History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 52

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 52

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).

He attends the Congregational Church, and is a Re- publican in politics. In person he is nearly six feet in height, and weighs 200 pounds. He is unmarried, and his family consists only of his step-mother, Mrs. Mary D. Holt, and a half brother, Robert Holt, A.B., a graduate of Amherst College.

STEPHEN GOODHUE BAILEY, A.B., M.D., was born in Lowell, Mass., January 23, 1845. His early edu- cation was had in the public schools of his native city, graduating from the Lowell High School in 1864, and from Yale College (classical course) in 1868. He was engaged as a public-school teacher most of the time for nine years, till 1877, being principal of a Lowell grammar-school some four years of the period.

He graduated from the Boston University School of Medicine in 1880, and immediately entered upon the practice of his profession in the adjoining towns of Haverhill and Bradford, Mass. In the spring of 1881, returning to Lowell with his wife and family, he entered upon this new field of medical practice, where he continned an occupant of one office till the spring of 1890, when he left for a visit of some months to the new State of Washington on the Pacific coast.

Dr. Bailey is a member of the Massachusetts Homeopathic Medical Society and of the Lowell Hahnemann Club, assisting by tongue and pen the growth of homoeopathy in the community. The sub- ject of a local hospital and dispensary has found in him an earnest advocate and promoter, though as yet resulting in no definite fruition.

GEORGE W. HILTON, M.D., was born in South Parsonsfield, Maine, in 1839; attended the schools of his native place and the academy at Leverett, Me .; graduated from the Hahnemann Medical College of Chicago in 1877; practiced in Chicago and in La- moille, Ill., and came to Lowell in November, 1881. He enlisted in the army in August, 1861, and was discharged in September, 1865; was delegated as hospital steward in the General Hospital No. 12 at Beaufort, S. C .; also on the steamer " Matilda " on the James River. Hc received appointment as hos- pital surgeon in the regular army.

DR. WARREN S. Foss, son of Jonathan and Ann P. Foss (American people), was born in the town of Stanstead, P. Q., May 10, 1843. He received his

early education in the schools of his native town, and began the study of medicine with Dr. E. B. Cushing, of St. Johnsbury, Vt., now of Lynn, Mass. He afterwards attended the Hahnemann Medical College of Chicago, graduating at. that institution in the spring of 1882. Since that time he has been en- gaged in the practice of medicine at No. 275 Merri- mack Strect, Lowell, Mass. Dr. Foss has been three times married. His last wife, Maud R., was the only child of Dr. Charles W. Kierstead, one of the leading physicians of Oshkosh, Wis.

CHARLOTT E. PAGE, M.D., is a graduate of the Boston University School of Medicine, graduating about the year 1880, since which time she has been in practice in Lowell.

ALMON WARD HILL, M.D., was born in Lowell, Mass., June 27, 1864; completed the course of study in the public schools, entering Brown University at the age of seventeen; pursued his studies in the Uni- versity until 1884, completing the scientific course. The fall of 1884 he entered the Boston University Medical School to pursne the study of medicine ; gradnated in 1887, and settled in Lowell in August of same year, where he now is in active practice. Dr. Hill is a member of the Massachusetts Homœo- pathic Medical Society and of the Lowell Hahne- mann Club.

CHAPTER XIII.

LOWELL-(Continued).

SOCIETIES.

MASONIC SOCIETIES .- Before the beginning of the present century there were in Middlesex County Ma- sonic lodges in the towns of Charlestown, Marlboro', Lexington, Framingham, Concord and Groton, but none in Chelmsford, Tewksbury or Dracut, the three towns from which the territory of Lowell was taken. In 1807 the few scattered Masonic brethren in these three towns petitioned the Grand Lodge for a charter to hold a lodge at East Chelmsford, to be known as the Pentucket Lodge. By "Pentucket " was evi- dently mcant what we now call "Pawtucket," the orthography of the word not having been definitely fixed till more recent years. "Pawtucket" seems now to have been settled upon as the appropriate In- dian name of the site of Lowell, while " Pentucket " applies to that of Haverhill, Mass.

