History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 49

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 49

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The first pastor settled in the new meeting-house was Rev. H. V. Degen. He was followed by Revs. A. D. Merrill, John L. Hanaford, George Prentice-

now professor in Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn.,-Henry Baker, Frank K. Stratton, M. E. Wright, A. W. Mills, S. B. Sweetzer, Isaac H. Pack- ard, Dr. William Butler, John D. Pickles and Samuel Jackson, who is the present pastor, with a church membership of 324.

The Sabbath-school connected with the church was first formed in 1824; its present membership is 394.

A parsonage on land adjoining the church has just been built, at a cost of $5700.

About the year 1828 some members of the Method- ist Episcopal Church became dissatisfied with some portions of its church government, and withdrew therefrom. They organized as the Protestant Meth- odist Church, purchased the old district school-house and moved it to the corner of Main and Upham Streets, near where now stands the First Baptist Church.

This was replaced a few years later by a larger building, and the original school-house church moved to Foster Street, on the corner of Myrtle, where it was altered into a tenement-house, and burned at the time the Orthodox Congregational Church was de- stroyed, February 19, 1869.

For several years the Protestant Methodist Church prospered. Meanwhile, many Baptists had become residents of the town, and, on January I, 1856, by mutual agreement, the Protestant Methodist Society was merged into the First Baptist Church, then formed, and which took possession of all the church property. Many of the Protestant Methodists re- mained and joined the Baptist Church. This new organization immediately called and settled the Rev. Thorndike C. Jameson as pastor. He remained until November 2, 1858, when he went to Providence, R. I., and was afterwards chaplain in the Second Rhode Island Volunteers during the Great Rebellion.

Rev. James Cooper succeeded Mr. Jameson, and remained until January 30, 1862, when he resigned to accept a pastorate in Philadelphia, Pa. In Decem- ber, 1862, Rev. Lewis Colby became pastor, who officiated until July 23, 1864. In September follow- ing Rev. William S. Barnes was ordained. He re- mained until June 15, 1868, when, having changed his theological views, he resigned aud entered the Unitarian denomination, receiving at once a call from the newly-organized Unitarian Society of this town. He afterwards went to Woburn, and is now in Montreal, Canada. Rev. James J. Peck was pas- tor from August, 1869, until April 1, 1871. Septem- ber 15th of that year the Rev. Almond Barrelle be- came pastor, and he remained until April 1, 1875. During his pastorate the old church edifice was sold to the Catholics, and a handsome brick chapel built on its site, which was dedicated November 17, 1874. A year later the Rev. Napoleon B. Thompson was installed, who remained until November 1, 1876. Rev. Robert F. Tolman was ordained pastor June 27, 1878, and remained until April I, 1886. The present

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

pastor, Rev. George A. Cleaveland, was installed Oc- tober 21, 1886. The number of church members is 349, and the Sabbath-school has a membership of 357.

THE ORTHODOX CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH was organized July 11, 1848. Services had been held pre- vious to this in the parlors of Dr. Levi Gould and Deacon Jonathan Cochran; and the first minister, Rev. Stillman Pratt, began to preach as early as April 25th of that year, in Deacon Cochran's house, on Grove Street. The first house of worship, costing $3500, was erected on Foster Street, and dedicated May 17, 1849. This was built largely through the efforts and solicitations of Deacon Cochran and Dr. Gould, both of whom worked upon its foundation with pick and shovel. Deacon Cochran died'January 6, 1885, nearly ninety-four years of age. Their church edifice was remodeled, enlarged and re-dedicated January 5, 1859, at a cost of $10.000, and was burned February 17, 1869. The present building, costing $42,000 was dedicated October 26, 1870. Mr. Pratt resigned his pastorate in April, 1851, and was suc- ceeded, January 15, 1852, by Rev. I. H. Northrup. He resigned the following March, and January 12, 1854, the Rev. Alexander J. Sessions was installed. He held the pastorate until July, 1858, and was fol- lowed by Rev. Edward H. Buck, who was installed in September, 1859. He died January 31, 1861. Rev. Henry A. Stevens was ordained September 12, 1861, and remained until May, 1868. The present pastor, Rev. Albert G. Bale, was ordained December 3, 1868. On the 2d of December, 1888, Mr. Bale preached an historical sermon, it being the twentieth anniversary of his settlement, and the fortieth of the church. In 1883 a parsonage costing $6000 was built on the old church lot, which joined the land purchased for the present edifice.

