USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Municipal history of Essex County in Massachusetts, Volume I > Part 40
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In 1712, nine persons living in that part of Haverhill in what is now Methuen petitioned the town to abate their rate for the support of the ministry and the schools, "on account of the great distance they lived from the town, and the difficulty they met with in coming," and the town voted to abate one-half the ministry rates. The names of these persons were Henry Bodwell, John Gutterson, Thomas Austin, Joshua Stephens, Robert Swan, John Cross, William Cross, Robert Swan, Jr., and Joshua Swan.
In order to organize this town, it was ordered by the court "That Mr. Stephen Barker, a principal inhabitant of the 'Town of Methuen, be and hereby is empowered and directed to notify the inhabitants of the said town, duly qualified for voters, to assemble and meet some time in the month of March, to choose town officers according to law, to stand for the year." In compliance with this order, a meeting was appointed for the ninth of March, 1726. Thus the date of town organization is fixed for Methuen. From that time on until the village of Methuen was changed to that of a city, a few years ago, this town had its governmental affairs carried on about in keeping with all towns in Essex county. After a short duration as a "city," the State Supreme Court decided it was not constitutionally incorporated, and hence it was thrown back as a town, such act going into effect January 8, 1921. At about the date last given, the town had an indebtedness of $576,127.12.
The town officers for 1921 are James H. Lyons, George H. Richard- son, selectmen; Henry N. Hall, Howard Hammons and G. L. Butler, assessors ; Everett L. Bragdon, street commissioner ; John T. Douglas, town clerk; B. Clinton Buswell, treasurer. and collector; Josephus Matthews, building inspector; Lewis V. Golden, Louis Barnes and Wil-
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liam H. Whitman, water commissioners; Albion G. Pierce, moderator; Alfred H. Wagland, tree warden; Charles R. Bower, Frank A. Sherman and Stephen E. Smith, school committee.
In 1920 the United States census gave the city (now town) of Methuen a population of 15,189. Its schools and churches are treated in general chapters of this work. The great milling industry is coupled largely with that of near-by Lawrence, and has been treated in the city history of that corporation. The chief trading of the people in Methuen goes to Lawrence, with which it is connected by electric cars running every few minutes. The internal improvements of Methuen are fully up to date, and show progress and culture, as well as genuine thrift.
The records show the beginning of church life in Methuen was when "the first church in Methuen was founded by Rev. Samuel Phillips, of Andover, October 29, 1729," as reads the church record kept by Rev. Christopher Sargent during his ministry at that place. This man of God gathered together twenty-four persons, and within a month thirty- five others united with the church. Rev. Sargent was ordained a week later and remained pastor until 1783. He was born in Amesbury in 1704, and graduated from Harvard in 1725. He built up a church of more than five hundred members, and was faithful throughout his pas- torate. He died in 1720, and was buried in the old grave-yard on Meet- ing House Hill, near the church where he had so long labored. Despite his excellent qualities, he could not please all, and in 1766 the records show that a certain number withdrew from this church and established the Second Church of Methuen. Rev. Chapman was ordained pastor of Second Church in 1772; about the same time the "Second Parish" was set off by the legislature, and every taxable person in the parish had to help pay for the support of the ministry. In 1887 this church had a membership of two hundred and fifty.
In 1796 the old meeting-house was torn down and a new one was erected on its site. To show the habits of the times (contrast, please, with today, when we are enforcing the United States Prohibitory Amend- ment to our National Constitution), the statement that at the church raising "The Spectators be given a drink of grog apiece at the raising." In 1832 the location of the church was no longer considered central, hence it was moved where later stood the stone church, built in 1855. In 1880, through generous gifts, the church was able to construct the handsome stone chapel.
