History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 139

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1278

USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III > Part 139

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

the store now occupied by Whittier Brothers. Mr. Dix continued to be postmaster during 1857 and a part of 1858, and was in 1858 succeeded by George W. Chase, who served until June 10, 1859, when David N. Badger was appointed, and continued in the office until about January 1, 1865, when he was succeeded by Joseph Gerrish, who was postmaster from 1865 to 1869. David N. Badger was then reap- pointed, and served until November 7, 1871, when George E. Kimball was appointed as the first post- master of Everett proper, in which position he re- mained until July 25, 1872.

Before the erection of the Masonic Building, Mr. Badger had kept the post-office in his building on Broadway (the old engine-house reconstructed), next southwest of Whittier's store. The post-office was removed to the Masonic Building in the fall of 1871. Shortly after Mr. Kimball's appointment sev- eral improvements were introduced. Two daily mails were established instead of one, as had formerly been the case, and letter-boxes were provided. Mr. Kim- ball having removed to Chelsea, Dr. James B. Ever- ett was appointed postmaster July 25, 1872, having been the acting postmaster for several months prior to that date.

He continued in service until April 6, 1886. In 1876 Mr. Kimball again returned to Everett, and as assistant postmaster was connected with the office during the remainder of Dr. Everett's term. The postal service during this period was greatly extended and improved. Everett was made a money-order office in 1879. Shortly afterwards, in the same year, an additional daily mail was established, making three daily. A telephone was connected with the office in 1880. A Sunday mail was established early in 1881. A telegraph office was opened November 6, 1882. In 1884 it became an international money-order office. On the 6th of April, 1886, Columbus Corey, son of the first postmaster, succeeded Dr. Everett. The office up to this time had been kept in Dr. Everett's drug-store, but on the appointment of Mr. Corey a new office, with suitable appointments, was fitted up also in the Masonic Building, separate from any other place of business, a change which had become im- perative owing to the growth of the business. In the thirty-eight years which have elapsed since the es- tablishment of the post-office, the business has shown a wonderful increase. This is indicated by the in- crease in the compensation of the postmaster from $53.90 in 1853 to $141.66 in 1863, 8430 in 1873, and $1200 in 1882, when it became a Presidential office. The business of the post-office for the year ending March 31, 1890, amounted to $5602.82, and the com- pensation of the postmaster to $1700. On the 1st day of June, 1890, Mr. Corey was succeeded by Mr. Charles Manser, who had been designated as the choice of the majority of the Republicans by a cauens held in Everett Hall, April 21, 1890. On July 1, 1890, another daily mail was established, making four

every week-day. A free postal delivery was establish- ed Nov. 1, 1890, the houses having been numbered pursuant to a vote of the town adopted in March, 1890. Through the kindness of Postmaster Corey the following interesting facts, relating to the growth of the business during his term of service, have been furnished :

Year ending

Money orders issued

March 31.

Domestic.

Foreign.

Postal notes issued.

Total Receipts.

1887

492

129

482

$3450

1888

619

191

497

4501

1889

778

354

582

5034

1890

951

321

517

5603

A large part of South Malden, or Mystic side, was originally laid out in small lots of five and ten acres each. The greatest admirer of the system of peasant proprietors could ask for nothing better; but in the course of two centuries, these holdings, too small to afford the owners a livelihood, had one by one been absorbed by large landed proprietors until nearly the whole area of South Malden was divided among a small number of large farms, several of them exceed- ing 100 acres each.

About the year 1845 these large tracts began to becut up and sub-divided, and laid out into house-lots, and during the twelve years from 1845 to 1857, no less than twenty-five large and important tracts of land were thus surveyed and placed upon the market in lots desirable for building purposes. Among these we may mention the Daniel Waters estate in 1845; the Winnisimmet Company's land in 1846; the former farm of Jonathan Oakes, on Belmont Hill, and the farm of Timothy Clapp, in 1850; the Belmont lands and the estate of Jonathan Oakes' heirs, on School Street, in 1852; the Lynde farm in 1854; Mount Washington and the Samnel Pierce farm, on both sides of Bradford Street, in 1856. The opening of these large tracts to settlement had no small influence in promoting the subsequent increase in population and wealth.

