History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 98

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 98

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Thus this society has grown steadily, down to the present time, doing its work quietly, but efficiently. It assists all deserving poor, irrespective of creed or race, and loans its articles of use for the sick to any who wish them.

Its meetings are monthly, in the afternoon, at the houses of its members. Donations of any amount are always welcomed and will be well applied.

Its present officers are : Ruth A. Bradford, presi- dent; Emily Robbins, vice-president ; Margaret V. Kendall, secretary ; Abby V. Barry, treasurer.

THE WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION OF WATERTOWN was the result of prayer and an earnest awakening on the part of Christian women to the sin of the drink habit, and its terrible effects upon the individual and the liome.

This Union was organized in 1875, very soon after the organization of the National Union.

The first general officers were Mrs. D. A. Tainter, Mrs. Abbott, wife of Rev. Granville Abbott, who was then pastor of the Baptist Church, Mrs. Joseph Bark- er, and Mrs. John Hall.

The first year's membership was ninety-nine. The first work was to help the Reform Club, visit the sa- loon-keepers, and assist the family of the;inebriate.

Very soon it was found that preventive work must be done, and efforts were directed towards the forma- tion of a better public sentiment in regard to the social and medicinal use of alcoholic liquors, and con- cerning the traffic which makes the inebriate.

With this end in view the Union has given great prominenec to the distribution of literature showing the effects of alcoholic poisons upon the system, the extent of the drink traffic, and the iniquitous power of the saloon. Many petitions have been circulated, and able speakers have been secured from time to time to present various phases of the Temperance question.

The Union is gratified in having been an instru- ment in removing wine from the Communion Table of the Methodist, the Congregational and the Baptist Churches ; in obtaining hundreds of signatures to the pledge, and the introduction of Scientific Temperance Instruction in the Public Schools. By persistent cf- fort of the Union, Watertown was one of the first six towns of the State to place in the hands of the pupils of the Public Schools text-books giving such instrue- tion.

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WATERTOWN.

Among other departments of their work which have received attention from the Union, are Sabbath Ob- servance, Evangelistic work, Police Station and the Almshouse Franchise and Flower Missions.

The present membership is seventy-seven, with four- teen honorary male members.

List of officers : President, Mrs. S. Elizabeth Chase ; Vice-Presidents, Mrs. Arminda S. HIall, Mrs. Persis H.Tainter, Mrs. Sarah J. Stone, Mrs. Lizzie G. Dimick, Mrs. Helen Greene, Mrs. Mary F. Rand, Mrs. Flor- ence Dutton, Mrs. Sarah H. Berry, Mrs. Eliza M. Teele, Mrs. Alice A. C. Phipps ; Recording Secretary, Mrs. Frances D. Niles ; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. Sarah H. Carter; Treasurer, Mrs. Angeline C. Craw- ford.

THE YOUNG MEN'S ASSEMBLY .- Several gentlemen called an informal meeting in May, 1888, in the hall of the Grand Army, to consider the formation of a society which should have for its object the husi- ness and social upbuilding of the town. The invita- tions to this meeting were given by L. S. Cleveland and Chester Sprague, seconded by the young men who belonged to a Bible class in the Methodist Epis- copal Sunday-school, and others to whom they made known their object. The first suggestions of such an organization were perhaps made to this class, known as the Young Men's Assembly of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, of which Mr. Cleveland was president. Each member of the class heartily endorsed the pro- posed plan of enlarged action and agreed to support it earnestly. The plan had also been discussed with others and approved by Samuel S. Gleason, Benj. H. Dow, Chester Sprague, George E. Priest, and Rev. W. G. Richardson, who kindly lent their aid and influence.

By the personal efforts of these and others spoken to, the informal meeting in May proved to be a suc- cess, and the organization since known as the Young Men's Assembly was formed with a membership, the first evening, of forty. The first regular meeting was held in June, with a membership limited to sixty. This limit has been raised at successive periods till now it stands at one hundred and seventy- five, with a list of names waiting to be added when there are va- cancies. Included in the scope and work of this as- sembly is the creation of a Board of Trade, now con- sisting of George E. Priest, Samuel S. Gleason, Ward M. Otis, George C. Lunt and Chester Sprague. This organization has been recognized by the business as- sociations of the State and delegates chosen to repre- sent the same in the State Convention of the Boards of Trade.

