ISTORY STONEHAM, MASS WILLIAM B. STEVENS aass_E_!7.t Hook . S^SSB HISTORY STONEHAM, Massachusetts. /.'r WILLIAM I'. STE\-EXS. LS()., Biographical Sketches OF MANY OF Fl'S PIONEERS AND PROMINENT MEN, Compiled under the Supervision of F. L Whittier. ILLUSTRATED STOXF.llA.M. .MASS. : F. L. L^ W. K. WHll riKl^J, 1 89 1 . k s*^ 'o3 PREFACE, Fkom time immemorial the citizens of Stoneham have shown a desire to know and possess sometliing concerning the history of the town in which they live, and biogrcfphies and reminiscences of its pioneers and prominent men, both living and dead, and to supply the growing needs of tlie da\', tlie publishers present this somewhat brief but comprehensive volume. For the history of tlie town we are deeply indebted to our fellow-townsman and his- torian, William 1j. Stevens, Esq., and in presenting it to the public we feel assured of its authenticity. The biographies and reminiscences of our pion- eers and prominent men, here contained, have been prepared with great care, and no expense has been spared to give our patrons a genuine statement of what Stoneham was and wliat she is today. To increase the u.sefulness and attractiveness of the work, many portraits and views have been introduced. This volume is commended to the favorable regard of the public. — F. L. & W. E. Whittikk. STOXEH.A.M, March i. 1891. ■A? Cl^^cU Js^ Vl^.^Z'^^^i^ STONEHAM. • ]'.\ WILLI. \.AI 11. STL\1':.\.S. l/RL\(; the year 1620 if a wliite man could have stoo.i upon the sum- mit of iJear Hill a grand and lovely view would have stretched out before him. Turning his tace to the east, he would have beheld the rays of the sun gleaming along the waves of the Atlantic. With his back to the ocean, the murky lines of Wachusett and ^Mt. Alonadnock would have traced their forms on the western horizon. 'I'hree or four miles to the south, upon the shores of the Mystic, he would bave seen the late habitation ot Nanepashemit. chief of the Pawtuckets. Beyond the Charles was Shawmut and the dominion of the Mas.sachusetts. At his feet he might have noticed an Agawome or a Xaamkeek i)addling his canoe over the i)icturesc|ue waters of Spot Pond. On the plains to thp north he migkt perchance have dis- covered fields of Indian corn breaking the sweej) of continuous forest, and detected here and there smoke rising over the fields and above the wigwams, but he could have discerned no trace of ci\ili/ed halntation. Captain John Smith and a few na\igators had sailed along the eastern shores of Massachu- setts, but no explorer had penetrated so far into the interior. Througli the primeval wilderness was seen only the track of the savage. The histor\' ot all the past was buried in oblivion, and vet for ages these hills and valleys had lieen peopled bv a race so [)rimitive and barbarous that the\' have lett liehind them harcd\ a trace of their existence. As the iilough turns up the earth, the farmer occasionally discovers the head of a spear or an arrow- head. Sometimes the rudest kind of a stone implement is found, and just beyond the eastern limits of the town, in Melrose, extensive heaps of arrow chips constitute about the only memorial in the immediate neighborhood lett behind them bv the warlike abori"ines. lO IIISTOKV OF STOXEIIAM. Prior to 1632 there is no evidence that any portion of Stoneliani had been visited by a European, l)ut on February 7th of that year the following record of a v.sit by (iovernor Winthroj) has Iieen j)reserve(l : THE RECORD. "The Governor, Mr. Nowcll, Mr. Elliott and oth-rs want over .Mystic River, at .VIedford, and going- North and East among the rocks abont two or three miles, they came to a very great pond, having in the midst some Islands of about one acre, and very thick with trees of pine and birch, and diver.s small rocks standing up in it, which they therefore called Spot Pond. They went all abont it upon the ice, from thence towards the Northwest about one-half mile, they came to the top ot a vtM-y high rock, beneath which, towards the North, a goodly plain partly open land and partly woods, from which there is a fair prospect, but it being then close and rainy, they could see but a small distance. The place they called Cheese Rock, because when llu-y went to eat somewhat they had only cheese, because of the Governor's man lorget- ting for haste to put up some Iiread." This must have been the north part of Bear Hill. Very generally the early towns of Massachusetts were of \ery large territorial e.xtent. The o "igmal settlement often served as a nucleus from which radiated other set- t.ements, the inhabitants spreading out through the wilderness, forming sep- arate communities, and gradually organizing into independent towns. These communities, in many instances, were separated from each other by long dis- tances, with no means of communication between them but bv an Indian trail or the rude path of the forest. This was true of Charlestown, which, within a few years after its settlement, included Woburn. Maiden, Stoneham, Burlington, Somerville and Melrose, a large part of Medford, and a small part of Cambridge. Arlington and Reading. Woburn, including Burlington, was incorporated in 1642: Maiden, including Melrose, in 1649, and Stone- l",am in 1725. Charlestown was settled in 1629 and '30, so for almost a cen- tury .^he tniLiaccd within her limits the territory comprised within this town. The early settlement of Charlestown having been made between the mouths of the Charles and the Mystic, it soon became a matter of great importance to txtcnd the boundaries and fi.x the limits, which was done by negotiations with lb,e Indians, and by grant from the General Court. July 2, 1633, the Cfant t;ranltd "Mistick Side" to Charlestown, ordering that "the ground ly- ing betwixt the North (Maiden) River, and the creek on the north side of Mr. Maverick's and up into the countrv, shall belong to the inhabitants of Charlestown."" But this grant does not say how far up into the country the limits of the town shall extend, and so on March 3, 1636, another order was more definite: "Ordered that Charlestown bounds shall run eight miles into the country from their meeting-house, if not other bounds intersect, reserv- ing the propriety of farms granted to John Winthrop, Tscj., Mr. Nowell. Mr. Cradoek and Mr. Wilson, to the owners thereof, as also free ingress and egress to the servants and cattle of the said gentlemen, and common for their cattle on the back side of Mi. Cradock"s farm." .May 13, 1640. on petition of the town, an additional grant was made "of two miles at their head line, provided it fall not within the bounds of Lynn X'illage (Reading), and that HISTORY OF STONF.HAM. II they build within two vears." So it appears that as early as 1640 all the territory afterwards embraced witiiin the limits of Stoneham formed part of Charlestown, althouiiii it contained at tiiis time not a single white inhabitant. In 1653 an order was passed by the selectmen '-that no inhabitant of the town or any other lown shall under any pretence whatever fell or cut down any trees upon the Common without the neck, or the Common beyond Mis- tick Pond within Charlestown Ixnuids, or the Common on Mistick.side be- longing- to Charlestown. wiiliout hrst acquainting the selectmen therewith, upon the forfeit of what the selectmen shall see meet, who are to judge ac- cording as ihey are to conceive of the offence." THE I3IVISION. Prior to 165S all the territory at .Mistick side at'terwards comprised within the bounds of Stoneham was owned I)V the inhabitants of Charlestown in their corporate cap;!citv; but this year it was divided among them in sever- a'ty. A committee had been appointed to make the division, and on the 13th ot February, 1657, thev made the following report: The leturne made by thcst/ bicthicn tliat were deputed by the inhabitantsof Charlestowne for the prnpmindinjj ot a way lor dividiiiu: llitirtcwn's laud on Mistic .Syde into Commonage, as alsoe, tlie dividing of tlie wood and tvnjlier lliat eacli inhabitant may have in his projiortion. After some debate spent, and tvme in the consideration liereoff, all the committee imanimously concurring (herein doe pre?ent this as their advice unlo the sayd town. Imprimis; that every head rated in the < untry rate be vallewed at twenty pounds. 2. That all women, children and servants that are not rated in the cuntry r;ae in ief;au'.s i{ tluir heads, that eveiy two ot them lie vallewed at the like proportion, that is to fay at twenty pounds. 3 That every ;£ioo estate brought in to be rated to defraye cuntry charf;es, thin tb.at to have the like proportion, tha' is to say five tyines as much as he that is onlv ratable lor his head, and ten tymes soe much as w'here there is onely wonicii and ihildrm; that i^ to say, ten of them to X'oo estate; and soe where there is not ;£ico lattd yet what |'ait of a hundred pounds tliat is rated, then thatto have its propcntions as aforesayd, and soe where there is but one woman, childe or servant, they to have their propcn-tion as being lalfehead-. 4. Ffor the division of the wood and tymber we conceave the whole to be divided into ten cquall parts, :;nd the divisions to run from Mistik bounds to Hedding bounds the longest wav. 5. That the whole according to the proportions above sayd be cast up as supposing them a thousand jiarts, that tlien every hundred of these be comprised under each equal part ot the ten parts, the first division to be made by survayors chosen out by the whole towne, the latter to be made by those whose lot shall fall 10 be to gether in anv one of the ten j-aits. 6. '1 hat because some inhabitants in this towne are ratable and vet not rated bv means of bearing some publick office; and being freed by Court order; as these alsoe that are troopers anel soe exempted bv their heads in poynt ot cuntry rates, as alsoe >ome by- means of povertv; yet all these to lia\c tb.eir ])ioportion in this devision, they that have estate for them tn have a i>rop' vtion accordingly, and those that have no estates yetl those of years to he vallewed at twenty pounds. And those that are women and children and ser- vants that thev be va lewed as aforesayd, that is two to twenty pounds. "Thomas Brattle in behalf of the rest." The division was finally made on the ist of .March. 1658. under the fol- lowing agreeiiient : "CiiAKl-iowNii. thefii!-n of March, or the first nioneth 1657-165S. "i. It is Agreed that the first head line shall be Meeltorel K arme, that line between them and our Towne, And all other hi ad lines to run I'arralell with that line fiuire score poole asunder. 12 III.VIOXV OF .ST()Xi:il.\.M. "-'. Tliu first Lott, ilistinmiisluil !iv tli ■ tiyurc one, shall bcjjin at the soullicasl corner where Mr. Nowell's Karnie ami Aleadiord lanne meet, And so successively according to ti e figures I, 2,3, 4, &c., is to the end of the last figure or lott. And at the end of the first Range to turnp hack againe in the second Kange. Aud so to the third, &c , successively till each man have ha fe his proportion, for the first. And then the first to begin asain, 1.2,3,4, &c., and suc- cessively each number to take place, in the second division, as in the first, till every man have liis oilier hallc of his I.olt. "3. It is Agreed that the Ponds shall not be measured. "4. It is Agreed that he that Tarrys not in the Towne as an inhabitant for one year next en- suing the dale hereoff, upon his going out of the Towne sliall lose his whole Propertie, both off wood and common. "5. It is further Agreed, that no man shall sell his wood or commons but to the Inhabitants of Char etowne, upon forfeiture of twelve pence, p. load of eyther wood or '1 ymber; And not to dispose of the commons to any of any otherTowne, upon forfeitur.' of the same, And if any remove to inliabite in any otherTowne, shall make no use of their commons, but shall sell it or lett it to some of the Towne of Charletowne, that the commons may be reserved for ever to the use of tlie Inhabitants of Charletowne. '"6. It is /\ greed that each shall pav for the laying out of his wood lott within one month after it is layd out, upon forfeiture of his wood aiul comiiion. And the selectmen of (,'bark-- towne shall hereby have power to sell it to pa}- the survayoiir. "This was Agreed unto by vote of the inhabitants of Cliarlelowne at a meeting in the meet- ing-hous, this first of March 1057-1638 and ordered to be Kecorded in the Towne Booke." It appears by the foregoing" order that, commeticing at what was then the line of Medford Farm, about one mile and a fourth south of the present Stoneham boundary, range lines were run in an easteily and westerly direc- tion a quarter of a mile apart, there being two divisions, and seven and a half ranges in each division. These ranges extended north to near where Captain Rufus Richardson's Lane, so called, connects with Main Street. The territory north of this and westerlv of High Street was retained by the town in its corporate capacit\', and constituted what was afterwards known as the Charlestown Farms. There was also excepted from this allotment Spot Pond Meadows. Nearly all the long stretches of wall running easterly and westerly mark these ancient range lines. The land was drawn by lot and set otf to the several inhabitants in proportion as they were rated, one-half of the share of eacit lying in the first di\ision, and one-half in the second division, prob- ably for the purpose of ecjualizing, so far as possible, the value of the land. This allotment is of great interest, because it lies at the foundation of nearly all our titles, which can jje traced back directl}' to it, where the deeds have been recorded. Could one go back to the year 1658, and accompany a sur- veyor of that time, as lie came up from the Market Place (now Charlestown Square) with compass and chain in Mistick side, he would leave the road near the ri\er and strike into the [jrimeval forest by a trail oi" possibly a path over which had been hauled timber and cedar iVom the swamp near Spot Pond. No bi"eak or clearing would meet his eye, except reaches of water and meado\\', till his ai rival at Doleful Plain, where part of the land was open and had been used, as we suppose, for fields of Indian corn. He would rt>am through an almost trackless wilderness and could probably discover no human habitaticMi 14 lilsTOKV Or STONEHA.M. unless possiblv a tew Ii.clian locb^us. Xo public load had per.etra;ed the recesses of the forest, and there was hardly a landmark to indicate the presence of civilized nnin. A few )ears prior to this tiuK-, in 1642, Charles- town \'illa,ue. incorporated as VVohurn, had been settled three miles to the west of us, ami three years earlier. 1639, just over the line to our east, Lynn Village (afterwarc'.s Redding) had Lccn planted. There were tbrest paths connecting these two settlements, by means of which the adjacent colonists visited their neighboi's, but no highway was built for many years subseciuent. The chain-l)earer, the blazed lines and the allotment of 165S paved the way for the earl\- settlement of what u'as afterwards known as Charlestown End. There was an inclividu..! proprietorship in the land which stimulated its occupancy and improvement. The tirst settlers seem to have been attracted to the northeast part of the town, probably on account of its nearness to Reading (now Wakefield). It was many miles to the meeting-house in Charlestown, and but a short distance to the meeting-house in Reading: and then our ancestors in this section of the town could derive all the advantages and protection to be obtained fron\ the neighborhood of an established com- munity. In case of an Indian raid they could flee to the block-house of their neighbors. There was no organized moxement and general settlement, as in most of the New England towns. The axe of the solitary pioneer first rung out and broke the stillness of a hundred centuries. Little clearings were made here and there and the first tarms started. The first toilers were hardy men. with an education insutificient in some cases even to write their own names. The foundations of Stoneham were laid, not by men of culture and wealth, but by the brawn and courage of laljorious yoemen. It is im- possible to state with absolute certaint}' the name of the earliest inlialjitant or the exact year of his settlement. I>ut in .March. 1678, the inhabitants were Thomas C^,ery, John Ciould, Sr., John (iould, Jr.. William Rogers. Thomas Cutler and .Matthew .Smith. These were the fathers of the town. Lut little is known of them. The monuments which survived them were the fields they cleared, the walls they built and the families they reared. The records have saved a little and tradition something more. Thomas Gery. probably of Irish ancestry, was born about 1638, is supposed for a time to have lived in Reading, where he owned land,' and in 1668 or 1669 moved to Charlestown End. He made a clearing and built a house or cabin just beyond the northern slope of Farm Hill, on or near the present High Street, and had his home there during King Miilip's War. In 1668 he was complained of for cutting an acre of grass in the meadow of Charlestown. He was at the .same time a cunning and a courageous man. It is said that on a certain occasion, having risen early in the morning, his attention was attracted by the sus- picious movements of an Indian 'lying concealed behind a log, and having reason to believe that he was lying in wait U r him, and not caring himself to unnectssaiilv expose his person, he extended through the partly open door IIISTOKV OF STONKHAM. [- his coat and hat in such a manner as to draw the arrow of tiic unwarv savairc. and the next instant the l)all liad whizzed from his unerring musleautiful and extensive scenery, his home commanding incomparably the finest view of anv among the tirst inhabitants. He died in 1683, at the age of forty-eight. Al)out one-third or one-half mile southwesterly from the house of John Gould. Senior, lived William Rogers, who occupied (he farm latelv owned bv Captain Buck. In 1669 he married Abigail, the daughter of Mr. Gould, and at that time was a resident here. His house probably stood on or near the .spot where .Mr. Carrier now resides. But little is known of him. He died I 8 HISTORY OK STONEHAM. prior to 1688, for on February 7th of tliat year liis widow married John Rogers of Billerica. He was succeeded by his son William. John Cutler conveyed to him in 1690 twelve and one-half acres, "reserving highway two poles wide for use of the town." The son remained here till 1728, when he sold his farm of thirty acres to Deacon Daniel Gould, and from that time nothing is known of the family. They made no lasting impression upon the town and none of their descendants appear to have remained. The last one of the first inhabitants whose shades we invoke is Matthew Smith. In the early history of Charlestown there were three generations of Matthew Smith, and it is not quite certain whether it was Matthew first or second who planted himself at Charlestown End. In 1678 Matthew resided here, and ten years later Matthew Smith, Senior and Junior, were residents. It would rather seem t' at the first one of the name remained in the old town, although it is l.)v no means certain, and probably was the same one who em- barked at Sandwich, County Kent, with wife Jane and four children in 1635. He was a shoemaker ; inhabitant 1637: with son Matthew, herdsman, 1649 and 1655; town crier, 1657: aged about seventy-two in 1682. He was town messenger at thirty shillings a year in 1637. In the division of 1658 he was allotted eleven acres, five and one-half in the second division, which probably included the land where D. H. Tilton now resides. One of the name, either the father or son, died in 1690, who had married, about 1684, Mary Cutler, probably the widow of Thomas Cutler. He must have been a man of some substance, for in his inventory are found two oxen, one horse, four cows, three yearlings, nine sheep and four swine, and he carried on a farm which he leased of Charlestown, This farm is described as bounded on the north and east by Thomas Gery, and on the south and west by the town, consisting of forty acres, "with as much meadow as he can get out ot Parley's swamp, and out of town land nigh Redding, not exceeding twenty- five acres for twenty-five years ; rent after twelve years, four pounds per annum ; he to plant and Ijuild a house eighteen by twenty-two, and barn, la be left the town." The house in which he lived stood on the north side of North street, near where Mr. Pierce now resides, or possibly it was the house of the late Deacon Dunlap. This completes the list of the first settlers. It requires but little stretch of the imagination to go back two hundred years, recall to life our early forefathers, look in upon them as they lived in their first rude cabins made of logs, and behold the fields which they cleared amidst the forest, the corn and grain just starting up between the charied and blackened stumps. In ihose days the streams were dammed by beavers, the sheep were a prey to wobes. the bear roamed through the woods, and now and then the hunter brought down a deer. During these years our pious ancestors, not numerous enough to support a minister themselves, traveled on Sunday to the meeting-house in Reading. Their habits were simple and their wants were few. It was a hard contest with a riuorous climate and a HISTOKV OF STONEHAM. I9 l)arrcii soil tor tlic I)are necessaries of existence, but it produced a strong and manly character. The)- may have been rough, and uncouth, and uneducated, but they possessed the best traits of English yeomanry. Some of the aborigines lingered about their old haunts. The Indian wars and the wild beasts made them familiar with the use of firearms. In 1675 Jo'i'^ Could and Thomas C.ery were troopers in Captain Hutchinson's company, and were impressed as soldiers from the "Three County Troopers," and served in King Philil)"s War. There were liquor laws in those days as well as now. In 1682 "John Ciould appears before the Court, and convicted of selling strong licjuors to the Indians is fined ten shillings money and pay the costs."' The means of communication was at first by forest paths and private ways from farm to farm. No public highway existed till about 1685, when one was laid out from Reading to Woburn as follows: "Beginning at ye Country road near Sergt. Parker's house and so along by the meadow, called Hoop- pers Meddow, and by the foot of ye hill, which is above ye leest of three ponds, from thence to the way marked out by Sergt. Parker, throwe Charles- town land to Woburn River, neer John Richardson's house."' Another high- way was also laid out the same year from Reading to Charlestown (now Stoneham). These two roads were the old road over Farm Hill and the present North Street, or possibly one of them was Creen Street. The latter road, beginning at the easterly foot of Cowdrey's Hill, came in a southwest- erly direction by the houses of the Goulds, passed William Rogers, near the end of Thomas Cutler's land, and so on to Charlestown, a more particular description of which will oe given hereafter. The road over Farm Hill ac- commodated Thomas Cery, and the road from Reading to Woburn (North Street), Matthew Smith. Tradition says there was an old road over the southeast corner of Bear Hill, and so on to Spring Pasture in Medford. "In 1673 «i large trade was carried on in cedar posts, shingles and clapboards. The select men granted many of the inhabitants permission to cut the trees in Cedar Swamp near Spot Pond, and John Mousal was charged with the duty of inspecting the number and bigne.ss of the trees cut down." There were but few additions to the inhabitants for many years. In i68S Thomas Cutler had died, and was succeeded by his son Thomas. Daniel Could, th e son of John, had come of age, and Samuel Cowdrey, Michael Smith and Andrew Philips were added to the settlement of 1678. The history of the town during these years is little more than the bare mention of the names of the people who lived here, and the location of their farms. Measured by the progress and attainments of the nineteenth century, their lives must have been barren indeed. The tomahawk and war-whoop of the red man at ti mes varied the monotony of their existence, but the great and vital questi on which, more than any other, seems to have absorbed the attention of our ancestors was religion. About the most important business which came be- fore the town was tlie building of the meeting-h(nise. and the support of the HIS'K KV or .'-'KM i;/,."\i. minister. Alt jiuliii^ church :;s tliey did nt R.adin.i;, it wa.s a .source i f griev- ance to th.- ]K<)i)Ie of tiiat town tliat tiiey siiould tontril utc r-otiiing towards the support of ilie (iospel. I)cini; taxed as tliey were in Chr.rleslown, and so the following- petition was preser.ted to tlie General Court ; "Tlic humble piitisi m oftlu- iiih;ihil;uits of the towneof Keddinij, Ilunilily Slio\ve;Ii— That whereas our case, lieiug as your psussiners huinhly coiiseive, soe sircumstaneetl, as wee Know not the liki! in all Kespjcts— and not Knowing: which waye to helpe ourselves — liut Hy humbly acquainting yor hon.iers with oar St itj you.- hiinifs b jei.i .f tli ; i-'ath^rs of the Common- wealtli t ) which wjj doe bjloug-i;— aal yor paiisjinsrs h uiibly hopiiir that yor honners will hcipe sot; far as m iv bje t3 tlia Keli,:\-i.i^- ot u^ in our case; -It being- soj with us that wee are but a i)(>ore place, very lew above sixtv tamilies, Abell to \y.iy to the .Ministry, and sevcrall ot them have more need to Receive than to paye, it we were a place ot" ability as many others bee; and to us there is Adjacent f.irmjrs, whicli b.;e co.isiant hearjrs of thj word, with us, which oei not at all to their owne towne. Hut transiently as others doe; Neither came they one the Sab bath diiye batt bee bre ikers of thj f^aw.: of go.l and of tins com.uonwe^lth as we conseive. And to many of them ill would bj s le i itrjieiable a barlhin, that in.iny ef them must necessa- rily refraine from the public worsliip of god, established amongst us, lor prevention ot wliich they doe heare with us, which seems to be very h.ird for us to maintayne Ministry and Meeting house conveniently tor llieni, and others to force them to pay their hole liales to their one lownes , as others do; or if some of them bee llettcr-ininded, their bisenes lyelh so att tlie present tliat wee have nothing from them all or nexl to nothing. "Another tiling tlial your humble pelisioners desire to declare to vour honners is ihatt wee have not now roume enough in our .Meeting-hon>c tor ourselves, but thj .Vdjasent f.irm.;rs be- ing one third or very neare one tliird as much as wes, we inuste build anew betorc it be l^ongc, for the house will lie too little for theni and us, wliicli we hope your lionners will consider Ii:nv the case is like to bee with us, if nolliing bee considered. JJntt as wee i ope itt is the wave, that god u^ould have us to talwaine. Wlien suljscriptions were raised for the purpose ot'buildiiiga njw in^'etin;;- h.oitse in Reading in 1688 tlie following subscriptions were raised t'roni per- sons living at Chaiiestown End and the list substantial!}' comprises those liv- ing here at that tiir.e. £ s. a. John Gould ; iS 4 Daniel Gould 3 o o Thomas Ij ery 3 o o Matth- w Smith Sen .' o 10 o Matthew Smith J un 2 10 o Michael Smith o 10 o Thomas Cutler 1 o o .Samuel Ciiwdiey 1 o o Andrew Philiiis 1 o o Samuel Cowdrey came tVom Reading, and probabl\" lived not far from where Mr. Tilton now resides. Michael Smith was advanced in years, and his daughter Sarah was the wife of Andrew I'hilips. Domestic infelicities existed then as well as now. ".At a Court held at Charlestown. June 17, 1679, Michael Smith and wife, of Charlestown. for disorderly living apart fifom one another were admonished and to pay the costs of Court." .Andrew Philips settled here somewhere about 1686. living, perhaps, at first in the 22 HISTORY OF STONKHAM. easterly part of the town near the house of Mr. Outram, but at the time of his death he resided on Cobble Hill, in a dwelling formerly owned and occu- pied, and probably built by Nathaniel Dunton, of Reading. His homestead ■.vas afterwards conveyed to Rev. James Osgood, the first minister of Stone- 'lam. All the old residents will remember the parsonage of Parson Osgood. !t stood on the corner of Green street, about opposite the house of the late .\.euben Locke, and was the best specimen of architectural style among us, which antedated the Revolution. Prior to the latter part of the seventeenth century the population increased very slowlv. The settlers had generally located in the northeasterly part of .he town, but after this they spread out in all directions. In 1685 Eleazer ; Jateman came from Woburn and located in the extreme westerly part of the ■.own, just north of Marble Street. The old cellar-hole where his house stood -.as to ])e seen till within a short time. That p.-.rt of t'.ij town including the . 'vel land extending all the way to Summer .Street, was then known as Dole- ;1 Plain. When Bateman purchased his land in 1685, there was a cellar dug . id stoned upon it, and the frame of a house twenty-two by eighteen feet, -..hich seems to have been the regulation size that then prevailed. Mr. . ateman was a carpenter and owned one or two houses in the neighborhood ;.;sides the one in which he lived. One of these probably stood a little north ...' the house where Mrs. Lot Sweetser resides. He lived here till 1713 and . .en sold his place to Joseph Underwood. He was a man of so much repute \ .It on several occasions he was appointed by the town on a committee to I ise the Charlestown Farms. [n 1688, Patrick, otherwise called Peter Hay, then described as of Redding, < ^ nmenced to buy land at Mystic Side, so called, and afterwards became one . ' the largest land owners and most prosperous settlers in the neighborhood. 1; ly was a Scotchman, lived for awhile at Lynn, (Lynnfield) and removed to I i.irlestown End in 1692 or 1693. He must have been a man of great force .' character, Ijuying as he did numerous tracts of land, clearing farms and cting dwellings. Although his posse.ssions extended in all directions, he ] iself located in the northerly part of the town, building first a log cabin, ich tradition savs stood near the bend of Tremont Street, and afterwards *■ '■ house where he lived and died, on or near the spot where Luther White • lives. This dwelling was occupied by his descendants till about 1846 or 7, when it was burned. To his son James, who was a shopkeeper in I rlestown, he gave a farm of sixtv-three acres, with house and barn in the ( - erly part of the town. The house stood on the westerly side of Pleasant S r^et, about opposite the residence of Amos Hill, Escj., and was owned by ■' Hays till it passed out of the family to Thomas Gould in 1799. nother son of Patrick Hay, Capt. Peter Hay, who was one of the most ■ential men in Stoneham of his time, settled near his father, living for a ',. .. e in the building known a few vears since as the Old Office, and after- 23 HISTORY OF STONKHAM. wards in the Hay 'ravcni, which dcsccncled in turn to Capt. David Hay. For generations the race was a thrifty and prolific one, exercising a very large in- fluence. A third son. John, a voung man of great promise, died in his thirty-first year. Peter Hay was not onlv the owner of houses and land and men-servants and maid-servants, but he had a multitude of wives, no less than four. He was one of the first selectmen when the town was organized. After having lived the life of a patriarch, so far as such a lite was possible in the eighteenth century, and in Puritan New England, he died at the age of ninety in 1748. As Peter Hay owned a large part of the Northern so John X'inton owned a large part of the Southern section of Stoneham. He was a weaver, after- wards a farmer, born in Maiden about 1678 ; came from Woburn about 1710. His house probably stood on a slight elevation which is to be seen between the residence of Warren Wilson and South Street. An old house once stood on this spot near which has been dug up old pottery and curious relics. This was upon his farm and he appears to have been the original settler of the ter- ritory, so it would seem that this was probably his residence, though possibly he occupied and built the old John Bucknam house which was torn down a few years ago. The author of "X'inton MemoriarMocates him as near the outlet of Spot Pond, but although he and Stephen Richardson bought the lot on which stood the mill in 1715, there is no reason to suppose he lived there unless for a short time. The above author says "John Vinton, Escp, was a man of great ability, energy and activity, and became a leader in every place where his lot was cast." When Stoneham was incorporated the usual order from the General Court was addressed to John Vinton as the principal inhab- itant, directing him to issue a warrant for the first town-meeting. He ad- vanced more money and probably did more than any other man to obtain an act of incorporation for the town. John Vinton was one of the tirst board of selectmen and served in that responsible office si.x years, viz. : 1726, 1727, 1731, 1732, 1734. i735- He was commonly called to preside at town-meetings as moderator. He was very often employed on public business. He was placed by his townsmen on .almost all important committees. At one town-meeting he was placed on four committees. One of the first measures of the town was the erection of a meeting-house, and Capt. John Vinton was one of the committee of three to select a site, procure materials, put up and finish the building. He was also one of the committee to employ a minister. He seems in an eminent degree to have enjoyed the confidence of his fellow-citizens. He was a rep- resentative of the town in the Legislature in 1734. Capt. X'inton paid the highest tax of any man in town He was a lieutenant in the train band in 1720, captain in 1723, a very energetic, enterprising prosperous man. He received a commission as Justice of the Peace in 1734. lirSTOKV OF STOXEHAM. 25 In 1736 he sold his tarm of 270 acres to James Allen, of Hoston. tor wliicli he received ^2550 and renioxed to Dudley where he died in 1760. Some of his descendants remained in Stoneham, and settled in that part of the town which has since been annexed to .Melrose. Another Iari;e land owner was Timotlu' W'ri^iil who was horn in Woli'arn. was originally a carpenter, and came here about 1706, settling in the westerly part of the town, his house being located near the corner of Wright and Hancock streets. A large portion of the original farm with additions made to it by his descendants remained in the family for about 175 years. The venerable form of Capt. John 11. Wright is still fresh in the memory of the present generation. The possessions of the Wrights embraced most of the territory westerl}- from Main and Warren Streets to Woburn line, and from Marble Street on the south to the lands of the Hays, nortlierly from .Mont- vale Avenue. The progenitor of the iJucknams was Edward who came from .Maiden in 1716, and bought twenty-si.\ acres of Philip Alexander with a house and barn which stood near the corner of Warren and Linden Streets, on the easterly side of the road. With the usual thrift of the early settlers he made con- siderable additions to his original purchase, and died in Stoneham in 1773. aged eighty-two years. Ne.xt easterly from Edward Bucknam lived Richard liekher. wlio is des- cribed of Charlestown as early as 1708, when he bought a house and twenty- one acres of land of Joseph Wright. Jr., of Woburn. He very probably occupied the old Marston or Ebenezer Bucknam house, on the north side of Summer Street. He was a mason, taught school at Charlestown End, and died in 1720, leaving a large family of children. In 1695, Deacon Nathaniel Lawrence came from Groton, bought seventy- one and a half acres of Joseph Lynde, and buUt the house recently torn down on the southerly side of Hancock Street, known as the Old Zac C.erry house. A lane formerly led from the house to the old road (now Summer Street). A brick was taken out of the chimne}- bearing the mark i70cS, from which it is possible to fi.x the probalile date of its erection. For those times it must have been a roomy and .substantial residence. The character of this building as of the Ebenezer Bucknam house, the Old Ofifice, the Jonathan (ireen house in Green Lane, and of several otiiers which have disappeared within the past fifty years, many of them similar, and built about the same ])eriod. indicate the thril't and prosperity of the men who were the founders of Stoneham. These ancient relics of the i)ast are gradually fading away, and the time may soon come when not a single monument built by human hands will carry us back to the days of Charlestown End. Even the nanus of most of those who laid the Foundation of the town, have been long forgotten. Deacon Lawrence very likely may have built and tirst lived in the house which was the home of Deacon Jabez L)nde on the east side of Summer .26 HISTORV OF STO.NKIIA.M. Street, and now owned by Miss Sarah A. Lynde. He was past middle life when he came here from (n-oton, and died m 1724. He liad ])een a leading man in (iroton, was an ensign in the militia, a deacon in the church, and one ■of the first representatives of that town under the charter of William and -Mary in 1693. The next year after his death, his farm was sold by his children to Thomas Gearv. Another citizen of (ii-oton who settled here was Samuel Holden, who lived for a time in AVoburn, and bought a tract of forty-five acres in the westerly part of the town south of Marble Street in 1690. The Holdens owned an ■extensive territory in the southwesterly part of Stoneham, and easterly of Bear Hill. It is impossible to say with certainty where Samuel first located, but probabl}- on the land which he originally purchased near Marble Street, although subsequently some of his descendants lived in two houses westerly and southwesterly from the last residence of the late John Bucknam. In an ancient paper now in possession of one of the family is the following reference to him while in Groton : "Samuel Holden, second son to Richard Holden, lived in Groton until the Indian War (which probabl\- was the war with Philip, but whether it was or not, I shall not determine, the war with Philip, I think) was about the year 1675, at which time Mrs. R. was taken captive. "The town in the night was beset with Indians; the Indians came to his house in the night and broke it open and came in. His wife made her escape ■out of a door with two small children in her arms and went into a corn-field. Mr. Holden stood behind a door with a gun in his hand, intending to kill some of them, but it being so dark he could not see them. He also made his escape out of the house and went to a garrison house. The Indians, after plundering the house, went oflf. Soon after this Samuel Holden moved to Stoneham (then Charlestown) for fear of the Indians. He died on or about the year 1739, aged eighty-eight years !" As the observant pedestrian tramps over the pastures between the Nathan Bucknam house and Bear Hill, he notices three depressions in the ground where once stood human habita- tions which long since have disappeared. Two of them were occupied by Holdens, and the one farthest south by I.saac Howe, who purchased there a house and barn and eighty-two acres of land, in 1715. William Richardson, the brother-in-law of John Vinton, probably built the house and for a time lived in it. Isaac Howe came from Roxbury at the age of fifty-nine or sixty, and lived but two or three years after his settlement. He left, however, sev- eral sons and a daughter, Naomi, who mairied Joseph Holden. To the lover of antiquity, in this new country where there are but few an- tiquities, there is nothing more fascinating than roaming through the woods and over the fields, placing the old range lines, discovering hercand there an ancient cellar-hole, and re-peopling in imagination once more the territory with the earlv inhabitants who dwelt here one hundred and fiftv and two IIISTORV OF STOXKIIAM. 2/ hundfcd years ago. To a ])ers()n familiar with the transfer ot" tiieir lands, the dates of their birth, times of their death, the names of the girls they married and the ehildren they left, these forefithers of ours s;em like old and near friends. Going now to the nortlnvestern i)art of the town, north of William Street, to the farms of .Micah Williams and ISumner Richardson, let us rebuild again the houses of Timothy Haldwin. .Sr , and Timothy Baldwin, jr. Theformer came trom Woburn as early as 1705, perhaps earlier, hired of Charlestown eighty-si.\ acres, bought land of his own and lived a few rods northeasterly from the house of Mr. Williams. Deacon Dean, in his history of .Stoneham, tells this story of Baldwin's house, which is a tradition. ••The building for a considerable length ot tiuie was supposed to he haunted. A familv lived there at that time. At the season of liarvesting a quantity of ]3umpkins were carried into the garret ; one evening while the father was absent, and the mother with the children and other members of the family sat by the fireside, a noise was heard : something appeared to be coming down stairs It came stamp, stamp, down the garret stairs ; it then came to the entry stairs, which led to a lower door, and with increased force came pound, pound, into the entry below. Then the noise ceased. The affrighted family waited with great an.xiety for the return ot the husband and father. When he returned the news was communicated to him. He repaired to the entry, when, on opening the door, a good, lusty pumpkin was reposing on the floor." I\Ir. Baldwin was a person of good education for those times, a man of influ- ence, and one of the lirst board of selectmen. With John Gould. James Hill and Peter Hay he built a grist-mill near Mill Street. Timothy Baldwin, Jr., lived west from his father, a few rods northeast of the house of .Sumner Richardson. In 17 13 he bought the house and barn and thirty-seven acres of land of Andrew Beard ; the latter probably having cleared the land and built the house, for we lind Beard buying lots of woodland, which made up the farm of the first proprietors or their heirs, as early as 1700. Hannah, the widow of Timothy Baldwin, Jr., and her second husband, John \'inton. in 1763, sell to Oliver Richardson, in whose tamily most of the land has since remained. During the first century of the town hardly any family exerted a wider in- fluence or furnished more leading citizens than the Greens, two or three branches of whom located in the easterly and southeasterly parts of the town. Henry, or Elder Green, was a weaver ; came from Maiden : commenced to purchase land in the latter part of the seventeenth century : is described as of Maiden in 1695, and of Charlestown, in 1709. and died here in 1717, aged seventy-eight. He was the father of Deacon Daniel Green : probably built his house on the north side of East Street, near the spot where Daniel G. Sturtevant now lives, who is a lineal descendant, a portion of the j^-operty IIISTOKV OF STOXKHAM. 29 having remained in the fimily for two Inuidred years. His poss2ssions lay cliiefly north and soutli of Spring and I'^ast Streets. Captain Natiianiel Green was also a resident of Cliarlestown Knd in 17 16, but in a few years moved to Liecester. Anotlier one of tiie Greens who settled at Green Lane was Jonathan, who came t'njm .^hdden in the early part of the eighteenth century. From then till now the old homestead, which is said to have been built early in the eighteenth century, has been occupied in each generation by a Jonathan (Ireen. The (ireen flirm was very extensive, embracing a large portion of the territory from the Melrose line southwest to Pond Street. Captain Joiiath m (ireen, son of the first Jonathan, became a leading citizen, and filled a large space in our history during his life, but it belongs to a later period than the one of which we are now speaking. Supposing it now to be the year 17 16. we will return to the abode of Patrick Hay, and travelling easleiiy, towards the farm of William Rogers, we shall notice the house of Samuel Smith, on the north of where now is Elm Street, about opposite the residence of Captain Snow. This year he sold his farm of thirty-four acres with a house, barn and orchard, to Ebenezer Damon. Damon came from Reading; wes a blacksmith; in 171 1 was a soldier against the French and Indians in Canada, and lived here but a few years. One of the oldest dwellings in Stoneham is on Green Street, owned and occupied by Oakes Green. Its history goes ' back almost two centuries, through the families of the (neens, the liryants and .Southeis. to 'Thomas Millard, who is supposed to have built it and lived there until 1725, when he sold to John Souther. Aliilard came from Reading. North of Thomas .Millard lived Joseph Bryant, the father of Col. Joseph Bryant. To a person tramping through the Fells west of Bear Hill and so down to Spring Pasture, the territory appearing, til! within a few years, like a solitary wilderness, away from roads and human habitations, it seems almost impos- sible to realize that he is passing over what was once cultivated farms, and yet, in this immediate neighborhood, long before the memory of living man, there were three different houses. As one peered into the well, looked down into the ceilar-hole and traced the numerous walls about the Parker place, he felt almost the weird sensation of looking back on a pre-historic past, that the traveler experiences in gazing upon the ruins of Palenque and Uxmal. These old landmarks have afforded, how many hours of happy revery. but alas I they are now all swepi awa_\', the vwalls are gone, and not a trace re- mains to locate the home of I-J)enezer Parker, who lived here 150 years and more ago. His nearest neighbors to the south lived, one of them where now is the east end of Winchester Reservoir, and the other a little farther south, in Spring Pasture. As there was no highwa}' in this neighborhood, the people probably used the road over Hear Hill, which extended down through vhe woods to Medford. 30 lilSTOKV Ol- STOXKHA.M. Wlicn the tli\i.sion of land among the inliabitants of Charlestown was made, in 165S, the northwestern section of the town was not included; that is to say, the territory between High Street and Woburn line, and north from about Captain Rufus Richaidson's Lane. This was subsequently known as the Charlestown Farms, and in the early part of the eighteenth century was leased to different individuals. The two hundred acres in the extreme north- western section were leased, in 1705, to Stephen Williams, of Woburn. for twenty-one years, and were bounded on the south b}' the old road from Read- ing to Woburn. There was a provision in the lease that the lessee should "build and finish upon said Land A Dwelling house wich shall be Twenty Two foot Long and Eighteen foot wide, nine foot studd between joists, and a Leanto at the end of said house. Twelve foot Long, the bredth of the house six foot stud, and shall Dig and sufficiently stone A Convenient Seller under said House, and shall build and cary up a Double stack of Brick Chimneys to A Convenient height above the house, and shall Lay two floors in said house, and Leanto and fill the Walles Between the Studs and Ceile them with Plained boards or Lime morter on the inside, and shall make Convenient Stairs, and shall board or Claboard the outside of said house, and board and Shingle the Roofe, to make it every Where Thite, and make Convenient Lights in said house, and Glaze the same ; And shall also erect and build A Barn upon said Land Thirty foot Long and Twenty foot wide, and Cover the same on the Sides, Ends and Roofe, to make it thite ; and at his own proper Cost and charges suport, maintaine, Repair and Amend the said house and barn with all needful Repairations and Amendments during said Term, And shall also plant Two acres of said Land with Good fruit Trees, for an Orchard, the Trees to be planted thirty Two foot asunder, and Fence said Orchard intire. With A Good sufficient fence aboute the same, and make and maintaine A Good sufficient fence, stone Wall, or posts and Railes about What Land he Improves; And the said Land, medow, house, barn and fences erected and sett up on said Land as above said, so well and sufficiently repaired and Amended ; with the orchard sufficiently fenced intire, and as above expressed, all the improved Land so fenced ; as above said at the end of said Term of Twenty one years shall and will Leave, etc." Eighty acres were to be reserved for woodland. For rent he was to pay during the first ten years twelve pence per year, and for the other eleven years the sum of five pounds and ten shilhngs per year. How long he remained is uncertain, though twenty years latei' there was a Stephen Williams, Jr.. here, probably the same man. The house which he built was one story high, and probably stood on the north side of the old road a little easterly from the Woburn line, though possibly the original dwelling was located near the spot where the late Caleb Wiley lived. The latter spot is said to have been the scene of an Indian butchery. The tradition is. that after the murder the neighbors assembled and jjursued the savages. Near a large rock, which may \r. w 32 HISTOKV OF STONKHAM. be sL'cn to tliis day about a tliird of a mile west of the house, one of them was seen and shot. Also seven packs were found on the rock, from which it app^'ired that six others were in his company and had escaped. The farm east of that t)f Williams, consisting of one hundred and sixteen a?res. with a house, barn and orchard, just such as has here been described, was leased to John Wesson, of Reading, and extended to the Geary land near the present High Street. The house was probably located in the vicinity of where the late James Pierce lived. Wesson also in 1705 leased ninety one acres south o\ his other farm, with the sarne provisions in the lease as to hoas2, b irn in 1 o;j'iird as in tint of Willi ins. Tns litter ex'^ndid froai near O'lk .Street to High Street. The buildings were located a few rods east of the old house of John B. Tidd south of the road, and were still standing in the early part of the present century. Some }'ears later this farm was occupied for man\' years b\' James Hill, the founder of the famil_\" of that name. The next and last farm to the south w.as one, of one hundred and ten acres, let to Thomas and Daniel (Jould, with the same conditions as in the other leases, raid e.xtended from near Oak .Street on the west to Iknd of Ken- dall Parker on the east, extending a little easterly of High Street, and em- braced a large portion of Farm Hill. Two ancient homesteads stood on this territory, and it is not quite certain which was the original farm house, but probably it was one built on the east side of the road, nearly opposite the house of John Paine, and just south of land now owned by the town. It was here that (trover Scollay was afterwards said to have li\-ed, though for a time he hired one of the Charlestown farms formerly occupied by Wesson. When .Stoneham was set otf, the Gould farm was conveyed to the town towards the support of the ministry. West of the Gould and Wesson farms, and south of the old road, was a farm let to Timothy Baldwin, of eighty-six acres. There were no buildings upon this farm, and in 1787 it was conveyed by Charlestown to Thaddeus, Oliver, Caleb and Elijah Richardson, and afterwards divided between them. It is believed that the names and, so far as possible, the location of almost every inhabitant who founded a family here, prior to 1725, have been given in the preceding pages. It ma}- have seemed tedious to the reader, but it is a duty we owe their memory that their names should be preserved. No one of them is known to have acquired a distinction beyond his immediate neigh- borhood. Xone of them could boast of Harvard as his r?////^? mater. Neither of the so-called learned professions had had a representative at Charlestown End : i}robabIy no town within a radius of ten miles from Boston had an humbler origin than ours. It may be interesting to know something of the dcMuestic life of the earli- est settlers, and nothing indicates this more certainly than the inventories of their estates as thev were made at their decease. Let us tor a moment eon- /^i^l^^ ^-^-v J, .^i--^^ <;^-7/^ HISTORV OF STOXEHAM. 33 sider a few of them. The first one who died was Thomas Cutler, whose de- cease occurred in 1683. He left twenty-five acres of land and a house valued at ;/^4c ; "3 ccv.-s, 4 ycung cattle, ^iS ; 1 mare to colts, three pounds, ic swine, 40 bushels Indian corn and some rye and oats and barley, 9 pounds and ten shillings; i plough and ax and implements for husl)andman's work; 2 beds with bedding ; 3 pair sheets with other linen, woolen and flax, 2 pounds, 4 shillings ; 5 yards home-made cloth and some yarn, 2 iron pots with iron things and pewter and brass, 2 pounds, 5 shillings ; chests and boxes with other usable things in house, i pound 10 shillings; wearing clothes, 2 pounds; gun and sword, i pound." The inventory of Jolin (iould, filed March 27, 1691, is as follows: "One feather bed, bolster, blanket, bedstead, etc., £^; pewter and brass, £2; Iron waie, £1 15^".; household linen, £6 10s.; table, chests, boxes and chaires, £2 i5j>". ; 2 o.xen, ^4; 2 cows, ^4 ; 12 sheep, _z^3 I2jr. ; Dairy vessels, ^i 13^"." Matthew Smith''s valuation, dated December 15, 1691, shows that he left "Two oxen valued, ^9; 4 cows, ^13; 3 yearlings, ^4; i horse, ^4 10^.; 9 sheep, ^^4 ; 4 swine, £;^ ; Iron and Ring and plough irons, etc., £2 ; Iron and two axes, etc., £1 iSj"; a whifaltree, chains and cart ropes. Iron and tongs. Iron bolts, shave, some other eage tools and ax, £2 gs. ; Indian corn and Inglish corne, fiax, and woolen yarns and linen yarns and linen cloath and hemp, ;^3 i8j-. ; beds and cording, _^5 ; tobacco, iS^-; hops, iojt. ; chests and boxes and pailes, trays and dishes, with other wooden things visabal in the house, £1 15^'. ; i baril and a half of pork, ^4 lojr. : sadell and bridell, ^^^i ; Iron arms and ammunition, £2 los. : Cloathing, woolen and linen, £^ ^s. ■ books, 8s. ; a broad axe, a book, a pair of shoes, £^ 10s." Coming down to the early part of the next century, and to the second generation, when wealth had somewhat accumulated and luxuries increased, John Gould, the second of that name, who died in 17 12, left a much larger personal property, which was described as follows: "Wareing close, the best featherbed, one bolster, 2 pillows, £6 ^s. 6t/. ; a straw bed, a coverlaid, £6 lis., i blanket, 2 sheets, cord and bedstead, £4 8s. 6d. ; another feather ])ed, bolster, coverlaid gd. ; another feather bed, i bolster, i coverlaid, 2 blankets, 2 sheets, £\ 2s. 6d. ; 6 napkins, i table cloth, i bed blanket, ^i 3.?. : ]jillows, 4.y. ; 3 pewter platters, one bason and other puter and tinn, _,^i ys. i u/. ; brass cettle, i^^. ; worming pan, 6s. : a scoUet and oyrnpot, 4^. : friing pan, 6s. ; an oyrn cettle, 7s. ; an oyrn scelet, 4^^. ; fire shovel, tongs, ys. ; box oryn and pot hook, i gun, 15^. ; a pare of pistils and holster, 18s. ; a cut- lash, 4.S. : 2 chests, 2 boxes, 19^-. 6e/. ; 2 saddles and pilian, is. ; 10 books, 13^-. ; 5 barils and a pipe, 16^-. 