The period just then beginning opened up several important facilities for public travel. The Eastern Railroad and the Saugus Branch were both opened in 1854, and communication by street railway with Bos- ton was opened in 1858; one line of cars running up Main Street to Malden, operated by the Malden & Melrose Railroad Co., afterwards leased to the Middle- sex Railroad Co., incorporated June 6, 1856; and another line up School Street and Broadway and through Summer Street to Woodlawn and Cliftondale, operated by the Cliftondale Railroad Co., incorpo- rated April 1, 1859. In the course of a few years later they made half-hourly trips during the day, and hourly trips until late in the evening, and the fare to Malden was ten cents. The last-named route was abandoned many years ago.

During the preceding half-century the tolls on Malden Bridge had been materially reduced, but the tolls levied upon travelers upon that and the Warren and Charles River Bridges still constituted a serious

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incumbrance upon public travel. The two latter bridges were made free April 30, 1858. One of the most important events as regards the growth of South Malden was the abolition of tolls on Malden Bridge, which was laid out as a public highway, free from tolls, April 1, 1859. The significance of this event was not misunderstood by the inhabitants of South Malden, and the day was observed with great rejoic- ings. The town bells were rung, and a detachment of the Charlestown Artillery fired a national salute at morning, noon, evening and at eleven o'clock. A procession, headed by Captain Stephen Stimpson as chief marshal, followed by a cavalcade of prominent citizens on horseback (among them Hon. Alonzo H. Evans and Deacon Calvin Hosmer), escorting the selectmen of the town in a barouche, drawn by four white horses, with the Malden Brass Band, the Gen- eral Taylor Engine Company, and the children of the public schools in several vehicles, and others, pro- ceeded across the bridge with flags flying, as far as Charlestown Square and back again to South Malden, where they partook of a bountiful collation, and listened to patriotic addresses in the afternoon.

A great impetus was given to the growth of the population, which rose from 1169 in 1850 to 1547 in 1860, and 1986 in 1867. The assessors' valnation, not including the estates of non-residents, increased from $779,125 in 1854, to $910,675 in 1860, and to $1,104,- 493 in 1867. The number of miles of accepted streets in 1859 was eleven, increased in 1869 to fourteen.

At the outbreak of the war thirty-seven of the citi- zens of South Malden responded to their country's call, but until the organization of a Grand Army Post here the record of their names and deels was never brought together, and is even now imperfect, though the most important facts so far as known are given below.

Previous to 1883 there was no Grand Army Post at Everett, partly owing to the fact that Everett was not a distinct municipality until several years after the war. In the spring of 1883 a few of the veterans con- ceived the idea of organizing a post. On canvassing the town it was found that fifty or sixty old soldiers were at that time residents of Everett. The post was formally instituted on Thursday evening, June 14, 1883, in Everett Hall, with a membership of twenty- four, by Deputy Commander Geo. S. Evans and staff.

The name of Jamies A. Perkins Post was adopted in honor of Lieut. James Amory Perkins, of the Twenty- fourth Massachusetts Volunteers, a gallant and etli- cient officer, who was killed in an assault upon Fort Wagner on Morris Island, August 16, 1863, at the early age of twenty-seven years.

The Post prospered and increased from the outset, meeting first in Odd Fellows' Hall until the spring of 1884, when it leased what was lately known as Grand Army Hall, on Chelsea Street, adjoining the Masonic Building.

About this time a relief fund was established for

the relief of old soldiers and sailors and their families, whether members of the organization or not, and it now amounts to a considerable sum. In the spring of 1889 the Post leased its present quarters on the third floor of Plaisted's Block. The membership in April, 1890, amounted to nearly ninety. It annually observes Memorial Day with appropriate ceremonies, and from an eloquent address by the adjutant of the post, Comrade Andrew J. Bennett, delivered on Sun- day afternoon, May 29, 1887, a few extracts are given, with some additions giving such particulars as can be obtained in reference to the men of South Malden who offered themselves on the altar of their country during the Civil War.

