USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Princeton > History of the town of Princeton in the county of Worcester and commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1759-1915, Volume I > Part 23
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Oration at Marietta, Ohio, July 5, 1813.
In the "American Friend" of Aug. 7, 1813, he criticises Webster's Resolutions in Congress, and later announces his intention to issue a history of the War of 1812.
I find that the "Common Sense in Dishabille," in the Farmers' Museum, began in the issue of May 17, 1797 and there is no hint as to the author. The following para- graph heads the first article under the above title: -
"To the Editor: -
For a considerable time, I have had on hand, a small stock of raw materials, which with the help of a word V mill, a few rhetorical figures and borrowed ornaments, might pass current, with those superior geniuses, who can judge of the merit of a man by his coat, or feel the glow of en- thusiam at the sight of a painted cheek or fine gown. To accommodate those who are not possessed of this happy talent and save myself the trouble of reading rules of
* Note-on the title page is found the following: "Your legs so long, your stride so fast, Run as we may, we come out last."
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authorship, I shall adopt a less expensive mode of writing. My pen shall extemporize, my ideas shall spend no time at the toilet, but parade themselves as fast as they are summoned by this important marshall of the paper field. Without any futher ceremony, if you give your consent, I will open my little retail shop in one corner of your Farmers' Museum, where probably I shall continue to carry on my business until the ground is occupied by better tenants, or I am obliged to shut up for want of stock. My sign shall be 'Common Sense in Dishabille.'"
Extracts from the first article appearing under "Com- mon Sense in Dishabille:" -
"It is seldom addressed to one in Latin or Greek but in plain English. Quit your pillow, and go about your business, if you have any, is its first injunction: if not, seek some.
" Let the sun's first beams shine on your head in the morning, and you shall not want a good hat to defend your head against the scorching rays at noon; earn your break- fast before you eat it, and the sheriff shall not deprive you of your supper," etc.
The following subjects were discussed in succeeding issues: -
The Poor Woman.
Short Way to Poverty.
The Pound.
Win Gold and Wear It.
Earn Industriously and Spend Prudently.
He Cuts a Dash.
The Penknife.
Family Government, - several articles.
Liberty and Equality.
Tommy Tiptoe's Case. School Government.
He is a Genius.
Nature's University.
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Every One to His Trade. What Shall a Man Do Who
Has No Trade? Learn One. To-morrow.
A Penny Saved is Twopence Earned.
Shoes.
A Stitch in Time Saves Nine.
Cure for the Hypo.
The Unruly Horse.
Bought Wit.
There is No Friendship in Trade; or the Author's Sec- ond Coat.
The Worth of Man; or the Man of Worth.
The last-mentioned article occurred in Dec. 26, 1797, and I could find nothing further in 1798 or 1799.
If Mr. Everett wrote political articles it was not over his signature.
I noticed in the Massachusetts Spy, under date of Mar. 13, 1799, an advertisement of a pamphlet just put on sale at the bookstore in Worcester, written by Peter Pencil, containing the articles which appeared in the Farmers' Museum, under the head of "Common Sense in Dishabille," also several essays never before published, a New Year's poem for 1798, a Perpetual Calendar, etc. It goes on to say, "The general circulation of the numbers under the title 'Common Sense in Dishabille' that have already been published and the avidity with which they are read by all classes, precludes the necessity of any encomium on the work. The writings of Peter Pencil have been sparingly exhibited to the public; but produced copious applause from the amateurs. The 12 essays of the Economical Almanack, adapted to each month in the year, have never appeared in print before.
" They are fraught with useful observations communi- cated in an easy, familiar style, and dictated by sound judgment and correct style.
" On the whole I think this little volume will afford as much 'useful information' and 'innocent amusement' as
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any of its size that have been offered to the public, and may safely be recommended to the youth of the country, to industrious mechanics and farmers, and to the library of every patron of useful and ingenious American Publi- cations." Among the many parodies that have appeared is the following :
From Temperance Selections Edited by John H. Becktel. Penn. Pub. Co.
You'd scarce expect one of my age To plead for temperance on the stage; And should I chance to fall below Portraying all the drunkard's woe, Don't view me with a critic's eye, Nor pass my simple story by.
Large streams from little fountains flow ; Great sots from moderate drinkers grow; And though I am so small and young, No rum shall ever touch my tongue! Now, where's the town, go far or near, That sells the rum that we do here? Or where's the boy but three feet high That hates the traffic more than I? (No author)
AUTHORITIES.