The petition of the Masonic brethren was granted, and the charter of the Pentucket Lodge was executed and dated March 9, 1807, having the signature of Timothy Bigelow as Grand Master. Mr. Bigelow was a distinguished lawyer and an important public man of that day, having his residence in Groton until 1807, and subsequently in Medford.

The first recorded niceting of the new lodge was hield December 10, 1807, though there had been be-

Ting

It br

223

LOWELL.

fore this meetings probably of an informal and social character.

The first recorded meeting was held in the hall of the spacious house of Phineas Whiting, father of Phineas Whiting, now of Lowell. The house was situated nearly on the site of the residence of Fred- eric Ayer, Esq., and was used as a hotel.

This meeting was a novel event to the quiet village of East Chelmsford. The inquisitive boys, as they gazed in at the front door and saw standing at the head of the stairs the imposing form of the Tyler of the lodge arrayed in the dazzling paraphernalia of his mystic office, with threatening drawn sword in his hand, were filled with strange wonder, if not with fear.

At this meeting were six brethren,-Captain Isaac Coburn, W. Master ; Jonathan Fletcher, S. Warden ; Jeremiah S. Chapman, J. Warden; David Hayden, Sec .; Jonathan Chapman, Jr., and Jonas Clark. The reader will observe that two of this assembly held no office.

The installment of Pentucket Lodge took place Oc- tober 12, 1809, and was conducted with great cere- mony and parade under Deputy Grand Master Tim- othy Whiting, of Lancaster. Among the seventeen officers present as official delegates from the Grand Lodge on this august occasion, was John Abbott, as J. G. Warden, who, sixteen years after this event, had the honor, as Grand Master, of laying the corner- stone of the Bunker Hill Monument, being assisted by the Marquis De La Fayette. On the morning of the installment the officers of the Grand Lodge met at the house of Mr. Whiting, while the Pen- tucket Lodge met at the house of Joel Spaulding, the grandfather of the late Dr. Joel Spaulding. At this point I introduce the following interesting quotation from the address of R. W. William S. Gardner, de- livered at the dedication of the Masonic Temple, February 19, A.L. 5872, to which address I am in- debted for the facts which I am recording :

" The Grand Lodge was then escorted by a band of music to Spalding's Hall and received in due form by Pentucket Lodge. After the usual ceremonies on such occasions, the Master of the Pentucket Lodge having been duly 'invested with the Characteristicks of the Chair,' a grand procession was formed, com- posed of the Grand Lodge, Pentucket Lodge, and St. Paul's Lodge, of Groton, preceded by a band of music. It was a beautiful October morning. The bright sun brought out in their richest colors the variegated tints of the foliage, touched by the autumnal frosts. The air was pure and invigorating. The procession marched gaily over the bridge, the roar of the falls beneath almost drowning the strains of martial music. The jewels and regalia of the craft flashed in the sun- light, as they marched in this first Masonic proces- sion to lay the foundations of a society in this new region. On they went until they arrived at the meet- ing-house, just over the bridge, and which is now

standing. Into the building the procession filed, and after them poured in the astonished spectators, to whom the scene was novel and inexplicable."

In the church took place the solemn consecration of the Pentneket Lodge, the Rev. Wilkes Allen, pastor of the church, delivering " an elegant and enlightened discourse." These solemn services in the church were followed in Whiting's Tavern by a " sumptuous refreshment," which the reverend clergy and other gen- tlemen shared with the members of the Masonic fraternity.

For several years the Pentucket Lodge held its meetings at Whiting's Hall, and at the hall of Jona- than Fletcher and that of Artemas Holden in East Chelmsford (now Lowell). However, for three years previous to May 6, 1819, the meetings of the lodge were in the house of Simeon Spalding, in the middle of the town of Chelmsford ; but from that date, after a somewhat acrimonious discussion, in which the dis- tinguished Dr. Israel Hildreth, of Dracut, took a prominent part, the place of meeting was the hall of S. F. Wood, of Middlesex Village. This village in those days was a place of considerable importance, having a glass manufactory and also being at the head of Middlesex Canal, which was doing a thriving bus- iness between Boston and Chelmsford.

