History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 172

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 172

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The successive ministers of the church have been as follows : Rev. Henry Green, Rev. Samuel Haugh, Rev. John Brock, Rev. Jonathan Pierpont, Rev. Richard Brown, Rev. William Hobby, Rev. Caleb Prentice, Rev. Reuben Emerson, Rev. Alfred Emer- son, Rev. Joseph D. Hull, Rev. Joseph B. Johnson, Rev. Charles R. Bliss, Rev. David N. Beach, Rev. William H. Brodhead and Rev. Robert W. Wallace.

This old church has been the mother of noble and vigorous daughters. In 1720 she sent forth colonics at North Reading and Lynnfield. In 1729 she helped form the church at Stoneham, in 1733, the church

in Wilmington, and in 1770 parted regretfully with some of her best blood in the incorporation of the Third or West Parish and the formation of the church at "Woodend," or what is now the town of Reading. The "old church" has ever contended with sturdy zeal for "the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints," and is still strong, progressive and influential.

The Baptist Society was formed in 1797, its first meeting-house erected on Salem Street in 1800, and the church organized in 1804. In 1820 the church edifice was removed to a more ceutral location at the corner of Main and Crescent Streets, and in 1835 it was destroyed by fire. A new house of worship was erected forthwith ou the same site, and this was burned to the ground in 1871. In re-building, the society secured a larger lot at the corner of Main and Lafayette Streets, and erected thereon, in the Roman- esque style, a commodious and splendid house of worship, which still stands with lofty spire and graceful proportions,-a beautiful temple of the Lord, and a worthy ornament of the town.

This strong and active church has been and is a power in the community, and has been served by a succession of earnest and devoted miuisters, as fol- lows :

Rev. Ebenezer Nelson in 1804, followed by Rev. Gus- tavus F. Davis, Rev. Joseph A. Warne, Rev. James Huckins, Rev. Isaac Sawyer, Rev. Charles Miller, Rev. Larkin B. Cole, Rev. Charles Evans, Rev. Paul S. Adams, Rev. Dr. Daniel W. Phillips, Rev. Dr. George Bullen, Rev. Dr. James W. Willmarth, Rev. Richard M. Nott, Rev. Dr. Charles Keyser, Rev. Dr. Rudolph R. Riddell, Rev. Roland D. Grant and Rev. Noah R. Everts.

The Universalist Church wasorganized in 1813, but its first settled pastor was not installed until 1833, and its first house of worship not erected uutil 1839. This edifice, finely located on the easterly side of Main Street, and originally simple and unpretendiug in architecture, was, in 1859, remodeled and enlarged, and received the addition of a steeple and tower clock, and is now one of the most graceful structures on the street. The society is active and prosperous, and fur- nishes a centre around which gathers and radiates the more liberal, religious sentiment of the commun- ity. Its ministers have been Rev. Johu C. Newcll, Rev. H. W. Morse, Rev. Henry Jewell, Rev. Henry Lyon, Rev. Stillman Barden, Rev. John H. Willis, Rev. Alexander Hichborn, Rev. John H. Moore, Rev. Benton Smith, Rev. Edwin A. Eaton, Rev. William W. Hayward, Rev. William F. Potter, Rev. Quincy Whitney, Rev. William H. Morrison, Rev. William E. Gaskin, and Rev. L. L. Greene.

St. Joseph's Catholic Society is the largest in Wake- field. Their first church edifice was erected in 1854, though many Masses had been said in halls and private houses of the town in preceding years. To accommodate the growing needs of the society

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a larger church was built in 1871, and this proving inadequate, an extensive addition was made in 1889, including a handsome spire. The church is situated on Albion Street, near the Upper Depot of the Boston and Maine Railroad, and is a promi- nent and pleasing feature of the region. Under the efficient and devoted spiritual guidance and ministra- tions of Rev. Father Millerick, assisted by his curate, the Rev. D. H. Reardon, an important work is being done in caring for the highest interests of the Catholic population of the town. The first regular officiating pastor was Rev. Thomas Shahan in 1854, followed by Rev. John Ryan, Rev. John McCarthy, Rev. Thomas Scully, Rev. John McShane, Rev. M. Z. Carroll, Rev. Thomas Gleason, Rev. William H. Fitzpatrick, Rev. M. F. Flatley, Rev. Patrick J. Hally and Rev. Jeremiah E. Millerick. The pastors have been resident in Wakefield since 1873.

