USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lawrence > Quarter-centennial history of Lawrence, Massachusetts, with portraits and biographical sketches > Part 7
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There are two other Congregational churches in the city. The Tower Hill Congregationalist was organized in 1877. This body of worshippers were organized under the name of Trinity Methodists in 1872, but in a few years it was found that a large majority of the at- - tendants was in full sympathy with the Congregational faith, and accord- ingly the name of the church was changed. They have no settled minister at present.
On the 9th of March 1878, forty-three out of fifty two worshippers desiring to have the Riverside Sunday School instituted into a Cong- regational church, a conference was convened that day and the church fully instituted. The pulpit is supplied from the Andover Institution.
LUTHER LADD,
Treasurer and Agent of the Lawrence Lumber Company. Office at Essex Yard. Has been in Lawrence thirty-two years. Was born at Gilmanton, N. H., in 1821. In early life he worked at lumbering and in a saw mill. Engaged with the Lawrence Lumber Company soon after arriving in this city, and has continued his connection with said "company ever since. Resides at 9 Morton Street ; his family consists of a wife and two children. Is a regular attendant at the Lawrence Street Congregational Church. Mr. Ladd is one of the directors of the Bay State National Bank ; has been chief engineer of the Lawrence Fire Department seventeen years. Alderman in 1862 and the pres- ent year.
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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE, MASS.
BAPTISTS.
Soon after the commencement of active operations by the Essex Company, a few individuals-Ephriam Ward, Jr., Elbridge Weston, Wm. Hardy, Asa H. Gould, J. C. Whitney, Samuel Easter, and S. Lyford, feeling the necessity of establishing their identity as Baptists, consulted together at the house of Samuel Easter. The result was a determination to have occasional preaching from ministers of their own denomination. On Sunday, February 14th, 1847, Rev. Mr. Fitz preached the first sermon to a Baptist congregation, in the "Old School-house," then located near what is now the site of the first Methodist church. Meetings were held and occasional sermons preached, but no definite steps, of which there is any record, were taken, looking to an organization, until March 11th, 1847, when a meeting was held at the house of Mr. Samuel Easter "for the purpose of considering the propriety of forming a Baptist church, and to take measures in regard to erecting a house of worship." Committees were appointed to "deliberate upon the question whether the owner- ship should be vested in the church or in a society, and to select a site upon which to build." At a subsequent meeting, March 25th, the committee reported in favor of vesting the ownership of all prop- erty in a society, and the lot in the rear of the present edifice was selected as a building lot for a temporary house of worship. At this meeting a committee to raise funds to build a house was appointed, and a constitution informally adopted. The first blow was struck upon the temporary house, March 26th, 1847, and was occupied for " the first time on the 14th of April. This house was 25 by 40 feet, : and was abundantly capacious for the wants of the society at that time. But on the 28th of November, in the same year, the demand for seats could not be supplied, and an addition of twenty-five feet was made to its length. So rapid, however, was the increase of the society that it was found necessary to take immediate steps toward
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the erection of a permanent house of worship. June 12th, 1849, ground was broken upon the site of the present e.litice, which was given to the society by the Essex Company. The basement was finished and occupied on the first Sunday in January, 1850. On the 20th of October, 1850, the house was dedicated to the worship of God, Rev. J. G. Richardson preaching the dedicatory sermon from Psalms, 93 : 5.
Convinced of the necessity of securing the labors of an efficient under-shepherd to watch over the interests of the flock gathered in this young but enterprising city, on the 5th of September the church extended a call to the Rev. J. G. Richardson to become their pastor, which he accepted, and on the 20th of October, he entered upon his labors with them, and was publicly installed as pastor, December 5th, 1847. He remained till July, 1853. December 27th, 1853, Rev. A. W. Sawyer was ordained and installed over the church. He remained two years and three months. In 1856 Rev. Frank Remington was installed, and began his labor on the first of September. Mr. Rem- ington resigned in August 1859, and the pulpit was supplied for some months by Rev. J. Sella Martin. In December 1859, Rev. Henry F. Lane was called. He left in November 1862 to accept the chaplaincy of the 41st (three years) regiment Mass. volunteers. In August, 1863, the next pastor, Rev. George Knox, began his work, and he too left to become chaplain of the 29th Maine regiment. He was killed in Washington by being thrown from his horse. Septem- ber 1, 1865, Rev. Dr. Geo. W. Bosworth became pastor, remaining three years and four months. He was succeeded by the present pas- tor, John B. Gough Pidge, who was ordained September 8, 1869.