6d. ; lumber, 6s. ; a loome, 2 slays, £1 los. ; carpenters tools, ^i 14s. ; 2 sickles and wedge and old oyrn, 17s. 6d. ; and tackling, 15s.; axes, 14s.; forks and 2 chains, i6s. ; i plough and oyrns, 8s. ; hoe, yoke and rings and staples, 12s. ; i shovel and grindstone, 7s. 8d. ; I cart and wheels, £4. los. ; sled and tumbril, los. ; a flax comb, 9s. ; stone 3 34 HISTORY OF STOXEHA.M. cart, 8s. ; 20 bushels ry, los. ; 5 bushals wheat, j(,i 2s. 6d. : 16 bushals of molt, I B 1-2 barly, £2 12s. 6d. ; Indian corn, 55 bushals at 2s. 3d. per B, £6 17s. 6d. ; 8 pounds of wool, 5s. ; a cross-cut saw, 5s. ; 5 swine, £2 : 2 pair of oxen, ^15 15s. : i horse, ^4 ids. : one mare. £4 ids. ; 6 cows, £1 7 15s. : 2 yearlings, £1 i8s. ; 23 sheep, ^8 is. ; timber hieved for a barn, 3s. ; flax, los. ; a paire of new shoos, 5s. ; 2 sacks, 3s. ; 2 baskets, 3s. gd. ; 300 bords, I2S. : i baril and half of pork, £4 los. : sword, small things, IDS. 6d." By an examination of these lists it will be observed there were no carriages, no crockery or glass-ware or hardly any furniture except bedsteads, chairs and boxes. The only Are was that of the tire-place. Carpets or rugs had not come into use. No curtains were required to shield the inmates from the curiosity of passers-by. There were no watches or clocks to indicate the time. No metal more precious than iron and brass and pewter and tin filled their cupboards, or covered their tables. Potatoes had not come into general use. The staple articles of food were Indian corn, wheat, rye, barley and pork, with mutton and beef at intervals, and doubtless veal and lamb now and then. Coffee and tea were luxuries of the future, and probably sugar was very little in use. Flour as we have it was unknown. Garden vegetables were cultivated to no great extent. Milk and butter and cheese they pos- sessed at an early day in abundance. Wild game was plenty. The cloth was for the most part home-spun. To a very large degree their purchases were exchanges, grain taking the place of money as a medium of exchange. Fruit trees were set out at an early day, orchards started, and afterwards great Cjuantities of cider were made and consumed, but the first John Gould and Thomas Cutler hardly lived to reach that blissful day. It is safe to assume that during the first years of the settlement, wagons were not in common use. As the years went on comforts gradually increased. As appears in the in- ventory of John Gould, who died in 171 2, pillions were used, and we can imagine our great-great-grandfathers on horseback in front, and our great- great-grandmothers on pillions behind. Every household contained a gun, and from necessity all the men, and many of the women were familiar with the use of firearms. This was not a border town, but still the Indians in small numbers made occasional incursions. John Gould and Thomas Geary, as already stated, were soldiers in King Philip's War, and later Ebenezer Damon and Joseph Arnold in the war against Canada. Perhaps there were no slaves here in the seventeenth century, but there were several in the eigh- teenth. Timothy Baldwin in 1708 made his will, giving to his wife his "best feather bed with the furniture thereunto belonging, and six pairs of sheets, one paire of them being cotton and lining, and ten pounds in money, the chamber which is in the east end of the House, with the Improvement of a third part of my seller Roome, well and oven, and my Brass Kettle skilct, HISTORY OF STOXEHA.M. 35 Iron Pots and Kettels, and all my Pewter Durinj^ tlie Terme ot" her widow- hood. Also the use of a good cow and horse, half a hundred weight of good Pork annually, fifteen bushels of Indian corn, five bushels of malt, two bushels of ry, and two Barrils of sider, ten cords of firewood, liberty of raising one swine and of gathering six bushels of apples." Gould's saw-mill was in existence certainly as early as 1708 and quite prob- ably much earlier, being located south of Mill Street, on or near the spot where stood the saw-mill of the late David H. Burnham. A grist-mill was built here by John Gould, Peter Hay, Timothy Paldwin and James Hill in 1737 or 1738. There was also a mill in the early part of the century near the outlet of Spot Pond. The only public building was the school-house in the easterly part of the town near where Charles Buck resides. The aj^pro- priations for the school, however, could not have been very munificent if the usual amount was spent in 1713. That year four pounds were voted "to pay for teaching children to write among our inhabitants near Reading." No record is known to exist of a public house prior to the year 1725, but there is a tradition that one was kept at an early day, located a few rods north of South Street, on the Wilson farm. Numerous relics have been ploughed up at this place, one of the most interestnig of which was a large mug in an almost perfect state of preservation, similar to what is now known as Flemish w^are. In 1725 the population of Charlestown End had been gradually increasino- till the number of male inhabitants who were taxed was sixty-five. They were so far from Charlestown that they derived none of the advantages of a connection with the parent town, and suffered all the inconveniences attend- ing a community separated from the church and the school by miles of wil- derness. The time had come when they had outgrown the dependence of a distant settlement and aspired to become a separate town. So this year Captain Benjamin Geary and fifty-tliree others petitioned to be set oiT, but the town voted not to grant the petition. The General Court, however, in De- cember, 1725, passed the following act: "Whereas the Northerly part ofthe Town of Charlestown within the County ofMiddlesex is competently filled with Inhabitants who labour under great Difficulties by their Remoteness from the place of public worship and have thereupon made their application to the said town of Charlestown, and have likewise addressed the Court that they may be set off a Distinct and Separate Town, and be vested with all the powers and privileges of a Town, and the Inhabi- tants of Charlestown by their ag< nts having consented to their being set off accordingly and a committee of tliis court havin. viewed the Northerly part of the said Town of Charlestown and reported in favor of the Petitioners. Be it therefore Enacted by the Lieutenant Governor Council, and Representatives in General Court assembled and by the authority of the same. That the Northerly part of the said Town ot Charlestown, that is to say all the Land on the East side of Woburn, the South side of Reading, the West side of Maiden and the North side of the P^ifth Range of the First Division ot Charlestown Wood Lots be and lierebv is set oil and constituted a separate Township by the nameof Stoneham. And the Bounds and tlie Limits of the said Town ot Stoneham be according to the agreement made in November one Thousand seven hundred and twenty-five by and between the committee and Agents for and in behalf of the said Town of Charlestown, and the petitioners of the Norlherlv part tliereof, wherein it was HISTORY OK STONKIIAM. 37 consented and agreed, that the five ranges or remaining part of the said First Division do re- main to the Town of Charlestown, agreeable to a former grant of the Town made in the year 1657-55, and that the Inhabitants of the Northerly half of Charlestown should have and enjoy that Tract of Land lying in he bounds aforesaid, commonly called and known by the name of Gould's Farm, now under lease to Messrs. Thomas and Daniel (iould, containing one hundred and ten acres, or thereabouts; also one-hall of all the Town's Meadow (and uplands) lying on Spot Pond, both for quantity and quality containing seventy-nine acres (by Captain Burnapp's platt) an estate in Fee with an equal share in Spot P md, the said I^and or the value thereof to be improved for settling and maintaining an Orthodox minister to dispense the word and ordi- nances among them. The Inhabitants of the said Northerly half of Charlestown bemg by virtue of the said agreoment to be debarred from any claim or deinand of and to any Land money, Rents or income of what kind soever, which now are or shall belong to the Town of Charlestown as well those several Farms and Land lying within the Bounds above said, as all other Estate or Income either Heal or Personal, and from all demands for High Ways; that so the Town of Charlestown may quietlv and peaceably enjoy the same. And further it is to be understood that none of the Land contained in the 1 wo H anges and Half belonging to the first Division shall on any pretence whatsoever be assessed or taxed by the said Town of Stoneham, except those I^ands that shall be put under Improvement, such as mowing, ploughing and pas- turing. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that the In abitants of the North- erly half ot Charlestown living within the Bounds aforesaid be and hereby are erected with the Powers, Privileges and Immunities that the Inhabitants of any of the Towns of the Province bj- Law are or ought lo be vested with; that the inhabitants ot the said Town of Stoneham do within the space of two years from the Publication of this Act, Erect and finish a suitable House for the public worship of God, and so soon as may be procure and settle a Learned and Orthodox minister, of gpod conversation and make provision for his comfortable and honorable support; and likewise provide a school-master to instruct their youth in Writing and Reading, and that thereupon they be discharged from any payment for the maintenance of the ministry and school in the Town of Charlestown, Provided that the Inhabitants of Stoneham neverthe- less, are to pay their respective proportions to Two several assessments alreadj^ made by the Assessors of Charles town for County and Town charges, and David Gould, one of the present constables of Charles-town, is required to collect and pay in such parts and proportions of each ot said assessments as are permitted to him by the said Assessors of Charlestown according to the powers and directions in the warrant duly made and delivered; anything in this Act to the contrary notwilhstandmg- December 17, 1725, This Bill having been Read three several times in the House of Representatives passed to be enacted. William Dudley Speaker." The first town meeting was held December 24, 1725. Timothy Baldwin, Sen., was chosen moderator and Daniel Gould, Jr., town clerk. The select- men the first year were Captain Benjamin Geary, Captain John Vinton, Mr. Peter Hay, Sr., Mr. Timothy Baldwin, Sr. , and Lieut. Timothy Wright. The following is the list of the remaining male inhabitants who were residents this year and paid a tax. John Gould Sr., Daniel Gould Sr., Daniel Gould ]r., Daniel Green. Abraham Gould, William Rogers, Thos. Cutler Sr., Benjamin Gearyjr., William Lewis, Benjamin Wesson, Benjamin Gould, fohn Hay, Ebenezer I'hillips, I^amuel Williams, Jonathan Green, David Green, John Green, John Cowdrey, David Gould, Thomas Geary Sr., Joseph Arnold, Ebenezer Knight, Edward Bucknam, Stephen Parker, Kbenezer Parker, S: muel Williams Jr., John Vinton Jr., Stephen Williams Jr., Timothy Wright jr., John Dexter, Peter Hay Jr., Ebenezer Damon, Thomas Grover Sr., John Souther, >,'athaniel Souther, '1 hoinas Geary Jr., John Geaiy, Thomas Geary, Jonathan Griffin, John Howe, Samuel Holeen, Jr., Joseph Holden, Jacob Howe, An. thonv Hadlev, Kphraiin Larabee, Samuel Sprague, Richard Belcher, John May, James Taylor, Samuel Wesson, Jeremiah Belcher, Ebenezer Cutler, James Hill, Joseph Bryant, Grover ScoUa)' and Thomas Williams. The first business of importance which came before the town was the elec- tion of committees to provide preaching and to take preliminary steps for the 38 HISTORY OF STOXEHAM. erection of a meeting-house, wliicli was raised the next year. It was located in the easterly part of the town, a few feet southerly from the residence of Charles Buck, and was a plain building thirty-six by forty feet, with galleries on three sides and posts twenty feet high. There were three doors, one on the east, south and west. It couid make no pretensions to architectural beauty : at first, was destitute of paint, and for }-ears its Ijare walls looked down upon a congregation who did not enjoy the luxury of pews. It was spoken of by a person who remembered it in her girlhood, as having no bel- fry or tower, and no entry, and was situated on the easterly side of the road. The pulpit stood at the north end. It was voted "that the meeting-house shall stand between the black oak tree and the red oak tice, upon the hill near the east end of the school-house." Stones for the foundation were laid by Ebenezer Phillips, and the building was framed by Lieut. Timothy Wright. Our ancestors were men of strong religious convictions and in the main were severe and exemplary in their morals, but in some respects they were more convivial than their descendants. On the day when the inhabitants assembled to raise the frame of the meet- ing-house it must have been an occasion of great hilarity and festivity. Re- freshments were served, and it requires no flight of the imagination to sup- pose that the pious enthusiasm of the earnest workers as they erected the great posts and lifted up the heavy beams may have been somewhat stimula- ted by liberal potations ; for besides a quantity of cider they consumed five gallons of rum. For many years there were no pews, the people sittingupon benches, the men on the west side, and in the west gallery, and the women on the east side and in the east gallery, the negro men occupying the rear seat of the men's gallery and the negro women occupying the rear seat of the women's gallery. Numerous town meetings were called, many appropriations made, and a considerable time elapsed before the ediiice was completed. Four years after its erection a ministers pew was built and at the same time the doors and window sashes were painted, also the eave troughs, weather- boards and end-boards. It appears upon the records that the women of Stoneham contributed towards the completion of the house, ^^^5 lis. 90!., to ■.vhich additions were made by the gentlewomen of Maiden, Woburn and .■heading. The first town meeting was held in the school-house, and those persons only were allowed to vote who were freeholders, having an estate of ■.'reehold in lands within the Province of forty shillings per annum, or other estate to the value of forty pounds sterling. About an acre of land was purchased of James Huy on which to locate the meeting-house, and at the same time a quarter of an acre for a burial place, it being the northerly part of the old graveyard south of Pleasant street. Town meetings were called and conducted almost identically the same as ;hose of today. liy means of them the people learned to govern themselves. rhey were the very foundation of our republican institutions. De Tocque- HISTORV OF STONKHAM. 39 ville says, "Town meetings are to liberty what primary schools are to sci- ence ; they bring it within the people's reach ; teach them how to use and how to enjoy it." About ten or twelve years after the completion of the meeting-house a vote was passed that family ])ews might be built which should be "lotted out to such men as appeared to be the highest in rate and right ;" and by the subsequent distribution it would appear that the men of the most consideration were the Hays, the Goulds and the Greens. It may be interesting to pause for a moment and consider the appearance of Stone- ham at this period. There were probably about fifty houses in the town, but not the remotest semblance of a village. Almost every man was a farmer, some of them combining with agriculture the occupations of cordwainer, weaver, carpenter or blacksmith. Stoneham was inferior to most of its neighbors in territory, population and wealth. We may suppose its popula- tion to have been between two hundred and fifty and three hundred. Al- though numerous clearings had been made, and many farms were under cul- tivation, a large portion of the territory must have been covered with forest. Let us start from the meeting-house as a centre, perambulate the town and make as perfect a picture of it as we may. There were but three or four highways, none of them straight, but crooked country roads. In explana- tion of the circuitous course of the old road over Farm Hill, as it existed forty years ago, it used to be said it was laid out by a ch'unken man. A large portion of the houses were scattered about on lanes and private wa\'s. The buildings in a country town a century and a half ago did not present the neat and thrifty appearance which characterizes a New England village today. The dwelling houses were generally dark and weather-stained. It was the day of things useful and not ornamental. The meeting-house stood on one of the few highways facing to the south, on an elevation overlooking the site of the future town. Proceeding northerly, the first house a little beyond the church, and on the west side of the road, was ow-ned by James Hay, al- though he himself did not live in it, being a shopkeeper in Charlestown. The next one, not far distant on the right of the road, was probably where Andrew Phillips had lived, the one which Nathaniel Dunton built. Keeping on until we come to Spring Street, somewhere hereabouts a private way led to the east, on which lived Daniel Green, Ebenezer Phillips and, a little later, Thomas Knight and Ephraim Brown. Winding our way up through Bow Street, by the stand-pipe, the next old-time citizen we know of on the left, was John Souther (the Oakes Green place). It was here the church was organized. Southers next neighbor on the north, and on the same side of the street, was Joseph Bryant. From Bryant's the road followed the present course of Green Street till its intersection with Elm, and then easter- ly by the latter till its junction with the old road to Wakefield, and by the last-named old road till it reaches the foot of Cowdrey"s Hill. This was one of the very earliest highways of Charlestown End, and on it lived, in 1725, HISTORY OF STOXEHAM. 4I William Rogers, Daniel Gould, Sr., Daniel Gould, Jr., and Abraham Gould. As before stated, William Rogers was located on the Captain Buck farm. Daniel Gould, Sr., afterwards Deacon Daniel, a short distance beyond Rogers', on the opposite side of the way. On beyond Daniel Sr., was Abra- ham, and still farther on, Daniel, Jr., otherwise called Lieut. Daniel, who had inherited the home farm of the original John Gould. All of the Goulds were on the left hand side of the road as we go towards Wakefield. A lane, we suppose, led from the road near Rogers" house to Thomas Cutler's (the Doyle place). Retracing our steps once more to the meeting-house, and proceeding south by the general course of the present Summer Street, we pass between the house of John May on the left and his blacksmith shop on the right. May lived in the old house now owned by Miss Lynde, which is a building of some historic interest, and will be referred to at a later period. Almost op- posite the May house a lane from the road on the west approached the home- stead of Thomas Geary, (the Zac Geary house) which had been sold to him by the children of Deacon Nathaniel Lawrence. f^ollowing the circuitous course of the highway in the direction towards Woburn, (now Winchester), our attention is first attracted to a house on the north side of the road, where it is supposed Richard Belcher lived at the time of his death in 1720. It was probably occupied at this time by his children and widow. Here lived a century later Ebenezer Bucknam, and within a few years was owned and torn down by Hiram Marston. On the south side of the way between Bel- cher's and Woburn line, were one perhaps two houses occupied by Joseph and possibly Samuel Holden. On the north side there was a house a few rods east of Woburn line owned at that time by Joseph Underwood, and oc- cupied perhaps then, at all events a few years later, by Stephen Parker. This was where Eleazer Bateman had established himself forty years earlier. Turning to the present Warren Street where it connects with Marble Street, if we wish to trace the old road we shall follow Warren Street to Central Square, cross the Square to Central, down Central to Elm, up Elm to Wa\- erly over Farm Hill by the way of High Street. Of course these modern streets have been widened and straightened but this was one of the old coun- try roads from Reading to Woburn a century any a half ago. When the town was organized Edward Bucknam, Timothy Wright and Peter Hay owned houses on or near it, the locations of which have already been given. It passed by the doors of Grover Scollay and Captain Benjamin Geary, on and over Farm Hill. The central part of the village was then largely a for- est. East of the road a path led down to the mill near wiiich John (Hiuld is supposed to have lived. Near the junction of Central and Elm streets a private way ran towards the Woburn road by the houses of Timothy Bald- win, Sr. and Jr. From near the house of Peter Hay, Sen., a bridle way led easterly towards Reading by the house of Ebenezer Damon. The present 42 HISTORY OF STOXEHAM. North Street ran from Reading to Woburn through the Charlestown Farms. Pond Street was an old road extending towards Maiden, passing near the houses of Captain Vinton, David Gould and perhaps Anthony Hadley. From near the meeting-house a private way led to Green Lane and Melrose High- lands. Town government and town offices have changed but little since then, but some of the customs which prevailed at that time seem quaint. It carries us back a long time when we read from the records the vote '-that Ebenezer Parker shall be tything man, that hogs shall go at large and that no shepherd shall keep sheep in the town of Stoneham, that Deacon Daniel Green shall set the psalm for the Sabbath day, that five pounds be raised to provide the town with a pair of stocks, and five pounds more for renewing the town's supply of ammunition."' The town well organized and a meeting- house built measures were taken to secure a settled minister, and procure the services of a school-master. The former was considered a cjuestion of such vital importance to the welfare of the people, that it was voted in town meet- ing assembled to set apart a day for prayer to ask God's direction in the choice of a minister, and so strong was their religious faith, that they doubted not their prayers had been answered when in the following month they elect- ed the Rev. James Osgood. In their selection of a person to fill the pastoral office, they seem to have been as difficult to satisfy as their descendants. Several were heard on trial, before one was chosen. The first preacher who was hired for some months was Rev. Joseph Champney. Mr. Osgood, who came from Salem, was called in October, 1728, accepted in April, 1729, and was ordained on September loth. The ministers assisting at the ordination were Rev. Richard Brown of Reading, Rev. Samuel Fiske, of Salem, Rev. Hull Abbot, of Charlestown, Rev. Benj. Prescot of Salem, Rev. Josej^h Emerson, cf Maiden, and Rev. Daniel Putnam of Reading. The town had voted him a salary of /," 1 10 per annum, ^^172 for a settlement, and a few years later purchased a wood lot and agreed to furnish him witli ten cords of wood each year. Mr. Osgood purchased land and built him a house which was a fine one for those times, and he remained here till his death in 1746. The members of the church who were dismissed from the First Church of Reading, to form the church at Stoneham were Daniel (iould, Daniel Gould, Jr., Ebenezer Knight, David Gould, Ebenezer Parker, Abraham Gould, Edward Bucknam, Thomas Cutler, Joseph Bryant and Jonathan Grif- fin. These with Ephraim Larrabee, Jacob Howard and Samuel .Sj^rague on July 2, 1729, signed the church covenant. The women who severed their connection with the Reading church, some months later to join the Stoneham church, were Anna, wife of Samuel Holden ; Naomi, wife of Joseph Holden ; Eliza, wife of Benj. Gary, Jr. ; Hannah, wife of Thomas Gary, Sr. ; Abigail, wife of James Taylor ; Mary, wife of John Souter ; Hannah, wife of Peter Hay, Jr. ; Sarah, wife of John Gould ; Judith, wife of John Gould, Jr. ; Eliza, wife of John Gary ; and Eliza, wife of Benjamin Gould. From the church at IIISTORV OF STOXKIIAM. 43 Maiden came Judith Lynde. Alary Cirecn. John Green. Isaac Green, Joseph Green, John Dexter, and tlie wives of the three latter. From the church in Boston came Elizabeth Holden. Some of those who were dismissed from the church at Maiden lived in what is now known as Melrose Highlands, a territory which a few years subseciuently was annexed to Stoneham, and re- mained a part of this town till it annexed to Melrose in 1853. Two of the best sources of information from which to ol)tain materials tor a town history are the records kept by the church and the town clerk. They are pictures of the times, skeletons upon which it reciuires but little imagina- tion to construct a complete image, representing the customs and habits of life and important events which prevailed in a New England town one and two centuries ago. A most interesting little book is the one in which ap- pears the transcript of the proceedings at church meetings kept for years in the neat and distinct handwriting of Mr. Osgood. For instance, take the occasions when the first deacons were chosen and read Mr. Osgood's record of it. "Att A Chh. meeting in Stoneham Called by the Revrt' Pastor of sd Chh on Novembr 27th, 1730, at the meeting House in sd Town. The Pas- tor opened the meeting with Prayer Imploring a Blessing upon their Chh and for Direction & Aid in the work that was before them Viz. in the election of 2 of the brethrn that might be Best Qualified to Sustain the office of Deacons of the Chh. Then the Brethr" at the request of the Pastor brot in ther written vote on Papers. The i^t vote for the i^t Deacon by the Brethm ot this Chh that were present came out upon Broth^ Danl Gould Sen who ac- cordingly accepted of said election. The 2"^ vote on written Papers for the 2n't Deacon to this Chh. fell upon Brothr Danl Green, who accordingly stands elected & has accepted of sd election. Nothing further being agitated or acted upon. The Pastor again prayed with them & Gave thanks to God tor his assistance & Recommended the Persons Elected to the office of Deacons to the Grace of Gd that they might be made Blessings to the Chh & Ans-- the Characf of Deacons & be Enabled to fultill all parts of ye office. So the Brethi"" were Dismist by the Pastor. "As attests James Osgood Clerk of sj Chh." "The second day of March, 1746, Rev. Mr. James Osgood died and was Interred the fifth when his Corpse was carried to ye Meeting-House and there attended to the grave by several ministers and a great Concourse of People." In 1729 the town voted to raise ^9 for a school ; and for the first time chose a committee to procure a school-master. In 173 1 the selectmen laid out a road on the easterly side of Spot Pond to Charlestown (now Medford) line. Previous to this there had been a private way over which people had been accustomed to travel, but it was necessary to take down bars and open gates, and the time had come when public convenience required a highway. The exact course which the way should run seems to have caused a good deal ot contention between the town and some of the land owners, especially Tim- HISTORY OF STOXEHA.V. 45 cthy Sprag^je cf Maiden, who owr.ed the land at the outlet of Spcl Pond. Litigaticn follcv.'ed, and Sprague obtained judgirent and execution against the town. The country road then run to Maiden, and the new road con- nected with it near the northeast corner of the pond nuining south. Finally in 1734 an agreement was made with Sprague hy which the course of the road was fixed and a watering-place secured. Also in 1731 the "selectmen laid out an open Highway over the land of Stephen Parker from the Country Road between said Parker's house and barn" to Woburn. "Said way is to lie open to all people to pass as long as there is free liberty to pass from said way over Richardson's land and the other Woburn land to the Country Road near to Samuel Williams in Wol:)urn ; and in case any of the owners of Woburn land do stop or hinder the free passing from said way to the Road by Samuel William's in Woburn as aforesaid, then the way o\er Parker's land shall no longer be a way." Stephen Parker, it will be remembered lived north of Marble Street, and this was probably the road from Marble Street towards Montvale. It may be interesting to the public-spirited citi- zens of today to know what our fathers raised and appropriated for town expenses. The annual meeting for the election of officers during the first few years was held in March and the meeting for raising money in May. In 1731 they voted to raise ^g for a school for "Reding and Righting, £2 for the Poor and for sweeping the meeting-house and for looking after the meeting house and ,2^40 for the Highways." This was exclusive of the ministers salary, the larger part of which was paid with interest derived from the sale of the Gould farm. John Vinton, Esq., was sent a representative to the General Court in 1734, — the only instance prior to the nineteenth century that the town was represented, except in 1775, when Col. Jos. Bryant was sent a representative to the General Court, and Capt. Samuel Sprague to the Pro- vincial Congress. Our ancestors loved office and distinction, were punctilious of all titles from ensign to colonel and deacon, but chose to do without a representative be- cause it involved expense for his service. But little of the highway tax was raised in actual money, most of it being worked out on the roads, a custom which prevailed till a comparatively recent time. Great care was taken that no one should obtain a settlement if it could be prevented, lest such one might become a public charge, and so notices were served upon people com- ing into town, of which the following is a sample : "Middlesex ss. To Mr. Ebenezer Phillips, constable for the town of Stonehani and to you greeting : You are in his Magesty's name required forthwith to warn out of the town of Stone- ham Martha Tidd and her child, late of Woburn, who are at the house of John Vinton, Esq., of Stonehani, and that they depart the said town of Stoneham speedily, they and their children, or else they may expect further trouble. Hereof fail not and make a return of your doings to myself at or before the 19th day of May. Dated at Stoneham the seventeenth day of May Anno Domini 1736, and the ninth year of our soverign Lord King George the Second over Great Brit- ain. By order of the select men. Daniel Gould, Jr., Town Clerk." 46 HISTORY OF STONEHAM. One of the great evils with which our forefathers had to contend during the last century was the fluctuation in the value of money on account of the large emission of bills of credit and the consequent inflation of the currency. Prior to 1745, when Louisbourg was captured, specie had almost been driven from the country, and it was flooded with a depreciated currency. Conse- quently man}- contracts were made payable in the staple products, such as corn and pork. The purchasing value of the pound was constantl}- falling. No men suffered from this condition of affairs more than the ministers, and for this reason there was a constant friction between the successive pastors and the people about their salary, which is illustrated by the following letter from Mr. Osgood : "To the select men of Stoneham To be Communicated to the Inliabitants of said Town at their Town Meeting in May, 1737. Gentlemen. I gave my answer to settle among you in the work of the gospel ministry, April, 1729, and in my answer I then Declared my acceptance of what you then voted me for my settlement, and my yearly salary. But in my further answer I inserted this : (That I do expect that you will Readily and Cheerfully come into those Further allowances which in the course of my ministry I shall ftand in need of for my Comfortable Support. I am coming to a Family Relation among you & By Reason of the Bills of Credit Being so much sunk in their value in Exchange Between Silver & ye Paper Currency; for .Sil- ver money has risen from iS shillings to 27 shillings an ounce in Paper Bills; so that the Paper Bills sinking so much in their Credit, Cloathing, Provisions and Fire wood have Rise in their price there upon, that with the one Hundred and Ten Pounds which you voted me for my annual Support I cannot Purchase near equal to the value now in the articles with the said one Hun- dred and Ten Pounds now as 1 could when I first settled among you. Therefore I would Re- quest of you to allow me a valuable consideration for the sinking of Bills of Credit whereof I may be Enabled to comfortably subsist and Live amongst you. I do spend the Produce of my own place among you. James Osgood, Clerk. Stoneham, May 5,1737." In 1739 David Gould and Ebenezer Knight were chosen "to see to the preservation of the Deer," and after that time deer-reeves were annually chosen. The town having buried their first ]5astor, they sought a successor and secured the Rev. John Carnes, who was ordained Dec. 17, 1746. Mr. Carnes when he came here was a young man twenty-two years of age and a graduate of Harvard College. He remained till 1757, was afterwards in- stalled at Rehobeth, was subsequently a chaplain in the Revolutionary Army from 1776 till the close of the war, and died at Lynn. October 20, 1802. It was during the pastorate of Mr. Carnes that the old parsonage on Central Street was erected in 1747. Mr. Carnes appears to have had more trouble about his salarv even than Mr. Osgood, and indulged in some rather pointed coiTCspondence with the town. On May 17, 1750. which was the day of the town meeting he sent them the following letter : "To the inhabitants of the town of j!^toneham, Gentlemen :— I have year after year desired you to consider me with regard to my Salary, but notwithstanding this, and notwithstanding I have sunk by ye fall several Hundred Pounds, 1 have never had since my ordination but a poor pitiful consideration of ;{;So Old tenor. Whatever ymi think of it, gentlemen, you have been guilty of great Injustice & oppression and have withheld irom your minister more than is meet, not considering what you read, Prov. ii, 2^, 25, which Verses run tluis. There is that scatter- HISTORY OF STONEHAIM. 47 etii and yet incrcaseth, and there is yt witholdeth more than is meet but it tendeth to povei ty. The liberal soul shall be made fat; and he yt watercth shall be watered also himself. You have never made good your contract with your minister, and was it not for some of his good Friends in this Town and other Places, he must have suffered. Time has been when I have had no corn nor meal in my House & when I have wanted many other necessaries and havent had one Forty shillings in ye World, nor yet Thirty shillings, and when 1 have been obliged to live b)- bor- rowing; and this is ye case now. But I shall say no more about my circumstances and your Injustice and oppression. What I desire ot you now is that you would at this meeting act like honest men and make good your contract that you would make such an addition to my Sal- ary for the present year as that 1 may be able to subsist. I desire nothing that is unreasonable, make good what you first voted me and I shall be easy. I remain your friend and servant, John Carnes. P. S. Gentlemen — Please to send me word before your meeting is over what you have done, yt I may send you a Line or two in order to let you know I am easy with what you done or not; for if I cant get a Support by the ministry I must pursue something else, must betake myself to some other business and will immediately do it." The civil and religious duties of tliose days must at times have been pur- sued at a disadvantage. The people sat through the long ser\-ice in a cold and comfortless church, with no means of artificial heat. At the annual town-meetings in March they fulfilled the letter of the law by assembling at the meeting-house, acting upon a part of the warrant and then adjourning, often across the way to the hospitable inn of Lieut. James Hay, where, doubtless amid the fragrant fumes of steaming punch and hot flip, they yield- ed to the seductive influence of good fellowship, and finished the town's business with great unanimity and satisfaction. Competent men were kept in office for long periods. Lieut. Dan"l Could was town clerk and town treasurer almost continuously from 1725 to 1748, and Capt. Jonathan Creen held the same office, with the exception of one year, from 1748 to 1769. As has been said, the women sat on the east side of the meeting-house and in the east gallery, and the men on the west side and in the west gallery, al- though after a few years those of the most consideration were allowed to build for themselves pews. The colored people, though in a state of slavery. were admitted as brethren and sisters to the church. -Mr. Carnes, after a good deal of contention and dissatisfaction about his salary, preached his farewell sermon July 31, 1757. went away with a bitter feeling and apparently reflected upon the conduct of the town in the papers, for it was voted "that the town will make an answer to what the Rev. John Carnes hath put into the public print." Mr. Carnes was succeeded by Rev. John Searl in January, 1759. H^ '^'^'^l been previously settled in Sharon, Conn., and was a graduate of Yale College. During the first fifty years of the town's history she had been called upon to furnish her quotas to the French and Indian Wars. After the French were driven from Acadia many of them were billeted upon the various towns of Massachusetts. A number were assigned to Stoneham and appropriations voted for their support. An occasional house or barn- raising broke in upon the irksomeness of ever}--day life, for it was usually made an occasion of 48 HISTORY OF STONEHAM. • ital hihiity to v/hich came men and boys frcm far and near. TI:e itemis of ej];ense v.hich were incurred at the raising of tlie barn of Daniel Green, Jr., in 1763, indicate how these occasions must: have been celebrated; "English cheese for Raising, 6s. 2d. ; 6 Quarts of Rhum, 4s. ; New England cheese, IS. 8d. ; Bisket for Raising, 2s. ; brown bread for Raising, is. 3d. ; sugar for Raising, is. 2d.; butter for Raising, 8d. ; malt to make beer for Raising, id." The training of the military company was also a feature of colonial times, and it is rather a suggestive fact that they were almost always summoned to meet at the tavern of James Hay. There was but one school, a schoolmaster be- ing employed in winter and sometimes a schoolmistress in summer. Reading, writing and a liltle arithmetic were taught, although during the first yeai's the girls did not generally learn to even write, it being considered an accomplish- ment not necessary for female usefulness. Among the teachers were Captain William Toler, Lieut. Joseph Bryant, Hannah Willy and Joanna Burditt. We may form some idea of the educational attainments required, wlien we re- member that Joanna Burditt, in signing her name, made her mark. Captain Toler was engaged in various occupations, for besides teaching school, he kept tavern and carried on a store in the house heretofore referred to as now owned by Miss Lynde. It was said to have been his custom to send a scholar at eleven o'clock to the tavern across the road from the school to bring' him his grog. Stoneham was one of the poorest towns of the county. Her comparative valuation appears front tlie Province tax assessed upon the ditTerent towns in 1754, which was as follows : Cambridge, £^~S H^- ; Charlestown, ^162 13s. ; Watertown, _^66 13s. 6d. ; Woburn, ^,'117; Concord, ^74 12s. 6d. ; Newton, ^117; Sudbury, ;^I26 los. 6d. ; Marlborough, ^126; Billerica, £73 i6s. ; Framingham, ,^{^96 6s.; Lexington, _^55 i8s. ; Chelmsford, ^72; Sherburne, £j^C) 14s. 6d. ; Reading £118 i6s. ; Maiden, ,2^94 i6s. ; Weston, ^"74 7s. 4d. ; Medford, ^93 4s. 6d. ; Littleton, /50 IIS.; Hopkinton, _j^44 2s. ; Westford, ;i^48 12s.; District of Shirley, ^12 7s. 6d. ; Waltham, _;^62 5s. ; Townsend, £2j los. 6d. ; Stow _;^44 2s. ; Stoneham, ^31 lis. 6d.; Groton, £^% 17s- ; Wilmington, ^^36; Natick, £2^ IS. ; Dracut, ^35 8s. ; Bedford, ^41 6s. 6d. ; Holliston, ^40 2s. 6d. ; Tewksbury, ^35 8s. : Acton, ^26 2s. ; Dunstable, ^33 iis. 6d. ; District of Pepperell, ^28 8s. ; Lincoln, ,^53 4s. 2d. ; Carlisle ^34 i6s. The inventory of many of the inhabitants in 1761 has been preserved, signed by each individual, and is valuable as it affords us a view of the ma- terial prosperity that then prevailed. Captain Jonathan Green, who, at that time, was one of the most substantial, prosperous and intelligent citizens of the town, owned i dwelling house, 2 servants for life, 3 horses, 6 oxen, 9 cows, 20 sheep, 16 bushels of Indian corn, 14 bushels of rye, 17 bushels of barley, 30 bushels of oats, 30 barrels of cider, 108 acres of pasturage, 12 acres of tillage, 2 acres of orcharding and 2)2) ^cres of mowing land. Timothy HISTORY OF STOXEHA.M. 4g Taylor, wlio owned the Joliii Ikicknam farm, returned i dwelling-house, 2 horses, 4 oxen, 3 cows, 3 swine, 70 acres of pasturage capable of pasturing 20 cows, 8 acr^s of tillage land (the ordinary produce of which is 100 bushels of Indian corn, 32 bushels of rye and 34 bushels of oats), 2 acres of orchard- ng (the produce was 24 barrels of cider) 18 acres of mowing land, 14 tons of English hay and 6 tons of meadow hay. Joseph Hill, the father of James and the grandfather of John and Lutl'er Hill, was at that time a young man, and was taxed for i horse, 2 cows, 4 acres of pastuie land, 3 acres of tillage, i acre of orcharding and £6 money at interest. In 1767 there were 78 ratable polls, 50 dwelling-houses, i mill, 10 servants for life, ^27 6s. 8d. trading stock, ^1160 6s. 8d. money at in- terest, 42 horses, 41 oxen, 222 cows, 311 sheep, 33 swine, 2346 bushels of grain, 326 barrels of cider, 102 tons of English hay and 205 tons of meadow hay. Captain Peter Hay, son of the original Patrick, or Peter Hay, was one of the leading inhabitants during the middle of the century, a prominent man in public affairs, holding many offices and possessing a considerable estate. His homestead was near the Farm Hill Station, the house afterwards knc-wn as the Hay Tavern. Througli the yard between the house and barn led a private way northerly to the Captain Rufus Richardson Lane, and so on by the houses of Caleb, Elijah, Oliver and Thaddeus Richardson, westerly to the Woburn road. When he made his will, in 1768, the original pioneers were all dead, and a second and third generation had taken their places. Some of the changes which had occurred during the first centur}/ are indicated by Captain Hay's will. After commending his soul to God, committing his body to the earth and expressing his faith in the resurrection of his body, he gives to his wife, Isabelle Hay, indoor movables, etc., 2 cows, 2 sheep, top-chaise and use of horse, the use of one-half of dwelling-house, 15 busheh cf Indian corn and meal, 3 bushels of rye, i bushel of malt, 150 pounds of pork, 2 barrels of cider, 50 pounds of beef, 8 bushels of potatoes, 1-2 bushel of beans, 8 cords of wood, etc., per annum. About 1734 Reuben Richardson came from Woburn and settled on what is now known as the Thaddeus Richardson Farm, which was retained by his descendants for more than 150 years. His nephew, Oliver, and sons, Elijah and Caleb, occupied farms between his and that of Captain Hay. From the incorporation of the town to the outbreak of the Revolution but few events of a public nature transpired to vary the monotony which usually prevailed in a thinly-settled community. From time to time, as expeditions were planned against the French in Canada, volunteers were called for, and soldiers impressed. Many a Stone- ham boy, as he returned from Louisbourg, Fort William Henry and Crown Point, must have been a welcome guest, sitting before the blazing fire and 4 50 HISTORY OF STONEHAM. recounting tlie thrilling tales of Rogers' Rangers, and Indian warfare. Dur- ing the middle of the century the long-continued peace which had blessed the people for over a generation was broken, and for a period of years sa\-age war poured forth destruction along the northern and eastern frontiers. Stone- ham was called upon to contribute her quotas, and she responded with the same alacrity that has distinguished her in later times. Among her sons en- gaged in the wars, Thomas Gould and Titus Potamia in 1746 were stationed at Fort Richmond, on the Kennebec. In the Crown Point expedition of 1756, in Captain William Peabody's company of Colonel Plaisted's regiment, Peter Hay was lieutenant, Thomas Hadley and Thomas Johnson were corpo- rals. Among the privates were John Cades, Jonathan Griffin, Timothy Hol- den, Nathan Holden, John Carter, Titus Potamia, Jonathan Eaton and Philip Gross. Two or three of these were born in Stoneham and went from other towns. These men were stationed at Fort William Henry, at the head of Lake George, from early in the spring till late in the fall. Nathan Holden died there. The list of soldiers in the French and Indian wars also includes the names of John Hill, Thomas Larrabee, John Converse, Ephraim Brown, Thomas Sprague, Timothy Wright, Aaron Brown, Daniel Connery, Abial Brown, John Geary, Daniel Knight, Michael Negell, Simeon Wyman, Francis Phillips, Oliver Gross and Jonathan Morrison. A few of these were hired from other towns to fill our quota. John Hill was a sergeant in the company of Ebenezer Nichols, of Reading, and was in the expedition of 1757-58. Four Stoneham men were also in the famous Rogers* Rangers, whose exploits about Lake George and along Lake Champlain, in the campaigns of 1757-58. fill some of the most thrilling chapters in savage warfare. The French and Indian War, which fell like a thunderbolt upon the colo- nists, came as a blessing in disguise, for it prepared them for the greater con- flict which so soon was to loom up in the future. Greater events were casting their shadows before. Three millions of people are girding themselves for a struggle with the mightiest power on the face of the globe. The administra- tion of Chatham had covered the British name v.ith imperishable glory, but the government is now fallen into the weak hands of Lord North, whose ministry is assailing the rights we have enjoyed for five generations. The Stamp Act, the Tea Tax, the Boston Port Bill, the Military and Restraining Acts had aroused and incensed the Colonies. The Reconstruction Acts were intended to effect a complete revolution of the government, transferring the powers of the people to the creatures of the crown. The jurors were to be appointed by the sheriff; the judiciary were to be controlled by the King; certain classes of criminals could be transferred for trial to a distant colony of the mother country ! the matters considered in town meetings were to be under the direction of the Royal Governor ! the people were alarmed, their liberties were being threatened ; they elected delegates and organized Provin- cial Congresses. Entreaty and expostulation were followed by resistance. HISTORY OF STOXEHAM. 5 1 Militarv stores were being collected, companies of minute-men raised, anc' the genius of Sam Adams and his compatriots was organizing revolt. The- towns unanimous, war meetings held, resolves passed, men furnished, sup- plies voted, the first volley fired, and the conflict commenced. Stoneham ir. the mean time had not been idle. The walls of the old meeting-house re- sounded with the patriotism of our great-grandfathers. It was there that the} met and gave utterance to the sentiments that swept like a whirlwind over the Province of Massachusetts Bay and extended to the other English prov- inces in North America. There were held the war meetings of the Revolu- tion, the Committee of Correspondence chosen, and the resolutions adoptee which declared the rights of the colonists, and pledged to the common cause the lives and property of the freeholders and inhabitants in town-meetins. assembled. Meeting after meeting was called to consider the questions which were agitating the country. In January, 1773, a long communication was adopted in town-meeting, anc". dispatched to Boston, which deserves attention, for it is a full description ot the political questions of the day, and was probably written either by the minister, John Searle, or else was framed in accordance with a general form adopted by the other towns. It contains these passages: "We fully join in sentiment with you, that the natural liberty of man is to be free from an\ superior power on earth, unless justly forfeited by some injurious abuse of it. The right of freedom being the gift of God Almighty, it is not in the powei- of man to alienate this gift." "It is a point of undoubted evidence with us that ihe Commons of Great Britain have no right to seize upon the properties of the colonists ; that the colonists are well entitled to all the essential rights. liberties and privileges of men and freemen born in Britain. In special, wl are deeply affected with some late threatening innovations upon our Consti- tution ; that the Governor of this province is made independent of the gen- eral assembly for his support, whereby the ancient connection between him and this people is weakened, the confidence of the Governor lessened, the equilibrium destroyed, and our happy Constitution essentially altered," Again, in August, 1774, was passed the following covenant: "We, the inhabitants of the town of Stoneham, being legally assembled, sincerely acknowl- edge our sincere attachment to the Constitution of our nation, and our unfeigned loyalty to our rightful lord and sovereign, King George the Third. Ardently wishing that we might ever livi. in the utmost harmony with Great Britain. Yet we are driven to the disagreeable necessity to say that, having taken into serious consideration the precarious state of the liberties of North America^ and more especially the present depressed condition of this insidted province, embar- rassed as it is by several acts of the British Parliament, tending, as wc apprehend, to the entire subversion of our natural and charter rights, among which is the act of blocking up the harbor of Boston. Therefore, we do solemnly covenant and agree with each other I. That henceforth we will suspend all commercial intercourse with Great Britain until they shall afford us relief. 2. That we will not buy, purchase or consume any goods or merchan dise which shall arrive in America from Great Britain from and after the last day of Septembei next ensuing. These things we solemnly promise to observe, provided no better scheme shall be devised, to answer the same end, by the Congress who are to meet the next month at Phila- HISTORY OF STONKMAM. 53 dclphiu to consult the ijencral i)olitii-al interests of America, and provided a majority ot the in- habitants of the English Government o( Nortli America bind themselves by the covenant above mentioned, or one essentially similar to it; furiher provided, that we herealter shall think of no further method that sliall be more worthy of o\ir choice." The population was small, but a conmion enthusiasm possessed the hearts of the whole community, and a company of minute-men was organized, which comprised nearly all the inhabitants capable of bearing arms. Tradition says the place of rendezvous was in front of the house of Deacon Edward Buck- nam, and that it was arranged they should be called together by firing of alarm-guns in front of the metting-house. During the winter and early spring of 1775 thev drilled and held dicmselves ready for service at the short- est notice. R v. Caleb I'rentiss, of Reading, uutler date of February 27th, in his diary. m.ik;s the following entrs' : "At alidut 3 o'clock A. M. an alarm was made, the drums beat to arms, tlie bell was rung- and alarm guns were tired in the Parish. The rejiort was that a regiment of tlie Cambridge troops had landed at Marblehead and marched to Salem to take some cannon there, and that the peo- ple were defending the cannon, and wanted assistance. The people were mustered, and before daylight were upon the march toward Salem. Having marched about five miles w-e were in- formed by the I.ynn End company, who were returning, that the Regulars were retreated with- out the cannon, embarked and set sail, upon which we returned. On our return we met the West Parish company and the Stoneham Company, all which joined together, returned in order to this Parish, and went through the military exercise. The whole were more than two hun- dred." "It was twelve by the village clock When he crossed the bridge into Medtord town." We may suppose an hour or two later, on tlie morning of the eventful 19th of April, 1775, a messenger knocked at tlie door of Captain Sprague and announced that the British troops were on the march to capture and destroy the military stores at Concord. At all events, the alarm was given, the com- pany assembled and they marched to Lexington, reaching there in time to intercept and pursue the ISritish on their retreat from Concord. Before reaching Le.xington it is said the compan_\' separated and scattered them- selves about in small groups. Ebenezer Bucknam, Timothy Matthews and James Willy were together. A bullet passed close to the head of Bucknam and through the hats of both Willy and I'iatthews. Another member of the company was J osiah Richardson, of whom. Mr. Dean, in his historv, says, "Asahel Portei', on the morning of the nineteenth of April, was desired by a neighbor, Josiah Richardson, to proceed with him towards Lexington about three o'clock A. M. Somewhere on the way they discovered some British Regulars. Porter and Richardson were also seen by the Regulars and were taken by them. Richardson recjuested permission to return and was told by the individual to go to another person who would no doubt give him a re- lease, but in case the second person he went to, told him to run, he was by the first ordered not to run ; being informed that if he did mn he would be shot. Richardson did as he was told to do ; and though he was told to run, he walked away and was not injured. The reason why he was ordered to run. 34 HISTORY OF STONEHAM. vas this ! Tliat tlie guard niiyht think him a deserter and therel)y in the tlischarge of their duty, shoot him. Mr. Porter not being apprised of their .rtifice in telling him to run, got permission in the same way as Richardson, riaving liberty to go, he set out upon the run. On getting over a wall, a short distance off, he was fired upon and received his death wound."' His Jones now lie in Lexington with the seven who fell on that morning while Mcfending tlieir rights as freemen. Samuel Sprague was captain of the com- jany, Joseph IJryant lieutenant, Abraham Gould ensign, John Bucknam and .Janiel Bryant sergeants, David Geary and Joseph Geary drummers, and the ■ nen were Caleb Richardson, Josiali Richardson, Charles Richardson, Eph- raim and Samuel Brown, Jacob Gould, Amos Knight, James Steele, Benja- min and David Jilodgett, Jacob Gould Sr., Ebenezer Bucknam, David Geary, Thomas Geary, John Holdcn, James Willy, Thomas Sweetser, Joseph At. well, Elias and Ebenezer Bryant, Timothy and Ezra Vinton, Oliver Richard- son, Moses Hadley, Thomas and John Knight, Jonathan, Daniel and Daniel Green Jr., John Crocker, Benjamin Taylor, Nathan Willy, James Hay Jr., Timothy Wright Jr., Daniel Hay, Peter Hay Jr., David and William Hay, John Wright, Daniel (iould Jr., Samuel Ingalis, John Green, David Gould, ,'ohn Benjamin, William lY^rson, Joseph Matthews, William Connery, Aaron Putnam, Eben Lawrence, Thoir.as Vinton, Jacob Cutler, John Geary and Thomas Watson. Tlie British, after retreating to Boston, were beseiged i)y the Provincial troops, and Captain Spragiie's company was probably en- gaged for some time in the seige, for it appears by their muster roll that .nany were in the service at that time during a period varying from a few days .o two or three weeks. The first shot over, the war fairly commenced, and ;he history of Stoneham was like that of almost every other Massachusetts town. She sent Captain Sprague and Major Joseph Bryant to represent her .n the Provincial Congre.ss and General Court. Her sons were with Montgomery of Quebec. They witnessed the sur- render of Burgoyne at Saratogo ; were at Rhode Island : in camp on Winter iiill ; and formed part of the Continental army on the Hudson. William Connery was ])robably in the battle of Bunker Hill, William Deadnian was taken prisoner at Fort Washington. Among the soldiers in the subsc(iuent .ears of the Revolution were Joseph Bryant, William Deadman, Samuel Irown, John Boyd, William Connery, Reuben Geary, Henry Hawks, John .4111, Daniel Holden, Samuel Ingalis, John Knight, John Noyes, David iJlodgett, David Geary, Aaron Putnam, Joseph Geary, Joseph Bryant third, ,'ohn Bryant, Samuel Call, Elias Bryant, Daniel Bryant, Aaron Parker, Ben- ,amin Taylor, John Thayer, Benjamin Eaton, Jonathan Farley, Thomas Hay, -ili Mclntire, Joseph Matthews, Jacob and George Brown, Peter Hay, Thomas Hadley, Ralph Doyle, John Holden. Daniel Hay, Joseph Holden, ::;phraim Woodward. Ebenezer Bryant, Samuel Clapp, John Wright, Jabez Jpton, David (^ould, John Bucknam, Richard Holden, Samuel Howland, HISTOKV OK STONKKAM. 55 James Weston, Josluia (ieaiy, Jol), Jolui and Titus Potamia, Isaiah Harjona, Cato and Sharper Freeman, and Cato and Pomp (Ircen, of whom the last eight were negroes, and some of them obtained their liberty by enlisting in the army. Some of these men probably were not citizens of Stoneham, but were hired by the town. Among her military officers were Major (afterwards Colonel) Joseph Bryant, Captain Abraham Could, Lieutenant John Buck- nam, Lieutenant (afterwards Colonel) Joshua liurnham, Lieutenant Daniel Bryant, Captain Josiah (ireen and Lieut. John llolden. No likenesses are known to exist of any of these men, so it is interesting to read the descrip- tion of some of them and imagine, so far as we may. what was their per.sonal appearance. In 1780 Reuben Ceary was nineteen years old, five feet six inches high, light complexion. "Joseph Sliitthews, 31 years old, 6 feet liigh, light complexion; George Brown, 17 years old, 5 feet, 3 inches high, light complexion; Joseph Hoklcn, 17 years old, J feet, 7 inches, light complexion ; John tlolden, 19 years old, sandy complexion ; Daniel Bry.mt, ao years old, dark complexion ; Daniel Hay, 3S years old, dark complexion. In 177S — ^^[ohn Hill, 16 years old, 5 feet, I inch; Jacob Brown, zS years old, 5 feet." John Noyes and Wm. Connery went forth from their hemes never to return. Ephraim and George Brown and John Noble were prisoners of war. The names of ninety-eight different Stoneham men appear upon the Revolutionary muster rolls. During these years, the town was constantly purchasing stocks of ammunition, furnishing supplies to the army, raising bounties with which to pay soldiers, and with an unflagging zeal supporting the common cause. In town-meeting, Dec. 22, 1773, it was resolved, "first, that it is the opinion . of this town that Great Britain has no right to lay a tax on Tea or any other article imported from (ireat Britain to raise a revenue payable in America, without our consent. 