USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Lawrence > Semi-centennial history of Lawrence, Mass.; with portraits and biographical sketches of prominent citizens of Lawrence and Essex County, together with views of Lawrence & vicinity > Part 3
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two well-organized companies of the State militia had been maintained and supported in Lawrence. They were known locally as the Lawrence Light Infantry and the Warren Light Guards, and were attached to the Sixth Regiment as Companies I and F.
Following the national election of 1860, it became evident that trouble was brewing for the national government, and rumors of war filled the air. On Jan. 16, 1861, Governor Andrew issued his famous General Order No. 4, calling upon the militia to put itself in proper condition to be "ready for any public exigency which may arise, whenever called upon." Three days later a meeting of the officers of the Sixth Regiment, which included the Lawrence com- panies, was held at Lowell, when Major Benjamin F. Wat- son, then the Postmaster of Lawrence, presented the fol- lowing resolution, which was unanimously adopted :-
"Resolved, That Col. Jones be authorized and requested, forthwith, to tender the services of the Sixth Regiment to the Commander-in-Chief and the Legislature, when such service may become desirable, for the purposes contemplated in General Order No. 4."
This resolution was taken to Boston and read in the Legislature, and was the first offer of organized volunteer troops for the aid of the national government.
The Lawrence companies immediately began to put themselves in shape for active duty, and their ranks were filled with men ready to respond at a moment's notice for the defence of the nation. And when, upon the fall of Fort Sumpter, President Lincoln issued his call for 75,000 men to serve for three months, these men responded without delay. Massachusetts was asked to furnish a brigade of four regi- ments, and the Sixth was selected as one of them.
Maj. Watson received a copy of the order at four o'clock on Monday afternoon, April 15th, while trying a case in court. He at once notified the Lawrence companies, and then went to Lowell. Most of the men slept that night in the armories. The next morning at eight o'clock, Company I, commanded by Captain John Pickering, and Company F, commanded by Captain Benjamin F. Chadbourne, de-
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HON. BYRON TRUELL.
BYRON TRUELL was born in St. Johnsbury, Vt., in 1834. He attended the public schools there, and subsequently re- moved to Stanstead, Que., where he graduated from the acad- emy, which since then has been formed into a college.
When about twenty years old he came to Lawrence, where he has since resided. He entered as a clerk in the dry goods store kept by the late A. W. Stearns. Four years later he formed a partnership with George N. Bailey, and to- gether they conducted a similar business. In 1863 Mr. Truell started alone in the dry goods business, from which he has recently retired.
In the course of his political life, he has been a member of the Common Council, also represented Lawrence in the House of Representatives, this district in the Senate chamber, and as a member of the Governor's Council.
In the rounding out of his political and business career it was fitting that the Hon. Byron Truell should be appointed postmaster of Lawrence for four years. He will go down in history as the semi-centennial postmaster, a distinction that Mr. Truell appreciates and values. Mr. Truell is president of the Pacific National Bank.
Mr. Truell's business life extends over a large part of fifty years of Lawrence as a city.
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parted for Lowell to join the rest of the regiment. A cold storm of sleet and rain was in progress, but the ardor and enthusiasm of the populace was in no wise dampened there- by, and the streets were filled with the crowds anxious to bid Godspeed to the departing soldiers.
After the departure of the companies, Mayor Barker called a meeting of the city government at nine o'clock, when a resolution was adopted appropriating the sum of five thousand dollars to be expended in providing for the families of those who had gone, as it might be needed. The Mayor was also requested to cause the national flag to be raised upon the Common, "there to remain as a permanent evidence of our devotion to our country."
The companies of the regiment having assembled in Lowell, departed for Boston, arriving there before noon, and being the first regiment to report. The following day the regiment started for Washington. They arrived at. Baltimore on the morning of April 19th, and there they re- ceived their baptism in blood. Their passage through the streets of that city was disputed by a great mob of seces- sionists who assailed them with paving stones, bricks and pistol shots. The fire was returned by the soldiers and many of the mob were shot down. Four of the soldiers were. killed and thirty-six were wounded. Among the killed the first to fall was Corporal Sumner Henry Needham of Com- pany I, a citizen of Lawrence, thus giving to Lawrence the. honor of the first sacrifice in defence of our country. Among the wounded were Sergeant George G. Durrell, Vic- tor G. Gingras, Michael Green, Alonzo Joy and Harry G. Jewell, all of Company I of Lawrence. After the repulse of the mob in Baltimore, the regiment proceeded to Washing- ton, and it was the first body of organized and armed troops. to arrive at the capital, and greatly to the relief of the loyal. citizens of Washington and of the country.