The meetings of the lodge then partook so much of a convivial character, that it was found necessary to pass, not a prohibitory, but rather a license law, for- bidding all refreshments except " crackers, cheese, rum and gin." Soon, however, " bread and cyder " were added. But in March, 1821, before the general agitation of the temperance reform, the law of the lodge became more stringent, and only " bread, bis- cuit and cheese " were permitted. Thus early, by the exclusion of " rum and gin " from their festivities, did the Pentucket Lodge lead the way in this beneficent, reform !

In 1825 the place of meeting of the lodge was changed from Middlesex Village to the hall of the Stone House, the residence of the late J. C. Ayer.

And now with the incorporation (in 1826) of the town of Lowell and its rapid increase in population, came increased numbers and prosperity to the frater- nity. A Royal Arch Chapter was formed on April 8, 1826. On May 31, 1826, the corner stone of the First Baptist Church was laid with imposing Masonic rites. A procession escorted by the Mechanic Phalanx marched from the Merrimack House to the church, where the ceremony was performed by W. John Fletcher, Master of Pentucket Lodge. Following this service a supper was served at Carter's Hotel (now the Washington House), of which about 300 persons partook.

The Pentucket Lodge celebrated St. John's day in 1828, in conjunction with lodges from other places. The formal services in the First Baptist Church were followed by a dinner at Carter's Hotel.

About this time (1828) arose that great political

224

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

party of Anti-Masons, which for a time threatened the very existence of the mystic order. The agi- tation which gave birth to this powerful party had its origin in the alleged abduction and murder by the Masons of Wm. Morgan, of Batavia, New York, who had been, by some means, conveyed from his home to Fort Niagara, on the shores of Lake Ontario and there incarcerated. Of Morgan no subsequent trace was found. The Masons of Lowell did not escape the effects of this charge. The Pentucket Lodge, its debt being heavy, its numbers reduced, lingercd on till 1834, when it surrendered its charter to the Grand Lodge, and practically ceased to cxist, after having occupied Masons' Hall in the Stone House about ten years.

And now follows a long and dreary night of eleven years. But in 1845 the violence of the Anti-Masonic persecution having ccased, the Pentucket Lodge was re-established. A hall in Wentworth's Building, at the corner of Merrimack and Shattuck Streets, was secured, and a committee was appointed to petition the General Lodge for a renewal of the charter. The prayer was granted. Of this committee the last sur- viving was Jefferson Bancroft, who died Jan. 3, 1890.

In 1853 the lodge, after occupying the hall in Went- worth's Building about seven years, removed to a hall known as Masonic Hall, in Nesmith's Block, on John Street, which it continued to occupy for a period of about nineteen years.

In March, 1857, Pentucket Lodge celebrated the semi-centennial of its charter by a large meeting in Masonic Hall, followed by a supper at French's Hall, on Central Street.

On Feb. 13, 1872, was dedicated the Masonic Tem- ple, now the home of the Masonic fraternity of the city. This hall was erected and owned by W. Brother Hocam Hosford, and is thus referred to in the address of Judge Gardner, before referred to: " This elegant temple has been erected and these apartments especially built for our use. Every convenience which necessity required, every ornament which a re- fined taste suggested and every luxury which ease and comfort could command have been lavishly bestowed by the architect, who has now surrendered to the M. W. Grand Master the implements of his office and trust. Into this elegant, cultivated home we have now come."

In 1871 the Pentuckct Lodge contained 265 mem- bers. In 1890 it contained about 425.

Among the officers of the Pentucket Lodge for 1890 are : W. M., Herbert A. Wright; Secretary, Lucius A. Derby ; Chaplain, Rev. George C. Wright; Treasurer, Adelbert M. Huntoon.