The first Baptist church of Methuen was organized in 1815, and now has a membership of two hundred and sixty-four communicants. The attendance in Sunday school is about one hundred and ten, and the present superintendent is Eugene Strout. It appears there had been a Baptist society in that neighborhood many years before the date just named, but records have long since gone to dust, so it may be as well to start this narrative of the church with the present organization, dating
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from 1815. A church was built and dedicated in 1816. Charles O. Kimball served as pastor from 1815 to 1835. The present well-kept church record gives the following list of pastors: Revs. Charles O. Kim- ball, 1815-35; Addison Parker, 1835-39; Samuel W. Field, 1839-46; Joseph M. Graves, 1847-50; B. L. Bronson, 1850-58; Howard M. Emer- son, 1860-62; King S. Hall, 1862-67; N. W. Williams, D. D., 1868-71; Lyman Chase, D. D., 1872-76; T. J. B. House, 1877-83; S. L. B. Chase, 1883-87; Robert McDonald, 1887-91; Nathan Bailey, 1892-02; Frederick Blolssley, 1902-04; Robert B. Fisher, 1905-1912; John Ward Moore, November, 1912, to present. The present church edifice is of wooden material. The building before the present church was burned March 21, 1869. This church now has bequests amounting to nearly $25,000.
Howe Street Baptist Sunday School-In 1913 a chapel was erected in Methuen by the Howe Street Sunday school. It is a wooden struc- ture, and is now valued at about $3,000. It was really built by the school and neighborhood, by earning money in various ways. The Ladies' Sewing Circle gave the fine piano. The expense of carrying on the school has been one-half by the Home Missionary Society, while the people have raised the other half. Services are held nine months of the year, Sunday evenings, with students from the Baptist Seminary acting as preachers. It is designed eventually to organize a regular church at this point.
The Forest Street Union Church was organized June 11, 1913, and now has a membership of one hundred and eighty. A fine Sunday school is conducted, in connection with other church work. Ammi P. Whiton is the present superintendent. A stone edifice was given by the community, people removing their stone walls for building purposes. A large boulder is placed as the corner stone. The land was donated as a memorial to a former resident. The building was dedicated June 7, 1914. Eight or nine denominations are here represented. Not long since a handsome parsonage was provided on land donated by S. E. Smith. The pastors have been Rev. Ernest C. Davis, 1913-20, died April, 1920; Rev. Oliver B. Loud, who began his ministry October, 1920. The charter members were as follows: Clarence E. Young, Mabel A. Young, Ruth B. Young, Elmer E. Young, Ella Robertson, Addington Tobertson, Ina Taylor, James Robinson, Agnes Robinson, George Ben- nett, Gertrude Bennett, Lonzo S. Crosby, Florena D. Crosby, Seth Lam- bert, Mary Robinson, Herbert P. Wilkinson, Blanche Wilkinson, Mary E. Blood, J. R. Milton, Mrs. Milton, Jennie Milton, Rosalie Milton, Eva S. Larrivee, Salome S. Larrivee, Nels Mathisson, Catherine Cole, Mary Cole, Evelyn Cole, Annie Hill, Emily J. Cole, Orton M. Flye, Gordon N. Smith, Guy Robinson, Anna McLeod, Althea K. Smith, Stephen E. Smith, Avis F. Smith, Florence S. Smith, Mary Finucane, James W. Allen, Stan- ley Cokum, Ernest Larrivee, Clarence L. Young, Edith L. Young, Anna I. Giles, Helen B. Gage, Mary V. Davis, Edith C. Davis, Mabel Robinson,
Essex-21
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Margaret Warcup, Nellie M. Warcup, Sarah A. Robinson, Charlotte M. Nice, Dorothy E. Bennett, Albert Hill, Dana Bragdon, George Robert- son, Van Ness Smith, Olive Smith, Ammi P. Whiton, Laura G. Whiton, Robert P. Burnham, Olivia W. Burnham, Martha Whittier, Lillian Hill, Bina Dowing, John A. Hinsch, Jr., Pauline Hinsch.
