History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 175

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 175

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Richard Britton leads in the retail boot and shoe trade, followed by Hugh Connell and Frank H. Em- erson.

The apothecaries are Dr. J. D. Mansfield, Jordan & Oxley and S. E. Ryder.

Meat and provisions are sold by W. D. Dcadman, J. W. Jenkins, W. V. Taylor, S. H. Gowing and A. Bush & Co.

Fish markets are kept by W. H. Godfrey and F. H. Sweetser.

The bakers are Mrs. H. L. Day and C. P. Curtis.

The coal and wood dealers are G. P. Haley, Wake- field Coal Co., A. L. Mansfield and Denis Greany.

The following industrial statisties respecting Wake- field are gleaned from the census reports of 1885 :

Industrial corporations 5

Capital stock $1,360,300

Private firms 63

Total value of stock used annually . $ 967,167

Total value of goods made annually 2,016,147

PERSONS EMPLOYED :

Males between 13 and 21 years 114

Males over 20 years of age 824

Females between 13 and 21 years 60

Females ovor 20 years of age 219

Aggregate number 1217

Number of industrial establishments 68

Salaried persons omployod thoreat 21

Wage carnors employed thereat .

1259

Amount paid in salaries, 1 year . $ 32,128 Amount paid in wages 535,416

BANKING INSTITUTIONS .- The earliest savings bank in the town was incorporated in 1833, with a capital of $10,000, and called the South Reading Me- ehanic and Agricultural Iustitution. The late Capt. Thomas Emerson and the late Hon. Lilley Eaton were active in its formation, and as president and treasurer, respectively, remained as such for nearly forty years, until their deaths. Hon. Thomas Win- ship succeeded Mr. Eaton as treasurer, having filled the office for nearly twenty years, and Mr. Thomas Emerson, the younger, is now the president of the institution, which is still flourishing and safe.

The South Reading Bank was incorporated as a State bank in 1854. Mr. George O. Carpenter was very active and efficient in its organization. Its first officers were Capt. Thomas Emerson, president, and Hon. Lilley Eaton, cashier, and Thomas Emerson, Lucius Beebe, George O. Carpenter, Samuel Gardner, E. Mansfield and C. Wakefield, directors. This bank was reorganized under United States laws as the Na- tional Bank of South Reading, in 1865, with the same officers as before. The president, eashier and most of the direetors remained at their posts until death took them, Maj. Geo. O. Carpenter and Edward Mansfield being the only survivors.

The present officers of this staneh and important institution of Wakefield are Cyrus G. Beebe, presi- dent ; Thomas Winship, cashier (succeeding Mr. Eaton) ; Frank A. Winship, assistant cashier, and C. G. Beebe, George O. Carpenter, Thomas Emerson, James F. Emerson and Daniel G. Walton, directors.

The Wakefield Savings Bank was incorporated by the Legislature in 1869, Cyrus Wakefield becoming the first president, and Daniel Allen the first treas- urer. It has had a prosperous career until the pres- ent time, and is now one of the most solid and useful of Wakefield's institutions. It holds deposits of $222,- 000. The principal officers are Solon O. Richardson, president; Jacob C. Hartshorne and Thomas J. Skinner, vice-presidents; Richard Britton, treasurer and elerk.

The Wakefield Co-operative Bank was organized as a corporation under the Public Statutes of the Commonwealth, January 19, 1887, and began busi- ness March 5, 1887, with an authorized capital of $1,000,000. Its depositors bceame shareholders in the bank, the plan being to make small monthly pay- ments on their shares, and are thoroughly protected by statute regulations and earefully-devised by-laws. Its loans are principally on real estate security. The bank has become quite popular in the town, its affairs having been intelligently and wisely adminis- tered by the managers, with the spirit of aceommo- datiou toward borrowers, and a constant regard for the safety of investments. Its principal officers, which have not been changed since the organization of the bank, are Thomas J. Skinner, president; Arlon

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WAKEFIELD.

