USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > History of the town of Acton > Part 41
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Hoit
1920
Charles
Warren Jones
Kingsley
Tuttle
Hoit
1921
Alfred
Warren Jones
William
Horace
Frank
1922
Alfred
Warren
Kingsley Murray
Horace Tuttle
Hoit
1923
Alfred
Harry Morse
Brown Murray Brown
Horace Tuttle
Hoit
1924
Albert
Harrv
Murray Brown
Horace Tuttle
Hoit
1925
Albert
Harry
Murray
Frank
Jenks
Morse
Brown
Hoit
1926
Albert
Howard
Murray
Horace Tuttle Horace Tuttle
Frank
Jenks
Billings
Brown
Hoit
1927
Waldo
Howard
Murray Brown Wendell Davis
Tuttle Horace Tuttle
Frank
Whitcomb
Hoit
1929
Waldo
Horace
Frank
Whitcomb
Tuttle
Hoit
1930
Waldo
Howard Billings Howard Billings
Wendell Davis Wendell Davis Wendell Davis
Horace Tuttle
Frank Hoit
1931
Waldo
Howard
Frank
Whitcomb
Billings
Horace Tuttle
Hoit
378
Horace
Frank
Whitcomb
Hoit
1928
Waldo
Billings Howard Billings
Jones
Kingsley William
Horace
Frank
Holton
James Brown
Stanley
Frank
Holton
Stanley
Horace Tuttle
Hoit
1917
Charles
Warren
Tuttle James B.
Horace Tuttle
Jona K. W. Wetherbee Jona. K. W. Wetherbee
Stevens
Frank
Edwin
Merriam
Holden
Frank
Whitcomb
Frank
Frank
Davis
Tuttle
Hoit
Davis
Jones
Frank
Davis
Frank
Jenks
Morse
Frank
Whitcomb
Asaph
Hoit
Year
Selectmen
Clerk
Treasurer
1932 Waldo
Whitcomb
Howard Billings
Wendell Davis
Horace Tuttle
Frank Hoit
Note: Frank Hoit deceased in office Feb. 6, 1933
1933
Waldo
Whitcomb
Howard Billings
Wendell Davis
Horace Tuttle
W. Henry Soar
1934
Waldo
Howard
George
Horace
Whitcomb
Billings
Braman
Tuttle
W. Henry Soar
1935
Waldo
Ralph
George Braman
Horace Tuttle
W. Henry Soar
1936 James Kinsley
Ralph Piper
George Braman Raymond Durkee
Horace Tuttle
W. Henry Soar
1937
James
Ralph
Piper
Tuttle
Soar
1938
James
Ralph
Horace
W. Henry
Kinsley
Piper
Tuttle
Soar
1939
James
Ralph
Raymond Durkee Raymond Durkee
Horace Tuttle
W. Henry Soar
1940
James
Piper Ralph Piper
W. B. Harvey
Tuttle
Soar
1941
James
George
W. B.
Harlan
Kinsley
Morse
Harvey
Tuttle
1942
Arthur
George
W. B.
Harlan
W. Henry
Lee
Morse
Harvey
Tuttle Harlan
Soar
1943 Arthur
George Morse
George Braman
Tuttle
W. Henry Soar
1944
Arthur
Lawrence
George
Harlan
W. Henry Soar
1945
Arthur
Lawrence Donnelly
Braman
Tuttle
Soar
1946
Arthur
George
Harlan
W. Henry Soar
1947
Arthur Lee
George Braman
Tuttle Harlan Tuttle
W. Henry Soar
1948
Arthur
Lawrence Donnelly
Braman
Tuttle
1949
Arthur Lee
Lawrence Donnelly
Braman
Harlan Tuttle
W. Henry Soar
1950
Arthur Lee
Lawrence Donnelly
George Braman
Harlan Tuttle
W. Henry Soar
Lee
Donnelly
Braman
Tuttle
George
Harlan
W. Henry
Lee
Lee
Lawrence Donnelly Lawrence Donnelly
George
Harlan
W. Henry Soar
Lee
George
Horace
W. Henry
Kinsley
W. Henry Soar
Whitcomb
Piper
Horace
W. Henry
Kinsley
Kinsley
Lee
Braman
379
APPENDIX IV
MINISTER RATES FOR 1761
£ SP
£SP
Dea, John Heald
0:13:02
Joseph Farr
0:15:05
John Heald, Jr.