Am. Antiquarian Socy's Proceedings, Oct. 1889, by Dr. A. P. Peabody. Buckingham, Vol. II, Am. Law Review, Oct. 1867, Judges Thomas and Shaw. Genealogical Memorial Biographies, Vol. IV.] The Hundred Boston Orators.
History of Marietta, Ohio.
History of New Ipswich, N. H.
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Edward Savage, the portrait painter and engraver, was born in Princeton, Massachusetts, November 26, 1761.
He was the second child of Seth and Lydia (Craige) Savage and grandson of Edward Savage who came to Massachusetts in 1696 from Ireland, whither his father, Abraham Sauvage, had been driven from St. Algis, Picardy in France, by the revocation of the Edict of Nantes.
Savage is said to have been originally a goldsmith, a trade that has graduated not a few engravers. He could not, however, have followed it for any great length of time, as he was only twenty-eight when he left Massachusetts for New York, with a letter to Gen. Washington from the president of Harvard requesting him to sit for his portrait for the University.
The portrait for Harvard was begun in New York, December 21, 1789, and finished January 6, 1790, as we learn from Washington's diary: although it seems not to have been delivered to Harvard until the end of the follow- ing year.
"This is the first knowledge we have of Savage as an artist and we are in profound ignorance of what preparation he had to essay so important a commission. That he had some experience, and perhaps instruction, goes without saying, for even though his portrait of Washington is not the best art, yet it could not have been painted by an abso- lutely inexperienced tyro."
In 1791, Savage went to London where he is said to have studied under Benjamin West, and it is inferred that he visited Italy, from the inscription on the whole-length portrait of Columbus, engraved by Edwin and published by Savage, at Philadelphia in 1800, which states that the portrait of Columbus is copied from the original picture, by E. Savage, in the collection of the Grand Duke of Tus- cany, at Florence.
While in London he learned to engrave in stipple and mezzotint, as his portrait of General Knox was published
* Mass. Hist. Soc., 1858-60, Paper by Mr. Charles Henry Hart, Phila- delphia, corresponding member.
POST(
FUBI LIBRAY
Quand Lavage
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in that city in 1791, his Harvard Washington in 1792, and in 1793, his well-known portrait of Washington seated at a table, upon which are a cocked hat and a plan of the city of Washington.
In 1794 Savage returned to the United States and was married at Boston, on October 13, 1794, to Sarah Seaver. Soon after this, he removed to Philadelphia, where his brother, John Savage, was located in business. In 1795 he exhibited the first panorama ever seen in that city, and he apparently remained in Philadelphia publishing prints at intervals until 1801, when his name disappears from the Philadelphia directory, where he was down as "Historical Painter." He then seemingly went to New York and from there to Massachusetts, as his fifth child was born in New York in 1802 and his sixth child in Princeton in 1805.
There are no completed engravings by Savage after his leaving Philadelphia bearing a later date or issued from another place, but the copper-plate of the picture of "The Congress Voting Independence" was doubtless his latest work and left unfinished at his death. This interest- ing plate belongs to the Massachusetts Historical Society.
During the early part of the century Savage became interested in a museum in Boston, called the New York Museum, part painting gallery and part museum, which was opened in Boylston Hall in 1812. In July, 1818, the New England Museum was opened at 76 Court Street by Ethan A. Greenwood. It was commenced with the col- lection of curiosities, paintings, etc., owned by Edward Savage, recently deceased.
This property consisted of the paintings of Washington and his family, Columbus, Liberty, and seventy other paintings, besides a large collection of curiosities, birds, insects, fishes, etc., the whole valued at $6543.
The New Haven, The Boston, The Market, and the Columbian Museums and the Museum of the Linnean Society were successively purchased and added to this establishment, together with various collections from other sources. Mr. Greenwood sold his collection to Mr. Moses
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Kimball and the better part of the property or that which was worth saving formed the nucleus of the Boston Museum of later time.
In addition to the Museum venture Savage invested in the Poignand and Plant Cotton factory in Lancaster, Mass., built in 1809, one of the earliest of its kind sucessfully run in America. The president was David Poignand de- scribed as "A dapper, urbane gentleman of French Hugue- not descent." His partner was his son-in-law, Samuel Plant, an Englishman who had been in America about twenty years as agent for a great cloth manufacturer of Leeds. They had also two able assistants, Capt. Thomas W. Lyon, an ingenious machinist, and Edward Savage the silent partner who helped furnish the necessary capital.