The Second Baptist church was organized in September, 1860, with 67 members, all from the ist Baptist church. Rev. Frank Rem- ington was the first pastor. They held services for a few months in the City Hall, when a chapel was purchased of the Christian Baptists on Common street, near where the carriage house connected with
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SILAS H. LORING,
Tobacconist, 241 Essex St. ; residence 49 Farnham St. Has been in Lawrence 15 years. Born at West Boylston, Mass., Sept. 18, 1833. Received a common school education, and is a mechanic by trade. Married Carrie B. Hyde of Cambridgeport, in 1855 ; has three sons. Is a Universalist in his church connections. Served as an enlisted man in the 51st Mass. Regiment, in the nine month's service in the department of North Carolina, and was for two years quartermaster of Needham Post, No. 39, G. A. R. Was the only republican member of the board of aldermen in 1877, being elected to fill the vacancy caused by death of Alderman Howard. Mr. Loring took an active interest in offering to the Boston & Lowell Railroad easy access to the city by the new route, and also in the purchase of Den Rock for cem- etery purposes. Alderman from Ward VI, the present year.
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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE, MASS.
Stowell & Spalding's stable now stands. This chapel was afterwards moved to the lot of land the church now occupies, enlarged and opened for worship January 11th, 1865. In 1874 the house of wor- ship having become too small for the congregation, the old chapel was torn down and the present church edifice built and opened for worship in November of the same year .. The church has had for pastors : Revs. Frank Remington, C. F. Tolman, Henry A. Cooke, I .. L. Wood, George W. Gile. The present pastor, Mr. Gile, was settled July ist, 1873. There have been received into the church since its organization more than one thousand members. Present number, 698. .
The Olive Baptist church, (colored) was organized in 1871. Rev. W. H. Garrett has been pastor since its organization. It has a mem- bership of 43.
FREE BAPTISTS.
The organization of this church took place January 17th, 1847, with twelve members. The first pastor was Rev. J. E. Davis, now deceased, who remained with the church about three years, in which time sixty-four members were added. Rev. J. Woodman, known as " Father Woodman," assumed the pastoral charge October ist, 1849, remaining also about three years, and receiving to the church sixty- six members. In December, 1852, he was succeeded by Rev. G. P. Ramsey, also now deceased, under whose charge sixty-seven were added to the church. In 1855 Mr. Ramsey resigned, and Rev. A. D. Williams was installed as Pastor. Up to this time the church had occupied a small chapel on Haverhill street, corner of White. It was now decided to remove to another site and build larger. Ac- cordingly the lot was exchanged for the present one, and the present church edifice erected and dedicated in the spring of 1857. Rev. E. M. Tappan was pastor from September 1857 to his death in De-
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cember, 1860. During his pastorate over one hundred members were added. Rev. E. G. Chaddock was pastor for four years from June, 1866, and Rev. J. A. Lovell a year and a half from from Octo- ber, 1870. The present pastor is Rev. A. L. Houghton. The church membership is 445, of which 244 have been added during Mr. Houghton's pastorate.
UNITARIANS.
The Unitarian church was organized in 1847. The first pastor was Rev. Henry F. Harrington, now superintendent of schools in New Bedford. Mr. Harrington was an active member of the school com- mittee here and did much to give the schools of Lawrence the excel- lent character they have uniformly maintained. Mr. Harrington was followed by Rev. J. L. Junkins, and he by Rev. J. H. Wiggin who, however, only remained one year. Rev. James B. Moore served several years and was succeeded Rev. C. A. Hayden, who in turn was followed by the present pastor, Rev. E. R. Sanborn. The church was organized under the statutes, and this year, under the present pastor, it has been reorganized in some particulars. There are now departments of public worship and instruction, Sunday School and social and literary culture, fellowship and benevolent work. The number of families now included in the parish is 132.