" ROLL OF HONOR OF SOUTH MALDEN, 1861-1865. These are the names of patriots who have passed over to the majority : Robert Atkins, Third lowa, who left a peaceful home, never in the flesh to return.

James M. Baldwin, First Massachusetts Cavalry ; Ilarry H. Currier, Forty-fourth Massachusetts; Hugh ! L. Currier, Forty-fourth Massachusetts. Weil I knew these in the old days, in the decade before the strug- gle; in the sunshine of youth, before we dreamed that any occasion wonld present itself in their lives to make them heroes.

Edward E. Clapp, Pennsylvania Infantry, who fell at Spottsylvania in 1862; one whose life, yielded up at the demand of his country, had given the promise of large usefulness. "He had that fine fibre of man- hood which is better than genius." Rest, beloved son and affectionate brother ; soldier of the Republic, faithful unto death, rest !

"Green be the turf above you, friends of our better days ;

None knew you but to love you, none uamed you but to praise."

Charles Dean, Sr., morocco dresser, died at Soldiers' Home, Chelsea, May 27, 1887; Hervey Dix, Third Iowa, who fell in 1861, in a victorious engagement at Kirksville, Missouri, whose last words were, "The Third Iowa never surrenders." The lyric muse has chanted his dirge in a requiem dedicated to his regi- ment. His familiar form, I doubt not, is present to the mind's eye of those who knew him.

Stephen Emerson, theological student, graduate of Harvard College, First Massachusetts Infantry, killed at Chancellorsville, May 5, 1863. Had this youth re- turned, he might, perhaps, have been our Laureate. At the call to arms he doffed his college gown, girt on his armor, went to the front and died like a hero. " Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his lite for his friends."

Joseph P. Emmons, brickmaker, about twenty-two years old, a former Malden school-boy, died at Ander- sonville, Company I, D. C. Cavalry, and afterwards Company G, First Maine Cavalry ; Wm. H. Faber, rope-maker, Nineteenth Massachusetts ; an ohl Malden school-boy. Some of you will remember when the flag was at half-mast in this village, in 1864, his death having been reported. He recovered, re- turned and died at home.

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Ephraim Hall, Nineteenth Massachusetts, one of the cleverest men of one of the cleverest regiments sent out by the old Bay State.

Jesse Lincoln, Thirty-fifth Massachusetts ; a smooth- faced boy. His comrade relates that one morning when his company was moving out to the front, and Jesse, weak and debiliated, had been ordered by the surgeon to remain in camp, he persisted in following; " Bob looks so lonesome, going off without me," said the boy.

Edwin Lord, First Massachusetts Cavalry. A brave man.

Joseph Spooner, First Massachusetts ; type of stal- wart New England stock, grand soldier of the glorious First Massachusetts, whom Hooker led and Cudworth loved, who was in all the campaigns from the bap- tismal battle of Blackburn's Ford, in July, 1861, till one day in 1864, when the survivors stood before our war Governor, who characterized them as " War-worn and scar-worn veterans."

John Spooner, Forty-fifth Massachusetts. Younger brother of the preceding. Somewhere along the broken line, where the waters of the Gulf beat against the coast of the Lone Star State, he found a grave.

Augustus S. Stimpson, First Massachusetts Cavalry. He was a fireman, as was his comrade, Lord. The circumstances of this man's life, before he became a soldier, from week to week, and month to month, made him familiar with danger.

William Whittemore, Forty-fourth Massachusetts. We could not think of him as dead; it seemed as though at any time we might see him approaching us, with the smile of greeting in his eyes."

The following is the list of names of living com- rades who enlisted from South Malden :

George Atkins, 2d Mass.

