USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lexington > History of the town of Lexington, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, from its first settlement to 1868, with a genealogical register of Lexington families > Part 38
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Luke C. Childs, 1865-67. John W. Hudson, 1867.
List of Assessors, from the Incorporation of the Town to the present time, with the years they respectively served ; arranged in the order in which they first appear upon the Record.
Francis Bowman, 1712, 13, 15, 27. William Munroe, 1712. Samuel Stearns, 1712, 16. Joseph Estabrook, 1713. Matthew Bridge, 1713. John Munroe, 1714. Samuel Locke, 1714. Joseph Brown, 1714, 15. John Merriam, 1715.
Joseph Fassett, 1716-19, 24, 27, 30, 31. Benjamin Wellington, 1716-27, 29, 31- 33, 35.
Thomas Blodgett, 1717. Nathaniel Whittemore, 1718. John Mason, 1719-21, 23, 25, 30, 31. John Munroe, 1720. Joseph Brown, 1721, 22, 26. John Laughton, 1722-24, 28, 29, 34, 35, 38, 41.
Nathaniel Trask, 1725, 39, 40. Josiah Parker, 1726, 28, 34, 36-38, 40, 42-45, 47-50, 52-55. William Munroe, 1728, 29, 32.
Isaac Bowman, 1730, 32, 36, 37, 39, 40, 42, 46-49, 55. Joseph Bowman, 1733. John Cutler, 1733. Samuel Winship, 1733. Matthew Bridge, Jr., 1733, 35, 39. Benjamin Reed, 1734, 37. Ebenezer Fiske, 1736.
Daniel Tidd, 1738, 44, 47, 48, 51, 52, 54-57, 68.
Nehemiah Abbot, 1741. Joseph Bridge, 1741. Benjamin Smith, 1742. Amos Muzzy, 1743, 49. James Merriam, 1743. Daniel Brown, 1744, 53.
Isaac Stone, 1745. Thaddeus Bowman, 1745, 50, 53, 56- 63, 65, 66, 69. John Stone, 1746. William Reed, 1746. John Muzzy, 1746. Thomas Robbins, 1746. John Hoar, 1750.
John Buckman, 1751, 52, 54, 55, 60, 64, 67.
Benjamin Brown, 1756-62, 64-69, 74, 77, 78, 83.
Jonathan Lawrence, 1758, 62, 63. Jonas Stone, 1759, 61, 63, 67-72. John Parker, 1764-66, 74.
Josiah Smith, 1770-73, 76, 79, 80. Thaddeus Parker, 1770, 71, 73, 77. Joseph Mason, 1772, 73, 79-89, 95. Edmund Munroe, 1774, 76, 77. William Tidd, 1776, 79-91. John Bridge, 1778, 90, 91. Daniel Harrington, 1778. John Chandler, 1780-82, 88, 89. James Wyman, 1781. Thomas Winship, 1782-87. Joseph Simonds, 1784, 87, 88. Benjamin Brown, 1785, 86, 89-91.
406
HISTORY OF LEXINGTON.
Francis Bowman, 1792, 93.
Isaac Hastings, 1792, 95, 96, 1801-3, 11. Isaac Winship, 1793-1813. Rufus Merriam, 1793, 94.
Levi Mead, 1794.
Joseph Smith, 1796-98, 1804.
William Tidd, 1796-99.
Jonathan IIarrington, 1799, 1800, 17- 19.
Joseph Simonds, Jr., 1800, 10, 11, 17. Nathan Chandler, 1801-3, 5-9, 15, 16, 21. Josiah Smith, 1801, 11.
Abijah Harrington, 1806-9, 12-16, 21. Rufus Merriam, 1810, 11.
Nathaniel Mulliken, 1812-14, 19-24. John Muzzy, Jr., 1815, 16.
Benjamin O. Wellington, 1817, 18. William Chandler, 1818, 19, 27-29. Oliver Locke, 1820.24.
Daniel Chandler, 1820-23.
Nathan Chandler, Jr., 1824-26.