METHODISTS.
The Haverhill street Methodist Episcopal church began in 1846, - in the private house of Charles Barnes, situated on the southwest corner of Broadway and Tremont street. A small number of persons gathered every Sabbath for almost a year under the pastoral care of Rev. James L. Gleason. Before the year closed they rented Concert Hall, Broadway. In the spring of 1847, Rev. L. D. Barrows was sent to be their pastor, and during his ministry of two years the
MICHAEL P. MERRILL, 1
Assessor ; office at City Hall. Residence, 231 Broadway. Has been in Lawrence twenty-one years. Born at Warren, N. H., Dec. 31, 1817. Received a common school education, and worked at farming until 1855. Married Augusta M. Hoytt, May 30, 1841 ; has three children. Attends the Universalist church. Was selectman in 1851-2. Mod- erator of town meeting in 1849, 1850, 1851, 1854, 1855, 1856 and 1857. Superintendent of Schools in 1844, 1845, 1846 and 1852. Commissioned captain, 1837 ; major, 1839 ; lieutenant-colonel, 1841 ; colonel, 1844 ; brigadier-general, 1845 ; discharged, 1846. Commis- sioned brigade drill master in 1848. Assessor in 1863-4, and from 1870 to the present. Gen. Merrill was a member of the common council for 1860, and was elected president for that year,
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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE, MASS.
present edifice on the corner of Hampshire and Haverhill streets was built. It was dedicated on the 26th of March 1848, by the pas- tor Rev. L. D. Barrows, D. D. The following is a list of the pastors of the church : Rev. James L .. Gleason, 1846 ; L. D. Barrows, 1847- 48 ; James Pike, D. D., 1849 ; Moses Howe, 1850 ; Samuel Kelley, 1851-52 ; R. S. Rust, D. D., 1853-54 ; Jonathan Hall, 1850-56; W. A. McDonald, 1857 ; F. A. Hughes, 1858 ; J. H. McCarty, D. D., 1859-60; S. Holman, 1861-62; R. S. Stubbs, 1863; George Dearborn, 1864 ; 1 .. J. Hall, 1865-66 ; D. C. Knowles, 1867-68-69 ; F. Pitcher, 1870-71 ; 1 .. D. Barrows, D. D., 1872-73-74 ; D. Steven- son, D. D., 1875-76-77 ; D. C. Knowles, 1878. The first board of trustees consisted of the following persons : John N. Marble, Alvah Bennett, Rufus C. Barber, Jonathan Russell, Alexander Fife, James K. Barker and J. W. Mathes.
The Garden street Methodist society held its first meeting April 24th, 1853. Rev. George P. Wilson was the superintendent of the Sunday School and Rev. Mr. Hanson the pastor. The church was organized the same year. The records of the society are.deficient, and we are unable to present a complete record. Some of the pastors have been Rev. Messrs. Holman, H. H. Hartwell, C. M. Dinsmore, Trueman Carter, C. U. Dunning, E. P. Cushman, E. W. Norris, W. E. Bennett, and the present pastor, A. E. Drew. The church numbers 478 members, with 52 probationers.
The Trinity Methodist church on Haverhill street, was organized January 15th, 1873. Up about this time the members forming this society had been a part of the Free Congregational society, worship- ping first on Common street and then on Essex street, that society having grown out of a union mission Sunday School. Later in 1872 the society divided, one part going to form the Tower Hill Union Evangelical church. The remaining twenty-five members were or- ganized by Rev. L. D. Barrows into a Methodist church. They were for some time under the pastoral care of Mr. Barrows, he being then
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the pastor of the Haverhill Street Methodist Church. March 21st, they completed their organization by the appointment of trustees and stewards. The present edifice on Haverhill street, west of Broad- way was built about four years ago. The present pastor, Rev. D. C. Smith, has been with the church about one year.
