Standard history of Essex county, Massachusetts, embracing a history of the county from its first settlement to the present time, with a history and description of its towns and cities. The Most historic county of America., Part 19

Author: Tracy, Cyrus M. (Cyrus Mason), 1824-1891, et al. Edited by H. Wheatland
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Boston, C. F. Jewett
Number of Pages: 450

USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Standard history of Essex county, Massachusetts, embracing a history of the county from its first settlement to the present time, with a history and description of its towns and cities. The Most historic county of America. > Part 19

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" Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Gen-

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

eral Court, assembled and by authority of the same, that the said Trustees of Phillips Academy be, and they are hereby impowered to receive, purchase, and hold, for the purposes aforesaid, real and per- sonal estate, the annual income whereof shall not exceed $5,000, in addition to what they are now allowed by law to hold ; provided the income of the said real and personal estate be always applied to said objects, agreeably to the will of the Donors, if consistent with the original design of the Founders of the said Academy."

" This institution having been duly incorporated with power to hold property in trust, Mrs. Phebe, widow of the then recently deceased Lieut. Gov., Samuel Phillips, of Andover and Hon. John Phil- lips her Son, obligated themselves to build with all convenient despatch two buildings, one for the accommodation of the Students, the other for the Stewards family and various public uses."

At the same time, and by the same instrument, Samuel Abbot, Esq., of Andover, set over to the abovenamed trustees $20,000 in trust as a fund for the purpose of maintaining a Professor of Christian Theology and for the encouragement and support of students in di- vinity. Both of the abovenamed buildings and the interest or annual income of the said sum of money were to be forever appropriated and applied by the trustees aforesaid for the use and endowment of a public theological institution in Phillips Academy, such as described by the donors, and to be regulated by their statutes.

In the meantime, preparatory measures had been made by others to found a similar institution, of which West Newbury was to be the location. It was, however, agreed upon that two institutions of this kind were not needed, and so near together; and after much consul- tation, the parties agreed to unite.

Accordingly, on the twenty-first day of March, 1808, Moses Brown, Esq., and Hon. William Bartlett, both of Newburyport, and the Hon. John Norris, of Salem, united with the former donors and founders, and set over to the trustees of Phillips Academy and to their successors in office, a donation in trust, - Mr. Brown giving $10,000, Mr. Bart- lett, $30,000, and Mr. Norris, $10,000, as a capital fund, "the inter- est or annual income to be applied to the maintenance of two pro- fessors in the Theological Institution, which had then been lately founded."

For the purpose of seeing that everything is conducted agreeably to the wishes of the donors, a board of three visitors were appointed by the original and associate founders, with power to elect their suc- cessors, and to fill vacancies. It is expressly stipulated that the funds above mentioned should be kept separate from each other and the whole from Phillips Academy funds.

Every professor in the seminary should be a master of arts of the Protestant reformed religion, in communion with some Christian church of the Congregational or Presbyterian denomination, and sustain the character of a discreet, honest, learned, and pious man ; that he should moreover be a man of sound words and orthodox principles in divinity, according to that form of sound words or system of evan- gelical doctrines, drawn from the Scriptures, and denominated the Westminster Assembly's Shorter Catechism, and more particularly expressed in the ereed prepared by the founders.

"Every person therefore appointed or elected a professor in this seminary, was required, on the day of his inauguration into office, and in the presence of the Trustees, publicly to make and subscribe a solemn declaration of his faith in divine revelation and, in the funda- mental and distinguishing doctrines of the gospel of Christ, as above referred to ; and he was farthermore solemnly to promise, that he would open and explain the scriptures to his Pupils with integrity and faithfulness ; that he would maintain and inculcate the Christian faith as above expressed together with all the other doctrines and duties of our holy religion, so far as might appertain to his office. according to the best light God should give him ; and in opposition, not only to Atheists and Infidels, but to Jews, Papists, Mahometans, Arians, Pelagians, Antinomians, Arminians, Socinians, Sabellians,

Unitarians and Universalists, and to all heresies and errors, ancient or modern, which might be opposed to the gospel of Christ or hazardous to the Souls of men ; - that by his instruction, counsel, and example, he would endeavor to promote true piety and godliness ; that he would consult the good of this Institution and the peace of the churches of our Lord Jesus Christ on all occasions, and that he would religiously observe the Statutes of this Institution, relative to his offi- cial duties and deportment and all such other Statutes and Laws, as might be constitutionally made by the Trustees of Phillips Academy, not repugnant thereto."