2. Resolved that the late measures of the l'2ast India Company in sending Tea to the colonies loaded with duty to raise a revenue from America, are to all intents and purposes, so many attempts in them and all employed by them to tax the Americans. Therefore, 3. Resolved, that tke proceedings of the inhabitants of Boston and other towns in the Province for opposing the landing of this Tea are rational : and they are highly hon- ored and respected by this town for their firmness in .support of American liberty and that we are ready with our lives and interest to assist them in opposing these and all other measures to enslave our country. 4. Resolved, that we the inhabitants of this town, will purchase no Tea imported from (ireat Britain so long as it is subject to a duty payable in North America for raising a revenue. Voted that the committee of correspondence of this town be desired to obtain from the town clerk's office an attested copy of this day'.s resolves and forward the same to the committee of correspondence at Bos- ton." The emoluments of public men during the early days of the Revolu- tion could not have been very tempting if we may judge from the amount voted to Captain Samuel Sprague who had been a delegate to the Provincial HISTORY OF STONEHAM. 57 Congress. He was allowed four pounds fourteen shillings and four pence lawful money for his time and expenses during twenty-seven and one-half days, or the munificent sum of fifty- seven cents a day. Under date of September 6, 1775, the town voted "to choose a committee to take care, to get the wood carried to the army which the General Court has ordered the town of Stoneham to furnish." Again in July, 1776, the town voted "to give something in addition to what the General Court had pro\ided to encourage men to enlist to go to Canada. In the expedition against Canada, Stoneham was recjuired to furnish twelve men. In 1777 Captain Abraham Gould, Lieutenant John Bucknam and Lieuten- ant Daniel Bryant were chosen a committee "to hire men for the war in lime to come if men are needed."' On June 29, 1778, two hundred and twenty pounds were raised "to pay those men belonging to the town who have been hired by other towns to go into the army if we hold them and it is needed." At another meeting later in the same year, eleven hundred pounds were raised to pay soldiers. It must be remembered these large figures represent a currency which had be- come greatly inflated, and was of a constantly diminishing value as resting upon a specie basis. As the war progressed, the country became depleted in men and resources, and provisions became scarce, requiring great economy, as appears from action of the town in April, 1779, 'when they voted to choose a committee "to make search of the town of Stoneham to see if there be any quantity of grain belonging to any person more than need for his own use." In the same year eighteen hundred dollars were raised to defray the charges of the war already incurred." The people were compelled to exer- cise continual vigilance, there being times when it was feared the enemy might make an attack as is shown by a vote passed in 1778, "that when any of the inhabitants of the town of Stoneham draw ammunition from the town stock upon an alarm, Deacon Edward Bucknam shall fix the price thereot : and if the price be not satisfactory to the receivers, the\- may after the alarm receive this money again, on their returning as much ammunition as they had taken out if equally good." In 1780 five hundred and fifteen pounds were raised to pay the money that had already been expended to hire men for the war. October 9, 1780, it was voted "to raise three thousand seven hundred pounds for beef for the army." Deacon Daniel Green was authorized to hire money to pay soldiers that may be needed for the war. In 1781 it was voted "to raise thirty-seven thousand five hundred dollars of the old emission to pay in part the soldiers that are now called to serve for this year." And so one may go through the town records from 1775 to the close of the Revolutionary War and he will find them filled with the patriotic ac- tion of our forefathers. However much they may have been divided upon other questions, they were unanimous in the support of the government. It was the proudest heritage that could be handed down to their descendants. 5 8 HISTORY OF STONEHAM. Somethin<( of the condition of the town in 1778 may be realized when it is remembered that tliere were then eighty-seven ratable polls, seventy-five dwelling houses, six hundred and fifty-six acres of upland mowing, orchard- ing and tillage, fifteen hundred and seventy-four acres of meadow, twenty-one hundred and one acres of pasture land, three hundred and forty-eight acres of woodland, ninety-one ounces of plate, fifty-five horses, ninety-six oxen, two hundred and fifty-nine cows, one hundred and fifteen steers and other horned cattle, nine hundred and eighty-nine sheep, one hundred and twenty- eight swine, four chaises, five hundred and twelve bushels of grain, three thousand and eleven bushels of corn and one hundred and seventy-three bar- rels of cider. The inhabitants of 1784 and their comparative wealth ap- pears from the taxes of that year. Polls. Real Estate. Personal Estate. £. s. d. £,. s. d. "Deacon Edward Bucknain 2 Lt. John Bucknam 2 Ebenezer Bucknam i Jonathan Green 2 Captain Josiah Green 2 Jacob Gould 2 Nathan Willey 1 Anthony Hadley 2 Lt.John Holden 2 Samuel Ilolden 2 Elisha Knight i Ebenezer Lawrence i John Green , Samuel Ingalls i Captain Samuel Sprague i Thomas Vinton i Jacob Gould, Jr j David Gould 2 John Knight Timothy Matthews 2 David Geary, Jr I Peleg Taylor i Timothy Vinton i Ezi a Vinton i Ensign Timothy Wright Lt. Timothy Wright 2 Samuel Call i Jolm Mitchell 1 Benjamin Richardson i Thomas Green 1 John Geary i Jacob Cutler i Captain Abraham Gould 2 Lieut. John Geary 2 David Geary 2 Daniel Gould, Jr 2 Deacon Daniel Green 2 M I II 54 10 2 3 4 12 13 S I 2 5 19 9 4 1 14 10 29 7 4 4 7 12 '5 7 5 S ■S I 5 10 S 6 S 16 4 13 10 12 4 iS IS 6 iS S 5 I 12 10 9 3 s 10 23 6 4 iS II II 13 4 1 I Ji S I I 4 2 iS 4 6 >3 4 I II 15 S s 7 I 2 S 4 19 6 17 1 3 S " 13 10 iS 13 2 2 S 16 4 6 3 24 >3 6 I 3 4 09 :i 14 10 2 13 S 17 10 S I 5 9 2S S s I 2 10 17 14 s I 2 10 40 I 17 6 23 5 s S >6 HISTORY OF STOXEHAM. 59 iS 9 45 6 s '9 3 4 34 3 4 12 10 12 10 12 6 Q 6 2 '9 2 S 9 6 2 12 13 2 iS II 3 ■7 19 S iS 11 3 11 13 1 1 5 12 9 9 13 S 4 ■ 17 I iS 3 S 2 4 ' 9 II I 7 I I 9 S I 6 s '5 19 1 6 o 14 o 14 O 12 o 13 Polls. Rc;il Estate. Personal Est.ite. £. s. d. £. s. d. Captain Peter Hay Robert Converse i 4"; 16 S 1 16 Ebanezer Nichols Captain David Hav Captain Peter Hay, Jr Peter Hay, Third Caleb Richardson Oliver Richardson Elijah Richardson Thaddens Richardson John Wrij^ht Charles Richardson Elias Bryant Calvin Dike Col. Joseph Bryant Ephraim Brown Joseph Bry;int, Jr William Eaton Ebenezer Bryant Nathaniel Wesson Peter Gould, freeman Daniel Green, Jr Timothy Hadley Cato Eaton, ireeman John Hill Joseph Matthews Daniel Hay Jonas Parker Silas Simons Ephraim Pierce James Edmunds Thomas Gould Samuel Brown Daniel Gould, Jr John Hadley "Elisha Knight, Timothy Wright, Jr., Ephraim Brown, David Hay, John Hadley, "Assessors." In 1776 the minister John Searl was dismissed and succeeded in 1785 by Rev. John Cleaveland, their being no ordained preacher during the war after tlie departure of Mr. Searl. As late as 1786 no new highways had been built, in addition to those already described except a road from the meeting-house to Maiden (now Melrose), along the general course of Franklin Street, ea.st of Noble's Corner, which was laid out and accepted in 1781 as a particular or private way, and a cross road from the meeting-house to the road near the parsonage (now a portion of Pleasant Street). As has been said, there were many private ways, one extending from Maiden (Melrose) line to Woburn line by the house of Capt. Peter afterwards of Captain David Hay. In 1786 ■fi U Q O o Q HISTORV OK STOXKHA.M. 5l it was voted "to divide tlie town into 4 districts as respects highways, as follows : Captain Samuel Sprague is to mend the road from Medford line and Maiden line till it reaches the road from Woburn which passes by Deacon Edward Bucknam's. Captain Abraham Gould is to mend the road from Reading line by Col. Joseph Bryant's house till it comes to Stoneham Meeting House, also the cross-road by the Burying Ground. Ezra \'inton is to mend the road from Maiden line near Mr. Cook's house to Stoneham Meeting House, and from thence till it comes to the road that comes down by Lt. John Bucknam's house. Mr. Caleb Richardson is to mend the road from Woburn line near Lt. John Holden's till it comes to Reading line near Lt. John Geary's, and thence till it comes to Woburn line near Mr. Leathe's." Our ancestors in many respects were men of great virtue and were stern in their religious convictions, but in the amenities of life, Christian graces and gentleness of manners, great changes have taken place in one hundred years. Nothing illustrates this more aptly than the treatment accorded to the minis- ter, John Cleaveland. He was a man of talent. No insinuations were made against his moral character. From the correspondence he appears to have been, a person of great self-possession, forbearance and dignity of character, and yet after' the death of his wife, because he married a girl who had been a member, perhaps a domestic in his family, he was treated by the town like a thief and a pick-pocket. At one time they nailed up the door of the min- ister's pew, at another, covered the seat and chairs and the seat of the pulpit with tar. Not content with these indignities against the pastor, some one vented the general spite by inflicting an injury upon his horse, probably by cutting off his tail. The church stood by him, but the town voted to lock and fasten up the meeting-house against him, so that for a time public wor- ship was held at the house of Deacon Edward Bucknam. The}- refused to raise his salary, requested him to relinquish his ministry and leave the town, declined to furnish any reason, and rejected his proposition to call a council; but one was finally convened at the parsonage on the 30th of September, 1794, and they found : " I. That Mr. Cleaveland's influence among this people is lost, and irrecoverabh- lost, and that it has become necessary that his ministerial connection with them be dissolved, and it is the advice of this council that he ask a dismission Irom his pastoral relations to them. 2. It appears from the fullest and they trust from the most impartial examination of the subject of ■which they are capable, that Mr. Cleaveland has given no just cause for that aversion and op" position to him which in so violent, and very unprecedented a manner they have displayed. 3. It appears to this council that Mr. Cleaveland's moral, Christian and ministerial char.icter stands fairly and firmly supported, and they cordially recommend him to the church and people of God wherever in the Providence of God he may be cast. 4. As Mr. Cleaveland has given to this people no just cause for that opposition to him which they discover, and which renders his re moval from them necessary, and as his removal must be .attended by great inconvenience and expense to him, it is the opinion of this council that he ought to receive a compensation, and they recommend it to the parties concerned to choose mutually three judicious, impartial char- acters from some of the neighboring towns to estimate the damage to which Mr. Cleaveland is subjected by his removal, j. That the select men of the town be seasonably furnished with an attested copy of this result. Finally the council deeply impressed with the singular sacrifice 62 HISTORY OF STOXEfiAM. which Mr. Clenveland's friends make in parting with their valuable and beloved pastor beg leave to exhort them to acknowledge the hand of God in this afflicting Providence as becomes Christians; to maintain the order of Christ's house, and with unremitting ardor promote the interest of His kingdom. And now brethren we recommend you to God and to the word of His grace, who is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among them that are sanctified. Voted unanimously. '•Elijah Parish, Scribe. "Stoneham, 30th September, 1794." Mr. Cleaveland was afterwards settled in Rehobeth, and finally in Dunbar- ton, New Hampshire, where he died. At this council, it was necessary for the church to raise funds with which to furnish a suitable entertainment, and it is rather amusing to read that they pledged two silver communion cups "to Deacon Edward Bucknam and l:)rother Abraham Gould," as security for the money which they advanced for this purpose. Mr. Cleaveland was succeeded by Rev. John H. Stevens, who came from Alethuen to Stoneham, and was installed November 1 1 , 1795. The council met at Captain David Hay's tavern, and afterwards proceeded to the meeting-house, where the exercises took place. Rev. Mr. Prentiss, of the First Church of Reading, delivered the charge. Rev. Mr. Bradford, of the First Church of Rowley, preached the sermon. Rev. Mr. Litchfield, pastor of the church at Carlisle, made the consecrating prayer. Rev. Mr. Spalding, of the Tabernacle Church, Salem, made the introductory prayer. Mr. Green gave the right hand of fellowship, and Rev. Mr. Aiken, of Dracut, made the concluding prayer. Mr. Stevens was born in Canterbury, Conn., in 1766, and remembered when he was a boy nine years old seeing his brother, Darius, join the Con- necticut troops as they were about to march to Massachusetts in the early season of 1775. This Darius Stevens was killed at the battle of Bunker Hill. Tradition says he was wounded and shot so that he could not stand, but kept firing at the British till he was finally desjoatched. Mr. Stevens filled the longest pastorate of any minister who was ever settled in Stoneham, having had charge of the church here for thirty-two years, after which he preached a few years at the East Parish, Haverhill, and then returned, pur- chased the parsonage, and spent the last years of his life in the home he loved so well, dying in 1851, at the age of eighty-five. Some of the pleasantest recollections of the writer's early boyhood are the times when he used to call with his father at the old house in the evening, hitch the horse and pass in through the shed and back hall to the sitting-room where his grandfather and grandmother were generally seated in front of an open fire, presenting an ideal picture of beautiful old age. He was settled on a salary of two hundred and sixty-six dollars, with fifteen cords of wood and the use of the parson- age, and must have been a wonderfully good manager, whenit is remembered that on his meagre salary he reared a large family of children, lived well for those days, accumulated a competency sufficient to support him in the last years of his life, and left at the end quite a little property to his children. He was tall, had a fine and dignified presence, was a man of quick feelings, HISTORY OF STOXEHAM. 63 and at times preaclied with marked eloquence. Some of Ins sermons were printed and obtained a wide circulation. In the war of 18 12 lie was an ardent republican and preached a vigorous and patriotic sermon wliich formed part of the war literature of the time. It was delivered on Fast Day, 1813, and the text was Judges 5 : 23. "Curse ye Meroz," said the angel of the Lord, "curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the Lord ; to the help of the Lord against the mighty." Stoneham has to-day a splendid system of public schools in which every citizen may justly be proud, but the educational facilities during the first hundred years were very limited, and the people could make no pretensions to literary attainments. Indeed, till the middle of the present century, the only college graduates outside of the ministers were David and Samuel Green. One of the most distinguished offspring of the old stock was Judge Fletcher, of the Supreme Court, who was not born here, but, on his mother's side, was descended from Jonathan Green. In 1702 an organization was formed, which deserves to be remembered, and which flourished for about seventy years. It was known as the Stoneham Circulating Library, and was finally merged into the Stoneham Public Library. The first librarian was the Rev. Mr. Cleaveland, and for many years the books weie kept at the parsonage. There were some histories, a verv few novels, books of a miscellaneous character and several theological works, which seem to have been the kind of literature best adapted to the serious minds of our pious forefathers. There was Brown's Christian Journal, Dodd- ridge's Sermons, Whitfield's Sermons, Hand of Providence, Remedies against the Fears of Death, The Death of Abel, Henry on Prayer, etc. Coming down now to the late years of the eighteenth and to the early years of the nineteenth century, we are reaching comparatively recent times. The early settlers and the soldiers of King Philip's War are almost forgotten. The heroes 01 the French and Indian Wars are either old men or else repose in the silence of the grave. The uatriots of the Revolution are still the active men of the town. The heroic age in America is a memory of the past, des- tined, however, to be revived again by the Dugie blast of union and freedom in 1861. The independence of the nation had been achieved, but the long an;l ex- hausting struggle of the Revolution had drained the country of its resources and left the people little better than banknipts. The continental money had become so inflated that it was finally redeemed one dollar for a hundred. The towns and individuals were overwhelmed with debt. General dissatisfaction prevailed. Attempts were made to obstruct the proceedings of the courts. The government was blamed and civil war threatened, which culminated in Shays' Rebellion. Conventions were held in the summer and autumn of 1786 under the pretence of setting forth the grievances of the people, and mobs gathered at the county seats from the various towns. One of these conven- 64 HISTORY OF STOXEHAM. tions was held at Concord on the nth of September at which Captain Jona- than Green was sent as a delegate from Stoneham, having been instructed, however, that he should do nothing contrary to the Constitution. During the autumn and winter of 1786 and '87 an insurrection was threatened and the town was called upon again to furnish soldiers to protect the law and de- fend the State government. The insurgents were led by Luke Day of West Springfield and Daniel Shays of Pelham. Governor Bowdoin ordered Mid- dlesex to raise eight hundred men, out of forty-four hundred from the State, to protect the courts and suppress the insurrection, under the command of Major-General Benjamin Lincoln. "On the 25th of January, Shays, at the head of one thousand men, made an attempt to seize the arsenal at Spring- field, but upon a discharge of cannon from the State troops under the com- mand of Gen. Shepard, which killed four of the insurgents, the assailants fled in great haste and confusion and the rebellion was not long after com- pletely suppressed."' Stoneham with her accustomed public s]jirit in times of threatened war, voted to pay the men of her quota three shillings per day during the time of their service. The military company in Stoneham at that time was commanded by Captain David Hay. The first men went under charge of Lieutenant David Geary, followed on the 30th of January by another squad, and a few days later, it would appear, the town was called upon to furnish six additional men and a sergeant. This company did not go as an organization, though they furnished men for the quota. At least during a portion of the time while the trouble existed one of the regiments was commanded by Colonel Joseph Bryant. At that time Colonel Bryant was the chief military personage of the town, and it mav be interesting here to refer to one or two stories that are told of him, though the writer is unable to vouch for their truth ; but they were related to him in his youth. He was grandson of Deacon Daniel Gould, who gave to him the Captain Buck farm. He was a man of considerable influence, was interested in military matters, and doubtless was an ardent patriot. A short time prior to the outbreak of the Revolution he had occasion to go to the marsh, as was customary in those days, for a load of salt hay. On his return he met some of the king's officers on horseback, who ordered him to turn out of the road and make room for them. Twisting the whip lash about his hand, straightening himself to his full height, and menacing defiance in his attitude, he thundered out to them he should neither turn out for them nor all the king's army. Another story is, that on a certain occasion, the governor called to the house to see him. He was at work in the field and his good wife somewhat awed by the presence of ofiicial greatness, and desirous that her husband should appear to good advantage, took his Sunday clothes and ran out to him with them ; but tlie doughty colonel was possessed of good sense, and scout- HISTORY OF STO.VKJ'AM. 65 iny- false appearances, marched uj) to the ;l by tire which ajcidentally caught fro.n a slove during morning ser- vice. The older residents will remember this edifice with the common about it, about one acre and a cjuarter on the north side of the road and three- cjuarters of an acre on th; soath side, which was ui:d as the training field. The following description of the church has been left by Air. Stevens: "A. D., 1S03. Tlij inh.iljitunts of the town of Stoneham built this new Meeting House. Captain David Geary, Captain Daniel Green, Mr. Daniel Gould were the committee to build the meeting-house. They agreed with carpenters to do all the work tor seventeen hundred and eighty one dollars. 1 he house was raised the two last davs in June, 1S03, and finished about the middle of ">• ovember following It is forty-six feet by tilty-six. The entry is ten feet mak ■ ing the body of the house square. It cost about 5500 dollars, includingthe common which cost about 120 dollars. The pews sold for several hundred dollars more than enough to pay for tlie house. The highest pew sold for 173 dollars. On the 14th of December we assembled in the new ISleeting House to dedicate it to Uod. There was a vast concourse of people. Kev. Mr. San- born, Kev. Mr. Reynolds, Hev. Mr. .N'elson, and Mr. M — attended with myself- Mr. Reynolds read and made the first prayer. Mr. Sanborn made the consecrating praj-er. I preached on Haggai, 2, 7, 'I will fill this house with glory,' and made the concluding prayer. The choir concluded with a dedicating anthem. Great order and solemniiy marked all the proceedings. Onthe Sabbath before I preached a farewell sermon at the Old .Meeting House, and the da}' after dedication the people took it down. I have written tliis that after generations might know about it, especially my successors in the ministry." (Signed), John H. Stevens. In 1803 it was voted to request the Selectmen to lay out a new road from the road south of the Old Meeting House by the corner of Deacon Jabez Lynde"s house straight to the New Meeting House." In 1805 William Street was built, and the Medford and Andover Turnpike the next year. In 1S06, also, Daniel Gould was elected to represent the town in the General Court. In 18 10 .Spring Street was also laid out and was known as Captain Daniel Green's road. This year for the first time a bell was placed on the meeting- hcuse, having been purchased by subscription, the committee to purchase it consisting of Thaddeus Richardson. ISenjamin Geary and Lieut. John Buck- nam. In the early clays Stoneham and its people seemed to be rather fond 70 HISTORY OF STOXEHAM. of indulging in law-suits. In building William Street the road passed through the land and near or oxer the upper dam of Captain David Hay. They could not agree upon the damages, so the Captain sued the town, recovered judg- ment, and obtained execution. The Richardsons also had a good deal of trouble about their damages, and finally the town was indicted for not open- ing that part of the road lying between the meeting-house and the houses of Aaron and Peter Hay through the land of Lieut. John Bucknam, now from Pleasant to Central Street. On the 1 8th day of June, 1812, war was declared by the Congiess of the United States against Great Britain. This war was generally unpopular in New England, though there was a minority strongly in favor of it. The people of the town supported the government, and cheerfully met the demands that were made upon them. At the May meeting they voted "to make up the pay of the soldiers who have volunteered or shall volunteer their services or who shall be drafted out of the militia in Stoneham in pursuance of the recent general orders of the Governor for raising ten thousand men out of the militia of the Commonwealth, to the sum of fifteen dollars the month, includ- ing the United States pay, when they shall be called into the actual service." Again, in August, Captain Caleb Richardson, Lieut. John Bucknam, Deacon Jabez Lynde, Captain Nathaniel Cowdrey and Mr. James Hill were chosen a committee to draw up resolutions upon the national affairs. About this time a famous company of riflemen was organized, known as the Washington Rifle Greens. Most of the men came from Stoneham and South Reading, though the first commissioned officers were all from Stoneham. It was ior a long time the crack company of the vicinity, and was called out in 18 14 from Sep- tember 22d to October 31st, and stationed on Dorchester Heights. Its first commander. Captain Jonathan Hay, is said to have been a very efficient of- ficer. Some of the old-time captains whose names were familiar thirty or forty years ago, such as Captain Wright, Captain William Richardson and Captain Steele graduated from this company. The following is a roll of the company while in camp on Dorchester Heights: "Inspection and musterroU of Captain Jonathan Hav"s company of riflemen, of Maj. William Ward's battalion in Gen. Maltby's brigade, of the detached corps under Major-Gen. Whiton (October 25, 1814.) Jonathc^n Hay, Captain: John H. Wright, Lieutenant : William Richardson, Ensign ; Sergeant.s — William Deadman, Benjamin Gearv, Jr., Samuel Richardson, William Bryant. Corporals — Abraham Marshall, Ephraim Pierce, Samuel VVMley, Jesse Converse. Musi- cians — Jedde Brown, William Holden, Joseph Matthews, Thomas Parker, Nathaniel Richardson. Privates — James Brown, Jeremiah Converse, Samuel Evans, James I-Imerson, Joseph Eaton, Benjamin Flint, Samuel Geary, Amos Howard, Pierpont Hay, Simon Jones, Henry Knight, Charles Lewis, Jas. Lathe, Asahel Porter, Timothy Pierce, Alpha Richardson. Jonas M. Rowe, Frederick Slocumb and Sair.uel Sweetser." HISTORY OF STOXEHAM. 7I One of the curious relics of bygone days was the office of tytliingman, a part of whose duty it was to preserve order in the church. The sense of propriety and decency which exists among the young people of to-day must be greater than that which prevailed seventy-five years ago, In 18 16 it was necessary to instruct the tythingnien to "clear the stairway of the meeting- house so that the people can have a free passage into the gallery, and the people when they leave the house will turn to the right hand or the left hand as soon as they get out of doors, so that others may have a free passage through the porch, and to keep the bows and girls from whispering and laugh- ing in the gallery. The tythingnien will post up these instructions at the Meeting-House. " In passing from Stoneham towards Spot Pond over Pond Street, the trav- eller notices on the right about one-fourth of a mile below the junction of South Street, the well-kept buildings of what was formerly known as the Tom Gould Farm. For generations it had been the home of a branch of this old family. David, a grandson of the original settler, John Gould, had bought it in 17 14. The present dwelling occupies the site of the old house. On this spot, and during the night of November 25, 18 19, occurred the brutal murder of Jacob Gould, which produced a profounder sensation in the town than any other local event in its history. The family at that time consisted of two brothers, David and Jacob, and a maiden sister, Polly Gould, together with one Mrs. Winship, who was hired to help do the work. David and Polly were supposed, for those times, to have considerable money. On the evening of the 25th, between ei-ght and nine o'clock, they were sitting in the kitchen, when three men rushed in with disguised faces, armed with dirks, and demanded of Jacob his money. He attempted to defend himself with a chair, but was overcome, and fell pierced with several wounds, one of which, in the region of the heart, proved fatal. David also received two wounds. The hands of David and Polly were then bound, and each one of the three was in turn taken up stairs to produce the money. From Jacob was obtained five dollars, from David two hundred dollars, and from Polly six hundred dollars, hers being deposited in six deer-skin bags, in Jacob's chest. Ingoing up stairs the light went out. In the scuffle that ensued Polly's fingers were badly cut and a finger of one of the robbers. Daniels was afterwards detect- ed partly by means of this wound. A fourth man stood at the door to keep watch, supposed by some to have b en one Clifton, who had formerly resided in the town. After the robbery the members of the family were all put down cellar, a feather-btd thrown down for them to lie upon, a table placed against the door, and warning given that one of the robbers would be left to guard them for two hours. .About eleven o'clock, however, David was impelled by the dying groans of his brother to venture up-stairs and give the alarm to their next-door neighljor. Stephen Lvnde. y HISTORY OF STOXICIIAM. J T, liy daylight the wlioie town was aroused, and scourin<; the countr\- far and near. Jacob died at tliree oYiocI^ on tlie niorning' of tlie 26tli. A reward of five liundred dollars was otiercd b}- David for the detection of the murderers, and five hundred more by the Governor of the Commonwealth. Several men were arrested, but no one was convicted, though Daniels was pro])al)ly one of the guilty parties. He hung himself while in jail before the triil. From the early settlement of the town the schof)l-house had been located near the spot where the first meeti^ig-hous;' was built. This was about the geographical centre of the inhabitants. During the period of a centur_\- or more, one building followed another. The town-meetings were sometimes held in the meeting-house, and sometimes in the school- house. In 1820 the town "voted to build a school-house on or near the spot where the o cl meeting-house stood, large enough to be convenient for the whole town for school and town meetings, by excluding small children under a cer- tain age." But it was not built till' 1S26. The first story was used for a school, and the second for a town hall. The structure which was erected in accordance with this vote remained where it was built until 1833, when it was moved to the corner of Pleasant and Central Streets where it now stands, known as the Old Town House. As has been said, the practice prevailed, for many years of putting up the town's paupers, for support, at public auction, an occasion attended, very likely, at times, with some festivity, judging fiom the fact that the meeting adjourned for the sale, sometimes to the tavern, and sometime- to .Alpheus Richardson's Hall, neither cf which places in those days was surrounded by an atmosphere of total abstinence. The last auction of this chai-acter occurred in 1825, when Benjamin Blodgett was struck off to Col. Eldridge Geary at seven shillings per week; Phineas Blodgett to the same person at fifty-three cents per week ; Thomas L. Knight to Captain Daniel Green at o;;e dollar and twelve cents per week ; Daniel G. Brown to Col. Geary at forty cents per week ; Chloe and Nancy Freeman (colored) to Daniel Gould, Escp. at one dollar and ninety-eight cents for both; John Crocker to Joseph W. Noble at eighteen cents per week, and John Green to Benjamin Geary at one dollar per week. In 1826 the town bought the old Poor Farm, and this cheerful and econ- omical custom has become a relic of by-gone times. It is a pleasant reflec- tion that the number of paupers is much less at the present time, in propor- tion to tl e population, than it was seventy years ago. With the progress and development of the nineteenth century poverty is greatly diminished. The laboring man of todaj enjoys comforts and lu.xuries almost be} ond the conception of our grandfathers. During the first century of our history one of the i)rincipal burdens imposed upon the town had been the support of the minister. The last appro])riation 74 HISTORY OF STONEHAAI. for this purpose was made in 1826, when three hundred and forty-six dollars was raised for the minister's salary and wood. After this a parish was organ- ized, and the town in its corporate capacity exercised no further control in ecclesiastical matters. The rigor of the laws had been gradually modified in the interest of dissenters, so that every man was allowed the privilege of withdrawing from one religious society provided he connected himself with some other, so that he could be taxed somewhere for the support of preach- ing. It has been only since 1834 that the support of public worship has been entirely voluntary. P'rom dissatisfaction with the minister, with the creed, and from a variety of causes, many withdrew from the meeting in Stoneham, and joined socie- ties in other towns. A Universalist Society was organized, embracing some of the most substantial citizens ; but did not meet, it would seem, at first, great popular favor; for in 1826 we find the town voting "not to allow the Universalist Society the privilege of holding meetings for preaching in the hall or in the school-house." Stoneham's record as a tem.perance town in recent years is consistent with the opinions entertained by our fathers, who chose, in 1832, the selectmen, ."Levi Hill and Charles E. Walker, a committee to see that the law for regu- lating licensed houses is regarded in this town." And they furthermore voted that the "selectmen use all lawful measures to prevent any person or persons procuring license to retail ardent spirits." Prior to 1833 the town-meetings had been held either in the meeting- house or the school-house, but after the town-house was built, the bulk of the population gradually settled near the present centre of the village, leaving the public buildings on the outskirts ; so it was desired that the town-house should be moved to a location that would better accommodate the popula- tion. Opinion was divided, but at the annual meeting in March, 1833, the friends of the movement rallied in force and voted "to move the Town House to some convenient place near the Andover and Medford turnpike, and chose Charles E. Walker, Benjamin F. Richardson and Alpha Richardson a com- mittee to purchase a suitable piece of land, and superintend the moving of the building." This was the 4th of March. The movers had been victori- ous, but the contest was not yet ended. On the next day the anti-movers had out a warrant for another town-meeting called for the 12th, the earliest possible day, hoping to reverse the action of the town. And now the com- mittee proved themselves equal to the emergency. Only seven days remained in which to purchase the land and make the removal. A lot was bought, the country was scoured for oxen, and forty or fifty yoke were collected together tor the important occasion. The ground was frozen and covered with snow and ice. The building was put on runners. A great concourse of people had assembled. Rum was distributed from the interior of the building to HISTORY OF STONKHAM. 75 stimulate the zeal of the excited crowd. The chains were secured and the oxen attached. The apple-trees of Thomas Gould had been cut so as to make a bee line, near as possible over tbe meadow to the new location. The signal was given, the great team started, but after a while the chains broke. Delay followed. The broken links were again replaced, or new ones sub- stituted. Time was precious. The loss of a single day accompanied by a thaw might leave the edifice a helpless wreck, anchored in meadow mud ; but steam was up, and with a yell of triumph they again started and this time no halt was made till the house was landed near the spot that had been pur- chased for its location. The victory was won and the anti's were whipped. On the meeting of the I2th there was nothing for them to do but meet and dissolve. Boys who stood about and sat on steps enjoying the fun, are now old men and love lo look back and recall the events of that exciting day. In 1834 the first fire-engine was bought, known as the "Phoenix." In 1836 the town was divided in six school districts. The school-house, district number one. was located at the corner of Main Street and Captain Rufus Richardson's Lane: in number two on Cobble Hill, not far from the present standpipe ; in number three on Vinton's Hill: in number four on Pond Street ; in number five on Warren Street ; and in number six at the centre, near the corner of Pine and Pleasant Streets. In 1833 the County Commissioners laid out the highway now known as Elm Street from the old road towards South Reading. Old people look back to the period between 1830 and '40 as one of great public interest and ^xcitement. Moral and po- litical questions which were destined to agitate the country during the com- ing years were then beginning to crvstallize. Public opinion was divided; one element was aggressive, and the other intolerant. The cjuestion of Afri- can slavery was cleaving asundei the community. Political fervor was red hot. Some opinion may be formed of the temper of tlie town in 1837 when it is remembered that Captain Rufus Richardson, Joseph W. Noble, John Hill and Darius Stevens were added as a committee to the .Selectmen to take charge of the town-house, and were instructect not to let any meeting be held there "which they shall have reason to think will produce a disturbance or endanger the house." On .May 9th it was voted, sixty-two in the affirma- tive and thiriy-three in the negative "tl,at the town will not allow anti-sla- very lectures, and clis< ussions to be held in the town-house." It is difficult to realize to what an extreme limit some of the good men of that time allowed their zeal to carry them in opposition to anti-slavery agitation. Meetings were held, others were broken up, and finally the excitement culminating in mob violence, concluded with the lumiicide ot Timotliy Wheeler. Some of the doggerel verso antl sarc.istic rhvme in which hard epithets were hurled by one side against the other, and received back in tiu'n. now lie hidden away in old houses ;uk1 ait' st tli; violent birth-throes of the great ret'orm. which in a little more th m a qu.rter of century from that lime w<,s I'.estined to shake a J IlI-iTOKV OF STO.XEIIA.M. I"] continent to its found.itioiis and crown a race with Inimm freedom. Refer- ence has l^een mule to the l:i\ini;- oui or Iniildin^- of most of the early roads. Only a few others will be mentioned, as the limit of this article torhids it. In I.S37 tlie county commissioners laid out a continuation of lilm Street from near the house of the late Jolm Paine to the centre of what is now Wakefield, making this the direct and usual thoroui^hfare between the two towns. The population this _\ear was a little over 900. Uurinc; the vear ending April i. 1S37, there were manufaiturcd 380,100 pairs of shoes, valued at $184,717. .Mont\-ale Avenue was laid out by the county commissioners in I.S40. After a life of I 15 years, Sloneham had made lait little material progress. In fact, during the lirst century the growth had b en hardly per- ceptable and the changes slight. Outside of agriculture, the principle occu- pation was the manufacture of shoes, though canied on in a small wav, in com])aiison with the L.vpensive plants and large capital invested in ihis busi- ness during the last thirty years. The country was dotted here and there with little shoemaker's shops, where most of the work was done. The manu- facturers themselves required no large amount of room, only a sufficient space to hold the goods, cut up the stock, and deliver it to the men who made the shoes. The largest manufacturers usually kept a general store in connection with their business, which enabled them to pay their work^nen partially in .supplies, and thus secure to themselves a double protit. In those days shoe- making was a trade ; one shoeniJiker could make the entire shoe, and labor was not sub-divided as at present, giving to each man a specific part, and having a tendency to make of him a mere machine. Then manufacturing was the slow and simple process of hand labor, now the magic product of complicated machinery. Something may be said in favor of each process. Those of us who can look back to the little shop where the workmen labored inside in winter, and outside in summer, the proprietors of their own estates, anchored to the soil by a sense of ownership, each one personally interested in the welfare of the town, no large fortunes and no expensive living we are inclined to think the common citizen leveled up to a rather higher standard than now. On the other hand, with the introduction of machinerv, modern inventions, the results of recent scientific research, material prosperity has rapidly increased, fortunes have multiplied, and wi-,at were lu.xuries to our fathers are necessities to us. During the twenty-five years succeeding 1840 great changes took place, new roads were built, great factories sprung up, and a few scattered houses grew into a compact and thriftv town. New business methods prevailed, and the workmen of a single < oncern, instead of being scattered over the whole town, were collected together under one. In 1844 Franklin Street from Main Street to Noble's Corner was built. The present town-house was originally built in 1847, though it was subsequently enlarged. The committee who built it were Benjamin F. Richardson, Reu- ben Locke, Jr., Luther Hill, Daniel Hill and Elbridge Gerry, and the ex- 78 mSTOKV Oi-" STONliilAM. pense of tlu buildiag exclusive or" land was betwjcii $jdoo and $5ooo. The lower story was usctl for the accommodation of tlnj lii.u,ii School, till a short time before t!vj erection of the present high and gn.n.nir school-house, and liere it may be well to refer brieriy to the iiistory of our public-school system. An allusion has already been made to the single school kept near the meet- ing-house and to the six district school-houses that were subsequently erected in the different localities of the town. The High School was lirst thoroughly organized with a regular course of stutly and a system of graduation in 1856, although nominally established in 1854., and was the heritage of the Centre Union School, k pt by Caleb diver in the winter of 1846-47. Let us go back for a moment to the school of Master Oliver, which was taught in the old red school-house, located on Pine near Pleasant Street, and commenced November 30th, 1846, and closed February 27th, 1847. George W. Dike, .Silas Dean and Ira Gerry were committee, and George W. and So!on Dike, prudential committee. The list of books prescribed were the ijiijle. Porter's Rhetorical Reader, Emerson's Second and Third Class Readers, Webster's Dictionary, New National Spelling Book, Worces- ter's Primer, Emerson's Arithmetic, Leonard's Arithmetic, Brown's Grammar, Smith's Anatomy, Oliver's Geography, Burrit's Geography of the Heavens, Willard's History of the Uuited States, Towne's Gradual Reader, Thompson's Seasons, Sherwin's Algebra and Comstock's Philosophy, Chemistry and Physiology. The whole number of scholars was seventy. The teacher was paid thirtv-hve dollars per month and his board was valued at eight dollars per month. In age the scholars ranged from twelve to twenty. Afterwards the school was kept winters in the old town-house till the new one was built. In 1850 the number of scholars between four and sixteen was 377. Prior to 1 85 I the prevailing style of school arcl'.itecture in Stoneham had been that of the old red school-house, which was so common in New England titty years ago, but this year the town expended about $16,000 in the erection of three large, fine grammar school-houses and two smaller mixed ones, one of them at Spot Pond and one of them at what is now Melrose Highlands. These were among the finest and best appointed of any in the neighboring towns, and they at once placed Stoneham in the front rank, at least as a suppoiter of the public schools. In 1859 ^'''^ public library was established, a nucleus having been formed from the old Social Library the Young Ladies' Library and the High School Library. The present Congregational meeting-house was built in 1840, the second one having been burned, as previously stated. The same year the Universalist meeting-house was also erected, which was subsequently sold to the Catholics in 1868, at the time of the erection of the Christian Union, now the Unitarian Church. The pastors of the Congregational Society of the First I'arish subsecjuent to Jos. Searle, who preached from 1828 to 1832 were Rev. Jonas Colburn IIISTOKV OF STONF.IIAM. 79 from 1832 to 1837 ; Rev. John Le Bosquett, from 1837 to 1838 ; Rev. John A. Vinton, 1839; Rev. Edward Cleavehmd, from 1839 to 1840; Rev. John Haven, from 1841 to 1849; '"^'-'^■* William C. Whitcomb, from 1S50 to 1855 ; Rev. Chas. P. Cirovesnor, from 1856 to 1858; Rev. J. E. Swallow, from 1858 to 1859; Rev. W. J. ]5att, from 1859 to 1861, and again from 1875 to 1885 ; Rev. Swift Byington, from 1864 to 1871 ; Rev. Web.ster Hazelwood, from 1872 to 1874; Rev. D. Augustine Newton, from 1885 to 1889, and at present the Rev. W. VV. Sleeper. Of these, Mr. Le Bosquett, Mr. Vinton, Mr. Cleaveland, Mr. (irosvcnor, Mr. Swallow and Mr. Ma/.elwood were not settled. The Universalist Society remained an independent organization till it united with the Unitarian Society and became the Christian Union Church. Its first minister was Rev. J. P. Atkinson, followed by Rev. A. G. Fay, 1840-41; Rev. Woodbury M. Fernald, from 1842 to 1845; James M. Usher, 1845; Rev. Mr. Marvin, Rev. Henry Jewel, from 1852 to 1855 ; Rev. S. W. Squires, from 1859 to 1862, and Edward Eaton irt 1863. The Unitarian Society was organized in 1858, and employed Rev. Fiske Barrett, who remained with them till 1861. Mr. Barrett was followed by Rev. Geo. M. Skinner, who resigned September i, 1867. During the pas- torate of Mr. Skinner the Universalist and Unitarian Societies united under the name of "The Christian Union Church," and for a time worshipped in the Universalist meeting-house. The Universalist meeting-house was sold to the Catholics in 1868, and the Christian Union Church was erected and ded- icated on January i, 1869. Mr. Skinner was succeeded by Rev. E. B. Fair- child, who came in November, 1867, and remained the pastor of the church till January, 1876. The clergymen connected with this society subsequent to Mr. Fairchild have been Rev. D. M. Wilson, from May, 1876, to December, 1878; Rev. Daniel Rowen, from April, 1879, to April, 1883; Rev. C. J. Staples, from May, 1884, to June, 1887, and Rev. J. H. Whitmore, from January, 1888. In 1889 the Christian Union Church reorganized as the First Unitarian Society. The Methodist Society was first organized in 1856, the first pastor having been Rev. J. W. F. Barnes, at present chaplain of the Massachusetts State Prison. Its ministers have been Mr. Barnes, 1857 and a part of 1858 ; Mr. Little, a part of 1858 ; Henry V. Degen, a part of 1859 ; Linus Fish, i860 ; H. P. Andrews, 1861 ; L. Frost (local), 1862; Mr. Wheeler (local), 1863 and 1864; B. W. Gorham, 1865 ; Steven A. Gushing, 1866; A. D. Sar- gent, 1867 and 1868; M. M. Parkhurst, 1869 and 1870; W. P\ Crafts, 1871 and 1872; Geo. L. Collier. 1873-4-5; L. O. Knowls, 1876-7; Chas. W. Wilder, 1878-9; John M. Short, 1880-1-2; Henry Lummis, 1883-4-5: Charles T. Johnson, 1886-7; J- W'eare Dearborn, 1888-9; W. H. Meredith, 1890. The corner-stone of their present church edifice was laid June, 1868, the vestry dedicated in October of the same year, and the main audience- 8o HISTORV OF STONEHAM. room dedicated December 5, 1870. during the pastorate of Mr. Parkhurst, a mm who possessed the force and push requisite to accomplish a great under- taking in the face of ol)stacles apparently almost insurmountable. The Baptist, which is the youngest of the religious societies, was organized in 1870, and built the chapel which they now occupy the same year. Their pastors have been Rev. T. P. Briggs, who was ordained July 16, 1871, and resigned July 14, 1872: Arthur J. Hovey, ordained Seutember 25, 1872. re- signed October 28, 1887; and J. W. McGregor, ordained May 31, 1888. It is expected the Baptists will soon build a fine new stone church in the southerly part of the town, upon the estate of the late Luther Hill. The Catholics bought the old Universalist meeting-house, moved it on to Pomeworth Street in 1868, and occupied it till the completion of their pres- ent house of worship, which was completed in 1888. The Catliolic pastors residing in Stoneham have been Rev. W. H. Fitzpatrick. from 1868 to 1875 : and Rev. Dennis J. O'Farrell, from 1S75 to the present time. Twenty-five years have passed since the close of the great Rebellion. It seems hard to realize that to a large ]3art of tlie people now living the events of the war are known onl}- as matters of history or tradition ; that almost one generation has come and another gone since the opening events of 1861. Those were stirring times in Stoneham, and all wiio love the old town are proud to dwell upon her record. No town was more patriotic, none more prompt in hurrying to the front, or furnished more men in proportion to lier population. Stoneham's company of minute-men having been engaged in the first battle of the Revolution, it was a remarkable coincidence that Captain John H. Dike's company, from the same town, on the same dav of the same month, should have participated in the first skirmish of the Rebellion. At Lexington she was in the vanguard of the army which founded the Republic. A^ I>altimore and Washington she led the hosts that saved the Union. The conduct, of Captain Dike and his men in a great emergency deserves more than a passing notice. The part they acted in the march through Baltimore has made the name of the Stoneham company historic. The Stoneham Light Infantry had been the military organization of the town for many years, and was Company C of the Seventh Regiment. The first proclamation had been issued by President Lincoln calling for seventy-five thousar.d volunteers. On Tuesday, April i6th. Captain Dike goes to Boston, presents himself at the State-House, and begs the privilege of calling out his company in obedience to the President's call. On his return home the men are notified to meet in the armory in the East School-house, where they assemble at 8 p. M., and unanimously vote that they are ready to start at a moment's notice. The night was dark and stormy, and Wednesday morning broke with a cold and hazy atmosphere, but the town was alive with excitement. Men were hurry- ing to and fro, and preparations being made for immediate departure. A messenger had been despatched from the Governor, who reached Captain HISTORY OF STONEHAM. 8 1 Dike's at lialf-past two in the morning, notifying iiim to muster his men and report in 13oslon forthwith. These men were again summoned to meet in the armory at 6 A. M. New names were added to the roll, and the members dis- missed to make the last arrangements, and bid their final adieux. Those who witnessed the company's departure on that morning of the 17th of April can never forget it. The company met at the Town Hall, where prayers were ottered, and a little before ten, in military array, tiiey reached Central Square. The people had assembled in a great multitude, wild with patriotic enthu- siasm. It was an occasion such as Stoneham had never witnessed. The company departed from the square amid the ringing of bells, v/aving of hand kerchiefs and tumultuous cheers. After reaching Boston, they marched to the State-House, where they received over-coats and other articles. A. V. Lvnde, Esq., presented to each one of the commissioned officers a revolver. The company was assigned to the Sixth Regiment, commanded by Col. Jones, and the same afternoon they were e/i route for \yashington. The commis- sioned officers of the company were : Captain, John H. Dike. First Lieut., Leander F. Lynde ; Second Lieutenant, Darius N. Stevens ; Third Lieuten- ant, James F. Rowe ; and Fourth Lieutenant, W. B. Blaisdell. In addition to the officers there was one musician and a full complement of sixtv men. No language of the writer could gi\-e so vivid a description of what occurred during the next few days as the following letter, written bv one of the chief actors, Lieut. Lynde, who was in command of the compan\- after Captain Dike was wounded in Baltimore : "Head Quarters Sixth Regiment of I. M. V. M. '•Senate Chamber, April 26, 13 M., "61 '•Mr. C. C. Dike: Dear sir: — Yours was received this A. .M. For the first time we have got direct news from home, and I assure you it were gladly received. Last night at 7 p. m. the 7th Regt. N. Y. arrived and were quartered at the House of Representatives. That cheered us up considerablv, but to-dav, when the gallant 5th, 7th and 8th Massachusetts and the 1st Rhode Island arrived, the wildest enthusiasm prevailed, for it was refreshing to see familiar faces from the old Bay State. Previous to this we had been worked very hard for green soldiers, sleeping with, and at all times having with us, our equipments, but the men have done well, and have stood bv each other like brothers. Now for our journey here. The papers give an account of our route to Philadelphia. From there I will try and give the particulars. Our muskets were loaded and capped before we got to Philadelphia. We left there at 2 in the morning, arriving at Baltimore at 12 M. Our company were in two covered baggage cars. We had stopped for about fifteen minutes and a crowd was gathering fast, when we discovered that the Colonel and Staff, together with seven campanies had left their cars, and gone across the city. The men whose duty it was to draw with horses our cars across, were driven off and could not. and we proceeded to get out, fall in, four com])anies 6 82 HISTORY OF STONEHAM. in all, to marcn across, we having the colors in one of the companies. The companies were C, of Lowell on the right ; Co. B, of Lowell, with the colors ; then came Co. C, of our town. Captain Dike, followed by Co. I, of Lawrence. Before we got formed we were taunted and spit upon and insulted in every way possible. After marching about ten rods, stones and brick-bats flew merrily, and the order was then given by Captain FoDansbee, who com- manded the regiment, to double quick march. We had not gone more than ten rods before I saw a man discharge a revolver at us from the second story of a building, and at the same time, a great many were fired from the street. We got scattered a little, and I gave the order to close up in close order, solid column. Just then. Captain Dike being ahead, two of our men fell, one by a bullet from a pistol, and one by a brick-bat. I then ordered my men to fire, which they did, and I then gave the order to load and fire as we went. We got partly through the city, when we found them tearing up a bridge, and the street blockaded up with stone and large anchors, but we scaled them and kept up our courage. I kept around the colors and stood by them till they were at the depot, then helped put them in the cars. We were scattered very much, all trying to get into the cars. About ten rods from the depot I saw Captain Dike. That was the last I saw him. He being some way ahead, I supposed he had got into the forward cars. A great many of the cars were locked, and the windows closed, but the buts of the guns soon made a pas- sage into them. Every gun was pointed out of the window, and the rebels began to leave. While we were getting into the cars, we were showered upon with pistol balls, and they were unshackling the cars so as to leave some of us, but when we got right we soon stopped by stationing men on the platform and muzzles out of the windows. After helping put in the colors in company with the color-bearer, I got into the cars and they began to move very slow, for the rebs had gone ahead and torn up the track. The police went ahead and we fixed the track and finally moved on to Washington. One word in regard to the police. Some of them were loyal, but what could they do when we were in the thickest of the fight. As soon as we got started I looked through the train to see who was hurt and who were missing, for we were awfiilly mixed up. I found upon examination that our Captain, James Kee- nan, Horace Danforth, Andrew Robbinsand Victor Lorendo were left behind. The band did not get out of cars on the north side of Baltimore, and we did not know what had become of them till this morning when we learned that part of them had gone home, and a part of them were in New York. As soon as possible after getting to Washington, took means to find out in re- gard to those left behind, and found that Captain Dike was shot in the thigh, and was in good hands, but was told that they could not tell the names of the parties with whom he was stopping. James Keenan was shot in the leg, and Andrew Robbins was shot and hit with a stone, hurt very bad. Horace Danforth was hit with a stone and injured very severely, but all were in good hands, and well cared for. Communications by letter being cut off from Baltimore, I have not received news from there as well as I should had there been a mail, but have heard several times by men coming from there that they were cared for and doing well, but nunor said yesterday that A. Rob- bins and H. Danforth were dead. I cannot tell, for it is impossible to write and nobody goes there. I shall do the best I can to hear from them and help them in every way. We got to Wa.shington at dark, went directly to the Capitol, and were quartered in the Senate Chamber. The Pennsylvania Regiment was quartered in the southern wing, 350 men. Monday we took n > 84 HISTORY OF STONEHA.M. the oath of allegiance to the United States. It was administeied by Maj. McDowell. We have marched up to the President's house, passing in review before President Lincoln. Gen. Scott, Wni. H. Seward and Simon Cameron. To-day at 12 M. the 5th lind 7th ,>Mass:ichusetts Regiments arrived and marched to the Patent Office, where they are quarterea. The 8th Massachu- setts are in the Rotunda and old Senate Chamber, very much used up with marching, and going without sleep and provisions, but our men are doing all in their power for thgm. Say to all our Stoneham friends that the men be- ha\ed like men as well as soldiers, and attend to their duties cheerfully, and are ready if needs be to rally at a moment's warning around the colors of 6th Regiment, and under the stars and stripes there to protect our glorious Union against any odds and. at all hazards. We all unite in sending good news to all inquiring friends, and will endeavor so to act that none of them shall ever be ashamed to own that they had friend.s in the time of need in the Stoneham Light Infantry. ^■()urs tnily. '•L. F. LvxDK, Lieut. Coiiiniaiidi)io;.''