The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1865, and for several years worshiped in the vestry of the Universalist "Church. In 1869 the society pur- chased the Albion Hall building, but after a few years' use it was deemed too small, and Feb. 24, 1874, a handsome new church on Albion Street, costing $25,- 500, was dedicated with fitting ceremonies. The struc- ture was Gothic in outline, with Swiss treatment of detail. It was a time of business depression, and a heavy debt hung like a leaden weight about the neck of the society, until in 1885 the terrible burden was entirely removed by contributions mostly obtained by the personal labors of the pastor, at that time the Rev. T. C. Martin, and now, in a church redeemed, the peo- ple of this society are earnest and successful workers in the vineyard of the Lord. The succession of pas- tors has been as follows: Rev. Thomas C. Potter, Rev. Andrew Gray, Rev. Daniel Atkins, Rev. Dr. M. B. Chapman, Rev. C. L. McCurdy, Rev. John Peter- son, Rev. E. A. Howard, Rev. Gilbert C. Osgood, Rev. E. A. Manning, Rev. Daniel Richards, Rev. Thomas C. Martin, Rev. D. S. Coles and Rev. W. F. Cook.

The Emmanuel Society was organized in 1869, as a Mission of the Protestant Episcopal Church. This society was not large, but has had the encouragement of a gradual increase in numbers and in spiritual prosperity. Its first church edifice was erected in 1881, on the southerly side of Water Street nearly op- posite Crescent Street. The rectors of this society have been Rev. Samuel R.Slack, Rev. George Walker, Rev. Samuel Hodgkiss, Rev. Frederick Luson, Rev. William H. Williams and Rev. Irving Spencer.

The first Congregational Society of Greenwood was formed in 1873, and in 1884 a tasteful and convenient chapel was erected on Oak Street, near the Green- wood School-house, where regular services are held every Sunday, but no permanent pastor is ever en- gaged.

The Montrose Chapel Society was organized in 1877, and in 1886 dedicated an elegant little chapel to religious use, where Sunday-school and preaching

services are held every week, but, like Greenwood, the society is not able to support a regular pastor.

EDUCATIONAL .-- The New England Puritans were not slow to appreciate the value of education, and, ac- cording to their means, provided ample opportunities for the acquisition of knowledge and the training of the mental powers. The early settlers of Wakefield were' true scions of the stock, and good common schools have been found in town since the early years. The first known teacher of the free school was Nich- olas Lynde, of Charlestown, a graduate of Harvard College in 1690. Several of the "old masters " of the town were men of thorough classical attainments. It is not known where the first school-house, as such, was erected, but it is recorded that in 1707 the select- men were asked to consider whether the school-house should be removed. This building was a small affair, and stood upon what is now the public park, a little northeasterly of the Congregational Church. In 1693 and for some years succeeding, Master Lynde was the only teacher in the whole town, and taught in differ- ent parts of the town, as the selectmen directed. Three months were given to what is now Wakefield, two months to what is now Reading, and one month to what is now North Reading.

During the eighteenth century, before the Revolu- tionary War, the amount of money annually appro- priated for schools averaged about £60. Following the Revolution the school appropriations gradually in- creased, educational privileges were expanded, until, in Wakefield alone, the annual appropriation for support of schools is $20,000, which is distributed among twenty-four schools, in which instruction is given by thirty-one teachers to 1200 pupils, in ten large and well-appointed school edifices. The High School was established in 1845, and is now one of the most highly prized and cherished institutions of the town, occupying a handsome edifice at the corner of Main and Lafayette Streets, on the site of the old-, time parsonage of the First Parish. Wakefield has obtained a worthy distinction among the people of the Commonwealth for the excellence of her public schools.

Long before the establishment of the High School, there was crected, in 1829, on the pleasant elevation easterly of Crescent Street, the South Reading Acad- emy, under Baptist auspices. It was for many years a flourishing institution of learning and exerted a valuable and elevating influence on the rising gener- ation of the town, and hastened the coming of the High School. The academy was discontinued about 1845, and the town, in 1847, purchased the building for the use of the High School. Another institution, the Greenwood Seminary, was established about the year 1855, in Greenwood Village, by Rev. Windsor B. Wait, under Universalist influences, and was for a decade a favorite resort for young ladics seeking a finished education.