It was also ordained, "That, the preceding declaration should be repeated by every Professor in this seminary, in the presence of the Trustees at the expiration of every successive period of five years ; and that no man should be continued a Professor in the Institution, who should not continue to approve himself, to the satisfaction of the said Trustees, a man of SOUND and ORTHODOX principles in Divinity, agreeably to the system of evangelical doctrines, contained in the aforesaid Catechism and Creed. It was further provided that the visitors should subscribe the same creed, and in the same manner with the professors."

Thus the institution originated, and was opened for students in Octoher, 1808, under the instruction and government of the Rev. Eliphalet Pearson, LL. D., and the Rev. Leonard Woods, D. D., assisted during the first year by the Rev. Moses Stuart, A. M. The first year they received thirty-six students.

From that day to the present it has undergone several internal changes, and several generous donations have been received from various sources. It is open to Protestants of all denominations. From this institution ministers are laboring all over this country, and in many foreign countries.

The following is a general summary of the students of the seminary, as appears hy the last triennial catalogue : -

Graduates in the Full Course, 1,618

Persons not completing the Full Course, 851

Graduates in the Special Course, 5

Members of Remaining Classes, .

Resident Students,

Resident Licentiates, .

148

Total,

2,696

There have been 844 deceased out of the above number.

Abbot Female Academy was incorporated January 29, 1829, and opened May 6, 1829. This is the first incorporated academy for girls only in the State, if not in New England. Mrs. Sarah Abbot, of Andover, was its first benefactor. She contributed one thousand dollars towards the erection of the academy building; and, beside subsequent gifts, finally made the trustees the residuary legatees of her estate, the whole amount being over ten thousand dollars. Among other benefactors have been Hon. George L. Davis, of North Andover, whose gifts amount to over seven thousand dollars. Mr. John Smith and his brother, Peter Smith, of Andover, have given about thirty- five hundred dollars each.

The grounds, which originally consisted of one acre of land, the gift of Dea. Mark Newman, in 1829, now embrace upwards of twenty acres, affording gardens, pleasure-grounds, and a grove. There are four buildings on these grounds, - the academy, a two- story brick structure, with an observatory for the telescope, and three boarding halls. The present value of the real estate is about $40,000. The are several cabinets and school apparatus, art collections, library, &c. The recent collection of three thousand shells, made by the Rev. Frank A. Wood, is very valuable, as is the equatorial telescope, built by Alvin Clark, of Cambridge. The telescope and philosophical apparatus were gifts from past scholars, and other friends of the institution.

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

The following is a list of the principals since the organization. The first principal was Charles Goddard, a graduate of Yale College in 1826. He planned and superintended the erection of the academy. The first teacher of modern languages was the now venerable Dr. William G. Schauffer, missionary at Constantinople. Mr. Goddard remained but two years. He was succeeded by Samuel Lawson (Bow- doin College, 1828). Left, Oct. 7, 1834.

Samuel Brown (Dartmouth College, 1831), now president of Ham- iltou College. Entered on his office in the spring of 1835; left in 1838.

The Rev. Lorenzo L. Langstroth (Yale College, 1831). Remained only six months, from June 22, 1838, to February, 1839.

The Rev. T. D. P. Stone (Amherst College, 1834). Dec. 3, 1840, to Oct. 15, 1842. A teacher of elocution in Boston.

The Rev. Asa Farwell (Middlebury College, 1838). Fall of 1838 to Nov., 1852. Now pastor of a church in Ashland, Neb.

Miss Nancy Judson Hasseltine. July 21, 1853, to Jan. 29, 1856. Miss Maria J. B. Brown. March 24, 1856, to May 5, 1857.

Miss Emma L. Taylor. June 12, 1857, to June 19, 1859.

Miss Philena McKeen, July 1, 1859, is the present principal, and the institution is in a flourishing condition.