^ The town was full of patriotic ardor. The first company having departed for Washington, lifteen additional Stoneham men joined Company F of the Fifth Regiment, under command of Captain David K. Wai dwell, and at once another company was organized by Captain, (alterwards Colonel), J. Parker Gould, known as the "Grey Eagles.'' This last company comprised, besides the officers, seventy-seven men from Stoneham, and became Company G of the Thirteenth Massachusetts Regiment, were attached to the Army of the Potomac and served for three years, sharing in the reverses and victories of that grand armv. They were at the Second Battle of Pull Run, at Antietam, at Thoroughfare Gap, Chantilly, South .Mountain, Fredericksburg, Chancel- lorsville, at Gettysburg and the Wilderness. Before leaving for the seat of war thev earned a high reputation which they afterwards fully sustained on a score of battle-fields. Here it ma_\ be well to pause for a moment and brietly recall the life and services of Colonel (iould, for he stands out in clear relief as the representative of almost an ideal soldier. Descended from John (iould, who has been descrilDed as one of the first settler's of Charlestown End. and bearing a name which tor two hundred years was one of the most reputable in the town, he was born on the 15th of May, 1822, the son of Jacob and Phoebe Catherine (Parker) (Jould. His early advantages were not of the best. Attending in his boyhood the local schopls, he learned the trade of a shoemaker and saved mone\', with which he obtained an education at the Militarv University of Norwich, Vermont, where he graduated with honor and was employed for some time after his graduation as an instructor. Teachino' at times in Stoneham and Wilmington, he acquired and pursued the profession of a ci\ il engineer, following his avocation in Vermont, New Hampshire, Pennsvlvania and Massachusetts, but always keeping his resi- dence at the old home in Stoneham. He had been repeatedly honored by his native town, filling many positions of responsibility and trust, having twice represented her in the General Court, and having earned for himself the HISTORY OF STONEHA.M. 05 leinitation of a hi^h-ininded Cliiistian gentleman. So, wlicn tlie war came on, lie seemed peculiarly fitted !}• education and character to fill the position in which he was placed. Raising and drilling the company of "(irey Eagles," so-called, in the spring and early summer of 1861, and joining with his com- pany the Fourth Battalion at Fort Independence, which was the nucleus of the Thirteenth Regiment, he was promoted to a majority before leaving for the front. His appointment wis said, at first, to have been resented by the members of the Fourth Battalion, who looked upon themselves as a crack organization, and felt that it was rather an intrusion upon their rights to place over them a major from another company ; but as time went on, and the men were called into action, they learned to know his soldierly qualities and noble traits, and he soon had earned for himself the sobriquet of the "fighting major." It was a saying among the men on the eve of a battle, "We know who is to be our commander now, and he comnnnds no man to go where he is not willing to go himself.''" After having been engaged in seventeen or eighteen skirmishes and battles he was ordered home to recruit a new regi- ment, the Fifty-ninth Massachusetts, of which he was appointed colonel. A second time he left for the seat of war, at the head of over a thousand men: in April, 1864, joined the army of (Teneral Grant, and participated in the battles of the Wilderness. Some idea may be formed of the campaign W'hen it is remembered that the Fift) -ninth, on arriving at Petersburg, had become reduced to about one h-.mdred officers and men, all told, and Colonel Gould was left in charge of the brigade. His health at this time had become very much impaired on account of his privations and labors ; still he retained command of the brigade until the evening before the explosion of the mine at Petersburg, when he was relieved by General Bartlett. Although relieved of his command on the 29th of July, on the next day he took the field in the fatal advance on Petersburg, commanding the left of the brigade, and while standing on the brink of the mine was struck by a ball in the leg and carried from the field. His leg was amputated, and, contrary to his desire, he was removed within less than three weeks from City Point to Philadelphia, where he died the morning after his arrival, on the 22d of August, 1864. His name is now borne in this town by Post 75 of the Grand Army of the Republic, and he has left a record filled with the gratitude, the pride and the aftection of his townsmen, and a name which deserves to be cherished by those who shall come after us for generations to come. The men, as they shouldered their muskets and left behind them their wives and children, must have felt that ihey were consigned to the patriotic care of the mother town ; that responsibility was to be shared by those who went and those who remained ; and recognizing their responsibility, the town voted in 1861 "that the selectmen be instructed to furnish all necessary sup- plies for supporting the families of meml^ers of the military formed and form- ing in this town, with the undei standing that no person thus assisted shall be COL. J. PARKER GOULD. HISTORY OF STONEHAM. 87 taken to the almshouse. That the members of tlie military company recently formed be allowed the sum of twenty dollars each per month till the 4th day of July next, unless they should be called into active service before that time."' Again on June 3d, the town voted "that the selectmen be instructed to make all necessary provisions for the families of all persons belonging in town who have enlisted for military service."' The patriotic ardor of the citizens which prompted them to fill the various quotas of the town continued till the end of the war, and the town itself was no less patriotic in encouraging and support- ing the men who went to the front. The reverse of 1861 at Bull Run, and the small progress made by the Union cause during that year, made it neces- sary for the Government to call out the reserve power of the whole North to meet the exigences which faced the country in 1862. To a people less cour- ageous and determined, the prospect was indeed a gloomy one. No substan- tial impression had been made upon the successful progress of the Rebellion, and to the faint-hearted it almost seemed as if the fate of the nation was sealed. As the historian of future years studies the history of the war, and grasps the motives and purposes, and discerns the springs of action which furnished ultimate success and victory, he need hardly go beyond the annals of a single New England town, and no better representative of the class exists than Stoneham. There was no abatement of the demand made upon her resources and no faltering in the spirit to meet the demand. On August 26, 1862, it was voted "to appropriate and pay to the Stoneham Infantry Com- pany the sum of forty hundred dollars as a bounty to said Company, provided said company of not less than forty men enlist into the service of the United States as the town's cjuota, under the call of the President of the United States, for three hundred thousand militia to serve nine months, and accepted and sworn into said service, said sum to be paid by the selectmen as soon as they are sworn in." This was the same organization that had joined the Sixth Regiment and marched through Baltimore, though most of the mem- bers were new men. The company was officered by Captain Darius N. Stevens, First Lieutenant Samuel C. Trull, of Stoneham, and Second Lieu- tenant Frederick Cochran, of Alethuen. Forty of the members were from Stoneham, and most of the others trom Lawrence and Methuen. They became Company C, of the Fiftieth Regiment, Colonel Carlos P. Messer. Perhaps in no company from Stoneham were so many old residents represent- ed as in this. The beautiful autumn days spent in camp at Boxford, linger as delightful memories in the minds of many who were then full of the hopes and enthusiasm of youth. The day when they shouldered knapsacks and muskets, marched to the train, sped on to Boston, formed in the streets, bade adieu to their friends and left the old Boston and Worcester depot for Allen's Point in New York b}' way of the Sound, is one never to be forgotten. And their arrival at the great metropolis on a cold and dismal morning, breakfast at the barracks, camp on Long Island, running of the guard, the 88 HISTORY OF STONEHAM. evenings in the citv, the embarlcing on the steamer "Niagara" from Brooklyn, which spmng a leak and caught fire oiT Delaware breakwater, the trip up the river to Philadelphia, its kindnesses and hospitalities, the re-embarking on the "Jennie Lind," and the voyage down the Atlantic by way of Fortress Monroe and the Gulf of Mexico to the Southwest Pass of the Mississippi, and the sail up to New Orleans and Baton Rouge — all these, after a lapse of nearlv thirty years, seem like a romance of adventure. The Fiftieth Regi- ment was in the command of General Banks, participated in the siege of Port Hudson, and formed part of the army, which, in conjunction with Gen- eral Grant at Vicksburg, opened the Mississippi. \'icksburg surrendered on the 4th of July, 1863, and Port Hudson a few days later. Although Com- pany C enlisted for nine months, they were in the service nearly a year, arriving home in August, their return being like a triumphal progress from Cairo through the West, upon whom were showered the hospitality of an en- thusiastic and generous people all along the route. About the same time that Co. C of the Fiftieth was being organized, forty- two Stoneham men joined the Thirty-third Massachusetts Regiment, Col. Maggi. The officers were. Captain James F. Rowe, Captain Hiram P. Mars- ton, Lieut. Archeleus Welch, Lieut. Sidney L. Colley and Lieut. Charles H. Barry. These men experienced much hard fighting. After being engaged in the Battle of Gettysburg they were ordered to the Southwest, participate in the battle of Lookout Mountain and joined the army of Gen. Sherman in his march to the sea. In 1864 Captain Francis M. Sweetser raised a corn- pan) for 100 days, represented by sixty-six Stoneham men. They performed garrison duty most of the time in and about Baltimore. Marshall P. Sweet- ser was first lieutenant and Moses Downs, Jr., second lieutenant. In Febru- ary of the same year twenty-nine other sons of Stoneham joined Col. Gould' Fifty-ninth Regiment, passed through the terrible campaign of the Wilder- ness and the closing year of the Rebellion. There also appears 189 Stone- ham names upon the muster roils of the various regiments, battalions an batteries of the State in addition to those already mentioned. Between 400 and 500 soldiers from the town served during the war, although she wa credited with more than 500, from the fact that several of them enlisted more than once. Some idea may be formed of the alacrity with which men eniisle when it is remembered in the latter part of 1862 Stoneham had already fur- nished 269 men, about sixty more than were required of her at that time. The following list of those who were killed and died in the service, while not, perhaps, complete, is believed to be substantially correct : Willhini II. Kichardson, jth Mass. Regt., Co. F (three months), accidentally shot; died July 7, 1S61. George O. lierry and John E. LeClair, 13111 Regt., Co. G, Antietani, September 17, 1862. Joseph H. Wheeler, 1st Regt. Heavy Artillery, Petersburg, \'a., Jnne iS, iSt'i^. HISTORY OF STONKHAM. 89 Charles H. Carr, 22d Regt, Co. E, Gaines' Mill, June 27, 1S62. Philip O. Buxton, 33d Regt., Co. D, Lookout Mountain, Tenn., October 29, 1S63. Wm. Mahan, 33d Regt., Co. D, Gettysburg, July 2, 1S63. John Nolan, 33d Regt., Co. D, Dalton, Ga., May 25, 1SO4. Leonard S. Whittier, 59th Regt., Co A, Spottsylvania Court-House, May 12, 1S64. Jeremiah Murphy, 59th Regt., Co. E, Spottsylvania Court-House, May 12, 1S64. DIED IN THE SERVICE. William H. Smith, Sth Light Battery, September 11, 1S62. John L. Hovcy, 3d Regt. Heavy Artillery, June 11, 1S65. Henry Burt, 2d Regt. Mass. Cavalry, June 3, 1S65. William JL Heath, surgeon 2d Infantry; died at Chattanooga, August 23, 1S64 Charles A. Whittier, 13th Regt., Co. G, wounded at Antietam; died at Chambcrsburg, Pa., September 27, 1S62. Otis W. Pinkham, 33d Regt., Co. D, Brook Station, Va., May 16, 1S63 Nathan Starbird, 33d Regt., Co. D, Washington, D. C, January 12, 1S63. Walter B. G. Gray, 33d Regt., Co. D, al Stoneham, August 23, 1S64. Aaron A. Green, 33d Regt., Co. D, at Beverly Ford, Va., June 6, 1S63. Joseph LeClair, 33d Regt., Co. D, Resaco, Ga., May 15, 1S64. Warren V. B. Tibbetts, 33d Regt., Co. D, Fairfax Court-House, March 15, 1S03. Oliver Wheeler, Jr., 33d Regt , Co. D, .Alexandria, Va., Nov. 10, 1S62. Hiram George, 59th Regt., Co. F, Danville, ^'a., August 20, 1S64. Peter McClusky, 59th Regt., Co. G, Alexandria, \'a., October 10, 1S64. John O'Brien, 59th Regt , Co. G, steamer "Baltic," October 16, 1S64. Charles Peterson, 59th Regt., Co. G, Readville, Mass., Oct. 23, 1S64. Clement Pocket; 59th Regt., Co. G, City Point, Va., August 21, 1S64. Samuel L Dodge, ist Co. Sharpshooters, Oct. 19, 1S62. Isaac B. Cowdrey, 2d Co. Sharpshooters, Yorktown, Va., April 30, 1S62. Geoi-ge W. Young, 2d Co. Sharpshooters. York, Pa., October S 1S62. When men sacrificed their all in sacrificing their Hves, it seems almost in- vidious to select a few for words of eulogy, unless they occupied exceptional positions ; but there were some cases that seemed peculiarly distressing. Those who knew Willie Richardson, a bright, active, joyous boy, full of life and spirits, the pet of his family and friends, who was the first victim shot by the accidental discharge of a revolver, will remember what a sad shock was felt by the entire community when the report came of his wound and his death, and with what regret and tears he was followed to the grave. And then the Whittier brothers — Charles dying from wounds received at Antietam in 1862, and Leonard, killed at .Spottsylvania Court-House almost two years later — furnish an illustration of what grievous sorrow the war imposed upon some house) olds. Both of them upright, promising young men, the two old- est sons, who made a record which deserves to be gratefully cherished by their townsmen for all time to come, as they shall read of the part taken by their town in the "reat events from 1861 to 1865. The illustrious names of HISTORY OK STOXEHAM. 9 1 great leaders live on the pages of history, but patriotism and heroism no less worthy of remembrance filled the ranks of the army. Dr. Heath, who was surgeon of the Second Massachusetts Infantry, and who died at Chattanooga, deserves a lasting memory. Born in Sandwich, New Hampshire, he had been located in Stoneham several years, was the first treasurer of the Stone- ham Five Cent Savings Bank, had been actively interested as a member of the School Committee in the public schools, and was a most useful and pub- lic-spirited citizen. Those who knew him and recall his kindly smile and genial courtesv must always regret tliat so promising a life should have been cut oft in early manhood. Returning to i860 and 1861 two important events occurred which materi- allv affected the development of the town. Prior to the construction of the Boston and Lowell and Boston and Maine Railroads, the public means of communication with Boston had been by stage-coach over the Medford and Andover Turnpike. After the completion of the Boston and Maine Road, which passed through what was then the extreme eastern section of the town, Mr. Padilla Beard connected by coaches with the road at the station, now known as Melrose Highlands, which was the usual way of going to the city, till the Stoneham Street Railroad was built in i860, it being opened in the fall of that year. The Stoneham Branch Railroad, connecting with the Bos- ton and Lowell at East Woburn (now Montvale), was opened in 1861, as far as Farm Hill and completed to Franklin Street, the present terminus of the road two years later. During the war the vast consumption of the government had stimulated great activity in manufacturing, and the impetus carried along a seemingly prosperous business in almost all industries till 1871 and "72, when the evil effects of a depreciated currency were experienced and a reaction set in. These were very successful years in the material development of Stoneham. For a time the ratio of increase in population was greater than that of any other city or town in the county except Cambridge and Somervllle. The men returned home from the war, the factories were filled, business increased, and it was an era of unabated prosoerity. The principal industries was the manufacture of shoes and the tanning of hides and currying of leather. The old-time manufacturers, the fathers of the shoe business, such as George W. Dike & Co., Allen Rowe & Co., Warren Sweetser, Alpha Richardson, Darius Stevens and Ira Gerr_\\ had most of them either retired from business, or ceased to occupy the foremost rank. The old methods were passing away, and V, ith them the old concerns. From 1865 to 1870 about the only leading establishments with an existence of twenty years behind them were John Hill & Co. and William Tidd & Co. It is not designed to give any detailed ac- count of the shoe business or of the manufacturers engaged in it ; especially there will be no allusion to living men. As a general rule, the faults and virtues of the dead can only be cast up and a correct balance struck, but no g2 HISTORY OF STONEHAM. complete history of the town during the last fifty years could be written with- out some reference to the men who were active in it, for it was their lives which largely traced the course of local events. In all frankness let it l)e said we were not a people generally of considerable education, or ofhigh intellect- ual and social culture, nor were there many citizens of large means. There was an absence of what are frequently termed "old families," which gave character to many of the most respectable New England towns. On the other hand there was general thrift and prosperity, and that ceaseless, active energy which in the history of communities so often precedes gentle manners and re- finements of life. We were a tvpical New England manufacturing town, just emerging from the country life of our grandfathers, commencing in a small way, and laying the foundations for a larger future. One of Ihc patriarchs of the shoe busi- ness was Alpl:a Richardson, commonly known as the Commodore, who orig- inally located at the north end of the town, in the Wiley house, at the inter- section of Maine, Central and William streets. Here he kept a grocery and variety store in the first story, and had a hall in the second story, which was the scene of old-time dances and social festivities. Had there been a chron- icler in those days to have preseived the reminiscences and stories, told by the neighbors collected about the stove in Mr. Richardson's store, he would have left a most interesting picture of the times. We can readily imagine the old residents coming in on a winter's evening, drawing about the fire and indulg- ing in a vein of jovial wit stimulated by occasional potations of East India rum. It is almost impossible to realize that this was about the business cen tre of the town at one time. Opposite the store lived Dr. Stevens. On the corner where W. B. Stevens now resides was the blacksmith-shop. Nearby lived Aaron and Squire Peter Hay. At the corner of Central and Elm streets was the Burnham Tavern, and not far away the Parsonage. Speaking of the Burnham, formerly the Hay Tavern, it was a hostelry, patronized very largely by drovers and teamsters before the days of railroads, for there was a large amount of travel from New Hampshire and the North over the turnpike to Boston, which found this a convenient stopping-place. The yard in front of the great barns is said at times to have been white with the canvas tops of wagons. Severer notions prevailed in the church then than now, in reference to dancing and other social amusements, which at tlie pres- ent time, are regarded as quite innocent. Mr. Richardson was a member of the church, and was taken to task for the use to which his hall was appropri- ated, as appears by the following transcript from the church record : "Brethren: Having liad it reported witli apparent truth tliat Brother Alpha Richardson has encouraged vain amusements, and feeling such conduct to be a cause of grief to myself as well as to others, I visited him the ijth day of February to be assured of facts, and to speak to him in a Christian manner as disclosures might justify me. Not having obtained satisfaction by seeing him alone, I took with me Brother Peter Green and visited him again on the 24th day of June, and by conversation obtained as little satisfaction as at any previous interview. HISTORY OF STONEHAM. 93 Having thus taken suhstanlially the step laid clown in the Gospel, to ileal [with an oflcnding- brother without sjaining him, I now, as a brother offended, tell it to the church for thcni to ex- amine and judge about as God may direct them. First, it is ascertained that Bro. Hichardson has encouraged vain amusements by providing a room for a dancing party. Secondly, he justi- fies himself in doing it and for reasons which are entirety different from those which ought to influence (Jhristians. (signed) "Stoaeham, July yc Sth, 1S30." "Jabez Lynde." "On the foi'egoing communication the churcii voted to send a citation to Bro. Alpha Richardson for him to appear before the church at their adjourned meeting and exonerate himself from the charges brought against him." A report is made that "Bro. Alpha Richardson says he has not anything to do with the church nor the church with him respecting his conducting his busi- ness." On Julv 20th "Bro. Alpha Richardson came before the church and appeared to justify himself in opening his house for balls and dancino- par- ties."' "Manifesting no repentance, his connection with the church was se\'ered, though he continued ever afterwards to remain a member of the par- ish and support the society. Mr. Richardson afterwards removed his busi- ness to the building on Main Street, now occupied by Patrick Cogan & Son, where he kept a store and manufactured shoes, residing just north of the fac- tory till his death, which occurred in 1868. He was a man of kind feelino-s and genial disposition, and for many }ears was an active and enterprisino' citizen. At the other end of Main Street, at the corner of Marble, was Allen Rowe, who for many years manufactured shoes in a part of his house, and subsequently, with his son Allen. Jr.. Iniilt quite a large factory and store on the spot where Hon. Onslow (nlmore now resides. During middle life he was a thrifty and prosperous manufacturer and merchant, though he took no very active part in public affairs. Fifty or sixty years ago one of the leading citizens and principal business men was Darius Stevens, who was repeatedh- entrusted with almost every office within the git't of the town, serving con- tinually on important committees and exercising a verv great inHuence in the management of public affairs. LU equah.y true of medicine, and she rarely bestows great success upon her disciples unless they serve her with .absolute devotion. A more faithful servant never pursued a calling than Dr. iStevens. Of a reserved and retiring disposition, he filled but few positions •of public trust, nor often did he take an active part in public al^airs. His profession demanded all his time and attention. He never would consent to have his name used as a candidate for offices of emolument : and yet he was greatly interested in public improvements, as appeared when he became a di- rector of the Stoneham Branch Railroad, and by bis influence and e.xertion contributed so largely to its completion. After his death, a brother physician spoke of hini among other things, as follows: "His was one of those rare natures which enjoy work for the verv love of it. He did not seem to need a holiday, for every day with him was a holy day consecrated to duty. He was one of the most conscientious men I ever knew ; manifesting no tavorit- ism for either rich or poor, he did the very best he could for all, with a devo- tion which never swerved and a zeal which never tired. His skill in diagnosis •was e.xtraordinarv. Within the last si.\ months, three cases came to my knowledge, where professional experts gave one opinion, and he gave a differ- ent one, modestly, but clearly, and in all these he proved ultimately to be correct. The solution of one of them occurred on the very day of his death ; the other two I was privileged to apprise him of. In nothing was his true merit more marked than in the genuine humility which adorned his character. Many a time I have been astonished at the depth of this trait ; for he wa.s just as ready to follow the advice of a young physician commencing practice, as that of one of the magnates of our profession, if convinced he was in the right. More than anv man I ever knew, he was guided by our fundamental principal of ethics — the welfare of the patient. All else was thrown aside, apparently without an elTort — pecuniary interest and reputation — and he was liKXiRAI'fiU AL SKf-T( HKS. II3 ready to brave obloquy and misconception, if the true welfare of the patient required the sacrifice. This was partly the secret of the unbounded confi- dence reposed in him b\ -^'I -ho kn^w him well enough. He was so upright that he almost leanL\l '.) i Ixa .id in all cases where his own interests seemed to conflict with those of the patient. 1 never met a man possessed of more indomitable courage. Time without number, I have known him to go to see patients when any other man would have been in bed, and some of them were not half as sick as he himself was. As a man, his manners were refined and courteous, more like a gentleman of the old school than we often meet with nowadays. Those who did not know him intimately som ■'times fell into the error of .supposing him cold and distant, a very great mistake. Under the outside crust ran a vein of quiet humor and warm human sympathy. He was deeply aifectionate. He loved little children with an intensity which few were aware of, for he did not like to make a parade of his feelings. As a citizen Dr. Stevens was both public-spirited and liberal.'' By nature he was a perfect gentleman, of absolute integrity, a lover of jus- tice and virtue, and possessed a delicate refinement of feelings which prompt- ed him to treat others with consideration and respect. In his character nat- ural humility was combined with great dignity. While his appearance was always modest and unassuming, there was something about his bearing that would have repelled any offensive familiarity. Pitying and sympathizing with the poor and unfortunate, a large portion of his life was spent in their ser- vice. But few men in his profe.ssion ever exemplified more of the spirit of the Great Master. He seemed to fill the place for which nature designed him. People who came into his atmosphere instinctively recognized the skillful physician, the wise counsellor and true friend. Beginning his life at a time when there was no other physician in the town, his practice gradually extended to the neighboring towns, till it became as large and probably larger than that of any other country doctor in Middlesex County. He w^as a most indefatigable worker, and hardly knew what rest was till the last years of his life, when his constitution had become undermined and his body enfeebled by the exhausting labors of half a century. After an illness protracted through many months, he died on Febmary i6, 1879, in the seventy-third year of his age, leaving a memory cherished in many communities and numerous house- holds with mingled love and respect. After his death the following poem was written of him by Francis Durivage, of New York : "No unrxpccted news, and yet it fell With mournful resonance— a funeral hnell! So good, so true, so gentle and so wise, I c nnot write of him with tearless eyes. Memory recalls his venerable form, Less often seen in sunshine than in storm, .: ■ As it appeared beneath the sky's black pall, , ,, Through the wild snow and the rain's drenching fall, H;lstehing' responsive to our urgent call,' 114 BIOGR. PHICAL SKETCHES. Over my loved one's bed of pain to bend, More than the man ot skill — physician, friend! Well did he win a pure and spotless name, Who might have won— but he disdained it— FAME ! For he was master of his sacred art. In its full scope and its minutest part, But to Ambition's voice he would not yield, The humble hero of Life's battle field. What is fame worth to him who can secure The blessings of the suffering and the poor? What academic laurels have the power To arch with rainbow hues the parting hour? He chose the better part and sank to rest Conscious of duty done and trulv blest " LUTHKR HILL. Luther Hill, son of James and Alary (Holden) Hill, was born in Stone- ham, Massachusetts, February 3, 1808. His ancestors were among the eaily settlers of New England. Ah. Hill obtained his education in the public schools of his native town and at the South Reading (now Wakefield) Acad- emy, then in a flourishing condition, with Professor Heath as principal. After completing his studies there he taught school for a short time in Stoneham and Danvers, Massachusetts, but early devoted his attention to business com- mencing the manufacture of shoes at eighteen years of age, with a capital of twenty dollars. From this small beginning his business grew to be one of the largest in the Stale. In 1832 he formed a partnership with his brother, under the firm-name of "John Hill & Co ,"' John Hill, Jr., entering the firm in May, 1844. This firm was the first to employ power in the manufacture of shoes, using horse-power, then steam, for that purpose. Mr. Hill was also the first to apply power to a labor-saving machine or tool in manufactur- ing shoes, being the inventor of a aie for stamping out lappets or tongues, a great improvement upon the slow process of cutting them out with a knife. He then made dies to stamp out vamps, quarters and soles. In 1858 his firm erected a large factory, introducing steam as a power. • This application of steam-power was the first of a series of wonderful changes in the shoe indus- try. Mr. HilFs brain teemed with positive and original conceptions, the re- sult of which was the invention of many machines used in the manufacture of shoes. Among them the first sole-cutter and counter-skiver machine, upon both of which he obtained patents. In 1857 Mr. Hill became inter- ested in, and put in practical operation, the first pegging-machine used in this country. In 1862 he placed in his factory the first heeling-machine ever used, developing it with improvements on which he obtained several valuable patents, and he successfully operated it until, with Gordon McKay and others, he formed a stock company, known as the McKay Heeling-Machine Associa- tion. This machine, with additional patents, is in general use to-day. Mr c^/z^ /^^^^ BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. I I 5 Hill was the first to apply the sewing-machine to the fitting of shoes, and later connected it with steam-power. Many of the best and most complicated machines used in the manulacture of shoes to-day have sprung from these inventions of Mr. Hill. He retired from the firm Nov. 10, 1866, after a suc- cessful business career of forty years, bearing with him the love and esteem of all with whom he had been associated. Throughout his entire life Mr. Hill had the welfare and progress of his native town warmly at heart, and was prominently identified with all meas- ures for its advancement. He was largely interested in real estate, helped to introduce street lighting by gas, and with six others planned and pushed to completion the Stoneham Street Railway. His good judgment, progressive views and dispassionate manner in debate gave him influence as a citizen. His townsmen's appreciation cf these cjualities was shown by his election to the office of .selectman, school committee, overseer of the poor and assessor. He discharged these duties with the same fidelity, honestv and integritv that distinguished his conduct in every relation of life. .Strong in his sense of justice and the principle of universal right, he was a warm supporter of Georoe Thompson and William Lloyd Garrison, and was among the first to join the anti-slaven movement in the da}s when to avow and maintain its principles meant almost social ostracism. He was one of the founders of the Unitarian Church in Stoneham, and showed the sincerity of his religious faith bv the puiity of his daily life. In June, 1840, Mr. Hill was married to Sarah At- well Stevens, of Stoneham, daughter of Darius Stevens, and granddauohter of the Rev. John H. Stevens, who officiated at the marriage ceremonv. This marriage was in all respects a most fortunate and happy one, and in llis home the utmost harmony and confidence prevaileel. Mr. Hill was a slrono- advo- cate of V. Oman's suffrage. His daughters shared equally with his sons his thoughts and wise counsel, and to all he gave the same opportunities for edu- cation and usefulness. Mr. Hill was a self-made man in every sense of the word ; whatever he achieved in life was due to his own efforts. While he was sincere and firm in his convictions, his nature was kindly, his impulses generous, and his judgment of others most charitable. He died at his home in Stoneham, OctobeVrJi, 1877, leaving- his wife, four sons and four daughters. i^'^S- ^;: ■ AM ASA FARRIER. The name at the head of this article will long be held in the memories and hearts of the people of Stoneham. Though not a great man in the sense of national recognition and .service ; 1 hough eminence in the eyes of the great world was not his portion ; yet, in the virtues which cluster about and form a noble manhood, Amasa Farrier was the peer of the greatest. His worth was made AMASA FARRIER. JOHN FARRIER. IlS BIOfiKAl'llICAL SKF/rCHKS. up of .ste^liIl;^^ manly acts — .icts, that like his speech, were the offspring of a nature, ever\ fibre of which breatlied with honesty and manliness. His wealth was in ' haractcr. not in reputation or the estimate placed upon one by others, Init in that other, and nobler Lecause higher, attribute of manhood, which is made up of what a man is, and not what he ajjpears to be. Mr. Farrier, son of Elizabeth ;:nd John, was born in Feterboro', N. H., Aug. 2, 1803. While a young man he taught school, afterwards removing to Boston, wnere he opened a dry goods store, keeping the same for several years. He came to Stoneham in 1838, soon after marrying Miss Cynthia Center, of East Wilton, N. II., and entering into business at the old Com- modore Richardson store. His tact, thrift, and honest business methods commended him to our people, and for abtiut twelve years he was a model storekeeper. At this time he was much engaged in surveying, and was held in such esteem by his fellow-citizens that he was selected for various town offices, in fact, few men have been so often honored by their fellow-citizens as Amasa Farrier : and few have proved so deserving, or have brought to public office such high character and qualifications as this tyoical American. From 1837 to 1839 he was Town Clerk, also in 1844. He w^as Selectman in 1839-51-56 and 1857 ; and Assessor in 1839-51-57-66-67-69-76 and 1879. He was Overseer of the Poor in 1839. Town Treasurer in 1836-37-39-40 and 1841. Town Collector in 1836-37-39-40 and 1841. School Committee in 1837-38 and '44. He was a member of the committee for laying out of William Street Cemetery in 1844, and Lindenwood Cemetery in 1862, and was elected treasurer of the latter in 1863 and 1864. and in 1868-73-78 and 1883. Only one child was born to this union, a son John, who resided with his parents till i860, when he shipped on a merchant vessel bound to Key West, being absent nearly one year. In 1861, at the time of the beginning of the Civil War, John was 21 years of age, and anxious to enlist, but instead em- barked again for a voyage to Key West. Arriving in England the crew of the vessel were discharged and cheaper help employed for the balance of the voyage. John wrote to his parents giving the facts of the case, saying that he should sail in another vessel for his destination, and upon its arrival he would again write, but the letter never came, and as year after year rolled by with no tidings from the absent one he was at last given up as dead, as yel- low fever was raging there at that time. In another place we give his por- trait. We would call the attention of our young men to the life and character of Mr. Amasa Farrier as furnishing the best evidence that, in the race of life, earnest effort, backed by that manhood who.se speech and acts possess the ring of honesty and genuineness, will always win what all are after, viz : Contentment and competency. .Mr. Farrier was comfortably situated in point DARIUS STEVENS, (See Page 93.) I20 I'.KK.KAI'UKAI. SKKTCHKS. of worldlv j^oods, thanks to his industry and habits of thrift. In tiie beau- tiful words of I'cjpe, he was — "A public man, yet friend lo truth! ol soul sincere, In action faithful, and in honor clear; Who broke no promise, serv'd no private end. Who gained no title, and who lost no friend." Mr. Farrier was the founder of our beautiful Lindenwood Cemetery, and attended to the duties of a Trustee till within a few days of his death. He also took a great interest in the erection and care of the Soldier's Monument there. It was he that suggested that Henry Wilson be invited to deliver the oration at Us dedication. Mr. P'arrier died August 20, 1883, at the age of 80 years. His widow now resides at the homestead on Central Street. JOSEPH LEED.S. • He was the son of Josiah and Anna G. Leeds, and born at Dorchester, November 12, 1799. He came to Stoneham when about 21 years of age, and established himself in the blacksmith business. He married, June 5U1, 1823, Eliza, youngest daughter of Capt. David and Sarah R. Cerry. She died of lingering consumption Jan. 19, 1824. March 6, 1825, he married Betsy, daughter of Stephen and Hannah W. Lynde. She died March 22, 1826. March 27, 1827, he married Kliza, daughter of Benjamin and Mary Lynde. of Maiden. They lived harmoniously together nearly forty-live years, united by indissoluble ties of sympathy and affection. He w^as a kind, ten- der, provident husband and father, social and domestic in his feelings and a dear lover of home. He was highly esteemed by a large circle of friends, temperate and moral in his habits, and a trustworthy, e.xemplar\- citizen. By industry and economy he accumulated a handsome property. He had a large share of the religious element in his nature, and was one of the ibunders of the Univensalist .Society in this place, and one of the prominent stockholders of the Stoneham Branch Railroad. He v^as a liberal supporter and earnest advocate of the doctrine of unlimited salvation. He died Dec. 17. 1871. LIKE G()\E. Mr. Gove was born in Ware, N. H., April 26, 1804, of Quaker parents who died when he was but 10 years of age. Thrown upon his own resources he finally learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked for sev- eral years. At the age of 23 he married and removed to \'ermont, where he followed his trade for a time ; he returned to Ware and remained there three years; removed to Hancock, N. H., and kept the Hancock Academy board- ing house three years. In 1841 he came to vStoneham and engaged in niak- liUXiKAl'llICAI, SKKTCHES. 121 ing shoes, at which occupation he remained eighteen months. Not Hieing this employment he went to Lowell and opened a hoot and shoe and dry goods store, in which business he remained eleven years. In 1855 he re- moved to Woburn, kept a dry goods store one year, then returned to Stone- ham, where he remained until his death. On his return to Stoneham he en- gaged in the manufacture of shoe boxes, and received a liberal patronage from the manufacturers in town. During his sojourn in Stoneham he made many sincere friends ; his pleas- ant countenance was ever welcome in all circles ; and although possessed of strong prejudices, yet his genial nature, his kindness and sympathy for all. were a sure passport to the society of all whom he chose for associates, and by his sterling honor and integrity he won the confidence and respect of all. He had been a Mason for many years, a Knight Templar, and a member of Hugh de Payne Commandery of Melrose. Mr. (iove became interested in the subject of spiritualism at Lowell in 1S43, ^"-^^ ^^''^■'' ^ member of the Chris- tian Union Society in Stoneham several years before his death. Politics were not particularly attractive to him, but his sympathies and labors were for the oppressed, for the greatest good of the greatest number, and for the reformation of all evils, political, moral and social. His motto seemed to be, Progression in all things. Whatever course of conduct he pursued, it was with a sincere belief of its being the best and noblest. He died August 22, 1876. J. CLINTOX CHASE. J. Clinton Chase, son of Abram and Deborah Chase, was born inDeerfield, Centre, N. H,, June 25, 1835, and was 51 years of age at his death, which occurred October 28, 1886. He received his education in the district schools and at Pittsfield (N. H.) Academy, which he left in 1857 and canie to Wakefield, Mass. Mr. Chase came to Stoneham in i860 and worked for M. P. Sweetser & Co., grocers, in the old store where Chase's Block now stands. In 1862 he purchased the business and carried it on until 1864, when his brother, A. Alfred Chase went into company with him, under the firm name of Chase Brothers. In 1874 they built the brick block which bears their name and occupied one of the large stores for 16 )ears. Mr. Chase was one of the town's most active business men, and was always ready to aid any enterprise in the interest of the town, or his fellow citizens. Of a jovial nature, people coming into his store were at once attracted to him by his natiual way of winning their friend- ship. By his manly disposition and genial kind-hearted nature, he drew around him a large circle of friends, both in his public and private life. When his death was annoui.ced it sent a gloom throughout the community. He was Collector of Taxes in 1867-8-9, and was chairman of the Board of J. CLINTON CHASE. I'.IOCKAi'illi AL SKiriCllICS. 1 23 Selectmen in 1X77, and lield various offices of trust in the difterent organi- zations of which lie wAs a member. He was a member of Columbian Lodge, I. O. O. F., and cf King Cyrus Lodge, F. & A. AL, being a Past iMaster, and at the time of his death treasurer of the Lodge. He was t:;^^ s J r X > \ 1 J .'^^K EDWARD TUCK WHITTIER. 132 HISTOKV OF STOXEHAM. rear of the I'ost Office. Success crowned his efforts, liis business increased, tiie plant was enlarged, extensive additions of material and presses being made during the ten years following. Only the untiring energ\", perseverance and business integrity displayed could have accomplished so desirable a result. In 1 861, under th:-- administration of President Lincoln, he was appointed Postmaster, and held the office until 1872, when his successor was appointed. During these years he was called ujjon to fill several offices of trust and re- sponsibility, among which were the positions of Selectman, School Commit- tee, etc., serving with the same zeal and fidelity that had always characterized liis actions in jjrivate life. At the breaking out of the war he was a worker for the interests, and a strong friend of the Country's defenders, two of his eldest sons, Charles and Leonard, whose portraits will be foun:i on page 90, sacrificed their lives. March 21, 1870, he issued the first number of the Stoxeh am Amateur. The pages were 6.i x g, and were printed singly on a Gordon job press. The first six issues of the paper were distributed gratuitously, after wliich a small subscription price was charged. The paper was enlarged as demands re- quired, four times, and the name was changed in 1876 to the Stoxeham IxDEPKXDEXT. At .Mr. Wlutlicr's death the size of the j^aper was 24 x 36. For quite a while .Mr. Whittier was the local correspondent of the .Middlesex County Journal. In the early stages of his newspaper work he performed the writing, composition, etc., being assisted in the mechanical work by his two remaining sons, and bv his thrift and industry built up a thri\ing and successful business. Liberal in his views and possessing a spirit of charity of undoubted genuineness, the coluirns were always open for outspoken ut- terances on any cjuestion, whenever required, especially in religious matters. For several years he played the organ in the Universalist Church, during yiv. Squires" ministry here. For fifteen or twenty years Mr. Whittier occu- pied a prominent position in the conimui ity by his strong avowal of spirit- ualism. For a number ot years he was I'resident of the Children's Progres- sive Lyceum. He was a beloved and respected member of Columbian Lodge and Colum- bian Encampment, I. O. O, F., serving as Vice-Grand and Treasurer of the Lodge for a number of years, being prevented, through ill-health, from pass- ing through the chair. He and his son Leonard were charter members of Crystal Gem Lodge of the Independent Order of Good Templars, ?.Ir. Whit- tier serving as Worthy Chief Templar for one term. He was also connected with various town institutions. For many years he had been a great sufferer with asthma, not being able to lie down, but getting his rest and sleep while sitting in a chair. Six weeks prior to his death he accidentally bruised his leg below the knee, it became inflamed, and after a week of careful nursing the wound healed, but the foundation of what caused his death was laid, as phlegmonous erysipelas DR. WLNTHKOP FLINT STEVENS. 134 HISTORY OF STOXEHAM. accompanied with suppuration of ihe lliigh, grew out of that sore, and as his constitution was completely broken down by asthmatic breathing, it resulted in his death at 59 years of age. The funeral services in the Christian Union Church were very impressive, being performed by Rev. S. \V. Squires, of Franklin, a Universalist. who had also officiated at the funerals of Charles and Leonard. Large delegations from Columbian Lodge and Columbian Encampment, L O. O. F., were present, and performed the beautiful cere- monv at the grave. Out of respect all the places of business were closed durinc; the hours of the funeral. I)K. WIXTHKOP FLINT STEVENS. Dr. Winthrop Flint Stevens, the son of Dr. William F. and Mary Jane Gould (Burnham) Stevens, was born at Stoncham, February 5th, 1848. He entered Phillips Academy, E.xeter, in 1863, where he fitted for college, and entered Dartmouth College in 1865, graduating in 1869. Entering the Har- vard Medical School in the autumn of 1869, he attended lectures there for three years, taking his medical degree in 1872. In September, 1873, he married Helen Maria Curtis. Was appointed by (iov. Robinson Medical Examiner in 1885, and held that position until his death. For many years he was Town Physician and trustee of the Public Library He died Sept. 5th, 1890, aged 42 years, leaving a wife and daughter. A few brief sentences thus epitomize the story of a life : those who knew Winthrop .Stevens will read between the lines those qualities of mind and heart that made him what he was. As a physician he was widely known and esteemed. He was skilful and sympathetic, cheerful himself and in.spiring hope in others. In his ministra- tions he never spared himself. During the last two years of his life, he was oftentimes sick:;r than the patients he attended, keeping about his work till the last call of the day had been made, and returning home prostrated by physical exhaustion. As a puljlic official he was faithful in his duties, fearless in their discharge, and independent in his opinions. While he was always a welcome guest, he cared little for what is recognized as society lite. He was jireeminently a family man, finding his chief happiness in the home circle and in comradeship of intimate friends. There was nothing in his character more conspicuous tiian tlie straight- forwardness of his dealings. Whatever object he wished to attain he knew no such word as policy, and tolerated no indirectness of approach. He was plain spoken without giving offence — perhai)s the rarest of natural gifts. There was no doubt of his position on the leading tojiics of the day. He was decided in his convictions, and, when called upon, withheld not his tes- timony from fear of any possible loss. Above all things he despised shams, ••^•>»iw. ^^ \^ y^WV fornix '%«5r' <— '•"^^i* ■mw^> t CAPT. JAMES HILL GOULD. 136 I'.KXiRAI'I'K AI. SKFTCHES. whether shams in politics, rehgion. or social life: but wliile he cared little for the outward semblance of realities, for the realities themselves he had the deepest respect and reverence. His business kept him from regular attend- ance at church, and the constitution of his mind led him to disregard forms ; but he was devout by nature, and had an unquestioning faith in the great truths of religion. One can l^ut feel that tliis life of plain duty and single faith, cut short in its prime, must find scope for its development in the hereafter. CAI'T. JAMES HILL GOULD. Capt. James H. (iould was Ijorn in Woburn, February 18, 1793, where he spent the first eight years of his life. He wrs the son of Thomas (iouldand nephew of Jacob Gould, who was murdered for his money, Nov. 25, 1819. Mr. Gould possessed a genial disposition : was strictly honest and honorable in all his dealings ; ever generous and o]Den-handed to the needy, as many can testify : none were allowed to leave his doors hungrv or destitute. He possessed the confidence and esteem of his fellow townsmen, taking an active part in town affairs, and was several times elected to fill offices within their gift, and as Selectman or Assessor he was faithful and just. In military mat- ters, when he was a young man he evinced much interest, and for several years held the position as Captain of a company of state militia. At one time, in the prime of life, lie was engaged in company with a brother-in-law. in the manufacture of shoes. By his eneigy, good management and economy he succeeded in accumulating a competency of property. Mr. Gould was married to Heppzibah Lynde. daughter of Deacon Jabez Lynde, one child being the result of this union; they both died several years before Mr. (lould, whose death occurred June 14. i87cS. WILLIE H. KKHAKOSOX. Willie H. Richardson, onlv child of Henrv M. and Emma (',. Richardson was born in Stoneham, May 26, 1844. He was one of the first to enlist in the defence of his country, joining Co. F, 5th Massachusetts Regiment, which left Boston on the 21st day of April. 1861. About the middle of June while the Regiment was encamped at Alexan- dria, Va., Willie was one day loading his revolver and accidentally shot him- self, the ball entering his breast. Surgical aid was rendered and there was good grounds to hope for his recovery, but mortification set in and he died two weeks later, July 7, being the first Stoneham soldier whose life was sac- rificed. His father on hearing of the accident, went on and was witli him at the time of death. WILLIE H. RICHARDSON. 