History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 66

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 66

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).

Mr. Houghton has been twice married. Both wives were, in the fullest sense, help-meets to him, and shared his struggles and successes. He has been a widower since 1876. Of the eight children born of these unions, two sons survive. Mr. Houghton has met with reverses, and has retired from the field as a manufacturer. His friends, and his town's-people are altogether such, rejoice that the closing years of his life may be free from the great burdens which for many years he bore, and that there is yet in hand and in store enough of this world's goods, so that the re- maining years shall be free from the anxieties and hardships which beset his youth.

281

TEWKSBURY.

HON. LUMAN T. JEFTS.

Hon. Luman T. Jefts, of Hudson, was born of bum- ble parentage in Washington, N. H., in 1830. His opportunities for cultivating the mind were very lim- ited. When seventeen years of age he attended school away from home one term; then, feeling the need of a more thorough course of education, he ob- tained permission from his father to gratify his cher- ished wish, providing he did it at his own expense. He spent most of the next six years in working every spare day out of school, attending school as much as his limited means would allow and then teaching and attending an academy. Afterwards he became a clerk in a store at the munificent salary of $300 per year. After finishing his contract there he went into the grocery business. We find him, in 1859, at the age of twenty-nine, with the little money he had saved by practicing economy, entering into partner- ship with A. K. Graves for the manufacture of shoes in the village of Feltonville (now Hudson). After two successful years in a small way, the partnership was dissolved, and he alone continued the business, which has steadily increased, until he is now one of the most successful business men in this town.

While pursuing his honorable business career, Mr. Jefts has found time for culture of mind and heart, having traveled extensively in his own country and twice visited Europe, and lately Mexico. He has shown his public spirit by building and presenting to his native town of Washington, N. H., an elegant public library building. He has also given to the Methodist Episcopal Church in Hudson an elegant parsonage. He has taken a deep interest in the Chau- tauqua Assembly. He is treasurer and trustee of the New England Conservatory of Music, and was last winter unanimously elected trustee of Boston Univer- sity. He was the first president of the Hudson Co- operative Bank, and has been president of the Hudson National Bank since its establishment. He has for many years been one of the trustees of the Hudson Savings Bank, and is now vice-president and one of the committee of investment of the same.

He is a Knight Templar in Trinity Commandery, Hudson, belongs to Hudson Grange and is a member of the Rawson Council, No. 936 Royal Arcanum.

In 1882 he was nominated by the Republicans and handsomely elected Representative from the Thirty- third Middlesex District, and served on the Committee ou Banking. In 1885, and again in 1886, was he unani- mously nominated by acclamation as a candidate for Senator for the Fifth Middlesex District, a thing unpre- cedented in the political history of the district. Each year he was elected by a large majority, and served in the Senate both years on the Committees on Mannfac- tures, the Liquor Law and Public Charitable institu- tions. In the Senate of 1887, he served as chairman of these several committees. At a dinner given by Senator Jefts, near the close of the session, President Boardman said: "Recognizing his ability in last

year's Senate, I appointed him chairman of three im- portant committees, and the work accomplished by him in these committees convinces me that I made no mistake." He is now serving his second year as a member of the Republican State Committee. Start- ing out as a poor boy, we find him filling every posi- tion, whether in private station or public life, with honor and credit to himself, while gaining the respect and confidence of all who have been associated with him.

He is interested in every measure that tends to ad- vance the best interests of Hudson, while he also finds time to aid outside enterprises.

CHAPTER XXIV.

TEWKSBURY.

BY REV. E. W. PRIDE.

THE town of Tewksbury is bounded on the north by the Merrimac River and Andover, on the east by Andover and Wilmington, on the south by Wilming- ton and Billerica, on the west hy Billerica and Low- ell. Its extent is, by the census of 1890,-13,301 acres with a population of 1713, and 1000 inmates of the State Almshouse, that being the average number of inmates of that institution. The valuation of the town is $1,365,495.

For a small town Tewksbury possesses considerable river frontage. The Merrimac flows for some three miles along its northern boundary and separates it from Dracut, which town alone divides it from New Hampshire. The Concord winds along its south - western part for miles, and formerly was its boundary on the west till the union of that river with the Mer- rimac. The "Shawshine," a deep, swift, but narrow stream, runs through the southeast part of the town for its entire length. Numerous brooks pour into these streams ; prominent among them is Mills' Brook, which runs into the Merrimac, Strong Water Brook, and Heath Brook, which empty into the Shawshine. There are three ponds of considerable extent-Long, Round and Mud Ponds.

