USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > South Boston > History of South Boston (its past and present) and prospects for the future, with sketches of prominent men > Part 21
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Artifieer Leo. J. Brady, Co. C.
Privates - George P. MeLaughlin, Co. B; John J. Peard, Co. B; Michael F. Leonard, Co. C; John J. O'Toole, Co. C; Patriek F. Moriarty, Co. E ; Patriek J. Donahue, Co. H; Joseph S. Donahue, Co. H ; Timothy J. Tehan, Co. H; Elden P. Keene, Co. H ; Thomas F. Fenton, Co. 1.
REGULARS.
Seeond United States Artillery .- Private Martin Green, Battery B. Seventh United States Infantry .- Private George J. Whitten, of Co. E, and Private Albert F. Gateley, of Co. H.
Hospital Corps, U. S. A .- Private Henry C. Knapp.
CHAPTER XXVII.
JOHN HAWES AND THE HAWES SCHOOL.
Sketch of the noted resident - Provisions of the will of John Hawes, and the beneficiaries - Trustees of the fund since Mr. Hawes' death - Hawes School - Increase in attend- ance at the G Street school creates demand for new house-Opening of the new school- Singing class established - Succession of masters - Music introduced - Number of pupils who received Franklin medals and City medals - Discontinuance as a grammar school - Hawes School boys' association - Hawes School girls organize - Names of prominent graduates.
J OHN HAWES, through whose generosity and munificence the district has so greatly benefitted, was a true South Bostonian, although Dorchester was his birthplace.
The Hawes fund, left by him, the income to be used in various ways for the good of South Boston, for all time, has grown, through careful investment and judicious expenditure, to nearly half a million dollars, from the income of which much good is derived.
Mr. Hawes was born January 9, 1741. At the age of seven he was placed with his maternal grandfather, Benjamin Bird, at Dorchester Neck, from whom he received his early education.
Although he removed from South Boston and took up his home in Dorchester, yet he always had a love for the peninsula district. At rather an advanced age he married Mrs. Sarah Clap, widow of Elisha Clap and daughter of Thomas Bird.
The last twenty-five years of his life were spent in South Boston. His home was corner of K and Fifth Streets. Of a retiring disposition, gentle in manner, there was much in him to be praised. Deprived of any education, yet he was one of South Boston's most intelligent citizens, - practical experience and careful observation having enabled him to possess a fund of information and good common sense. Having no children, his strong attachments to the scenes of his childhood and youth, induced him, no doubt, to will a large portion of his possessions for the benefit of South Boston.
He died January 22, 1829, at the age of 88 years. His will, dated October 23, 1813, was proved and allowed by the Probate Court, March 9, 1829, and was confirmed by the Supreme Court in March, 1830. The executors were James Humphries, Henry Gardner and Ebenezer Everett, but the last two declined to serve and successors were chosen. The trustees were incorporated and the number in- creased to five, James Wright, Adam Bent, Caloin Tilden and Samuel Floyd being chosen. The act of incorporation was dated February 25, 1831, and accepted March 27, 1831.
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
Himself deprived of school education, he provided in his will for the preaching of the gospel and the education of the young. He also gave land for the cemetery at City Point, and also the lot of land on which stands the Hawes school.
At the time of his death his property consisted of 60,000 feet of land and a dwelling on Fiske Place and Washington Street, near the Roxbury line, and from six to eight acres of land with a brick dwelling on K and Fifth Streets.
From 1835 to nearly 1850 Mrs. Burrill's school for young women was aided by the Hawes fund, and in 1837 some of the money was used for a public Sunday school where children were taught reading and writing, in addition to the reading of the Bible. Beginning in 1870 an evening school was supported by the fund, this being before the city established such schools. In 1872 a drawing school was started, under the fund, and this was the beginning of the present South Boston Art School.
The fund now provides for the free evening classes, conducted from October I to May I each year, and afternoons during the summer, in the old Hawes church, at the junction of Fourth and Emerson Streets, near K Street.
The Hawes church that was started at the corner of K and Fourth Streets in 1807, then the church erected at the junc- tion of Emerson and Fourth Streets, and finally a new one on Broadway, near G Street, were all made possible through the munificence of Mr. Hawes. This latter house of worship, attended by many of the leading residents of the district, is chiefly supported by yearly appropriations from the John Hawes' fund.
