USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Townsend > History of the town of Townsend, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, from the grant of Hathorn's farm, 1676-1878 > Part 20
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was ever a practical lawyer. He was a successful teacher for a number of years. in Cambridge, and other places in the vicinity of Boston. In 1811, he was a major in the Massachusetts militia, and during the same year a member of the Massachusetts Legislature.
He subsequently moved to Machiasport, Maine, where he engaged in the milling and lumber business. In 1830, he represented Machias in the Maine Legislature. He was a police magistrate, at Machiasport, for a long time. always holding one or more of the offices in the gift of the town. He was greatly interested in the cause of tem- perance and a zealous advocate of the so called "Maine Liquor Law." He spent the last years of his life, with one of his sons, at Bowdoinham, Maine, where he died. in 1857, aged eighty-eight.
He was a quiet gentleman, his good judgment, his reticense and his perfect honesty, securing for him that good name which is an honor to his memory. his native town, and his Alma Mater.
Prominent among this interesting group of collegians. and deservedly so, is DANIEL ADAMS, a grandson of one of the original proprietors of Townsend. Born in 1773. graduated at Dartmouth College, 1797, and died at Keene, New Hampshire, in 1864, aged ninety-one years. His father was one of the few men of this town, at that time. who possessed sufficient pecuniary means to educate a son at college. He received the degree of Doctor of Medicine, at Hanover, New Hampshire, in 1799. He married the only daughter of Dr. Mullikin, of Townsend. and located at Leominster, where he commenced as a practical physician. Leominster, like most large towns. joined in the funeral services in honor of Washington, in
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the winter of 1800, and Dr. Adams was chosen to deliver the eulogy. which duty he performed in an impressive and eloquent manner. The town ordered the eulogy to be printed, and served to every legal voter. In 1801, he engaged with Salmon Wilder, in publishing a weekly newspaper at Leominster, called "The Telescope." This publication continued about a year, when he conceived the idea of his "Scholars' Arithmetic," which caused the "Telescope" to be laid aside to give place to the new enterprise. "The Scholars' Arithmetic, Leominster, 1803," was received with much favor, and filled just the place in our district schools for which it was intended by its ingenious author. Pike's Arithmetic, used in the schools at that time, contained the advanced principles in the science, but was wanting in simplicity and adaptation to the minds of those who were able to attend school only a few weeks in the course of the year. Generally the teachers had a copy of Pike's Arithmetic, which was comparatively a costly book, which answered for the whole school. The "Scholars' Arithmetic," a first-class text book, containing all that is necessary for any business man to know of that science, fully equal, if not superior to any book of the kind now in use, and offered at a reasonable price, was received with great interest by all our common schools.
His "Understanding Reader," and a treatise on Geography, were published in 1808. These two books were not so popular as his Arithmetic, although the Understanding Reader was used considerably.
Dr. Adams went from Leominster to Boston, and engaged in teaching, where he remained for a few years, when, finding his health begin to fail, he removed to the airy town of Mont Vernon, New Hampshire, and
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resumed the practice of medicine. This locality brought him in frequent contact with the celebrated Dr. Matthias Spaulding, of Amherst, New Hampshire, who scarcely had a peer in his profession. The most friendly relations existed between these men. They were the consulting physicians in that part of the state. Let it be remarked here, that Dr. Adams was eminently an intellectual man. He liked to investigate the cause of things, to lay open their hidden relations and affinities. Such an intellect may be compared to the head-light of a locomotive, that darts its rays far along the track. In 1822, he became a member of the New Hampshire Historical Society, and soon after, a member of the New Hampshire Medical Society, of which, at one time, he was president.