Bartlett Baldwin, Ist Mass. Cav. Frank A. Brown, 17th Mass., the first man to enlist from Sonth Malden.

Sebastian Cutter.

C'has. H. Dean, 2d Mass. Cuv. Daniel Desmond, 33d Mass. John Earle.

Geo. Emerson, 15th Mass.

Horace Flugg.

Alexander Greene, Ist Cav. Thos, Grover, 45th Mass. Edward Lawton, 17th Mass.

Fred. Lincoln, Navy. Elisha A. Loring, 30th Mass. Frank M. Loring, 45th Mass. Stephen McMagh.

Hiram Mills, Navy. Wm. H. Mirick, 17th Mass.

Isaac Newton Organ, 38th Mass. Wm. C. Peabody, 330 Mass. Wm. F. Pike, 5th and GIst Mass. Edward L. Shute, Sth Mass.

Gulian HI. Van Voorhis, 44th Mass. James A. Wallace, 45th Mass.

Andrew J. Bennett, Ist Mass. Lgt. Battery.

It is to be hoped that a suitable monument may be erected in our new town cemetery to the soldiers who fell during the. War of the Rebellion.

The Universalist Society, the second religious so- ciety in South Malden of those now existing, was formed in 1865. As near as can be ascertained, re- ligious services began to be held by them in 186-4, but the earliest record of any meeting for business is under date of March 28, 1865, at Badger's Hall. This meeting was called to order by Wilson Quint. Wil- liam Johnson was made chairman and R. M. Barnard clerk. A committee consisting of Messrs. Quint,

Lewis and Barnard was appointed to make arrange- ments with Rev. B. K. Russ, of Somerville, to preach for one year as a supply. The society continued to worship in Badger's Hall until September, 1872, their principal ministers being Rev. T. J. Greenwood, Dr. A. A. Miner, Rev. H. J. Cushman, Rev. L. L. Briggs, Rev. A. J. Canfield, Rev. W. H. Cudworth and Rev. W. Il. Rider, then a theological student. Just before the incorporation of the town they completed their organization as a religious society, July 8, 1869, the petitioners for this purpose being William Johnson, Anthony Waterman, J. D. Bean, H. M. Currier, David N. Badger, James Pickering, Thomas Leavitt, Elisha B. Loring, Elisha A. Loring, Francis B. Wal- lis, Thomas Lewis, Adams B. Cook, R. M. Barnard, Philip Ham.

Shortly after'thelincorporation of the town, a move- ment was commenced for building a church, and on May 22, 1871, it was voted to commence building when subscriptions reached $3000. On the 24th of September, 1871, a building committee was chosen, consisting of Anthony Waterman, Elisha B. Loring and R. M. Barnard. On the 19th of October, 1871, the committee was instructed to commence. The lot at the corner of Summer Street and Broadway was purchased, and the corner-stone laid May 14, 1872. The first religious service was held in the vestry June 22, 1872, and the building was formally dedicated Wednesday, September 25, 1872, and the first relig- ious service in the new church was held on the Sun- day following. This church was remodeled in 1889, and re-dedicated January 17, 1890, with appropriate ceremonies.

The first superintendent of the Universalist Sun- day-school was Mr. Wilson Quint, who was succeeded by J. D. Bean, Mr. Philip Ham, Isaac E. Coburn, Rev. R. P. Bush, September 10, 1888, and Mr. A. J. Bennett. The Sunday-school has increased from 150 in 1879. to 227 in the spring of 1890. The Sunday- school library contains 550 volumes. The pulpit con- tinned to be occupied by preachers settled in neigh- boring towns, principally Rev. Warren H. Cudworth, until December 1, 1879, when R. Perry Bush, then a student in the divinity school at Tufts College, was engaged as a stated supply nutil April 14, 1880, when he was unanimously called as pastor, and was in- stalled June 13, 1880.