This assembly has awakened interest in other towns, for, after visiting this, gentlemen of other towns have formed similar organizations. It was originally proposed to encourage the introduction of matters of business in which any were interested, which seemed important to themselves or to others, or to make suggestions that might prove of value to others, especially to the town. It adopted

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an idea embodied in the Chase Banquet Association, which had proved eminently successful-" the better- ment of its members," from a business standpoint as well as an educational one. Its object is social and business improvement. Its meetings have been held one evening of each month ; they begin with a sim- ple banquet, and an hour spent in social converse, followed by addresses by members or invited guests. So far the spirit most actively developed has been to encourage all kinds of mutual helpfulness both in personal and municipal affairs. It may be too soon to say that the spirit of self-seeking and mutual fault- finding has disappeared from the town, and a habit of self-denying helpfulness of others has taken its place; but your historian should simply acknowledge that this is true of the leader of this assembly, L. S. Cleveland, now re-elected its president for the third year, by a unanimous and most persistent vote.

The officers for 1890-91 are the same as from the first : L. S. Cleveland, president ; S. S. Gleason and Chester Sprague, vice-presidents ; F. W. Cobb, secre- tary and treasurer.

MISCELLANEOUS SOCIETIES .- Among the other so- cieties organized in town are the following:

Young Men's Catholic Association, organized in 1889. -Michael J. Green, president; James J. McCafferty, secretary.

Isaac B. Patten Post, 81, Grand Army of the Re- public .- J. R. Harrison, commander ; George F. Rob- inson, adjutant.

Isaac B. Patten Women's Relief Corps, 59 .- Mrs. A. M. Condon, president ; Miss Edith M. Smith, secre- tary.

Arthur B. Fuller Camp, 102, Sons of Veterans .- Established in 1889. A. F. Nutting, captain ; G. Westley Priest, first sergeant.

Abraham Lincoln Commandery, 67, United Order of the Golden Cross .- Instituted in 1879. J. H. L. Coon, N. C .; A. J. Coolidge, K. of R.

Charles River Court, Mass., Catholic Order of for- esters, 1883 .- James J. Barnes, C. R .; John Hurlihey, secretary.

Local Branch, 393, Order Iron Hall, 1886 .- E. F. Pratt, C. J. ; George S. Parker, accountant.

Franklin Association, 19, Northern Mutual Relief As- sociation. - Freeman H. Edgecomb, president ; W. H. Pevear, secretary.

Watertown Lodge, 70, Ancient Order United Work- men, 1889 .- Thomas Perkins, master workman ; Ap- pleton Phipps, recorder.

British America Association, 65, 1889 .- J. H. Looker, president ; G. S. Thomson, secretary.

Watertown Mutuol Relief Association, 1880 .- M. M. Walsh, president; M. P. Hynes, secretary.

Watertown Non-Partisan Woman's Suffrage League, 1887 .- Dr. S. Adelaide Hall, president; Mrs. Alice A. C. Phipps, secretary and treasurer.

Unitarian Club .-- Organized in 1888. Julian A. Mead, president; J. C. Brimblecon, secretary.

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Wednesday Club. Started in 1885 by Arthur M. Knapp, its first president. Wm. Cushing, president ; Ellen M. Crafts, secretary.

Historical Society of Watertown, established in 1888. Alfred Hosmer, M.D., president; Rev. E. A. Rand, vice-president; Solon F. Whitney, secretary and treasurer. It has at present fifty-two members.

Charles River Council, 36, A. L. of H., 1879 .- Com., llenry Stephens ; Secretary, Wm. J. Quincy.

Boord of Trade, 1889 .- S. S. Gleason, George C. Lunt. W. M. Otis, George E. Priest, Chester Sprague.

Ladies' Benevolent Association, connected with the First Parish. Miss Emily Robbins, president; Mrs. J. F. Green, secretary.

St. Luke's Home for Children .- Arlington and Mt. Auburn Streets. Sisters Annie and Mary in charge.

Town Improvement Society, 1883 .- Ward M. Otis, president ; Wm. H. Ingraham, clerk.

SOURCES OF INFORMATION CONCERNING THE OLD TOWN OF WATERTOWN, MASS.1-I have endeavored to collect into the following list the more important sources of information which could be profitably ex- amined by the Historical Society of Watertown, in its study into the history of that ancient township. As a matter of convenience they have been grouped somewhat chronologically, and after the dates of separation, under the headings of Watertown, Walt- ham and Weston.

The six Ito vols. of The Records of the Governor and Company of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, from 1628-86, published by the State in 1853-54, contain much material of the greatest im- portance. The Massachusetts State Archives on file in the office of the Secretary of State at the State llouse, contain a mass of original papers, the most of which have never been printed. Here in vol. V, p. 32 of Maps and Plans, is the oldest 2 known map of the town. This bears the date of 1720, when the town still included Waltham. It shows the location of all the houses of that time, and gives the names of the occupants of some of them. A commission made an extended report in print to the State in 1885, upon the nature and present condition of these ar- chives.