" Punchard Free School."-Benjamin Hanover Punchard, the founder of the " Punchard Free School," was born in Salem, Mass., Dec, 16, 1799, and died in Andover, April 4, 1850, in the fifty-first year of his age. By his last will and testament he bequeathed the munificent sum of seventy thousand dollars to the town of Andover for the pur- pose of founding the school which now bears his name. The school at present has for its support a permanent fund of sixty thousand dollars ; the remainder of the bequest, by the terms of the will, to be used for a building, &c. In the words of the generous donor, " Said school shall be under the direction of Eight Trustees of whom the Rector of Christ Church is to be one ; also, the ministers of the South Parish and West Parish Congregational Societies to be members ; Also, the remaining five to be chosen by the inhabitants of Andover in town meeting, to serve for three years ; two of whom to be taken from Christ Church Society, two from the South Parish Society, and one from the West Parish Society. Said School to be free to all youths resident in Andover, under the restrictions of the trustees, as to age and qualifications. No Scetarian influence to be used in the School ; the Bible to be in daily use; and the Lord's Prayer; in which the pupils shall join audibly with the teacher in the morning, at the opening, the said trustees to have the Sole direction ; and power, also to determine and decide whether the School shall be for males only, or for the benefit of both sexes. Said School to be located in the South Parish of Andover, but free for all the Parishes equally."

The school edifice was commenced in June, 1855, and completed Sept. 1, 1856. The Rev. Samuel Fuller, D. D., delivered the address at the dedication, Sept. 2, 1856. On the following day the school was opened. The building was totally destroyed by fire on Tuesday morning, Dec. 15, 1868. The structure was seventy-five feet long, forty-five feet wide, and two stories high. It was of pressed brick, with rustie corners of freestone, and slated roof. The town has erected a high-school building, which is now occupied by this school.

The first principal was Peter Smith Byers, A. M., of Andover, of Harvard College, assistant teacher in Phillips Academy, and principal of the high school, Providence, R. I. He was elected March 13, 1854. Resigned on account of ill health April 7, 1855, and died March 19, 1856.

The second principal was Nathan M. Belden, A. M., of Wilton, Conn., of Trinity College, Hartford. He was elected principal Jan. 1, 1855, and resigned Feb. 27, 1857.

The third principal was the Rev. Charles H. Seymour, of Haver- hill, elected Feb. 27, 1857, and resigned October, 1858.

The present principal is William Gleason Goldsmith, A. M., of Harvard College. He was clected Nov. 1, 1858, and resigned April

11, 1870. The school was discontinued one year, from September, 1870, to September, 1871, when the school was re-opened, and Mr. Goldsmith was re-elected, and is now the principal. Mr. Goldsmith was at one time " Peabody Instructor of the Natural Sciences in Phil- lips Academy."

The present town of Andover is a delightfully located town, bounded on the north by Dracut and Lawrenee, on the north-east by North Andover, on the south by North Reading and Wilmington, on the south-west by Tewksbury, and contains about 10,000 acres of land. It is situated in latitude 42° 38' 26", longitude 71º 6' 4". It is twenty-two miles north of Boston by railroad ; fifteen miles north- west from Salem; ten miles east from Lowell. The surface of the soil is gently undulating, with here and there considerable elevations, the most prominent of which is "Holt's Hill," otherwise known as " Prospect " Hill, situated about one mile south-east of the seminary. This hill is 423 feet above the level of the sea, and from its summit the most lovely views may be had on any fine, clear day. Upwards of thirty church spires may be counted from here. This place was selected by Prof. A. D. Bache, of the United States Coast Survey, several years since, as the most eligible site fromin which to obtain the best outline of the coast.

A farm-house, erected on this hill, has stood over 160 years, and has been in the " Holt" family through eight generations, and is now in possession of Ballard Holt.

The other hills of the town are : Pine Hill, a short distance east of the seminary ; Carmel Hill, north of the centre village ; Pole Hill, at Ballardvale ; Wood's Hill, west of Haggett's Pond ; besides the Semi- nary Hill, at the centre village. A modern writer thus describes the view from this hill in the centre of the town. "The surrounding am- phitheatre of hills, which lie in pleasing elevations along the horizon ; the rich and fertile spots upon their sides, covered with exuberant vegetation and smiling upon the distant beholder; the intervening valleys, through one of which meanders the placid Shawshine on its way to its labor-saving task in turning the ponderous wheels and giv- ing motion to the complicated and nimble machinery of the adjacent factories ; the happy intermingling on every side of field and wood- land ; and the gorgeous, golden sunsets at the soft and balmy hour of evening, - render it one of the most enchanting places for sum- mer residence in all New England."

Another writer gives the following description of a view from the " Old Stone Cabin," near the seminary grounds : "To the north-west of this beautiful spot, take a bird's-eye view of the tall mountains of New Hampshire, beautifully defined on the horizon, and seen with their snow-white caps ; or directly north, only three miles distant, may be seen Lawrence, with its mammoth factories, stretched along the shores of the beautiful Merrimac ; or, perchance it be evening, we see thousands of lights glaring in the distance, like so many stars in the firmament, giving light to a world of spindles ; and, still nearer, the centre village of Andover, some fifty feet below the sills of the " old stone cabin," with its church steeples, rising far above the sur- rounding buildings, as if their shadows were a protecting shield ; they are apt mentors to a busy and thrifty people, and of which happily throughout New England they have been peculiarly an evidence."