Parker Street M. E. church, South Side, was organized in 1873. In the year 1869 Rev. D. C. Knowles, of the Haverhill street church conceived the idea of forming a class which at some future time should form the nucleus of a church. Five persons formed the class which met weekly in the Tiger Engine House, on Broadway. The class had a sickly existence for some time, but at length rallied and . the members resolved to erect a small structure and organize a church. A society was duly organized September 16th, 1870. A lot of land was purchased on Blanchard street, and the building erected. At this time the society had only eight members. From week to week the congregation gathered in this chapel and were for two years under the spiritual leadership of Rev. Mr. Tilton, of Derry, Rev. Mr. Keys of Woburn, Rev. A. D. Sargent of Malden, and another year by Rev. W. J. Parkinson of Boston. In 1873 the present church edifice was built at a cost of $15,000, since which the church has been supplied by the conference. Rev. Garrett Beekman, 2 years, C. L. McCurdy 1 year, A. J. Hall 1 year, and T. J. Abbott 1 year, dying after a short illness near the close of the year. The present pastor is Rev. W. A. Braman. The church numbers 100 members, with 21 on probation. Sunday School 132 scholars, 18 teachers.
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UNIVERSALISTS.
On the 25th of October, 1848, Geo. Littlefield, Sullivan Symonds, Wm. D. Joplin, Heaton Bailey and others issued a manifesto ad- dressed to George A. Waldo, Justice of the Peace, to organize a church of the Universalist faith. The meeting convened and the
北京城道
ALBERT V. BUGBEE,
City Treasurer. Office at City Hall ; residence, 25 Orchard Street. Born at Chelsea, Vt. in 1834. Obtained a limited education, being obliged to earn his own livelihood after he was eleven years of age. Became a citizen of Lawrence in 1852, and was fifteen years in the auction and commission business. Following that he was for eight years in the insurance, auction and real estate business. Elected city treasurer in 1875, from which time to the present he has continued to fill the office. Mr. Bugbee attends the Universalist church, Mar- « ried Emily S. Johnson of Lowell in 1851, and has two children.
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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE, MASS.
church was organized on November 15th of the same year. Fairfield White, Heaton Bailey, Frederick Tyler, Daniel O. Emerson and Ethel O. Nutters were elected standing committee. The present church edifice was dedicated June 30th, 1853. The first pastor was Rev. Geo. H. Clark, from 1847 to 1851 ; Rev. Henry Jewell, 1851- 52 ; Rev. J. R. Johnson, 1852 to 1855 ; Rev, J. J. Brayton, 1855 to 1858; Rev. M. J. Steere, 1858 to 1860 ; Rev. G. S. Weaver, 1861 to .1873 ; Rev. Geo. W. Perry, 1873 to 1877; and succeeded by Rev. A. E. White, the present pastor.
PRESBYTERIANS.
In the month of April, 1854, a few Presbyterians feeling that their wants were not fully met in the Congregational churches, got together at a private residence and held a prayer-meeting, William Adams being chosen to visit the people and ascertain how many were de- sirous of forming a church. June 30th, following, Rev. A. McWilliams, a licentiate from the Presbytery of Boston, came here and organized a church with 47 members. For two years services were held in the Union School house on Jackson street. In 1856 the church was built on Oak street, and preaching continued a little more than a year when Mr. McWilliams left, the hard times of 1857 and the stop- page of the Bay State Mills tending to greatly weaken the congrega- tion. In 1859 Rev. James Dinsmore was installed and remained until 1862. Meetings were then suspended and the building went into the hands of the Presbytery, it subsequently being let to the city for a school house. In 1867 the worshippers of this faith having largely increased, the church was re-dedicated and Rev. John Hogg called to the pastorate, who remained eight years. Early during his labors the new church on Concord street was built. The pastor dur- ing the year 1877 was Rev. John A. Burns, who resigned on account of ill health, and at present the church is without a settled pastor, though a call-has been extended to Rev. Mr. McAegal, of Ohio.