Tyler Street Primitive Methodist Church was organized at Methuen, June, 1914, and now has a membership of thirty-seven souls. The Sun- day school connected has a membership of sixty-six, with J. W. Hartley as superintendent. A church edifice was erected in 1915, costing $3,000; its present value is about $4,500. The church is without a regular pas- tor at this time, but is cared for by Rev. J. Holden, pastor of St. George's Primitive Methodist Church.
Emmanuel Primitive Methodist Church was formed in January, 1897, by T. A. Humphries. Among the first members are recalled Thomas White, Lena White, Joseph M. Emsley, Mrs. Joseph M. Emsley, Margaret White, William Craven, Mrs. William Craven. The organiza- tion now has a membership of one hundred. The Sunday school has a membership of about two hundred and fifty pupils and teachers, with William White as superintendent. A chapel was built in 1903 and a schoolroom in 1914. In 1908 the parsonage was purchased. The pres- ent value of church property is $20,000. A ten thousand feet tract of land was donated by Alfred Newsholm. The chapel and about fifty thousand feet of land were given by Edward F. Searles.
About 1833 an Episcopal church was formed in Methuen, but it appears to have been short-lived. It held its meetings in Wilson Hall. In 1878 another Episcopal church was organized, under the name of St. Thomas,' and a church building was erected on Broadway, near the Law- rence line. The first rector was Rev. Belno A. Brown. In the eighties the church was in charge of Rev. Thomas De Learsy. Concerning the present organization no data have been furnished by the authorities of the church.
The Roman Catholic denomination has always been strong in Meth- uen. For many years the people attended church at Lawrence. In January, 1878, a movement was made by leading Catholics of Methuen and approved by the priest at Lawrence, to establish religious services. The town hall was engaged and served as a meeting house for many years. From the beginning, Father Marsden was officiating priest. Later pastors included Father O'Farrell, Father Riley, Father O'Connell, Father Rowan and Father Murphy. In 1887 the congregation num- bered four hundred souls. At present there are two Catholic churches- St. Monica's, and the French Catholic church-both in a prosperous con- dition.
The Universalist society was organized in Methuen in 1824. At first services were irregular and were held in school houses and in the old Mckay building. A church edifice was erected, so as to be dedicated
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in July, 1836. The first settled minister was Rev. John A. Gurley. In 1871 the church building was remodelled, and the surrounding grounds were greatly improved. The society is still one of the numerous relig- ious bodies of the city.
A former history of this place gives the following facts concerning the establishment of the Methodist denomination in Methuen:
We are informed that the Methodists first held meetings in Methuen in 1834 or 1835. They occasionally occupied the Second Parish meeting-house, and held meetings in the school-houses, but after the institution of regular religious services they occupied "Wilson's Hall." The building used in 1886 as a school-house, on Lowell street, was built by them for a meeting-house, and occupied several years, until the establishment of a Methodist church and society in the new city of Law- rence drew off a portion of the members, and so weakened the society in Methuen that it was thought best to sell the building. After the sale of the meeting-house no regular services were held in Methuen by that denomination until 1853 or 1854, when a reorganization was effected and religious services were held in the library room in the town hall. As the society increased in numbers, more commodious quarters were needed, and the society held their meetings in the town hall until 1871, when a meeting-house was built at the junction of Lowell and Pelham streets. John Barnes, of Lawrence, was the first pastor after the reorganization. Since then, Methodism has prospered in the city and today there are two societies-the Methodist Episcopal and Oakland Methodist churches, both doing excellent service.