0:15:08
John Bigelow
0:14:03
Isreal Heald
0:11:02
Ezekiel Davis
0:19:08
John Davis
0:10:05
Widow Sarah Wheeler 0:13:10
Micah Davis
0:19:10
David Brooks
0:14:09
Samuel Davis
0:06:08
Timothy Brooks
0:13:05
Samuel Wheeler
0:10:04
Nathaniel Wheeler
0:19:08
Judah Wheeler
0:04:03
Robert Robbins
0:06:08
Jonathan Parlin
0:08:09
Simon Tuttle
0:13:05
Nathan Parlin
0:03:10
Daniel Brooks
0:13:02
David Procter
0:10:07
Cheney Tenny
0:04:11
John Emery
0:19:02
Janos Allen
0:08:01
Nehemiah Wheeler
0:08:07
John Chaffin
0:13:08
Oliver Wheeler
0:08:03
Francis Chaffin
0:06:03
Sampson Wheeler
0:10:00
Robert Chaffin
0:07:10
Samuel Ober
0:08:05
Thos. Blanchard
0:08:03
Joseph Temple
0:05:07
Jona. Sprague
0:03:10
Samuel Davies
0:16:16
Wid. Sarah Temple
0:00:07
Gershom Davies
0:18:09
Benjamin Cragin
0:04:10
Amos Parlin
0:17:03
Zecheriah Emery
0:00:07
David Lamson
0:11:05
John Kelven
0:02:05
John Lamson
0:03:10
John Parlin
0:03:00
Joseph Chamberlain
0:03:09
Jona. Barrit
0:01:10
Gideon Powers
0:06:10
David Parlin
0:01:10
Amos Russell
0:09:01
Benjamin Temple
0:00:07
Davis Keyes
0:04:11
Simon Hunt
0:16:00
Nathaniel Edwards
0:14:11
Nathan Robbins
1:01:05
John Heywood
0:11:02
Phillip Robbins
0:04:10
Samuel White
0:13:07
Nathan Wheeler
0:04:07
Widow Conant
0:04:02
Ephraim Hunt
0:12:07
John Wheeler
0:10:07
William Cutting
1:02:00
Daniel Lock
0:17:04
Jonathan Hosmer
0:18:05
Charles Brown
0:08:08
Jonathan Hosmer, Jr. 0:04:08
Joseph Brabrook
0:04:11
Stephen Hosmer
0:03:10
Widow Lamson
0:02:09
Ephraim Hosmer
0:13:02
Amos Lamson
0:05:05
Amos Prescott
0:19:05
Lt. Billings
1:07:02
Enos Wheeler
0:04:04
Jona. Billings, Jr.
0:03:10
John Law
0:05:07
380
£SP
£SP
Joseph Wooley
0:16:04
Stephen Law
0:13:02
John Barker, Jr.
0:10:06
Titus Law
0:14:07
Simon Davis
0:10:00
Ephraim Wheeler
0:11:03
Joseph Harris
0:04:09
George Wheeler
0:03:10
Samuel Harris
0:04:03
Daniel Shepherd
0:08:09
Joseph Cleaveland
0:08:11
Joseph Barker
0:19:09
Eleazer Sartwell
0:07:00
Francis Barker
0:15:05
Josiah Hayward, Jr.
0:04:03
John Cragin
0:04:03
John Adams
0:12:02
John Cragin, Jr.
0:09:03
Francis Faulkner
0:14:00
Micah Robbins
0:11:10
Ammi Faulkner
0:13:02
Joseph Robbins
0:11:03
Nathaniel Faulkner
0:09:07
William Barker
0:08:10
Samuel Jones
1:06:03
John Davis, Jr.
0:18:06
Samuel Jones, Jr.
0:07:05
Josiah Piper
0:19:09
James Faulkner
0:13:10
Samuel Hayward
1:14:01
Oliver Jones
0:04:04
Cornet Heldreth
0:01:07
David Forbush
0:16:07
Thomas Barrit
0:01:03
Ens. Hapgood
0:14:10
Samuel Wheeler, Jr.