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QUARTER-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF LAWRENCE, MASS.
For several years the Adventists have sustained a regular church but have had a settled pastor but a small share of the time. They at first had a chapel on Common street, but subsequently removed to Bradford street where religious services are now held.
CATHOLICS. *
The early comers to Lawrence included a large Catholic element, and consequently the clergy of that order were active in looking after their interests. In December, 1848, Rev. James O'Donnell erected old. St. Mary's church. He established the parochial schools and
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REV. JAMES O'DONNELL.
brought the Sisters here. He began his services on the corner of Newbury and Common streets. He labored zealously and effectual- ly, and died April 17th, 1861. He was succeeded by Rev. Ambrose
RUSSELL WEWOULDUSE_
ST. MARY'S NEW CHURCH.
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A. Mullen, who remained from June, 1861, till August, 1866, when he left to take the presidency of Villanova College. He was fol- lowed by Rev. L. M. Edge, who erected the new Catholic church, but died before it was completed. Then came Rev. Thomas Gal- berry, now bishop of the diocese of Hartford, Conn. Rev. John P. Gilmore succeeded Father Galberry, July 2d, 1872. Father Gilmore was born in Philadelphia, October 5th, 1844. The Church of the Immaculate Conception was begun by Father French, who came here from Ireland. He rebuilt the old wooden church of the same name. He was followed by Father Taaffe, who erected the present buildings of the Immaculate Conception, the Orphan Asylum, and organized the Catholic Friends' Society. He died March 29th, 1868, and. was followed by Father Michael Dougherty, temporarily, who stayed till the appointment of Rev. William Orr in 1860. Father Orr was succeeded by Rev. J. P. Gilmore in the care of the church, with Rev. D. D. Regan as rector. In July, 1873, the St. Laurence church was opened. Father Gilmore erected the parochial residence on Haverhill street, and opened it October 5th, 1873. It cost $30,000, and Father Gilmore may well congratulate himself that this hand- some structure is paid for. The Catholic clergy of Lawrence, north of the river, of which Father Gilmore is the head, are Revs. M. M. O'Farrell, J. H. Devers, J. A. Marsden, and P. C. McGovern, all members of the order of St. Augustine. There are 13,000 Catholic communicants in Lawrence, and an average attendance in the parochial schools of 1000 pupils, 400 boys and 600 girls. Rev. Father Devers has lately come to Lawrence and has been - assigned to the Immaculate Conception church. St. Patrick's church in South Lawrence, was begun in 1869, by Father Orr, and · was dedicated on the following St. Patrick's Day by Very Rev. Father Lyndon, the lately deceased Vicar-General of the diocese. Father Orr was succeeded by Rev. James Murphy, the present pastor. He is assisted by Rev. James Sheedy.
JAMES ERVING SHEPARD),
City Clerk ; office at City Hall. Residence, 26 Summer Street. Has been in Lawrence ten years. Was born in Union, Me., Jan. 9, 1835 ; received a common school education. Married Abbie Bennett Cooper, April 4, 1864 ; has no children. Attends the Second Baptist church, and is a democrat in politics. Mr. Shepard worked on a farm and at the cooper's trade in his earlier days, and also learned the Daguerrian's - art. In 1861 he enlisted as a private in Co. D., 9th Maine Volunteers. Receiving the intermediate promotions he was on July 6th, 1863 made Regimental Adjutant ; served on staff duty till the close of the war. Came to Lawrence in 1868. Was city marshal in 1870. Employed as a newspaper writer for three years. Clerk of the Water Board for 1874, 1875 and 1876. City Clerk for 1877, and re-elected in 1878.
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HISTORY OF LAWRENCE, MASS.