Chaplain Hanson in his history of the regiment says: "First to offer its services; first to reach its State's capi- tal; first to reach the nation's capital; first to inflict suf- fering on traitors; first to attest its sincerity with its blood, -was the Sixth Massachusetts Regiment of Volunteer
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H. RICHARD PARTHUM, CHAIRMAN OF BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
A popular member of the Turn Verein and other Ger- inan societies, is Alderman H. Richard Parthum of ward one, who has resided here since 1873. He is vigorous, progres- sive and democratic in his ideas of municipal government. His home is at 107 East Haverhill street.
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Militia." As has been said before, Lawrence glories, not only in the share which it took in these first steps towards putting down the rebelllion, but also in its whole course throughout the war.
The remains of Needham were brought to Lawrence May 3d, and placed in the City Hall. Public funeral ser- vices were conducted by Rev. George S. Weaver of the Universalist church, the pastor of the deceased, assisted by other clergymen of the city. A sermon was preached from the text, "He being dead yet speaketh," Hebrews, xi: 4. The remains lie in a beautiful lot in Bellevue cemetery, com- manding a view of the city. The city government erected a granite monument to his memory.
Sumner Henry Needham was born at Bethel, Me., March. 2, 1828. He came to Lawrence in 1849, and made this his home until his decease. He early took an interest in mili- tary affairs, and became a member of the Lawrence Light Infantry. In 1857 he was commissioned 4th Lieutenant of the company, and in 1859 became Ist Lieutenant. He re- signed in 1860; but when it appeared that the company might be called into active service, he re-enlisted as a private. On the day the company left home he was appointed a corporal. A son, Sumner Henry Needham, is still a resident of the city, and a grandson, also Sumner Henry Needham, who is now a member of the company to which the grandfather belonged.
Before the return of the three-months' men a call was issued for 300,000 men for three years' service, and to this call Lawrence responded as before. Two companies were furnished for the 14th Mass. regiment, afterwards the Ist Mass. Heavy Artillery; and many men enlisted in other or- ganizations, so that before the war was over Lawrence was represented in almost every Massachusetts regiment, the regular army and the navy. Lawrence also furnished one whole company for the 40th New York regiment.
Enlistments in Lawrence were at most times ahead of the calls from the government. For a short time in 1863 enlistments lagged and a draft was ordered. Only two men were taken from Lawrence under the draft; and it has been
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EUGENE E. BURNHAM.
The E. E. Burnham Company, manufacturers of general mill supplies, of which concern Eugene E. Burnham is proprietor, is recognized among the trade as the most reliable concern manufacturing leather and rubber belting, loom strapping, pickers, lace leather and brooms and cotton top roll covers.
Their business extends throughout this and other states.
Mr. Burnham is a native of Lawrence, born here in the year 1864. He is a graduate of the public schools, and in 1886 entered business under the firm name of Burnham and Page, ten years later becoming sole proprietor. To the mill man his famous blotter tells the tale, "When in want, remem- ber Burnham."
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said by those in authority, that if the credits and allowances had been properly made up at that time, that a draft would have been unnecessary in Lawrence.
The total number of men accredited to Lawrence quotas was 2,617, a surplus of 224 over and above all calls for men. Of them 92 were commissioned officers. The population of Lawrence in 1861, when the war began, was only about 18,000.
A complete list of the soldiers and sailors who went from Lawrence during the war of the rebellion has never been published, and cannot be prepared at the present time. The lists of Massachusetts soldiers as heretofore published from the Adjutant General's office are defective in many re- spects; and while a great deal of work has been done in that office in correcting the lists as originally made, still much remains to be done. The record of sailors is even more in- complete than that of the soldiers. As complete a list of those who went from Lawrence as it is possible to make, is being prepared by one who took part in that great strug- gle, which may at some future time be presented to the public.