HAWES CHURCH. 1830. ; Fourth and Emerson Streets. The trustees of the fund have been as follows : April 30, 1831, Noah Brooks (third treasurer) ; February 28, 1832, Hall J. How ; May 4, 1833, John H. Bird (second treasurer) ; March 2, 1834, Alpheus Stetson; June 2, 1834, Hugh Montgomery ; November 30, 1846, Timothy Bedlington ; January 19, 1849, Benjamin James (fourth treasurer) ; February 12, 1857, Thompson Baxter (fifth treasurer) ; December 23, 1859, Frederick Nickerson ; 1866, Libeon Southard ; 1871, Edwin Gill ; April 29, 1876, Robert M. Harrison ; January, 1879, George E. Alden ; 1881, William F. Pierce ; April, 1881, George L. Lovett ; 1881, Charles T. Gallagher ; October 19, 1888, Henry C.
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Mitchell (sixth and present treasurer) ; July 8, 1897, Edward A. Church ; December 10, 1900, Thomas Hills. Messrs. Alden, Gallagher, Mitchell, Church and Hills are the present trustees.
HAWES' SCHOOL.
For more than ten years a little building on G, near Dorchester Street, was the only schoolhouse in South Boston. It was likewise the first established. In ISII it was opened with Mr. Zephania Wood as
FORMER RESIDENCE OF JOHN HAWES
Still standing a+ corner of Fifth and K Streets.
master. Ten years later the citizens of the district realized that there was need for a new schoolhouse, and April 24, 1821, a petition for another school was presented to the sub-committee of the Franklin School. It was not, however, until the following February that the school committee voted to erect a new schoolhouse in South Boston, to contain two rooms, each capable of accommodating 150 scholars.
The site selected was on Broadway, near Dorchester Street, and the erection of the Hawes' School was commenced. The building was of brick, completed in 1823, and in the fall of that year the pupils of the school on Dorchester and G Streets, headed by Rev. Lemuel Capen, the teacher, marched to the new house and were addressed by Rev. John Pierpont.
At first one room was finished and prepared for use, that being sufficient for the number that attended.
In the fall of 1824, through the efforts of Mr. Noah Brooks, there was a singing school established in the new school.
Rev. Mr. Capen, the first teacher of the Hawes' school, remained in that position only until 1826, when he resigned and was succeeded, September 5, by Barnum Field, afterward master of the Franklin school. He remained until 1829, when he was succeeded by [ Mr. Jairus Lincoln.
220
HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
Although the site was provided for the school by Mr. John Hawes, it was not until 1827 that his name was given to the institution, and the name was not fully established until 1832. In 1833 the master of the Hawes' school was made equal to the masters of other grammar schools in the city.
Mr. Jairus Lincoln remained as master but a few months, and February 9, 1830, Mr. Mark Anthony DeWolfe Howe became master, and he remained but one year. He was a young man, a thorough disciplinarian, and had but few equals in efficiency. He became
MAZEPF
HAWES SCHOOL, ESTABLISHED 1823.
greatly attached to the school, but was obliged to relinquish his posi- tion in order to take a tutorship in Brown University, at Providence, R. I., of which he was a graduate.
Mr. William P. Page was chosen as Mr. Howe's successor. He was not so strict as Mr. Howe had been, and the troubles and annoy- ances that preceded Mr. Howe's regime, were renewed. Truancy was common, and the boys and girls alike were imbued with that mischief which almost bordered on lawlessness.
Mr. Page was obliged to resign August 14, 1832, and was suc- ceeded by Mr. Moses W. Walker, who entered the school August 28.
HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
22I
Mr. Walker had heard of the reputation of the school and was determined, from the outset, that he would be recognized as master and his wishes obeyed. Accordingly, there was an exciting whipping incident which the scholars did not soon forget. A lad named Harring- ton was severely punished by Mr. Walker, so much so that the boy's father instituted proceedings against the master. The boy was not seriously injured, however, the master was upheld, and he continued until he had the entire school under subordination.
MARK ANTHONY DEWOLFE HOWE.
Fourn Master 1830-1831.
JOSEPH HARRINGTON, Jr. Seventh Master, 1834-1839.
JOHN A. HARRIS. Wring Master and Master of Boys' Division. 1835-1852.
FREDERICK CRAFTS. Eighth Master, 1839-1850.
BARNUM FIELD. Second Master, 1826-1829.
ALBERT DRAKE. Music Teacrer
SAMUEL BARRETT. Tenth Master, 1852-1859.
OLD HAWES SCHOOL MASTERS.
His course, however, did not meet with the approval of the parents, and, January 14, 1834, he resigned his office, and Joseph Harrington, Jr., was elected to fill the vacancy.
In April, 1834, the upper story of the schoolhouse was furnished and the entire school was supplied with new desks.