From Mont Vernon he went to Keene, New Hamp- shire, where he prepared "Adams' New Arithmetic, Keene, 1828." This school book was considered, by good judges, as inferior to the "Scholars' Arithmetic." "The Monitorial Reader," published the last of any of his school books, was very favorably received by school com- mittees and educators. In scholarship, at Dartmouth, he ranked among the first third of his class, and was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society. There was a semi-centennial meeting of his class at the commencement at Dartmouth College, in 1847, at which seven of the original thirty were in attendance. Three or four of this number had not seen each other during the fifty years. In a letter written to Rev. David Palmer, of this town, giving an account of the meeting. Dr. Adams regrets that Mr. Palmer was unable to be present. It appears that Phineas White, a member of the class of 1797, died
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in 1847, and these seven class-mates, at this their semi- centennial meeting, prepared and forwarded a letter of condolence to his widow. The letter to Mr. Palmer, describes all the particulars of this meeting, and contains a copy of the letter of condolence, giving the names of the seven signers thereto, all of which is very affecting. The Doctor, at the close of his letter to Mr. Palmer, adds this as a postscript : "After preparing the letter. we united with Brother Cabot, in a very affecting and fervent prayer ; when taking each other by the hand for the last time, we parted, crying like babies."
We regret that our limits compel us to take leave of this graduate, whose life-work of ninety-one years was one continuity of good acts, not only in guiding the youthful mind in the acquisition of useful knowledge, in assisting the poor and the destitute, in soothing the dying, but in bequeathing to us, and especially to every one by the name of Adams, an exemplary character, worthy of lasting and affectionate remembrance.
JOSEPH WALKER was born on Bayberry Hill, in 1792, graduated at Bowdoin College, in 1818. Mr. Walker, acquired his education without any pecuniary assistance from any source, obtaining funds by teaching as he went along. In the course of his studies he evinced an enterprise and determination, which gave a color and char- acter to all his professional acts, well worthy of his puri- tan ancestry. Professor Packard, of Bowdoin, in answer to enquiries, says of him, "He was a good student, and held a good reputation for diligence, and for a sound, discriminating mind. His commencement part was a "soliloquy,' a part never before or since assigned with
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that designation. I supposed at the time it was so assigned on account of his reflective turn. He was. I know, greatly respected as a student and a man, his religious character being clearly decided. He studied theology with Rev. Dr. Payson, of Portland, Maine, and was afterwards settled as a pastor and preacher of the Orthodox Congre- gational denomination, at Norway, Maine." This synopsis of the character of Mr. Walker, by a gentleman in col- lege with him, whose venerable form still graces the halls of learning and religion, is exceedingly valuable. During the most active part of Mr. Walker's ministry, strong and heated religious controversies were entered into by the clergy. The unitarians had just acquired "a local habi- tation and a name," and the universalists marshalled their forces with consummate skill and ability under Balfour, Whittemore, Dean, and others. The difference of opinion concerning the method of baptism was another source of disagreement. In all these subjects of controversy, Mr. Walker took an active part. He published a pamphlet. with the title "Glance at Dean's 120 Reasons for being a Universalist, Portland, 1828," and another with the title. "Examination of the New Testament Evidence on Modes of Baptism. Portland. 1830." The "Glance at Dean's 120 Reasons" shows an amount of scholarship, and keen discrimination, which must have convinced even Mr. Dean that "he had met a foeman worthy of his steel." His sermons were ably and logically written, his ideas being expressed often in chaste and elegant diction, but his delivery and manner of address were awkward, and wanting in the graces of oratory. He died and was buried at Paris, Maine, in 1851, aged fifty-nine years.
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WILLIAM FARMER was the son of Jonas Farmer, born in the south part of the town, in 1793. Graduated at Harvard University, in 1819. He took his degree from the divinity school at Cambridge, in 1823, in the class with Rev. Ezra Styles Gannett, who lost his life, with others, in the fatal railroad collision, near Revere, in 1871. William Farmer, with six of his brothers, all attended school on Bayberry Hill. These boys, in altitude, were of the a la Lincoln type, so much so that, on returning home from a visit to this school, Mr. Palmer remarked to his wife, that during the week forty-two feet of Farmers had been in attendance at this school. While fitting for college, this graduate was at New Ipswich Academy part of the time, and part of the time at Groton Academy. He studied for some time after this with Rev. Eli Smith, of Hollis, New Hampshire, but whether this was with a view of being a minister, without going to college, is unknown. It is quite certain, however, that the strongly marked cal- vinistic sentiments of Rev. Eli Smith were not in accord with the doctrines imparted at the Harvard divinity school. He taught school two or three years after acquiring his profession. In 1831, he was ordained over the Unitarian church, in Belgrade, Maine, where he remained about six years, when he resigned his pastoral charge. In 1838 and 1839, he supplied a Unitarian pulpit, in Dresden, Maine. He preached at Pomfret. Vermont, for about a year, and was in the same calling at Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire, for a year or more. During the latter part of his life, he was an invalid for many years, suffering from pulmonary hemorrhage. His decline was gradual. He exhibited great patience during his illness, not a murmur or com- plaining word passing his lips. He departed hence, with
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Christian resignation, leaving a widow and many friends, in 1862, aged sixty-nine years.