The Sabbath-school was established before the first church was built, and, by the kindness of the Boston and Maine Railroad Company, met in the old passen- ger depot at the centre station, where the church services were also held for a considerable time. The present membership of the church is 385; and of the Sabbath-school, 472.

THE FIRST UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY of Melrose was organized February 10, 1849. Previous to this there had been occasional preaching by Universalist minis- ters, first in the little school-house at the corner of Lebanon and Upham Streets, then in the school-house on Upham Street, where now stands the grammar school-house, and which was built in 1829. The first settled pastor Rev. Josiah W. Talbot was installed March 18, 1849. Under his untiring energy and per- severance a church building was erected and dedi- cated January 1, 1852, with a sermon by Rev. A. A. Miner, D.D. Mr. Talbot resigned the pastorate November 13, 1853, and was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Cooledge, who remained until 1856, when Rev. J. S. Dennis was installed as his successor, April

1, 1856; Mr. Dennis resigned in 1858, and in Novem- ber of that year Rev. B. F. Bowles was installed. He remained only until the end of 1859. Rev. George H. Deere commenced his labors Septem- ber, 1860, continuing until 1862, when he was suc- ceeded by Rev. George W. Quimby, who remained until 1864. Rev. Selden Gilbert was settled in 1865, remaining one year. From 1866 until 1869, Rev. B. H. Davis was the pastor, being succeeded by Rev. John N. Emery September 1, 1869. In 1872 Mr. Emery resigned and was succeeded by Rev. J. E. Bruce, who remained until 1875. March 6, 1876, Rev. William A. Start was installed, and he resigned in December, 1877. Rev. Charles A. Skinner was settled as pastor September, 1878, who resigned May 1, 1881. He was succeeded by Rev. Richard Eddy, D.D., who was installed in September, 1881. He re- mained until September 1, 1889, when he resigned. On November 14, 1889, Rev. Julian S. Cutler, the present pastor, was installed. During the latter part of Dr. Eddy's pastorate it was decided to build a new church. The old one was sold, moved to another part of Essex Street and converted into our present Frank- lin Hall. The new church edifice was dedicated March 24, 1889; sermon by Dr. Eddy and the address to the people by Rev. A. A. Miner, who preached the dedicatory sermon for the old church January 1, 1852. Present membership of the church 62, of the Sab- bath-school 167.

THE TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH was formed in 1856. Beginning April 13th, five services were held in the parlor of Mrs. Theresa Rice, on Lake Avenue, after which they were held in Lyceum Hall, Main Street. The first rector was Rev. William H. Munroe, who organized the Sunday-school and remained until 1862, when he resigned. He is now the rector of Christ Church, Boston. During his pastorate a church ed- ifice was erected on Emerson Street, which was con- secrated March 25, 1860, by the Rt. Rev. Manton Eastburn, Bishop of Massachusetts. Mr. Munroe's suc- cessor was Rev. John B. Richmond, who remained until July 1868. Rev. Robert Ritchie succeeded and remained one year. Rev. Charles Wingate was chos- en rector June 13, 1870, resigning in 1876. During a year's absence of Mr. Wingate in Europe, Rev. Samuel P. Parker had charge of the parish. April 27, 1876, Rev. Ilenry A. Metcalf was chosen rector, remaining until 1880, when he was succeeded by Rev. Charles L. Short, holding his first services De- cember 21, 1880. He was pastor until May, 1888. June 21, 1887, a new stone church was consecrated It was built by the Tyer family as a memorial to Henry George, Elizabeth, and Catharine Louise T'yer. Its cost was $28,467.40. Under one of the trusses on the south side is placed a carved stone from the ruins ot Melrose Abbey, Scotland, obtained through the ef- forts of the late William L. Williams.