It would seem, however, that these outside enterprises did not interfere wholly with the work of Savage as an artist, for Rev. George Allen of Worcester in reminiscences of his Yale college life 1809-13, says "at New Haven I became acquainted with Savage the Princeton artist and portrait painter. He remained some time at my boarding place and as my room had the best light, he made use of it to copy a portrait of Roger Sherman. I found him an agreeable person.
Mr. Hart's article describes Edward Savage as "a man of medium height, inclined to stoutness, quick in his move- ments, with brown hair and blue-gray eyes. Saint Memin drew and engraved a fine profile portrait of him, which shows a strong head with a keen eye."
The Goodspeed Collection of Savage Prints, now in the possession of the Worcester Art Museum, contains a nearly complete series of his engravings of Washington and his family, most of which are after paintings by Savage himself. It also includes three good miniature portraits on ivory painted by his own hand, one of himself and one of his wife, painted before their marriage, and one of Edward Seaver, a brother of Mrs. Savage.
* Reminiscences of the Rev. George Allen, page 55.
SARAH (SEAVER) SAVAGE
EDWARD SAVAGE
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Edward Savage died suddenly in Princeton, Mass., July 6, 1817, and Mrs. Savage died in Lancaster, Mass., January 27, 1861 .*
Daniel Davis was born in Princeton, of a mechanical family, worked on his father's farm until he was twenty- one, and went to Boston in 1833. His first work in that city was pumping soda for Mr. Darling, who then had a large soda factory in Franklin Avenue. Being greatly interested in electrical experiments, he soon became ac- quainted with Dr. William King, who had a shop on Corn- hill, who manufactured static electrical machines and also constructed and put up lightning rods.
Mr. Davis soon found employment with him. His first job was constructing and putting up the rod on the court house in Boston. This was made of flat copper ribbon. He also constructed and put up the rods on the buildings in the Charlestown Navy Yard. In 1835 he began busi- ness for himself at No. 11 Cornhill, in partnership with the late John Temple, under the firm name of Davis & Temple. In 1837 Mr. Davis bought out the interest of his partner and commenced the manufacture of electro-magnetic ap- paratus. At that early day there was no practical use for electricity, and his principal business was manufacturing and constructing apparatus to illustrate the general princi- ples of voltaic and dynamic electricity, and in connection with the late Dr. Charles G. Page invented many of the electric circuits, movements and machines that are now in use. They continued their experiments together until the fall of 1839, when Dr. Page accepted a position in Washington as examiner of electric patents. Mr. Davis's business increased very rapidly, he being the only man in
* In taking down the Savage house I found a brick in the chimney which was marked when soft 1752. The brick was made on the place: I. F. Thomp- son. - Mr. Thompson bought the place of Hemingway the owner of the Factory place and took down the house about 1850 -
Samuel Thompson Į brothers of Isaac Ist died James Thompson [ in Hubbardston
All three were Revolutionary Soldiers from Princeton.
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the United States at this time who made electro-magnetic apparatus.
He was a man who did not believe in patents. Had he patented some of his inventions he would have died a millionaire. He invented the art of electrotyping in cop- per, wood-cuts and type such as are used to-day, and gave his invention to the world. In 1846 he electrotyped in copper the arm of a child, which has been lately claimed as a new invention. In 1840 Professor Gareaux of Paris arrived in Boston with the invention of Daguerre. Mr. Davis made a set of apparatus and probably took the first daguerrotype taken in this country. This first picture taken in Boston was the German Catholic church on Suffolk street, now Shawmut Avenue. At that time there were no houses in that vicinity. A gentleman who stood at the corner of the church when the picture was taken held his cane in his right hand, but when the plate was developed and finished, to the astonishment of all, the cane was in the left hand. This puzzled the operator some time, until he learned that the picture, being on an opaque surface, was reversed.
With the assistance of his brother, Ari Davis, Elias Howe, the famous sewing machine inventor, made his first ma- chine in his shop.
Mr. Davis was also the first man in this country who did electro gold and silver plating, and taught the art. In 1844 Professor Morse had just introduced his telegraph, but it was a very rude and impracticable machine, and it was put into Mr. Davis's hands for improvement and he put it in its present state. He received several gold medals from various exhibitions for his inventions and skill as a manufacturer. His shop was the headquarters for pro- fessors, scientists and electricians for many years. It was frequented by Dr. Hare, Professors Webster, Hitchcock, Silliman, Henry, Abbott, Farmer and Channing and most of the scientific men of the time. Mr. Davis would be in his shirt sleeves trying some new experiment, with the professors crowding around him as much interested in his work as himself.