The orginal records of John Hull, treasurer of the Colony, 1675-80, are in the possession of the New England Historic Genealogical Society. Watertown town records, the earliest extant, begin on page 2 of the record-book, with the date of 1634. From Nov. 28, 1643, to Nov. 9, 1647, the transactions of the town are lost. A faithful transcript of the earlier records of the town were made by Mr. Joseph Crafts. A copy of the records down to 1651, was printed in the Water-

town Pequossette, beginning with the number for July 18, 1879.

The town's earliest extant record-book of births, marriages and deaths appears from its title page to have been opened in 1648, although it has had tran- seribed into it some records of an earlier date. These latter are also upon the Suffolk County Records and have been printed in the sixth and seventh volumes of the New England Historical and Genealogical Register. In preparing his History of Watertown, Dr. Bond had faithful copies of all these earlier town records taken, which since his death have been deposited with the New England Historic Genealogical Society in Boston. The Society also have his own personal copy of his history, with his collection of errata and addenda thereto, which would make another volume nearly half as large as the published history.

The records of the Watertown church, organized July 28, 1630, and next to that of Salem, the oldest in the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, are not at pres- ent known to be extant prior to those of 1686-92, which were kept by the Rev. John Bailey.

The files of the Suffolk and Middlesex Court, as well as those of Probate and Registry of Deeds, con- tain a mass of depositions often containing matter of great historical interest. The original volumes of Records of U. S. District Tax of 1798, which are in the library of the N. E. Historical Society, give all taxable polls.

Rev. C. Mather's Magnalia, published in 1702, con- tains many biographies and notes of interest to Wa- tertown, as also Governor John Winthrop's Journal, or History of New England, 1630-49.

The Massachusetts Historical Society's Collectious and Proceedings.

The American Antiquarian Society Collection.

The New England Historical and Genealogical Register and Memorial Biographies.

Magazine of American History-valuable articles.

Eliot's, Allen's and Drake's Biographical Diction- aries.

Thatcher's Medical Biography.

New England Prospects, by W. Wood, published London, 1634.

History of New England, 1628-52, by Ed. Johnson, London, 1654.

Letters from New England, by John Dunton.

Churches of New England, in the American Quar- terly Register, Vol. XI.

Prince Society publications.

Hutchinson's, Barry's and l'alfrey's Histories of Massachusetts and of New England.

Hubbard, W. : History of New England to 1680.

Drake, S. G .: Five Years' French and Indian War in New England.

Alex. Young's Chronicles of the First Planters of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, 1623-36; also for reference his Chronicles of the Pilgrim Fathers of the Colony of Plymouth.

1 By Dr. Bennett F. Davenport, with additions by the editor.

There Is an older map of a emall portlon, the southwest corner, "allod Yo much," which fixes two of the three main lines of the old town, in position and direction, and is in vol. 3, p. I.

This bear dato Sept. 26, 1687, when Weston was still a part of the wu, nud Wellesley was a part of Dedham.

419

WATERTOWN.

Force's Tracts. Narrative and Critical History of America, edited by Justin Winsor.

WATERTOWN.

President Sam. Landon's Election Sermon before Congress, in Watertown, with Historical Notes, pub- lished in 1775.

Dr. C. Francis, Historical Sketch, delivered on the second Centennial Anniversary of the town, 1830.

Dr. C. Francis, three Historical Sermons upon leaving the old and dedication of the new church, 1836.

Barber's Massachusetts Historical Collection, 1840. Bond's Genealogies and History, 2d ed., 1860.

Rev. A. B. Fuller's Records of First Parish, 1861.

Harris's Epitaphs from the Old Burying-Ground in Watertown, 1869.

Drake's Middlesex County, 1880.

250th Anniversary of First Parish, with address by A. M. Knapp, 1881.

Tea Leaves. With Introduction by Francis S. Drake, Boston, 1884.

The Cambridge of 1776, with the Diary of Dorothy Dudley. Edited for the Ladies' Centennial Commit- tee, by A[rthur] G[ilman].

WALTHAM.

Topographical and Historical Description, by Rev. Sam. Ripley. Massachusetts Historical Society Col- lection, 1815.

Churches of America, Quarterly Register, 1839. Barber's Historical Collection, 1840.

Epitaphs, by J. B. Bright, in N. E. Historical and Genealogical Register, 1865-66.

July 4th Historical Address, by Josiah Rutter, 1877.