The present rector, Rev. Charles H. Seymour, was settled over this church September 12, 1888.

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MELROSE.

Present number of communicants, 120 ; membership of Sahbath school, 101.

UNITARIAN CHURCH .- The first permanent move- ment for the establishment of a Unitarian Church was made in 1866, when services were begun in Con- cert Hall, on Main Street, by Rev. W. P. Tilden, un- der the auspices of the American Unitarian Associa- tion. Soon after the Unitarian Congregational So- ciety of Melrose was organized, in July, 1867. It continued to hold services in Concert Hall for several years ; having for pastors, beside Mr. Tilden, Revs. John D. Wells, John A. Buckingham, William Sils- bee and William S. Barnes, who left the Baptist de- nomination and was settled over this church for a few months, resigning in January, 1869. July 7, 1869, Rev. A. S. Nickerson was installed as pastor and resigned in April, 1870. At this time, while without a settled minister, a new church was built on the corner of Emerson and Myrtle Streets, and dedicated May 1, 1872. Services had been continued meanwhile by the friendly offices of a number of pastors. The first minister to be set- tled in the new church was Rev. Daniel M. Wilson, who was installed November 15, 1872. He resigned March 1, 1876, and is now settled at Quincy, Mass. From September 1, 1878, to September 1, 1881, Rev. Nathaniel Seaver, Jr., was the pastor. Rev. Henry Wescott was settled over this parish in conjunction with the newly-formed one in Malden, November 1, 1881. He died July 17, 1883, much lamented. A handsome memorial volume was published soon after his death, containing a number of his sermons and a memoir by Jolin O. Norris. The Rev. John H. Hey- wood, forty years pastor at Louisville, Ky., was in- stalled September 7, 1884, remaining until September 1, 1889, when he resigned aud returned to his old home in Louisville. The present pastor Rev. Joseph H. Weeks, was installed February 7, 1890. The mem- bership of the church is 100, of the Sabbath-school 102.

ROMAN CATHOLICS .- Until 1873 the Catholics of Melrose were included in the parish of Malden and Medford, when it was set apart as a separate parish under the care of Rev. W. H. Fitzpatrick. The church edifice of the First Baptist Society was pur- chased and removed to Dell Avenue and used in Octo- ber of the same year. Previous to this, May 1, 1870, a Sunday-school had been organized and had held its services in Freemason's Hall ; and a Catholic service, or Mass. had been held on Grove Street, December 25, 1854. Mr. Fitzpatrick was succeeded a few years after the organization by the present incumbent, Rev. Dennis J. O'Farrell.

There are two temperance societies connected with this church-the Loyal Temperance Cadets and the Catholic Total Abstinence Society.

THE HIGHLANDS CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH WAS organized September 29, 1875, with Rev. D. A. More- house as its pastor. Preaching services had been held

quite regularly for several years previous to this, in the chapel corner of Franklin and Tremont Streets, the gift of Deacon George W. Chipman. Here the Highland Union Sunday School also held regular sessions for many years. November 19, 1876, the present pastor, Rev. John G. Taylor, began his pastor- ate. The same year a movement was begun to build a church. The edifice, situated on Franklin Street, was finished and occupied September 29, 1880. An additional chapel was built in 1885, and the total cost of the building has been $12,500. In 1883 Mr. Taylor went abroad for fourteen months, and during his absence the Rev. Henry Bates officiated as pas- tor. Present number of members of the church, 130; of the Sunday-school, 259.