Oliver Smith, 1825.
Jacob Robinson, Jr., 1825, 26, 30, 31. Josiah Smith, Jr., 1825-27.
Samuel Fiske, 1827-29.
Philip Russell, 1828-31, 42.
Isaac Mulliken, 1830-40, 43, 44.
William Clapp, 1832, 33, 35.
Charles Reed, 1832-35.
James Brown, 1834, 36, 37. John Muzzey, 1836. Charles Tidd, 1837-42. Jacob Robinson, Jr., 1838-40. Thomas C. Downing, 1840.
Nehemiah Wellington, 1840. Oliver Locke, 1841, 42. William Clapp, 1841. John Beals, 1843, 44, 54. Charles Robinson, 1843, 44.
William Chandler, 1845-52, 60, 62.
Jonas C. Wellington, 1845, 50.
Silas Cutler, 1845, 46, 50-52.
Isaac Parker, 1846-48, 50.
Nathan Fessenden, Jr., 1847-49, 58, 61-67.
Stephen Locke, 1849.
Jonathan S. Parker, 1850-57, 59.
J. C. Wellington, 1852-54. Charles Brown, 1853.
William H. H. Reed, 1855.
Billings Smith, 1855. Charles Nunn, 1856-59.
Charles Hudson, 1856.
Joseph F. Simonds, 1857, 61, 63-67. Warren Duren, 1858.
A. W. Crowningshield, 1859-63. William Locke, 1860. Eli Simonds, 1860. A. W. Bryant, 1860. Loring S. Pierce, 1864-67.
List of Town Clerks, from the Incorporation of the Town to the present day, in the order in which they appear upon the Record.
Matthew Bridge, 1712, 13. Joseph Bowman, 1714, 15. Joseph Estabrook, 1716, 17, 24. Benjamin Wellington, 1718-23, 25-28, 30, 32, 33, 37, 38. John Mason, 1729, 31, 34-36. Isaac Bowman, 1739, 47, 53, 54. Matthew Bridge, Jr., 1740. Daniel Tidd, 1741, 42, 46, 48-52. Josiah Parker, 1743-45, 55.
Thaddeus Bowman, 1756-61, 65. Benjamin Brown, 1762-64, 66-69.
Joseph Mason, 1770-90, 95. Joseph Fiske, Jr., 1791-93. Rufus Merriam, 1794. Nathan Chandler, 1796-1803. Obadiah Parker, 1804. John Mulliken, 1805-16. Charles Reed, 1817-23. Nathaniel Mulliken, 1824-32. Charles Tidd, 1833-38. John Mulliken, Jr., 1839-43. James Keyes, 1844. Albert W. Bryant, 1845-67.
407
MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.
List of Town Treasurers from the Incorporation of the Town to the present day, with the years they served; arranged in chronological order.
Matthew Bridge, 1712-16. John Munroe, 1717-20.
Joseph Estabrook, 1721-24. Joseph Loring, 1725, 26. Benjamin Wellington, 1727-29. Matthew Bridge, Jr., 1730-32, 40. William Munroe, 1733-35.
Benjamin Wellington, Jr., 1736.
Isaac Bowman, 1737-39.
Nehemiah Abbot, 1740, 41. John Stone, 1742, 43. John Bridge, 1744-46. Thomas Merriam, 1747. Jonas Merriam, 1748-54. Jonas Stone, 1755-78. John Chandler, 1779-89. Benjamin Brown, 1790. Francis Brown, 1791, 92.
John Mulliken, 1793-1800. Amos Muzzy, Jr., 1801-3, 5, 6. Nathan Chandler, 1804, 7-16, 19, 20. Rufus Merriam, 1817, 18. John Muzzy, Jr., 1820-23. Charles Reed, 1824-31.
Nathaniel Mulliken, 1832-35, 37, 38, 49-54, 53, 58, 59. William Chandler, 1836.
Jonathan S. Parker, 1839-44.
John Viles, Jr., 1845-49.
J. C. Wellington, 1855. James S. Munroe, 1857.
Charles Nunn, 1860-64. Leonard A. Saville, 1865.