Waltham, its past and present; and its industries. With a historical sketch of Watertown. By Charles A. Nelson, 1879.

In Drake's Middlesex County History, by A. Star- buck, 1880.

Waltham City, by Eph. L. Barry, 1887.

Historical Notes in Waltham Free Press, [by Fran- cis Leathe, of N. Y.] in 187 -.

WESTON.

1st Centennial Anniversary Sermon, by Rev. Sam. Kendall, 1813.

Churches of America, Quarterly Register, Vol. XI., 1839.

Petition of 1735, to Legislature, to join with neigh- boring part of Concord and Lexington to form New- ton, N. E. Historical and Genealogical Register, 1858. Barher's Historical Collection, 1840.

50th Anniversary of Settlement of Rev. Jas. Field, with Historic Address, by Rev. E. H. Sears, 1865.

July 4th Oration, by Charles H. Fiske, 1876.

In Drake's Middlesex County History, by C. A. Nelson, 1880.

Norumbega, by J. Winsor, in Massachusetts His- · torical Proceedings, No. 22.

Norumbega, by A. B. Berry, in Magazine of Ameri- can History, Vol. XVI.

Norumbega, by J. H. Colby, pamphlet.

The Problem of the Northmen, by E. N. IIorsford.

The discovery of the ancient City of Norumbega. E. N. Horsford. [Edition privately printed and beautifully illustrated. Special copy belonging to the society.]

PHYSICIANS .- The information respecting the phy- sicians of Watertown in early times, during the first hundred years, is very scanty, and their number very few. We have not discovered that any of the pastors of Watertown practiced the healing art, which was not unusual in early times. James Sherman, of Sud- bury, son of Rev. John Sherman, of Watertown, was a pastor and a physician, and two of his sons, John and Thomas, were physicians, and were said to be some time of Watertown; but in 1708 they resided in Springfield.

The earliest notice of any medical practice was March, 1630-31, when "Nicholas Knapp was (by the court) fined £5 for taking upon him to cure the scurvy by a water of no valne, which he sold at a very dear rate." Probably his only medical education had been, like that of his numerous followers, to study the cret- ulity of human nature, and how he might most suc- cessfully dupeit. Mr. Simon Eire, " chirurgeon," was the first physician of Watertown, where he resided about ten years, 1635 to 1645, when he moved to Boston. As there is no evidence that there was any other physician resident of Watertown for many years afterwards, it is not improbable that he sometimes visited it professionally, as he retained his estate there. But if there were no physicians, their place was supplied by some of the goodwives. Grace, wife of John Livermore, was an obstetrician, and she was sometimes summoned to court as a witness in cases where she had acted professionally.

Daniel Mason, youngest son of Capt. Hugh Mason, graduated at Harvard College in 1666, was a physi- cian, living as late as 1679, but it is not known whether he ever practiced medicine in Watertown. He was captured by an Algerine, and is supposed to have died in Algiers. (Bond's MS. notes to his own history.)

In the County Court files is a petition of the select- men of Watertown, dated 1690, in which they say that S. G. came from Cambridge to Watertown, "to the home of Ellis Barron whose wife had skill in matters of surgery."

The next physician after Dr. Eire was Dr. Philip Shattuck, who probably practiced there from about 1670 to 1722. He resided in the northeast part of Waltham.

Dr. Pallgrave Wellington was his contemporary, he- ing only five years younger than Dr. Shattuck. He

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

. resided on the Cambridge road, on or near the lots of G. Church and W. Woolcot. He died 1715.

Dr. Richard Hooper was a contemporary of Drs. Shattuck and Wellington, and resided at the east of Mt. Auburn. He died early in 1690. llis son Henry was a physician of Watertown a few years, and about 1723 he moved to Newport, Rhode Island.

Dr. Josiah Convers, from Woburn, settled in Water- town probably about the time of the decease of Dr. Shattuck and the removal of D. H. llooper. We have not ascertained where he resided, but perhaps it was the residence afterwards occupied by his nephew, pupil, legater and executor, Dr. Marshall Spring. He died in 177-1, after a residence probably of nearly fifty years. (Bond, page 1074.)

The following is the epitaph on the stone resting horizontally upon pillars, over Dr. Convers' grave in the village burying-ground :

" To the much honored and respected memory of

JOSIAH CONVERS, ESQ.,

who, by divine permission, resigned his valuable life August, 1774, aged 73."

" If real medical abilities, united with every human and social virtne, the most active extensive generosity, universal benevolente and charity, may deserve to outline the Panegyric of a mouldering stone, the envy of the grave and the devouring tooth of time, certainly the Virtues and many excellences which distinguish the character of Dr. Convers are very eminently entitled to such a peculiar tribute from the grateful Public.