S. Atherton, vice-president, and Harry Foster, treas- urer and secretary.

MUNICIPAL .- The town government has been ad- ministered by the operation of simple machinery and according to forms handed down from the days of the last war with Great Britain, with slight varia- tions, and such administration has been attended by the prosperous development of the town, and should be spoken of with due respect and appreciation. Appropriations for necessary and worthy purposes have been liberal without extravagance, and ex- pended with slight loss or waste. No treasurer, col- lector or trusted official has escaped to Canada or South America with pockets filled with the funds of the town. The general reputation of the town for soundness, public spirit and common sense is not surpassed among the municipalities of the Common- wealth.

There is, however, a growing feeling that the filly harness that held in order the frisky colt in 1812, though improved, added to and strengthened at va- rious times, is yet all too small and old-fashioned to re- strain and guide the strong-limbed steed of 1890. It is, indeed, freely whispered, one with another, that long ere the nineteenth century shall have been numbered with the dead, the Mayor, Aldermen and Common Council of the city of Wakefield will direct its municipal affairs with true metropolitan style and expense. The principal executive officers of the town are now three selectmen, as in the early days of the seventeenth century. Other important departments of municipal affairs are managed respectively by three assessors, three overseers of the poor, six school committee, three road commissioners, three Board of Health, three park commissioners, three auditors, nine trustees of Public Library and Reading Room, beside town treasurer, town clerk and collector of taxes. The Police Department is efficiently organ- ized, with a chief of police and subordinate officers, with constables and night-watchmen, well maintain- ing the peace of the community.

In former days, when the aid of the law was in- voked to obtain justice or inflict penalties on wrong- doers, resort was had, ordinarily, through selectmen or constable, to the County Court at Charlestown or Cambridge; but, in later years, justices of the peace and trial justices held local courts in the town for the trial and disposition of small cases, both civil and criminal ; and any causes and offences of magnitude were taken to the higher courts. This system seemed to satisfy the people's cravings for justice until quite recent times. In 1875 was established the First Dis- trict Court of Eastern Middlesex, with sessions on Wednesdays and Thursdays at Wakefield, and on other days at Malden. Hon. John W. Pettengill, of Malden, has been justice of the Court since its estab- lishment, and William N. Tyler, Esq., of Wakefield, clerk of the same nearly as long. Its jurisdiction for the consideration of all criminal complaints and the 47-ii

trial of civil actions, where the alleged damages do not exceed $300, includes the city of Malden and the towns of Wakefield, Reading, North Reading, Wil- mington, Melrose, Everett and Medford. The quiet, but effectual administration of justice prevails in Wakefield under its local officers, and it must be a novelty and a marvel to the transatlantic visitor, or the adopted citizen, coming to us from some "pater- nal " government of Europe, to find in such a town as this, as in most of our large towns, the only repre- sentative of the central power to be thie courteous postmaster, and the only insignia of government the loved flag of the Republic.

The principal post-office of Wakefield is in the im- mediate centre of the town, while the outlying districts at the south and east are accommodated by the smaller post-offices at Greenwood and Montrose.

The Fire Department of Wakefield has a very effi- cient organization and has been constantly supported with liberal outlay and pardonable pride by the citi- zens of the town. The first engine was purchased near the beginning of the present century, and called the "Republican Extinguisher." Its home was in the small engine-house that stood in the ancient bur- ial-ground a little westerly of the present location of the brick engine-house of the Beebe steamer. It was a small but ambitious machine and faithfully served the community in its day and generation during about twenty-five years of usefulness.

" At length the town growu wiser, richer, Procured a tub of fame ; A strong, dark, homely, savage creature --- ' Black Hawk ' its proper name."