0:11:00
Jonathan Patch
0:04:04
Robert Conant
0:01:05
Ezra Wheeler
0:03:10
Andrew Conant
0:03:01
William Jewell
0:01:05
Daniel Brooks, Jr.
0:04:03
Daniel Fletcher
1:06:05
John Marble, Jr.
0:01:05
Roger Wheeler
0:05:06
Stephen Farr
0:03:00
Samuel Wright
0:13:06
Stephen Farr, Jr.
0:06:09
Timothy Fletcher
0:08:05
Joseph Wright
0:03:02
Simeon Procter
0:01:03
David Forbush, Jr.
0:09:03
John Hayward
0:03:10
Dea. John Brooks
1:05:04
Nathan Cutting
0:03:10
Jonathan Hosmer
0:06:07
Josiah Hayward
1:13:08
Widow Ruth Wheeler 0:00:05
Jonathan Hosmer
John Heald, Jr.
Assessors
-
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APPENDIX V DIVERSE DATA RELATIVE TO EARLY SCHOOL TEACHING
March 3, 1740 - The question of inaugurating a school system first came before the town and was voted down.
May 2, 1741 - The town voted to have a "reading, riteing and moving school" but provided no funds. Three weeks later an article relative to schools was dismissed.
March 1, 1742 - Town voted "nay" on the question of inaugurating a school system.
December 9, 1743 - Voted to have a school and to raise eighteen pounds for support of the same. Also voted that Samuel Davis, John Craigin and Samuel Jones be a committee to divide the town into three school districts.
May 25, 1744 - Voted twenty pounds for schools to be allocated among the parts of the town by the selectmen.
March 3, 1746 - Voted twenty five pounds for schools to begin on October first. Up to this time no record was kept of who taught the school but we know that during the years 1746 and 1747 Deacon John Heald was the teacher since on March 6, 1749 he was paid five pounds for service during these specific years.
March 7, 1748- Record of selectmen as having paid Phineas Osgood and Josiah Hayward ten pounds each for teaching school.
February 22, 1749 - Town paid Jonathan Hosmer seventeen pounds for teaching school.
March 6, 1749 - In addition to paying John Heald his arrears as heretofore mentioned there was also paid out two pounds to Josiah Hayward, eight pounds to William Farr and eight pounds ten shillings to Timothy Brooks.
March 4, 1751 - Paid John Craigin 2-4-6- for teaching in Mr. Daniel Fletcher's part of town. Also paid John Meriam 2-4-6- for teaching at Strawberry Hill; paid Josiah Hayward 2-4-6; also paid William Farr 3-6-9 for teaching in west part of town.
May 7, 1751 - Paid Ephraim Smith 1-6-8 for teaching in north east part of town.
November 28, 1751 - Paid John Craigin two pounds.
March 2, 1752 - Paid Francis Eveleth two pounds for teaching in
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south part of town; also paid John Craigin two pounds for teaching school in middle of town.
March 20, 1752 - Paid John Craigin 1-6-8 for teaching in south east part of town.
March 27, 1752 - Paid William Farr 3-2-3 for teaching.
April 7, 1752 -- Paid Josiah Hayward two pounds for teaching.
May 12, 1753 - Paid Francis Eveleth four pounds for teaching
April, 1754 John Craigin, Francis Eveleth and Jonathan Hosmer listed as receiving pay for teaching.
May 22, 1758 - Same three again mentioned.
March 2, 1760 - Jonathan Hosmer paid for teaching.
December 24, 1760 - paid a Mr. Gibbons 1-6-18.
February 14, 1761 - Paid Ezra Wheeler two pounds and John Craigin and Francis Eveleth unstated amounts.
February 7, 1763 - Nathan Parlin paid for teaching.
January 23, 1764 - John Craigin paid for teaching.
February 6, 1765 - Paid Deacon Hosmer two pounds. Also paid Simon Hunt and John Craigin.
February 6, 1766 - Paid Simon Hunt and Deacon Hosmer for teaching.
January 25, 1773 - Unstated sums paid to Lt. Billing, Francis Faulkner and Simon Tuttle.