Soon after the establishment of the Boston Rubber Shoe Company's works, at the Fells village, in 1882, the First Baptist Church organized a Sunday-school, and began to hold religious services. On the 25th of January, 1889, the Fells Baptist Church was organ- ized with 26 members. The pastor is Rev. William H. Hacket, who had officiated for some time previous to the organization of the church. The present mem- bership is 71; and that of the Sunday-school, 133. Both church and Sunday-school meet in a hall at the corner of Main Street and Goodyear Avenue, the property of the Boston Rubber Shoe Company, free of all charge. The ball was built soon after the works were established, and has always been placed at the disposal of this religious movement ; and in it was kept the Converse School previous to the building of the new school-house on Washington Street for the Fells District.

All of these churches have their auxiliary societies, some thirty in number ; among them, Social Circles, Missionary Societies both foreign and home, Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor and the Ep- worth League.

Initiatory measures have been taken with a view of establishing a Young Men's Christian As- sociation ; there was one formed in 1858, but it was not of long duration.

SCHOOLS .- The only school in Melrose for many years was held in the plain, unpainted district school- house, which was sold to the Protestant Methodist Society in 1828. It was built in 1800, was twenty by twenty-five feet in size and was situated on a knoll on the old road, now Lebanon Street, about a dozen rods south of "Upham Lane," uow Upham Street. In this old school-house Robert Gerry, who died in Stoneham, April 1, 1873, in his ninetieth year, taught school during the winter season for twenty-four years in succession, beginning in 1803. After this house was sold, a new one was built on Upham Street, in 1828, by the schoolmaster, Mr. Gerry, for the town of Malden. This was burned about the year 1845; and the one built on its site was the only school-house Melrose had when it was incorporated ; in it was kept a primary, intermediate and grammar school. This

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house was burned in April, 1874, and succeeded by the present structure, the "Centre Grammar School." The High School building on Emerson Street was erected in 1869. Melrose now has eleven school- houses, with thirty-two teachers. The amount of money appropriated for schools for the year 1890 was $28,700. The amount of the "Town Grant" for schools in 1851 was $1200; and there was received from the State School Fund $55.90, making a total of $1255.90 expended for school purposes.

CHAPTER XVII.

MELROSE-(Continued).

Military History-Societies, Associations, Clubs, etc.

MILITARY HISTORY .- Many Melrose men were engaged in the Revolution. Malden, of which Mel- rose was then a part, was a very patriotic town, and sent forth not only her sons, but several spirited manifestoes, before and during the war. So eloquent, forcible and patriotic were her " Instructions of the town to its Representative, Passed May 27, 1776," that Chief Justice Marshall quoted them in his " Life of Washington." Among the sentiments expressed were these : " It is now the ardent wish of ourselves that America may become Free and Independent States. . . . Unjustifiable claims have been made by the king and his minions, to tax us without our consent. These Colonies have beeu prosecuted in a manner cruel and unjust to the highest degrec. The frantic policy of Administration hath induced them to send Fleets and armies to America, that by de- priving us of our trade, and cutting the throats of our brethren. they might awe us into submission and erect a system of despotism which should so far en- large the influence of the Crown as to enable it to rivet their shackles upon the people of Great Britain. . . We, therefore, renounce with disdain our connection with the Kingdom of Slaves ; we bid a final adieu to Britain, . . and we now instruct you, Sir, to give them the strongest assurance, that if they should declare America to be a Free and Inde- pendent Republic, your constituents will support and defend the measure to the Last Drop of their Blood and the Last Farthing of their Treasure."

In Captain Benjamin Blaney's company of Malden men, which went, on the 19th of April, "to resist the ministerial troops," were the following Melrose men : Sergt. Jabez Lynde, Nathan Eaton, Joseph Lynde, Jr., Ezra Howard, John Vinton, Benjamin Lynde, William Upham, Ezra Upham, John Grover (3d), Unite Cox, Joseph Barrett, Jr., Phineas Sprague, John Grover, Jr., John Gould, Phineas Sprague, Joseph Lynde and John Pratt. There was hardly a man living in North Maldeu at that time, who was able to bear arms, who

did not start as a " minute-man " when the alarm was sounded.