" This honest stone, what few vain marbles can,

May truly say, here lies an honest man."

Dr. Marshall Spring was born in Watertown, Feb. 19, 1741-2, graduated at Harvard College in 1762, and died Jan. 11, 1818, aged seventy-six years. He re- ceived great assistance from his maternal uncle, Dr. Josiah Convers, with whom he studied medicine, and whose property he afterwards inherited. Francis says, " Dr. Spring became one of the most distinguished physicians in the country ; and perhaps no one can be mentioned in whose judgment and skill a more un- reserved confidence was placed. llis practice was very extensive, and his house was the resort of great numbers of patients from the neighboring and from (listant towns."

Says Thatcher, " Hlis mind was not filled by fashion. able theories of the day any further than they ac- corded with his own views of practice. Ilis natural sagacity or force of judgment led him to deep and critical observations into the causes and nature of diseases, and their remedies. . He asked few questions, used his eyes rather than his cars, seemed to gain knowledge of each particular case by intuition. He often effected cures by directing changes of habit, of diet, of regimen. He used little medicine, always giving nature fair play. Though differing from his neighbors politically, being a decided Tory at the time of the Revolution, he was curly on the ground at Lexington, skillfully attending the wounded. It was said that he would have been sent out of the country, had not his services been so valuable, so indispensa- ble to his patients.

In 1789 he was a member of the State Convention which adopted the Constitution of the United States, which he opposed, never having believed in the capacity of the people for self-government. He was for several years a member of the Executive Council of Massachusetts, and discharged his duties with talent and fidelity.

Dr. Spring was in his person rather short, but com- pact and well proportioned; always a fine-looking man ; after the age of fifty, till the time of his death, he was spoken of as one of the handsomest men of his time. His habits of living were a model for others. He used food and drink for nourishment, not for gratification of appetite. His meals were frugal, his board, though hospitable, was never spread with luxuries. He was careful in his investments. It is said that he once remarked that real property had always something to show for one's money, while other property might vanish. He built the Spring Hotel for his friend, Col. Richardson, a famous hotel-keeper, whom he wished to retain in town. He left $200,000 or $300,000 to his son, but nothing to religious or charitable institutions.

Ile was a wit, keen and quick at repartee. Chief Justice Parsons delighted to measure weapons with him in the keen encounter of wit. The onsets of the chief justice were rapid, keen and overwhelm- ing. The replies of the doctor were moderate, pun- gent, successful. Their meetings sometimes happened in the presence of a large company, who remained silent, delighted to see the giants play."

Walter Hunnewell, M.D., the subject of this sketch, was probably descended from Roger Ilunnewell, who came to New England not long after the settlement of the Massachusetts Colony. In the early records the name was spelled at various times Hunniwell, Hun- nuel, Honywell and Hunnewell. Dr. Hunnewell was born in Cambridge, August 10, 1769, and received his early education in the public schools of that town. Though only six years of age when the Revolutionary War began, he was old enough before its close to re- ceive impressions which enabled him to remember some of its more important events. He graduated at Harvard in 1787, in the class with John Quincy Adams, William Crauch, Thaddeus Mason Harris James Lloyd and Samuel Putnam. He studied medicine with Dr. Marshall Spring, of Waltham, and settled in Watertown. The medical school of Harvard College had, at that time, scarcely entered on its career and the offices of leading physicians were the schools of instruction for young men preparing for the practice of medicine. The first graduate from the Ilarvard Medical School was in 1788, and in that and the three succeeding years the graduating class had but one member, and not until 1813 did it con- tain more than four members. The life of Dr. Hun- newell was for the most part the usual one of medical men of his day. The town in which he settled was small and his practice was scattered, covering a terri-

Walter Kounmwell

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WATERTOWN.

tory which included some of the neighboring towns and involving almost incessant rides by day and night and unremitting labor. Like other medical men, too, of his time, his practice included both medical and surgical cases, and involved the treatment of cases of much wider range than are found under the care of a single man to-day since the divorce of sur- gery from medicine and the division of general practice into specialties. The consequence was that physicians of the period referred to had a more com- plete medical education than is to be found, especially in the cities and their neighborhood, in our day, and thus Dr. Hunnewell became a thoroughly educated, widely informed and skillful man. In another re- spect, too, the physician's career of his time differed from that of to-day. Not only were medical fees of smaller proportions if paid in money, but many of them in the country towns were satisfied by country pay, eggs and butter and chickens from the farmer, tea and coffee from the grocer, and preaching from the minister.

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 98

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