Webster Smith, 1866. Isaac N. Damon, 1867.
Committees of Correspondence.
As these Committees constituted a kind of government, or at least a channel of communication through the Colony ; and as they were generally composed of the most intelligent and reliable men in the town, it is well to give their names.
1773.
Captain Thaddeus Bowman. Deacon Jonas Stone. . Ensign Robert Harrington. Deacon Benjamin Brown. Deacon Joseph Loring.
1776.
Deacon James Stone. Captain John Bridge. Lieutenant Edmund Munroe. Lieutenant Joseph Simonds. Lieutenant Francis Brown.
1778.
Deacon Benjamin Brown. John Chandler. 52
Hammond Reed. Jonathan Harrington. Joseph Smith.
1780.
Benjamin Danforth. Joseph Phelps. Bezaleel Lawrence. Benjamin Tidd. Thaddeus Harrington.
Called also a Committee of Safety.
1781.
Samuel Hastings. Lieutenant Benjamin Wellington. Samuel Tidd.
408
HISTORY OF LEXINGTON.
List of Representatives to the General Court from the Incorporation of the Town to the present day, with the years they served ; arranged in chronological order.
Joseph Bowman, 1713, 18, 34-37. William Reed, 1714, 16, 17.
Francis Bowman, 1715, 20, 22, 26, 27, 32, 33.
Thomas Blodgett, 1719, 21.
Joseph Estabrook, 1723, 25.
Benjamin Wellington, 1728-31.
Joseph Fassett, 1738-40.
William Reed, 1741-47, 50, 60-62, 64- 67,69, 70.
Isaac Bowman, 1748, 49.
Benjamin Reed, 1751-58, 63, 68.
Jonas Stone, 1771-77.
Robert Ilarrington, 1778-81.
Benjamin Brown, 1783-86.
Joseph Simonds, 1787-94, 96-1803.
Isaac Hastings, 1804, 5.
William Munroe, 1806, 7.
Nathan Chandler, 1808-12, 21, 22, 24. James Brown, 1813-17. Abijah Harrington, 1825. John Muzzy, 1825, 27.
Samuel Fiske, 1828-30. Charles Reed, 1831, 32. Ambrose Morrell, 1832, 33. John Mulliken, Jr., 1834, 35. Philip Russell, 1834-36, 39, 48-52.
Nehemiah Wellington, 1836-38. Isaac Mulliken, 1837, 40, 41. Phinehas Lawrence, 1839. Charles James, 1842. Benjamin Muzzey, 1843. Sullivan Burbank, 1846, 47.
William Chandler, 1853.
Charles Brown, 1854. Curtis Cutler, 1855.
Simon W. Robinson, 1856.
Charles Hudson, 1857.
Charles K. Tucker, 1858. Abraham W. Crowningshield, 1859.
William H. Smith, 1862.
William A. Tower, 1863. John C. Blasdell, 1868.
It will be seen that the above numbers do not include every year. In the vacant years the town was not represented. The five last named Representatives were chosen by the District, consisting of Lexington, Bedford, and Burlington, and the last year, of Carlisle also. These towns furnish the Representatives somewhat in rotation, and only the Lexington men are inserted . here.
Senators and Councillors.
Nathan Chandler, 1825-28. Samuel Chandler, 1839.
When Nathan Chandler was chosen, the Senators and Coun- cillors were chosen as one body, and the Legislature selected nine from that body as Councillors. Mr. Chandler was several times selected for that purpose.
409
MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.
Delegates.
JONAS STONE was Delegate to the First Provincial Congress, 1774, and the Second and Third, 1775.
Rev. JONAS CLARKE was Delegate to the Convention which formed the Constitution in 1779; BENJAMIN BROWN, a Delegate to the Convention which ratified the Constitution of the United States, 1788.
NATHAN CHANDLER was a Delegate to the Convention to Revise the Constitution in 1820; and JOEL VILES in the Convention to Revise the Constitution in 1853.