Two hills-Prospect and Strong Water-rise to a considerable height, and afford fine views of the sur- rounding country from their summits. These hills with their wooded slopes form beautiful features in the landscape.

The north part of the town called North Tewks- bury, has land of a superior quality, and from various points the prospects are remarkably beautiful of Lowell, the neighboring towns and also of the distant hills of New Hampshire. It possesses a small vil- lage, a church, and formerly had a post-office which the proximity of Lowell rendered superfluous.

The other parts of the town are more or less at a

282

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

disadvantage because of the large extent of light and sandy soils, which, however, often allow the cultivator to produce earlier crops than can be done where the land is heavier. Towards the Billerica line on the south the sand is so extensive as to form a miniature desert, whose drifts in spots encroach on the neighbor- ing grass and shrubs.

The chief village of Tewksbury is at the Centre. There are the Congregational Church-till 1843 the only one in town,-the post-office, the store and the station of the Boston & Lowell Railroad. With its common and trees, its well-kept walks and trim-looking houses, it is a pleasant village of the old New England type, from which the goodly ancient stock has not yet all departed. Much of this beauty in the village is due to the laudable efforts of the Village Improve- ment Association for the last three years.

Toward the west part of Tewksbury appear two manufacturing establishments, which intimate the proximity of the neighboring city. These are the chemical works of Taylor Barker, and the Ather- ton Machine-Shop, which turns out a large quantity of cotton machinery.

On the edge of Lowell are many suburban resi- dences, whose owners do business in the city. Near the Lowell Cemetery and Concord River many of the factory population live, whose work is in the adjoin- ing great manufacturing centre.

In past years Tewksbury was quite a seat for the manufacture of furniture. Mr. Alvin Marshall was engaged in this business at the Centre for years, em- ploying quite a number of men. Gregory & Barrell also for some time manufactured pine tables and simi- lar articles. Lowell gradually absorbed these firms By far the largest business of this kind was that be- gun in Tewksbury Centre, in the spring of 1851, by Joel Foster, Enoch Foster and N. P. Cole, under the style of J. & E. Foster & Company, only one, Joel, being of the age of twenty-one years. The beginning was small, the power used was horse-power, and in hired buildings. Soon were built shops and a steam mill, and from five to fifty men were employed. Early in the business a great demand sprang up for furniture in California, and freights were high, and as the trade was large, the plan was devised of making the furniture to be knocked down, thereby putting four bureaus into the space of one, and boxing up tight, which gave this firm the advantage of all other manufacturers, and orders were received which would take from two to three months to fill, giving all that could be done. In the mean time a fine trade was being worked up in all the Southern States, Cape Town, South Africa, Cuba, etc.

The breaking out of the Civil War cansed a heavy loss, as the blockade soon prevented shipping goods South.

In 1862 Mr. Cole went to San Francisco and opened a wholesale store for all kinds of furniture. He was followed in 1865 by Mr. Joel Foster, and a new store,

wholesale and retail, was opened, adding all kinds of upholstered goods and draperies, etc.

In 1868 the business in Tewksbury was sold, and in 1870, Mr. Enoch Foster, the last member of the firm to leave town, followed the others to California, where they manufactured all kinds of furniture in the State Prison at San Quentin. Here, in the best years, the sale of goods exceeded $100,000 per month.

For the facts in this brief sketch of the firm, the writer is indebted to Hon. Enoch Foster, a name frequently appearing in almost every office in the gift of the town.

A large tanning business also was formerly carried on by the late Mr. George Lee, which has been con- tinued by his son, Mr. William H. Lee, whose name frequently appears on the official lists of the town.

Besides these larger manufacturing establishments, a number of smaller ones have sprung up near the edge of Lowell. There are also two saw and grist- mills, known as Trull's and Kendall's, which, before the extensive use of steam as a motor, ground large quantities of grain and cut multitudes of logs into lumber.

The occupation of the mass of the population of Tewksbury, especially of its older families, is agricultural. As the town is within easy dis- tance of Lawrence and Lowell, and quite accessible to Boston by rail, its business is market garden- ing. Cabbages are the main crop, but every variety of vegetable and fruit adapted to a northern clime is raised and yields an abundant return. Large por- tions of land are also used for grass farms, and the production of milk is carried on extensively.