Most that is historically interesting in the record of Free Masonry in Lowell is connected with the Pen- tucket Lodge. It is the only lodge which has secn the " day of small things," and encountered the hos- tility of political faction. Long is the history of ad- versity, while that of prosperity is meagre and uu-

eventful. We shall, therefore, content ourselves with a brief record of the other Masonic organizations of the city.

The charter of the Pilgrim Encampment was granted October 21, 1855. This encampment was composed of Masons in Lowell who had been advanced to the grade of Knights Templar. The charter of the Pil- grim Commandery gives it rank and preecdence as number cight in the jurisdiction. Sir Samuel K. Hutchinson was the first commander. This Com- mandcry is a distinguished body of Masonic Knight- hood. It is composed of men of the highest respecta- bility, and its management has been of a highly able and effective character. It has had the honor of be- ing invited out of the city to take a conspicuous part on important occasions, as the dedication of the Tem- ple in Boston and the laying of the corner-stone of the Post-Office in Boston.

Among the officers of the Pilgrim Commandery for 1890 are : E. C., Edward J. Noyes ; Treasurer, Arthur G. Pollard ; Recorder, James W. B. Shaw ; Prelate, Geo. W. Howe; Warden, Walter W. Johnson.

The Ahasuerus Council of Royal and Select Masons was established in Lowell, July 6, 1826. It was a self-constituted body, having no charter. During the Anti-Mason excitement this organization almost ceased to exist. But at length, in 1856, it was resuscitated, and for the first time received a charter, which was granted on December 9th of that year.

Among its officers for 1890 are: T. I. M., Charles A. Cross ; Treasurer, Cornelius S. Livingston ; Re- corder, Lucius A. Derby ; Chaplain, Wm. A. Lang.

The Mount Horeb Royal Arch Charter was chartered in 1826. Among its officers for 1890 were : H. P., Frank L. Weaver; K., Charles A. Cross ; Treasurer, Willard A. Brown ; Chaplain, Wm. A. Lang ; Secre- tary, Theodore Adams.

The Ancient York Lodge was instituted in 1852. Among its officers for 1890 are : W. M., Arthur F. Salmon; Treasurer, Albert A. Haggell; Chaplain, Rev. Robert Court; Sec., Frank M. Merrill.

Kilwinning Lodge was instituted in 1867. Among its officers for 1890 are : W. M., Frank L. Weaver ; Treasurer, Clarence W. Whidden ; Chaplain, Geo. F. Lawton ; Secretary, Williard A. Brown; S. W., John H. Fuller; J. W., Arthur H. Hosford.

Wm. North Lodge was instituted in 1868. Among its officers in 1890 are : W. M., Virgil G. Barnard; S. W., Charles W. Money ; J. W., Harry K. Board- man ; Treasurer, Gco. F. Scribner ; Chaplain, Rev. Ransom A. Greene ; J. D., Wm. S. Greene.

The Masonic officers in the following record are for the year 1889 :

Masonic Relief Association, President, Wm. F. Sal- mon.

Lowell Masonic Association. President, Wm. F. Salmon.

Lowell Masonic Masters and Wardens' Association. President, Arthur F. Salmon.

225

LOWELL.

Lowell Lodge of Perfection was organized in 1857. T ... P ... G. .. M. .. C. H. Hutchinson.

Lowell Council of Princes of Jerusalem was organ- ized in 1857. M ... E. . S. .. P. . G. .. M. .. Hiram N. Hall.

Mount Calvary Chapter of Rose Croix, 18th Grade, was established in 1859. M. W. and P. Master, Rev. Josiah L. Seward.

ODD-FELLOWS' LODGES .- Odd-Fellowship seems to have its origin in certain independent secret fraterni- ties which existed in England in the early years of the present century, and which were formed for social and convivial purposes, and adopted the initiatory rites, phraseology and organization of Free Masonry. But these early fraternities possessed not the spirit, but only the form of modern Odd-Fellowship.