Mr. Harrington followed a far different course than had Mr. Walker. He endeavored to have each boy realize the true meaning of
REV LEMUEL CAPEN. First Master, 1823-1826.
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
right and wrong, and he strongly appealed to their sense of honor and manhood. He used the rod very sparingly, and preferred to allow them to meditate, in quiet, on their ways. At all times he was ready to join with the boys in their sports, and frequently proposed excursions into the country. A perfect lesson was required of every one, and the pupils learned to study for the purpose of pleasing him. It is said he originated the system of placing the pupils according to their record, the best in the first seat and so grading them down.
During Mr. Harrington's service he founded the Hawes Juvenile Association, the first of its kind ever known, the object being for the members to refrain from swearing, and for the advancement of each, morally. Soon the membership numbered two-thirds of the school, and the suppression of lying and stealing were added, and any member convicted of either of these crimes was expelled from the association.
In January, 1838, the school committee decided to introduce the study of music into the grammar schools and it was in the Hawes school where it was first tried. Mr. Lowell Mason was the first master and the experiment was successful. Mr. Mason was succeeded by Mr. Johnson, and he, in turn, by Mr. Albert Drake. Writing was intro- duced as a study August 11, 1835, and Mr. John A. Harris was the first teacher.
July 1, 1839, Mr. Harrington was obliged to resign, as he wished to prepare himself for the ministry, and he left, amid the regrets of scholars and citizens of the district. To show their appreciation of him the scholars presented him with a handsome token of their esteem.
Mr. Frederick Crafts succeeded Mr. Harrington. During his time of service the school was divided into two distinct portions, -the Hawes school for boys and the Hawes school for girls. In 1840 another building was erected on the property of the Hawes school and was named the Simonds school. The Hawes and Simonds schools have ever since stood side by side. This arrangement continued until the opening of the Bigelow school in 1850, when the Hawes school for girls was transferred to the Bigelow school building.
Mr. Harris was writing master and master of the boys' division from 1835 to 1852, and was succeeded, in August of the latter year, by Mr. Samuel Barrett.
In 1859, the Hawes school, as a grammar school, ceased to exist, and since then it has been a primary school.
In 1857, the school committee had, in its annual report, set forth that the Hawes school had outlived its usefulness, as a school of ad- vanced grade, and the progress of the district's population had thrown the school out of the centre of the entire district. The committee suggested that the building might be altered to accommodate the primary schools of the Hawes and Bigelow districts and measures were at once taken to reorganize.
C. JAMES CONNELLY 1898
ALBERT T. WHITING 1893
WM. E. L. DILLAWAY 1895
JAMES T. TIGHE 1902
FRANCIS E PARK 1899
HON. CHAS. T. GALLAGHER 1890
JAMES B. ROGERS 1889
WM. H. H. SLOAN
EDWIN B SPINNEY 1884
BENJAMIN B. WHITTEMORE I891
GEORGE B. JAMES 1888
UBERT K. PETTINGILL 1901
PAST PRESIDENTS OF THE HAWES SCHOOLBOYS' ASSOCIATION.
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
The Lincoln school was erected on Broadway, the first in the City Point section, and its establishment, September, 1859, marked the re- forming of the district into the Lincoln and Bigelow divisions. The old Hawes school-house was renamed Hawes Hall and divided and arranged for eight primary schools, six being for the Bigelow and two for the Lincoln district.
In the classes of the Hawes school, between 1825 and 1859, there were 137 boys received the Franklin medal, and during this time, also, there were distributed 60 City medals to the girls of the school, these being of the same intrinsic value as the Franklin medal for the boys.
An association of the old Hawes school boys was formed in 1884 with President Edwin B. Spinney, Treasurer Richard J. Monks and Secretary Barnard Capen.
The former girls of this famous school organized in 1888 and officers were elected as follows : President, Mrs. Agnes L. Sprague ; Vice-President, Mrs. Sarah P. Osborn; Secretary, Mrs. Carrie A. Provan, and Treasurer, Mrs. Lucy C. Bartlett.
Annually, since then, these associations have had reunions respec- tively, but at each festive occasion many of the members of the other association are also present, and many are the good times they have.
William Cains, son of Thomas Cains, the pioneer glass manufac- turer of this country, and Thompson Baxter, who died in 1900, were among the earliest graduates of the Hawes school.
Among others, recently deceased, who graduated from this famous institution were George W. Armstrong, who started the Armstrong Transfer Co. and died a millionaire, John Souther, well known machinist and inventor of the dredging machine, Edward B. Blasland, Michael E. Brady, George E. Deluce and James Deluce, David Hale, the well known rubber manufacturer, Ezra Harlow, who lived in the district seventy-five years, Patrick J. Mullen, John T. Osborn, William D. Rockwood, who was connected with the South Boston Savings Bank at the time of his death, Col. Albert J. Wright and others.