Justices of the Peace, with the dates of their first appointment, as far as ascertained.
Joseph Bowman.
1832. Samuel Stetson.
1720. Francis Bowman.
1839. Samuel Chandler.
William Reed.
1843. Jacob Robinson.
1754. Benjamin Reed.
1846. Benjamin Muzzy.
1775. Benjamin Brown.
1846. Amos Adams.
1775. William Reed.
1848. Royal B. Willis.
1775. Isaac Bowman.
1849. Benjamin Fiske.t
1781. Benjamin Estabrook.
1850. Simon W. Robinson.t
1782. Robert Harrington.
1850. William Plumer.
1795. John Bridge.
1851. Christopher Solis.
1801. Nathan Chandler.
1852. Jonathan Harrington.
180I. Isaac Hastings.
1852. Cyrus Reed.
1802. John Mulliken.
1852. Charles Hudson.t
1854. Marshall Preston.f
1854. Sylvanus W. Smith.
1815. James Brown.
1855. R. M. Copeland.
1815. Thomas Whitcomb.
1855. Albert W. Bryant.
1822. Amos Muzzy, Jr.
1826. John Muzzy.
1859. Hammon Reed.
1826. Elias Phinney.
1865. Howland Holmes.
1830. William Chandler.
1866. Bowen Harrington.
1830. Samuel Fiske.
1866. Leonard A. Saville.
1830. Nathaniel Mulliken.
1866. George O. Davis.
1832. Ambrose Morell.
List of Graduates of Colleges from the Town of Lexington.
JOHN HANCOCK was graduated at Harvard College in 1719; was Libra- rian of that institution from 1723 to 1726; ordained over the North Church in Braintree, November 2, 1728, and died May 7, 1744, aged 41. He was the oldest son of Rev. John Hancock, of Lexington, and the father of the celebrated John Hancock, of the Revolution, who was President of the
t Those marked with an obelisk (+) received their first commissions for other places at an earlier date, and were renewed for Lexington at the dates mentioned above. Charles Hudson's commission was for all the counties of the Commonwealth.
1813. Joseph Fiske.
1813. Jonas Bridge.
1859. Isaac N. Damon.
410
HISTORY OF LEXINGTON.
Continental Congress, and the first Governor of Massachusetts under the Constitution.
JONATHAN BOWMAN graduated at Harvard College in 1724; studied theology, and was ordained at Dorchester, November 5, 1729; died May 30, 1775. Ile was son of Joseph Bowman, Esq., who died in 1752.
EBENEZER HANCOCK graduated at Harvard College in 1728. He was the third son of Rev. John Hancock, of Lexington. He was ordained colleague with his father, in Lexington, January 2, 1734, and died January 28, 1740, aged 29 years.
EDMUND BOWMAN graduated at Harvard College in 1728. He was a merchant at Portsmouth, N. II. He was brother of Jonathan mentioned above. Ile died 1745.
THADDEUS MASON graduated at Harvard College in 1728. He was Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Middlesex, and died May 1, 1802, aged 95 years.
PHILEMON ROBBINS graduated at Harvard College in 1729; was or- dained at Branford, Conn. He had two sons who were liberally educated clergymen, Chandler, (Yale, 1756,) and Ammi Ruhamah, (Yale, 1760,) the former had three sons who weregraduates at Harvard College. He died 1781.
JOSIAHI BROWN graduated at Harvard College in 1735; was a preacher at Lancaster, Mass., and died March 4, 1774. IIe was son of Joseph Brown, the first of the Lexington Browns.
MATTHEW BRIDGE graduated at Harvard College in 1741; was ordained at Framingham, February 19, 1746, and died September 3, 1775, aged 55 years. He was Chaplain to the Army at Cambridge at the breaking out of the Revolution, and contracted the disease of the camp, of which he died in a short time after leaving the army. He was a son of Matthew.
NATHANIEL TRASK graduated at Harvard College in 1742 ; was ordained at Epping, N. H., and died in 1789, aged 67 years.