LIBRARIES .- There have been in other days libra-

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ries of note in the town, including the "Social," "Franklin," "Prescott" and "Agricultural " Libra- ries, but all have been overshadowed and practically superseded, except church and school libraries, by the Public Library, instituted in 1856, by the public- spirited efforts of leading citizens of the town, inclnd- ing Benjamin Franklin Tweed, Lilley Eaton, Paul H. Sweetser, Edward Mansfield, Franklin Poole, James M. Evans and John S. Eaton. A large nnm- ber of books was collected by private enterprise and donation and presented to the town. This gerin of the library was taken under the paternal wing of the town, and, receiving generous nourishment and kindly care, has grown and expanded into the present extensive collection of books, which includes abont 10,000 vol- umes, and is regarded as a beneficent and almost indis- pensable institution of the town. Its name was changed in 1868 to " Beebe Town Library," in honor of the late Lncins Beebe, Esq., a liberal contributor to its funds. Other generous gifts have been made to the institu- tion by Mrs. Harriet N. Flint, the late Dr. Francis P. Hurd and the late Cyrns Wakefield, the younger. A public reading-room contiguous to the library, well supplied with the best papers and magazines of the day, is much nsed and appreciated by the people of the town.

As a means of popular education, supplementary to the schools and public library, there should be men- tioned the work of the Wakefield Lecture Associa- tion, which has for many years provided winter courses of excellent literary, scientific and musical entertainments in the town-hall to large audiences for a very reasonable price. There was also estab- lished in 1886 the "Sweetser Fund Lectures," and placed upon a secure financial foundation by the be- qnest in trust to the town of $10,000, under the will of Cornelius Sweetser, a native of Wakefield, "for the improvement and elevation of the public mind." Under wise management the annual series of superior lectures provided from this fund have grown in popu- lar favor and appreciation, and become a prized insti- tution of the town. A small admission fee is charged, as required by the terms of the will, and the surplus of income distributed among the worthy poor of the town.

NEWSPAPERS .- The first attempt to furnish regular news in printed form to the inhabitants of this town was in 1854, through the medium of a South Reading Department in the Middlesex Journal, a weekly paper published in Woburn. Invited by a "combination of gentlemen," the editorial duties of the department soon devolved upon Edward Mansfield, Esq., who for many years continued to furnish items for the South Reading column, with generous public spirit and signal success.

In 1858 was begun the publication of the South Reading Gazette, by Mr. William H. Hutchinson, from Boston, which paper for about five years was a wel- come visitor in home circles. In 1868 MIr. A.

Augustus Foster, established the Wakefield Banner, which, in 1872, was merged in the Wakefield Citizen. At this time Mr. William H. Twombly lannched the Wakefield Advocate, but soon after picked up the dis- carded name of "Banner," and for nearly two years there was again published the Wakefield Banner. In 1874 Mr. Twombly purchased the Citizen, which he consolidated with the Banner, and then was begun the prosperous career of The Wakefield Citizen and Banner, which has become the leading journal of the community and found in nearly every home in Wake- field. Mr. Twombly, in 1880, sold his interest in the paper to Mr. Chester W. Eaton, who is still the pub- lisher and editor of this progressive sheet. An ex- tensive job printing department is successfully car- ried on in connection with the newspaper office.

The Wakefield Bulletin was established in 1881 by Mr. W. H. Twombly, then proprietor of the Reading Chronicle. The Wakefield Record was started in 1886 by Mr. Frederick W. Young, who, in 1887, purchased the Bulletin, and has since successfully conducted the Wakefield Record and Bulletin. Other ephemeral ventures in newspaperdom have been made in the town, but are hardly worthy of mention.

MILITARY .- The military record of the town is one of honor and renown. The first corps was organized in 1644, called the Reading Infantry Company, and commanded by Richard Walker, a noted Indian fighter. It is recorded of him :

" Of Reading train-band he was first Who held the Captain's lofty trust ; A man of faith and courage great, To fight the battles of the State. And thus we find that with his men, He went to Saugus, now called Lynn, And fought the eastern Indians there, Whose poisoned arrows filled the air, And two of which these savage foes Lodged safely in old Walker's clothes."

This famous company was cherished and sustained until its disbandment, in 1840. The Washington Rifle Greens were organized in 1812, became the re- nowned company of the region, and went ont of ex- istence in 1850.

The Richardson Light Gnard, so named in honor of the late Dr. Solon O. Richardson, a generous friend of the company, as is also his son, the present Dr. S. O. Richardson, was organized in 1851. Thrice was this gallant corps called into the service of the Union during the recent Rebellion-as Company E, Fifth Regiment, as Company E, Fiftieth Regiment, and as Company E, Eighth Regiment Massachusetts Volnn- teers, and always acquitted itself with honor. It still enjoys high distinction under Capt. Clinton H. Stearns, as Company A, Sixth Regiment Massachu- setts Volunteer Militia.