Leading men of to-day, who point with pride to their school days in the old Hawes school, are Charles T. Gallagher, one of Boston's leading lawyers, Charles O. L. Dillaway of the Mechanics' Bank, W. E. L. Dillaway, his brother, a well known lawyer, Rev. William Gallagher, formerly principal of Williston Seminary at Easthampton, and later president of Thayer Academy of Braintree, Rev. John W. Brownville, George B. James, editor and proprietor of several newspapers, Charles L. James, Edward B. James, Elisha F. James, lumber dealers, all sons of Benjamin James, C. James Connelly, a prominent resident of South Boston, Edwin B. Spinney, for thirty years in the assessors' and col- lectors' departments, Joseph A. Plumer, a veteran clerk in the assessors' department, Albert T. Whiting, once police commissioner of Boston, Sergt. Winslow B. Lucas of police division 4, William C. Greene and
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
George D. Burrage, well known lawyers, Mayor Edwin A. Sherman of Oakland, Cal., Galen Poole, Lewis Bird, John Q. Bird and Henry C. Bird, Francis E. Blake, treasurer of the Wheelwright Paper Company, John W. Blanchard, treasurer of the Blanchard Machine Company, Francis C. Hersey of the Hersey Manufacturing Company, Osborne Howes of the Board of Underwriters, Bernard Jenney of the Jenney Oil Company, and his son, Francis H. Jenney, George H. Cavanagh, bridge builder, Alpheus M. Stetson and John A. Stetson, James B. Rogers, William S. Crosby, Timothy J. Remick, Amos T. White and Samuel C. Rowell, leading merchants, Ubert K. Pettingill, head of a big newspaper advertising agency, Frederick P. Laforme, Henry L. Bates, James Bates, Nehemiah P. Mann, Albert W. Mann, Robert F. Means, John H. Means, Francis E. Park, James H. Rush, Oliver B. Stebbins, James H. Stark, James T. Tighe, William P. Cherrington, Anthony W. Bowden, Miles P. Carroll, William H. Dailey of San Francisco, Cal., George V. Field, Hollis R. Gray, Capt. Michael J. Kiley, William S. Locke, Frank K. Neal, Col. Henry W. Wilson and scores of others.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
PROMINENT RESIDENTS OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
Joseph Woodward - Cyrus Alger - Abraham Gould -Samuel Blake - Isaac Adams - Noah Brooks - Hall J. How - Josiah Dunham - John H. Bird - Romanus Emer- son -Thomas Cains- Thompson Baxter - Mary Baxter - Mary S. Peavey - Business and professional men.
A N entire volume devoted to the subject alone would not suffice to dwell upon the good works and characteristics of the leading residents of the nineteenth century, who, in various ways, have done their part, little or great as it may have been, to better the dis- trict and help the community.
So, in the brief space devoted to this chapter, but very few of the public spirited men can receive attention, notwithstanding that hundreds of others, whose names do not appear, may have been equally as prominent.
Joseph Woodward was really the founder of South Boston. As Rev. John White was mainly responsible for the early settlers coming to our shores, so was Joseph Woodward the first one who foresaw the future greatness of South Boston, urged annexation, and encouraged the building up of the district.
Born in Hingham, Mass., November 15, 1758, most of his early years were spent in Sherborn, with his maternal grandfather, Mr. Joy, and early in life he learned the trade of silversmith. After many changes, he took up his home in Tewksbury, and in the fall of 1803, while in Boston, he wandered to Wheeler's Point, at the foot of South Street, and, gazing across the water to the peninsula, now South Boston, became convinced that Boston must spread in that direction.
He immediately made known his project to Messrs. Otis, Greene and Judge Tudor, as mentioned in a preceding chapter, and the year after, 1804, annexation occurred. He was also a leader in the agitation for the bridges and many other public improvements.
Mr. Woodward, for twenty years, was the only Justice of the Peace in South Boston. He was a man of strong religious feeling, was always a friend of the clergy, and fond of their society. He died in Leomin- ster, whither he had removed, June 29, 1838.
Cyrus Alger has been mentioned several times in preceding chap- ters, yet, too much cannot be said of his magnificent character, his desire, in fact, love, to do acts of kindness for the community in which he lived. He was continually making improvements, spending his money for the people, ever zealous for the interests of his employees,
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
and it is therefore but natural that he had a wonderful influence in the community. He attracted business to the section, and, being the largest land holder in the district, encouraged every improvement.