For its moderate area the town has an extensive road surface. The highways are estimated as extend- ing sixty-five miles, and are kept in good repair by teams owned by the town under charge of a superin- tendent.

The following is a brief description of its botanical and geological distinctions, furnished by Mr. G. Homer Galger, late principal of the High School :

"The town offers many attractions to the lovers of natural science, being locally famous for the abundance and variety of its wild flowers. Scotch heather, Calluna vulgaris, is found in small quantities growing wild.

" Two varieties of Sundew, Drosera rotundifolia and Drosera longifolia, are found growiog in abundance. Among the Orchidaceæ, besides the Spiranthes, the Cypripedium, the Pogonia, the Arethusa, the Habenaria and others, many of the less commoo genera are found.

"Iu the western part of the town many notable elms and pines, said to be among the largest in the State, may be seen.

"Prospect Hill is one of many similar eminences scattered throughout northeastern Massachusetts, all of glacial origin. Such hills, in geo- logical language, are known as ' drumlins,' and are supposed to have been formed by sub-glacial streams in a way similiar to that by which (00 a smaller scale) a stream of water often makes longitudinal ridges of sand in its bed. A somewhat remarkable 'sand desert,' of a dozen acres or more in extent, is found on the Billerica Road. A part of this *desert ' is sparsely covered by a growth of pines, but along ita western edge rune a kame-like ridge of sand almost entirely destitute of vege- tation. This sand katoe is ahont 1500 feet long by one-third as wide, and is ahout fifty feet io height at its highest point. It has gently- sloping, rounded aides, the trend being southeast, thus resembling the gravel-kames of glacial origin. It is said that many flint arrow-heads

283

TEWKSBURY.

have been found here. A number of large bouldere of porphyritic gneiss running through the town are fragments torn from the cliffs near Lake Wionepesankee, by the ice, carried south and left in their present positions. Very fine examples of contorted goeise are found in abundance; in fact, the town and its vicinity offer quite as many attractione to the geologist as to the botaniet."

The wood lots of Tewksbury are quite extensive. In former days much of the timber was heavy, and a few specimens-alas ! too few-of the fathers of the forest still remain.

The town is noted for its various and beautiful flora, and on account of this is often visited by emi- nent botanists. It is one of the few places on the American continent where the Scotch heath is found. This plant is becoming rare, chiefly, as authorities declare, by its extinction through the encroachments of other vegetation. It would be well to make an attempt to save it from total disappearance.

Tewksbury has two churches, eight school-houses, in which are kept ten schools, one of which is a High School, a public library, the State Almshouse and the usual public buildings requisite to such a community. Of most of these institutions brief de- scriptions follow.

The Salem and Lowell Railroad, a branch of the old Boston and Lowell Road, runs through the sonthern and central part of the town, and the Bos- ton and Maine has a branch about a mile farther north, thus bringing the stations within six miles of Lowell, and about twenty-two of Boston. The city of Lawrence is also quite accessible by these rail- roads and by carriage roads.

Tewksbury is known to the world chiefly by its State Almshouse, one of three such institutions estab- lished by an Act of the Legislature, May 20, 1852. The other two are at Bridgewater and Monson. All were opened for the reception of inmates by a proc- Jamation issued by Governor Emory Washburn May I, 1854. Within three weeks nearly 800 inmates had been admitted to the Tewksbury Almshouse alone.

The first superintendent was Capt. Isaac H. Meserve, the first physician Dr. Jonathan Brown, the first chaplain Rev. Jacob Coggin. For many years a school for the children was part of the institution, whose influence was helpful and whose singing was a marked and attractive feature. Its numbers ranged from 86 to 153.

The plan of supporting State Almshouses originated in this Commonwealth ; hence the three in Massachu- setts were largely experiments constructed to accom- modate far less numbers than soon crowded them. In the year 1857, a season of great suffering for the poor, more than 1200 were daily lodged and fed at this institution.