JOHN STEVENS was born on Battery Hill, in 1798. His ancestors came from England and settled in New- buryport, in 1638. He is a son of Solomon Stevens. who was the son of Solomon Stevens, who was the son of John Stevens, of Groton, one of the first proprietors of Mason, New Hampshire, and he was a descendant of John Stevens, one of the first settlers of Andover. In 1815, an uncle of this graduate, who resided at Middle- bury, Vermont, being on a visit to the old homestead on Battery Hill, noticed young John, then about seventeen years old, and invited him to go home with him, and attend the Middlebury Academy with his son, a youth of about the same age, who was then fitting for college. This generous offer, so unexpectedly tendered to him was gladly accepted. He fitted in two years, at this academy. and graduated at Middlebury College, in 1821, with the Latin salutatory address, the second honor in a good class of twenty-three members.
For the year 1822, he was the preceptor of the academy, at Montpelier, Vermont. In 1823, he was a member of the junior class, in Andover Theological Seminary. In 1824, he was preceptor of New Ipswich Academy, and previous to 1830, he was for three years, tutor in Middlebury College.
In 1831, he went to Ohio, under engagement to take the editorial chair of a new paper, at Cincinnati, called the "Baptist Weekly Journal of the Mississippi Valley." He was editor of this paper for seven years. From 1838 to 1843, he was Professor of intellectual and moral
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philosophy, in Granville College, at Granville, Ohio. From 1843 to 1849, he was district secretary and agent of the " American Baptist Missionary Union," residing again at Cincinnati. During the years 1857 and 1858, he was a teacher, in Fairmount Seminary, near Cincinnati. In 1859, he returned to Granville, as Professor of Greek and Latin languages in Dennison University, formerly Granville College, and so continued till 1868. when a separate Greek chair was established, and he was ap- pointed Professor of Latin and literature. It appears that he favored the baptist denomination even while a student at Andover Theological Seminary, as he joined the first baptist church in Salem, Rev. S. Bolles, D. D., pastor, in 1823. His religious life and labors have been spent among the baptists. He was ordained as an evangelist, in 1844. in connection with his agency and secretaryship in the cause of missions. In 1873, the degree of D. D. was conferred upon him, by the Rochester, New York, University. Professor Stevens has discharged the several duties committed to his trust, in a dignified, faithful and scholarly manner. Probably his influence. in giving character and a high moral position to Dennison Univer- sity, has been as great as that of any one man. This institution, under the patronage of the baptists, has a pleasant and healthful location, at Granville, Ohio. It is in a community distinguished for intelligence and morality, and maintains a reputation that will compare favorably with some of the older colleges situated in the Eastern States, sending forth a good influence coextensive with the Mississippi valley. And now when we turn to contemplate the character of Professor Stevens, we behold an affectionate husband and father, a warm-hearted friend.
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an eminently industrious and accurate classical scholar, a faithful and successful teacher, and a modest christian gentleman. He died at Granville, Ohio, in April, 1877.
JOHN GRAHAM was born on Nissequassick Hill, in 1802, graduated at Amherst College, in 1829, died in 1833. aged thirty-one years. During the year 1816, there was an unusual religious excitement in town, particularly in the North End district. Several young persons related their religious experience, at the meetings held at their school-house, and among those was John Graham, then about fourteen years old. Soon after, he, in company with some twenty others, made a public profession of their faith, and united with the church of which Rev. David Palmer was pastor. From that time he ardently wished to be a gospel minister, all his hopes and plans looking to and aiming at that devoutly wished for consummation. Unlike many collegians, he knew on the start what calling he would pursue on entering active life. He commenced his preparatory studies with Mr. Palmer, but spent more than a year at New Ipswich Academy, before entering at Amherst. Although he industriously applied himself, as much as his health would allow, he did not take high rank in scholarship at college. After his graduation, and while teaching at Concord, he studied theology with Rev. Mr. Southmaid, who was preaching there at that time. He was in attendance at the theological department of Yale College for some time, with the intention of finishing his studies there, but his health failing he was obliged to leave. In 1831, he went to Charleston, South Carolina. where he remained about a year and a half, preaching part of the time, and teaching some. Not finding the
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location so beneficial to his health as he expected, he returned to his father's home, and in a few weeks died there, of pulmonary consumption. Like too many others. he never fully realized the high hopes and yearning aspirations of his youth, which urged him on in the acquirement of the important and sacred profession of his choice. His best eulogy is spoken when we assert, that, after adopting the calling to which he aspired with his whole heart, he performed every duty incumbent on him, with marked sincerity and faithfulness, through the re- mainder of his life, until he arrived at that "inevitable hour" when he crossed the peaceful river, with his eyes triumphantly fixed on the shining gates of the "celestial city."