An officer of the First Methodist Episcopal Church, as above de- scribed, gives the author the following list of pastors, serving in order given : Revs. J. W. F. Barnes, 1853-54; Charles Young, 1855-56; Elijah Mason, 1857; Nathaniel Chase, 1858; John L. Trefen, 1859-60; Charles R. Harding, 1861; J. B. Holman, 1862-63; William Hewes, 1864; D. W. Downs, 1865; L. L. Eastman, 1866-68; James Noyes, 1869-71; G. I. Jud- kins, 1872-74; C. A. Cressey, 1875-76; F. C. Farnham, 1877-78; J. W. Walker, 1879-80; O. S. Baketel, 1881-83; H. H. French, 1884-85; Alex. McGregor, 1886-89; T. G. Mellor, 1889-90; George H. Spencer, 1890-93; J. W. Adams, 1894-96; Wesley J. Wilkins, 1897-1900; W. T. Boulton- house, 1900-03; W. F. Ineson, 1903-05; R. T. Wolcott, 1905-07; William Thompson, 1907-09; William B. Locke, 1909-12; Charles W. Martin, 1912-14; R. E. Thompson, 1914-16; G. N. Dorr, 1916-20; J. R. Dinsmore, 1920, and present pastor.
The present church building was erected in 1870. The present membership is 196, with a Sunday school attendance of 191.
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CHAPTER XXXII.
THE CITY OF SALEM
Salem was first settled in 1626. Much concerning its original set- tlement has been treated in Dr. Frank A. Gardner's excellent original article, "The Story of the Planters," which forms a genesis for this work. Dr. Gardner's contribution refers chiefly to Salem prior to 1630, hence the writer of this chapter will not attempt to go back to an earlier date concerning what may be recorded in the history of Salem, in this, the latest history of Essex county.
At first, Salem township comprised all territory now embraced with- in the towns of Beverly, Danvers, Manchester, Marblehead, Middleton, Peabody, a part of Topsfield, Wenham and Lynn. This obtained until 1637. Lynn was set off in 1637; the first free school was taught in 1641; Wenham was set off in 1643, Manchester in 1645, Marblehead in 1649, Topsfield in 1650, Beverly in 1668, Middleton in 1728, Danvers (also Peabody) in 1752.
The deed of Salem was secured from the Indians for the sum of £40 sterling in 1686. The area of the city, in acres, is now 5,100. The City Hall was constructed in 1838; City Charter accepted April 4, 1836.
The settlement of Salem may be dated 1626, when Roger Conant and his faithful companions, leaving Cape Ann, took up their temporary residences at Naumkeag, as Salem was at first styled, or it may be dated September 6, 1628 (old style), when John Endicott cast anchor in Salem harbor, as governor of the colony, sent out by the Massachusetts Com- pany in London, of which Matthew Cradock was governor, to make a permanent settlement on the shores of Massachusetts Bay. . As the city has the date 1626 inscribed upon the face of its seal, that will be the date for the purpose at hand, from which this historical record will begin.
Salem, as well as Plymouth, Massachusetts, was never incorporated as a town. It was recognized from the first by the court held at Charles- town, August 23, 1630, as a distinct plantation or town, and was exempt from the common charge for the support of the ministry, which office was then held by Rev. Mr. Wilson. Its charter as a town was not questioned upon the arrival of Winthrop in 1630, but its bounds were not yet defined. This was effected in the month of March, 1635.