The farm, consisting of 250 acres, was originally so poor as to be a by-word in the Commonwealth, but now, through judicious and faithful cultivation, has been brought to a condition highly productive. This is evident from a few of the products as given in the last annual report of the superintendent, Oct., 1889 :

English hay, 137 tons ; rye straw, 35 tons; ensilage, 425 tons ; rye, 200 bushels; potatoes, 900 bushels; cabbage, 2000 heads; milk, 39,544 gallons; eggs, 1860 dozens. There were slaughtered from the stock of the farm 14,111 pounds of pork, 341 pounds of poultry and 8797 pounds of beef.

The whole institution shows a correspondent and constant improvement. Where a sandy prospect without a shade tree was found, now are shady walks, green plots of lawn sprinkled with bright and varied flowers, the whole surrounded with buildings no longer a disgrace, but a credit to the State.

With the exterior the interior improvements have kept gradual pace.

Captain Meserve was removed in June, 1858, and was succeeded by Captain Thomas J. Marsh.

In 1866 the school was removed to Monson.

The number of inmates from the opening of the Almshouse, May 1, 1854, till May 1, 1889, was 84,599.

During the war nearly a company of men enlisted from this institution, and many others went as substi- tutes. Dr. Brown went as a volunteer surgeon and rendered important service in the hospital at York- town. Other surgeons for the army went or originally came from Tewksbury service. Even the children of the school scraped lint for the use of the wounded.

In 1871 the Almshouse at Monson has changed into a "State Primary School," and that at Bridgewater to the "State Work-house," and the Tewksbury one into an almshouse proper, for the accommodation of the more helpless poor.

In 1866 the office of resident chaplain was abol- ished, and since that time the religious services have been conducted by clergymen in the vicinity of different denominations.

Captain Marsh closed his connection with the insti- tution July, 1883, and was succeeded in the following August by C. Irving Fisher, M.D., the present superin- tendent. The institution had gradually passed from a shelter for the poor into a vast hospital. Hence the election of a physician for superintendent.

Chester Irving Fisher, M.D., the present superin- tendent of the State Almshouse, was born in Canton, Massachusetts, April 25, 1847, and was the third son of Cyrus and Caroline (Guild) Fisher. He was educated in the common schools of his native town, and then prepared for teaching in the State Normal School at Bridgewater. After leaving Bridgewater he taught in Provincetown, where, in 1867, he began the study of medicine with Dr. J. Baxter, and in June, 1870, was graduated from the Harvard Medical School. In April, 1871, he entered the Quarantine Department of Boston as assistant port physician, and became port physician, February, 1873. In September, 1875, having resigned his position, Dr. Fisher entered pri- vate practice in Holbrook, Massachusetts, where he continued until be assumed the duties of superinten- dent and resident physician at the Almshouse, August 1, 1883.

284

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Since his connection with the institution the most important improvements are doubtless the two new hospitals erected from his plans and under his imme- diate oversight-one for women, at a cost of $69,000, having 110 beds ; and one for men costing $35,000, with 50 beds. The old hospital for men has been thoroughly renovated and re-arranged under his direc- tion, so that the entire hospital accommodations are now ready for 275 patients, thus divided-for men, 140 beds ; for women, 110 beds; maternity, 25 beds. Of these hospitals, their lighting, ventilation, conven- iences, &c., competent medical authority has officially pronounced that they are the " best appointed, best equipped and best administered of any hospital for the indigent sick in the world."

This Almshouse was the first State institution to adopt electric lighting, which was introduced under the present superintendent in 1887.

The aim aud marked characteristic of Dr. Fisher's administration have been to incorporate into the working of the institution the practical and tried ap- pliances and methods of modern science in all its available and multiplied branches.

Dr. Fisher is an enthusiast in the great charitable work to which his life is consecrated. Ile is one of the devoted members of the National Association of Char- ities, and has published the following pamphlets : " The Other Infections Disease; or, A Plea for a New Hospital;" "The Prevention of Insanity by the Timely Control of the Dissolute;" and "The Neces- sity for Social and Statute Recognition of Syphilis." He has also, as opportunity came, in carefully pre- pared addresses, presented these and kindred topics to churches, to clubs, medical and ecclesiasticał, and to any body which might aid in arousing the intelli- gent part of the community to these subjects, so ger- mane to the prosperity and health-physical, mental and moral-of the Commonwealth.

The Tewksbury Almshouse is and has ever been a model of cleanliness, where the poor have received wholesome food in abundance, gentle treatment and the best medical skill the State could furnish. It is and has been open for the inspection of the public, subject to the conditions requisite to the conduct of all public institutions.