This engine became noted in its day. It found con- genial quarters in the dark basement of the old town hall, from which humid den it often issued forth for a practice squirt, or rushed out like a mad war-horse to some scene of fiery danger. By many deeds of use- fulness and daring, in spite of its unlovely appearance, it pumped its way to fame and honor. Manned by a fearless and stalwart crew-

" This tub had many buildings washed, Whene'er the fire had caught 'em ; Aud though its former glory's quashed, It stands upou its bottom."

In 1852, by vote of the town, came a handsome, new, double-decker fire-engine, resplendent in finish of rosewood and trimmings of polished brass, and poor old " Black Hawk " went into a decline, and seldom came out of its hole again. The new machine was from Jeffers' works at Pawtucket, R. I., and was named " Yale Engine, No. 1," in grateful recognition of a large gift to the engine company from the famous tin manufacturer of South Reading, Burrage Yale, Esq., whose tin peddler's carts were, for many years, known all over New England. An observer of that day remarked in rhyme:

" A suction-tub-four streams 'twill|play From orifices in it ;

738

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

High in the air 'twill throw its spray, Four hogsheads in a minute.

" The rich are coming with their tin To ornament the same, And with their names to help it win A great and lasting fame."

The " Yale" distinguished herself in many fields, and saved much property from destruction. She is still retained by the town, though occupying a second place, and regarded with respect aud appreciation. Occasionally even now the veteran fire-fighters of other days pull out the machine with strong and kindly hands, and bring home the "old Yale" decked with first prize from some firemen's muster. With this powerful machine, two lakes near the cen- tre, reservoirs in all parts of the town, a well-equipped hook-and-ladder company, several volunteer or- ganizations, and, later, the addition of a chemical ex- tinguisher, with an euthusiastic body of firemen, the community seemed to be reasonably well protected against the devouring element. The town, however, was rapidly growing ; houses of wood were rising on every hand ; a large fire had occurred at the rattan works, and new and weightier means for controlling fire were being discovered and applied, and so it came to pass that in 1882 the town purchased a new steam fire-engine of the Silsby Manufacturing Company, of Seneca Falls, N. Y. In the same year the Wakefield Water Company laid its pipes through the streets of Wakefield, and a contract was made with the com- pany to furnish for the town's use sixty fire-hydrants in desired locations, and this number has since been increased to eighty-five. In 1882 also was organized the Home Fire Protective Association, which advo- cated and put in practice the principle of " prompt- ness with small appliances." This association, of whom the leading spirit was Mr. Rufus Kendrick, so demonstrated its value and usefulness that the towu soon adopted its principles and methods, and pur- chased fifty Johnson pumps, which number was later increased to sixty-eight, which small machines, with rubber hose attached, and fire-buckets and cans, were located in houses all over the town, and now, when sounds the fire-alarm, the soldiers of the Johnson pump battalion, quicker than the minute-men of the Revolution, act upon the second, and, seizing pump and bucket, are generally first at the point of dan- ger, and often subdue and extinguish the enemy be- fore the heavy artillery of the department arrive upon the scene. Under recent statutes forest fire-wards are annually appointed, who render important service in the prevention and extinguisliment of forest fires. Hose companies are organized, with headquarters at different points, for service on the fire-hydrants. Tlie Fountain Company, with a hand-engine, and Hose Company No. 2 are volunteer organizations that ren- der enthusiastic and valuable service against the com- mon enemy. There is in successful operation in the town an electric fire-alarm telegraph, withi ten miles of wire, an electric eloek, five fire-alarm boxes and

fire gongs. The present appliances and forces of the Fire Department are the steamer Lucius Beebe, Yale Engine, Washington Hook-and-Ladder Company, C. Wakefield Chemical Engine, J. H. Carter Hose Com- pany, and Greenwood Hose Company, and all under the general charge of three fire engineers. There have been very few serious conflagrations in the his- tory of the town, the most disastrous of which oc- curred in 1880, when was destroyed a portion of the works of the Wakefield Rattan Company.