The fraternity finds its true and virtual origin in the institution of the order in Manchester, England, in 1812, in which its main purpose is declared to be " to render assistance to every brother who may apply throngh sickness, distress or otherwise, if he be well attached to the Queen and government and faithful to the order."

The order of Odd. Fellows in the United States is independent of that in England. The Grand Lodge of the United States, which is composed of Past Noble Grands of subordinate lodges, has sole jurisdiction of the order in the country. The original objects of the order in the United States were the relief of the brethren, the interment of the dead and the care of their widows and orphans. To these objects have been added, in later years, "the giving of unsectarian religious instruction and the elevation of the human character."

In 1820 Thomas Wildey introduced the order into the United States by instituting the Washington Lodge, No. 1, in Baltimore, receiving a charter from the York Lodge of Preston, England. Since 1820 the order has greatly and rapidly increased in the United States, so that its number of members in 1888 was, in Massachusetts alone, 38,371. Of the twenty organiza- tions in Lowell, classed under the general title of Odd-Fellows, some are known as Cantons, which are mainly devoted to the service of military parade on public occasions; some as Encampments, which differ from lodges by being composed of members of a higher degree ; and some as Daughters of Rebekah, consisting of ladies.

The following is a list of such organizations now existing in Lowell, in which the statistics and names of officers are mainly taken from the report of the proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts at its annual session held in Boston August 8, 1889, and from the Lowell Directory of 1889, their place of meeting being (unless otherwise specified) Odd-Fel- lows' Hall, on Merrimack Street :

Grand Canton Pawtucket, No. 9, Patriarchs Militant. Captain, George A. Dickey (Commandant).

Componant Canton, No. 21. Captain, George A. Dickey.

15-ii

Componant Canton, No. 22. Captain, T. E. Boucher. Monomake Encampment, No. 4. C. P., W. H. Randlett.

Wannalancet Encampment, No. 39. C. P., George H. Smith.

Lowell Encampment, No. 17. C. P., N. E. Annis. Meets at Highland Hall, on Branch Street.

Merrimack Lodge, No. 7. N. G., Daniel G. Ryan. Number of members, 320.

Oberlin Lodge, No. 28. N. G., J. T. Trask. Num- ber of members, 459.

Mechanics' Lodge, No. 11. N. G., Henry G. Hart. Number of members, 454,

Veritas Lodge, No. 49. N. G., Thomas Stimson.

Number of members, 305.

Lowell Lodge, No. 95. Number of members, 290.

N. G., Asa B. Hilliard.

Lincoln Lodge, No. 188. N. G., William Knowles. Meets at Lincoln Hall, Odd-Fellows' Block. Num- ber of members, 152.

Highland Lodge, No. 6. N. G., Charles Bean. Meets at Highland Hall, Branch Street. Number of members, 174.

Loyal Excelsior Lodge, I. O. O. F., Manchester Unity. N. G., J. L. Broughton. Meets at Bay State Hall, Central Street.

Integrity Lodge, I. O. O. F., Manchester Unity. N. G., Arthur H. Best. Meets at Bay State Hall, Central Street.

Lodges entitled "Daughters of Rebekah " consist of Brothers of the order, and wives and daughters of Brothers. Of these lodges there are two :

Evening Star Lodge, No. 80, Daughters of Rebekah. N. G., Mrs. Eunice Stone.

Highland Union Lodge, No. 31, Daughters of Re- bekah. N. G., Mrs. Clara Wheelden. Meets at Highland Hall.

Odd-Fellows' Mutual Benefit Association, organized July 22, 1868, and chartered in 1885. President, J. T. Trask; Clerk, Benjamin Hodgman. This society has for its object the mutual insurance of the lives of its mem- bers. The membership of this association is limited to the Odd-Fellows of the Lowell lodges and of the Shaw- sheene lodges of Billerica. It is the oldest of the kind in New England, and has been the means of benefiting a large number of families. Many of our most prominent citizens are included in its membership. Number of members in January, 1890, between 600 and 700. During the period of its ex- istence of less than twenty-two years, it has paid in benefits to 167 families of deceased members the large sum of $118,000.