February, 1774 - Record of selectmen having paid William Barker four pounds for keeping school, also to Josiah Piper and John Davis. Other items relative to school expenses are not specific, for instance four pounds was paid to Lt. Heald for the school in his "Squadran"; also two pounds to Nathaniel Faulkner for the school in his "Society"; also to Capt. Samuel Hayward three pounds for a school and a similar amount to John Hunt "for a school".
The above is the complete record with respect to school instruction for the first forty years of the life of Acton after its incorporation.
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APPENDIX VI
LIST OF ACTON MEN WHO SERVED IN THE REVOLUTION AS COMPILED BY REV. JAMES T. WOODBURY (Known by him to be incomplete)
Adams, A. F.
Davis, A. C. Davis, Amos
Adams, John
Barker, David (Died at Ticonder- Davis, Daniel (present capture of oga) Burgoyne)
Barker, Francis (Drummer)
Davis, David
Barker, John
Davis, Elijah
Barker, Joseph
Davis, Ephraim
Barker Joseph 2nd
Davis, Ezekiel
Barker, Samuel
Davis, Flint
Barker, William
Davis, Isaac (Capt) (killed Con- cord Fight)
Barrow, Elias
Billings, Ephraim (most of war)
Davis, James
Billings, James
Davis, John
Billings, Jonathan
Davis, Jonas
Blanchard, Luther (Fifer)
Davis, Josiah (brother of Isaac)
Brabrook, Benjamin
Davis, Reuben (present capture of Burgoyne)
Brooks, Daniel
Davis, Samuel
Brooks, David
Davis, Stephen
Brooks, George F.
Derby, Thomas (killed in battle)
Brooks, Joseph
Dexter, John
Brooks, Paul
Dudley, Ephraim
Brooks, Seth, Sgt.
Edwards, John Edwards, Nathaniel
Brooks, Silas
Brown, Joseph (Shot at Bunker Emerson, Oliver, Sgt. Hill, ball extracted and he Faulkner, A. shot it back at Saratoga )
Brown, Oliver
Faulkner, Francis (present capture of Burgoyne)
Chaffin, David
Faulkner, James
Chaffin, Elias
Faulkner, John
Faulkner, Nathaniel
Chaffin, Francis (alarmed Joseph Reed)
Fitch, Samuel
Chaffin, John
Chaffiin, Joseph (most of war)
Chaffin, Robert Cole, John
Conant, Silas
Cutting, William
Fletcher, James (volunteered at Concord Fight at age 16 and served throughout war with- out pay ) Fletcher, Jonas Fletcher, Joseph
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Brabrook, Joseph
Fletcher, Peter Flint, Daniel
Law, Reuben Law, Stephen
Law, Stephen Jr.
Forbush, David, Orderly Sgt. (Covered with blood of Isaac Law, Thomas Davis at Concord Fight.)
Forbush, Ephraim Gilbert, Jude
Locke, Joseph
Hapgood, Abraham
Marsh, Nathan
Hapgood, Ephraim
Mayfield, George Sgt.
Hapgood, John
Munroe, Jonas
Hapgood, John Jr.
Noyes, Josiah
Harris, Joseph
Noyes, Thomas
Hayward, Benjamin (most of war) Oliver, John
Hayward, James (Killed Lexington Parker, Jonas April 19, 1775)
Parker, Josiah
Hayward, Josiah
Parlin, Asa
Hayward, John Lt.
Parlin, Nathan
Hayward, Samuel
Parlin, Samuel
Hayward, Samuel Jr.
Piper, Joseph (clerk)
Hayward, Simon
Piper, Phillip
Hayward, Stephen
Piper, Samuel (at Ticonderoga)
Hayward, Titus (colored, hired by Prescott, Benjamin Simon Tuttle) Prescott, John
Heald, Isreal
Procter, Abel
Heald, John (Capt. Continental Army)
Reed, Joseph (most of war)
Richardson, Moses
Heald, Jonas
Robbins, Ephraim
Robbins, George
Hosmer, Abner (killed Concord Fight)
Robbins, John
Hosmer, Ephraim
Robbins, John Jr.
Hosmer, Jonathan (died in Army) Robbins, Jonathan
Hosmer, Samuel
Robbins, Joseph (Capt.)
Hosmer, Stephen
Robbins, Joseph Jr. (Capt.)