As has been noted already, Salem never passed through the process of being created into a town in the municipal sense, but was so recog- nized from the first of its history. By an act passed by the General Court, the town of Salem chose, at a meeting held on June 19, 1637, a "committee of twelve to manage the affairs of the town." These men were Messrs. Hathorne, Bishop, Connaught, Gardner, John Woodbury, Peter Palfrey, Daniel Ray, Robert Moulton, Scruggs, Jeffry Massy, John Balch and John Holgrave. The "Connaught" mentioned was, in fact,
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Roger Conant, founder of the city, his name, with others, being spelled differently then than at a later date. At a general town meeting in December, 1638, seven men were chosen for the managing of the affairs of the town-Messrs. Endicott, Hathorne, Conant, John Woodbury, Lau- rence Leech, Jeffry Massy, and John Balch, says the record. From 1648 the "Seven Men," as they were called before, were known thereafter as "Selectmen." In, early times town meetings were held in the church of the First Parish. This building stood near the southeasterly corner of Washington and Essex streets, and was erected in 1634. A town build- ing was built in 1677 exclusively for town purposes; this was in the middle of School street, now Washington, near what was later known as Lynde street, and faced the south. The upper part was built for a courthouse, and there the Court of Oyer and Terminer, organized by Governor Phipps in 1692 for the trial of witches, was held. In 1719 a second town and court house was erected on Washington street, near the southerly end of the railway tunnel. Here the General Court met, Octo- ber 31, 1728, and April and May, as well as in June, 1729. This was the place of holding court, from the fact that Governor Burnet believed that undue influence was exerted in Boston against a grant for his salary. The lands within the territory of Salem were originally held by the free- men of the town, and all grants were made by them. Messrs. Osgood and Batchelder, in their history of Salem in 1879, said:
With increasing population, this method of holding the lands became unwieldy and cumbersome, and in 1713 the then owners of the common lands under the prov- ince laws became organized into a quasi corporation with the title of Commoners. In 1713 the Commoners granted all the highways and burying places and common lands lying within the town bridge and block-houses to remain forever for the use of the town of Salem, and the Common was then dedicated forever as a training field. In 1714 the Commoners, at a meeting held at the meeting-house of the First Parish in Salem, voted that Winter Island be wholly removed and granted for the use of the fishing rights to use the same to be let by the Selectmen of Salem; and the same year the Neck lands were granted and reserved to the town of Salem for a pasture for milk cows and riding horses, the same to be fenced at the town's charge.
In 1722-23, February 26, the Grand Committee of the Commoners, who had charge of affairs, reported the whole number of rights to be 1,132, and the number of acres held 3,733. Several distinct proprietaries were formed under an act of the Colonial legislature; and the Commoners of the two lower parishes, having 790 rights and 2,500 acres of land lying between Spring Pond and Forest River, or- ganized themselves into a corporation. This organization continued until 1855, when they were incorporated into the Great Pasture Company, and by that com- pany the last of the common lands, about 400 acres in extent, are now held.
In the early part of 1836 an effort was made to change from a town to a city government. The population of Salem was then 15,886. Its property valuation the year before was $8,250,000, and the amount raised for county and town purposes was $40,391.
The amount of tonnage of vessels owned in the district, which in-
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cluded Beverly, was about 35,000. This consisted of thirty ships, twelve barks, seventy brigs, one hundred and twenty-four schooners and four- teen sloops. The town appeared like a city, though its government was not like the latter. It had a police court and its lawyers were numerous. After the presentation of a petition by George Peabody, and it having been favorably received, at a town meeting held February 15, 1836, the committee voted that it was expedient to take on a city form of govern- ment, and a committee was chosen for that purpose, as follows: Joseph Peabody, Benjamin Merrill, Gideon Barstow, Eben Shillaber, Isaac Cush- ing and Nathaniel J. Lord. This committee was to act with the original committeemen, three from each ward in the town of Salem. An act to "establish the city of Salem" was approved by Edward Everett, Gov- ernor, March 23, 1836, and warrants were immediately issued, calling a town meeting to be held April 4th. At such meeting the moderator was Benjamin Merrill, and when the vote was taken to accept or reject the proposed city charter, there were 802 votes cast, of which 617 were in the affirmative. April 25th the same year, an election was held to determine who should be the first mayor of the new city. There were 1104 votes cast, and Leverett Saltonstall received 752, Perley Putnam 260, George Peabody 56, and David Putnam 36. The organization of the city government took place in the Tabernacle Church, Monday, May 9, when, after prayer by Rev. Dr. Brazer, and the administration of the oath of office by David Cummins, one of the justices of the Court of Com- mon Pleas, the mayor-elect delivered his address. Thus it was that the second incorporated city in the Commonwealth had its city government set in motion, and it has been administering by its executive authority and power ever since.