NATHANIEL ROBBINS graduated at Harvard College in 1747; was ordained at Milton, February 13, 1751, and died May 19, 1795, aged 69 years.
JONAS MERRIAM graduated at Harvard College in 1753 ; was ordained at Newton, Mass., March 22, 1758, and died August 13, 1780, aged 50 years.
JOSIAH BRIDGE graduated at Harvard College in 1758; was ordained at East Sudbury, (now Wayland, ) November 4, 1761, and died June 19, 1801, aged 62 years.
SAMUEL FISKE graduated at Harvard College in 1759; was an Episcopal clergyman in South Carolina, where he died in 1777.
MICAHI LAWRENCE graduated at Harvard College in 1759; was ordained at Winchester, N. II., November 14, 1764, and died January, 1794, aged 55 years.
EPHRAIM WOOLSON graduated at Harvard College in 1760; was a physician at Ilanover, N. II., and died January, 1802, aged 61 years.
JOSEPH BROWN graduated at Harvard College in 1763; was ordained at Winchendon, May 24, 1769, and died in 1810.
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MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.
AMOS WINDSHIP graduated at Harvard College as A. B. in 1771 ; A. M. in 1790; M. B. in 1790; M. D. in 1811, and was a corresponding member of the London Medical Society. He died in 1811.
BENJAMIN MUZZY graduated at Harvard College in 1774. He sailed from Boston, September, 1777, in the privateer Hero Revenge, during the Revolution, as a Chaplain, and was lost at sea the same year.
ISAAC REED graduated at Harvard College in 1780; was a trader in Littleton, and died December 5, 1789, aged 35 years.
EBENEZER BOWMAN graduated at Harvard College in 1782; was an Attorney at Law of considerable distinction at Wilkesbarre, Penn., and died in 1829.
JOSEPH ESTABROOK graduated at Harvard College in 1782 ; was ordained at Athol, November 21, 1787, and died April 30, 1830, aged 81 years.
NATHAN UNDERWOOD graduated at Harvard College in 1788; was or- dained at Harwich, November 21, 1792, and died in 1841.
SAMUEL CHANDLER graduated at Harvard College in 1790; was ordained at Eliot, N. II., October 27, 1792, and died in 1829.
JOSEPHI DENNIE graduated at Harvard College in 1790. In 1796, he commenced a series of Articles in the Farmer's Museum, published in Walpole, N. H., entitled " Lay Sermons," which continued from time to time for several years. They were extensively copied, and were read with eagerness in all parts of the country. He also instituted and edited the " Portfolio," a literary publication of high merit, at Philadelphia. He died January 7, 1812. He was a scholar of fine literary taste, and has been denominated the American Addison.
DANIEL MARRETT graduated at Harvard College in 1790; was ordained at Standish, Me., September 21, 1796, and died in 1836.
WILLIAM MUZZY graduated at Harvard College in 1793; was ordained at Sullivan, N. II., February 7, 1798, and died at Lexington in 1835.
ABIEL CHANDLER graduated at Harvard College in 1798, and died February 11, 1799.
DAVID PHINEHIAS ADAMS graduated at Harvard College in 1801, and died in 1823.
ELIAS PHINNEY graduated at Harvard College in 1801. He was an Attorney at Law in Charlestown. and afterwards Clerk of the Courts of Middlesex County. Ile was greatly distinguished as an agriculturalist, and died in 1849. He was a son of Benjamin Phinney.
TIMOTHY WELLINGTON graduated at Harvard College in 1806. He was a Physician of good professional reputation at West Cambridge. He died in 1853.
JOHN FESSENDEN graduated at Harvard College in 1818; resided at Deerfield, and was a tutor in College from 1825 to 1827.
OLIVER DANFORTH graduated at Williams College in 1811; was for a time a teacher.
SAMUEL MULLIKEN graduated at Harvard College in 1819. He was a Physician at Dorchester, and died in 1843.
JAMES BRIDGE was drowned at Cambridge while in the Senior Class.
412
HISTORY OF LEXINGTON.