The liberal spirit shown by the city government when the first troops were called out was continued during the war. The total amount expended by the city for war purposes was about $330,000. The State finally reimbursed $180,000 of this amount. The amounts contributed by individuals and private organizations cannot be told.
In September, 1879, a movement was started in Need- ham Post No. 39, Grand Army of the Republic, for the erec- tion of a monument in commemoration of those who fought in the defence of the nation. The public entered earnestly into the matter, and contributed over $11,000. Most of the contributions were in small amounts, the number of con- tributors being 9,136. The committee having the matter in charge selected a design by Maurice J. Power of New York, and decided to locate it near the centre of the Common. The city government provided the foundation, so that the whole amount of the contributions was devoted to the monument itself. The monument was completed in October,
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1
DR. JOHN A. MAGEE.
DR. JOHN A. MAGEE was born in Frederickton, N. B., March, 1848. Came to Lawrence in 1845. Graduated from Burlington, Vermont, Medical University in 1872. Dr. Magee is a member of Lawrence Council, Knights of Columbus. Served as City Physician from 1882 to 1885. Appointed Spicket River Commissioner in 1887.
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1881, and on the evening of November 2d, a simple service of transfer was made to the city. Hon. John R. Rollins, for the committee, made the address of presentation, and Mayor Henry K. Webster accepted it in behalf of the city. The monument consists of a granite shaft, surmounted by a crowning figure representing Union, the whole fifty feet in height. At the base are three bronze figures, and bronze tablets bear the names of 256 Lawrence soldiers and sailors. who died while in the service of their country.
At the close of the war what was left of the State militia was re-organized. Company I of the Sixth Regiment, which still retained its organization and Company K, also of the Sixth, which had been organized in 1864 for one hun- dred days' service, were all that were left in Lawrence. Lt. Col. Melvin Beal was chosen Colonel of the Sixth Regi- ment, and brought the headquarters of the regiment to this city. He remained in command of the regiment until 1882, and was succeeded by Col. Smith M. Decker who was in command for two years.
A battery of Light Artillery was formed here in 1865, with Henry M. McIntire as Captain, and was known as the Bonney Light Battery, in honor of Mayor Milton Bonney. In 1876 the battery was disbanded. In December, 1878, Com- pany I of the Sixth was transferred to the Ninth Regi- ment, and is now known as Company F. At the same time Company K was transferred to the Eighth Regiment, and designated as Company M. In 1886 this company was changed to a battery of Light Artillery, and is now known as Battery C. Company Lof the Eighth Regiment was trans- ferred to this city from North Andover, where it was or- ganized. These companies all have their home at the State Armory on Amesbury Stret. The headquarters of the First Battalion of Light Artillery, commanded by Major Law- rence N. Ducherney, are also kept at the State Armory here.
In 1898, when war was declared with Spain on account of her treatment of Cuba, and President Mckinley called for troops to sustain the nation in its demands upon Spain, the young men of Lawrence were as ready to respond as in
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HON. WM. H. MOODY, SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.
A history of Lawrence, with its essential bearing upon Essex County, would be incomplete without due reference to that favorite son of Haverhill, the Hon. William H. Moody, whom President Roosevelt honored with an impor- tant position in his cabinet. As a leading member of the Essex County bar, Mr. Moody early laid the pathway to greater things by his practice in this city and suburbs. Lawrence is proud of the Secretary of the Navy-a man who has honored not only his city, but upheld the fair name of Essex County in Congress and Cabinet Circles.
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the days of 1861. Both of the infantry companies in this city went with their regiments to Cuba, and did efficient service there. Altogether Lawrence furnished something over 300 men for service during the Spanish war; and many more Lawrence men have enlisted in the regiments which have been sent to the Philippine Islands for duty there.
The Free Public Library is one of the institutions of the city which is highly appreciated by our citizens. It was established in 1872, and was the result of combining several libraries and funds under one board of trustees. The
Franklin Library Association was incorporated in 1847, and had accumulated a library of 4,000 volumes and a fund of about $3,000. Subscribers contributing one dollar a year had access to these books. Abbott Lawrence had given the Association $1,000 at its organization, and at his death in 1855 left it $5,000 more. In 1852, by an agreement be- tween the Essex Company and Judge Daniel Appleton White of Salem, who was born in 1776, near the northeast corner of Haverhill and Lawrence Streets, a tract of land containing several acres on the southerly side of Haverhill Street, between White and Franklin Streets, was reserved for the purpose of creating a fund, the income of which was to be used to establish an annual course of six free lec- tures, for the benefit of the industrial classes of Lawrence; and if the income should be sufficient, a portion was to be applied to the purchase of books for the establishment of a public library. This land was placed in the hands of Charles S. Storrow, Nathaniel G. White and Henry K. Oli- ver as trustees, who from time to time disposed of it and established what is known as the White Fund.