The town, since its incorporation as South Read- ing in 1812, has generally been represented by men of ability in the councils of the Commonwealth. Fol- lowing are the names of those sent to both branches of the Legislature :

SENATORS .- John Hart, 1815-19; Lilley Eaton, 1838-39 ; Thomas Em- erson, 1846-17: James Oliver, 1868; Richard Britton, 1875 ; Thomas Winship, 1881-'82.

REPRESENTATIVES .- John Hart, 1812, '14, '20, '21, '23, '24 ; John Gould, 1816 ; Thomas Emerson, Jr., 1825, '30, '38, '39, '41 ; Lilley Eaton, 1831, '35, '45, '48 ; Lemuel Sweetser, 1832-33 ; James Butier, 1835-36 ; Noah Smith, 1836-37; Benjamin Emerson, 1837 ; Jonas Evans, 1839 ; Aaron Foster, Jr., 1840 ; Joseph W. Vinton, 1840 ; Jacob Tufts, 1843 ; Jonas Cowdrey, 1844 ; Robert H. Raddin, 1846; Franklin Poole, 1847 ; Samuel Kingman, 1850 ; Edward Mansfield, 1851 ; John B. Atwell, 1852 ; James M. Sweetser, 1855; James Oliver, 1856 ; Madison Sweetser, 187; John S. Eaton, 1858 ; John Wiley (2d), 1860 ; William H. Atwell, 1862 ; Daniel Allen, 1864, '65 ; James F. Mansfield, 1867, '68 ; Benja- tuin F. Packard, 1870; Edward H. Walton, 1871 ; Richard Britton, 1872, '74 ; Thomas Winship, 1876, '77 ; Solon Walton, 1878 ; Azel Ames, Jr., 1879 ; Lucius Beebe, 1880 ; Solon O. Richardson, 1881, '82; Arlon S. Atherton, 1883, '85 ; Robert Blyth, 1884, '86 ; Charles F. Woodward, 1887-'89 ; William S. Greenough, 1890.

The town-farm and almshouse form an important municipal institution. It includes nearly one hun- dred acres of land, purchased of Capt. Thomas Emer- son in 1826, and located in that section of the town at the southeast, formerly called Little World, but now known as Woodville. Here are convenient buildings and accommodations furnishing a comfort- able home for those who, by sickness, age or misfor- tune, feel obliged to knock at the door of the town in the blessed name of charity. There are ordinarily six to ten inmates at the almshouse, though many poor and destitute persons are assisted at their homes or at hospitals, the town appropriating annually $5000 or more for the support of the poor.

The Wakefield Historical Society was organized in February, 1890, and may be mentioned as a semi-mu- nicipal institution, inasmuch as it is grauted a room in the town-hall, and its objects are not for any privatc advantage, but have in view the promotion of the best interests of the town in general. In the spirit of love and loyalty to and for the houor of the old town, the membership of this society seek to shed some light on the path of her progress through the trials and perils, the hopes and fears of two and a half cen- turies of existeuce, to the end that the preseut gene- ration of citizens may more closely understand the sources and growth of their municipal life and iusti- tutions, and have their feet more surely guided by " the lamp of experience." The members are dili- gently collecting mementos, relies, pietures, books

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WAKEFIELD.

and writings, and placing the same in their room for preservation, where they may always be available for examination and study, and represent for the instruc- tion of a rushing and utilitarian age something of the character and work of the fathers. This society in- cludes also in its scope a department of Natural His- tory, specially for the investigation of the fauna, flora and geology of the region of Wakefield.