ARTEMAS B. MUZZEY graduated at Harvard College in 1824. He was settled as a elergyman in Framingham and Cambridge, Mass., Concord, N. II., and Newburyport, Mass.
MARSHALL TUFTS graduated at Harvard College in 1827 ; became in- sane, and died May, 1855. Ile was son of Thomas Tufts.
CURTIS CUTLER graduated at Harvard College in 1829; was ordained at Gardner, and afterwards installed at Peterboro', N. H. Being affected with a bronchial difficulty, he left the ministry and engaged in commercial business in Boston.
HIRAM WELLINGTON graduated at Harvard College in 1834; is a Lawyer in Boston.
JAMES BLODGETT graduated at Harvard College in 1841; resided at Deerfield, and died at Lexington in 1845.
AMBROSE WELLINGTON graduated at Harvard College in 1841.
JAMES VILA graduated at Harvard College in 1843, and died at Boston in 1850.
FRANCIS J. GOULD graduated at Harvard College in 1850; is in Florida, engaged in the practice of medicine. He is a son of James Gould.
EDWARD WELLINGTON, was drowned in Cambridge, while in the Seien- tific School, September 6, 1852. He was a son of Major Benjamin O. Wellington.
CHARLES H. HUDSON graduated S. B. from the Lawrence Scientific Department of Harvard College in 1854; is a Civil Engineer in Illinois.
JOHN W. HUDSON graduated at Harvard College in 1856. He entered the service of the United States in the late Rebellion, as Second Lieuten- ant, and was promoted successively to First Lieutenant, Captain, Major, and Lieutenant Colonel. He is a Lawyer in Boston. The two preceding are sons of Charles Hudson.
GEORGE D. ROBINSON graduated at Harvard College in 1856. He is son of Charles Robinson ; has been engaged as a teacher ; is now a Lawyer in Chicopee.
EDWARD G. STETSON. He graduated at Harvard College in 1863.
CHAPTER XVIII.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Situation and Extent - Soil and Productions - Topography - Health of the Place and Longevity of its Inhabitants - Name of the Town - Old and New Style- Public Buildings - Private Dwellings - Population - Valuations - Slaves and Slavery - Roads and Railroads - The Great Bridge - Manu- factures - Peat - Paint Mine - Names of the Town Streets.
LEXINGTON is a Post town in the County of Middlesex, situated in latitude 42° 26' 50" North, and in longitude 71º 13' 55" West. It is about eleven miles west-northwest from Boston, about six miles easterly from Concord, and about fifteen miles southeast by south from Lowell. It has Winchester, Woburn, and Burlington, on the northeast ; Bedford, and Bur- lington, on the north ; Lincoln, on the west ; Waltham, on the southwest, and Arlington, on the southeast. The township, like most of those in the neighborhood, is somewhat irregular in its shape, and contains about 19 square miles, or 12,160 acres. It is generally more elevated than any adjoining town, unless it be Lincoln, and hence the water from Lexington runs in almost every direction. As it is the water-shed, the streams are small, and they find their way to the ocean through the Shaw- shine, Mystic, and Charles Rivers. The water power in the town is inconsiderable, and what there is, is remote from the centre. There is at present but one mill in the town, that being in the easterly part, at the outlet of the Great Meadow, so called ; on or near the site of this mill, was erected the first mill in the township, probably as early as 1650. It was then owned by Edward Winship, of Cambridge, and was given by his Will to his son Edward, and remained more than a century in the family. There is another and more valuable privilege on Vine
414
HISTORY OF LEXINGTON.
Brook, near the boundary of Burlington, though it is at present unimproved.
The township is generally uneven, furnishing a pleasant variety of hill and dale. Though the surface is frequently broken, the soil for the most part is productive. The rock formation, through a great part of the township, is a species of greenstone ; and . though it often crops out of the ground, the rock is so irregular, and the sides so precipitous, that the soil is deep, and often capable of cultivation up to the very face of the ledge. The presence of this rock indicates a hard, but at the same time a warm and productive soil, well adapted to grass and fruit trees.