,
EDWARD A. GOODNOW
1
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At that time probably no man in this country had such a thorough practical knowledge of electricity and he will long be remembered through his work on magnetism en- titled "A Manual of Magnetism, including Galvanism, Magnetism, Electro-Magnetism, Electro-Dynamics, Mag- neto-Electricity and Thermo-Electricity." It contained about 180 original illustrations.
The first edition came out in 1842; but it ran through several editions, and is now out of print. Originally published more to advertise the wares of Mr. Davis, and as a means of calling attention to his business, than as a text-book of electro-technics, its value as a vade-mecum of electrical information was at once seen and it appeared that he had builded better than he knew. The first edition of 1842, and the second edition, which was published in 1847, were both written under the supervision of Drs. John Bacon, Jr., and William F. Channing, and hence acquired an elegance of style and a perspicuity of language, which, combined with the practical knowledge of Mr. Davis, assured the success of the book. It was adopted as a text- book by many colleges and high schools, becoming a great favorite especially in the United States Military Academy at West Point, for the sake of the many practical demon- strations shown within its pages. It has become extremely scarce, but it has ever been valued by those fortunate enough to possess a copy of it, and even now many of our ablest electricians are not ashamed to confess that they have learned much from Davis' Manual of Magnetism.
In 1852 Mr. Davis retired to his farm in Princeton, where he passed the remainder of his days in agricultural pursuits.
Edward Augustus Goodnow, distinguished as a financier of preëminent ability, and widely known as a philanthropist, born in Princeton, July 16, 1810, was a son of Edward and Rebecca (Beaman) Goodnow. He passed his boyhood life upon the farm, but was fortunate in obtaining more than the ordinary advantages afforded by the district schools in instruction for several terms at Hadley Academy. At the age of twenty he was employed by his elder brother,
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who kept a country store, and two years later entered into partnership with him. The business was afterwards en- larged to include the manufacture of palm-leaf hats and of shoes, an example of enterprise not common at that time.
In 1847 Mr. Goodnow, seeking broader opportunities, engaged in the cutlery business at Shelburne Falls as a member of the firm of Lamson, Goodnow & Co. In 1852 he became a resident of Worcester, and for four years en- gaged in the retail shoe trade, and in 1856 opened the first wholesale jobbing house in that city, in which enterprise his business reached an amount of nearly one-half million dollars in a year. In 1865 he retired from active mer- cantile life in the possession of a large fortune. In 1866 he became president of the First National Bank, in which office he greatly promoted the prosperity of the institution, so that its stock doubled its par value under his manage- ment. For years it was the only bank which allowed interest on deposits subject to check. He served in this office twenty-eight years. He was instrumental in the erection of the First National Bank building.
Mr. Goodnow entered early into the anti-slavery move- ment, and during the War of the Rebellion gave freely of his means to sustain the government. He headed a sub- scription with $500 to help Governor Andrew enlist and equip the first regiment of colored troops. He subscribed for the first issue of government bonds. He also furnished thirteen clerks from his service for the army. He gave to the Worcester High School the memorial tablets in memory of fifteen students who fell in the war; also a bust of General Grant and a portrait of Harriet Beecher Stowe. Life size portraits of President Garfield and Vice- President Wilson grace Mechanics Hall through his gen- erosity. Several of his benefactions are memorials of his married life. His first wife was Harriet, daughter of Doctor Henry Bagg of Princeton, and subsequent to her death Mr. Goodnow married her sister, Mary Augusta. Of this marriage one son, Henry Bagg Goodnow, was born,
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but did not survive infancy. The second wife died after five years of wedded life. Mr. Goodnow's third wife was Catherine B., daughter of Honorable Seth Caldwell of Barre, who after twenty-five years also passed away. His fourth wife, who survived him, was Sarah A. West. Mr. Goodnow, in connection with his gift of $40,000 to his native town to build the library building known as the Goodnow Memorial building, devoted $3000 1 towards the building of a new town hall, which has been named Bagg Hall in memory of his first two wives and his son. In 1887 he gave $5000 to found the Catherine B. Goodnow fund to the Young Women's Christian Association in Worcester, and later $25,000 more towards completing the building of this association.