Rivers and Ponds. - The town is well watered by the Merrimac on its north-westerly boundary. The Shawshine, which enters the town at the south-west, and whose northerly course through the centre of the town divides it in twain and passes on to the Merrimac, at Law- rence. There are several smaller streams, as Roger's Brook, Mus- quito, Fish, Bostou, River Meadow, and Frye's brooks, that serve to water the farms and supply water for household purposes.

The ponds in town are Haggett's Pond, containing 220 acres, the waters of which flow through Fish Brook, to the Merrimac, at the westerly end of the town. Foster's Poud, in the south part of the town, contains fifty acres, whose waters empty into the Shawshine near Ballardvale. Pomp's Pond, formerly " Ballard's," containing thirty-

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

seven and one-half acres, empties into the same, below Ballardvale. There are also two small ponds in the south-east part of the town, - the Beaver-Dam Pond, of three and three-fourths acres ; Aslebes Pond, containing two acres. Formerly shad and salmon were taken in large quantities from the Merrimac and Shawshine, and alewives from the smaller streams leading into the Merrimac.

Soil. - The land on both sides of the Shawshine is good, and the meadow-land abundant. The land in the south part of the town is mostly light, gravelly, and plain, to a considerable extent. In the south-west the land is also in plains. In the north-west it is some- what stony and hilly, and hard of culture. The wood on the plains is mostly pine, often succeeded by oak, which is the principal growth of the town. Formerly considerable walnut, maple, pine wood, and timber, were rafted down the river to Newburyport. The cast part of the town is undulating and somewhat rocky, moist, hard of culture, but fertile, and as a whole it is one of the best farming towns in the county.

In several places beds of clay have been found and large quantities of bricks made on the town farm. As many as 300,000 have been sold yearly.

Peat meadows have been discovered, and fuel has been taken from some of them, and used to a limited extent. The geological forma- tion is calcareous gneiss, with an intervening bed of granite, and steatite, or soapstone.

Roads. - The roads of the town, like many other old towns, are crooked, having been accidentally located, following the trails of the Indians, or made to accommodate individuals, the usual custom in early times being to build a house and then lay out a road to it. Whereas now roads and streets are laid out in advance of immediate necessities.

The first settlers of Andover had rough and bad roads to contend with. At first, the people were engaged in elearing the lands and providing themselves with food, and had little use for wide and good roads. Many of them were mere footpaths or bridle-ways. Oxen, at first were used, and the training of horses to a draught was at a later period. The saddle only was used, and horses were trained to carry double, and women rode on a pillion, with their fathers, broth- ers, or perchanee a lover. It is said that Jeremiah Abbott rode from Andover to Wilton, forty-five miles, in one day, with his mother behind him on a pillion. Carriages were very little used for pleasure, or for conveying persons. The pillion went out of use about the close of the last century. Since that time, carriages have been used, and the roads greatly improved. If we will bear in mind that the high- ways were mere cart-paths through the woods, with stumps still standing, hills ungraded and rivers unbridged, we have some idea of the hardships of that day. When the town was first settled, it was covered with almost impenetrable forests, except in the lowlands or meadows. There were no pleasant fields, nor grassy lawns, nor gar- dens. The Indians sometimes burned the woods, in order to facilitate taking deer and wild game; and in some places there was but little large wood remaining. Some of the meadows had long, coarse grass, thick and high, which obstrueted their progress in fishing and gun- ning, and hence they usually set it on fire in the autumn months, and fresh grass would come early in the spring following. The woods were filled with the various kinds of birds peculiar to New England, and some wild animals, the worst of which, and the greatest pest to the infant settlement, was the wolf. These were so bold that it troubled the farmers to keep sheep without shepherds to watch them by day, and place them in the folds at night. They had become so annoying that the town offered rewards for every one caught, as appears by the town records : " Voted, that twenty shillings be given for every wolf caught, and carried to the constables."