Mr. Alger was a member of the Common Council the first year of the city goverment (1822), and served as Alderman during a portion of 1824 and in 1827. He died February 4, 1856, and was buried in the ceme- tery on Emerson Street. His body, however, was afterward removed elsewhere.
Abraham Gould resided in Dor- chester until the annexation. His wife, Susannah Foster, was the daughter of James and Mary Foster, and a lineal descendant, in the fifth generation, of Hopestill Foster. The title to a large portion of the Foster CYRUS ALGER. estate passed to Mr. Gould by his wife, and, by purchase, in connection with his brother-in-law, Benjamin Foster. The estate was bounded by Dorchester, Sixth and D Streets to the water.
Mr. Gould died in 1840, at the age of 85.
Samuel Blake, a descendant of the original Blake family, moved to South Boston in 1835, and built a handsome house on the old Blake estate at the Point. Like his ances- tors, Samuel was a successful busness man, of sound judgment, respected by all who knew him, and an exem- plary citizen. He died January 17, 1853.
Isaac Adams, the inventor of the make of printing press bearing his name, lived on Broadway, near A Street, and it was in the shop on Foundry Street, near the works of the South Boston Iron Foundry, that he perfected the invention, ISAAC ADAMS. and, with his brother, Seth Adams, manufactured sugar refining machinery and other iron goods. He was a highly respected citizen, a Democrat in politics, and took a prominent
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
part, as president of the Democratic association, in 1851, in endeavor- ing to stop the intimidation of workmen.
Noah Brooks, one of the earliest of South Boston's shipbuilders, is also mentioned elsewhere in this volume. He was a brother-in-law of Samuel Kent, who was superintendent of the yard of Lincoln and Wheelwright. Capt. Brooks was prominent in the early history of the district. Although born in Scituate, Mass., he was a resident of South Boston more than thirty years, and did much, by his active and ener- getic spirit, to advance the best interests of the place. He was a large subscriber to the Free Bridge, and one of the committee for building that structure. He was several times a member of the Legislature and of the Common Council, and in every measure of public reform, he either took the lead or was right in line for the best obtainable for the district.
Hall J. How was a resident of the district nearly a score of years. In early life he came to South Boston from a New Hampshire town and was the originator and forwarder of many important enterprises which have contributed to the improvement of the district, among them being the erection of the Mt. Washington Hotel, the incorporation of the Boston Wharf Company and the building of the North Free Bridge. Mr. How died August 17, 1849, leaving a family of six sons and five daughters.
Josiah Dunham came to South Boston at an early age and first commenced the manufacture of cordage, on his own account, in a rope- walk on Boylston Street. In 1807, possessed of several acres of land in South Boston, he built there, in the vicinity of B and Fifth Streets, a handsome residence and ropewalk where he continued to manufacture cordage until 1853. During all the years he lived in South Boston he was engaged in erecting dwellings and stores, and is said to have been the builder of more houses in the district than any other one man in his time. He was in the Common Council of 1833, and the three suc- ceeding terms was in the Board of Aldermen. While an alderman he did much to have the streets of the district properly graded.
It was Josiah Dunham, who, in 1823, when the Phillips Congre- gational Society was formed, built the house on Fourth Street for their meetings. a picture of which is on page 129 of this book.
Mr. Dunham died April 28, 1857, little more than 82 years of age. John H. Bird was the son of Jonathan Bird, before mentioned, and lived in the Bird house on Fourth Street. He took a deep interest in everything that concerned the welfare of South Boston. June 10, 1835, he met with a sudden death. While boarding a vessel which was about to sail, he fell from the gang plank, struck his head upon a spar, and was instantly killed.
Romanus Emerson was one of the residents of "The Village " on Emerson Street, near K Street. He lived in South Boston more than forty years, arriving in 1808, and kept a small grocery store in addition
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HISTORY OF SOUTH BOSTON.
to following his trade of carpenter. During his time he witnessed many changes and improvements in the district. He, himself, was. forward in every movement for social reform, and took a deep interest in the moral progress of society. In the closing days of his life he was zealously engaged in the temperance and anti-slavery movements. He was of an easy, quiet disposition, and his temper was not quickly ruffled. He was especially peculiar in his views of religion. Toward the close of his life he renounced all religious opinions whatever, deliberatively holding to his specu- lative belief. He died October 10, 1852, at the age of 70.
DANIEL SIMPSON
Daniel Simpson, well known as. the "drummer boy," was an old resident of the district. He was a drummer boy in the Mexican and Civil Wars, and for sixty-eight years. was connected with the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company as drummer. He died toward the close
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