Odd-Fellows' Ladies' Relief Association. Meets alter- nately each month at the homes of its members.

Odd-Fellows' Halls. In 1871 a special charter was granted by the Legislature of Massachusetts to Jo- siah G. Peabody, Ambrose Lawrence, Joseph L. Sargent, William H. Wiggin and A. B. Plimpton, for the purpose of erecting or purchasing a build-

226

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

ing for the use of the I. O. O. F. Merrimack Lodge, No. 7, Mechanics' Lodge, No. 11, Oberlin Lodge, No. 27, Monomake Encampment, No. 4, and Wannalan- cet. Encampment, No. 39, subscribed for stock to the amount of $60,000, and immediately purchased the building known as Carleton Block, on Merrimack Street, and fitted it for the use of the above-named orders and others who might need to occupy it. The building is now owned by the purchasers, and is free from incumbrances.

RED MEN .- Kindred in form to the lodges of the Odd-Fellows, are the three following leagues of the Improved Order of Red Men, whose object is to promote freedom, fraternity, hospitality and charity. It is purely American in its origin, dating back to the early days before the American Revolution, when the patriots disguised themselves by forming as Indian societies. Henee the name Red Men. Hence, also, freedom is placed among its objects. The whole order numbers nearly 100,000 members. The order differs from other fraternal and seeret benevolent so- eieties in the originality and beauty of its mysteries and ceremonies. It cares for the relief of the sick and of the unfortunate and burial of the dead.

Osceola League, No. 2, instituted 1889. Bashaba, Edgar M. Hill. Meets at G. A. R. Hall, Wyman's Exchange.

Passaconaway Tribe, No. 32. Prophet, James H. Hickey ; Sachem, John L. Stevens. Meets at Grand Army Hall.

Miantonomi Tribe, No. 52. Saehem, Elmore R. Fife. Meets at Highland Hall, Braneh Street.

INDEPENDENT ORDER OF FREE SONS OF ISRAEL. -Citizens of Lowell of Jewish birth hold an inde- pendent lodge, known as the Samuel Lodge of the Inde- pendent Order of Free Sons of Israel. President, S. Kurtz; Recording Secretary, Bernard Lederer.

ROYAL ARCANUM .- In Lowell are two Councils of Royal Areanum, whose object is Mutual Life Insur- ance for the benefit of the widows and children of deceased members. The order is designed to promote fraternal union ; to seeure the social, moral and intel- lectual education of its memembers ; to relieve the sick and distressed among them, etc.

Lowell Council, No. 8. Regent, C. O. S. Wheeler ; Treasurer, Albert M. Gray.

Highland Council, No. 970. Regent, Arthur W. Early ; Treasurer, Dr. W. G. Eaton, Jr.

THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF GOOD FELLOWS .- Fra- ternity Assembly. Ruler, Edgar M. Hill; Secretary, Samuel M. Chase.

This fraternity was organized in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1882. Its object is to unite men of sound health and good moral character for encouraging each other in business, for assisting each other to obtain employment, for relieving sick and distressed mem- bers and for assisting the widows and orphans of de- eeased members. Assessments are called for only

when needed to pay benefits. Policemen are found in large numbers in this order.

KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS .- Lowell has six lodges of the Knights of Pythias. This order finds its name in the ancient story of the devoted friendship of Damon and Pythias, in the reign of Dionysius, at Syracuse. It was founded at Washington, D. C., in 1864, by Justus H. Rathbone. Its design is to relieve the misfortunes of its members, to visit the sick, and to bury the dead. It eares for the widow and edu- cates the orphan. The expenses are met by annual dues and initiation fees.

No person except a white male citizen, of temper- ate habits, good moral character, sound mental and bodily health, able to support himself and a believer in the Supreme Being can be admitted to the order.

Endowment Rank of Knights of Pythias. President, Alexander Walker. Meet in Pythian Hall, Merri- mack Street.

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 52

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