The original cost of the building and land was $10,000, and it had a seating capacity of upwards of 200, which by the remodeling was increased to about 400, at a cost of $9000. It is adorned with memorial windows, the gift of R. M. Barnard and Ilenry Schrow. The architects of the remodeled building were Messrs. Brigham and Spofford.

In 1866 two new school-houses were crected, one on Thorndike Street and the other on Ferry Street, at a cost of about $8500, finished and furnished. Schools were opened in the lower story of both buildings in the spring of 1867, the upper stories being left unfin-

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ished until some years later. Both of these buildings have since been sold. In 1868 a school-house was al- so erected on Hancock Street at the corner of Hanson Street, costing for building and land $2165.61. The first school in this building was established in the spring of 1869. This school was discontinued in November, 1874, and the land and building sold at auction for $1341.17, in 1875.

On July 15, 1867, a Sunday-school was organized in the Glendale District by members of the Young Men's Christian Association of Malden, which result- ed January 1, 1870, in the organization of the Glen- dale Union Christian Society, with twelve members, which purchased the lot of land on which the Glen- dale Chapel now stands, August 1, 1872, for $672. In 1882 a movement was inaugurated for building a house of worship; the corner-stone was laid July 6, 1882, and the completed edifice was dedicated Octo- ber 11, 1882, the sermon heing preached by Rev. W. F. Mallalieu. The cost of the building and land was ahout $2700. A Sunday-school was maintained there and also occasional religions services until 1888, when, these having been discontinued, the chapel was leased to the First Baptist Church in Everett, which, on December 16, 1888, opened a Mission Sunday-school there, which had a membership of 126 in December, 1889. The number of volumes in the Sunday-school library is about 300.

The only other organization antedating the incor- poration of the town is that of the Palestine Lodge of Free Masons, which originated in a meeting held Sep- tember 23, 1868, at which permission was asked of the Mt. Vernon Lodge of Malden to form a lodge of Free and Accepted Masons in South Malden, and Palestine was the name agreed upon for the new lodge. The peti- tion, signed by 14 members of Mt. Vernon Lodge was granted at the regular communication of Mt. Vernon Lodge hield December 3, 1868. The dispensation was granted December 8, 1868, by Charles C. Dane, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. The Grand Master appointed George W. Pierce, Master ; Henry L. Chase, Senior Warden, and Alfred Tufts Junior Warden. The first regular communication of the Palestine Lodge was held in the engine-house hall, January 14, 1869, at which the organization was completed, as follows : Treasurer, Thomas Leavitt ; Secretary, James P. Stewart; Senior Deacon, J. Franklin Wakefield ; Junior Deacon, Philip Ham ; Senior Steward, John G. Berry ; Junior Steward, Al- bert W. Lewis; Inside Sentinel, Benjamin Corey ; Marshal, Stephen A. Stimpson ; Tyler, Thomas Lea- vitt ; Chaplain, James Skinner.

The lodge continued to operate under dispensation until December 8, 1869, when it received a full char- ter.

The charter members were George W. Pierce, Hen- ry L. Chase, Alfred Tufts, Thomas Leavitt, James P. Stewart, J. Franklin Wakefield, Philip Ham, Steph- en A. Stimpson, Benjamin Corey, Albert W. Lewis,