Andover Turnpike. - Subscriptions for stock for this road were opened in 1804, and an Act of incorporation obtained June 15, 1805, by Jonathan Porter, Joseph Hurd, Nathan Parker, Oliver Holden,

and Fitch Hall. The bounds were defined in the Aet. It was to run as follows : "From the house of John Russell, in Andover, in an easterly direction, to the cast of Martin's Pond, nearly in a straight line to the house of J. Nichols, in Reading ; thenee to Stoneham, by the west side of Spot Pond, to the Market Place in Medford." This speculation not proving a profitable investment to the stockholders, they surrendered their charter, and the different towns accepted the road as free several years since.

Railroads. - The town is well accommodated by two lines of rail- road, - the Boston and Maine following the valley of the Shawshine River, passing through the eentre of the town, and furnishing eleven trains daily each way. It has a station at Ballardvale and Andover Village. The Lowell and Lawrence road passes through the north- west part of the town, having one station in the West Parish.

Villages. - As we approach the town from the south, we first enter the neat and picturesque manufacturing village of Ballardvale. The principal business of this village is the manufacture of flannel and woollen cloth. Here is said to have been the first mill in the country that attempted to manufacture mousseline delaines. J. P. Bradlee is the owner and manager of these mills. Near by the railroad station are the extensive works of the late Whipple File and Steel Company, which have ceased operations, and the entire property has been sold. There are two churches here, a post-office, and the usual country variety stores.

Passing from this to the north, curving a short distance to the right, the spires of the centre churches of Andover are in full view. It is situated but a short distance to the east of the Shawshine River, -the principal business street being along the line of the old turnpike, or Main Street, extending south past the seminary and academy build- ings. This is well known as the seat of learning, having, besides the usual town schools, four incorporated schools of the highest order. Here we find an elegant Soldiers' Memorial Hall, built of brick, at an expense of about $40,000, erected by subscriptions, -the liberal sum of $25,000 having been given by the originator of the project, John Smith, of the firm of Smith, Dove & Co., - five churches, two hotels, a town house, a masonic lodge, one national bank, one savings bank, one fire insurance company, together with such stores as are needed to supply the wants of the immediate vicinity. The town has a large brick building, with land, used for a " Poor Farm," in which her poor are well provided for. Farming is the leading industry of the town, although there are artisans of every kind usually found in towns of its size.

Abbot Village. - Crossing the river before mentioned to the west, within a mile, is Abbot Village, a small cluster of houses, the occu- pants of which are engaged in the thread and twine factory of Messrs. Smith, Dove & Co., who manufacture every variety of shoe-threads, twine, and carpet warp, &c., the proprietors of which have generously bestowed gifts to the Seminary Library and Memorial Hall.

Manufactures. - Of the early manufactures, Andover has an inter- esting history. Among the prominent manufactures of early time, and the most interesting, is the manufacture of gunpowder. Hon. Samuel Phillips, Jr., afterwards Lieut. Governor. erected the first mill in this vicinity, if not in the Colony, for making powder. It was creeted by Mr. Phillips, under the patronage of the Colony, and by a resolve of the General Court of January 8, 1776, the preamble of which is as follows : -

" Whereas. Samuel Phillips Jr has proposed to build a mill with all expedition, at Andover for manufacturing of Gun Powder, and this court is willing to give all reasonable encouragement to so important and necessary an undertaking. It is therefore

"Resolved -That Mr Phillips was to build the mill, and for one year after it was erected, and fitted, the Colony was to supply him with so much salt petre from time to time, as to keep the mill constantly em- ployed, providing the powder could be manufactured as reasonably as it could be purchased. They were also to supply him with salt petre

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

at cost sufficient for manufacturing, Mr Phillips agreing on his part to find charcoal and all other materials and also engaging to keep a guard about the mill at all times, to prevent any wicked or designing persons from destroying the same, He was also required to give bonds for the faithful performance of the contraet, and further he was to eause to be published all discoveries he might make relative to the construction of the mill and the manufacturing of powder. As eom- pensation he was to receive eight penee per pound for the powder, he manufactured from the Saltpetre furnished by the Colony, when deliv- ered to the Commissary."

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Standard history of Essex county, Massachusetts, embracing a history of the county from its first settlement to the present time, with a history and description of its towns and cities. The Most historic county of America., Part 19

Author: Tracy, Cyrus M. (Cyrus Mason), 1824-1891, et al. Edited by H. Wheatland Publication date: 1878 Publisher: Boston, C. F. Jewett Number of Pages: 450

Author: Tracy, Cyrus M. (Cyrus Mason), 1824-1891, et al. Edited by H. Wheatland
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Boston, C. F. Jewett
Number of Pages: 450