JOEL GILES was born on Nissequassick Hill, in 1804, fitted for college with Rev. David Palmer, and graduated at Harvard University, in 1829. Edward Giles, the earliest American ancestor of that part of the numerous Giles family to which our graduate belongs, came from Salisbury, in Wiltshire, England, to the colony of Massachusetts Bay, in 1633. and settled in what is now the town of Peabody. Giles is a name familiar to readers of English history. The honors of knighthood have been enjoyed by at least three of that name, and their coat-of- arms has come down from unquestionable antiquity. The subject of this sketch needs no ancestral renown to recom- mend him to our confidence, and we venture the opinion that he holds the stern virtues of the Pilgrim Fathers, from which he is descended, in much higher regard than all the sprigs of chivalry that ever blossomed on his genea- logical tree. From 1831 to 1834, he was tutor, in Harvard
Fore Giles
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University. The degree of Bachelor of Laws was con- ferred on him by the same institution, in 1837. He opened a law office, in Boston, and became distinguished in his profession. He never acquired notoriety as a jury lawyer or advocate, but whenever the Boston merchants wanted to know about any point where their legal interests were in jeopardy, Joel Giles was the man whom they would con- sult for an opinion, and he would furnish the brain-work to be elaborated in the oratory of an associate. He was appreciated by the entire bar of Suffolk County, for his legal and judicial ability. On the Fourth of July, 1848. he delivered the oration before the municipal authorities of the City of Boston. He has been a member of both branches of the Massachusetts Legislature, for Boston, and in 1853, he was a prominent member of the Massa- chusetts Constitutional Convention. During the last few years, he has divided the time which he has devoted to business, between the cities of Boston, New York, and Washington, as a patent-office lawyer. Mr. Giles is a bachelor. a gentleman of benevolence, rather conservative in his tastes, and withal an honest man, which is "the noblest work of God."
JOHN GILES, the youngest brother of the last de- scribed graduate, was born on Nissequassick Hill, in 1806. He also fitted for college with Rev. David Palmer, who said he was the best scholar that ever fitted for college with him. He required the least assistance and prompt- ing, both while in preparation for, and at the University, of any in his class. The difficult parts and knotty points. in all his lessons, were always overcome and solved before
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he entered the recitation room. He possessed a well- balanced, penetrating mind, well adapted to either lan- guages or mathematics, so that he went through his collegiate career in a manner calculated to give him excel- lent mental discipline. Before graduating at Cambridge, he united with the Congregational Orthodox Church, in Cambridgeport, under the pastoral care of Rev. William A. Stearns, D. D., now president of Amherst College. He was pleasing in his manners, and prepossessing in his person, having an agreeable temper, and a heart "full of the law of kindness." John Giles aimed high. He in-
tended to have been an author. He did publish a book, of much merit in its way, entitled "The Latin Reader for Beginners." He was a successful teacher, at Jamaica Plain, for some time, and he read law in the office of the noted legal firm of Parsons & Stearns, in Boston. Soon after his graduation, he was attacked with a disease of the lungs, which finally caused his death. This incapacitated him for any mental labor during a period of five or six years. He died at the house of his brother, Deacon Daniel Giles, in Townsend, June, 1838, aged thirty-two years.