MEN OF NOTE .- Many distinguished citizens of the Republic, living and dead, have traced their line- age from worthy ancestors of this old town, whether known as Reading, South Reading or Wakefield. Among the brilliant names in American history, men that can fairly be called sons of the old town, may be mentioned Hon. George Bancroft, the eminent historian of his native land ; Gov. Johu Brooks, who so gallantly led the minute-men of Reading at the Battle of Merriam's Corner, on the retreat of the British troops from Concord, April 19, 1775, and who, after serving with distinction through the war, re- moved to Medford and became Governor of Massa- chusetts ; Capt. John Parker, who commanded the Lexington men on the same memorable day of April 19, 1775 ; Gen. John A. Dix, ex-Governor of New York, and United States Senator ; Hon. George S. Boutwell, formerly Governor and Senator of Massa- chusetts, and Secretary of the Treasury under Presi- dent Grant; Hon. Timothy Boutelle, famed as a law- | this sketch. ver ; Rev. Theodore Parker, eminent as a scholar and Uuitarian divine ; Rev. John Pierpont, clergyman and poet, formerly of Medford; Rev. Dr. Samuel C. Dainon, late of Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands ; Rev. Dr. Brown Emerson, formerly of Salem; Dr. Willard Parker, of New York City ; Dr. Samuel Hart, of Brooklyn, N. Y .; Gen. Joseph H. Eaton, of the United States Army ; Rev. Dr. Phillips Brooks, of Boston, the illustrious divine ; Prof. B. F. Tweed, who has had a just fame as an educator, and now, full of years, is enjoying a well-earned rest at his home in Cambridge; Dr. William Everett, of Quincy ; Rev. Edwin C. Sweetser, of Philadelphia, an eloquent preacher of the Universalist faith, and Hon. George A. Walton, of Newton, author of Walton's Arithme- tic, and now rendering conspicuous service on the Massachusetts Board of Education. Of other gentle- men who, after having chosen this town for a place of residence, have attained to worthy dignities in the councils of the nation, may be named Hon. Robert Rantoul, Jr., Representative in Congress, who died too soon for the maturity of his fame, and Hon. Fred- erick A. Sawyer, for many years the accomplished principal of South Reading High School, and later United States Senator from South Carolina, and As- sistant Secretary of the United States Treasury. These are all honored names, and give a hint of the character of the original stock whence they sprung, and it were a proud privilege for any town to be able to claim them as its representatives upon the broad arena of national life, and yet there rests upon the

loyal historian of his native town a charge more sacred and emphatic, in which duty blends with gratitude, to render fitting tribute to those true and faithful citi- zens who have stood in their places at home, and, in their day and generation done so much to make Wake- field what it is. The early settlers of this fair domain were men and women of no ordinary calibre, and quick to respond to every call where courage, forti- tude, perseverance or devotion to principle were re- quired, and were own brothers to the Puritans of Eng- land, whom Macaulay describes as " the most remark- able body of men the world has ever produced." They had their own peculiar faults and weaknesses, which it were an ungracious task here to recapitulate, and their descendants may safely accept the summing- up of the great English historian just quoted : "But after all we do not hesitate to pronounce them a brave, a wise, an honest and a useful body." Space would surely fail to record even the names of the local heroes of the early days of the town who wielded pen and sword, axe and gun, with readiness and effect, or to mention all the noble men who in later days have moulded the institutions of the town, and guided it in the path to honor and prosperity. It must suffice briefly to mention a few representative citizens along the centuries of the town's existence, omitting cler- gymen and others that have already liad notice in

The first town clerk and conveyancer was Deacon William Cowdrey, to whose handsome peumanship and clerical skill many existing records and deeds bear convincing testimony. The commander of the first military company organized in 1645 was Capt. Richard Walker, aud the first inn-keeper Francis Smith. Nicholas Brown and Peter Palfrey were ap- pointed magistrates and were "much betrusted." Deacon Thomas Kendall was a man of note in the young settlement, and resided on what is known as the James Emerson estate, at the corner of Prospect and Cedar Streets. He had no sons, but eight daughters, who, having married into the prominent families of Boutwell, Eaton, Bryant, Parker, Dunton, Nichols, Goodwin and Pearson, gave him a progeny which is at the present day more numerous perhaps than that of any other of the early settlers ; and there was good blood, too, in this strain, for there are among the descendants of Deacon Thomas Kendall names eminent in every walk of life.