Houghton, Oliver
Robbins, Phillip
Hunt, Jonas
Robbins, Robert
Hunt, Nathan
Russell, Amos
Hunt, Paul
Russell, James
Hunt, Simon
Sawtelle Eleazer
Hunt, Simon Jr.
Shepherd, Jonas
Jones, Aaron
Shepherd, Stephen (most of war)
Lampson, John
Shurland, James
Law, James
Smith, Solomon
(capture of Burgoyne)
Law, Titus Litchfield, John
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Stratton, Jonathan
Temple, Samuel (through the war, an unusual soldier)
Thomas, William
Thorpe, Thomas, Ord, Sgt. (Continental Army through the war, last survivor Concord Fight, died Ac- ton, age 96)
Tuttle, Samuel
Tuttle, Simon
Wetherbee, Ammi
Wetherbee, Edward (gave alarm up Simon Tuttle's road to Little- ton, also at capture of Burgoyne)
Wetherbee, Oliver
Wheeler, Sampson
Wheeler, Ezra
Wheeler, Samuel
Wheeler, Hezekiah
Wheeler, Thomas
Wheeler, John
Wheeler, Timothy
Wheeler, John Procter
White, Daniel
Wheeler, Jude
White, Mark
Wheeler, Nehemiah
Woods, Moses
Wheeler, Oliver
Wright, Samuel
Wheeler, Roger
Young, Abraham
Total 169
The above total is interesting since at the time of the Revolution Acton had a total population of 769.
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APPENDIX VII A PARTIAL RECORD OF THE SERVICE OF ACTON MEN IN THE REVOLUTION
1. In February of 1776 a new organization of militia was formed and Concord, Lexington, Weston, Acton and Lincoln were assigned to the third regiment with Eleazer Brooks as colonel, Francis Faulkner, Lt. colonel. The Acton company had Simon Hunt as captain, John Heald Ist Lt., and Benjamn Brabrook 2nd Lt. This contingent saw service at Dorchester Heights in March of 1776.
2. In September of 1776 another contingent was formed to which Concord contributed 23 men, Lexington 16 men, Acton 15 men and Lincoln 12 men. Rev. Moses Adams served as Chaplain. Simon Hunt was captain of one company. This contingent saw service at White Plains.
3. Another company of 89 men also served at Dorchester. In it were five from Acton, four from Lincoln and three from Bedford.
4. In November of 1776 a regiment of 670 men under Col. Samuel Thatcher of Cambridge marched to New York and New Jersey. In it there were thirteen men from Acton
5. In July of 1777 a contingent went to Rhode Island. Abishai Brown of Concord was captain and Daniel Davis of Acton Ist lieutenant.
6. In September of 1777 a volunteer company of sixty three men from Concord and Acton was present at the surrender of Bur- goyne. John Buttrick of Concord was in command and John Heald of Acton was a lieutenant as was also Silas Marr of Concord.
7. On November 28, 1778 Simon Hunt was captain of a guard com- pany at Cambridge.
8. On April 20, 1778 the town of Concord hired ten men for the Continental Army of which five men were from Acton and five from Lincoln.
9. On April 27th and June 8th the town of Concord hired five men for six weeks and eight men for nine months for the Continental Army. Five of these were from Acton.
10. In September of 1779 a contingent was organized to serve for two months in Rhode Island. For this Concord provided four men, Acton eleven, Bedford seven, Lincoln nine and Carlisle seven.
11. On December 2, 1780 the town of Concord hired ten men from Acton, ten men from Lincoln and six from Carlisle for three years service in the Continental Army.
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APPENDIX VIII
LIST OF PHYSICIANS WHO HAVE PRACTICED IN ACTON
1. Dr. Joseph Fletcher is mentioned as having been refunded a sum of approximately seventeen pounds on March 13, 1744, which same he had loaned to the town.
2. John Swift, son of Rev. John Swift. Graduated from Harvard in 1762. Died in 1775, the same year as his father.
3. Abraham Skinner, came from Woodstock, Connecticut, in 1781. Married Sarah Faulkner, daughter of Francis, in 1788.
4. Peter Goodnow, came from Bolton and commenced practice in Acton on October 12, 1812. He removed from town February 18, 1827 and established himself as a merchant in Boston.