Thomas, Timothy and Ezra Viuton lived at the Highlands and went in Captain Samuel Sprague's company from Stoneham. " After the men had left for Concord, the womeu, fearing that they might suf- fer for want of food, filled some saddle-bags full of provision, put them upon an old horse owned by Phineas Sprague, and Israel Cook mounted the horse and started for Concord. When near the place, fear- ing that he might meet the British on their return, he turned into a by-road to avoid them. They soon came in sight, and discovered him. One of the sol- diers left the ranks, crossed the field, shot at Cook and killed the horse, and then hastened back to the ranks. Cook, nothing daunted, shouldered the saddle-bags, and trudged on till he met the men, who were sadly in want of something to eat."1

Melrose took an honorable part in the Great Rebel- lion of 1861-65. Some of her men were in the ser- vice as soon as any after the time Fort Sumter was bombarded, and continued until the end of the war. When Senator Wilson telegraphed to Governor An- drew, April 15th, for twenty companies of militia to be sent immediately to Washington, for three months' service, five Melrose men immediately enlisted- George W. Batchelder, Gordon Mckay, Thomas Smith and William Wyman, in Company B, Fifth Massachusetts Regiment, and Seth Morrison in the Fourth Regiment. Of these, all that were in the Fifth Regiment entered the service again in the three years' regiments.

May 3, 1861, President Lincoln issued his second call for troops, for three years' service, and on the same day the selectman issued a warrant for a town- meeting, which was held in Concert Hall, May 6th. It was then

"Voted, that the town of Melrose appropriate the sum of $3000 for the relief of the families of the citizens of Melrose now absent in the service of the United States, or who may hereafter volunteer into the service of the United States or the State of Massachusetts ; also to aid volunteers of the town in their equipment, and to give euch relief in the premises as the exigeucies and necessities of each case may require. Also voted that above all other appropriations the sum of Fifteen dollars per month be paid to those persons having families and the sum of Ten dollars per month to those who are single during their time of service in the war now pending. Also voted that the Treasurer be authorized to borrow anch sums of money upon the credit of the town as may be wanted from time to time to cover the appropriations in the vote just passed."

On that evening, or immediately after, there were sixteen enlistments in three different regiments, four- teen of which were in the Thirteenth Massachusetts Regiment. On a Sunday evening previous to the departure of this regiment these brave boys, from our best families, assembled in the Baptist Church, and received from its pastor, the Rev. James Cooper, a Testament, on the fly-leaf of which was written, "God and our Country." From that time on throughout

1 Artemas Barrett, in the Melrose Journal.

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MELROSE.

the war, in answer to the various calls for troops, Melrose continued to furnish its quota of men ; and at the end of the Rebellion it was found that she had not only filled its quotas, for three years', nine months', one hundred days' and ninety days' men, but had exceeded the same to the number of seventy- four men :

" PROVOST-MARSHAL'S OFFICE, 6TH DISTRICT, MASS.,

" LAWRENCE, December 31, 1864.

" This is to certify that, as appears by the records of this office, the surplus of the Town of Melrose, over RIl calls, is seventy four (74) men.

" H. G. HERRICK,

" Captain and Provost-Marshal, 6th Dist., Muss."

The whole number of men furnished by Melrose for the war, for the several terms of service, of all arms, including both army and navy, and including the eight citizens who enlisted on other quotas, was 454. Of these, 21 enlisted men lost their lives ; 5 were killed on the battle-field, 1 was accidentally shot, 13 died of disease contracted in the service, and 2 died in rebel prisons. The number of com- misioned officers furnished by Melrose was eigh- teen, two of whom lost their lives, one on the field of battle, and one died of disease contracted in the ser- vice.