In the French and Indian Wars of last century the First Parish of the old town of Reading nobly bore her part, her sons sharing in the glory of the capture of Louisburg, and fought under Wolfe on the Plains

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

of Abraham. When the tocsin sounded for the opening of the Revolutionary War the whole town of Reading burned with patriotic ardor. Several com- panies of minute-men had been secretly organized for the anticipated crisis, and on the memorable 19th of April, 1775, the train-band, or "alarm-list " of the First Parish was, by express, ordered to Lexington, and they departed very early, accompanied by the minister, Rev. Caleb Prentiss, and met the British troops returning from Concord at Merriam's Corner, and, with the men of the Third Parish and others, were among the first to engage the enemy in what miglit be called the first battle of the Revolution, the Reading men being commanded in this encounter by Capt. John Brooks, afterward Governor of the Com- monwealth. The British regulars in their retreat along the Boston turnpike were constantly and fatally harassed by the Provincials, and their retreat be- came a rout until they met Lord Percy, with rein- forcements.

Among the First Parish men who joined in the ex- citing chase was Reuben Eaton, whose home was where the elegant mansion-honse erected by the late Cyrus Wakefield now stands. Eaton was then young, a skillful hunter, and a sure marksman. He didn't start for Lexington with the body of the " alarm-list," but stopped to clean his gun, supply the lock with a new flint, and fill his powder-horn and bullet-pouch, as if to liunt ducks or deer, and, when fully equipped, followed with all speed. Having reached Merriams' Corner in season to take part in the bloody fight, he followed the retreating foe toward Lexington, popping off the red-coats from behind stone wall, fence or building, as occasion permitted, with great delibera- tion and success ; but staying longer than he ought, to get another, one more shot, he was captured-almost -by the enemy's flanking guard. He then started to run for dear life.

" The British shot came whizzing on To bring this saucy rebel down, But he the flash perceives and falls, And o'er him pass the harmless balls ; Then springing np he onward runs ; Again crack off the British guns, Again he drops upon his face, Unhurt amid the dangerous chase, The foe, supposing they had slain The man, marched on, and he again Sprang to his feet, and thus got clear ; But not until he heard them swear 'That twice they'd pierced that Yankee's liver, But still he'd run as fast as ever.' "

At Merriam's Corner, too, was Thomas Emerson, of the Old Parish, of honored memory, and grand- father of Thomas Emerson, Esq., and Capt. James F. Emerson, of the leading shoe manufacturing firm of Wakefield. Young Emerson, then eighteen years of age, was full of courage and enthusiasm, stood bravely in the ranks, and had here his first shot at a red-coat. He later obtained distinction in the war, and knew the horrors of Dartmoor Prison. Young Emerson

used to relate an incident of the memorable day en- acted before his eyes, that was terribly impressive : A patriot, turning the corner of a house, suddenly met a regular. Both leveled their pieces and fired at the same moment, and both fell dead together.

The town of Reading sent into the army during the Revolutionary War over 400 men, not including minute-men and privateersmen, and there were con- stantly in the field an average of 100 men from the town. Perhaps the most noted of the fighting pa- triots of the Old Parish was General Benjamin Brown, whose homestead was on the easterly side of Lake Quannapowitt, where lately dwelt Lucius Beebe, Esq., deceased.

In the War of 1812, and the Mexican War, the sons of South Reading were not wanting to defend the nation's honor on land and sea.

Wakefield in the Rebellion .- Upon a country free, proud and prosperous, pressing with confident step to the van of the great nations of the world, there sud- denly burst, in 1861, the black cloud of rebellion, in war and blood, and the souls of men and women were tried and stirred as never before since the days when the nation struggled into existence. An insulted flag, slavery's arrogant demands, and the foundations of our government undermined, aroused at last the slumbering patriotism of our people, and the old town that had sent her yeomen to Concord, Bunker Hill and Ticonderoga glowed with the fervor of patriotic indignation. The young men responded with ready courage and high enthusiasm, while the old men buckled on the armor of their sons with grave faces and tear-dimincd eyes, as they realized more truly than the young men what was the import of the ter- rible sounds in the air, in sacrifice and suffering to come.

On the doubly memorable 19th of April, 1861, the orders came from the commander-in-chief to the Richardson Light Guard, Wakefield's own gallant corps, to march at once to the defence of the govern- ment. At 12 o'clock, noon, the old town-bell, a cen- tury old, rang out such peals as had summoned the minute-men in 1775. All understood the clanging signal. The whole town was stirred with martial excitement, and thrilled with new and strange emo- tions, never to be forgotten by those who experienced them.