5. Samuel Young is listed as serving on the school committee in 1809.
6. Bela Gardner resided in Acton from 1823 to 1828 during which time a daughter Mary was born in 1826.
7. Harris Cowdry was born at South Reading (now Wakefield) Mass. September 23, 1803. He studied with Dr. Hunt of that town and graduated from the Berkshire Medical Institute, Pittsfield, Mass. in 1824, and commenced practice in Acton in 1826. One of the inducements that brought him to the town was Miss Abagail Davis to whom he was married in 1826. He excelled as a general practitioner for fifty years. He was an early member of the Evangelical Church, zealous in the causes of temperance and anti-slavery. He was super- intendent of schools for sixteen years and a constant member of the village choir. He was one of the fortunate men who never grow old. He was active in the Centennial celebration at Concord on April 19, 1875 but the severity of that raw, chilly day gave rise to a fatal attack of influenza which resulted in his death on May 6. His son Arthur became a successful physician in Stoneham, Mass. His daughter Helen, married Dr. Charles Little, who subsequently practiced in Acton.
8. Charles Little was born in Boscowen N. H. and graduated from Dartmouth College in 1860 and received his medical degree from the same institution in 1863. During the same autumn he entered the Navy as assistant surgeon where he remained until the end of the war. He died November 16, 1869.
9. A Dr. Reuben Green is mentioned as having the first West Acton Post Office located in his office in 1848. His name also appears on the committee in charge of the ceremonials connected with the dedi- cation of the Davis Monument.
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10. Dr. Charles Tuttle is listed as a pall bearer for the remains of Davis, Hosmer and Hayward at the dedication of the monument in 1851.
11. Isaiah Hutchins was born in Westford, Mass. September 23, 1829. He attended the Lawrence Academy at Groton and graduated from the Worcester Medical College in 1852 and the same year began practice in Acton. He was in the Union Army.
12. Charles B. Sanders was born in Lowell, Mass., February 19, 1844. He received his early education in Berwick, Me. On August 11, 1862 he enlisted as a private in the 13th New Hampshire Volun- teers. On March 4, 1864 he was discharged by order of the War Department to receive a commission as first lieutenant in the United States colored troops and was assigned to the 30th regiment. He served through the Wilderness Campaign, was captured at the battle of the "crater" at Petersburg, and was confined in a rebel prison at Columbia, S. C. for seven months. His medical education was obtained at Bowdoin and Harvard from which latter institution he received his certificate to practice medicine in June of 1869. In July of 1875 he located in Acton. On September 4, 1878 he married Elizabeth Taylor, daughter of Moses Taylor.
13. Samuel A. Christie was born April 17, 1854 in Philadelphia. He was self taught in all he knew above the grammar grades. He studied Latin, Greek and Botany because of his consuming desire, at an early age, to become a physician. Refusing to study for the Pres- byterian ministry at the behest of his father he worked for several years in both the Elgin and Waltham watch factories. In the latter city he met and married Ida Ellen Dearborn of Pembroke, N. H. At the age of forty four he commenced the study of medicine at Tufts, was obliged to stop for two years to earn money, and at last was forced to transfer to a less expensive Medical school, the Boston College of Physicians and Surgeons. He graduated in 1904 and im- mediately, at the age of fifty four, began practice in South Acton, where he worked for seventeen years until the time of his death on February 3, 1922. He was greatly interested in town affairs and served on the school committee. His son James Christie has been a successful physician in Littleton for many years.
14. Frank Edwin Tasker was born in Northwood, N. H. in 1863. He graduated from Dartmouth Medical School in 1892 and from the New York Post Graduate School in 1893. He practiced in Haverhill, Mass. from 1893 to 1895. From that date until his death in 1938 he practiced in West Acton. His wife, Lavina Hanson, was a native of Pittsfield, N. H.
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15. George Herman Tuttle was born in 1866. He began general practice in 1891. For some time he was located in East Cambridge. He came to Acton about 1918 where he continued until his death in 1941. He attended Harvard College and later studied in Germany. He served in the Spanish American War. From 1926 to 1933 he was connected with the Massachusetts General Hospital as a specialist on diabetes. He was for many years Acton's most inveterate fisherman.
