USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Medford > History of the town of Medford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, from its first settlement in 1630 to 1855 > Part 44
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Beside all this, he laid a foundation for colored schools in Nashville, sending to Boston for a car-load of school- books, and established a hospital for disabled soldiers. And this man was fain to retire from a service so benefi- cent, patriotic, and invaluable, at that period of the war, - receiving not one cent of compensation, and, instead, mort- gaging his beautiful estate in Medford to supply deficien- cies at instant need, - because he " became convinced that the government did not wish, and would not bear, thorough and conscientious work in that direction." " I kept at my post as long as I could put faith in its intention to accept the aid of the colored man on fair terms. When I lost that faith, I resigned."
It will be remembered that Kentucky was not included in the edict of emancipation. Slaves from that State would run to Nashville to be enlisted ; and although Major Stearns was authorized by the War Department to pay the owners three hundred dollars per head, they were nei- ther satisfied nor comfortable. Delegations of slaveholders proceeded to Washington, charged with complaints ; and when Major Stearns arrived at the seat of government in November of 1863, he was sternly rebuked by Secretary Stanton for not returning these fugitives. He could sacri- fice himself, his fortune, and all that were most dear to
I As an illustration of the rare executive ability of Mr. Stearns, and his genius for organization, it may be mentioned, that, while performing this toilsome and per- plexing work in Tennessee, he managed his large business in Boston daily, by tele- gram and by letter, having reduced it to such perfection of system, that subordinates were compelled to mechanical exactness.
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him, to preserve a government "of the people, for the peo- ple, and by the people;" but he could not return fugitive slaves.
This fact he did not reveal to familiar friends ; choosing rather to suffer unmerited criticism, than weaken the pub- lic confidence in the administration, during those dreadful days of doubt and fear.
In resigning his "commission," Mr. Stearns recovered his freedom and independence of action, extending to his successor cordial and valuable assistance. But the dropped threads of that enterprise never found the hand to pick them up.
In 1864 he returned to Tennessee, with a view to mak- ing an experiment of free labor. He took a plantation at Murfreesborough, and hired negroes at the same rate of wages as was paid to white laborers. The result was a triumphant vindication of the pecuniary advantage of free over the slave labor employed on an adjacent plantation. This was perhaps the only investment made for a princi- ple, that ever returned him principal and interest.
" The Freedman's Bureau," "impartial suffrage," the complicated problems of " reconstruction," and kindred questions, claimed his constant effort. New organs were needed for diffusing instruction in the less enlightened portions of the country. He started a little newspaper called "The Right Way," fifty thousand to sixty thousand copies of which were distributed over the South every week. The recognitions of its fitness were many and fer- vent. The Attorney-General of Texas wrote to Gov. An- drew, asking " if it could not be sent by the cart-load all over that State and the South." This paper he maintained for two years, at the cost of sixty thousand dollars. The New-York "Nation " originated with him, and was estab- lished principally through his influence, and largely by his means ; and it is well known how his purposes and inten- tions were betrayed in that instance.
The welfare of the people everywhere was sacred to him. Heroic Hungary and its exiles were fatherland and brothers ; and his last public efforts were in behalf of the Cretans.1 While canvassing New York for their pecuniary aid in January, 1867, he contracted a severe cold, which never relaxed its hold, and finally culminated in pneumo- nia, from which he died in New York, April 9, 1867.
I He obtained something like $60,000 for the Cretans.
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From the numerous tributes that appeared in the public prints to the memory of Major Stearns, we select a few paragraphs from the Boston " Transcript " of April 13.
" The funeral services of the late Major George L. Stearns took place at his mansion in Medford, near College Hill, yesterday after- noon. A strong desire was expressed that the funeral should be pub- lic in the Unitarian Church of Medford, in order that a greater number might have an opportunity of expressing their sorrow and regret. But the bereaved family shrunk from this publicity, and decided that the obsequies should be of the simplest character, and in his own home.