HISTORY. Previous to its incorporation Tewks- bury belonged to what in carly times was the large town of Billerica or "Shawshin." Its history, there- fore, before 1734 is included in that town once so ex- tensive. Little can be gathered from those days con- cerning our northern part of the great township, but a few items are worthy of preservation.

At the junction of the Concord and Merrimac Rivers was the former Indian town of Wamesit, once the northwestern part of Tewksbury, but now in Lowell, a great resort of the Wamesits-part of the large tribe of the Pawtuckets one of the five great nations which in the days of the first settlers dwelt between the l'enobscot and Iludson Rivers. Some five hun-

dred acres of the Wamesit purchase was included in what became Tewksbury, and appears to have been the site of the Indian praying town of which an eye- witness, Mr. Daniel Gookin in his Historical Collec- tions of the Indians in New England, in 1674, two hundred and sixteen years ago, has preserved a description worth quoting:

" Wamesit ie the fifth praying town ; and this place is eituste upon the Merrimack River, beiog a neck of Inad, where Concord River falleth into Merrimack River. It is about twenty miles from Boston, north northwest, and within five miles of Billerica and as much from Chelmy- ford ; 60 that it hath Concord River upon the west northwest, and Mer- rimsck River upon the north northeast. It hath abont fifteen families ; and consequently, as we compute, about seventy-five souls. The quantity of Isad belegging to it ie abent twenty-five hundred acres. The land ie fertile, aod yieldeth |plenty of corn. It ie excellently accommodated with a fishing place, and there is taken variety of fish in their seasons, as esimon, chads, lamprey eela, sturgeon, bass and divers others. There is a great confluence of Indians, that usnally resort to this place in the fishing seasons. Of these etrange Indians, divers are vitions and wicked men sod women ; which Satan makes use of to obstruct the prosperity of religion here. The ruler of thie people is called Nnophow. IIe is one of the blood of their chief sscheme. Their teacher is called Samuel, son to the ruler, a young man of good parts, and can speak, read and write English and Indian competently. He is one of those that was bred up at school, at the charge of the Corporation for the Indiane. These Indiane, if they were diligent and industrious,-to which they have heen frequently excited,-might get much by their fish, especially fresh salmon, which are of esteem and good price at Boston in the sea- son ; aod the lodians being stored with horses of a low price, might furnish the market fully, being st so einall a distance. Aad divere other sorts of fish they might salt or pickle, as sturgeco and bass ; which would be much to their profit. But notwithstanding divere arguments used to persuade them, and some orders made to encourage them ; yet their idleness and improvidence doth hitherto prevail.

" At this place, once a year, at the beginning of May, the English magistrate keeps his court, accompanied with Mr. Eliot, the minister, who, at this time, takes his opportunity to preach, not only to the in- habitants, but to ne many of the strange Indians that can be persuaded to bear him ; of which sort, usually in times of peace, there are consid- erable anmbere at that season. And this place being an ancient and capital seat of the Indians, they come to fish ; and this good man takee this opportunity to spread the net of the gospel to fish for their souls. Here it may not be impertinent to give you the relation following.

" May 5th, 1674, according to our usual custom, Mr. Eliot and myself took our journey to Wamesit or Pawtuckett; and arriving there that evening, Mr. Eliot preached to as many of them as could be got together out of Matt, xxii. 1-14, the parsble of the marriage of the king's 800. We met at the wigwam of one called Wannalancet, about two miles frem the towa, near Pawtuckett Falle, and bordering upon Merrimack River. This person, Wannaluncett, is the oldest son of old Passacono- way, the chiefest sachem of Pawtuckett. He is a sober and grave per- son, aod of years between fifty and sixty. He hath been always loving and friendly to the English. Many endeavors have been used several years to gain this sachem to embrace the Christian religion ; hut he hath stood off from time to time and not yielded up himself personally, though for four years pust he hath been willing to bear the word of God preuched, and to keep the Sabbath,-A great reason that hath kept him off, 1 conceive, hath been the indisposition and averseness of eundry of his chief men and relations to pray to God ; which he foresaw would desert him, in case he turned ('hristiun. But at this time, May 6, 1674, it pleased God so to influence and overcome his heart, that it being pro- posed to him to give his answer concerning praying to God, after some deliberation and serious pause, he stood up and made a speech to this effect :

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. III, Part 66

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