In addition to what has been said concerning his intellectual strength, we may add that his moral and religious life was everything that a truly good man would wish to review, at that trying hour, when about to leave this earthly existence. His older brothers, Daniel and Joel. were the only members of his kindred, in this town, who survived him. Daniel has since died, but Joel re- mains, the only one of the name, of Townsend birth, who now, at the age of more than three score and ten, and after the lapse of thirty-nine years. frequently recurs to the
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untimely death of his brother, and with a sigh thinks of "what might have been."
CHARLES BROOKS was born on Nissequassick Hill, in 1831. Graduated at Yale College, in 1853, died in 1866, aged thirty-five years. He pursued his preparatory studies with the ministerial office in full view before him. £ He learned the languages easily, so much so, that he received many compliments from the president and professors, at Yale, where he took a good rank in his class. After his graduation, he commenced the study of divinity, at Yale, · but spent the last year of the course at Andover Theologi- cal Seminary. In 1858, he was ordained over the church and society, at Byfield, a parish in the old town of New- bury. He married, in 1858, Miss N. L. Adams, of this town.
After remaining at Byfield about seven years, where he was a very acceptable preacher, he received a call from the church at Unionville, Connecticut, which he accepted. He had scarcely commenced the discharge of his duties in his new situation, when in September, 1865. he was attacked with pulmonary consumption, which caused his death, in June, 1866. In person, Rev. Mr. Brooks was medium size, light hair, (almost flaxen,) a good eye, which sparkled in a countenance lighted up with a smile for all who approached him. He never was contentious, either as a student, citizen or clergyman, never intentionally injured the feelings of any one. and never preached politics. Rev. S. H. Tolman, of Wil- mington, in an obituary address, said of Mr. Brooks, "He felt the disappointment of so early a departure very
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keenly." Said he to Mr. Tolman: "I have all the feelings of a husband and a father, a young man and a minister. I love this good work, and the future in that field whither God in his providence has so recently sent me, opens before me so bright, with such promise of sheaves to be garnered into the heavenly store-house,"-he hesitated a little and then said, "but it is all right-I have more confidence in God's wisdom than my own. Thy will, not mine, be done." Of his last days, Mr. Tolman says : "He manifested just that sweet confidence in God, just that calm and intelligent resting on the doctrines of the gospel, which constituted a most fitting end to all that he had been, and preached and done." Nothing can be added to these closing words of the obituary, except, perhaps it may be remarked in the words of another, that "God buries his workman, but still carries on the work."
WARREN BROOKS, a brother of Charles Brooks, (just described,) was born in 1829. He entered Yale College, in 1851, and remained there till his brother's graduation, in 1853, when he left Yale, and joined the junior class at Harvard University, where he graduated, in 1855. In scholarship, he ranked in the first fourth of his class, which was large, and contained some excellent scholars. Rev. Phillips Brooks, the popular Boston preacher, was one of his classmates and friends. In September, 1855, he entered Andover Theological Semi- nary, and while a member of that institution, in 1857, he died of consumption, induced by too close application to his studies, aged twenty-eight years. Rather taciturn
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than loquacious, he possessed great modesty and a sensi- tive retiracy of character, which won for him the respect- ful consideration of all with whom he came in contact. He devoted no time to idleness. From boyhood, either his hands, his brains, or both were incessantly at work. While pursuing his studies, he earned most of his ex- penses by teaching in our common schools, in which he had complete success. He had that agreeableness and dignity of address, which added embellishment both to culture and refinement. For his piety and purity of character, as well as his untiring industry both as student and teacher, he has left an example worthy of imitation.
MARK DAVIS was born in 1834. within a short dis- tance of the birthplace of the two gentlemen last described. They were school-mates. Mr. Davis fitted for college partly in this town, besides spending more than a year at New Ipswich Academy. Townsend had an academy at that time. The natural brain powers of this graduate were superior. which, together with his prepossessing personal appearance, made him a general favorite in circles where wit and playful repartee went gayly round. He was "Young America" in his tastes and habits, and was decidedly popular with his professional and political associates. Professor E. D. Sanborn, of the chair of oratory and belles-lettres, in Dartmouth College, where Mr. Davis graduated, in 1856, in answer to a letter of inquiry. furnishes the following sentence : "Mr. Davis was a man of good abilities, and capable of high attainments, but unfortunately declined in scholarship towards the close of his college course." He received the degree of Bachelor
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