Henry W. Van Voorhis, John C. Van Voorhis, Peter Hanson and John G. Berry, the same who petitioned for the dispensation. But four of these, Messrs. Lea- vitt, Lewis, Stewart and Ham, still remain members ; Messrs. Pierce, Tufts, Wakefield, Hanson and Stimp- son have died, and Brothers Chase, II. W. and J. C. Van Voorhis, Corey and Berry have withdrawn. The lodge was formally constituted December 22, 1869, by Grand Master William Sewall Gardner, and suite, and the first board of officers was installed at the same meeting. The lodge continued to hold its meetings at engine-house hall until the spring of 1872. The need of a building, hoth for their own and town purposes, was apparent, and the action of the town in postponing the erection of a town -hall sug- gested the idea of erecting a building suitable both for town and lodge purposes. As the result, the Ma- sonic Building, at the corner of Broadway and Chelsea Streets was commenced in October, 1870, completed in 1871, and enlarged in 1872. The lodge moved to their new hall in the spring of 1872, and the same was dedicated with appropriate ceremonies on Tuesday evening, June 11th, in the same year, by Grand Mas- ter Sereno D. Nickerson, of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. The Masters of the lodge have been as follows: George W. Pierce, 1869-70-71-72; Chas. D. Stearns, 1873-74; Charles F. Atwood, 1875-76; Philip Ham, 1877-78 ; Columbus Corey, 1879-80; Nathan Nichols, 1881-82; John F. Nichols, Jr., 1883-84; James A. Wallace, 1885-86; Francis A. Dyer, 1887-88; George W. Whittemore, 1889-90. There have been admitted in all 165 members, of whom eleven have died, thirty-four have been dis- missed, and fifteen excluded.

With all these developments of local life, the agi- tation for incorporation as a separate town, which had slumbered since 1857, revived in full force. In the autumn of 1867 petitions were circulated, and, having obtained numerous signers, were presented in the next General Court. The first was that of Hawes Atwood and sixty-two others, presented by Mr. Hughes, of Somerville, in the House on Jan. 10, 1868, for the incorporation of South Malden as a new town. Remonstrances were also presented. The attempt was unsuccessful, and on the 25th of February, 1868, the committee on towns reported reference to the next General Court, which, on the 27th of February, was accepted.

At the next session the effort was renewed, the petition of Hawes Atwood and others being taken from the files of the previous year and referred to the Committee on Towns. January 18, 1869, several ad- ditional petitions were also filed with some remon- strances. March 16th the committee again reported leave to withdraw, but a minority dissented and re- ported a substitute bill. On the 19th day of March, the report coming up for consideration, a substitute bill incorporating the town was moved hy Mr. Good- speed, of Athol, on behalf of the minority of the Com-

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

mittee on Towns. This bill was debated on two suc- cessive days, and on March 25th was rejected by a tie vote of 67 to 67, and on the same day the report was accepted, 69 to 67. On the 26th of March reconsider- ation was moved, and the matter was again debated on March 30, 1869, when the motion to reconsider was rejected by a tie vote of 101 to 101. After this the report was accepted, thus ending the struggle for that year. The name of Winthrop having already been appropriated by another town, it became neces- sary to substitute some other name for the proposed new town, and Everett was selected at a meeting held at the Congregationalist vestry. The vote of the town of Malden to purchase the franchise of the Spot Pond Water Company, thus incurring a heavy water debt, furnished another argument to the petitioners for separation in the struggle of 1870.

At the next session of the Legislature in 1870, there were two projects before the General Court-one on petition of E. S. Converse and others to annex the whole of Malden to Boston, on which leave to with- draw was reported ; another, a petition to incorporate the town of Everett. Petitions came in more numer- ously than before, there being some 309 petitioners against 66 remonstrants. The committee, of which William Cogswell, now member of Congress, was chairmau, reported leave to withdraw February 14, 1870, but a minority dissented and reported a substitute bill, and on February 23d the motion to substitute the bill was debated the remainder of that day and a part of the next, when the bill was substi- tuted-yeas, 126; nays not counted. The next day, on ordering the bill to a third reading, the vote stood : yeas, 130; nays, 69. Among the distinguished names recorded in favor of the division were those of T. II. Sweetser, J. E. Fitzgerald, B. F. Mills, Bushrod Morse, G. Il. Ruffiu, C. R. Train and A. J. Water- man (both of the last afterwards attorney-generals) ; and on the other side, General William Cogswell, A. WV. Beard (late State treasurer, and now collector). Selwyn Z. Bowman (afterwards member of Congress), T. C. Hurd (clerk of courts of Middlesex County), and J. K. Tarbox (afterwards member of Congress).

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 139

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co Number of Pages: 1278

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1278