138 bi()(;rafiiical sketches. He was a young man of much promise, beloved not only by his friends and companions at home, l)ut also b}- the officers and privates of the Regi- ment, who spoke of him as a young man of strict moral worth and integrity of character, and faithful and energetic in the performance of duty. HON. GEO. W. DIKE. This eminent and worthy citizen, son of Jesse and Elizabeth (Willey) Dike was born in Stoneham, April 14, 1807. Mr. Dike was one of our most respected and honored citizens, having served the town in almost every office within the gift of his fellow-citizens. He had been Selectman, Assessor, Overseer of the Poor, Highway Surveyor, Town Treasurer, School Committee, Trustee of Public Library, Tnistee of Lindenwood Cemetery, Auditor, &c. He was Governors Councillor under Boutwell. He was also a candidate for Congress about fifty years ago — run- ning as a Democrat against the Whig candidate, Daniel P. King, of Danvers. For several years he took the census of the children, by request of the School Committee, alwa}-s performing the duty efficiently and accurately. Mr. Dike was first married in Stoneham May 22, 1828, to Martha Howard of Stoneham. Of this union four children were born. Mrs. Dike died Nov. 19, 1839. He again married in Stoneham April 2, 1840, to Clarissa, widow of John Howard. Of this union were two children. She died November 17, 1846. Mr. Dike was married fcr the third time at Ipswich in Junuary, 1848, to Lavinia, S. Fellows of Ipswich. Of this union were two children. The widow still survives. He commenced business at his father's house on Marble Street, the west end of the house standing in Winchester and the east end in Stoneham, where he manufactured shoes — carrying his goods to Boston on his back, and returning with stock in the same way. He subsequently moved to a building which stood on the site now occupied by Mr. Arad Gerry's mansion, where he kept an old-fashioned countr\- store, besides manufacturing shoes and running the post-office. He then moved to where Holden Bros.' store now is, and continued his business, finally moving to the building belonging to H. H. Mawhinney on Central Street, which was built ])y him and his brother Lyman. Mr. Dike held the office of Postmaster under Polk, but lost it when Tay- lor came in, Mr. John Hill being then appointed. He was again appointed when Taylor went out, and lost it when Buchanan went out of power, Mr. Edward T. Whittier being his successor. He was associated on the Board of Selectmen with Mr. Thomas'! Melbourne and Mr. B. F. Richardson, in 1850 and 1851 . HON. GEORGE W. DIKE. 14° HIOGRAl'HICAI, .SK1;TCHK.S. Among otluT things he s(ild periodicals and papers, the first daily papers sold in town passing tlirougli his hands. A great run was made on the Daily Times when it first came out to this town from Boston. He always took a live, intelligent interest in politics, and was a life-long Democrat — always able to give good reason for his political faith. Nothing delighted liim more than to have a good listener, to whom he could retail his battles and victories in this warfare. He commenced his political career in Jackson's time. Mr. Dike was a prominent and popular Odd Fellow, had pa.ssecl through the chair, and was a representative to the drand Lodge. Mr. Dike tlied July 5, 1883, aged 76 years. ]OHS F. I)Oi;k. John Frank Dorr, son of John and Martha Dorr, was born in Milton, N. H., June 24, 1852. He was educated in the public schools of Charlestown, Mass. His father died when John was quite young and the latter having only his own resources for dependence in life left school at the age of sixteen years and went to work in the retail dnig store of John Choate, in Fitchburg, where he remained eight or nine years, but was compelled to give up on ac- count of ill-health. He took a trip of a few months in the West and then accepted a position as travelling salesman tor Gilman Brothers, wholesale druggists, Boston, his duties taking him into Maine and Western Massachu- setts. While employed by this firm he bought out the drug store of S. S. Howland, on Main Street, and also became a partner in a firm in the same business in Baldwinsville, Mass. His partner conducted the Baldwinsville store and Mr. Dorr engaged a clerk to take charge of the Stoneham business. but he continued in the employ of Gilman Brothers, although contemplating resigning his position to apply himself to his own enterprises. While on a trip for the firm he was taken suddenly ill at Townsend, Mass., with typhoid fever. Although in a serious condition lie started immediately for Fitchburg, where aftvir a sickness of five weeks he died at the home of his .sister, Mrs. John H. Scott. May 6, 1884. Mr. Dorr was married in Stoneham, August 10, 1879, to Miss Mary E. Thompson, daughter of Jonathan Thompson of this town, and his home was here from the time of his marriage until his decease. Two chi Idren were the result of their union, a son, James Colby, now deceased, and a daughter. Louise Jeannette, who is now living. Mr. Dorr v^as intelligent, active and progressive, and had he lived would no doubt have been a man of much influenc;" in Stoneham, as he had already won the esteem and favor of our people, and an exceDtionally suc- cessful business career was predicted for him. JOHN FRANK I.ORK. 142 BKK.RAr'HUAL SKETCHES. He was a member of Mt. Roulstone Lodge, 1. O. O. F., and King David Encampment, I. O. O. F., both of P'itchl)urg, and an attendant of the Uni- tarian Church. Since Mr. Dorr's decease tliejbusiness left by iiim in Stoneham has l:)een continued by his widow. It has been supervised by lier father who lias had the assistance of experienced clerks. With admirable foresight in making provision for his family against the uncertainty of life, Mr. Dorr provided life insurance which in the event of his death might keep his dependent ones from want, and this with what he ac- cumulated has enabled his widow to carry forward a pn)lita!)le business and enjoy a comfortabe living. In 1888 she erected the large building on Main street which is now occu- pied on the ground floor by the Post Office and the drug store, the stock of which latter she removed from its cjuarters in the Gerry block when the new building was completed. The second floor is occupied by the Sportsmans" Club, and the upper floor bv the Athletic Club. 4M^ STONEHAM TO-DAY. The town of Stoneham lies a little west of north from Boston at a dis- tance ot 5 1-2 miles for her southern boundary, and about 9 1-2 for her northern. Her eastern and western boundai-ies extend in the main along two ranges of hills whose general" trend is north and south. Occupying as she does these hills, and the diyersitied country between them, considerably higher than the surrounding towns, she presents features of UXSURPASSIil) ATTRACTIVENESS to those who may be seeking|suburban residences. Although the surface is eyerywhere broken into hills and^valleys, yet every hill is easily accessible by gentle slopes and available and convenient for residences up to its very sum- mit. From the tops of many of these hids the .AIOST MAG.NTFICEXT VIEWS of the surrounding country^opens to the beholder. From the cupola of a house on any of these hills, the owner would have an outlook of from THREE HUNDRED JTO FI\E HLNDRED SQUARE MILES, ■\yith views of far distant mountains, and, occasionally, beautiful glimpses of the ocean. And yet in most cases he would be only a few minutes walk from a railroad station. One has only to standon^the^top of Farm Hill to the North, or on any of the many elevations on the East extending from Dunckleeville to the site of the Langwood Hotel.,near Spot Pond, or on the Bear Hill and Turkey Mountain range or Nobility Hill^on the West, to comprehend the truth of this statemei:t. Sl'OT POND in the southern part of the town, discovered, described and named by Gov. Winthrop in February, 1632, is the most beautiful water scene in the vicinity of Boston. The shores almost all around it are high and dry, and furnish ideal sites for suburban residences. STONEHAM TO-DAY. I45 One of the most important considerations for a residential town is the QUESTION OF HEALTH, and in this respect Stoneham can show an excellent record. Though de- pending entirely in this respect upon her elevated position and natural drain- age, the only town in the vicinity of Boston that can match her health record is Newton. For example, from the report of the Board of Health for 1889, the latest one before me, the average number of deaths per one thousand of population for the state, is about nineteen. For Woburn it is 17.42, for Wakelield, 15.32; Melrose, 15.08; Maiden. 17.30; Arlington, 19.50; and STONEHAM, 1 4.36. For Xewton it is about the same as for Stoneham. This is a fair sample of the record for years, and when the general condition and occupation of our people is taken into account, it can only be explained on the ground of pure air and freedom from miasma. Another point may not be without interest. Two summers ago a gentle- man living in one of the towns on our western border, complained to the writer that the mosquito pest w^as almost unbearable, yet at the same time in Stoneham, trouble from that source was almost unknown. THE SUPERIOR CLAIMS OF STONEHAM to be a residential town, have been obscured by the lack of desirable railroad facilities to Boston. Again and again gentlemen seeking suburban homes have visited the town and been charmed by its natural beauties, but have gone elsew'here for better railroad accommodations. This objection, how- ever, is soon to be removed. A new route has been surveyed, and to be constructed the present sum- mer, it is hoped, connecting, the present terminus of the Stoneham Branch of the Lowell R. R. with the Boston and Maine at the Fells Station in Mel- rose — a distance of about three miles. By this link a COMPLETE CIRCUIT WILL BE FORMED so that trains can be run from Boston via the Lowell R. R., the present Stoneham Branch, the new road, and the Boston and Maine back to Boston again. The distance to Boston will thus be reduced FOUR MILES and the number of stops greatly reduced. If the management of the Boston and Maine is in wise hands as we must suppose it is, it will be for the inter- est of that corporatien to give Stoneham such accommodations as will be equal to any around Boston. ID // / , ..j^.,i^ t J 6»*iii».y<* ..•>./. '*«**^ -.—--jr *%;-_i_i: -^- -isC' »■ CONGFEGATIOXAL CHURCH. stoxehajm to-day 147 When in' time tlie system is completed by extending tlie new line throiio-h to Reading, and by a circuit of electric roads taking in tlie country to the westward of Spot Pond and bringing what is known as the Fells region into connection with the steam road, every inch of Stoneham will be available for suburban residences, and there will no longer be an}- need for those seekino- suburban homes, to locate in low. swampy districts. The section of the Fells alluded to, lying West of Spot Pond, is one of the most beautiful parts of Stoneham. Its charms have led some enthusias- tic individuals to agitate a scheme for making it a part of a great Park to be known as Middlesex Fells Park, but in the opinion of the writer a better use can be made of it by making it available tor pleasant homes. At present there is a horse railroad extending east and west through the town, connecting with Woburn on the West, and Melrose and places bevond on the East. Also there is projected an electric railroad from Wakelield to Stoneham. Both of these roads will aid materially in the development of the town. THE CHURCHES OF STONEHAM represent five different denominations, all of them active and aggressive, and all of them ready to extend a cordial greeting to strangers, or to new comers who may desire a church home. The oldest of these churches is the Congregational (Trinitarian) whose building occupies a fine plat of ground between Main Street and that part of Central Street known as Church Square. The present pastor is the Rev. W. W. Sleeper, installed May 15, 1S90. It has connected with it a well organized and flourishing Sabbath School. Other active organizations connected with this church are the Stevens Home Missionary Society, the Benevolent Society, Prayer and Mission Cir- cle, Social Circle, Y. P. S. C. E., Junior S. C. E., a Choral Society, and other working clubs among the younger members. The Methodist Episcopal Church, Rev. W. H. Meredith, pastor, stands at the north-west corner of Church Square, and is a commodious building. always open to every good cause. Besides its excellent Sabbath School, it has among its active organizations a Ladies' Social Circle, a Ladies' Foreign Missionary Society, a Ladies" Home*'' Missionary Society, a Young People's Epworth League, a Junior Epwoith League, arid a band of Young Mission Helpers. The Unitarian Society, Rev. James H. Whitmore, pastor, has its edifice on the east side of Central Street, north of Church Square. The buildino- erected in 1869, is of the Gothic style of architecture, finished inside to the METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. r<4mms^ ^ -— STOXHHA.M TO-DAY. rafters, and is tasty and convenient in all respects. In addition to its Sab- bath School and Senior Bible Class, it has a Ladies' Social Circle, and a Young People's Social Union. The Baptist Society is at the present writing without a pastor. It occu- pies a Chapel east of Church Square, but it is energetic and growing, and is making strenuous efforts to build a fine church on south Main Street, on a lot already procured for that purpose. The plans for the building have been adopted. It is to be of stone, and will be a beautiful addition to the public buildings of the town. Besides its Sabbath School it has among its working organizations, a Ladies" Benevolent Society, and a Young People's Baptist Union. The St. Patrick's Catholic Society, Rev. D. J. O'Farrell, pastor, Father Ryan, assistant, occupies the largest church edifice in Stoneham. It stands on the corner of Central and Pomeworth streets, and is nearly new, having been completed in 1888. The Society are taking active steps towards build- ing a parochial residence. It has a large Sabbath School. Besides these various Churches, the people of Stoneham unite in the sup- port of a Young Men's Christian Association, which was first organized in 1S83. Their present rooms are on Franklin Street, and though not by any means ideal accommodations, yet they are pleasant. In addition to the main parlor, there is a reading room, and a gymnasium. The Ladies' Auxiliary has a parlor and dining-room adjoining. This is a society of devoted ladies to whom the Y. M. C. A. owes much for its suc- cess. The Association, even with its limited means, is believed to be a great infiuence for good in this community. The principal officers for 1891 are, of the Association: President, J. B. Hawkins; ist Vice President, A. H. Cowdrey, M. D. : 2d Vice President, J. S. Lewis; 3d Vice President, F. E. Park, M. D. ; Secretary, G. A. Mathews; Treasurer. A. S. Hovey ; Auditor, J. W. ?,IacDonald ; Directors, A. W. Tcnney, E. B. White, E. L. Patch; General Secretary, Frank B. Robbins. Of the Auxiliary : President, Mrs. J. B. Hawkins; ist Vice President, Mrs. Clara CoUey : 2d Vice President, Miss Hattie Bryant: 3d \'ice Presi- dent, Mrs. S. B. Jones; Secretary, Miss G. A. Richardson; Treasurer, Miss Louise D. Eddy; Auditor, Mrs. Mary Patridge ; Advisory Committee, Mrs. A. S. Ilovev, Mrs. Sarah Perrv. Mrs. E. B. White. --^- - -f ^-^ ■^ ST. I'ATRIC-K-.S CHl'RCH. 1 52 STOXEHAM TO-DAV. STOXEHAM SCHOOLS. The citizens of Stoneham have ever evinced a lively interest in their public schools, and in consequence of their liberality the schools have been main- tained at a high standard, and compare favorably with others throughout the State. The proportion of appropriations applied to their support is more than one-fourth of the total ta.\ levy, in 1890 the amount set apart for schools being g;i6,2oo out of a total appropriation of $60,250 for all departments of the town. The teachers are earnest in their work, and are an exceedingly capable body ot instructors, and a degree of harmony exists among them that consti- tutes an important factor in conducing to the generally good condition of the schools. A gratifying consecjuence of this, and one which must convince reasonable minds cannot fail to be of benefit to the schools, is shown in the long-continued service of some of the teachers. The meetings of the Teachers' Association are a source of benefit to the teachers, and through them to the schools. The High School was first put upon an organized basis in 1856. It has been fortunate in the principals charged with its care and direction, and has been maintained at a high standard, its rank at present comparing well with any High School, its reputation being so good that letters are being con- stantly received from all pails of the country inquiring as to methods pursued in different courses of studv. The scho.':l accommodations at present comprise the commodious High School building, in which are located the different classes of the High School as well as the three classes of the Grammar School and the Central Interme- diate; three rooms in the Town House: the North, East and South Schools, each in a four-room building, and tlie Wyoming and North Street Schools, each containing one room. Although the accommodations are not quite adequate to meet the present and ever increasing demand, yet the carrying forward to a co'nsummation of the movement to erect a new Town Hall building will leave the present Town House, which is now partly occupied by the schools, wholly available for school purposes, and thus suppl}' the need for more room. According to the last school report the total numljer of scholars enrolled in all the schools of the town was 1036, of this number s],^ being bo_\s and 503 girls. The average number belonging was 860, and the average attend- ance was 807, or 94 per ce; t., this being an excellent showing. The num- ber of children in the town between 5 and 15 years of age was 894. A Roll ot Honor is kept of the scholars who are neither absent nor tardy for one year or more, and on Feb. i, 1891. Joseph A. Theobald headed the roll with ten consecutive years to his credit, while ti^^re v.xre five \ ilh six years to their credit, two with five years, three with tour _\ears, ten vith three years, and twelve with two years. 154 STONEHAM TO-I)AV. The following list of schools and teachers, with the year in which each of the latter began to teach in Stoneham, will be of interest as a matter of record : High, — James W. McDonald, Principal, 1S76. Emma F. Lowd, First Assistant, 1889. Lilian E. Downes, Second Assistant, 1889. (Grammar, — First Class, Mary L. Lincoui, 1878. Second Class. Eva F. Hard, 1859. H. Mary Bryant, Assistant, 1890. Third Class, Sec. A; Louise D. Eddy, 1889. •' •' Sec. B, Ermina Dike, 1881. Central Intermediate, — Alice V. Peyton, 1885. All of the above being in the High School Building. North Intermediate. — Cora E. Green, 1876. North Upper Primary, — .Mary V. R. Williams, 1868. North Lower Primary, — Sec. A, Alice M. Pierce, 1885. Sec. B, Mary F. Livingston, 1887. These four being in the North School Building at Farm Hill. South Intermediate, — Mary C. Chauncey, 1877. •' Upper Primary, — Olive J. Gerry, 1886. " Lower Primary, — Sec. A, Lilian V. Boothby, 1886. " " " — Sec. B, Susan J. Cochran, 1890. These four being in the South School Building on Geiry Street. East Intermediate, — Augusta J. McCarty, 1884. " Upper Primary, — Lizzie S. Brown, 1886. •' Lower Primary, — Sec. A, Nellie R. Wilson, 1884. " " Primary. — Sec. B, Alma Johonnot, 1886. These four being in the East School Building on Spring Street, corner of Washington Street. Central L-pper Primary, — Fannie F. Curtis, 1885. '• Lower Primary. — Sec. A, Eva G. Jones, 1884. " " Primary. — Sec. B, Lizzie S. Parker. 1871. These three being in the Town Hall Building. Wyoming School, — Susan D. Richardson, 1863, on Pond Street, near Spot Pond. North Street School, — Nellie B. Cutter. 1889, on North Street, in the e.xtreme north part of the town. It will be seen by the above record that nine of the teachers have served for ten or more years, viz : Susan D. Richardson, 28 years. Eva F. Hard, 26 years. Elected first in 1859. served to 1866: tlien elected 1872 and served to the present time. STONEHAM TO-DAY. 155 .Alary V. R. Williams, 23 years. Lizzie S. Parker, 20 years. Cora E. Green, 15 years. J. W. MacDonalcl, 15 years. .Mary C. Chauncey, 14 years. Mary L. Lincoln, 13 years. Ermina Dike, 10 years. Ephraim Cutter, Jr., the elTicient music teacher in the schools, and whose resignation in the Spring was felt to be a great loss to the town, was in ser- vice for nine years successively, and brought this department of study up to a high standard of proficiency. He has been succeeded by H. C. Slack, of Boston. In the report of the School Committee for 1890 is the following, which is worthy of record in these pages as an interesting matter of history : "The patriotic feeling which is gratified in seeing the national flag float above the school-houses, took possession of the citizens two years ago, and it has kept its hold, until at the present time, every school building in town, except the Wyoming, is adorned with the stars and stripes. Five flags have been thrown to the breeze within the past \ear. The first was raised over the North school house, on Washington's birthday, 1S90, and was the gift of Mr. Walter S. Keene ; that at the South school house, was presented by Mr. Myron J. Fenen. The schools in the Town House are indebted to Highland Council, No. 36, O. U. A. M., for their flag, and the North street school to .Master William Tidd, a member of the school. The flag of the East school was obtained by subscriptions among the citizens, solicited by the children." The School Committee now having supervision of the schools is composed of James B. Hawkins, elected 1879; Amos Hill, elected 1887; Sarah A. Lynde, elected 1S76. TOW.\ HALL, ETC. There are two halls in the town used for purposes of public meetings, ex- hibitions, balls and other occasions, viz : The Town Hall and Armory. The Town Hall is situated on Central and Tidd streets, fronting toward the former, and there is a large common ground between the Town House and Central Street. The building is about 40x100 feet, and the hall, which is on the second floor, is about 40x80 feet. The seating capacity, including the gallery in one end, is nearly 600. The front of the hall is at the rear end of the building, and has a platform extending the full width of the room, while at the opposite end, at the entrance, are dressing rooms and closets. The hall is comfortable, and a few years ago was made quite attractive by being newly frescoed. STONEHAM TO-DAV. 1 57 It answers its purpose fairly well, although for town meetings the town has wholl}- outgrown its capacit}', as was thoroughly proven at the town meeting when the new railroad question was considered, to which many were unable to gain entrance. However, it is hoped it will not be far in the future be- fore this building will be displaced by a new one, as a committee of leading citizens was appointed at the annual town meeting in March last, to take into consideration the question of erecting a new Town Hall, and it is be- lieved they will report a plan for a large and commodious building, which will provide for the Town Library, town offices, a large hall for public and town meetings, fire-proof vaults in which to protect the archives of the town, and other purposes. ; The committee consists of Amos Hill, Onslow Gilmore, John W. Spencer, Isaac F. Hersam, W. Ward Child, William H. Sprague and Francis K. Sweetser, and the names of these gentlemen are a sufficient guarantee that the interests of the town will be looked after in the matter, and that a new hall will be built as soon as circumstances will permit. The present building would then, doubtless, be wholly occupied for school purposes, there being three schools now on the first floor. In the basement is the lockup. Hook and Ladder Truck House, Hose No. 2 House and the Boiler Room, where steam is generated for heating the school rooms and hall. The other hall is the Armory, located at the corner of Flint Avenue and Main street. This was built some eight years ago for a rink, during the roller skating craze, and was open for skating for about two years when it was leased by the town for an armory for Co. H, 6th Regt., Stoneham Light Infantry, and it makes an excellent hall for drilling and is let for balls, fairs, and such large gatherings as require more room than the Town Hall provides. If necessary from i,Soo to 2,000 seats could be placed in the Armory, and there ha\e been several occasions when 1500 persons or more have been gathered there. The building is about 75 feet wide by 150 feet long. At the entrance end are the officers' room, company room and closet room. The large hall is decorated with flags and bunting, and a good stage has been erected. All the occasions of the company are held here, and it is also used for camp-fires, reunions, &c. At the front is a balcony. In the basement is a fine banquet hall with permanent tables, cooking range, chairs and all other conveniences necessary, and this is also available to the public. PUBLIC LIBRARY. f As^one of the most interesting and important events in the history of a town is the founding of a free public library, it is believed that the readers of this work will appreciate as full a narrative of the establishment and progress of the Stoneham|Public Library as space will permit, and therefore the most important facts[are here presented. 158 ■ STOXEHAM TO-DAV. Previous to the year 1858 the wants of the reading people of Stoneham were largely supplied through several private libraries owned by societies, and the idea of a free public library was not advanced until the winter of 1858-9, when several gentlemen who were interested in the establishment of such an institution advocated and spread abroad their sentiments in regard to the matter, urging the opinion that a free public library would be of more real value to the community than a half-dozen small enterprises of a private char- acter. This belief gained ground among the people to such an extent that the supporters of the movement were encouraged to have the following article incorporated into the warrant of the annual town meeting held in March, 1859: "To see if the town would establish a free public librar\ , and appro- priate any money for the same." Leading citizens advocated the founding of such an institution, among them being J. Parker Gould, Dr. William H. Heath, Lyman Dike, Amos Hill (2d), John Hill. William Hurd and others. The movement culminated successfully, it being voted, "That a free pub- lic library be established for the free use of each citizen who shall become a legal voter of Stoneham, and three hundred dollars be granted for that pur- pose." Trustees were elected to make all necessary arrangements, to purchase books, procure a suitable apartment, and formulate rules and regulations for the proper management of the new library. The following constituted the Board of TiTistees : Lyman Dike, John Hill, William H. Heath. J. Parker Gould and William Hurd, three of whom, Messrs. Dike, Hill and Hurd are now living. A nucleus was soon formed by the generous action of a society called "The Social Library Association," which had been established since 1792, which voted to loan its entire collection of nearly six hundred volumes, together with its fund of one hundred dollars to be held in trust. The desire to assist in forming the new library soon spread to other socie- ties and "The Young Ladies' Circle"' presented its entire collection of three hundred volumes to the Trustees at a meeting held March 17, 1859, and at a subsequent meeting "The Philomathean Society," a society connected with the High School, contributed ninety volumes. To these generous contributions the town and various indi\iduals added about five hundred volumes the first year, and the new institution was an established success, starting on its second year with a collection of 1470 volumes. The union of the smaller libraries and the foundation of the pub- lic library were mainly due to the efforts of Colonel Lyman Dike and Dr.' William H. Heath. STOXKHAM TO-I)AV. 159 Col. Dike states tliat the first suggestion of a free public library came from Dr. Heath. They were riding to Salem together in a carriage, to participate in a military parade of the regiment of which Col. Dike was commander, Dr. Heath being surgeon on his stalT. On the way. Dr. Heath, who was then Secretary of the Social Library Association, proposed that an at- tempt be made to unite the several private libraries, and found a free public library, and enlist the citizens of the town in the movement. Not long after Col. Dike and Dr. Heath set to work to accomplish this and labored indefatigably until success crowned their efforts. Col. Dike was chairman and one of the purchasing committee of the Board of Trustees for thirteen years, and Dr. Heath was Secretary of the Board until he went to the war. The library was established just before the Legislature passed the Act giv- ing permission to towns to tax the citizens for the support of such an insti- tution, and is thought to ha\-e been the second free public library founded in this State. The library was first opened in May, 1859, in a long, narrow room in the building on Main Street, just south of Montvale Avenue, owned by Mr. James A. Green, and in a portion of which Mr. Green resides. The room is situated on the second floor, in the centre of the building, and was built for a connection between what constituted two buildings, as is shown by the two separate pitched roofs. Here Dr. Heath had his office, but removed into adjoining rooms to make way for the new library. These quarters were soon outgrown and became inconvenient, and the trustees cast about for better accommodations, which were secured above the store of Warren Sweet- ser, then located on Main Street on the site of the present Chase Block, on the spot now covered by \V. E. Clark's department store. A lease was taken for five years and in the summer of 1862 the library was removed to the new quarters. That building is still standing on the southerly side of Franklin, opposite Fuller street, having been removed there just previous to the erection of the Chase block. At the end of the five years' lease more room was needed and a lease of the present quarters in the Dow building was taken for a term of ten years, and there the library was removed in 1867 and has since remained. In their report of this removal the tnistees said "the library was removed to its present spacious Cjuarters in Dow's building, where there is ample room for years to come. From a cramped and inconvenient room it has passed into the best location which the town can afford for such a purpose, furnishing unsurpassed conveniences to those applying for its benefits." A comparison of the present needs of the patrons of the lil)rary with what is shown by the above statement, gives forceful evidence that the growth among our people of a desire for knowledge and the culture to be obtained from good reading, has kept abreast of the. increase in population. The accom- l6o STONEHAM TO-DAY. modations are now wholly inadequate for the purposes required, and herein lies an opportunity for some gentleman of wealth to do for Stoneham what Mr. Jonathan B. Winn did for Woburn, present to the town a public library building, and thus immortalize his name and erect an everlasting monument which shall be a memento of his generosity and interest in the public wel- are. At each annual meeting the town has voted an appropriation of from one hundred to five hundred dollars for the purchase of new books ; also a sum sufficient to pay the annual expense of maintaining the library. In 1864 "The Agricultural Library" presented its collection of one hundred and thirty volumes, and in 1865 Hon. John Hill, then one of the trustees, made a generous donation of $230.00 towards the purchase of books. In 1866 a catalogue of books in the library, then numbering 2,575, was published at an expense of $450.00, and this, with two appendices, served the public until 1S78, when the catalogue in present use, compiled by Mr. James Peyton, Secretary of the Board of Trustees for six years, was issued, the sum of five hundred dollars having been appropriated at the annual town meeting in March, 1877, and an additional one hundred dollars at the meet- ing in March, 1878. A supplementary catalogue was issued in 1887, and as has often as been deemed necessary since that time bulletins have been added. When the 1878 catalogue was issued there were 5.314 bound volumes in the library, while according to the latest statistics, August i, 1890, there were 7,629 books and 855 law reports, public documents, magazines, &c. This shows an average of nearly 200 new books added per year during the twelve years preceding that date. There were 1,125 persons who had taken out books during the year from August I, 1889, to August I, 1890, the number of volumes taken amounting to 22,975, an average of about twenty books each. The town has been liberal in her appropriations, and has given little cause for complaint in this respect, and in nearly all their annual reports for the past twenty-five years the trustees have expressed their gratitude to the citi- zens for doing so well. Only twice have they made urgent appeals for more money, and their requests were granted. The first person selected as librarian was Miss Louisa Rhoades, now Mrs. George Trowbridge, who was then a pupil of the High School. She was chosen at a meeting of the trustees held April 5, 1859, and served from the opening of the library, in May, to about the first of January, 1861, when Mr. Henry Poor was chosen and served to July i, 1861. The succeeding libra- rians have been as follows: July, 1S61, to March, 1863, Miss Josie Hazard; March, 1863, to March, 1864, Miss Imogene A. Rowe; March, 1864, to October, 1865, Mrs. Susan S. Poor; October, 1865, to March, 1866, Mrs. Augusta Sweetser; March, 1866, to July, 1866, Miss Abbie M. Johnson, STOXKIIAM TO-DAY. i6i (now Mrs. A. Warren St iples) ; July, 1866, to Januiry, 1867, .Miss William- ineS. Green, (now Mrs. William 13. .Stevens); January, 1867, to June, 1867, Miss Sarah J. Dike, (now Mrs. Daniel S. Davis, of Boston) ; June, 1867, to September, 1867, Mrs. M. H. Boyce ; September, 1867, to March, 1868, Mrs. Su.san S. Poor; March, 1868, to July, 1868, Mrs. Louise Patten ; July, 1868, to October, 1873, Miss Josephine Hazard; .Miss Hazard i.s now living in Provid-^nce, R. I. ; October, 1873, to October, 1874, Miss Mary E. Hill, (now Mrs. James A. Jones) ; October, 1874, to April, 1875, Miss Ab- bie J. Richardson, she having been assistant to Miss Hill; April, 1875, to October, 1876, Mrs. .M. Evie Jones, (formerly Miss M. E. Hill) ; October, 1876, to the present time, Mrs. M. H. Boyce, she having been assistant to Mrs. M. E. Jones. Mrs. Boyce has had for assistants Mrs. Silas Dean for eight years or more, 1877 to 1885. Mrs. J. Horace Green for over three years, and Miss Emma Chubbuck, the present assistant, for about three years. The salary of the librarian was $50 the first year, and was increased from time to time until it reached $2iS'^y Miss Hazard's salary in 1872-73. Since Mrs. Boyce has held the position she has received $250 per annum. She has been in continuous service for nearly fifteen years as lil)rarian, and for one and a half years preceding as assistant. Her efficiency, faithfulness and excellent care of the books have been commended by the trustees in nearly every annual report. One good index of the thrift and enterprise of a town is the condition ot its banks. Stoneham has three banks, all in a prosperous condition. The Stoneham Five Cent Savings Bank is the oldest of these, and was in- corporated in 1855, the present number of incorporators being about fifty. Its balance sheet for May i, 1891, shows as follows: Mortgage Notes, Personal Notes, Town, •' Municipal Bonds, Railroad Bonds, Real Estate, Bank Stock, Expense, Cash, $197,636.73 • 17,450.00 56,000.00 . 243,000.00 96.000.00 3,161.10 5,000.00 • 1,753-36 7,790.90 $627,792.09 1 62 STONEHAM TO-DAV. LIABILITIES. Deposits, Interest, Guaranty Fund, Profit and Loss, ?588,436 15,514 16,952 6,888 $627,792.09 So carefull_v and discreetly lias this bank, from the first, been managed that it has never met with any losses, either from poor investments or from dishonesty on the part of its ofiicials. The officers for the present year are as follows: President, William B. Stevens, Esq. ; Vice Presidents, Wm. G. Fuller, Dr. A. H. Cowdrey ; Clerk and Treasurer, Onslow Gilmore ; Trustees, Wm. B. Stevens, Wm. G. Fuller, John Steele, Lyman Dike, Arad Gerry, J. W. Spencer, C. C. Dike, F. E. Nickerson, Amos Hill, A. H. Cowdrey, Elbridge Gerry, Lsaac Swasey, On- slow Gilmore, Charles E. Home, Dexter Bucknam, R. L. Bowser; Investing Committee, J. W. Spencer, Arad Gerry, A. H. Cowdrey; Committee to Ex- amine Securities, Wm. B. Stevens, Chas. E. Home. The bank regularly declares a semi-annual dividend of two per cent. It has just moved into new and pleasant rooms in Chase's Block. The Stoneham Co-operative Bank was organized and incorporated Jan. 10, 1887, mainly through the efforts of our young townsman, Wm. B. Snow, who was its first secretary. It has had four years of uninterrupted prosperity. It has been instrumental in buildmg a considerable number of new houses, besides enabling many of our industrious citizens to purchase homes on con,- venient terms. Its balance sheet for May, 1891, shows as follows: Real Estate Loans, Share Loans, Unpaid Interest, P'remiums and Fines, Unpaid Dues, *Cash on Hand, «55,25o.oo. 2,150.00 37-31 259.00 3,647.90 $61,344.21 Assets by last report. Gain in Six Months, $48,808.81 12,535.40 STONEIIAAI TO-DAV. 163 LIABILITIES. 473 Sliares, Series i, at $58.19, 69 " * 2 * ' 50.62, 225 " ' 3. ' ' 43-22. 89 " ' 4, ' ' 36-04, 147 ' 5' ' ' 29.05, 126 " ' 6, ' ' 25.62, 192 " ' 7. ' ' 18.91, 247 " ' 8, ' ' 12.41, 387 " ' 9' ' 6.10, Guarantee, Forfeited Share Account, Surplus, Profit and Loss, Advance Dues, * At interest, awaiting action of borrowers. 27,: .87 • 3.492-78 9,724-50 • 3.207.56 4,270.35 - 3.228.12 3,630.72 - 3.065.27 2,360.70 $60,503.87 350.83 329-13 7. II I I 1.27 42.00 $61,344.21 It declares a semi-annual dividend of three and occasionally three and a half per cent. Its regular meeting is on the first Tuesday of each montli. The following is the present board of officers : J. B. Sanborn. President: Sidney A. Hill, Vice President; J. W. MacDonald, Secretary and Treasurer • Directors, E. W. Byron, Dr. A. H. Cowdrey, Lyman Dike, Fred Davies, Chas. L. (jill, J. B. Hawkins, Amos Hill, W. S. Keene, O. H. Marston, J. A. Moulton, Luther White ; Auditors, R. W. Barnstead, William Kelly J. A. Stockwell; Attorney, Amos Hill; Finance Committee, Ed. W. Bvron, Fred Davies, Sidney Hill; Security Committee, A. H. Cowdrey, Amos Hill O. H. Marston. The Stoneham National Bank, organized and incorporated in March 1890, through the enterprise of another young townsman, J. A. Stockwell, has been also very successful, and is supplying a long-felt want on the part of our business men. Its rooms are also in Chase's Block. Its balance sheet for March 21, 1891, the end of its first jear, shows as follows : Loans, U. S. Bonds, . Other Stocks and Bonds, $118,265.00 12,500.00 5,oco.oo 164 STONEHAM TO-DAY. Due from Banks, .... 42,352.53 Premiums, ..... 2,625.00 Furniture, ..... 670.00 Cash, ...... 15,668.09 U. S. 5 per cent. Fund, .... 562.50 $197,643.12 Capital Stock, ..... $50,000.00 Surplus, ...... 600.00 Undivided Profits, . . . . 3,378.48 Circulation, ...... 11,250.00 Dividend No. i, . . . . . 1,250.00 Deposits, ...... 131,164.64 $197,643.12 The following are its officers: President, Charles W. Tidd ; Vice Presid- ent, C. H. Drew; Directors, A. H. Cowdrey, C. H. Brown, C. Fred Buck, W. S. Keene, E. F. Sanborn, Wm. B. Stevens; Cashier, Chas. A. Bailey; Clerk, Fred Chase. STONEHAM BOARD OF TRADE. The Stoneham Board of Trade is an outcome of the Stoneham Traders' Association, to which it succeeded in November, 1886. The Traders' Association was formed in 1876 for the purpose of appoint- ing annually in the summer a holiday to be called "Traders' Day." upon which day all the merchants and proprietors of mechanical trades would close their places of business and take an outing at some popular resort. This Association did not include in its membership the manufacturers and professional men, and in 1886 it was thought best to extend its scope and enlarge its field of usefulness and become of more benefit to the town. At a meeting of the A.ssociation the subject was discussed and the secretary was instructed to issue notices and send to manufacturers, professional men and others inviting them to attend a meeting for the object proposed. This meeting was held November 11, 1886, in the Company room of the Stoneham Light Infantry, in Dow's building, twenty-six gentlemen being present. Captain John F. Berry presided and it was voted to organize a Board of Trade immediately. The following were elected as the first board of officers : President, James E. Whitcher ; Vice Presidents, Joseph Theo- bald, Onslow Gilmore and W. D. Byron; Secretary, R. W. Barnstead; Treasurer, R. L. Bowser ; Executive Committee, Lyman Dike, Edwin A. Vinton, W. Ward Child, S. P. Finnegan, Winthrop F. Stevens, M. D., and STONEHAM TO-DAY. 1 65 Jason B. Sanborn, with the elective officers. In a short time after its organ- ization the roll book of the Board showed a list of seventy members. The Traders' Association was at that time dissolved but the Board of Trade continued for several years to perform the function for wliich it was organized, appointing a "Traders' Day" and making all arrangements for it. Like all associations of the kind the Board of Trade has had its prosperity and adversity, the attendance at the meetings being so small at times as to almost discourage the officers. This caused them, even at the end of the first year, to complain, but it was decided to endeavor to arouse the members to greater activity. The old board of officers we e re-elected at a meeting in December, and a celebration of the first anniversary was planned. This was carried out the latter part of January, the occa.-^ion being a bancjuet, with speeches and other exercises. Members of the W'oburn and Wakefield Boards of Trade and leading citizens of Sloneham were present and the affair was very successful. The agitation for a new railroad to connect Stoneham with Boston by a shorter and quicker route started in the Board of Trade in February, 1888. The records show that at a meeting held in that month. Secretary Barnstead stated that he had interviewed General Manager Furber of the Boston and Maine R. R., in relation to meeting a committee of the Board of Trade to discuss the matter of better facilities. Mr. Furber had said that he would gladly meet .>uch a committee. At that meeting of the Board the following were appointed to confer with Mr. Furber: President James E. Whitcher, Secretary R. W. Barnstead, Treasurer R. L. Bowser, Dr. A. H. Cowdrey, Jason B. Sanborn, W. D. Byron and W. N. Gray. The desire was for a loop road through Stoneham to Reading. In April or May a conference between the committee and Mr. Furber was held at which the latter said he would have the proposed route, which was from Medford through Stoneham to Reading, surveyed. A committee consisting of Secretary Barnstead, William H. Sprague, S. G. Chauncey and J^mes Forrest was chosen May 14 to go to Medford and interview citizens of that town in regard to the matter. It was found by survey and estimate that it would not be practicable to build the road to connect at Medford on account of the great expense. After tills the movement slumbered for some time, and there being no other c|uestion of importance for the l](xird to consider, interest in it fiagged again, and at a meeting January 14, 1889, the past and future of the Board were discussed, some thinking best to let the organization die. It w^as finally decided to take a new lease of life, and the following were elected officers : President, Jason B. Sanborn; Vice Presidents, A. H. Cow- drey, M. D., W. N. Gray, W. C. Whitcher: Secretary, R. W. Barnstead; 1 66 STOXICIIA.M T()-I)AV. Treasurer, R. L. Bowser; Executive Committee, W. D. Byron, S. G. Chauncey, Frar.k W. Spencer, Wm. H. Sprague, A. S. Hovey, S. A. Hill, and the President and Vice President. March ii, i8Sg, L. D. Hawkins was invited to address the Board on a proposition to build an electric railroad. Gentlemen stood ready, he said, to take half the capital stock on a guarantee of six per cent, interest. This road would run on the easterly side of Spot l^ond, passing the Hotel Langwood. After a debate a committee of three members of the Board and three citi- zens, consisting of the following gentlemen, was appointed to take the whole matter of better railroad facilities under consideration and rejjort at a future meeting of the Board : Members of Board, Dr. A. H. Cowdrey, W. C. Whitcher and Wm. H. Sprague ; Citizens, L. D. Hawkins, J.W. MacDonald and Wm. B. Stevens, Esq. At a meeting March 27, 1889, composed of mcmliers of the Board of Trade and citizens, this committee reported a sclieme for a surface steam railroad to connect with the Boston and Maine R. R. at Fells Station. This would cost $100,000. After a long discussion, many prominent gentlemen speaking earnestly in favor of such a railroad, a committee of three consisting of Wm. B. Stevens, Escp, Dr. A. H. Cowdrey and J. W. MacDonald, was chosen to petition the Selectmen to call a town meeting to see if the town would appropriate two per cent, of its valuation towards stock in the proposed road. L. D. Hawkins, W. Ward Child and C. H. Drew were appointed a com- mittee to make a complete survey and ascertain probable land damages, and report to the Board. O. H. Marston, Sidney A. Hill and J. K. Foster were appointed a com- mittee to arrange lor the formation ot a stock company. Several other meetings were held and the tenor of all the discussions seemed to be that the railroad ought to be pushed, and that if .Stoneham was to have .such a road the citizens must assist to build it, and that it would be of inestimable benefit to the town when completed. At a meeting April 8. 1889, a committee consisting of J. W. MacDonald, S. P. Finnegan, Frank W. Spencer and W. N. Gray was appointed to join with the survey committee chosen at the March 27th meeting. Pending a solution of the railroad problem by the several committees ap- pointed the meetings of the Board were thinly attended for more than a year, and at a meeting November 19, 1890, only President Sanborn, Secretary Barnstead and Frank W. Spencer of the Executive Committee, were present. The matter of making no further attempt to keep up the organization was seriously considered, but it was finally decided to make up a new list of offi- cers, elect them, and see if new life could not be infused into the organiza- tion. These three men then proceeded to elect the following: President, W. C. Whitcher; Vice Presidents. A. H. Cowdrey, M. D., O. H. Marston STONEHAiM TO-OAY. 1 67 and Joseph Theobald; Secretary, Frank W. Spencer; Treasurer, Sidney A. Hill Early in the i)resent year it was reported that the railroad committee had made a favorable arrangement with the B. & M. R. R. and a call for a meet- ing of members of the Board and citizens was issued. It was held on the evening of March 16, 1891, and was a notal}le one, about 150 citizens being present. President Whitcher presided and \Vm. 15. Stevens, Esq., chair- man of the railroad committee, was called upon to make a report. He said that after two years work they had made a proposition to the B. & M. R. R. by which it was agreed that the branch road from the centre to Fells Station, a distance of about three miles, should be built if the town would take $50,000 of the stock and sell it to the railroad at a nominal price. The company agreed to go to work just as soon as the town raised the money and the committee finished bonding necessaiy land, and would build a double track road from Fells Station to Gould street, and connect with the Stoneham Branch of the Lowell Division, thereby making a circuit road. This proposition met with the greatest favor at the meeting and i t was the unanimous opinion that the best thing the town could do would be to accejDt the offer, and it was voted to have a town meeting called for the purpose. This was done, the meeting was held, the Town Hall was crowded, and many were unable to gain admission, so great was the interest. A yea and nay vote was taken, and the check-list showed that just 700 had voted in favor of the town appropriating $50,000 and only five against. It was con- sidered the most interesting and important town meeting ever held in Stone- ham. Although the Board of Trade have credit for the new railroad movement, we think that the scheme was devised before the Board of Trade made the move before noticed. As long ago as when the class of '89 graduated from our High School, they gave an outline map, which was in many respects simi- lar to the present outline for the new road, and in this discussion advanced the idea which has since taken form. It is needless to say that Class '89 gathered their material from a thought suggested by their principal and teacher, J. W. MacDonald, to whom we are satisfied the greatest credit in this movement should be given. The Board of Trade is now in a flourishing condition, and bids fair to do much more towards the progress of the town, but it may well be proud with the laurels won if the new railroad is pushed forward to completion. It is now actively engaged in endeavoring to get the citizens of the town who do business in Boston to patronize their home post-office that the standard may be raised sufficiently to allow of a free mail delivery. AL.MSHOLSK. The Old Poor Farm, which was bought of Mrs. Elizabeth Cutler in 1826, STOXEHAM TO-DAY. 1 69 was sold to Cornelius Doyle in 1850 or 1851. Few changes or improvements were made about the Farm during the inter- vening years, as it answered all the purposes of a comfortable home for those who were so unfortunate as to be obliged to be taken care of there by the town. The only new building of any importance was a barn, which was erected in 1841. The old Poor Farm was located in the northeast part of the town in the section which was set off to Wakefield in 1889. Stoneham has always been solicitous to deal kindly by those within her limits who for any cause have become objects of charity, and in no better way has she shown this than by choosing for many consecutive years as Overseers of the Poor, men fitted both in heart and judgment for that trying and important position. When it was found that the exigencies of the situation required a more commodious almshouse the old house and farm were disposed of and land was purchased, and a new house, the one in present use. was erected in 1852. The building committee were John Hill, Oliver W. Richardson and Amasa Farrier. About seventeen acres of land were bought at first, but this has been added to until now the Poor Farm is a pleasant tract of about forty acres, situated in the northeast portion of the town, upon which, facing Elm Street, but a little back, stands the almshouse. Not long after this neat structure was built an L was added and a shop constructed for the shoemakers in the home, and as a sort of general lounging and smoking place, for which latter uses it is at jjresent assigned. Last year the house was again enlarged by the addition of a wing 32x34 feet and cap- able when fully furnished of accommodating about thirty inmates. The superintendent now in charge is Franklin B. Sargent, who is a very efficient man. The plan of the Overseers is to send to the Almshouse only the older un- fortunates, but not children if it can possibly be avoided. The present board of Overseers of the Poor consists of W. Ward Child, Henry H. French and Deacon Silas Dean. The Eoard has been unbroken for over fourteen years, being now in its fifteenth year of continuous service. In their report for the year 1890 they closed with these words: "We fee^ safe in saying that the town has as good if not the best accommodations for her poor of any town in Massachusetts." CEMETERIES. Stoneham has three public cemeteries. The oldest is the Old Burying Ground on Pleasant Street, opposite junction of William. Its occupancy dates back to the beginning of the town, though the oldest headstone is dated 1728. Here, marked by quaint, old-fashioned stones, are the graves 1 7° STOXEHA.M TO-DAY. of those prominent in tlie early history of Stoneham, whose names have been mentioned on a preceding page of this book. Covering a pleasant knoll near by is the William Street Cemetery. Neither of these cemeteries are now much used. Lindenwood Cemetery in the western part of the town, is a beautiful spot. It occupies the southern slope of a gentle elevation facing Montvale Avenue. Near the entrance on Montvale Avenue stands a neat soldiers' monument, and further up on a pretty little knoll on the hillside is a lot dedicated to the unknown heroes of the late war. The cemetery contains besides a number of fine monuments. It is in charge of a committee known as the Trustees of Lindenwood Cemetery, who have managed it since it first opened, with such taste and judgment as to make it the pride of the town. It has lately been enlarged by the addition of several acres on the eastern side. The present Board of Trustees is as follows : W. Ward Child, C. C. Dike, W. B. Stevens, Onslow Gilmore, James Grant. NEWSPAPERS. The newspapers of a town are among her most important institutions, and the power of the press is a recognized factor in shaping the course of affairs in a community. This was never more recognized than it is today, and never so freely conceded. Being almost universally read, the newspaper of a town is, therefore, almost universal in its influence. When properly con- ducted the newspaper is a progressive force, aiding materially in the mould- ing of public opinion, reflecting the ideas of leading minds, giving the con- sensus of thought on questions of interest, and thus forwarding the march of public progress. The newspaper is of vast importance to the merchant, as through it he can communicate with his customers. It also offers a channel for conveying information to the people on matters pertaining to the town's general welfare which can be furnished in no other way so satisfactorily. The influence of a newspaper is felt not only within but far beyond the borders of the town where published, to an extent which cannot be estimated, and is far from being appreciated. The history of newspaper publication in Stone- ham is largely comprehended within the last quarter of a century. Previous to that period there had been only one paper as far as known. The first newspaper published in the town was TJie Regulator and Middle- sex Ad7uilding in 1870 at a cost of $4,000 in which to house the Col. Gould engine. In 1886 a new hose carriage, the E. R. Seaver No. 3, was built for the department by T. T. .Marston. of Stoneham, at a cost of $330. This is located at Farm Hill in a hose house built by the town at a cost of $800 for building and furnishing. The Hook and Ladder Truck and Gen. Worth Hose Carriage and Hose Wagon are kept in rooms in the basement of the Town Hall building. The new steam fire engine is a second size, full nickeled Amoskeag, built by the Manchester Locomotive Works, Manchester, N. H., and cost S.3, 500, and the old Col. Gould Engine. It is a substantial and beautiful engine and one of the best made. The Fire Department has no horses, but has a contract with James Forrest to draw the Steam Fire Engine at a compensation of $200 per year, with B. B. Batcheller to diaw the Hook and Ladder Truck at three dollars for each alarm, with Tredick Bros, to furnish a supply wagon at three dollars for each alarm, and with Levi Hill to draw the Gen. Worth Hose Carriage at $100 per year. The Chief Engineers of the department and their terms of office have been as follows, the term beginning in May of each year. The first on record is B. F. Richardson, 1857, followed by Orin Hersam, 1858-9-60; Onslow •--*-'*'3u« COL. GOULD EXGLXE HOUSE. -^*«i*" l8o STONEHAM TODAY. Gilmore, 1861-2-3-4-5 : Charles C. Dike, 1866-7; Oi'if Hersam, 1868: \Vm . C. Dustin, 1869; William F. Walker, 1870-1 ; Onslow. Gilmore 1872; William H. Eastman. 1S73-4-5: Mcses Downs, 1876-7-8-9; Edward R. Seaver, 1880-1; Orin A. Dodge 1882-3; Edward R. Seaver, 1884-5-6; Orin A. Dodge, 1887-8-9-90-1 All of the above are living except Mr. Hersam. The present Board of Engineers consists of Orin A. Dodge, Chief, Geo. E. Sturtevant, First Assistant and John A. LaClair, Second Assistant and Clerk. They were all chosen in 1887 and are now in their tilth consecutive term of service. During that period the department has maintained a high degree ol effic- iency and it can be safely said that the departments of few towns will com- pare with that of Stoneham in promptness in responding to alarms and successful work in extinguishing fires before they have caused serious damage. When we consider the number of large wooden factories and other inflamma- ble buildings in Stoneham, many of them in clcse proximity to each other, we may acquire some realization of the good work done by the dcpraiment in preventing serious conflagrations by promptly quenching fires in their in- cipiency or before they have gained much headway. The apparatus of the department has of late years been constantly im- proved and added to and now consists as follows, that which is marked * having been added during the last five years, the date of purchase and cost of each being given : * Amoskeag Steam Fire Engine, second size, full nickeled, built by Man- chester Locomotive Works, Manchester, N. H., 1S91, cost $3500 and the old Colonel Gould Steam Fire Engine, the new steamer also bearing the name Col. Gould; Resolute Hook and Ladder Truck, No. i, built 1881, cost $500 and the old Resolute Hook and Ladder Tmck, is fully equipped as follows: one sixty feet * Somerville extension ladder, bought 1S87, cost $175, one fifty feet Bangor extension ladder, bought 1877, cost ^125, two hundred and thirty feet of common ladders, four Johnson pumps and all other necessary pharaphernalia ; General Worth Hose Carriage No. 2 (horse) carrying 1000 feet of hose, built 1873, cost $950 ; * Colonel Gould Hose Wagon No. i, (hand or horse) carrying 600 feet of hose, pipes. iS;c., built 1890. cost $250 and the old Co'. Gould hose carriage ; * Gjn. Worth Hose Wa^on No. 2. (hand) built 1889, cost $300, carrying 500 fjet of hose, also * life saving apparatus, bought in 1888, cost $100, comprising one sixty feet chute, one jumping net, guns, &.c. • E. R. Seaver Hose Carriage No. 2, carrying 500 feet of hose, built 1886, cost $330. The department has 5,000 feet of hose in good condition, 3300 feet of which has been bought in the last two years. In addition there are twelve hydrant gates, which with the other facilities allow of the throwing of fourteen streams of water in Central Square in case of necessity. 