There are many good farms in the town, and their value is greatly enhanced by the peat swamps, which are found in almost every neighborhood. These swamps, when properly drained, constitute. some of the most valuable land for cultivation, and at the same time serve to fertilize the rest of the farm. The material taken from the ditches is extensively used as a manure, and will of itself pay the labor of draining. Lexington, as a whole, may be considered a first class agricultural town, and has been some- what distinguished for its hay, fruits, and other agricultural productions ; but more particularly for its milk dairies, which send to market 350,000 gallons of milk annually.
The village of Lexington is pleasantly situated on land com- paratively level ; and though it is elevated more than two hundred feet above tide water, being surrounded by hills more or less distant, and having meadows on either hand, it has the appear- ance of being rather low. It is eleven miles from Boston, five miles from Waltham, Woburn, and Bedford, and four miles from Burlington, and Lincoln. In the centre of the village is the Common, a triangular plot of ground, situated at the june- tion, and lying between the roads leading to Concord and to Bedford. It contains about two acres, and is nearly level, with the exception of a gentle swell rising some five or six feet in a circular form, on the southerly side, on which is situated the Monument, erected to the memory of the first revolutionary martyrs. The borders of the Common are skirted by rows of elm, ash, and other ornamental trees; some of which have braved the blasts of a hundred winters, while others are blushing into youthful beauty. This Green is consecrated by the first
MISCELLANEOUS.
415
blood of the Revolution; and the sacred associations which cluster around the spot, render it a place of considerable resort ; and many a passer-by pauses to contemplate the scene which renders it classic.
The village extends nearly a mile on the main road ; and, embracing as it does the settlements on Hancock, Bedford, Muzzey, and Waltham streets, comprises about one hundred and twenty houses and shops, and contains nearly eight hundred inhabitants.
RUSSELL SC
TILE LEXINGTON 'RAILWAY STATION.
The terminus of the Lexington and Arlington Railroad is near the centre of the village, and has a commodious station- house situated about six rods from the street, so as not to impede or endanger the travel on the highway. The approach to the station is by a broad, circular driveway, leaving a crescent lawn of about one third of an acre between the depot and the street. Though the depot is not particularly elegant, it is a neat and well proportioned building, and is so situated as to increase rather than impair the beauty of the place.
53
416
HISTORY OF LEXINGTON.
Passing on the road towards Boston, as you leave the centre village, the houses grow more sparse for about three fourths of a mile, when they become more frequent ; and you soon find yourself in the midst of another village more than half as popu- lous as the centre. Both villages are adorned with ornamental shade trees, which extend to every part ; and in several places on the main street, huge and venerable elms attract the notice of the traveler. The character of the soil is such, that both villages are, in a remarkable degree, free from those pests of many country villages - mud and dust.
Though Lexington has no elevations which would justify the appellation of mountains, yet there are within her limits a great number of hills, which command extensive prospects, and present fine landscape views. These elevations are generally more or less abrupt, showing fragments of greenstone in their more precipitous sides, and having their summits crowned with the same kind of rock in a more smoothed and flattened form.
In the centre of the town, within five or six rods of the Common from which it is separated by the street, rises 'BELFRY HILL,' so called, from the fact that a structure was formerly erected on this hill, in which the church bell was hung. This elevation, which is nearly hidden from the street by the houses and shade trees, is about forty feet above the Common, and standing in a bend of the road, presents a good view of the village, and of the roads approaching it on every side. On this elevation it is proposed to erect the contemplated Monument, commemorative of the opening scene of the American Revolu- tion. The summit of this hill presents a level surface of rock, which seems formed by nature for the base of such a structure ; and when one or two houses standing on the street are removed, and the whole ground opened to the Common, the beauty of the place would be greatly increased. Through the liberality of the heirs of the late William H. Cary, Esq., of Brooklyn, N. Y., this hill has been purchased, and is generously tendered to the Monument Association. If this Monument should be erected according to a design which has been adopted, as it would commemorate one of the greatest events in our history, so it would be one of the most attractive monuments in the country.
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