The French Catholics of Lawrence worship in their brick church on Haverhill street, Rev. O. Boucher, pastor. The first movement among the French Catholics here was in December, 1871, when bishop (now archbishop) Williams, asked Father Gearin of Lowell, to come here and see what could be done. Father Gearin was superior of his order. He was assisted by Father Beaudin. They began worship in Essex Hall. In March, 1872, Father Beaudin left and Father Lecompte took charge till October Ist, 1872, when Father Michaud followed him. Father Gearin had bought the chapel on Lowell street early in March, 1872. In Father Michaud's time the society attempted to build their present church edifice, but became considerably involved, and he left in Septembr, 1874. There was nc regular pastor till March, 1875, when the present pastor came. The church has about 1300 communicants.
At present there are 28 churches in the city. The two not enum- erated above are the Swedenborgian and German Protestant, both without a house of worship and with but few adherents.
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VIII. THE CORPORATIONS.
To compile a history of Lawrence without a detailed description of the corporations would be like the play of Hamlet with Hamlet left out. These are the backbone of the city. They give directly employment to about one third of the population and are the life blood of a goodly majority of the remaining two thirds, as nearly all the wealth and the ready cash in circulation comes through the monthly pay of the operatives of these manufactories. When pay- day arrives, each month on the large corporations 'tis then the grocer, the butcher, the baker,-in fact every retail dealer of merchandise expects to count in the dollars for goods delivered in the interim since last pay-day.
The inception, growth and development of the corporations lining the banks of the river is almost marvelous-outrivalling even the "magic growth" of western cities. It is now thirty-two years since the north canal was completed and work commenced in the con- struction of the Bay State, now Washington Mills and the Atlantic Mills. From that beginning has sprung up one of the busiest cities in the world, and a population of 40,000 find home and comforts from the manufacturing industries. The corporations as a rule have been very successful. The financial depression of 1857 caused a suspension in nearly all the mills for a short time ; then occurred the failure of the Washington Mills and their reorganization. In 1860
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BYRON TRUELL,
Dry Goods and Carpet House, 249 Essex St. Residence, 355 Hav- erhill St. Came to this city in February, 1854, and became merchant's clerk in the store of A. W. Stearns. In 1858, he entered business under the firm name of Bailey & Truell. This partnership was dissolved in 1863, and he has since continued business under the name of Byron "Truell & Co., at the present stand. Born at St. Johnsbury, Vt., Nov., 1834. Married in 1859, and has two children. Attends the Haver- hill Street M. E. Church. Mr. Truell was State senator in 1877 and 1878, and was in the House in 1875 and 1876. Was in the common council in 1875. Is at present justice of the peace and a director of the Pacific National Bank.
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occurred the terrible Pemberton Mills calamity, when the mill fell, burying 700 operatives in the ruins. When the War of the Rebellion broke out in 1861 the great Pacific had fairly regained its feet, and the mills generally were ready for the extensive business that came to their doors.
The managers took an opposite course from that taken by the Lowell manufacturers, for whatever may have been their opinion as to the duration and extent of the war, they believed it policy to work up all the cotton they had, and procure as much as they could in the early days of the strife, and they eagerly sought the raw article placed on the market by the Lowell managers. Subsequent events proved their course to have been wise. During the business depression of the past few years the Lawrence mills and operatives have probably suffered less than those of any other large city. To-day the mills are running to nearly their full capacity, and, with the exception of a few months' stoppage of the Atlantic Mills, during their reorganiza- tion, the same is true of all these months of hard times. True, the wages of the operatives have been reduced, and in some cases to a large extent ; but work has been provided the people, and while those of other manufacturing centres have suffered for food and clothing, here they have been deprived of but few comforts. Unlike the mills of Fall River, the management of all the Lawrence mills is centred in Boston, and the leading officials are unknown to the people. The only irregularity of any magnitude ever occurring in the Lawrence mills was the recent defalcation of George R. Waterman, head clerk of the local management of the Pacific Mills, who, in a systematic manner for 55 months, stole an amount averaging $2000 per month, aggregating $110,000. For this skillfully planned theft he is now serving a twelve years' sentence in the State Prison at Concord. Since their incorporation there have been serious reverses, and reorganizations of the Pacific, Atlantic, Washington and Pemberton Mills.
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