1 82 STONEHA.M TO-DAV. In i8go an electric fire alarm system was introduced. It was completed and accepted in November and has since given satisfaction. It is the Game- well svstem and comprises seventeen tire alarm boxes, a whistle machine for the gong on the factorv of Sanborn «S: Mann, a bell striker for the bell on the Con;;r gational Church, a bo.x for school signal in residence of Amos Hill, of the sc'.iool committee, and tappers in the homes of the engineers. The e.x- pense o: the whole was S2100. The appropriation made by the tovvn for ti e sujjport of the fire department this year is $2800. In 1883 water was introduced into the town, being lianished bv the water works at Wakefield, and fifty-eight post hydrants and one Lowry hydrant have been put in throughout the town. The reservoirs in former use were, however, retained and are kept in condition in the outskirts where the water pipes do not extend, as is also the one in Central Square. There are now sixty-five men in the department, diviaed as tbilows : En- gineers, 3: Hook and Ladder Co.. 25: Col. (jould Hose Co.. 15: Gen. Worth Hose Co., 12: E. R. Seaver Hose Co., :o. IXDL'STKIES. The industries of a manufacturing communit}- contriltute miteriallv to its support and prosperity, in fact they are the fountain tVom whicli its life is drawn, and the citizens appreciate this tact and the public spirited among them are even ready to show their appreciation of the value of these industries when occasion demands. The town of Ston;ham is fortunate in this respect. For a great many years it has been an acknowledged manufacturing commu- nity, and although in the outskirts the residents are principally employed in agriculture, floriculture and kindred pursuits, in its industrial reputation abroad it is favorably known as one of the municipalities of th.: common- wealth noted for the manufacture of shoes. Its factories are well equipped and many of them extensive and aftbrd constai>t employment to a large num- ber of operatives, women as well as men, and the wages paid compare favorably with those of any branch of industry. The boots and shoes manufactured here are accounted among the best put on the market and their sales extend to all parts of the country. So complete an account of the origin and growth of the industries of Stoneham has already been given on a preceding page of this book, that it will not be necessary to further consider the subiect historically. It is there- fore our purpose in this article to treat it with regard to present facts only. The shoe business is still the leading industry of the town. It is carried on in fifteen separate factories by about twenty-six different firms. The largest of these is the new factory of T. H. Jones on Franklin Street, capable of em- ploying about three hundred hands and turning out eightv cases of shoes STOXEHAM TO-DAV. 1 83 per day. Sanborn & Mann's is next witli a capacity of four liundred liands and seventy-five cases per day. The total shipment of boots and shoes from Stoncham from January i, 1890, to January i, 1S91, was 59,663 cases. As an outgrowth of and adjunct to shoe manufacturing the following industries have sprung up and furnish employment to many hands : Henry Boyce & Sons, taps, soles and stiffenings ; E. P. Duncklee, innersoles and taps; E. A. Newhall, taps, soles and heels; C. K. Wiiite, taps and heels; Joshua Mears, heels; E. K. Lothrop Co., boot and shoe tips: S. A. Marston, sole and upper leather tips : G. W. Newhall & Son, shoe trimmings ; Stackpole & Daniels, shoe trimmings; H. E. Hersam, die maker; Wesley Carville, cutting boards and dynking blocks, all the above being manufactur- ers ; David Tibbetts, Standard machine sewing and fastening: .Mrs. George H. Hathaway, machine stitching on shoe uppers. The firms engaged in the boot and shoe industry are here given, with a ■complete tabulated statement of tlie capacity, and output of their factories, together with other interesting particulars, as follows : lS4 STONEHAM TO-DAY. i" ;'■• 3; • >. .- t' f 5 2 s 1/1 - ^ c c . o i m" O 13 C O ■J o 23 o 'c — o — "- S «r >i 5 *S c S = pa - : = bic i: u -a C ; "3 ^ J= - C o "■~ o •; : •= O C ■K 'A i^ >. Q Cj E J. o c |S c' . O o "b 1 c 5 S M 2 ^ 2 2 'A SP " ° 'C. — '^ <;*= — 5 oa «5^ /• s 5 c a < S c < c _c ;•'• .: ZJ 5 E -a. C = . c ■yT C ^'^ J ~ i 5 2 5 ?:J ::; J. > jj «5 «5 «; «5 ::: S o " ^ ^ J? ^ •p.n[sHqinsa O) o:; c/: CAj w COWj (» in c r J^C 'o O lO c lo O O N n o ■spuBH ON ^% 2 '^ " 1 N ^ -■ - be ■}i ^ w "5 ? •ji t« •f. X W ^ c brj Jl : >^ ^ C ^ •opiux JKihW 4i c c 1 o ^ 1 ^ c Tj, S 1 1 -3 a :j n s- . c D 3J0 r ^ E s b/j c bl bi' b/j c/. -- ^ o _o ^ r i; -^ s - (U 1 ,"Z 2>^ ^ y 7 Z d: Z ^ :: z ^ 2 z o S Be c Z g" bo K e J ^" Q c O Oh' £1. 1, ?: c K Ch 1-3 hJO fc >— . 1—1 c 6 '■f i ^ ;s " := < STONEHAM TO-UAY. 185 M=5 o X 1 ft li ^ ro ^ c<« " ; a ■^ ? -'2 yj wo ■ra -a "^ c c c 5 S ii ofi b^ bi} WW 01) W WW > - > ^ > > > 3 ^ z z ZZ 'A zz SB e -tT, < X t/3 WIS 1 86 STONEHAM TO-DAV. The tanning and currying business, of old an important industry of Stone- ham, is now carried on by one firm, but a firm of long standing and of wide reputation, the firm of Wm. Tidd & Co., mentioned on page 97. There is, besides, the firm of Wm. I). Uyron &; Sons, engaged in leather making in their factory near Farm Hill S' .tion. The westward tendency of these industries makes it very improbahh, that they are destined to grow in Stoneham, in the sense that new estiMishments will be opened. The leather shipped from Stoufham from January r, 1890, to January i, 1 89 1, was 35.505 rolls. A new industry introduced into Stoneham. and one that promises a pros- perous future, is the manufacturing of drugs, medicines and chemicals by the E. L. Patch Company in their factory on Montvale Avenue. This company was organized Nov. 16, 1888, chartered Dec. 24, 18S8, with a capital of $100,000 and commenced active business operations May i, 1889. The officers are Prof. Edgar L. Patch, President; J. F. Ryder, Vice President; Hon. Onslow Gilmore, Treaaurer ; Henry Canning, Secretary; F. E. Rowell, Clerk; Geo. Y. Hutchins and C. E. Dotey, Directors. The company manufactures chemical and pharmaceutical preparations in great variety. Among their products we might name purified chemicals, granular efifen^escent salts, percolation powders, assayed drugs, fluid extracts, chemical syrups, elixirs, tablets, compressed and cut lozenges, pills and tritu- rates. The business has the personal supervision of President Patch, who is a chemist of eminence and unusual ability, possessing a thorough scientific knowledge of his profession and endowed with native genius and discern- ment. With such a master at the helm it seems a forgone conclusion, judging from results alreadv obtained, that the progress of this corporation must be steadily and surely forward. Every effort is made to have the products of the very best quality, and to secure this all products are sampled and assayed and all that are in any way deficient brought to standard. The business has rapidly expanded and necessitated the enlargement of buildings to twice their original capacity during the '^ast two years. It will be gratifying to the citizens to have it continue to mt-ct with favor and be- come a prominent industry of the town. At present (May 1891) the total number employed in all departments is 52. A view of the laboratory may be seen on the next page. There are two firms engaged in carriage building, R. D. Wall and W. Ward Child, the latter having succeeded B. F. Riciiardson in 187 i and con- tinued at the same old stand on Main street since, although he was in the same business during a period of years previous to that time. > H n X n o > r > O > H O 1 88 STONEHAM TO-DAY. Mr. Wall succeeded to the business ofO. A. Edgell in 1872 and has since that time been engaged in the manufacturing to order of all descriptions of fine carriages. He is now located on Block street. The manufacturing of paper boxes for all purposes is also carried on by William P. Fletcher, who has lately moved into new, larger and more conve- nient charters on Pleasant street, adjoining the railroad. There two are firms engaged in making wooden boxes, Orra Paige, on the corner of Pine and Tidd Streets, and the new firm of F. H. Garman. manu- facturer of packing boxes and box shooks, on Pomeworth Street. W. H. Farnham & Co. carry on the business of manufacturing shoe lasts on Mont vale Avenue. It will well repay a visit to this place to see the rodent machines turn in a few moments rough blocks of maple into shapely lasts, the e.xact counterpart of a given model, though perhaps diftering from it in size. In the east part of the town, Mr. Samuel Hipkiss carries on an extensive business in manufacturing base balls, tennis balls, etc. The Foster Manufacturing Co., corner of Main and Summer Streets, man- ufacture pencil shaipeners. Saws are made bv J. A. Healev & Co., Central Square, and stair building is done by Fred W. Lawry, Main Street. SOCIETIES AND CLUBS. There are a large number of excellent fraternal and other societies in Stoneham, most of \\hich have a good membership. A complete list is given with the names ot principal officers and dates and places of meeting, as follows : Columbian Lodge. Xo. 29, I. O. O. F. Noble Grand. W. Scott Pryor ; Rec. Sec'y, W. Ward Child. Every Friday night. Odd Fellows" Hall. Columbian Encampment No. 43. I. O. O. F. Chief Patriarch, R. R. Gilman ; Scribe, W. Ward Child, ist and 3d Mondays. Odd Fellows" Hall. Canton Fells, No. 26, Patriarchs Militant, I. O. O. F. Captain, S.C. Batchelder; Lieut., C. F. Brown; Ensign, R. R. Gilman. 2d Monday. Evergreen Lodge, No. 19, D. of R. Noble Grand, Mrs. O. F. Huntoon ; Rec. Sec'y, Alma Johonnot. 2d Tuesday. Odd Fellows' Hall. Columbian Mutual Relief Association, I. O. O. F. Pres., C. F. Brown; Clerk, C. O. Currier. Meet 2d Friday. Columbian Mutual Benefit Association. I. O. O. F. Fres.. S. H. Green; Clerk, W. Ward Child. King Cyms Lodge, F. & A. M. Worshipful Master, J. A. Frasier ; Sec- retary, Orra Paige. 3d Wednesday. Odd Fellows' Hall. Beulah Chapter, No. 11, Order Eastern Star. Worthy Matron, H. Angle Sweetser; Secretary. Lillian \'. Boothby. 3d Thursdav. Odd Fellows' Hall. STONEHAM TO-DAY. 1 89 Division 4, A. O. H. I'resident, John Leach; Secretary, John B. McDonald. Rooms in Saurin's Building. J. P. Gould Post 75. G. A. R. Commander, M. W. Messer; Adjutant, G. E. Whitehouse. Every Mondav. Grand Army Hall. Woman's Relief Corps 65. President, Clara L. Buswell ; Secretary, Annie Bartlett. 2d and 4th Fridays. G. A. R. Hall. Capt John H. Dike Camp No. 86, Sons of Veterans. Meetings in G. A. R. Hall 1st and 3d Fridays. Captain, W. G. Bartlett; ist Sergt., M. B. Chase. Company H. Sixth Regiment, M. V. M. Captain, S. G. Sweetser; ist Lieut., F. F. Green: 2d Lieut., Frank Tabbut ; Clerk, W. E. Sweetser. Armory, Main street. Wamscott Tribe, No. 39, I. O. Red Men. Sachem, John Gray; Chief of Records, R. O. Hanson. Meet every Thursday. Do\v"s Block. Daughters of Pocahontas. Pocahontas, Clara M. Johnson; Keeper of Records, Mrs. M. A. Dow. ist and 3d Fridays. Red Men's Hall. Highland Council, No. 36, O. U. A. I\L Councillor, George Thaver ; Rec. SecV, A. S. Howe. Every Wednesday. O. U. A. M. Hall. True American Council, No. 15, Daughters of Liberty. Councillor, C. E. Cloutman. Rec. Sec'y, Miss Addie Putney. O. U. A. AL Hall. Fells Lodge, No. 6^, A. O. LI. W. Master Workman, Frank Barnes; Recorder, W. W. Houghton. 2d and 4th Tuesdays. Good Templars' Hall. Stoneham Lodge, No. 371, K. of H. Dictator, G. Andrews; Reporter, S. D. Allen, ist and 3d Tuesdays. Good Templars' Hall. Stoneham Lodge No. S04, A. L. of H. Commander, G. J. Child; Sec'y, John Best. 2d and 4th Tuesdays. Grand Army Hall. Bear Hill Assembly, R. S. of G. F. Ruler, F. O. Berry; Secretary, A- L. Bean. G. A. R. Hall, ist Wednesday. Forest Union, No. 686, E. A. U. President, Mrs. Ellen J. Tay ; Sec'y, C. S. Jewett. 2d Wednesday. G. A. R. Hall. Miles Standish Colony, No. 7, U. O. P. F. Worthy Gov., Henry A. Smith; Secretary, John Best. 1st and 3d Tuesdaj-s. Grand Army Hall. Victory Commandery, No. 52, O. G. G. Conductor, Timothy Cronin ; Secretary, G. W. Hook. 2d and last Mondays. Royal Conclave, K. and L. Councillor, L. Lewis; Secretary, R. O. Han- son. 2d and 4th Fridays. Good Templars' Hall. Friendly Aid Society. President, Joseph Theobald; Secretary, T. Fred Emery, ist and 3d Thursdays. Garnet Lodge, Order of Solid Rock. Chief Councillor, Lucy H. Johnson; Recorder, May Coombs. 4th Wednesday. Stoneham Board of Trade. President, W. C. Whitcher; Secretary, F. W. Spencer. 2d Monday. O. U. A. M. Hall. I go STOXEHA.M TOIXW Sloneliani Sportsman's Club. President, P. H. Home; Secretary, \V. H. Hurd. Rooms, Dorr"s Block. Athletic Club. President. F. E. Cummings : Secretary. Harry Boyce. Rooms, Dorrs Block. Ladies" Aid. President, Mrs. A. J. Kempton ; Secretary, Mrs. A. R. Green: 2d and 4th Thursdays. G. A. R. Hall. Woman's Christian Temperance Union. President, Mrs. E. P. Nickerson ; Secretary, Mrs. C. A. Anderson. Meet alternate Thursday evenings with the Secretary. Crystal Gem Lodge, No. 19, L O. G. T. \Voriliy Chief Templar, Frank L Tibbetts ; Secretary, Miss Annie Bartlett. Every Wednesday. Ciocd Templars" Hall, Dow's Block. Loyal Legion. Supt., Mrs. L. C. Shaw: Ass"t Supt., Mrs. G. A. \o\wg. Meet every Wednesday afternoon. Young Men"s Christian Association. President, J. B. Hawkins; Secretary, G. A. Mathews; General Secretary, Frank 15. Robbins. Rooms, Franklin street. Ladies" Auxiliary to Y. M. C. A. President, Mrs. J. 15. Hawkins: Sec'y, Miss G. A. Richardson. Rooms on Franklin street. Cutters LTnion. Rooms in Aaron Hill's Building. Laster's Protective Union. Rooms in Dow's Building. Lincoln Club. President, W. S. Keene ; Secretary, F. E. Nickerson. Rooms in Chases' Building. Central Club. President, E. H. Moore; Secretary, C. E. Home. Room in Chases" Building. Farm Hill Gun Club. President. Hamilton Hay; Secretary, Homer C. Hay. St. Patrick's Catholic Total Abstinence Society. President, Geo. Hamill ; Sec"y, J. W. Kelly. Meet every Friday. Room Dow"s Block. THE PROFESSIONS. In the professions the town is fortunate in the possession of men of ability, probity and liberal education, sincere in the path of duty and broad minded in its exemplitrcation. All the professions are well represented, medicine, the ministry, law and dentistry as well as music and the languages. MERCANTILE BUSINESS AND MECHANICAL TRADES. The commercial establishments and mechanical trades of Stoneham are worthy of special commendation. The different branches of trade are represented in great variety, and the stores are as a rule large, well appointed and furnished with liberal and STONEHAM TO-DAV. IQI varied stocks of merchandise admirably adapted to tlie wants of the public, and in the matter of prices the tradesmen are as reasonable as can be found in any community outside of the lar^i^e cities. The stores are liberally patronized, and the merchants conduct their busi- ness with spirit, enterprise and good judi^ment, and are consequently pros- perous. Of those engaged in mechanical trades it can be said that they are men of acknowledged skill and care, and retain the confidence and support of the people. %~^^ 19- BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. SILAS DEAN. Silas Dean, Stoneham's veteran Town Clerk, was born in Reading, Mass., November 7, 1815, and is the son of .Silas and Mary (Willey) Dean. He attended the common school and afterward the academy kept by John Batchelder in his native town, practically finishing his schooling at the age of sixteen, although he attended the academy again for a few months two or three years later. While attending school he learned the trade of a cordwainer (shoemaker) and worked at it from his twelfth to sixteenth years. After leaving school he went to Maiden, where he waited upon customers in a dry goods store between two and three years, and afterwards worked in a country store in South Reading, now Wakefield, for about a year. Mr. Dean came to Stoneham to settle permanently in September, 1839, and during most of the time for sixteen or seventeen years he worked at his trade, manufacturing and making shoes for other manufacturers, although he taught in the public schools for a few months in the first years of his residence here, and kept a private school in the winter of 1842 or "43 in the room he now occupies as his office. There are a number of persons now li\'ing in the town who attended his private school. In 1849 ^""^ ^^''i-'' chosen Town Clerk and held the position four years, and again in 1856 he was appointed to the office by the Selectmen to fill a vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Silas N. Richardson on acrount of illness. Mr. Dean was sworn into office August 11, 1856, and has held the office ever since, being elected every year for thirty-five consecutive years, which with the four years previously makes a service of nearly thirty-nine years, he being one of the oldest and the longest in service of the living Town Clerks. He has been on the Board of School Committee at different times an ag- gregate of eleven years, his first term being in 1845. ^^ ^^'^^^ elected as an Overseer of the Poor in 1866 and has been a member of the Board ever since, except one year when the Selectmen acted as Overseers, thus making a service in this department of twenty-four years. In 1853 he represented Stoneham in the Constitutional Convention held at Boston for the purpose of revising the Constitution of the Common- wealth. Mr. Dean has done business as an auctioneer since 1845, having held an auctioneer's license every year since that time, a period of forty-six years. He has also been a Justice of the Peace since 1852, and in that capacity has united one hundred and forty-seven couples in the holy bonds of matri- mony. Mr. Dean has also made out a great many deeds of real estate and other legal papers, and has done considerable at historical and genealogical work. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 193 Mr. Dean has been twice married, first in .Stoneliam, Septeml)er 27, 1840, to Miss .Sarah F"uller, of this town, who died Feb. i, 1859, and second in Taunton, September 18, 1861, to Miss Sarah A. Reed, of that place, who is now Hving. Two daughters were the fruit of the first union, the elder of whom, Ellen Elizabeth, is living and resides at the home of her father. No children have been born to the second wife. Mr. Dean became a member of the Congregational Church, Reading, in 183 1, and since his residence in Stoneham has been a member of the Con- gregational Church here and a deacon for forty-five years consecutivel}-. The cottage in which he now lives on Pine street was built in 1840, and there he was wedded to his first wife. He has resided there during the fifty- one years since, and his office of Town Clerk, &c., has always been in the rear room of his house. Mr. Dean has always been careful, painstaking and accommodating in of- fice, and is one of the most esteemed citizens of the town. He is considered the personification of honesty and there are never any but good words spoken of him. GEORGE COWDREY, ESQ. George, son of Lieut. George and Mary (Stevens) Cowdrey, was born in Stoneham, Mass., January 5th, 18 15. He received his e.iucation in the public schools of Stoneham, and in Bradford, Vt. Mr. Cowdrey gave his attention to the shoe business, and for twelve years manufactured shoes in Stoneham. He has been engaged in the real-estate business for the past thirty-eight years. Mr. Cowdrey "s business capacity, and integritv, have secured for him merited success in business. He has been very prominent in the affairs of the town, holding the cfifices of Selectman, Assessor, and Overseer of the Poor, and for no less than eight terms has represented his native town in the Legislature. He was first chosen to the Legislature of 1844. and has since been a member in the years 1850, 1851, 1852, 1883, 1884, 1885, and 1886. In the last-named two years he was the senior mem- ber, or dean, of the House, and had the honor of calling the House to order, and of presiding over it during the work of organization. Mr. Cowdrey has served, during his long legislative experience, on a number of important committees, and performed a great deal of valuable and lasting work for the State. Among the committees with which he has been associated, may be named the Committee on the Better Security of the Ballot, and the Committee on Banks and Banking for six years, of which he was House Chairman the last three years. In 1852 he was appointed on a committee to escort Louis Kossuth from Springfield to Boston. He has been a member of the Com- mittee on Public Service, and also of the Committee on Rules. As a speaker he is earnest and forcible, and has taken a leading part in debate, and has always exerted a great influence among the members of both parties in the 13 lUOCRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 195 Legislature. He has actively favored all measures in the interest of the soldiers and of the laboring classes. For two years he served as one of the monitors of the House. In the Legislature of 1851 Mr. Cowdrey took a very active part in the election of Hon. Charles Sumner to the United States Senate. He organized and led the Sumner forces in the House against the supporters of Robert C. Winthrop, and secured the election of Mr. Sumner on the twenty-sixth ballot, after a strong and hard contest. Mr. Sumner acknowledged his indebtedness to Mr. Cowdrey for his elevation to the Senate. In the House of 1852 he was prominent in his successful opposition to the proposed division of the town of Stoneham. As a legislator Repre- sentative Cowdrey has been noted as a careful, conscientious member, with an eye single to the public interest, and ever careful to save the treasurv from needless expenditure. His course has been marked by unwearied industry, and careful attention to duty. Mr. Cowdrey is an earnest supporter of Democratic principles. WILLIAM G. FULLER. William Griffin Fuller is one of the oldest and best known citizens of Stoneham, having lived in the town for over sixty-one years. He was born in West Newton, Mass., May 2, 1810, and is the son of Josiah and Sarah (Greenough) Fuller. His mother died when he was but five years of age and he went to Wes- ton, Mass., to live with an uncle and aunt on account of his father giving up housekeeping. There he attended the district school and worked about his uncle's farm until he was seventeen years of age, when he went to North Woburn to learn the currier's trade. He was an apprentice to Jonathan Tidd and lived at his home until about twenty years of age, at which time Mr. Tidd died and Mr. Fuller came to Stoneham and finished his trade with Charles E. Walker. This was in 1830, Mr. Fuller coming to Stoneham on May ist of that year. After learning the trade he worked for Mr. Walker for three years, was in partnership with him during the next year, and in 1835 he bought out Mr. Walker's interest and from that time on he was in business alone, and was the only man in the leather business in the town up to 1840. The currying shop and Mr. Fuller's residence were then located where the Chase building now stands. Here he continued to live and do business until 1850, when he sold his residence and moved his shop to Block street where he manufactured grain and split leather until 1857 when he retired on account of failing health. Since that year he has not engaged in active business but has dealt considerably in real estate, buying and selling, and is now owner of a large amount of real estate in the central i)ortion of the town. WILLIAM G. FULLER. M, ' . i i i r ' W ' iw C N n 198 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. In 1850 he built the substantial homestead on Franklin street which he has since occupied, his old house beino; now on the opposite side of the same street, where it was moved when the Chase Block was built. ' Mr. Fuller has been twice married; first in Stoneham, May 10, 1835, to Miss Mary Richardson, of this town, by whom he had two daughters, both of whom are deceased. His second marriage was in New London, N. H., November 12, 1840, to Miss Apphia E. Burpee, of that town. Three chil- dren have been born to then-, one son and two daughters. The son is de- ceased but the daughters are living and are at home, viz: Georgianna Eva and W'illiamine Cordelia. Mr. Fuller has never belonged to a fraternal society nor held a town office but was Representative to the General Court in 1840. being at that time less than thirty years of age. During this term Hon. Robert C. Winthrop was Speaker of the House of Representatives and it was the first term of Gover- nor Marcus Morton, who was elected to the Governorship by only one majority. Mr. Fuller is a Trustee of the .Stoneham Five Cents Savings Bank, being one of its incorporators and the only one now ccuinected with the bank. He has also been one of its Vice Presidents for a number of years. He is an attendant at the Congregational Church. For a man in his eighty-second year Mr. Fuller retains all his faculties to a remarkable degree, and he is as well capable of transacting business now as the majority of men at two score and ten. WILLIA.M HURD. Captain William Hurd, a veteran of the Mexican war, was born in Wis- casset. Maine, December 16, 1813, his parents being James and Hannah (Bean) Hurd. He obtained his schooling in his native town and before the age of sixteen went to Charlestown, Mass., where he learned the trade of a morocco dresser, serving five and a half years. The day following his arrival at majority he ■was appointed foreman of Abram P. PritcharcPs factory in Charlestown, and was employed there about three years, when on account of the failure of Mr. Pritchard he went into the morocco store of William R. Fernald, South Market Street, Boston, as a salesman, where he remained two years, and during that lime obtained a knowledge of buying and selling. He then went into the business of manufacturing morocco with Freeman Wilson, at Lowell. Mr. Wilson went out of the firm in about a year, and Mr. Hurd continued alone until 1840 when he opened a store on Fulton Street, Boston, and manufactured in Charlestown. There he remained until 1846. In that year he joined with John S. Barker in recruiting a company for the Mexican war. Mr. Barker had been endeavoring unsuccessfully to enlist WILLIAM KURD. 200 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. men enough to fill a company and with money and assistance from Mr. Hurd the ranks were filled, and Mr. Barker was commissioned Captain, and Mr. Hurd, First Lieutenant. They were in quarters at Charlestown with the company tor a short time, and then sailed in a ship to Brazos Santiago, Texas. There they marched nine miles across country, in sand nearly to the knees, to the Rio Grande River, and then went into Mexico, up to Matamoras, and from there marched across to Monterey, about 300 miles. Owing tO' illness of Captain Barker during most of the time ne was in the service, Lieut. Hurd was breveted Captain and was in command. At Monterey, where they remained about two months. Captain Hurd was in command of the Black Fort, which his company garrisoned. Two divisions under General Lane and General Gushing were called down by General Winfield Scott to re-enforce him at Vena Cruz. General .Scott was in the City of Mexico and wanted the re-enforcements to open commu- nication for him with \'era Cniz, where supplies were obtained. Captain Hurd"s company formed a part of these troops. They marched to the mouth of the Rio Grande, about 200 miles, in eight days, and then went by vesse to Vera Cruz. From there they went to the City of Mexico, from which city brigades v ere sent out to different points. Capt. Hurd's company was sta- tioned at Mixcoax about two and a half months, protecting the inhabitants against the guerillas. May 31, 1848, they left for home, marching 300 miles to \'era Cruz, and there taking a ship for New Orleans, from which city they came bv steam- boat and rail, by way of Cincinnati and Buffalo, to Boston, and were mus- tered out in Cambridge the latter part of July, 1848. Captain Hurd inherited a military spirit from three generations of his an- cestors. His great-grandfather served in the French and Indian war, and Captain Hurd has in his possession a powder-horn used by this ancestor, and afterwards by his grandfather while fighting for liberty at the Battle of Bunker Hill. His father was in the str\ice of the L^nited States in the war of 1812. Mr. Hurd was united in marriage January 3, 1836, at Charlestown, Mass., to Miss Sophia Whitney, a native of Danville, \'t., who is now living. Eight children have been born to them, four sons and four daughters, four of whom, two sons and two daughters, are living, viz: Kathleen, wife of William W. Abbott, of North Reading, William Jr., Annie Gray, wife of Oliver Gardner Fowle, of Stoneham, and Winfield Scott. In October, 1848, a few months after his return from the Mexican war. Captain Hurd was induced by John Hill, the elder, to come to Stoneham and engage in the manufacture of morocco. Associated with him in a financial way was the firm of John Hill & Co., and an extensive business was done for a number of years. The Messrs. Hill retained an interest until about 1865, although Mr. Hurd had full charge of the business and it was always in his name. Mr. Hurd BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 201 continued alone from 1865 until 1873, since which time he has not engaged in active business. Captain Hurd did not enter the war of the Rebellion, on account of his business, although Senator Henry Wilson, with whom he had been person- ally acquainted since 1840, endeavored to persuade him to do so by offering to secure for him almost any commission he would accept. Captain Hurd has always refused to take public office, with the exception that he was a member of the Board of Trustees which founded the Stoneham Public Library in 1859, and was on the Board for nearly twenty years and chairman for several years. He was one of the projectors of the horse railroad from Stoneham Centre to what is now Melrose Highlands Station, and a director for about twenty- six years, or until it was sold to what is now the East Middlesex Street Railway Co. He was a director in the Wakefield Gas Co. for nearly fifteen years, and was one of the organize) s of the Stoneham Unitarian Church and a member of the standing committee for many years. He was made a Mason in 1S56, at which time he joined Wyoming Lodge, Melrose, of which he is now an honorary member, was a charter and is a life member of Waverly Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, of Melro.se, also a charter, now honorary member of Hugh de Pa_\ens Commander}', Knights Templars, of Melrose, and was a charter and is now a life member of the Ro3'al and Select Masters, now located in Maiden. Previous to becoming a charier member of Waverly Chapter and Hugh de Payens Commandery he was a member of St. Andrew's Chapter and Boston Commandery, both of Boston. He is a 32d degree Mason. At the laying of the corner-stone of tiic present Masonic Temple in E'>oston in 1S64, Capt. Hurd was Assistant Marshal to Chief of Division Richard Briggs, and owing to his military experience was given charge of forming the division. At the dedication of the Temple in 1867 he was Chief Marshal of the Sixth Division. He is \'ice President for New England of the National As.sociation of Vet- erans of the Mexican War, and Vice President of the First Regiment of Mas.sachusetts Veterans of the ^Mexican war. Captain Hurd is in full possession of all his faculties, and is as active and bright as many a man of fifty years of age. He resides, with his wife and two sons, on Main street. E. F. KICH.VKUSOX. Benjamin Franklin Richardson, one of the oldest residents of .Stoneham, was born in Woburn, Mass., .April i. 1S07. and is the son of Jesse and Susanna (Richardson) Richardson. His early schooling was obtained in the schools of Woburn, until he was 202 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. nine years of age, when he removed to Hudson, N. H., where he attended school until fifteen years of age. He then went to Aledford, .Mass., and learned the trade of a wheelwright and carriage-maker of Jesse Crosby, for whom he worked until he was nearly twentv-one vears of ace. 15. F. RICHARDSON'. In 1827 he came to Stoneham and started in business for himself in the shop now occupied by \V. Ward Child, tiiis building at that time standing on the spot that is now the head of .Montvale avenue. Wiien that street was built, about 1832, Mr. Richardson divided the building and moved a portion of it across Main street, and the other portion was sold and moved a short distance towards Woburn and located beside the new street, and is now a portion of what is called the Leeds house. He continued in business in the portion now occupied by Mr. Child most of the time until 187 1, when he sold out to Mr. Child and retired. During that period he went to California twice, in the time of the gold fever, first in 1849 and again in 1851, remaining there one and a half years and one year respectively. lilOGKAPHICAL SKETCHES. 203 Mr. Richardson has been twice married, first to Miss Sally Green, daugh- ter of Captain Josiah Green, of Stoneham, on April 19, 1830, and second to Mrs. Mar}' W., widow of Samuel Cloon, of Stoneham, June i, 1876. Both weddings took place in this town. By his first wife, who died January I, 1876, he had four children, one of whom, John, is now living in the next house north of his father's. He has had no children by his second wife. Mr. Richardson built the house on Main street, just north of the shop where he did business ft)r so many years, in 1S31, and has lived there ever since. It has undergone little change, the front portion being about the same, an addition of one room being made on the north side and a new por- tion being added to the rear of the house. Mr. Richardson formerly attended the Universalist Church. He has enjoyed the confidence of his townsmen and was for many years honored with public oftice, being first elected a Selectman in 1836, and at difterent tunes from that vear until 1875, the length of his service aggregat- ing eighteen years. In his early years he was an active and leading member of the Fire De- partment, being foreman of the first engine company, the old Phcenix, during all of the fifteen years that engine was in commission. Was afterwards a member of the Hook and Ladder Company, and was the first Chief Engineer of the Fire Department, being chosen in 1857. In 1837 he was chosen Representative to the General Court, serving one term . For cjuite a number of years he was an Assessor and an Overseer of the Poor. When he first came to Stoneham there were only between 600 and 700 inhabitants in the town. He has been a citizen of this town the longest of any living person except John Wheeler, William G. Fuller being third in order. Mr. Richardson's faculties are in good condition for one of his great age, his hearing and eyesight being excellent and his memory quite clear. For three years past he has been disabled by weakness of the limbs and lame- ness with which he was attacked suddenly and unaccountably, but otherwise his general health seems to be good. He is a member of Columbian Lodge, I. O. O. F.. having been through the chair and Ijecome a member of the Grand Lodge. He joined this lodge in 1S44. He is also a member of Columbian Encampment, 1. O. O. F. ALBERT W. TEXXKV. Albert William Ter.ney, Dentist, was born in .Sandown, N. H., June 25, 1829, and is the son of William and Emma (Chase) Tenney. When twelve years of age he removed with his parents to Maine and was educated in the common schools and the academy at Monson, Me. 204 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Following tills iie was engaged with his father in carriage making in Mon- son until twenty-one years of age. and worked at tlie same trade for three years afterwards in Union. Me. For a few years he was engaged in organ manufacturing in Randolph. Vermont. He beo-an the study of dentistry with Dr. J. K. Lincoln, Augusta, Me., in 1855, and in 1858 opened an office for himself in Thomaston, Me., where he practiced till 1862. In Auo-ust of that year he entered the army in Company I. Twentieth Maine Volunteer Infantry, and in 1863 was transferred to the Regular Army as Hospital Steward on the General Medical Start". He was discharged in October, 1865. ALBERT W. TENNEV Mr. Tenney became a resident of Stoncham in 1867 and has been engaged in the practice of dentistry in this town ever since. His office is in Chase's Block, Main street. He was married September 10, i860, at Union, Me., to Miss Annie E. Robbins, of Union, and two children, Fannie Boutelle and Albert Edward, have been born to them. The son is living but the daughter died in 1864. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 205 Mr. Tenney is a prominent meml)er of the Congregational Church, of this town, of which he was elected a deacon in 1873 'i'""^' of which office he is at present an incumbent. He is also a member of Jthe Massachusetts Dental Society, of the New England Dental Society, and of J. P. Gould Post 75, G. A. R., of Stone- ham. \V. A. HAKTLETT. Wilson Augustus Bartlett, the presen' Postmaster of Stoneham, was born of good old New Hampshire stock, being the son of Hial and Samantha (Gilman) Bartlett. Both /is grandlathers fought in the battle of Bunker \V. A. BARTLETT. Hill. His mother is still living at the age of 74 years, and is the only sur- viving member of a family of twenty-one children, of whom she was the youngest. Mr. Bartlett was born in Lowell, Mass., March 27, 1839, but most of his early life was passed in Manchester, N. H., where he attended school, being obliged to leave the High School before finishing the course and go to work, on account of the death of his father. In August, 1862, he enlisted in the loth N. H. Vol. Infantry, under Col. 206 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. M. T. Donahoe. During the first of his service he was detailed as amounted orderly and was private orderly to Gen. G. W. Getty for two years. He re- turned to his regiment in the winter of 1864 and served with it until after the capture of Richmond, being in most of the engagements of the armies of the Potomac and James. After the capture of Richmond he was on detached service in that city in the medical department. He was mustered out at the close of the war, in June, 1865, and returned to Manchester. Mr. Bartlett was married in Manchester, N. H., June 15, 1861, to Miss Nancy Bartlett, a native of Littleton, N. H., and six children, four sons and two daughters, all of whom are living, have blessed their wedded life. Their names are Stella S., wife of William H. Weed, Herman H., WMlliam G.. Annie L., Albert O. and Ernest M. Mr. Bartlett came to Stoneham in 1869 and was employed as clerk by the grocery firm of Ford & Hovey. He continued as a clerk with this firm and others until 1883, when he accepted the position of book-keeper for H. C. Carbee, coal dealer, and remained with him until last March. • Mr. Bartlett was nominated for the office of Postmaster of Stoneham at a caucus of Republicans of the town held in the Town Hall in February, and was soon after appointed by President Harrison, his commission being dated Febiaiary 27, 1891. He took possession of the office April i. He is a prominent member of the G. A. R., having been one of the earli- est members of Lewis Bell Post 3, of Manchester, N. H., and is at present Junior \'ice Commander of J. P. Gould Post 75, of this town, being in his second term. He was Quartermaster for five years, and has also been hon- ered with various other offices in this Post. He is also Recording Secretary of Bear Hill Assembly, Royal Society of Good Fellows. He is an attendant at the Congregational Church. WILLIAM F. GORIJOX. William Francis Gordon, now the oldest apothecary in Stoneham, was born in Boston, Dec. 3, 1838, and is the son of Charles P. and Sarah S. (Searles) Gordon. He was educated in the Boston schools. Just before he was sixteen years of age he went into the employ of Brewer, Stevens & Gush- ing, wholesale druggists, doing business where the Boston Globe building now stands. Here he became familiar with the business which he has fol- lowed ever since. For a year or two he was in the retail drug business in Brookline, which he sold out to accept a uosition with the wholesale firm of H. H. Hay & Co., in Portland, Maine. This firm is still in existence. .Mr. Gordon remained in Portland for six years, or until after the great fire in that city, when he returned to Boston and was employed as foreman for Rust Brothers & Bird, Hanover Street. He remained with that firm until March I, 1 87 1, when he came to Stoneham and established in the retail drug rioc;raphical sketches. 207 business and has continued to tlie present time. He has a large patronage, including many of the best people of the town. In 1863, May 6, he was married in Melrose, Mass., to Miss Mary Cather- ine Richardson, a native of (heat Falls, N. H. Two daughters have been born to them, viz : Mary Emma and Sarah Gertnide, both of whom are now living in Stoneham, the elder being the wife of Charles B. Clifton. Mr. Gordon is a member of Columbian Lodge, I. O. O. F., Columbian Encamp- ment, I. O. O. F., Canton Fells, I. O. O. F., Stoneham Lodge, K. of H., Fells Lodge, A. O. U. W., and Bear Hill Assembly, Royal Society of Good Fellows, of which he is financial secretary. He occupied the High Priest's chair of Columbian Encampment for two terms, and is a member of the Grand Encampment. ONSLOW GILMORE. Hon. Onslow Gilmore, one of Stoneham"s most prominent and esteemed citizens, and a leading financial man, was born in Bedford, N. H., March 8, 1832, his parents being Isaac and Susan (Sprague) Gilmore. He lived on a farm and attended the district school of that place until fifteen years of age, when he removed to Medford, ALass., where he attended the High School for a year. He then served an apprenticeship of three years at the trade of a mason in Manchester, N. H., and in 1850 came to Stoneham. Here he did a successful business as a mason and builder until 1872. when he retired, and in 1873 was chosen Treasurer of the Stoneham P'ive Cents Savings Bank, which position he has since held. He has also done an in- surance business in connection with his position, and is a Director and Treasurer of the E. L. Patch Co. He has served as Town Treasurer since 1876 and was a member of the House of Representatives in 1876 and 1877, serving on the Finance and other committees. He was a member of the State Senate in 1883 and 1884, being Chairman of the Committee on Public Charitable Institutions during the celebrated hearing on the Tewksbury Almshouse which was conducted by General B. F. Butler, then Governor of the State. He was also on the Senate Committee on Banking and Treasury. Mr. Gilmore was married in Maiden, December 25, 1864, to Miss Abbie S. Bonney, of Norway, Me., and two daughters, Nellie and Susie, have been born to them and are both living. Mr. Gilmore resides in an attractive and substantial home on Main street. He is an attendant of the Congregational Church. He is a member of King Cyrus Lodge, F. and A. M., has taken a card from the Royal Arch Chapter and Hugh de Payens Commandery, of Melrose, of both of which he was a member, and is a member of Stoneham Council, American Legion of Honor. HON. ONSLOW GILMORE. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 209 He enjoys the conndence of his fellow citizens to as great a degree as any citizen of the town, and has been honored with various town offices, including Selectman for four years. Assessor for two years. Chief Engineer of the Fire Department tor five years. Trustee of Lindenwood Cemetery for sixteen vears, Auditor for five rears, Highway Surveyor for two years, a member of the Water Committee for four years, in fact he has been chosen to about all the town offices except Overseer of the Poor, School Committee, and Trustee of the Public Library, and has been appointed on various important special committees, including school houses, appropriations, new streets, revising by-laws, &c. EDWIX A. \'INTO.\. Edwin Augustus \'inton. of the firm of \'inton i.K; Jenkins, shoe manufac- turers, was born in Melrose, JMass., August 29, 1S41, and is the son of Na- than A. and Mary G. (Brown) Vinton. His education was obtained in the public schools of Melrose, and in that town he also learned the trade of a shoemaker, at which he worked until twenty-one years of age. At that time, 1S62, the civil war was in progress and Mr. Vinton enlisted in Company G, 420! Mass. Vol. Infantry. January i, 1863, he was taken prisoner at Galveston, Texas, and detained for three months, when he was paroled and discharged, and afterwards en- listed for one hundred days in Company A. Sth Mass. Vol. Infantrv, this company being the Richardson Light Guards of Wakefield. During the time he was on this service the company was in Maryland. It was mustered out at the end of the term and Mr. Vinton returned to Melrose and resumed shoemaking. In 1870 he came to Stoneham and for eight years worked in the shoe fac- tories of the town, and was agent for the Middlesex Co-operative Boot& Shoe Co., when in 1878 he formed a copartnership for the manufacture of shoes with Frank B. Jenkins, which firm has continued since under the name of Vinton & Jenkins, a sketch of their business being given below. Mr. Vinton was married in Stoneham, December 25, 1870, to Miss Cath- erine C. Campbell, of this town. Five children have been born to them, three of whom are living, namely: Walter S., Edna Pearl and Katie May. Two sons have passed away. Mr. Vinton is a member of King Cyrus Lodge, F. and A. M., J. P. Gould Post 75, G. A. R., Stoneham Board of Trade, Stoneham Lodge, No. 371, K. ot H., of which he is a[Past Dictator, and Beulah Chapter, No. 11, Order of the Eastern Star. FRANKLIN P.. JENKINS. Franklin B. Jenkins, of the firm of \'inton >.\: Jenkins, shoe manufacturers, was bcrn in Bradford, Vt., July 23, 1837, and is the son of Joseph C. and Olive (Jackson) Jenkins. 13 2IO BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. When eight years of age, 1S45. hecanie with his parents to Stoneham, where he attended the public schools, and in his time out of school between the ages of nine and eleven years he worked in a cotton factory and at the age of eleven commenced work at shoe making. He continued at school until his first year in the High School, which he attended a few months, since which time he has always been engaged at shoe making or in business for himself. His first work after leaving school was at pegging shoes on a "team" upstairs in the northern portion of the brick building now occupied by Mrs. Ira Gerry. Since that time he has learned the trade thoroughly in all its branches. FRANKLIX n. JENKINS. For three years. 1S61 to 1864, he lived inj Wisconsin, but previous to that had taken out work from Sweetzer & Battles and C. C. Dike & Co. Alter his return to Stoneham he manufactured' women's pegged shoes on his own account in 1S65 for a short time for' Western^ parties. He then bought out a custom shop in a building where the Odd Fellows' building now stands, where he continued making custonvboots and shoesfor awhile until his health began to fail, when^he|soldjout. moGRAPIIICAL SKETCHKS. He afterwards worked for Daniel Sprague for a short time and tlien went into the employ of F. S. Hill & Co., and remained with them for thirteen years, until they gave up business. For two years of this time he was on "team" work, and during the remaining eleven years finished bottoms of shoes by contract, from which he saved money enougli to furnisli him with capital with which to start in business for himself. In 1878 he formed a copartnership with Edwin A. \'inton under the firm name of \'inton cK: Jenkins, which firm has continued to the jjresent time. A sketch of the firm is given below. Mr. Jenkins was married October 3d, 1858. in Salem, Mass., to Mis.s Caroline Louise Lowe, of that city, and tliey have had three children, all of whom are living, namely : Carrie Louise, Edward Chester and Frank Austin, all of wliom are married, and the two sons are employed in their father's factory. Mr. Jenkins resides with his family in a home of his own on Middle street. He is a member of Columbian Lodge and Columbian Encampment, L O. O. F., has passed through the chairs of both and is a member of the Grand Lodge and Grand Encampment, and one of the Directors of the Odd Fellows' Hall Association. He is also a member of Evergreen Lodge, D. of R.. and of the Board of Trade and is an attendant at the Congregational Church. VINTON & JENKINS, SHOE MANUFACTURERS. The firm of Vinton & Jenkins was formed in 1878 and they commenced business in one room in the factory now occupied by Sanborn & Mann, mak- ing one case per day of misses and children's grain boots and shoes by machinery, and employing from twelve to fifteen hands. In 1881 nicy rcuT- v'.d to the Fitzgerald building, then just completed, on Hancock street, and increased their business while there to about ten cases per day and employed about seventy-five hands. In 1887 they removed to the factory of Drew & Buswell on Franklin street succeeding to and adding the business of this firm to their own. There they remained two years when they bought the factory and o-ood will of the business of the old Stoneham Co-operative Boot and Shoe Co. and removed to that building, located on Main street next south^of the fac tory of Sanborn & Mann. There they have continued to the present time and are among the largest manufacturers in Stoneham. They have also a factory in Barnstead, N. H., where they manufacture their cheaper class of goods, turning out ten cases per day and employino- seventy hands. The Stoneham factory is now devoted to misses' and'chil- dren's fine kid and goat boots and shoes, the output being twentv-five cases per day of seventy-two pairs each, one hundred and sixty-five! hands beino- employed. 212 BIOGRAPHICAL SKFTCHES. They dispose of their product to the wholesale trade of the Western and Middle States. Their success is largely due to close application and careful attention to the details of their Inisincss. See Page 68 for view of their factory. J .SOX IS. SAXI'.OKX [ason Basford S.m'jorn, of Smboi'n c^ Hill, iioots and Shoes, etc., was born in Holderness. N. H., August iS. 1S34. and is tai son of Jeremiah ancF-Caroline (Basford) Sanlwrn. He was educated in the schools 01 his native town linishing in the Academy at Sanborntown Bridge, now Tiltnn, N. H. JASON B. SANBORN. He worked on his father's farm for a time and learned the trade of a shoe- maker in Holderness. He came to Stoneham in 1852 and worked at his trade lor about twenty years, when he bought out the retail boot and shoe store[of Andrew M. Latham, this being now the oldest in the town. For a year[or more he conducted the business alone and in 1S74 received as a part- ner Sidney A. Hill, who was then manufacturing childVen's hand-sewed boots and shoes for the New England trade. The two branches were combined BIOGRAI'HICAL SKKTCIIES. 2I3 and have been coniinued in the same store on Main street up to the present time, the name of the tirm being Sanborn & Hill. Mr. Sanborn was married in Stoneham, October 21, 1S60, to Miss Emily J. Osgood, of this town. They have two children, viz. : Emma Florence, wife of J. E. Dutton. formerly of .Stoneham, and Warren Elmore, who is also married. Mr. Sanborn is a man much esteemed bv his fellow citizens, is a leader among them, and has been honoi'ed by them in man\' wavs. He is now Chairman of the IJoard oi Kcgistrr.rs of \"uters. a position which he has held for several _\ears. was Sekctn.cn. 1 l\\ g Clerk of the I^oard. for three years, 1872. 3 and 4. was Frtsidtnt of tf.t .*-'!( ncham Board of Trade for two \'ears, was one of the incorpoiators o: tht S;oi.cham Co-optrative Bank, is now its President and has been a Director sii.ce it was organized, and is now a Di- rector in the 1. O. O. F. Building A.'-.'-ociaiion. He is a member of Colum- bian Lodge and Columbian Encrnijn.t nt. I. O. O. F.. of this town, having been through all the ofhces of Loth and become a member of the Grand Lodge and Grand Encampment, and is a m.ember of Stoneham Lodge. K. of H., and of the I'nitarian Church. SIDNEY A. HILL. Sidney Adelvin Hill, of Sanborn & Hill. Boots and Shoes, etc., son of Nehemiah and Hannah (Carter) Hill, was born in Stoneham, August 26; 1849. He was reared and educated, and has. with the e.xception of a short period, always lived in this town. .•\fter leavin.;- school he worked in the shae factories of Stoneham for four years, and in Haverhill. .Mass.. for two years. He then engaged m the man- ufacture of children's hand-sewed boots and shoes for a time, and in 1874 became a partner with Jason B. Sanborn, under the tirm name of Sanborn & Hill, and a steadily successful business has been the result. Combining big manufacturing with the retail business of .Mr. Sanborn, already established, they have continued to manufacture ladies" and children's hand-sewed boots and shoes tor the New Ergland trade, and also to retail boots and shoes to our own people, both branches of the trade being done in the store on .Main street. .Mr. Hill was married in .\ndover, Mass., June 20, 187 i, to .Miss Elizabeth H. Bard well, of that town. They have one daughter, Ora Bardwell Hill, who was the Salutatoiian of the graduating class of 1891 of the Stoneham High School. Mr. Hill is a member of King Cyrus Lodge, F. & A. i\L, Columbian Lodge and Columbian Encampment. L O. O. F., and Stoneham Lodge. K. of H. He has been through the High Priest's chair of Columbian Encamp- ment and is a member of the Grand Encampment. He was one of the incor- 214 lUOGRArmCAL SKETCHES. porators of the Stoiieham Co-operative Bank, has been a director since it was organized and is now Vice President, having; held that office for several years . LV.MAX DIKE. Colonel Lyman Dike was Ijorn in Stoneham. August 24, 1821, and is the son of Jesse and Elizabeth (Willey) Dike. He was educated in the public and private schools of the town, after which he ^\ent to work in the general store of his brother, Geo. \V. Dike, bv whom he was employed tive }ears. LV.MAX DIKE. In 1843 ^is formed a co-partnership with Alfred J. Rhoades and commenced the manufacture of shoes, they doing the work themselves at first and gradually putting on and increasing their help as the business progressed. From small beginning the business increased rapidly on account of their making a finer grade of goods than other manufacturers in the town. They virtually introduced a new class of goods which inji time revolutionized the business here. I'revious to their going into business only two kinds of sewed and one kind of pegged shoes were made, these being largely a cheaj) class P.IOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 2I5 of children's red bottom goat and kid shoes. Rhoades & Dike manufactured light kid and goat, light bottom, pegged shoes, and orders came faster than the firm could fill them, and this led other manufacturers to making the same kind of goods. The firm of Rhoades & Dike was dissolved in 1848 and was succeeded by the firm of Lyman Dike & Co., consisting of Lyman and (ieorge W. Dike. They continued in business until 1855, manufacturing about half a million dollar's worth of goods a year, for the Western and .Southern trade. After 1855 Lyman Dike continued in business alone until 1885, when he retired, and has since devoted his time to farming, being now the proprietor of Marble Ridge Farm, a tract of al)out 150 acres in the southwestern part o' the town. Much of this land is what is called Bear Hill meadow and has been redeemed by Col. Dike, from the most improductive land into as produc- tive as any in the town. Through this meadow runs the brook which supplies the Winchester reservoir with water. At one time Col. Dike kept between 60 and 70 milch cows and raised large quantities of milk, but about two years ago he sold oft' most of the cows and now keeps about half a dozen. He has also curtailed his vegetable raising and only cultivates six acres for this pur- pose and about thirty acres for hay. He leases eighteen acres to Captain D. T. Strange of Woburn, for market gardening. Col. Dike also owns real estate in other parts of the town ; including his homestead on Franklin street, corner of Pine, which he built in 1858 and has resided there ever since. Col. Dike was married at Reading. Mass., December 18, 1845, to Miss Eliza G. W^iley, of Stoneham, who is still living. Two daughters have been born to them, Sarah Jane, wife of Daniel S. Davis of Boston, and Cora Eliza who is unmarried and lives with her parents. Col. Dike has taken a great interest in the militia in his day and was largely instrumental in raising and forming Co. C, of the Seventh Regiment, in 185 I and was unanimously elected the first Captain of this company, which he commanded for two years when he was chosen Major of the regiment and .served in that capacity until 1855, when the regiment was disbanded by Gov. Gardner l)ut was immediately re-organized and he was unanimously re-elected as Major. In 1856 he was elected Lieutenant Colonel and 1858 Colonel of the regi- ment, receiving every vote in both elections. In Camp Banks, in 1859, "^^ Concord, Mass., when all the militia of the State were gathered together for the only time in their history, he was the Senior Colonel and for two days was in command of the Fourth Brigade. In 1 86 1 he was detailed by Governor Andrew to command a camp of instruction at Lynnfield, where four regiments were formed and sent to the seat of war, the ryth, igth. 22d and 23d. Early in the war of the Rebellion, Col. Dike offered to form a regiment 2i6 BIOGKAI'HICAL SKETCHES. composed exclusively of colored troops, but the proposition was not accepted by President Lincoln. On the second call for men for service in the militia. Col. Dike's regiment was the first to report at headquarters in L5oston outside of the regular Boston troops. In 1S5S Dr. \\"m. H. Heath proposed to Col. Dike that if possible, all the private libraries in Stoneham be formed into a public library. These two gentlemen soon set to work to bring about this result and were successful, and over 1400 volumes were contributed by the various libraries of the town, and the Public Library opened in 1S59. Col. Dike wrs chairman of the Board of Trustees for thirteen years, and also of the Purchasing Committee. This Librarv was one of the first public libraries organized in the State, and it was instituted before the law was passed allowing towns to tax themsehes for the support of libraries. Col. Dike has been a leading citizen of the town, and has been honored with a number of public offices. He was a Selectman in 1S53. 