He has also been a benefactor of Plymouth Congrega- tional Church in Worcester, of which he was a member, presenting the chime of bells and its fine organ to that Society.
As a friend to higher education Mr. Goodnow has par- ticularly distinguished himself. To Mount Holyoke College he gave $25,000, to Iowa College $15,000 to erect the Good- now Library and Observatory; and $5000 each to Wellesley College, the Moody School at Northfield, and Washburn College in Kansas. He also contributed to the funds of Oberlin College, Berea College, Lincoln College, and the Hampton Institute. He gave $25,000 to erect buildings for the Huguenot Seminary in Wellington, South Africa, and was the first American to contribute for the education of woman in South Africa. His total gifts for all purposes exceeded a quarter of a million dollars.
He retained a good degree of health to an advanced age, and died at his home on Oak Street in Worcester on Feb- ruary first, 1906, in his ninety-sixth year.
1 His offer was $5000, and $2000 was used for other purposes.
CHAPTER XII
DIARY KEPT BY ELIZABETH FULLER, DAUGHTER OF REV. TIMOTHY FULLER OF PRINCETON
This is a copy, except that a few items of little importance are omitted.
In the short sentences of this quaintly worded little chronicle of a demure New England maiden, Elizabeth Fuller, there is a wholesome picture of the God-fearing homes of the period, when home making meant house- keeping as well. Irresistible touches of humor, conscious and unconscious, run like a scarlet thread through the grey background of weaving, soap-making, neighborly visita- tions and household cares.
Her supreme satisfaction in her finished spring weaving, and the despair with which she writes on her sixteenth birthday "so many years passed in thoughtlessness and vanity," shows the puritanical influence of her forbears, and her natural upbringing as the daughter of a New Eng- land minister. The neighborliness of the country life of the time, and the sincerity of the men, women and children of the little town, who were her friends, and visitors at the parsonage, can be glimpsed between the lines. Her affec- tion for the older sister Sally, and her pride in brother Timmy, are very real as one reads the simple diary with the sometime monotonous daily happenings. For instance the appearance of "I wove today," and the little outburst of girlish petulance after a week of it, make her a human . child after all, and her little chronicle interesting read- ing for girls and women of another century and sur- roundings.
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1790
Oct. 4- Mr. Pope was here, bought a pair of oxen of Pa. Mr. Keys at work here.
5 - Pa went as clerk to the vendue of the estate that was Mr. Josiah Miricks. - Mr. Keys finished our lean to.
6 - Pa went to vendue again.
7 - Very pleasant to-day. I have to work very hard.
10 - Sabbath Mr. Moore preached.
II - I washed to-day.
12 .- Pa got in his corn. Mr. Joseph Eveleth died last night.
13- Mrs. Perry, Miss Eliza Harris, Miss Sally Puffer, and Miss Hannah Haynes, and Wareham, and Rebekah Hastings were baptised by immersion. - I was fifteen to-day.
14 - A hard storm. Mr. Eveleth was buried.
18 - Pa and Ma set out for Sandwich. I am quite sick, don't sit up but very little.
21 - I was so bad that we sent for Dr. Wilson. When he came he told me I had a settled Fever.
1790
Nov. 5- Nathan Perry here about an hour this eve. I am a good deal better, have been out of my room two or three times. 8 o'clock Pa and Ma came home, we were over joyed to see them, but had done expecting them.
7-Sabbath, no preaching in town.
II - Timmy went to mill.
14-Sabbath. Mr. Sparhawk preached, came here at night.
19 - Nathan Perry here this evening.
20 - Leonard Woods here this morn. Mrs. Perry here this afternoon a visiting.
21 - Sabbath. Mr. Brown of Winchendon preached.
22 - Revd. Mr. Brown breakfasted with us this morning. He is an agreable pretty man.
23 - Mr. Gregory killed a cow for Pa.
24- We baked two ovensfull of pyes. - Mr. Nathan Perry here this eve.
25- Thanksgiving to-day we baked three ovensfull of pyes. There was no preaching so we had nothing to do but eat them. The pyes were a great deal better than they were last Thanksgiving for I made them all myself, and part of them were made of flour which we got of Mr. H. Hastings therefore we had plenty of spice.
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26 - Mr. Ephriam Mirick here. Pa went to town meeting. 27 - Mr. Gregory killed our hogs to-day.
28 - There is no preaching in this town. There came a considerable snow last night.
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