16. Louis Allen lived for a time in the old Stevens Hayward house and carried on a more or less casual practice. He had practically retired when he came to town. The old mansion was burned in the early summer of 1912 and subsequently the sisters, Miss Charlotte Allen and Mrs. Hughes built on the site the bungalow now inhabited by the Roger Crafts.
17. Frank J. Barker was born in Marlboro, N. H. circa 1860; attended Dartmouth College where he obtained his M. D. degree and then attended Harvard. He came to Acton about 1895 from Ports- mouth, R. I. and remained until 1908. He then took two years special work at Harvard, practiced in Milton for a time and came to Concord about 1911. He died in Carthage N. Y. as a result of a heart condition induced by overwork during the influenza epidemic of 1919. He was an active member of Acton's first Board of Health.
18. Frederick King Shaw was born October 10, 1871 in Charles- town, Mass. and died April 5, 1926 in Concord, Mass. where he is buried in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. He obtained his M.D. degree from Harvard Medical College in 1899 and interned in St. Vincent's Hospital, New York City, and at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston. He started practice in Acton in 1908 having moved ther from Somerville. In 1918 he moved to Concord where he remained until the time of his death. He was a captain in the Army medical corps in World War I in which he enlisted, a member of Concord Masonic Lodge, and a descendant of Roger Shaw who migrated from England to Cambridge in 1636.
19. Willis Middleton graduated from Tufts Medical School in 1901 and at one time was instructor in anatomy there. He lived during his Acton sojourn on the Henry Smith place on Brook St. where he utilized the old pencil factory as a rare bird aviary.
20. Ernest A. Mayell was born in Newton, Mass. on December 4, 1875. In his early childhood the family moved to Watertown. He graduated from Tufts Medical School in 1902 and interned at the South Department of the Boston City Hospital. In 1904 he was married to Laura M. Smith of Barrington, Rhode Island and took up practice in Newton, Mass. until 1909 at which time, due to impaired
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health, he moved to Acton and purchased the green houses and pro- perty of the estate of Henry M. Smith. During the influenza epidemic of 1918 he was requested to get back into practice and did serve the state in Maynard and Lowell. He was school physician from 1920 to 1948. He also served on the staff of the Emerson Hospital in Concord and was president for one year. He retired from active practice in 1948. Mrs. Mayell died April 17, 1951. She was a direct descendant of Peregrine White of Mayflower fame.
21. Omar Lawrence Clark was born in West Concord on Decem- ber 14, 1897. When he was five the family moved to Acton. He attended the Tufts Medical School for five years and then Six months at the Middlesex Medical School from which he received the M.D_ degree in June of 1923. His internship was at the Leonard Hospital in Troy, N. Y. following which he came to Acton in 1924. He has served as Medical Examiner for the 6th Middlesex District from April 1940 to May of 1951 at which time ill health and press of business induced his resignation. He was Medical Examiner for the Selective Service during World War II.
22. Hall Staples was born in South Windham, Maine in 1871. He graduated from the Dartmouth Medical School in 1891 and prac- tised in Grafton, Vt. from 1891 to 1908; came to Acton in 1908 and lived there until his death in 1917. Had he lived another year he would have had the benefit of Insulin as a preventive of diabetes which caused his demise.
Dr. Staples was the old school "Horse and Buggy Doctor". In Vermont he kept a string of twelve Morgan horses and it was not un- usual for him to drive fourteen miles to Windham to attend a patient, return home, and immediately start for Cambridgeport, an equal distance in the opposite direction. He still used his horses in Acton until about 1913 when he purchased his first automobile, a Stanley Steamer. Since this vehicle required too much nursing for a rapid start on a cold morning he soon changed to a chain drive Waltham Buckboard, a contraption that was well known throughout the country- side. Upon occasion it would tip completely over but was so light that he was able to right it alone and continue to his destination.
23. Paul Porter Gates (son of Acton's blacksmith for many years, Emerick Gates) was born in Acton on September 25, 1908. He received the B. A. degree from Harvard in 1932 and graduated from Tufts Medical School in 1936. He began practice in Acton in August 1938. From July 1942 to December 1945 he was Lieutenant Com- mander in the Medical Corps of the Navy Reserve.
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