" The reading of happily selected Scripture, and an appropriate prayer by Rev. Samuel Longfellow, were followed by fitting tributes from Mr. R. W. Emerson of Concord, and Professor Theophilus Par- sons of Cambridge. Mr. Emerson said, ' Of our friend it is difficult to speak, and yet hard not to speak. The most striking characteris- tics of Major Stearns were his singleness of heart, and his freedom from all pride of opinion. In his devotion to the " causes " which he espoused, he gave more than he asked others to give. While many gave of their money as an expiation for not throwing themselves into the service, or as an excuse for not doing so, he gave as an earnest of his entire service, thus inspiring generosity. To name the philan- thropic enterprises of New England, would only be to enumerate the objects to which he devoted himself. His modesty, and absence of all self-assertion, were so rare, that we ought to be devoutly thankful that Nature and Heaven had sent us such a man ; that we had had the privilege of living with him. Measured by his work, his was one of the longest lives. He was no boaster, but a man for up-hill work ; not waiting for the morning, he began at midnight, while yet the stars were in the sky ; and when the sun rose, and the work was accom- plished, he made haste to depart, as if to escape from our thanks.'
" Mr. Emerson closed by speaking of his personal friendship with Mr. Stearns, and of the testimony John Brown had given him of his worth.
" Professor Parsons said he had known Mr. Stearns many years ; that his private character was as clear as crystal. One trait he would speak of, in which he stood pre-eminent, - the marvellous union of energy and enthusiasm, with a total absence of personal ambition. During the past four or five years, he had frequently been with him, when plans were discussed and proposals favored ; and though Major Stearns was always forward to labor, and to endure obloquy, and to spend money, yet when it came to recognition, to publicity, nothing would induce him to be foremost. When urged to place his name at the head of a movement of which he was the beginning, the life, and the energy, his answer was, ' No, nothing like that ; my name must be used only as a testimony of agreement, and not put forward.' It would be the fault of those he had left, if they were not all better for his influence and his memory. To himself, he had been a revelation, which had done good to his soul.
" It was a sunny, beautiful day, so soft and still that nature seemed to have paused in quiet hush, when the worn-out garment of his active soul was laid away reverently and tenderly at Mount Auburn, in a grave lined with fresh evergreen, strewn with choicest flowers, and
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watered by tears which flowed from loving and grateful hearts. We turned from it with feelings responsive to Mr. Longfellow's parting words, - ' He is not here : he is risen.' "
A service in commemoration of the life and character of Major Stearns was held in the Unitarian Church, Med- ford, Sunday morning, the 14th of April, when an address was made by R. W. Emerson, at his own request.
JUDAH LORING.
Judah Loring was born in Duxbury, Mass., April 15, 1809, and was educated in the public schools of his native town. In his minority he learned the trade of a ship- joiner, and when he was twenty-two years old came to Medford, and commenced the successful prosecution of that vocation. Dec. 3, 1835, he married Miss Betsey White Faxon, the daughter of Asaph and Eunice Allen Faxon, who became a true helpmeet to him, and justly shared the respect that he won. Soon after he came to Medford, he was identified with some of her prominent public interests, and early became a leading spirit in works of improvement and reform.
He held many town offices, such as school committee- man, overseer of the poor, selectman, etc., and for a long time was justice of the peace for the county of Middlesex. The Orthodox church, of which he was a worthy member, promoted him to the office of deacon, and he served in that capacity for many years. He was a zealous advocate of temperance, and an uncompromising foe of human slavery, in years when it required courage and true manli- ness to act in the temperance or the anti-slavery cause.
Mr. Loring possessed in a large degree qualities that commanded the respect and confidence of his fellow-citi- zens. He was a true man, a sincere and loyal patriot, and a courteous Christian gentleman.
He went to Kansas in May, 1857, and died there, in the city of Lawrence, Oct. 31 of that year. His wife sur- vived him ; and his three children, still living, are Free- man Allen, Mary James, and Arthur Green Loring. The town delighted to honor Mr. Loring while he lived; and after his decease, resolutions, in deserved commendation of his life and public services, were presented at a meet- ing of the town, and unanimously adopted.
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DANIEL LAWRENCE.
Daniel Lawrence was born in Tyngsborough, Mass, Sept. 12, 1797. He came to Medford in 1823, and entered the firm of Bishop & Goodrich, distillers. From that date until the close of his life, he was successfully engaged in the business of distilling ; for a large portion of the time on his own account, and, later, under the firm name of Daniel Lawrence & Sons. At one period he was also interested in the same business in New Orleans, and for several years gave it his personal supervision.
