opportunities there were not equal to those of other boys of his age and time. Little owed he to school or college, or the teachings of other men-all to the brightness of his own genius, his unquenehable thirst for knowledge, and his indomitable pursuit of it under difficulties. How he acquired his knowledge let his pastor tell : " He was necessitated to be his own preceptor. He was accustomed to read the best books, and then, as opportunities offered, to converse with intelligent men concerning them. With this

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 150

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed. cn Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1226

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed. cn
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1226