In 1872 the Franklin Library Association having pro- posed to donate their library and funds to the city, as the nucleus of a Free Public Library, and the Trustees of the White Fund agreeing to make an annual contribution of money for the purchase of books, the city council passed an ordinance establishing the Free Public Library, and placing it under the control of a board of trustees, consisting of the Mayor, the President of the Common Council, the White Fund Trustees and six citizens to be elected by the
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COL. BUTLER AMES, CONGRESSMAN.
COL. BUTLER AMES, the able successor in Congress to such men as Russell, Greenhalge, Stevens and Knox, as the representative of the Fifth Congressional District, was born in Lowell, Aug. 2Ist, 1871. He is the son of Maj. Gen. Adel- bert Ames, U. S. A., and himself a graduate of West Point. Lowell honored him in every branch of public service - in the City Government and the House of Representatives. His natural military taste received an outlet during the Span- ish-American war, when as Adjutant of the 6th Mass. he went to Porto Rico and received his first baptism of fire. Col. Ames was with the army of invasion in Santiago. Con- gressman Ames is a large employer of labor, and in addition to being treasurer of the U. S. Cartridge Co., he is interested in many other industries at home and in our new possessions.
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city council; the latter to serve three years, two being elected each year. Soon afterwards the Agricultural Li- brary Association transferred their library to the Public Library. In 1895 the Pacific Mills presented a library of 7,000 volumes, which had been maintained for the use of their operatives, to the Public Library, with the sum of $5,000.
The library was first opened in rooms in Saunders Block, but in three years it outgrew its accommodations and was moved to Odd Fellows Block, where it occupied the whole of the second floor. The present library build- ing was erected in 1892, and cost $50.000. Mrs. N. G. White and her daughter gave $45,000 towards its construc- tion as a memorial to Nathaniel Gilman White, who was for many years a trustee of the White Fund. The trustees of the Fund gave $5,000 towards the construction of the building, and spent several thousands more for the furnish- ings. The land was part of the White reservation. In 1902 a large addition was made to the building, which will add very much to its use. William I. Fletcher was librarian in 1872 and 1873, Frederick H. Hodge Jr., from 1873 to 1902. William A. Walsh is the present librarian. The present number of books in the library is about 55,000.
The present system of waterworks supplying the city with water for domestic purposes was constructed in the years 1874-5. In 1848 the Lawrence Aqueduct Company was chartered by the Legislature for the purpose of con- veying water from Haggett's Pond to Lawrence, but noth- ing beyond a survey was ever attempted by this company. The supply from wells had proved sufficient for many years, but the quality was rapidly deteriorating. In 1871 the question of procuring some other source of supply was agitated, and a largely signed petition was sent to the city government asking that steps might be taken to provide a sufficient supply of pure water. The petition was referred to a committee who made a report recommending that water be taken from the Merrimack river, and that the Legis- lature be asked to grant the necessary authority to do so. An act was passed by the Legislature, and approved March
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HON. JOHN T. SPARKS.
JOHN T: SPARKS, the progressive druggist of Lowell, is known to Lawrence by reason of the excellent campaign he put up last fall as democratic nominee for Congress in this district. In Lowell he is justly popular among all classes, and represented that city in the Senate chamber of Massa- chusetts.