In 1858, during a temporary residence in Tyngsborough, he represented the town in the Legislature, giving his salary to the town. In token of his regard for his birth- place, he bequeathed by will seven thousand dollars, in perpetual trust, for the benefit of its indigent citizens.
He filled many positions of public trust in Medford ; and great confidence was placed in his sound judgment and executive ability. At the breaking-out of the Rebel- lion, he showed a most loyal interest in the effort to main- tain the Union, and advanced the funds necessary for the equipment of the Lawrence Light Guard, then going out to the seat of war. Mr. Lawrence died Jan. 19, 1879, in the eighty-second year of his age.
CAPT. JOHN T. WHITE
was born in Portsmouth, N.H., March 29, 1798. He was the youngest of seven children ; and at the age of nine- teen years removed to Medford, where he soon became deeply interested in matters of religion. Two years later he united with the Orthodox Church in Deerfield, N.H., and afterwards was one of the original members of the First Trinitarian-Congregational Church in Medford. He was a member of the parish committee for several years, and became an earnest worker in effecting the union of the two Orthodox societies, which was accomplished in December, 1874.
When but twenty-two years old, he was made a Free and Accepted Mason ; and for a period of nearly sixty years he was an active and honored member of that fra- ternity, always prompt at its regular communications un- til prevented by the infirmities of age. He was also an earnest and practical advocate of Odd-Fellowship, having
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united with that Order when he was forty years old. He was a charter member of Harmony Lodge, and manifested his interest in its prosperity and work to the close of his life.
The cause of temperance had a strong and active friend in Mr. White. He was a member of several temperance organizations in his town, prominent among which was Mount Lebanon Temple of Honor, of which he was one of the founders. In early manhood he was commissioned as captain of the militia, and was known and honored by that title to the close of his life.
Much time and thought were given by him to the wel- fare of Medford. For eleven years, from 1845 to 1856, he was on the board of overseers of the poor, and most of that time was its chairman. He was constable five years, chief of police two years, and for thirty-five consecutive years he filled the responsible position of collector of taxes.
He frequently expressed a wish that he might be found at the post of duty when God's messenger should come to call him home, - that he might die with the harness on ; and his wish was realized. Always at his post, never seek- ing a vacation from labor, he wore out in cheerful service ; and, at the age of fourscore years, went forward from life to life.
He left a widow and five children to mourn his decease. On the day of his funeral, business in the town was sus- pended, and the people, young and old, hastened to pay respect to his memory.
GEORGE W. PORTER.
George W. Porter was born in Medford, Jan. 26, 1801, and died in December, 1860. He was highly respected, and served the town as representative, justice of the peace, and as treasurer, for many years. The selectmen in their report, Feb. 1, 1861, speak of him as follows : -
" A vacancy in the office of town treasurer was created by the death of George W. Porter, Esq., Dec. 21 last. Mr. Porter had always lived in Medford ; had held various town offices, and had been town treasurer for twenty-four consecutive years. In the performance of his public du- ties, and in his private business, he was faithful, accurate, and courteous to all. In his death we have lost an es- teemed citizen, and a good officer. He died regretted
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and respected by all who knew him. We desire to express our sense of the loss the town has sustained by his death, and our sympathy with his bereaved family. We feel that our citizens will universally join in this expression of respect and sorrow."
MARIA GOWEN BROOKS.