The soldiers of the Guard rallied to their armory, and, at two o'clock, led by Captain John W. Locke, were proudly marching down Main Street to the music of drum and fife, to take the train for Boston. At the depot was gathered the population of the town. Words of encouragement, hope and sympa- thy were publicly spoken by leading citizens of the town; fervent prayers were offered by the clergymen, while the assembly was freshly electrified by the news, just then flashed over the wires, that the blood of Massachusetts soldiers had that very day been shed in the streets of Baltimore by the enemies of

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their country. And so, with tears and prayers, with indignation and huzza, with farewell and God-speed, the first volunteers of Wakefield left for the seat of war, and rendered valuable service in the defence of Washington, and fought with honor in the first battle of Bull Run, where some were wounded and three men taken prisoners: Sergeant George W. Aborn, James H. Griggs and Frank L. Tibbetts. These true patriots, after languishing many months in Southern dungeons and prison-pens, were released alive, aud on the 14th of June, 1862, at South Reading, were ac- corded a public reception, with procession, feast and oration.

Meantime, as the carefully-matured and appalling scheme of secession was developed, and the deter- mined purpose of the Southern leaders became under- stood, the people of the loyal North shuddered as they perceived that the Rebellion was not to be of weeks or months but of unknown years, and braced them- selves for the terrible conflict.

The North thundered out with the indignant voice of outraged justice : " The Union must and shall be preserved, and traitors must lay down their arms or die. Freedom is national and of God; Slavery is sectional and wrong." The South shouted back : " Go we will, peaceably if we can, forcibly if we must, and any Yankees who interfere with us or our peculiar institutions will be welcomed with bloody hands to hospitable graves." With grim resolve and heroic spirit loyal men and women met the awful exigency, and, like the fathers of seventy-six, pledged " their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor " for the principles of freedom and righteousness. The Presi- dent's proclamation for " 300,000 more " found an en- thusiastic response from the people of the North, and the most gigantic war of modern times was rapidly mounting to its awful proportions.

In this crisis of the nation South Reading was true to her patriotic traditions and her ancient fame. Major John Wiley, (2d), a brave man of the town, with martial instincts, who had been an efficient offi- cer in the State militia, was authorized to recruit a company of three-years men in South Reading and vicinity, which having done he was commissioned as captain of the company, with James R. Darracot, and James Oliver as lieutenants. It was attached to the Sixteenth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers, as Company E, and left for the seat of war, August 17, 1861. This company served in the Army of the Po- tomac, and participated in most of the bloody battles of that famous old army, and met with terrible losses. It ever sustained a high character for courage and he- roic endurance, and is entitled to lasting gratitude and honor. In the summer of 1862 another company was recruited in the town, the Richardson Light Guard forming the nucleus for the same, and in September was enlisted for nine months' service as Company E, Fiftieth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers, with Captain Samuel F. Littlefield commanding, and Hor-

ace M. Warreu and James D. Draper as lieutenants. The former captain of the company, John W. Locke, was commissioned and served as lieutenant-colonel of the Fiftieth Regiment. This regiment left the State in October and was attached to Banks' expedition to Louisiana, and participated in the campaign that re- sulted in the fall of Port Hudson. This company lost many men, principally by disease, aud were mustered out in August, 1863.

The Richardson Light Guard again responded in 1864 for a service of one hundred days, and as Com- pany B, Eighth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers, was stationed at Baltimore to protect that city from threatened raids of the enemy. Many other sons of the town enlisted in various companies and regiments of the Union Army iu the different branches of the service, and in the navy of the United States, and patriotic ladies, too, were not wanting to perform woman's blessed work in the same sacred cause. Dur- ing the progress of the struggle, as call after call issued from the President for more men, the town nobly and promptly responded, and well sustained her part in the time of the nation's exigency, and points with glowing pride to the record of 505 men sent into the military and uaval service of the Re- public, of whom more than sixty gave up their lives in the sacred cause. The deeds of these gallant sol- diers cannot be described nor even mentioned. From Pennsylvania to Texas, from the Atlantic to the Rocky Mountains, they wet the soil with blood; on ocean, gulf and rivers they upheld with daring achievement the ancient renown of American sea- men, they languished in hospitals, and, worst of all, were murdered in rebel prisons. Their names are all inscribed on Wakefield's Roll of Honor, and will ever be held by the people of the town in grateful and affectionate remembrance.

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 172

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