The names of these twenty-three "unreturning braves " from Melrose are as follows: Lieut. George James Morse, Lieut. George Thomas Martin, Henry Franklin Fuller, Martin Greene, William Henry Macey, Sydney Bradford Morse (2d), William Fran- cis Barry, John Parker Shelton, Thomas 11. Stevens, Jonas Greeu Brown, Benjamin Lynde, Nathan H. Brand, Richard Lever, Augustus Green, Edmund Wallace Davis, Albert Waterston Crockett, James Roland Howard, Francis Peabody, George Elwin Richardson, Benjamin F. Wilde, John Eastman Stil- phen, George Warren Lynde and William F. Krantz.

At the battle of Galveston, Texas, January 1, 1863, twenty-five Melrose men in Company G, Forty-second Massachusetts Regiment, were taken prisoners; but their imprisonment was of short duration. Besides these the following were taken prisoners at different times, and suffered the terrible hardships of rebel prisons ; Henry H. Jones, Col. Archibald Bogle, George E. Richardson, Albert W. Crockett, William H. Eastman, Edmund W. Davis, George W. Batch- elder, Benjamin F. York, Frederick W. Krantz, George W. Elliot, John E. Quinn and Henry Stone. Ten of these lived to return to their homes, and two, Richardson and Crockett, were starved to death at Salisbury and Andersonville.

Under the " Enrollment " or " Conscription Act," a draft was ordered to be made in July, 1863, and for- ty-nine men were drawn from Melrose. Of these, three furnished substitutes, four paid commutation, and the rest were exempted for various causes. This was the only draft of effect that took place in Melrose. Twenty-four persons were drawn May 17, 1864, but as there was no deficiency at this time, all the quotas

of our town having been filled, the drafted persons were not required to appear for examination.

In June, 1864, a citizens' committee, consisting of Wingate P. Sargent, Daniel Norton, Jr., Levi S. Gould, Isaac Emerson, Jr., Thomas A. Long and Jo- seph D. Wilde, was appointed to raise money for re- cruiting purposes ; and by the spirited and liberal action of the citizens, the sum of $5650 was raised and passed over to the recruiting committee, consisting of the selectmen, John H. Clark, William B. Burgess, and George M. Fletcher, and Stephen W. Shelton, Isaac Emerson, Jr., Rufus Smith and Charles H. 1s- burgh.

Throughout the war constant and continued action for the relief of soldiers and their families was taken by the town and by private citizens.

SOCIETIES, ASSOCIATIONS, CLUBS, ETC .- Of tem- perance organizations there are many, the oldest one being Guiding Star Lodge No. 28, Independent Order of Good Templars, which was organized in 1861, and has a membership of fifty-eight ; Siloam Temple of Honor, No. 24, in 1866, with seventy-five members ; Siloam Social, No. G, in 1867, 150 members; Melrose Women's Christian Temperance Union, in 1882, 410 members, active and honorary ; Young Woman's Christian Temperance Union, in 1887, seventy members ; Temp- erance Wide-Awakes, in 1882, 480 members; and Juvenile Temple, No. 16, Faithful Workers Indepen- dent Order of Good Templars, in 1888, eighty-nine members. Previous to the organization of the I. O. of G. T. there had been the "Sons of Temperance," members of which, after disbandment, joined other societies. In addition to these religious and temper- ance organizations, Melrose has a large number of clubs, societies and associations of other kinds. It is safe to say that no town of its size in New England has as many.

In the Masonic Fraternity there is the Wyoming Lodge, which was organized in 1856, which has 183 members; the Waverly Royal Areh Chapter, in 1863, 208 members; Hugh de Payens Commandery of Knights Templar, in 1865, 162 members; and the Eastern Star, No. 14, in 1861, sixty-six members. They all meet in the Masonic Temple, on Wyoming Avenue, which was built and dedicated to Masonic uses in 1866, by the Waverly Masonic Association.

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 49

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