One of the women of note by whom Medford has been honored was Maria Gowen, born here in 1796. She was left an orphan when thirteen years of age. Her life of fifty years was one of comparatively little outward inci- dent ; but her poetical writings evince a genius of a very high order. She was married at the early age of fourteen to a Boston merchant named Brooks, a union which proved to be an unhappy one. She was left a widow, with three sons, at the age of twenty-six. Notwithstanding the trials to which she was subject, she proved herself a poetess of such rare talent as to attract the attention of the poet Southey, and call forth the expression of his admiration. He writes of her chief work, "Zophiel, or the Bride of Seven :" "Thus sings Maria del Occidente, the most impas- sioned and imaginative of all poetesses." Charles Lamb rose from the reading of it with these words : "Southey says it is by some Yankee woman ; as if there had ever been a woman capable of any thing so great !" At the time of her death in 1845, Mr. Rufus W. Griswold wrote of her : " She was one of the most remarkable women that ever lived. To great attainments in literature, she joined a powerful and original genius, and a character of singular energy and individuality. Both in England and the United States, she has been considered by those who have read her writings thoughtfully, as unmatched among poets of her sex." Mr. Whittier, our New-England poet, says, "When a young man I read 'Zophiel,' a most re- markable poem, and have never forgotten it. The impas- sioned song which Southey praised so highly is a perfect gem.' Miss Eunice Hall of Medford, who saw Mrs. Brooks when on a visit to her native town, says, " She was a very handsome lady, with winning manners, purest blonde com- plexion, blue eyes, abundant pale golden hair, who wrote poetry, and sang very sweetly." Miss Lucy Osgood, in mentioning a visit of Mrs. Brooks to Medford, says, "I have a dim recollection of a lady walking out at odd hours,
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and dressed in white at odd seasons, and of being told that she was Mrs. Brooks of the Gowen family, and a poetess. She and her family soon disappeared; and I afterwards found, chiefly through a laudatory article in one of our English reviews, that we had had a flower of genius among us, and, in our stupidity, knew it not."
Mrs. Brooks lived a part of her life near Limoral, Cuba ; and after visiting Canada, England, and France, returned and died in her Cuban home.
LOUISA J. CUTTER.
Louisa J. Cutter, daughter of Gershom and Lydia (Por- ter) Cutter, was born in Medford, Aug. 15, 1835. She was educated in the public schools of the town, and until she reached her fifteenth year was not considered preco- cious, though always a pains-taking and industrious scholar. But from the beginning of her sixteenth year, she showed signs of literary talent, which both surprised and pleased her friends. Her first published poem was received with much favor ; and, inspired by that, she soon produced short poems and articles in prose, which were readily ac- cepted by editors of various journals. Soon her articles were sought and paid for. She was never strong, but while a small measure of health remained she continued to use her pen, and for three years was a regular contributor to the press. We should be pleased to give extracts from her published writings, did our space permit. The poems entitled " The Warrior's Wife to her Husband," and "The Last Wish," are especially commendable ; and, with others, may be found in the Public Library, in a volume of her writings published by the writer, entitled "Cypress Leaves." Miss Cutter died before she was twenty ; and her career as an author lasted but three years, and these were years of feeble health. Her beautiful gifts, both of person and of mind, have left a lasting impression upon those who knew her.
MR. CHARLES CUMMINGS.
Charles Cummings was born in Hollis, N.H., June 7, 1817. His parents were Thomas and Mary (Whitney) Cummings. At the age of fourteen years, he was en- ployed as clerk in a store in Amherst, N.H., where he spent about four years ; when the decease of his employer,
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and the necessary closing-up of his business, terminated! his engagement. He then began preparation for college,, at Pepperell Academy ; and while there, he discharged the: double duty of pupil and assistant teacher a large part of: the time.
He entered Dartmouth College 1838, and was graduated with honor from one of the largest and most distinguished classes ever sent out from that institution.
His mind and heart turned towards the work of the Christian ministry, and he entered the theological semi- nary at Andover in 1842 ; and, although absent nearly two years while filling the position of principal of Abington Union Academy, he graduated in 1846.
During the last year of his theological studies, his health failed so greatly that he was induced to relinquish, tempo- rarily at least, his professional career, and engage in an- other vocation, for which he had an early and very strong attachment. He had taught school during his course in college, and while in the theological seminary, until that work had become easy and pleasant to him; and in his physical weakness he re-engaged in it, as something akin to restful employment.
The principal's chair in the Medford High School being at that time vacant, he was chosen as the best qualified. among many applicants to fill it ; and he held the position until 1876, when the infirmity of deafness had so increased that he felt that duty required him to resign.
During the thirty years in which he held that responsi -. ble position, he had under his charge eleven hundred! pupils ; and those, added to the scholars he had previously instructed in academies and other schools, would make the. whole number who have received instruction from him full eighteen hundred.
Large as have been the results, intellectually considered, of Mr. Cummings's labors as an instructor, it cannot be questioned that the example of his pure life, and unselfish devotion to duty, has been of even greater value to his pupils. Few men can look back upon a career of more uninterrupted usefulness ; and few have a stronger hold upon the love and respect of the community in which they live.