Other influential citizens from 1644 to 1700 were Deacon Zachary Fitch, Deacon Thomas Parker, Robert Burnap, Deacon John Pearson, Jonas Eaton, Richard Nichols, Ralph Dix, Dr. James Stimpsou, Lieut. Hananiah Parker, John Brown, Esq., Timothy Wiley, Lieutenaut and Deacon Thomas Bancroft, Captain Ephraim Savage, Deacon Francis Smith, Major Jere- miah Swain, and Captain Jonathan Pool-the last two named men both brave Indian fighters.

During the century from 1700 to 1801 the leading spirits were Colonel Ebenezer Nichols, Deacon

740

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Thomas Boutwell, Deacon Raham Bancroft, John Weston, Captain John Walton, William Bryant, Esq., Deacon Brown Emerson, Deacon John Good- win, Captain John Goodwin, Dr. William Hay, Dr. John Hay, Captain Thomas Niehols, Deacon Thomas Niehols, Deacon John Damon, Kendall Parker, Esq., Jonathan Pool, Esq., Benjamin Pool, Dr. Thomas Stimpson, Dr. Thomas Stimpson, Jr., Dr. William Stimpson, Ebenezer Wiley, Noah Eaton, Captain Thomas Green, Captain Samuel Bancroft, Dr. Thomas Swain, Captain John Walton, Captain James Ban- eroft, General Benjamin Brown of Revolutionary fame, and Deaeon Jacob Emerson.

Since the year 1800 the town has been assisted in its progressive career by men of strong eharaeter and loyal spirit, the most active and prominent of whom in the early years of the century were Dr. John Hart, Colonel Amos Boardman, Captain James Gould, Joseph Cordis, Captain Thomas Einerson, Sr., Lilley Eaton, Jr., Deaeon Jacob Eaton, Paul Sweet- ser, Sr., Jolin Sweetser, John Gould, Jeremiah Green, Adam Hawkes, Thomas Evans, Deacon David Smith, John Rayner, Burrage Yale, Colonel James Harts- horne, Major Suel Winn, Joshua Tweed, Jeremiah Bryant, Captain Noah Smith, Dr. Nathan Richardson, Timothy Poole, Deaeon Aaron Bryant, Samuel Wiley, Colonel Lemuel Sweetser, Dr. Thaddeus Spaulding and Benjamin B. Wiley.

As the century approached and passed its central point these grand men went off the stage of life or grew feeble with age, and the dignities and burdens of the growing town were shifted to the heads and shoulders of other citizens who held the municipal standard " still full high advaneed " and by the pres- ent generation are held in grateful remembrance.

The forms and semblance of these true-hearted workers seem to arise before the mind's eye and step forth in bodily presence as their names are called- these men who guided the affairs of the town and kept its honor bright during the stirring and eventful period between 1840 and 1870. Some, indeed, still tarry on this side of the river, though with whitened hair and faltering steps.

Their names come sounding like a benediction to the busy workers who are now in the thickest of the fight: Captain Thomas Emer- son, Dr. Solon O. Richardson, Lilley Eaton, Paul H. Sweetser, John White, Cyrus Wakefield, Lucius Beebe, Benjamin Franklin Tweed, Lemuel Sweetser, Daniel Allen, Samuel Kingman, James M. Evans, Franklin Poole, Samuel Gardner, Captain Aaron Foster, James Eustis, Edward Mansfield, Albert G. Sweetser, Dr. J. D. Mansfield, George O. Carpenter, Philip C. Wheeler, James Oliver.

Of the trusted officers and leading men of Wake- field sinee 1870, and those who have still their har- ness on, it is not easy to speak in diseriminating language, but it seems fitting that some reference should be made to tliese true and earnest workers, among whom are well represented the old families of

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 175

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