Not until about three years after the organization of the "City of Salem" did it have any legal seal, but finally, after considerable agitation, the fixing the date which should be thereon, and other conditions, as sug- gested by George Peabody, who made the principal design for the city's seal, it was adopted March 11, 1639. The same emblem is in use today, it being somewhat unique and expressive of conditions as they existed when the shipping and foreign trade was much greater than today.
Under the three city charters, the first adopted in 1836, the second in November, 1912, and the present one adopted January 3, 1916, the following have served as mayors of the municipality of Salem: 1836-38, Leverett Saltonstall; 1838-42, Stephen C. Phillips; 1842-45, Stephen C. Webb; 1845-49, Joseph S. Cabot; 1849-51, Nathaniel Silsbee, Jr .; 1851- 52, David Pingree; 1852, George W. Upham; 1852-54, Asahel Hunting- ton ; 1854, Joseph Williams ; 1855, Joseph Andrew ; 1856-57, Wm. E. Mes- servy ; 1858-60, Nathaniel Silsbee; 1860-63, Stephen P. Webb; 1864-65, Stephen G. Wheatland; 1865, Joseph B. F. Osgood; 1866-67, David Rob- erts ; 1867-70, William Cogswell; 1870-74, Nathaniel Brown; 1874-76, Henry L. Williams; 1876-80, Henry K. Oliver; 1880-82, Samuel Calley ;
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1882-85, William M. Hill; 1885-89, John M. Raymond; 1889-93, Robert S. Rantoul ; 1893-99, James H. Turner ; 1899, David M. Little; 1899-1902, John F. Hurley; 1902-05, Joseph N. Peterson; 1905-07, Thomas G. Pin- nock; 1907-09, John F. Hurley; 1909, Arthur Howard; 1909-12, Rufus D. Adams ; 1912, John F. Hurley ; 1914, Matthias J. O'Keefe ; 1915, Henry P. Benson ; 1917, Dennis J. Sullivan to present date, 1921.
It should be said that the present city government of Salem is what is known as the "commission form of government," and has been such since January 3, 1916. The manner of electing its officers is as follows: "The city election is held on the Tuesday next following the first Mon- day in December. In the year 1919 and every second year thereafter, there is to be elected a mayor and five councillors at large for a term of two years from the first Monday in January following. In the year 1920, and every second year thereafter, there is to be elected one mem- ber of the city council from each ward in the city for a term of two years, from the first Monday in January following. In each year there is to be elected two members of the school committee at large for a term of three years, from the first Monday in January following."
The last mayor under the charter of 1912 was Henry P. Benson, and the first under the 1916 (present form of city government) was Den- nis J. Sullivan. The 1921 city officers include the following: Dennis J. Sullivan; councillors, Frederick W. Broadhead (president), G. Arthur Bodwell, Emile Brunet, Michael J. Doyle, John H. Greeley, Albert Pierce, Michael E. Ryan, William O. Safford, Omer P. Theriault, S. Herbert Wil- kins, John M. Wilson; J. Clifford Entwisle, city clerk. The assessors are Charles J. Collins (chairman), Joseph F. Hudon, William E. Symonds, with six assistants. The mayor receives a salary of $3,000; the city clerk, $2,400; councillors, $500; assessors, $1,500 to $1,700; city engi- neer, $3,000; city marshal, $2,275.
The assessors' reports show as follows: Value of personal estate, $8,288,560 ; real estate, $35,271,275; buildings, $24,169,925; lands, $11,- 101,350; total real estate and personal, $43,448,523; tax-rate 1920 per $1,000, $28.20; tax on polls, $21,204; total amount raised by taxation, $1,341,646 ; expended for city purposes, $1,167,646; expended for county tax, $73,230; expended for State tax, $100,769; number residents as- sessed, 5,663; non-residents assessed, 461; horses assessed, 558; cows assessed, 65; dwelling houses assessed, 5,474; acres of land assessed, 5,100.
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