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NATHANIEL H. BISHOP.
In the Boston " Daily Advertiser " of Jan. "12, 1856, the following paragraph appeared in a letter from Valpa- raiso, dated Nov. 27, 1855 : -
" There arrived here, a few days since, a young man belonging to Medford, Mass., who has walked across the Pampas and Cordilleras, more than a thousand miles, unable to speak the language, and with an astonishingly small amount of money. So much for a Yankee."
This young man was Nathaniel H. Bishop of this town. He was but seventeen years of age when he entered upon his difficult undertaking ; but by great perseverance, in- spired by an enthusiastic love for nature, he accomplished a task that many older and more experienced travellers than himself would have shrunk from undertaking. The young traveller started on his journey of upwards of twelve thousand miles by sea and land, with a cash capital of forty-five dollars, and returned home with fifty. An interesting account of his journey was subsequently pub- lished in Boston, with an introduction by E. A. Samuels, the well-known writer on ornithology. Mr. Bishop has since published an account of a canoe-trip made by him along the southern coast. The story of his adventures is well told, and his scientific observations are of value.
GEN. EDWARD N. HALLOWELL.
Edward Needles Hallowell was born in Philadelphia, Penn., Nov. 3, 1837. Soon after the opening of the Rebel- lion in 1861, he entered the service as volunteer aide-de- camp to Gen. John C. Frémont. He was appointed second lieutenant, Twentieth Massachusetts Infantry, Jan. II, 1862; and was promoted first lieutenant Nov. 12, 1862. He was engaged in the principal battles of the Peninsular campaign, and at Antietam served on the staff of Gen. Dana. He was commissioned captain, Fifty-fourth Massa- chusetts Infantry, March 6, 1863 ; was promoted major, April 17, 1863 ; and advanced to the lieutenant-colonelcy of his regiment, May 31, 1863. He was badly wounded at the assault upon Fort Wagner, July 18, 1863, and was pro- moted colonel, July 18, 1863.
At the disastrous battle of Olustee, Fla., he brought his colored regiment, the Fifty-fourth Massachusetts, into ac- tion in the very crisis of affairs, checked the advance of a
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victorious enemy, and, in a thoroughly creditable manner, made it possible for the Federal column to retire upon Jacksonville.
He was created brevet brigadier-general, United States Volunteers, June 27, 1865, for "meritorious service." He died at West Medford, Mass., July 26, 1871.
COL. NORWOOD P. HALLOWELL.
Norwood Penrose Hallowell was born in Philadelphia, Penn., April 13, 1839. He was graduated at Harvard Col- lege, in class of 1861.
June 10, 1861, he was commissioned first lieutenant, Twentieth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers. He was engaged in the battle of Ball's Bluff, Oct. 21, 1861, and was promoted captain, Nov. 26, 1861. He was present at the siege of Yorktown, under fire at West Point, in action at Fair Oaks and at Savage's Station, and was wounded at Glendale. Later, he was present at the battle of Mal- vern Hill, and subsequently took part in a reconnoissance from Harrison's Landing to that place ; was in the third line of battle at Chantilly ; and at Antietam, Sept. 17, 1862, was severely wounded.
April 17, 1863, he was appointed lieutenant-colonel, Fifty- fourth Massachusetts ; and May 30 of the same year, at the request of Gov. John A. Andrew, he accepted the colo- nelcy of the Fifty-fifth Massachusetts, -the second Massa- chusetts colored regiment brought into the service, - and was stationed for a brief period at Newbern, N.C. He encamped with his regiment on north end of Folly Island, Charleston Harbor, Aug. 5, 1863, and took part in the reduction of Fort Wagner, Morris Island. Nov. 2, 1863, Col. Hallowell was discharged for disability arising from wounds. He took up his residence in Medford in 1869.
Too high honor cannot be awarded to that devotion to a principle which led the brothers Hallowell to voluntarily connect themselves with the first colored regiments raised during the war. There was at that time a wide-spread public sentiment against the employment of colored troops in the Union armies, founded on race prejudices which were perhaps as strong in the North as in the South. The readiness shown by young men of culture, character, and high social position, to cast in their lots with a despised race, by standing with them in the close relations of broth-
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