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8, 1872, which granted authority to construct the works and take water from the river, provided that the act should be accepted by a majority of votes at an election called to pass upon it. The question was presented to the citizens and the vote was 1,298 in favor and 830 against it. During the year a preliminary survey was made by Mr. L. Frederick Rice, an expert engineer of Boston, who made an exhaus- tive report upon the subject. Early in 1873 the city govern- ment passed an ordinance creating a board of Water Com- missioners and providing for the construction of the works. Ground was broken and the work begun Nov. 13, 1873, and the works were so far completed as to let the water into the reservoir Oct. 19, 1875. On the following day the fire department had a trial of engines, drawing water from the hydrants for that purpose. During the month of December water was turned on to all of the service supplies that were ready to receive it, the first to use it being J. W. Porter & Co. at their stable on Lawrence Street. The net cost of the works when completed was $1, 192,967.84. The com- missioners in charge of the work were William Barbour, Patrick Murphy and Morris Knowles. Walter F. McCon- nell was chief engineer, and Baldwin Coolidge, Charles H. Littlefield and George T. Keith were the assistant engi- neers. The works consist of a pumping station at the river, with a Leavitt pumping engine; the force main from the pumping station to the reservoir on Tower Hill, which is a twin basin 170 feet above the dam, and capable of holding 40,000,000 gallons of water; and the distributing pipes which convey the water to the users. The average daily consump- tion of water at present is a little over 3,000,000 gallons. In 1893 a filtering bed was constructed at the river near the pumping station for the purpose of filtering all of the water used. During the present year an extensive addition is be- ing made to the filter beds. In 1896 a high service system was inaugurated. The standpipe and tower were erected on the highest point of Tower Hill, and rise over one hun- dred feet above the ground. The tower is an attractive ornament to the city, and is visible for miles around. The
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SAMUEL A. JOHNSON, SHERIFF OF ESSEX COUNTY.
SAMUEL ALLEN JOHNSON, of Salem, Sheriff of Essex County, is a native of Salem, born July 31, 1847, son of Samuel S. and Elizabeth (Allen) Johnson. In 1856 he removed, with his parents, to Beloit, Wisconsin, and was educated at Beloit College, leaving, however, before completing his full course, and beginning the study of law in the office of Todd & Con- verse in Beloit, where he spent about a year. In the autumn of 1870, after two years of travel, he resumed his law studies in the office of the late Hon. W. D. Northend, and was ad- mitted to the bar of Essex County on October 3, 1871. He remained in the office of Mr. Northend practicing his profes- sion, until May, 1872, when he entered into a partnership with the late Dean Peabody, at that time one of the leading attorneys of Lynn, and afterwards for many years Clerk of Courts for Essex County. He remained in active practice in Lynn until May, 1875, when illness compelled him to seek health in Colorado. Returning to Salem in December, 1876, he was appointed Deputy Sheriff; and this- office, he held un- til he assumed the duties of his present office of Sheriff of Essex County, to which he was elected in 1892.
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filter and high service have added greatly to the efficiency of the works.
Notwithstanding the degree of prosperity which has at- tended Lawrence in the progress of years from its inception to the present time, it has had its full share of disasters and calamities, the record of which is a part of the history of the- city. A brief mention of a few of the principal ones is 11 that can be attempted in this sketch.
In 1847, during the construction of the dam, a portion of a coffer dam gave way, precipitating fifteen men into the rush of waters upon the rocks, twenty-five feet below. Two men were killed, and Capt. Bigelow, the chief engineer, and L. M. Wright, the foreman, were severely injured. The others escaped with slight injuries. August 15, 1859, a fire- broke out in the United States Hotel block on Essex Street, adjoining Church block (near Reid and Hughes store), which soon spread to the adjoining blocks and to the Court House on Common Street, then just completed, all of which were destroyed. Sparks flying across the Common set fire to the Unitarian Church which was partially destroyed. Three lives were lost by the falling of walls during this fire.
The greatest disaster which Lawrence has experienced was the fall of the Pemberton Mill, in which 88 lives were lost, and 275 more or less injured. At about five o'clock in the afternoon of Jan. 10, 1860, the main mill, 284 feet in length and five stories in height, fell without warning, carry- ing with it 670 operatives employed in it. The work of res- cue by thousands of willing hands began at once, but at. about nine o'clock in the evening fire broke out in the ruins. and drove the rescuers from their labors. After the flames. were extinguished, thirteen bodies burned beyond recogni- tion were discovered. After a searching investigation, the cause of the disaster was declared to have been due to the breaking of some defective iron columns used in the con- struction of the mill. July 26, 1890, South Lawrence was visited by a cyclone or tornado which swept from west to east through a thickly settled district, and which destroyed many buildings and caused the loss of eight lives.
In recent years the city has been remarkably free from
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