18S1. 18S2, 1SS6. and Assessor for several years, a member of the School Committee for eight vears. of the \\'ater Committee for four years, when water was intro- duced into the town, was also on the Committee on Appropriations for a number ot vears and chairman for some time, and has served the town on various other important committees. He has been a Special County Commissioner for nearly twenty years and still holds that position, and also represented his district in the Legislature in 1S60. .Mr. Dike was one of the seven men who built the Stoneham Street Rail- wav. Was Director of the same from 1S60 to the date of its transfer to the East Middlesex in 1S88. being Superintendent for seven years, and Treasurer for twenty-six years : is at present one of the Directors. He was appointed Justice of the Peace in 1S51 and has held the office to the present time: has been a Notary I'ublic since 1883. He has been a trustee for fifteen years and ^'ice President of the .Middlesex Agricultural Society for three years, and is a trustee of the Bay Slate Agricultural Society. He was active in the Fire Department at one time and wa*; foreman o( the Gen. Worth Engine Co. for a year and its Treasurer for two years. He is a member of Columbian Lodge, L O. O. F.. being the next to the oldest Odd Fellow in Stoneham. having joined Crystal Fount Lodge, in Woburn, in 1843. ^e has been through the chair of Columbian Lodge sev- eral times and is a member of the Grand Lodge. He also belongs to Co- lumbian Encampment. I. O. O. F.. was a charter member of King Cyrus Lodge, F. and .A. .M.. a charter member of Waverly Royal Arch Chapter, of Melrose, and was its Senior Warden, was a charter member of the Royal and Select ^Masters, of Melrose, and a charter member and Captain General of Hugh de Payens Commandery. of .Melrose. He is a 32d degree Mason. BIOGRAMIICAL SKETCHES 2 1/ He was one of the original members of Uie Sloneliam Board of Trade, and one of the organizers of the Unitarian Churcli and was on the standing committee of the Church during its separate existence as a society. He was the lirst President of the Sloneham Co-opt;rative Bank, Ijeing one of its organi7,ers, and was continued in that office for nearly three years, and has been one of the Trustees of the Stoneham Five Cent Savings Bank since soon after its organization. He was President of this l^ank tor eight years, and one of the Investing Committee for about twelve years. For several years during the war he was a director of :\lonim-ient Bank of Charleslown. .Mass. UK. A. H. CdWDKEV. Arthur Harris Cowdrey. M. D.. was born in Acton. .Mass.. January 17, 1836, and is the son of Harris and Abigail (Davis) Cowdrey. His father was a physician and practised for tiny years in Acton, although he was born on Cowdrey"s Hill, m Wakefield. The su])ject of this sketch obtained his early schooling in Acion. and afterwards attended the Lawrence .Acadx;m\-. in Grolon. .Mass.. where he fitted for college and graduated, but owing to ill health he did not t:.ke a coUci^iate course but studied medicine with his father. He attended one course at the Berkshire .Medical .School, in Pitistield. .Mass.. and three courses at Harvard Medical School, from which he graduated in 1S57. He then practised med- icine with his father in Acton for six months and spent the next winter in Philadelphia, attending the Jefferson .Medical School and the University. in the spring ot 1S50 he went to Stowe. Mass.. where he remained in the practice of his profession until .August. iS9- ^o Miss Mary W. Emery, of Boston, and they have had two daughters, both living, namely: Maud Harlow and Helen Walcott Cowdrey. Like all acti\-e and bus\- men Dr. Cowdrey is connected with numerous societies and institutions. He is a pronunent member of the Congregational Church, of which he hr.s been ;.n assts.'-or for years, is a member of King Cyrus Lodge. F. and A. M.. and was formtrl} an active member of the Royal Arch Chapter and De Mola} Comniander}-. of ^Melrose, but being unable to attend the mee'ings oa account of press ol other duties he took out a card from these societies. He is a member of Columbian Lodge, L O. O. F., Stoneham Council. American Legion of Honor. ^liddlesex East District Medical Society, and St..te of Mass. Medical Society, served three years on the Board of Sch.oul Coir.mittte in the early part of his residence in Stone- ham, is now Town llusician. \'ice-Prcsidcnt of the Stoneham Five Cent Savings Bank, of x^ldth he was a Trustee for i.early liftetn years, a Director in the Stoneham National Lank ;,nd Stoneham Co-operative Bank. He is a public spititcd citizen r.nd has bttn one of the ir.cst active pushers in bring- ing to a successtul issue tb.e railrocxl scheme by which the town is to be con- nected by a short rou^e to Boston via tb.e Loslcn & .Maine R. R.. this latter project when completed, being considered the n ost important event in the history of the town. FKl-.D E. MCKERSON. Fred Everson Nickerson. Assistant Treasurer of the Stoneham Five Cent Savings Bank, is the son cf Joseph G. and Isabella E. ( Fort ) Nickerson, and was born in Chelsea. .Ma^s.. June 16. 1862. His parenis removed to Stoneham when he was an infant and he has since resided in this town. He was educated in the public schools of Stoneham, and af'terwards at- T;if;(.K.\I'Hl(. AL '•KKTCHES. 221 tended the Hry ant C\; Stratton Con-.n-,trtial Colltiie. I'oston. Upon leaving the College he was engaged by a Boston rirni as bookkeeper. After remain- in"' there two years he was appointed Assistant Treasurer of the Savings Bank, which position he has now held for nine years. . »-• ^^ ^^M > ^ iLfl I^B^ FREO E. NICKEKSON. Mr. Xickerson was married in Stoneham November 22, 1888, to Miss Ida B. Clemson, of this town. They have no children. They reside on the corner of Pine and Middle Streets and are attendants at the Unitarian Church. Mr. Nickerson was a Town Auditor for four years, from 1886 to 1890. He is an expert accountant and a young man much liked and greatly respected in the community. Hir.BARD COI'ELAND. Hubbard Copeland, of the firm of Copeland & Bowser, Dry Goods Deal- ers, Stoneham, Woburn and Reading, was born in Reading, Mass., Decem- ber 18, 1845, ^"<^ is the son of Elbridge and Ruth (Mead) Copeland. When about six years of age he went to live with a relative in Washing- ton, N. H., where he worked on a farm until he attained his majority. While there he attended the public schools of the town and also Marlow Academy, in the adjoining town of Marlow. 222 lUOCJKAPHICAL SKKTCHKS. He then retuint'cl to Reading; and became a clerk in the drv goods store of Franklin Fletciier. where lie was employed until 1.S71. when he formed a partnership with Robert Howser and ()i)ened a dry good's store in Reading. In 1874, Richard L. Bowser, a brother of Rol;ert liowser, was admitted to the firm and Copcland, Bowser & Co. opened another store in Stoneham, still continuing the Reading store. January 17. 1S76, Mr. Copeland came to Stoneham to live and remained here until Alay i, I1S79. when the tirm opened another store in VVoburn and Mr. Copeland went to that town to take charge ot" the new enterprise, and has since resided there. .All three stores have been maintained up to the present time and a prosperous Inisincss done. Rol)ert Bowser died in 1886, and the business has been conducted since under the firm name of Copeland & Bowser. HU1U;.\RD COPKL.\XD. Mr. Copeland was married in Charlestown, .September 17, 1889, to Miss Wilhelmina Smith, a native of Durham, N. H. He has been an inlluential mcmlicr of the .Methodist Episcopal Church for many years, having united with that denomination twenty-seven years ago while living in New Plampshire. On returning to Reading he was transferred to the M. E. Church in that town and while there was Steward and a Trus- tee. On removing to .Stoneham he was again transt'erred and became Stew- ard of the .Stoneham .M. E. Church, and since residing in W'oburn has con- 223 BIOGRAPHICAL SKKTCUES. nected himself with the Methodist Episcojjal Church in that city and is now Superintendent of the Sabbath School. KKHAKI) L. noWSKK. Richard L. Bowser, son of Robert and Jane Bowser was born at Sackville. New Brunswick, Feb. 4th, 1S40. Tlie early years of his life were spent on his father's farm. He attended the common schools of his native place, .sub- sequently attending a lew terms at the Mount Allison Academy. He .spent five years in tlie tmplov of a mercantile house in St. John, N. B. Coming to Stoneham in Jul}. 1865, he entered the employ of John Hill & Co., shoe manufacturers, wliere he spent eight years, and then for one year had charge of the finishing department at C. H . Darling iS: Co. "s. Wakefield, RICHARD L. BOWSER. Mass. Being very ambitious and having a strong desire to return to mercan- tile life, and being convinced that there was a good opening in Stoneham for a large dry goods and gents" furnishing business, he severed his connection with that firm and entered into a co-partnership with Hubbard Copeland and Robert Bowser, Jr., who were already establisb.cd in that business at Read- ing, Mass., and in October, 1874, coiriinenctd a business that has been con- tinued with marked success. In April, 1879, they enlarged their business, still more by opening a large store in Woburn, Mass. 2 2J. I'.KKiKAl'HICAL .SKICTCHES. Mr. rjowser was married Dec. 24th, 1S70. to Klla F., daughter of Francis and Hannah F. Hill. They have one .son. Horace Mr. Bowser has been a ir ember of the Board of Trustees of the M. E. Churcii for 24 years and holds several offices in the Church. He is a mem- ber of Columbian Lodge. I. O. O. F.. and Stoneham Lodge, K. of H.. and also a member of the Board of Trade, having served two years as its Treasurer. Few towns of Stoneham's size can boast of as large and complete a store as Mr. Bowser's. It has grown with the town, and its owner by his public spirit and lilieralit}- has re])eatedly shown that he appreciates the fact that his interest and that of the citizens are identical. DR. GEORGE W. NICKERSOX. George Wheaton Nickerson, M. D., one of the leading physicians of Stoneham, is the son of Joseph and Eliza P. (Chase) Nickerson, and was born in West Tisbury, Mass., February 7, 1852. His early education was obtained in the district school of his native town and in Duke's County Academy, also located in West Tisbury. He afterwards attended the Wes- leyan University at Middletown, Conn., and from there went to New York, where he attended a full four years' course at the College of Physicians and RIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 225 Surgeons of New York City. He practised his cliosen profession in New York City from 1878 to 1884, and in January of the latter year came to Stoneham, where he has since resided and has succeeded in securing an ex. tensive practice in medicine and surgery. He has never beer, married but resides with his mother on Central Street, near Church Square. He is a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society, the Middlesex East District Medical Society, the Boston Gynecological Society, Fells Lodge A. O. U. W., and Bear Hill Assembly, Royal Society of Good Fellows, and is^an attendant at the Methodist Episcopal Church. LEONARD PAGE BENTCX. Leonard Page Benton, shoe manufacturer, was born in Plymouth, N. H., April^29, 1837, and is the son of Zenas D. and Priscilla E. (Flanders) Benton. LE(JXARI) P. ISENTON. He attended the public schools of his native town, and at an early age learned the trade of a shoemaker in Auburn, N. H., making shoes sent from Haverhill, Mass. 15 226 BIOGRArFlICAL SKETCHES. He worked there at his trade until the war broke out, and on October lo,. 1861. enlisted in Co. E, 8th Regiment, N. H. Vol. Inf. His regiment was attached to and went with Gen. Butler's New England Division to Ship Is- land ; was with Gen. Butler at the capture of New Orleans. He was at the capture of Fort Hudson, 1863. and in the Red River campaign in 1864. He was made a prisoner May 15, 1864, at Yellow Bayou, near the Red River, and taken to Camp Ford, near T}Ier, Texas. Was exchanged October 20, 1864, and returned to his regiment. He was mustered out January 5, 1865, after serving three years and three months, being in active service in the field most of the time. He returne ; to Ashland, X. H., and resumed shoemaking, coming to Stoneham in 1869 arid working in the factories of Hill & Messer and others until 1876, when he started in business for himself and has continued to the present time. ]\Ir. Benton was married in Campton, N. H., to .Miss Harriet A. Avery, of that town, November 29, 1861, and two children have been born to them, Herbert L., who died at the age of five years, and Edna Alice, wife of Wm. P. Fletcher, of this town. Mr. Benton became one of the first members of Co. H, 6th Regiment, Stoneham Light Intantry. when this company was transferred to Stoneham in 1882, and remained with it five years, being appointed First Sergeant and rising to the rank of Second Lieutenant. He is a Past Commander of J. P. Gould Post j^, G. A. R., a member of Columbian Lodge, Columbian En- campment, Evergreen Lodge D. of R., and Canton Fells, I. O. O. F., and having passed through the chairs of both the Lodge and Encampment has become a member of the Grand Lodge and Encampment. He was a charter member of and one of the most active in organizing Miles Standish Colony, United Order of Pilgrim Fathers, has been through all the offices and is now a permanent member of the Supreme Colony. He was a member of the Board of Selectmen in 1886. IILSIXESS CAREER. In April, 1876, Mr. Benton began the manufacture of children's hand- sewed, turned, ankle ties in a room about 10x12 feet in dimension, in Aaron HilTs building on Franklin Street, employing three men and having a portion of the work done outside. In October, 1876, he removed to Round's build- ing, corner of Main and Maple Streets, put in machinery, and commenced the manufacture of children's grain boots and shoes, employing four men and h\it girls the first winter and turning out one case per day. In the fall of 1877 he moved into John Hill's building, on Main street, and occupied a whole floor, employing about thirty men, women and girls and turning out two cases or more i)er day. Here he remained two years and when the Fitz- Gerald building was completed he moved into that where he still further in- BIOCiRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 227 creased his capacity, employing tifty liands with an output of about six cases per day. About a year ago he commenced to change from grain goods to kid and goat and now manufactures misses' and children's fine quality boots and shoes in the Battles' shop, on Main street, which he purchased nearly six years ago, moving into it on the Fourth of July, 1885. Since he has been there he lias employed on an average from fifty-live to sixtv hands and is manufacturing forty cases ]Der weel< for the New England trade. As one of the fruits of his business enterprise Mr. Benton has built and lives in a sub- stantial residence on the corner of Main and Benton Streets, nearly opposite his factory. EDWARD F. SANBORX. Edward Francis Sanborn, although not a resident of Stoneham, is closely identified with the leading industry of the town, being the senior partner of the firm of Sanborn & Mann, one of the two largest shoe manufacturing firms in Stoneham. He was born in Boston in July, 1846, and was educated in the public schools of that city. There he also became familiar with the shoe business, aixl in 1881 be^'an the manufacture of shoes in this town in co-partnership with Arthur E. Mann, and they have continued up to the present time, manufacturing a medium grade of men's and women's shoes, mostly for the southern and western trade. They occupy the John Hill & Co. factory on Main Street, where they have been ever since they started, and their office in Boston is at 51 Lincoln Street. The firm began moderately, but now employ about 400 hands, the build- ing having been twice added to during the ten years they have been in business. Mr. Sanborn lives in a handsome residence in Winchester, Mass. See page 52 for view of their factory. CHARLICS O. CrRRIER. Charles (,)/.ni Currier, druggist and manufacturer of carbonated bevera<>-es was born in Warner, X. H., June 28, 1856, and is the son of Ransom and Mary (Chase) Currier. His early schooling was obtained in the common schools of his native town, and afterwards he attended the public schools of Lynn, lALa.ss., -J. iJ-t ' ! T. K. ROLFE. - After leaving the Academy he woi'ked on his father's farm for a while and in a cabinet factory for two years. He then went to California where he remained five years, working at carpentry and on a ranch. He then returned toy^enacook and worked in the granite quarries at West Concord. He was married at Plymouth, N. H., to Miss Jennie Woodard, of iMason- ville, P.|Q., on October 3, 1876, and one daughter, Lottie A., has been born to them, and is now living. Mr. Rolfe came to Stoneham in 1878 and opened the large private board- ingMiouse|on Main street, which bears the significant title "The Gilt Edge 241 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. House."" This building lie since purcliased. His treatment of his pations has won for his house an excellent reputation, and he has done a good busi- ness ever since he opened it. As a man and citizen he is much respected in the community. He is a member of Stoneham Council, American Legion of Honor, and of Contoocook Lodge, i. O. O. F., of Penacook, N. H. A view of the "Gilt Edge"" may be found on page 7 i . .'.MOS HILL. Amos Hill is a descendant of one of the oldest families of Stoneham and was born in this town October 26, 1830, and is the son of Levi and Sarah (Howard) Hill, both natives of Stoneham. He learned the trade of a shoemaker before he was twenty-one years of age and after reaching his majority he was for a few years engaged in the manufacture of shoes and later in the manufacfjre of razor straps. About the year 1855. he was engaged as one of the civil engineers on the Concorc and Claremont Railroad, in N. H., then oni}- finished as far as Bradford. F'rom that time he followed the profession of a civil engineer until about 1876, when ill health compelled him to give up the business. Mr. Hill served as Representative for the 23d ^Middlesex District in the Massachusetts Legislature in 1872 and 73 and during his term he secured the passage of the Act incorporating the Ouannapowitt Water Company now called the Wakefield W'ater Company, giving equal rights to the towns of Wakefield and Stoneham to take water trom Crystal Lake and Ouannapowitt Lake for domestic snd fire purposes. The town at this time not foreseeing the necessity of taking advantage of its rights under the charter suffered them to lapse and the rights were then fully vested in the incorporators named in the Act of incorporation. The company was dormant until 1882 when it awoke from its s lumbers, being stimulated by the action of Mr. Hill and fourteen others who met at the house of the lormer and pledged a sum of money sufficient to guarantee the success of another system of water works. The Ouannapowitt Company went to work and December i, 1883, their works were completed and the water let on in Stoneham under a contract with the town for a supply of water for ten years, and Mr. Hill was in charge of the Stoneham Division and has remained in charge to the present time. It was during the stssion of 1872 that Mr. Hill secured the passage of the act incorporating the Stoneham Odd Fellows' Hall Association, of this town, of which he is President. He has always taken great interest in the prosperity of his native town and has been for many years honored with various public offices. He has served the town fourteen years as Selectman, twelve years of which he was chair- man. He has been an Assessor and a member of the School Committee for 16 >42 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. the past four years, being at present a member of both lioards. He was for several years a trastee of the Lindenwood Cemetery, was fcr thirteen years a trustee ot the Public Lilrary and for more than fifteen years an active and prominent member of the Stoneham Fire Department, being foreman for three years, beginnin- with 1858. of the Hook and Ladder Company, and was an'"engineer of the department for three years. While foreman of the Hook and Ladder Comp;-ny he had one of the finest companies ever connected with the de, artmt nt. Honored and respected by his townsmenjhe is placed on all important committeees where the inteiests of the town are involved. A.MOS HILL. He is a mcml tr of Columbian Lodge, Columl)ian Encampment and Can- ton Fells, P. M., I. O. O. F., and has passed through the chairs of [both Lodge and Encampment. He has been honored by. the Odd Fellows] with BIOCiKAPHICAL SKETCHES. 243 the election to the highest office that can be given a brother in the State and also with an election to serve as Grand Representative t"or two years to the Sovereign Grand Lodge. He is also a member of King Cyrus Lodge, F. and A. M., and of Wavcrl) Ro}al Arch Chapter, being one of the charter members of the Lodge. Mr. Hill also takts a lively interest in the Stoneham Co-operative Bank, of which he is one of the Dirtctors and also their attornev. He "is also one of the Trustees of the StLr.eh;;m Five Cents Savings Bank. Mr. Hill w; s married in Stoneham, June 26, 185 i. to Miss Mary S. Gould, of this town, a sister to Col. J. P. Gould, and foui children have blessed their union, all of wb.cm :ie li\ing. viz: Levi, Mary Lvthn. wife of James A. Jones, of Stoneham. Willie barker and Walter An.os. Mr. Hilbs-home is at the junctiori of Pie. .'-ant ; nd Summer streets. \\1LLI.\.M KELLY. William Kelly, merchant tailor, son of Henry and Catherine (Claque) Kelly, was born in Castletown, Isle of Man, June 17. 1850. He attended school in Castletown ai.d in Charlestown. Mass. His trade of tailoring he learned in Castletown, serving a five years appren- ticesl ip. He came to Charlestown in 1S67 and went aito the employ, of 244 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Merrill & Gale, tailors, and worked for them about five years, and for Wm.. B. Lono- a little over a year. In March, 1S75, he came to Stoneham, where he was employed at his trade for five years by Oscar Hutchinson. He started in business for himself in his present quarters in 1880 and has continued there ever since ; enjoying a good business from the beginning and having many customers at a distance as well as in Stoneham. He is the longest established tailor in the town. He was married in Charlestown November 30, 1871, to Miss Ida F. Slack, of Charlestown, and four children, all of whom are living, have been born to them, viz : Eveline Francelia, Florence Abbie, Carrie May and Charles Henry William. He purchased and lived for some time in the old Congregational parsonage on Central street. This house is 147 years old. It has been much improved and is still owned by Mr. Kelly, but has been moved back a little to make room for his new residence, which was built in 1889. Mr. Kelly is a member of the Methodist Church, being a class-leader, and is also a member of Stoneham Lodge, Knights ot Honor, and of Stoneham Council, American Legion of Honor, and Stoneham Board ol Trade. GEORGE F. HUTTERFIELD. Mr. Butterfield was born near Harvard College, Cambridge, on January 28, 1845. His father, John B. Butterfield, was a native of New Hampshire. Born on one of the Uncanoonuc Mountains in Goffstown, April 10, 1805, he hunted in the primeval forests and fished in the mountain brooks, and in his vouth learned to honor the stars and .stripes, his father being Major of one of the N. H. regiments. He is a descendant from the original family of seven brothers who settled in New England and New York about the year 1645, ''i"d on his mother's side from the Hancocks and Beechams of Revo- lutionary fame. His mother was born in the old mansion house across Mystic River from Bunkers Hill, her grandfather, John Beecham, then owned from Chelsea Creek to Maiden Square. During the Revolution the American troops occupied the buildings and grounds, while his Charlestown estates were destroyed by the British. He was a pure blooded Englishman of high social standing and influence, but was cut off from his estate in England because of his aid and support to the cause of the revolution in America ; while Hancock gave the orders to ring the bells at Lexington and Concord the alarm that assembled the first troops who actively opposed King George. While a child Mr. Butterfield's parents again returned to New Hampshire, to the mountain home of his father, where he lived until fifteen years of age, when the family again moved to Massachusetts. He received a common school education such as was common in those days, viz. : going to school winters and working summers. He graduated from Comer's Commercial GEORGE F. BUTTERFIELD. 246 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. College in 1S60, and started to learn the wholesale drv goods business just before the breaking out of the Rebellion. When the first call came for troops, Mr. Butterfield. then a boy, enlisted, but was rejected on account of his youth. He afterwards made successive attempts, and on the fourth enlistment early in 1S62 getting mustered in by calling himself older than he was. He was a good shot, and wanted to try his skill in the interest of Uncle Sam. He served in the 7th and 22d Army Corps, and took part in the battles of Zuni, Va., Joiner's Ford, Franklin, Carsville. Deserted House, Siege of Suf- folk, and numerous skirmishes on the Weldon R. R. and elsewhere. At the battle of Carsville he was slightly wounded twice. Near an entrenched out- post on the Weldon R. R. a rebel sharpshooter had taken up a position, and one beautiful Sunday in April, 1863, killed and wounded fourteen of his comrades ; Butterfield had been in line of battle for three days and nights, expecting an attack at any moment from Longstreet, who was in front. He heard of the sharpshooter's work, and left the line, working his way down the railroad under a heavy fire until he got into a position to shoot, which he did ; and after exchanging several shots got his man. After serving two enlistments he joined Col. J. P. Gould's Veteran Regi- ment, 59th Mass. Vols., and was going out as First Lieutenant, but being an impatient young man he had a slight falling out with the Colonel and re- signed. He afterwards passed a military examination at Washington before Gen. Casey and was entered as Captain of Infantry in the regular army, and was under orders from the Secretary of War when Lee surrendered. He thought the army in time of peace would be too dull a life, so he sought a position in the business world, being connected with one concern for twenty years. He moved to Stoneham January 30, 1S78, and occupied one of the Stone mansion houses on the shore of Spot Pond. He belongs to no orders or societies other than the Grand Army of the Republic. He has been married twice, having two daughters, Grace L, 18 years, and Mildred F., 4 1-2 years. He was elected one of the Board of Selectmen in 1888, and is now serving the third term. He has for several years given his attention to building up the business of the Langwood Hotel at Spot Pond, and has expended there nearly $200,000 in new buildings and improvements which are a great attraction and benefit to this town. He propost^s to continue the effort, bringing something out of our waste tenitory, and is doing much to make Stoneham one of the most attractive places of residence to be found. He has associated with him Mr. Jonathan Munyan, of Worcester, a wealthy gentleman of unblemished repu- tation and high social standing, also Mr. Simon Snow, a retired gentleman of honor, and they are making the New Langwood Hotel a model institution second to none in America. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 247 MVRON J. FEKREN. Myron Josiah Ferren, Representative to the Legislature, is one of the most popular and genial citizens of Stoaehini, hiving been prominent in town af- fairs, politics and in many fraternal org.inizations. He was born in Corinth, Vermont, August i6, 1836, and is the son of Eben and Mary (Chapm:in) Ferren. He received his education in the common schools of Haverhill, N. H., Manchester, N. H., and Chester, N. H.. but being one of eight children, and his father dying when he was but ten years of age. he was obliged to do what he could for his own support, and therefore worked in a cotton mill at Manchester during his spare time out of school. After leaving school he worked at farmmg in Deering, Auburn and Goffs- town, N. H., for about two years after which he learned shoemaking in Amoskeag, N. H. He came to Stoneham in the spring of 1852 and remained here during the summer working at shoemaking. and in the fall went to Lawrence and for five years was employed in the Pacific Mills and at making shoes. In October, 1857. he returned to Stoneham, and has since that time re- sided here. He worked at shoemaking i.i its various branches in the shops of the town until 1S61, when the New Era pegging machine was introduced into Stoneham. and he learned to run the first one brought here. This was in the shop of Slo.in & Norton, and he worked on this machine for them for about a year when they sold out their business to Sweetser, Battles & Co., and Mr. Ferren went to work on the same machine for the latter firm. It was run b\' hand power for about a year, when the firm put in as an experi- ment a Koper Caloric Engine, the first one ever run. and on this Mr. Ferren made improvements so that it became a successful running engine. Mr. Ferren in addition to running the engine and pegging machine had charge of the stitching room. He was with this firm, except for a time in 1864 when he was in the service of the L'. S.. until 1870. the firm keeping his position open for him while he was in the army, and employing him again on his return. In addition to the aforementioned duties he was also a general fore- man of the machinery department. In 1870 he went into the employ of R. W. Emerson & Co as machinist, and was with them until thev (lissolveti in 18S2 when he accompanied Mr. Emerson to ^k']^ose and worked for him for a year. He then returned to Stoneham and tntend tlie tn-p!oy of \'in'.on & Jenkins for whom he worked a year. In 1884 he opened a shoe findirg store on Main Street and remained in that business until January. 1890. when he sold it out to Walter Paige, Since that time he has given his attention to his duties in the Legislature and is at present forwarding the interests of an tkctric elevated railway which he has himself invented and patented. MYRON J. FERREN. 250 lUOGRAPHIC.AI. SKETCHES. Mr. Ferren was first elected to represent his town in the Legislature in iSSS. and served in the lower branch in 1889, being on the committees on fedeml relations and drainage ; was re-elected for 1890 and served on the committee on street railways: was re-elected for 1S91 and served on the committees on federal relations and stieet railways and was first monitor in the fourth division. He is the only Representative ever elected from this town for three consecutive terms. Mr. Ferren has always been a Republican in politics, voting the ticket of that party almost since its organization, his first vote being cast in 1857. From 1870 to 1875 ^^^- Ferren served on the Stoneham Hoard of Select- men, of which he was clerk for three years, and disbursed state aid for two- years. From 1875 to 18S5 he was a member and clerk of the Board of Engineers of the Fire Department. .Mr. Ferren had previously been a fireman at Law- rence, where he had served on the brakes and as leading hoseman of the old Rough and Ready hand tub. From 1873 to the present time he has, with two exceptions, been Modera- tor of all town meetings. For fourteen years he was Chairman of the Re- publican Town Committee, and during that time entertained many public speakers at his cottage. Filled with patriotic ardor and enthusiasm he enlisted in Captain J. P. Gould's company in 1861. but when he presented himself to Dr. Wm. H. Heath for examination the doctor would not accept him on account of a trouble with his eyes. Pleading to be allowed to pass e.xamination did not prevail with the physician and .Mr. Ferren turned sor- rowfully away. He found an opportunity later however to enter the service, for in July, 1S64, he enlisted for one hundred days in Captain F. ^L Sweet- ser's company, passed the physician on account of not being subjected to a rigid examination, and was mustered in and served his full time, being sta- tioned in and around Baltimore, and returned in the fall. ^Ir. Ferren was married April 12. 1S64. in Stoneham, to Miss Wilhelmina D. Brown, of this town, but a native of Wolfboro. X. H. She died without issue in March, 18S6. Mr. Ferren is one of the most prominent members of the G. A. R. in Stoneham. He was one of the earliest mustered into J. P. Gould Post 75 and was for four years its Commander, during which time the Post flourished and was never in better condition in its history. He has served as aide-de- camp on the staffs of Department Commanders Patch. Creasy and Innis of the Department of Mass., attended the National Convention of the G. A. R, at Harrisburg, Penn., in 1874 as a delegate from his department, also at Chicago in 1875, ^^'^ is at present aide-de-camp on the stafl' of Commander- in-Chief Veazey, of the National Department, with the rank of Colonel. Mr. Ferren enjoys the distinction of being a member of more fraternal BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 25 1 organizations than any other man in Stoncham. First, he joined Columbian Lodge, I. O. O. F. in 1871, and is a charter member of Columbian Encamp- ment, of which he was Chief Patriarch for three terms, and has also passed through the chair of the lodge. He is also a charter member of Canton Fells, P. M., and immediately upon its institution was appointed aide-de- camp, with rank of Major, on the staff of General Palmer. He is a charter member of Stoneham Lodge, No. 371, K. of H., was its first Dictator and served two terms, is a charter member of Stoneham Coun- cil, No. 804, A. L. of H., of which he is a Past Commander, also a charter member of Bear Hill Assembly. Royal Society of Good Fellows, of which he was Ruler for two terms, also a charter member of Wamscott Tribe, Imp. O. R. M., was its first Past Sachem, and elected its first Propliet and served three terms, and is a member of lyanough Council, Daughters of Pocahon- tas, and of the iMutual Relief Associations of the two last named orders, of the Odd Fellows" Relief and Benefit Associations, King Cyrus Lodge, F. & A, ^L, Garnet Lodge, Order of the Solid Rock, and of the Stoneham Odd Fellows Hall Association, of which he was one of the incorporators. He also belongs to the Stoneham Board of Trade, the Central Club and the Stoneham Sportsmen's Club. Mr. Ferren is posscs.std of considerable n.echanical ingenuity and has in- vented and taken out letters patent on shoe machines and attachments, in- cluding a feather edging niiahine. welt knife, atlachment for fancy stitching on sewing machine, patent improved breasting machine and others, and a polka button boot. His latest invention, the Electric Railway, promises to become one of much importance. Mr. Ferren is an attendant at the Unitarian Church, in which he has always held a pew. He resides in a cottage of his own on (ierry street. For twelve to fifteen }ears .Mr. Fer:en kept organized an amateur dramatic association and gave many entertainments in Stoneham, contributing much in this way towards charitable objects. He usually assumed low comedy parts in which he was ver\ successful. He has always been active in Fourth ot July, Odd Fellows and other soci- ety celebrations, is always loyal to his town and ever ready to speak a good word in praise of it, is a man of eminent social ciualities, good hearted, charitable and generous and stands at the head in popularity among the citi- zens and his fellows. WALTER S. KEEXE. Walter Scott Keene, Selectman, is a native of Palmyra, ALaine, where he was born November 9, 1S58. and is the son of Norris and Sarah A. (Nye) Keene. He attended the district schools of Palmyra and adjoining towns and the Academv at Pittsfield, Maine. 252 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. After leavino- the Academy he removed with his parents to Auburn, Me., where he worked in the shoe shops for two years, when he again removed with his parents to South Paris, Me., where he was also employed in the shoe shops until he left home and came to Boston in July, 1878. He immediately went to work for the firm of F. Shaw & Brothers, one of the lar-^est firms of leather dealers in lioston or in the country, located at 268, 270 and 272 Purchase street. It was his intention to learn the business thorouo"hlv ^o he began at the bottom of the ladder and worked his way up, remainino- there to the present day. This firm failed in 1883 and the busi- ness has since been in the hands of a trustee with whom Mr. Keene has continued. In 1886 he c^m-nenced selling and has been a salesman since that time and since 1888 h s had an interest in the business and is head salesman. WALTER S. KEEXE. Mr. Keen? was united in marriage in Baston to Miss Kate .M. Thomas, of that city, January 6, 1881, and a son and daughter have been the fruit ot their union, both of whom are living. Their names are Walter Scott, Jr., and Nellie Iva. BI'KiKAPHJCAI. SKKTCHES. 253 Mr. Keene came to Stoncliani with his family Octoljer i, 18S2, and although he has resided in the town less than nine years he has obtained the confidence of the citizens and has become a prominent and leading citizen of the town. He is a member of the Board of Selectmen, having been elected Hrst in 1889 and re-elected twice since, and is now disburser of State aid for the board. He was one of the incorporators and is a director of the Stoneham National Bank, was one of the incorporators and is a Director of the Stone- ham Co-operative Bank, is a member of the Stoneham Board of Trade and for a number of years one of the Republican Town Committee. In the fraternal organizations he is a member of Bethesda Lodge, 1. O. O. F., of South Boston, Wamscott Tribe. Imp. O. R. M., and Highand Council O. U. A. M., of Stoneham. He is an attendant at the Methodist Episcopal Church. He lives in a tine modern residence on High Street. Farm Hill. See view on page 65. CH/\RLKS H. DREW. Charles Henry Drew, retired shoe manutact'.:rer, one of Stoneham's wealthy and influential citizens, was born in Barrington, N. H., Februarv 18, 1835, ■his parents being Jo.-eph and Mary J. (Kaxnes) Drew. While he was younr his parents took up theii residerce on a farm in Mere- dith, N. H., and he attended the common schools of that town, after which he v.'crked on his father's farm until he was twenty -(Cars of age and then learned the shoemakers trade, af er which he took shoes to make from John Hill & Co., of Stoneham, and hired men in Merec'it'; to make them. In November, 1856, he came to Stonehsm, wi ere he continued doing the same kind of work until the McKay heeling irachine came into use when he run one of those and had charge of others in the factory of John Hill & Co., doing the work by ',0 tract for the firm until the fall of i866, when he formed a co-part:.ersh'p with Edward F. Buswell, under the firm name of Drew & Bu;well, and ti.ey commenced manufacturing wonierV, misses' and children's grain boots and shoes at East Woburn. They r.mained there until the spring of 1867, when they removed to Stoneham and k cated in a building belonging to Francis Hay, at Farm Hill, which tui ding is now a dwelling house. After doing business there about a ye^r they bought and removed to the building on Franklin street in which they con inued to do business together until Mr. BusweU's death in 1879, and Mr. Dr.w remained in business alone after that until he retired in 1887. In their Franklin street factory they manufactured men's, boys' and youths' bulif, calf and veal calf boots and shoes in addition to their former line of goods. When the firm started at East Woburn in 1866 they turned out about two cases of shoes per day, and employed about twelve hands ; from that they increased at Farm Hill to four or five cases per day and employed about 254 luociKArmcAi. sketches. twenty-nve hands, while at Fr.inklin street tlicy maiuitactufed about twelve cases per day and gave employment to seventy-iive to eighty hands. Mr. Drew \\-as united in niania!;c in Wilmington. Mass.. July 5, 1S65. to Miss Sarah Pearson, of that town. No children have been born to thoni. Mr. Drew is a member ot" Wyoming Lodge. F. and A. M.. Waveily Royal Arch Chapter, Melrose Council. Royal and Select Masters, and Hugh de ravens Commandery. all oi Melrose, and is a 3::d degree Mason. He is also a member of the Central Club and of the Stoneham Board of Trade. He is one of the most active and pushing members of the committee appointed to secure the new railroad to the Fells, and it was largely due to his persistency after most of the others had become discouraged that the matter was brought to a successful issue and the building of the railroad is about to be consummated. Mr. Drew is an attendant at the I'nitarian Church. Although never courting or desiring public office he has been selected by the citizens of the town to serve on many important committees to consider matters of leading interest to the tcwn"s welfare, and has rendered valuable service. His residence is on Congress Street. W. \VAK15 CHILD. Winthrop Ward Child, carriage maker, is the son of Oliver L. and Pollv (Brown) Child, and was born in Cambridge. Mass., November 23, 1S2S. He obtained his education in the Cambridge public schools, attend- ing the High School for two years. At the age of fifteen and a half years he commenced to learn the trade of a wheelwright and carriage rnaker and served a full apprenticeship. Immedi- atelv after he went to work at his trade in West Cambridge, now Arlington, where ho was employed by Samuel Buckman for about three years, and then went to Medford and worked for Elbridge Teel for seven months. He came to Stoneham. September 23. 1S49. '^""^^ in April, 1S50, he started in business in the same shop which he now occupies. Six years later he dis- posed of his business to B. F. Richardson and went to work in the factory of William Hurd. being eng-aged to do general repairs about the factory. By careful observation he got a good general idea of the business and in the earlv part of 1S57 was given the position of foreman of the factory, in which position he remained until June. r86i, when the factory was closed on ac- count of business stagnation caused by the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion, and remained closed for some time. Mr. Child worked in the shoe factories until 1865. In June of that] year he caught a severe cold while saving leather for his emplo}er, the factory^be- ing flooded with water during a heavy storm, and for nearly a year was un- able to do any work on account of sickness. In April, 1S66, he commenced doing light work about the factory, but his health not improving he^went into BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 255 the employ of the American Lasting Machine Co. in 1867, and wa.s travelling salesman for this company for about a year, when he concluded to give up all connection with the shoe business and go back to his trade. This was in the latter part of 1868. He hired a shop in the yard with C. M. Boyce and did business there for himself until 1871, when he bought out B. F. Richard- son and has been in Inisintss at his present location since that time. Mr. Child was married in Brighton, Mass., May 18, 1852, to Miss Sarah A. Phillips, of that place, and a son and daughter have been the fruit of this union, the former, Curtis Milton Child, being married and now residing in Stoneham, the latter, the wife of George N. Green, having died about four- teen years ago. W. WARD CHILD. Mr. Child's residence is on the corner of Chestnut and Gilmore Streets. Mr. Child is a nrember of Columbian Lodge and Columbian Encampment, L O. O. F, and having been through the chairs of both is a member of the Grand Lodge and Grand Encampment. He has also seiTed sixteen and a. half years as Secretary of the Lodge and fifteen years as .scribe of, the en- campment. He is also a member of Canton Fells, P. i\L, of which he was. Clerk for several years. 256 BIOGKAPHiCAL SKETCHES. He is Chairman of the Overseers of the Poor, being elected to this board and made its chairman in 1875. He served during that year and was again elected in 1877 and has been chairman ever since. His co-workers are Henry H. French and Silas Dean, and the board has been unbroken for over fourteen years. He was for four years on the Water Committee, and is now one of the Cemetery Trustees. The faithfulness with which he has discharged the duties of the various offices which he holds, ai.d the confidence reposed in him is evidenced by his continuous re-election and long terms of service. W. O. CHAMBEHLIX. Woodbury Otis Chamberlin. lumber dealer, ol the Stoneham Lumber Co., although a resident of Stoneham but a few years, has been prosperous during those years and having built himself a home here intends to remain. He is a native of Windsor, N. H., where he was born Nov. 15, 1855, and is the son of Otis and Martha (Wheeler) Chamberlin. When he was l^ul two years of age his parents removed to Hunterstown, P. O., Canada, and in a Friars' school at Yamachiche, P. O., he accjuired a French education. He was sent by his parents to Burlington, Vt. for a common school education in the English branches and finished at Appleton Academy, New Ipswich, N. H. He then returned to Yamachiche, where he was employed as a book-keeper for the Beaver Lumber Co., a concern which employed about a thousand hands. Here he commenced to acquire a knowledge of the lumber business and he has been connected with it ever since except for two years. He remained with the Beaver Lumber Co. about five years when his father purchased a farm in Enfield, N. H., and the son worked on this farm for two years . Alter this he was employed as foreman in lumber yards in Worcester and Boston about eight years, until he came to Stoneham in May, 1887, and went to work for Jewett tS: Cate, lumber dealers and box manufacturers, remaining with them about one and a half years. When this firm dissolved Mr. Chamberlin bought out Mr. Cate's interest in Stoneham and has been in the lumber business here since. For two years he conducted the business alone under his own name and then took in a partner and since then the business has been carried on under the name of the Stoneham Lumber Co. The trade has continually increased from the beginning and a large business, both wholesale and retail, is now done in Stoneham and the surrounding towns. Mr. Chamberlin was married in Charlestown, Mass., January 27, 1886, to Miss Hattie M. Trundy, of Addison, Me. They have no children. Mr. Chamberlin is a member of Ridgely Lodge, L O. O. F. of Worcester, HIOfiRAPHICAL SKETCHES 257 the Order of Unity and Order of tlie Golden Temple, Concord, Mass., and is an honorary member of J. P. Gould Post 7^, G. A. R., and a member of ■the Stoneham Board of Trade. He resides in a home which he bought on Washington street, corner of Myrtle. E.MORV B. WHITE. Emory Barron While, expressman, was born in Bath, N. H., October 26, 1833, and is a son of Jacob M. and Melinda C. (Cox) White. His education was obtained in the common schools of Bath, Landoff, Haverhill and Benton, N. H., in all of which towns his father successively resided. During his school days he worked for his father on the farm when not at- tending school, and continued with him after finishing his schooling until he was twenty-one years of age, after which he worked a year at lumbering and in 1S56 went to California and was engaged in mining there for three years. In 1859 he returned to Benton, N. H., and from that time until 1866 he was engaged in farming and lumbering in Benton and other towns. On April i, 1866, he came to Stoneham and went into the employ of H. W. Gordon as a driver on the Stoneham and Lynn Express, and on Septem- ber I, 1867, he bought out the business of Mr. Gordon, and has carried it on to the present time. He has applied himself closely during the twenty- four years and has not been away from his business in all that time exctpt for six weeks in 1883 when he paid a visit to W'ashington, Oregon, and nine weeks in 1890 when he took a trip to California and other states on the Pa- cific coast. He now runs every day from Woburn and Stoneham to Lynn. ^Ir. White v»-as married January 14, 1862, in Benton, N. H., to Miss Amaret A. Whitcher, of that town, and three children, all of whom are liv- ing, have been born to them, viz. : Lulu F., Lewis B., and Elva G. Mr. White is a member of Stoneham Lodge, K. of H., and of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. HEXRV A. SMITH. Henry Augustus Smith, of Smith & Robertson, Insurance, Boston and Stoneham, was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, September 14, 1840, and is the son of Edward E. and Rachel (Lewis) Smith. He is one of a family of seven children. When he was less than two years of age his parents removed to Mi:idle- bury, Conn., and a few years later to Newtown, Conn., where his father bought a home in the Putatuck Valley. Mr. Smith's mother died in the fall of 1852, and from that time on for five or six years he lived with various parties doing farm chores, etc.. and at- tending the district schools. For a time he attended Dr. R. M. Gray's select school in Monroe, Conn. 17 258 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. In 1857 he worked for the Scovil Manufacturing Co., in Waterbury, and in 1858 at wool hat sizing in Monroe, and in 1859 removed to Sandy Hook where he intended to learn the hatter's trade, but ill health prevented, and he again turned to farm work and studied evenings, preparing himself for teaching a district school in Newtown, Conn., which he taught in the winter of 1859-60, and afterwards attended the State Normal School in New Brit- ain, Conn. In the winter of 1860-61 he taught a district school in Monroe, at the close of which he again entered upon his studies but when the firing on Fort Sumter was reported, filled with patriotic ardor, he left school and walked fourteen miles to New Haven, where he enlisted April 19, 1861, among the earliest soldiers of the war. HENRY A. SMITH. He was assigned to Co. B, ist Regiment Connecticut Volunteers, and was at the first battle of Bull Run. He was discharged July 31, 1861, by reason of expiration of service, and September 3, 1861, again enlisted in Bridge- port, Conn., as Corporal in Co. A, 8th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, and was discharged at Baltimore, Md., November 15, 1862, on account of a gun- shot wound received at the Battle of Antietam. His wound did not heal until the following spring while attending the Bryant & Stratton Commercial College in Albany, N. Y. He then worked for a short time as clerk in a grocery store and later on a farm in Rutland, Vt., and July 21, 1863, again enlisted as Corporal in Co. E, lilOGKAI'HICAL SKETCHES. 259 13th Veteran Reserve Corps, tliis time from Rutland, and did provost duty in Brattleboro, Vt., Concord, N. H., White River Junction, Greenfield, Mass., and Boston, and was discharged in Boston, November 15, 1865. For a period after this he was employed as a bookkeeper in Boston, since which time for the most part, he has been in the business of soliciting, plac- ing and writing insurance, principally Fire Insurance. February i, 1889, he formed a partnership with Charles S. Robertson, and the firm of Smith & Robertson have offices at 441 Exchange Building, corner of State and Kilby Streets, Boston, and in Stoneham. While in the army Mr. Smith was on detached service during a portion o the time that his company was quartered in the Beach Street barracks, Bos- ton, and was clerk to Dr. J. F. Harlow, of Boston, while examining recruits in Faneuil Hall, was clerk to Major F. N. Clark on Bulfinch Street and to Major-General Daniel Sickles on Beacon Street. While his company was in Concord, N. H., he was Adjutant's clerk to Colonel D. K. Ward well. Going to war changed his plans for life. He had contemplated studying for the ministry, but having spent so much time in the service and being lim- ited in means and without a home, he abandoned the idea and went into business. Mr. Smith was married in Boston by Rev. Henry Morgan, September 12, 1865, to Miss Myra M. Johonnot, of Stoneham, and has resided in Stone- ham most of the time since. They have two children, Edward, and Marion, wife of Elmore Sanborn. Mr. Smith is a member of the Baptist Church, having united with that de- nomination in 1856 in StejDney, Monroe, Conn., Rev. W. B. Toland, pastor. He was one of the founders of the First Baptist Church, Stoneham, was its first Sabbath School Superintendent, and has held the office of Corporation Clerk since its organization. In 1881 Mr. Smith was one of the organizers of the Equitable Mutual Re- lief Society, but owing to the law enacted in 1885 reinsured and provided protection for all the members in the Bay State Beneficiary Association. Having been an agent of the John Hancock Life Insurance Co. of Boston, for over tw^enty years, and thoroughly believing in the principles of insurance, he has joined a number of fraternal benefit orders and is now a member of Miles Standish Colony Pilgrim Fathers, the Supreme Council of the Royal Conclave of Knights and Ladies, the L^nion Endowment, and the Supreme Lodge of The Fraternal Associates of America, of which he is Supreme Sec- retary. He is also a member of the Bay State Beneficiary Association, of AVestfield, Mass., and of the Massachusetts Mutual Accident Association, of Boston, both business benefit societies. Mr. Smith first joined a secret society in Monroe, Conn., called the Loyal Legion, during the war, and next joined Athena Lodge, I. O. G. T., of Bos- ton, in 1865, and was its Secretary for a time. He has also been a member 26o BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. of a number of lodges in Winchester and Stoneham and passed through the chairs and was admitted to the Grand Lodge. He has since joined the Temple of Honor and is now a member of the Grand Temple. He is also a member of Columbian Lodge, L O. O. F., J. P. Gould Post 75, Wamscott Tribe, L O. R. M., all of Stoneham, and of Henry Price Lodge, F. and A. M., of Charlestown. CHARLES S. ROBERTSON , Charles S. Robertson, of the tirm of Smith >i Robertson, Insurance, Bos- ton and Stoneham, was born in Charlestown, .Mass., April 24, 1S50, and is the son of Charles M. and Hannah F. (Viall) Robertson. He was educated in the schools of Charlestown. He is a resident of Som- erville and has never lived in Stoneham. He formed a partnership with Henry A. Smith, of Stoneham, Febraary i, 1889, for the carrying on of the insurance business, but previous to that time had been in the patent medicine business. Mr. Robertson was married at Somerville, November 20, 1879, ^'^ Miss Carrie E. Waterman. He is a member of the Universalist congregation, Somerville, is a Past Master and Secretary of Henry I'rice Lodge, F. and A. M., Charlestown, is a Past Grand of Howard Lodge, No. 22, L O. O. F., of Charlestown, but now a member of Paul Revere Lodge, of Somerville, and is a member of St. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 261 Andrew's Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, of Boston, and Cceur de Lion Com- mandery, of Charlestown. Mr. Robertson gives his attention to the business of the tirm at their Bos- ton office, No. 441 Exchange Building, corner of State and Kilby Streets. EDWARD p. DUXCKLEE. Edward Payson Duncklee, shoe stock manufacturer, is a native of Green- field, N. H., where he was born January 23, 1832, and is the son of John and Sarah (Center) Duncklee. He attended the district school of Greenfield and worked on his father's farm until he came to Stoneham in 185 1. Here he learned to make shoes by hand, as all shoes were made at that time, and worked at shoemaking for two and a half years, saving $900 during the time, when he went to Califor- nia, and after remaining there nine months returned to Stoneham and went into shoe manufacturing on his, own account, making women's, misses" and children's shoes. Mr. Duncklee built the factory on Elm street, in the northeast part of the town which is now owned by W. D. Brackett and oc- cupied by Tucker & Moulton. He was at one time one of the largest man- ufacturers of shoes in Stoneham, and continued in the business until 1872 when he retired to a large faim which he had bought in South Lyndeboro, N. H., about a year previously. He purchased and combined four farms, amounting in all to 900 acres, on which were two sets of buildings one set of which he greatly enlarged and improved and finally with still further addi- tions to the house turnec it into a summer hotel and called it The Mountain- MOUNTAINSIDE SUMMER HOUSE, side Summer House. This is a forty room hotel beautifully situated part way up the side of a mountain, high, sightly and healthy, and is under the direct supervision of Mr. Duncklee's son and son-in-law, Mr. C. A. Moody, of Stoneham. Here Mr. Duncklee erected a large, substantial four-story 262 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. barn, conveniently adjoining tlie house, and this he intends to remodel and furnish as a still further addition to his hotel. Mr. Duncklee remained on this farm with his family about eight years and then returned to Stoneham. About this time .Sanborn & Mann were al)out to enter into the manufacture of shoes and they engaged Mr. Duncklee as foreman to take charge of their factory, which position he retained for about two and a half years. After this in 1884 he went into partnership with R. R. Danforth in the manufacture of pre]:)ared slice stock in a moderate way, and in about a year bought out Mr. Danforth's interest and has since then been in business alone in the same factory, on Main Street, corner of Union. He has purchased and made large additions to his factory, nearly doubling its capacity, he oc- cupying two whole floors. He manufactures in large quantities a ta]j which he invented and patented, made from pieces of solid sole leather, and that and innersoles constitute principally his output. In good business times he employs from thirty to thirty-five hands. Mr. Duncklee was married in Andover, Mass., Dec. 17, 1857, to Miss Amanda O. f'ollansbee, of Andover, who is still living, Two children, both of whom are living have been born to tliem, vi/ : Kmma, wife of Charles A. Moody, of Stoneham, and Edward Albert. Mr. Duncklee has never been interested in public atfairs or societies, but has confined himself to business. K. F. SAURIX. Edward Francis Saurin, house painter, etc., was born in Coleraine, County Antrim, in the north of Ireland, July 31, 1835, and is the son of Thomas J. and Jane J. (McAIanus) Saurin. When he was two years of age he came with his parents to America. His rudimentary education was obtained from his parents and he afterwards went to school in Trenton and Bordentown, N. J. After this his father moved onto a farm in the backwoods of Central Pennsylvania and for three years the son was deprived of schooling but studied at home and worked on the farm. Then his father removed to Bridgeport, Conn., Dorchester, Ro.x- bury, Boston, and Somerville successively and he was allowed to attend the public schools in all these places, the one in Boston being the Dwight School. He finished with a year and a portion of a second in the Somerville High School after which he went to work for his father at house painting and has followed the trade, working for others and as a boss painter, from that time to the present. He came to Stoneham March 31,1856, having ])een employed previously in Boston, Cambridge, Newton and Waltham, and went to work for Joseph Barrett. M 264 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. After remaining with Mr. Barrett l\ve year.s Mr. Saurin went into business for himself January i. 1861, and has continued since. He started on Main street in the upper front of the building where Holdsworth's confectionery store is now located and after remaining there for a number of years he bought a lot of land and built a shop on Franklin street. This property he sold to T. H. Jones in 1889, repurchasing the building containing the fish market and removing it to a lot of land which he bought on the other side of Franklin street, near the Drew & Buswell factory. He occupied the upper portion as a paint shop until 1890, when he erected the new building adjoin- ing. He now occupies one store on the lower floor for the sale of paper hangings, another store is let for grocery, the upper part of the building is his paint shop, Hibernian Hall is on the third floor, and the second floor is let to the Blues and other clubs. Mr. Saurin has been the longest in business of any ot the painters in Stoneham and has taken the lead in his line, and being particular in doing good work himself and requiring it from others whom he has employed, he has established a high standard. Mr. Saurin has never married, never has united with a fraternal order, and has never held public office. WILLIAM B. STEVEKS, ESQ. William Burnham Stevens, Attorney and Counsellor-at-Law, is a native of Stoneham and one of the leading citizens of the town. He was born March 23, 1843, '^i^d is a son of William Flint Stevens, M. D., and Mary Jane Gould (Burnham) Stevens. His maternal ancestry extends back in this town to John Gould, who was probably the original settler within the terri- tory incorporated as Stoneham. The first paternal ancestor to reside in the town was Rev. John H. Stevens, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, who came here in 1795. Mr. Stevens obtained his early education in the common schools of Stone- ham, afterwards took a full course at Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass., and succeeded this with a course at Dartmouth College, from which he graduated in the class of 1865. He afterwards attended the Harvard Law School, and from that went into the law office of Sweetser & Gardner. He opened an office for hims.elf in Stoneham Jan. i, 1868, having been admitted to the bar in the summer of 1867. Not long after he established an office in Boston, and continued the practice of his profession until Janu- ary, 1880, when he was appointed by Governor John D. Long as District Attorney for Middlesex County, to fill out the unexpired term of Judge Ham- mond, who resigned in 1879. Mr. Stevens was nominated and elected by the voters of the County three times successively afterwards and served ten years in all, or until 1890, when WlLLiA.M B. STEVENS, ESO. 266 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. he declined a renomination. While occupying the position of District At- torney he gave such time to the practise of law as he was able, and is now devoting his whole attention to his profession and matters of private business. Mr. Stevens served in the war cf the Rebellion in Co. C, Fiitieth Mass. Vol. Infantry. He was mustered in in September, 1862, served in the De- partment of the Gulf, and was in General Banks' expedition to New Orleans, and at the siege of Port Hudson. He was discharged in August, 1863. Mr. Stevens has been married twice, the first time in Stoneham, October 20, 1868, to Miss A. Josephine Hill, daughter of John Hill, of this town. She died in 1869. The second marriage was also in Stoneham on Septem- ber 30, 1873, to Miss Mary Williamme Green, daughter of James A. Green, of this town. Four children have been the fruit of the second union, three of whom are living, viz : Josephine Flint, Mary Burnham and Frances Osgood. A son, William F., came to his death by accidental drowning when quite young. Mr. Stevens is an attendant at the Congregational Church, and is a mem- ber of J. P. Gould Post 75, G. A. R., and Columbian Lodge, I. O. O. F. In public affairs he is active in whatever pertains to the town's interests, and is one of the most influential citizens, his judgment being consulted and accorded great weight in all matters of importance. He has been honored with a number of public offices and is usually appointed on important committees. He was for fifteen years or more a Trustee of the Public Library, was a memlier of the school committee for a number of years and has been a Trustee of Lindenwood Cemetery for some time. He is now, and has been for }ears. President and a Trustee of the Stone- ham Five Cents Savings Bank, and was one of the incorporators and is a Director of the Stoneham National Bank. He is chairman of the committee on the new railroad from Stoneham centre to Fells Station and has been one of the most active in forwarding this project. He lives in an attractive residence on Main street. The condensed general history of Stoneham contained on pages i to 105 of this book is the work of Mr. Stevens. PATRICK COGAN. Patrick Cogan, shoe manufacturer, was born in the County Monaghan, Ireland, March 5, 1831, and is the son of James and Julia (Crimmy) Cogan. He attended school in his native place, where he also learned the trade of a tailor. When seventeen years of age he left home and sailed from Liverpool on the finest ship sailing from that port in those days, and after a trip of thir- lUOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 267 teen weeks landed in I'.oston. P'rom that city he went to Woburn, remain- in"- there six months, where he obtained employment at out of door labor, receivino- fourteen dollars per month as compensation. From Woburn he went to New York City where he remained ten months, also engaged in out of door labor. IniS5i he came to Stoneham and has Ijeen here ever since. Here he worked out of doors until 1853 when he went to making shoes, and in three months after he commenced was earning $1.25 per day, which was good wao-es at that time. He did not serve an apprenticeship as was the custom then, but has gained a good knowledge of the business by observation and application. He worked in the shoe factories of the town until 1878 when PATRICK COGAN. he began the manufacture of shoes on his own account in a small front room on the lower floor of the building he now occupies on Main street, just north of Montvale avenue. This room he rented of the Middlesex Co-operative Shoe Co., which company then had a lease, of the building. Here Mr. Cogan, assisted by his two sons, Bernard H. and James, began with the making of twenty pairs of misses" grain shoes per day. In 1880 the Middle- sex Co. gave up the lease of the building and Mr. Cogan was obliged to seek 268 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Other quarters, which he obtained in the Rounc\s Building, where he remained two years, then removed to the Drew Building, on Franklin Street, where he was located for three years. His business had steadily increased, and in 1885 he purchased the old factory in which he commenced, and there he has con- tinued until the present time. It was then that he took into partnership his son Bernard H., and the firm has since been called Patrick Cogan & Son. The output of the factory is nearly all sold directly to the retail trade exclu- sively, with no intermediate agency, the son making two trips a year among the customers of the firm in the New England and Western States. The business has every year shown an increase over the previous year until now about one hundred hands are employed and about six hundred pairs, or ten sixty pair cases, are manufactured per day, the shoes being boys' and youths' split, veal calf, Milwaukee and Dongola grain leather, ladies' misses' and children's Dongola goat, grain and Milwaukee and glove grain. Preparations are being made to build an addition to the factory with the intention of doubling its capacity and turning ou hum Ilh to twelve hundred pairs per day. Mr. Cogan was married in Lowell to Miss Alice Halpin, of that city, July 5, 185 I, and seven children have been Ijorn to them, four of whom are now living, viz. : Annie, widow of William Logue, Julia C. wife of S. P. Finne- gan, James and Bernard H., both of whom aie married. Mr. Cogan enlisted for three years in the war, in the 17th Mass. \'olunteer Infantry, in June. 1861 . but was taken sick in the latter part of October of the same year and came home in December, when he was discharged for dis- ability. He is a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, of this town. CHARLES B. MELVIV. Charles Butterfield Melvin, son of Charles and Susan (Hunt) Melvin. The well-known and familiar face will be at once recognized Oy all our citizens and more especially by all the travelling public who have ever had occasion to supply the wants of the inner man. It is said some men were born with a silver spoon in their mouths, but it might be safely said that the subject of this sketch was born with a cook book in his hand, so successfully has he catered to the public in tht past forty \errs. Mr. Melvin was born in Lo\ve!l. .Mass.. in 1823. and commenced his suc- cessful career by serving an apprenticeship with the well-known Capt. Mars- ton from 1843 to 1846. I" 1S47 he started and successfully ran the first express between Lawrence and Lowell, but after a year he concluded to return to his Old trade and accordingly opened the first regular eating house ever in Lawrence, which he managed till 1857 when he took possession of the Frank- lin House, remaining there five years. While there Mr. Melvin had the lUOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 269 honor of entertaining rrcsidcnt I'icrce, Hon. B. F. Butler and all the prom- inent men of those days. In 1861 he disposed of his interest, and in 1865 came to Stoneham, where he has resided ever since, and by judicious man- agement of the Central House, (the only Hotel in this place), has succeeded in'amassing a fortune which will comfort him in his declining years. CHARLES B. MELVIN. Besides catering to the wants of the inner man, Mr. Melvin is a large real estate owner in Stoneham and Lawrence, Mass. Mr. Melvin retired from the hotel business July i, iSgi, having catered in Stoneham 26 years. CHARLES H. BROWN. Charles Hamilton Brown, retired leather manufacturer, is a native of Leo- minster, Mass., where he was born February 27, 1839, and is the son of Hamilton and Adelia (Spaulding) Brown. He attended the common schools of Leominster until he was sixteen years of age, and in the following year went to North Woburn, Mass,, and served an apprenticeship at the currying trade with the firm of Bond & Tidd until he was twenty-one years of age. In March, i860, he came to Stoneham and went into the employ of Tidd &; Bloomer and worked for them until they dissolved their partnership and 270 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. closed their factory in 1861. He then went to Woburn and worked for Gen. Abijah Thompson and Tidd & Blake until February, 1862, when he returned to Stoneham and went to work for Wm. Tidd, Jr., who was then just start- ing in business alone after having closed up the business affairs of Tidd & Bloomer. Mr. Brown continued in the employ of Wm. Tidd, Jr., and afterwards with Wm. Tidd & Co. until January, 1866, when he was admitted as a part- ner in the firm and continued until November, 1890. when he withdrew and retired with a competency. His son, William T., was admitted to the firm in 1887 and is now a member. CHARLES H. BROWX. Mr. Brown was united in marriage in Woburn b\- Rev. R. P. Stebbins, November 27, 1862, to Miss Oriana Tidd, daughter of Wm. Tidd, of this town. Mrs. Brown was born in Woburn. Two children have been the fruit of this union, both of whom are living, namely : William Tidd and Annie Hamilton. Mr. Brown formerly belonged to Wyoming Lodge, of Melrose, and was a charter member of King Cyrus Lodge, of Stoneham, F. and A. AL ; he was also a member of Hugh de Payens Commander}-, of Melrose, but has with- > ir. O 'Z o n X > r O 272 inOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. drawn from the above, but is a life member of Waverlv Royal Arch Chapter, ■of Melrose. He is an attendant at the Unitarian Cliurch. He was formerly a Director of the First National Bank of Woburn, and is a Director and was one of the incorporators of the Stoneham National Bank. He resides in one of the finest homesteads in Stoneham, situated on the ■corner of Maple and Chestnut Streets. HEXRV HOLDEX FRENCH. Henry Holden French, son of Reuben and Abigail (Holden) French, was born in Billerica, Mass., Jan. 15, 1827. He was educated in the public schools of his native town and assisted his parents en the farm prior to 1851, when he came to Stoneham and entered the employ of Allen Rowc & Son, clerking in the store and assisting in the manufacture of shoes until 1S61, with the exception of one year, in which he was employed by Sweetser & Battles, shoe manufacture! s. From July i, 1 86 1, to Dec. 9, 1869, he held a position of responsibility and trust with Aaron Hill, grocer, and during the later years has worked at shoe cutting in several factories of the town. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 273 Mr. French has always been much interested in town affairs and has been •elected several times to fill important positions. He is now serving for the fifteenth consecutive year on the Board of Overseers of the Poor. In 1860- 61 he served as Assessor, 1862 Selectman, Assessor and Overseer of the Poor. He was married in 1858 to Harriet E. Kimball, who died in 1873. Of this union were two children, Zoe and Harriet, both of whom are living. His second marriage was in 1874, with Mrs. M. A. Woodward. Mr. French has been a memljer of Columbian Lodge, I. O. O. F., since 1878. WILLIAM FLINT COWDREY. Wm. Flint Cowdrey, son of Lieut. Geo. and Relief ca S. (Bucknam) Cow- clrey, was born in Stoneham, Mass., January 22, 1827, and received his education in the public schools. He learned the trade of shoemaking, in which occupation he is now employed. Mr. Cov'drey sailed from Boston October 31, 1849, for San Francisco, California, "'' the ship Argonaut via Cape Horn, arriving there March 13, 1850, returning by the Isthmus of Pan- ama, and reached home July 19, 1852. He enlisted August 16, 1864, in Co. K,|,Fourth Regiment Mass. Heavy Artillery and served until the close of the 18 274 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. war. He has held the office of Selectman for two years. He has also been a member of the board of registrars of voters for three years. He is a charter member of Miles Standish Colony No. 7, of the Pilgrim Fathers, also a member of Columbian Lodge, No. 29, I. O. O. F., and a member of J. P. Gould Post 75, G. A. R., and is a member of the society of California Pioneers of New England. WILLIAM H. FARXHAM. William Henry Farnham, manufacturer of shoe lasts, was born in Smith- field, Maine, November 20, 1855, and is the son of Samuel and Harriet A. (Foss) Farnham. He attended the common schools of Norrid^rewock, Me., and the Hish School at Waterville, Me., from which he graduated. From sixteen to nineteen years of age he worked in a cotton mill in Au- gusta, Me., and afterwards with a partner went into the business of manufac- turing shoe stock at Auburn, Me., the firm being Simonds & Farnham. He remained in this business for two years and then took up the business in which he is now engaged, first learning the trade with the Auburn Last Co., where he served three years. After this he was employed by the Day Process Shoe Co. in experimental work and on September i, 1882, he came to Stoneham and went into the last making business on his own account. He started in the basement of the shop now occupied by P. Cogan & Son, Main Street, he furnishing power for his rent to Wm. P. Fletcher, box maker, and a laundry, both in the same building. He put in only one turning machine at first and employed three hands besides himself. At the end of two years he removed to larger quarters in the factory now occupied by L. V. Colahan and added another turning ma- chine and three more men. He remained there about three years and then removed to his present quarters where he occupies one whole floor in the upper part of the factory of Hamilton Hay, on Montvale avenue. He has now four turning machines and in busy times employs fourteen men. His Boston office is at 116 Bedford Street, room 505. Mr. Farnham gives a great deal of time to inventing new lasts and designing new shapes, in order to be abreast of the times, and his lasts are of desirable patterns and of the best finish. He manufactures for all the Stoneham manufacturers as well as for others in different parts of the country. Mr. Farnham has been twice married, first in 1877, in Auburn, Me., to Miss Margaret Flynn, of Lowell, Mass., and second in Stoneham, in the fall of 1888, to Miss Minnie F. Libbey, of Salem, Mass. By his first wife were born four children, two of whom are living, namely : Herbert Francis and Albert William, By his second wife he has had no. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 275 issue. His first wife died in May. 1886, and was buried in Lindenwood Cem- etery. Mr. Farnham is a member of Columbian Lodge, I. O. O. F. POLICE. Stoneham has the good fortune to be specially favored in the character of the men who hold the positions of police officers. The citizens are to be congratulated on having men on the force who are considerably above the average of policemen in intelligence, morality and gentlemanly qualities. This is partly due to the carefulness and good judgment of those whose duty it is to select and appoint these officers and partly owing to the fact that the town is a peaceable, law-abiding community, which makes the posi- tion of a policeman a more attractive and agreeable one than in communities where the criminally disposed reside and are continually resorting to acts of lawlessness. The force consists of three regular police, whose time is wholly command- ed, three special police, who are employed as occasion demands, and three special police for the third and fourth days of July. The regular officers are Rix L. Newton, chief, J. C. C. Small and W. W. Houghton. RIX L. NEWTON. Rix Lyman Newton, Chief of Police of Stoneham, is the son of Charles F. and Roxanna A. (Ladd) Newton and was born in Tunbridge, Vt., March 14, 1853. He is a seventh son in a family of ten children and his father and mother are both living at the ages of 96 and 88 respectively, and both are in good health and retain all their faculties, his father being able to work about the farm. He attended the district school of the town of Washington, Vt., leaving when about fifteen years of age and going to work on his father's farm and at carpentering, his father being a carpenter and following that trade in connec- tion with his farming. In 1873 he went to carpentering for himself and continued to the fall of 1879, when he went into the saw-mill of A. W. Tewksbury & Sons, working there until September 16, 1886. September 17, the next day after leaving the mill, he came to Stoneham and went to work for his brother-in-law, J. B. Swan, contractor and builder. He remained with him for two years and during the second year was a special police officer, having been appointed by the Selectmen in April, 1888. In April, 1889, he was appointed as Chief-of« Police, which position he still holds, giving much satisfaction to the Board and to the people in general. He succeeded Col. O. H. Marston. 276 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Although not old enough to serve in the war three of his brothers enlisted in V'ermont regiments, and one of them starved to death in Andersonville prison. Mr. Newton has been three times married; first, at Chelsea, Vt., to Miss Jenn-'e O. French, of that town, on .\o\'eiiil)cr 30, 1873. Two daughters and one son were born to them, one daughter. Myrtie Belle, being alive and residing with her father in Stoneham. His second marriage was also at Ciielsia, \'t., Januar}- 16, 1886, to Miss Georgie Swan, of Granville, Vt. She died without issue. His third union was to Miss Julia S. Cleaveland, of Newport, \"t., September 19, 1889, at Stoneham. .Mr. Newton attends the Baptist Church, of which his wife is a member' and is a charier member of Highland Council, No. 36, O. U. A. M., and Fells Lodge, No. 63. A. O. U. W. J. C. C. SMALL. Jolin C. C. Small, police officer, was born in Bethel, Maine, Februar}- 10, i860, and is the son of William and Emily J. (Dow) Small. He acquired his education principally in the public schools ot Harrison and Bridgton, Maine, and at the age of sixteen went to work in a woolen mill in Bridgton where he was emplo^-ed as a weaver about one and a haff years, when he removed with his parents onto a farm into the adjoining town o^ Waterloi'd. After working on the farm for four years he came to Newton, Mass., where he was employed for about a year and a half and then came to Stoneham. This was in the fall of 1882, when he went to work in the shoe factory of Brackett & Poole, where he was employed about three vears, and later worked for about three years in the factory of Sanborn & Mann. In 1888 he was appointed a special jjolice officer and in 1889 as a regular officer, which position he now holds. Mr. Small was united in marriage at Newton, Mass., October i, 1882, to Miss Georgianna E. Horr, of Waterford, Me., and two daughters have been born to them, both of whom are living, viz : Esther May and Lillian Emily. They reside in a house built by Mr. Small recently on Gould Street. Mr. Small is an attendant at the Congregarional Church, and is a charter member of Highland Council, No. 36, O. U. A. M., and a member of P'ells Lodge, No. 63, A. O. U. W. WM. W. HOUGHTO.N. William Wallace Houghton, police officer, is a native of Putney, Vt., w^here he was born August i, 1849. and is the son of Curtis G. and Susanna R. (Beckwith) Houghton, who had ten children. He attended school first at Putney, then at Westmoreland, N. H. On the very day he was 2 1 years of age he went to work for the Cheshire W. \V. HOUGHTON. REGULAR POLICE FORCE. RIX L. NEWTON, CHIEF. J C. C, S.M. LL. 278 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. R. R. as fireman on a locomotive engine and later became an engineer. He was engaged at this employment a little over six years, residing at Keene, N. H., during the period working a portion of the time in the office of the Mas- ter Mechanic, making out schedules. In the fall of 1876 he was obliged to leave on account of ill health. He visited the Centennial Exhibition at Philadelphia, and from there came to Stoneham and soon after erected a homestead on Spring Street, in the easterly part of the town. In 1877 he went to work in the shoe factory of Shaw & Worthen, where he was employed about eight years, and subsecjuently was engineer at the box factory of Jewett & Cate. About this time he sold his house on Spring street and built his present residence, which is pleasantly located on Marble street. In 1 886 he went to work for Sanborn & Mann, running a heeling machine, where he remained three years, until the spring of 1889, when he was ap- pointed a regular police officer by the Selectmen and is still a member of the force. Mr. Houghton was married in Keene, N. H., to Miss Ada E. Kingsbury, ■daughter of Seth Kingsbury, Esq., of Roxbury, N. H., June 10, 1S71. She died in 1873. One son, Oscar Wallace, was born to them and is now living with his father. On March i, 1875, Mr. Houghton was married to Miss Lois R. Kingsbury, a sister of his first wife. The sisters had both been teachers in the public schools of Keene and other towns in Cheshire County. By his second wife three children have been born, all of whom are living, viz : Clarence Willie, Rosie Estella and Leroy Kingsbury. Mr. Houghton has been a member of Beaver Brook Lodge, I. O. O. F., of. Keene, N. H., for twenty years, is also a member of Fells Lodge, A. O. U. W.. Highland Council, O. U. A. M., and Evergreen Lodge, D. of R., all of Stoneham. CHESTER F. JONES. Chester Francis Jones, druggist, was born in Stoneham, December 5, 1865, and is the son of William Henry and Maria Eaton (Hadley) Jones. He received his education in the public schools of this town and at the age of fifteen entered the employ of J. F. Goodr.ow, druggist, to learn the business, and remained there six years. On January 25, 1887, he opened a drug store near Farm Hill Station and remained there until last year, when he purchased the Wm. S. Lothrop bui ding on Central Street, repaired and remodeled the same, and removed his business to his present location in that building December 20, 1890. Mr. Jones is unmarried, is a member of John H. Dike Camp, S. of V., in ■which he has held the office of Color Sergeant and Camp Guard, and also belongs to the Golden Grail. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 279 DR. C. E. HEL.\H. Charles Eugene Helah, dentist, son of William and Anna B. (Magoon) Helah, was born in Gardiner, Maine, November 4, 1864. He attended the public schools of Gardiner, and upon leaving school went to work in a den- tist's office in Wakefield, where he remained about a year and a half, and then took a course in the Boston Dental College, finishing in March, 1885. In June, 1885, he came to Stoneham and opened his present dental rooms on Main Street, continuing at that location since he commenced. Dr. Helah is unmarried. He is a member of Columbian Lodge, I. O. O. F., of this town. FKAXCIS L. V>":;'TT]EK. Francis Lester Whittier. of F. L. & W . K. Whittier, newsdealers and stationers, printers and proprietors of the- S/c/.i, , ni Independent, is a native of Stoneham where he was boin April 10, 1048. and is the son of Edward T. and Elizabeth J. (Young) Whittier. In his early days he attended the public schools of the town, but in 1861, after the breaking out of the war, he was obliged to leave school and assist his father on account of his two elder brothers enlisting in tl-ie service of their country. The father was at that time Tostmaster of Stoneham in addition to running a printing office and keeping a store for the sale of stationery, toys, fancy goods, etc., and being a sufferer from asthma, needed Frank's help in the various departments. About two _\(ars later Mr. Whittier en- gaged other help and Frank was allowed to further his education at Waitt's Greenwood Academy, at Wakefield, and Eaton"s Commercial College, Bos- ton, the latter of which he attended for ^everal ^erms, but during all the time he was at the academy and college he occupii^d l.is spare hours in assisting his father. After getting his education he continued working for his father until the latter's death in December, 1878. never dtmai ding or receiving any salary for his services, although upon him de\o;\(c! tic responsible management of the business. By faithfulness, care and c'.ost/ application to his father's af- fairs he succeeded during t'' e years of the war ir, accomplishing the payment of mortgages amounting to a considerable sum whicli rested upon the build- ing and land, and upon which eight per cert, iiiti rest was being paid, and at his father's death they were free of all incuni'ir mces. He with his brother Willie succeeded to the business and Iviv cnicd it on to the present time. A short sketch of the business is given i' low Mr. Whittier was united in marriage in Lo:..u;i by Rev. A. A. Miner, D.D., March 31, 1875, to Miss Lizzie R. Cochran, of Holderness, N. H., and they have had one son, Edward Tuck, who is now living. Mrs. Whittier passed away June 16, 1888. 28o BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. ">. FRANCIS L. WHITTIER. Mr. Whittier is an attenc'ant at the Congrtgalional Church and is a mem- ber of King Cyrus Lodge. F. and A. AI., Columbian Lodge, Columbian En- campment, Canton Fells, P. AI.. and Evergreen Lodge, D. of R., L O. O. F., Wamscott Tribe, L O. R. AL, Ciranite Lodge, Order of the Solid Rock and Odd Fellows" Mutual Benefit Association. He was a member of the General Worth Engine Co. for nearly fifteen years and for a time was its clerk. WILLIE E. WHITTIER. Willie Elmer Whittier, the younger brother and junior member of the firm of F. L. & W. E. Whittier, was born in Stoneham, June 27, 1854, and is the son of Edward T. and Elizabeth J. (Young) Whittier. He attended the common schools of the town until he was thirteen or fourteen years of age at which time he went to work in his father's store. KIOGRAr-HICAL SKETCHES WILLIE K. WHITTIER. There and in the newspaper and printing office he has since remained, suc- ceeding to the business with his elder brother on the death of their father in 1878. His life and business career have been closely identified with that ot his brother, and the liistory of one is largely that of the other, as they have always lived and been associated in business together. Both brothers have gained their knowledge of the printing business in their own and their fath- er's office. The running of the large cylinder press has always devolved upon the younger brother, he having fed the cylinder presses since the first one was introduced into the office. The subject of this sketch was married in Crinpton. N. H., May 17. 1S77, by Rev. Quincy I'h'kdy. to Miss Louise Cochran, of Holderness. N. H., and to them has been born one daughter, Louise Ethel, who is now living. 282 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. -Mr. Whittier is an attendant at the Congregational Cliurch, was a member of the fire department for ten years, and belongs to Columbian Lodge, Ever- green Lodge, D. of R., and the Mutual Relief Association, all of the L O. O. F. F. L. & W. E. WHITTIER. F. L. & \V. E. Whittier succeeded to the business of their father upon his decease in 1878. Previous to that time from the age at which they were old enough to be of service, they had rendered cheerful assistance to their father in the store, in the newspaper and printing office, and in the post-office dur- ing the period that he occupied the position of Postmaster. An account of the establishment and progress of the business during Mr. Whittier's life, from the time he opened a little news and variety store under the Universa- list Church in 1840, is given on pages 130 and 132. The business at the time of his death was practically of the same nature as at present and located in the same building. It consisted of tl.e store where were sold newspapers, periodicals, stationery, fancy goods and toys, a newspaper route for daily and weeklv papers throughout the town, and a job printing and newspaper office, in which the StoneJiam Independent was published. With the exception of a few changes in stock in the store the business has been of the same character up to the present, steadily prosperous and increasing under the conduct and management of the brothers Frank and Willie. The most important branch of the business is the Sioneliant Independent and printing office which has been enlarged since their father's death by the addition of improved machin- ery, including a new large Campbell cylinder book and newspaper press, a Gordon job press. Otto gas engine for running presses, large paper cutter and other machines and a large quantity of new type, cases, etc., these additions necessitating the extension of their Iniilding in the rear. This branch now occupies two large floors. These facilities have caused a steadily progressive business in this department, and the circulation of the StoneJiam Independent rivals that of weekly papers in any of the towns of this section. L^p to five years ago the brothers had employed an editor to take charge of the news and editorial columns of the paper, but since that time Frank has assumed that duty himself. The Whittier Brothers established the first Sunday paper route in Woburn and Winchester in 1873, being influenced to dosobyWoburn parties who had previously come to Stoneham lor their Sunday papers, there being none sold in Woburn. The papers were delivered in the two towns by carriage, and the route was kept up for four years or more. The Winchester Star \\z.?> started by the Whittier Brothers in 1881 and was published for eight years from the office of the StoneJiam Independent, and was sold out to the present proprietor, T. P. Wilson, in August, 1889, since which time it has been published in Winchester. 284 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. The plant is the property of the Whittier Brothers as is also the building on Central Square in which the business is located, it being known as Whit- tier building. The Whittier brothers reside with their families on the second floor and an ell of the building: on the upper floor is the G. A. R. hall, and on the lower floor are three stores, in i.c'.calion to that of the brothers, occupied by Cap- tain John F. Herrv, clothing, etc.. T. F. Burtt. jeweller, and Wm. Kelley, tailor. Dn the second floor, front, is a barbershop. The Whittier brothers have an excellent trade in their store in the sale of newspapers, station- ery and other goods in their line. CHARLES H. HIXKLEV. Cha'les Henrv liinklev. proprietor of the Hinkley boarding house, was born in liradlex'. .Mi.ine, September 19, 1843, and is the son of William and Elmira (Mason) Iliukle}-. He attended the con.mun .schools of his native town and immediately after leaving school he went to work m a saw mill in Bradley where he was em- ployed for SLvrntLcn 01 eiglUeLU years. He then ren.ov(.d to Westborough. Ala^s.. where he opened a boarding- house, and has catered to the wants of the inner man from that time to the present. After remaining in Westborough for tight years he came to Stoneham, October i, 1883, and opened the 1 oarcing-house which he now maintains at the corner of Maple and Warren streets. He keeps an excellent house, is much liked by his patrons and is a popular man in the community. In the fall of 1890 his house caught fire bu- owing to the good work of the firemen the fire was extinguished with a partial loss which wss covered by insurance. To show his appreciation of the efforts of the firemen he soon afterwards invited the whole department to an excellent supper. Mr. Hinkley was n arried in Bradley, Me., May 29, 1863, to Miss Louisa L. Spencer, 01 that town, and two children have been born to them, one of whom is living, viz. : Leah B. , wife of Harry Woodward, of Stoneham. Mr. Hinkley is an j.ttendant at the Congregational Church, is a member of the Equitable Aid Society, of Unity Lodge, No. -JT , L O. O. F., of Boston, and of Columbian Encampment, L O. O. F., of Stoneham. STEPHEN P. FINNEGAN. Stephen Patrick Finnegan, retail provision and grocery dealer, was born in Stoneham, November 27, 1855, and is the son of Joseph and Anastasia (MuUalley) Finnegan. He attended the public schools of his native town, being one year in the High School, after which he went to Comer's Commercial College of Boston. After this he went to work in the shoe manufactory of John Hill & Co., K 286 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. and was employed in that factory and others until he was twentv-sev-rn years of age, when he started in the retail grocery and provision business with his brother, John C, in the store on Pearl Street, vacated by Albert S. Hovey. and previously occupied by J. B. Hovey. The firm was called Finnegan Bros. They continued at that stand until 1886, when they removed to the building which they had erected on Franklin Street, opposite the railway station, the subject of this sketch taking up his residence in the upper por- tion. The brothers dissolved partnership in June, iSSS, John C. removing to Woburn and establishing in the bakery business, and Stephen P. continu- ing as a grocer and provision dealer, in which he is still engaged. The busi- ness has steadily increased from the beginning and All. Finnegan now en- joys a large patronage. On January 6, 1880, Mr. Finnegan was united in marriage in this town to Miss Julia C. Cogan, daughter of Patrick Cogan, of Stoneham, and tliey have been blessed with four children, all of whom are living, namelv: Joseph Bernard, William John, Alice and Anastasia. Mr. Finnegan was one of the original members of the Stoneham Light In- fantry, was a Corporal and Sergeant, rising to Second Sergeant, and remained with the company five years. He was an Assessor for two years, in 1886-7, was Democratic nominee for Representative to the Legislature in 1889, and was one of the committee of the Board of Trade who were instrumental in forwarding the establishment of the new railroad branch to Fells Station. He is a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church. W. H. WEED. William Henry Weed, druggist, of the firm of Wm. H. Weed & Co., was born in Stoneham, April 17, 1861, the day on which Co. L left for the war. He is the son of Samuel S. and Mary (Quiniby) Weed. His early education was received in the public schools of Stoneham, and later he attended the Bryant & Stratton Commercial College, and still later the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, where he took a full course, gradua- ting in 1888. Previous to going to Bryant & Stratton's College he worked for a time in the drug store of Charles O. Currier and also in the Post Oftice under Charles E. Home, P. M. After leaving the Commercial College he was again em- ployed in the Post Office, after which he attended the Mass. College of Pharmacy. He then went into the drug store of T. T. Reed, Eggleston Square, Boston, and from there to the store of C. A. Charles, in Maiden. From Maiden he came to Stoneham, and was employed in the drug store of John F. Dorr for two or three years, and then with S. W. Townsend as a partner, bought out the drug store of E. G. Goodnow, in Dow's Block, Cen- tral Square, and has continued in business there up to the present time. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 287 Mr. Weed was united in marriage in Stoneliam tc Miss Stella S. Bartlett, daughter of Postmaster Bartlett. of this town. June 16, 188S. One dajjghter has been born to them. Mr. Weed is a member of the Alumni of the Mass. College of Pharmacy and of Stoneham Council, A. L. of H.. of which he is Collector. HAMILTON HAV. Hamilton Hay, boot and shoe manufacturer, is a native of Stoneham, where he was born December 6, 1849. and is the son of Cyrus and Abby (Gove) Hay. He attended the public schools of this town until about fifteen years of age when he went to work in his father's factory to Igarn the shoe trade and learne-1 it thoroughly, working at it about three years, or until his father bought out a retail shoe store on Hanover Street, Boston, when the son went into the store to work, and remained there until he was twenty-one years of age, or about three years. When he was twenty-one his father retired from business and the son suc- ceeded to his manufacturing interest, and did business in the northerly part of the town in what is now a dwelling house near Wm. D. Byron & Co.'s factory. When he started he employed two men and turned out about two cases per week. He remained in that building ten years or more, and whea he re- moved to larger quarters in the Franklin Co-operative Shoe Co."s building, now the Kimball factory, he was manufacturing about seven cases per week and employing seven hards. Theie he increased to live cases a day and em- ployed about twenty-one hands. In 1887, the factory he now occupies on Montvale avenue, was remodelled for him by the owner, Thomas Lord, and on July ist of that year Mr. Hay removed thereto, and has since increased his output to twelve cases per day and gives employment to about fifty hands. Mr. Hay is now the owner of the building. He has never had a partner and has always manufactured the same kind of goods, viz : Children's and misses' grain boots and shoes for the New England trade. Mr. Hay was married in Stoneham, December 31, 1874, to Miss Emily A. Nickerson, a native of Gloucester, Mass., but a resident of Stoneham at the time. They have had three children all of whom are living, namely : 'Wil- fred Gove, Herman Walter and Emily Grace. Mr. Hay is an attendant at the Unitarian Church and is a member of Co- lumbian Lodge, L O. O. F. His residence is on Central Street, corner of William Street. o CO < BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. ALBERT S. HOVEY. Albert Silas Hovey, retail provision and grocery dealer, was born in Alba- ny, Vt., September 28 1856, his parents being Horace N. and Fanny C. (Kellam) Hovey. His education was obtained in the public schools of Albany and Lowell, Vt., and in Evanston, 111., where he lived for two years with an uncle, returning to Vermont at the age of seventeen years where he remained a short time, and then came to Stoneham and entered the employ of J. B. Hovey, grocer. Pearl street, a distant relative, as clerk. He remained with Mr. Hovey for si.x years, having full charge of the business during the last two years of this time on account of ill health of his employer. At the •end of that time he purchased Mr. Hovey's business and continued at the same stand for two vears, until 1882, when he erected the building on Frank- A. S. HOVEY S .STORE AND RESIDENCE. lin Street, opposite the railroad station, residing in the upper portion and occupying the lower floor as a grocery and provision store up to the present time. He has had a prosperous business and has retained the good will and trade of many of his patrons from the beginning of his mercantile career. July 9, 1879, he was united in marriage in Stoneham to Miss Ella H. Harris, of Charlemont, Mass., and as the fruit of their union they have three children : Arthur Ernest, Maud Ella and Roy Albert. Mr. Hovey has always been active and prominent in religious matters, is a member of the Baptist Church, having been on the Executive Board of the Church for a number of years, Treasurer of the Sabbath School for over twelve years, Treasurer of the Y. M. C. A. since 1885, and a member of the Board of Trade. 19 290 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. HARRY E. HERSAM. Harry Elmer Hersam, manufacturer of cutting dies, was born in Stone- ham, September 28, i860, and is the son of Isaac F. and Mary O. (Dame) Hersam. His education comprises what could be obtained in the public schools of Stoneham, he taking the full course in all the grades, and graduating from the High School in 1877. He then went to work making cutting dies for David Knox and has fol- lowed that business ever since, and always in the same shop. He worked for Mr. Knox for about a year when George A. Osgood bought out the business and Mr. Hersam continued with the latter, when he in turn purchased the business in October, 1888, and has carried it on up to the present time. He does a good business making dies for shoe, harness and rubber, largely the former, a good portion of his trade being right here in town although he has considerable from Boston and other parts of New England and some from a distance. Mr. Hersam was united in marriage in Stoneham, April 3. 1882, to Miss Emma Longmore, of Pembroke, Me., and one son, Norman Paul, has been born to them and is now living. Mr. Hersam is a member of Columbian Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Stoneham, of which he is a Past Grand. CHARLES B. CARLIN. Charles B. Carlin, provision dealer, was born in Keene, N. H., May 25, 1841, and is the son of Thomas and Mary (Blessington) Carlin. His father is now living at the age of 78 years, and is the only survivor of a family of thirteen children. When four years of age the subject of our sketch removed with his parents to Barnard, Vermont. There after he became old enough he worked on the farm in the summer and attended the district school in winter until he arrived at the age of eighteen when he went to work in Dewey's Mills at Quechee, Vermont, where he was employed until the breaking out of the war. May 8, 1861, he enlisted in Co. F, Third Regiment of Vermont Infantry, which was a part of the First Vermont Brigade. After remaining a while in camp at St. Johnsbury, Vt., they went to Chain Bridge, above Washington, D. C, and from there to Lewinsville, Va., where they wintered. In the spring they advanced on Fairfax and from there went into the Peninsula. Mr. Carlin was all through the Peninsula campaign. At the siege of York- town he was one of 198 men who forded Warwick Creek at Lee's Mills, in front of Yerktown, and of those 198 men 78 were killed or wounded inside of fifteen minutes. He was all through the memorable Seven Days' Fight, at Golden's Farm, Peach Orchard, White Oak Swamp and Malvern Hill, and BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 29 1 after that went into camp with his regiment at Harrison's Landing. He was in the second battle of Bull Run and was in the Maryland Campaign, at South Mountain and Antietam, and in the latter battle was wounded severely in the left hand, losing the forefinger. He went to the Philadelphia hospital from which he was discharged for a gun-shot wound April 6, 1863. After his discharge he went to Cavendisn, Vermont, where he was employed five years in the woolen mills and three years in a meat and provis- ion store. In 1871 he removed to Danvers, Mass., where he worked at shoemaking for two years, and in 1873 came to Stoneham and purchased a milk route from Jonathan Moulton which he run for twelve years. In 1875 he formed a co-partnership with J. D. Pierce in the meat and provision business on Central Street and after about a year he bought out the interest of Mr. Pierce and continued the business alone. In April, 1886, he removed to his prevent location in the basement of the Odd Fellows" building the entrance to his store being on Franklin street, just off Central Square. Mr. Carlin was married in Brattleboro, Vt., to Miss Mary A. Kelley, of Proctorsville, Vt., January 24, 1866, and they have two children, namely: Charles R. and Florence May. Mr. Carlin is a member of Columbian Lodge and Columbian Encampment, I. O. O. F., J. P. Gould Post 75, G. A. R., and Stoneham Council, A. L. of H. He resides on Main Street. GEORGE OTIS BUCKNAM. George Otis, son of Otis and Susan A. (Jones) Bucknam, was born in Stoneham, January 12, 1854. He obtained his education in the public schools of Stoneham, and at the age of sixteen found him employed at the Stoneham Amateur newspaper office, where he remained about a year, subsequently working in the shoe factories of the town. When quite small George's ambition was to draw and paint pictures and letters, evincing at his youthful age much skill and taste. In July, 1872, he went to work for William H. Whitney, carriage, sign and ornamental paint- er, corner Congress and Water Streets, Boston, serving an apprenticeship of four years. This firm was burned out by the great fire, Nov. 9, 1872, but afterward started up again at Battery March Street. In June, 1877, Mr. Bucknam commenced business for himself in a shop corner of Fond and Franklin Streets, building up a flourishing trade which extended to many o the towns and cities of this State. In May, 1884, he removed his business to a new building built by him for that purpose at the east part of the town. Mr. Bucknam was united in marriage in Stoneham, October 9, 1877, with Miss Nellie E. Blake. 292 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. He is a member of Highland Council, No. 36, O. U. A. AI., and Tnie American Council, No. 15, D. of L. JAMES H. MURPHY. James H. Murphy, son ot Bernard and Alary (AIcEnaney) Murphy, is a native of Stoneham, and was born Feb. 28, i860. His education was ob- tained in the public schools of the town, and at an early age he entered the employ of Thomas Lord & Co., where he served an apprenticeship at the leather business, at which trade he worked for some years. In 1886 Air. Murphy was appointed Local Inspector of the Boston Post Ofifice, which place he resigned three years later to accept a position as a commercial trav- eller in Ohio and Indiana. He has served two terms on the Board of Selectmen, 1886 and 1887, being Clerk of the Board each year, and is the youngest man ever elected a Selectman of Stoneham. During the great labor agitation of 1886 and 1887 he was the recognized representative of the leather workers in Eastern Alassachusetts, and was their chosen representa- tive on the Board oi Arbitration with Griffin Place of Woburn, representing the manufacturers, and John E. Burke, shoe manufacturer, the neutral mem- ber, which established the price list for the curriers and tanners of New Eng- land, granting them an increase of 33 per cent. He is an ardent Democrat and takes a great interest in promoting his party's welfare. He is chairman of the Demotratic Town Committee, which position he has held for a number of years, and possesses a wide ac- cjuaintance with prominent members of his party in the State. He is a stu- dent and lover of books, and has a mind well stored with general knowledge. As a public speaker he is eloquent and convincing, particularly when discus- sino- matters appertaining to the welfare of his native town. He is a man of strictly temperate habits and was for many }ears a prominent member of St. Patrick's Total Abstinence Society. Air. Alurphy was married in Stoneham, Alay 27, 1888, to Aliss AI. A. Hig- gins of Stoneham, and one son, William Henry, has been the fruit of the union. SAMUEL G. CHAUN'CEY. Samuel George Chauncey, furniture dealer, is a native of Newfoundland, having been born in St. John's, October 16, 1836, and is the .son of Lionel and EHzabeth (Knight) Chauncey. He attended the Central Union school, of St. Johns, which he left when twelve years of age, and went to Prince Edward Island to live on a farm. Here he remained four years returning to his home in 1852. He then learned BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 293 the trade of carriage making at which occupation he worked in St. John's until 1858. In July of that year he came to Boston and wa.s employed by Sargent & Ham, carriage builders, for some time, after which he went to Exeter, N. H., and worked at the same trade in the factory of Head, Jewell & Co. There he remained four years and during two and a half years of the time he boarded with the mother of Judge Wheelock G. Veazey, and became well acquainted with the present National Commander of the G. A. R. While there he enlisted three times for the war but was thrown out each time on account of his height not being up to the regulation standard, al- though he drilled for several months in two of the companies. From Exeter Mr. Chauncey went to Concord, N. H., and worked for L. Downing & Sons until 1864 when he came to Stoneham, where he has since resided. He bought out the carriage making business of O. A. Edgell, and con- ducted it alone for about a year, Mr. Edgell working for him. A partnership was then formed between the two men, the firm name being Edgell & Chaun- cey. The business was carried on in a building on Block Street, and the partnership was continued about two years when Mr. Chauncey sold out his interest to Mr. Edgell and accepted the position of foreman in charge of the carriage factory of Bradford & Crocker. Brockton. Mass., which position he retained for nearly three years. For several years after this he bought and sold carriages. A serious injury received from a strain to his side while lifting a heavy wagon disabled Mr. Chauncey for a number of years during which lime he was a great sufierer. In April, 18S3, he bought out the furniture store of Moses Hall, on Main Street, and there he has remained retailing and repairing furniture up to the present time. Mr. Chauncey was united in marriage April 28. 1866. in Billerica. .Mass., to Miss Mary C. Nichols, of Stoneham, the ceremony being performed by Rev. Elias Nason. They have had no children. Mr. Chauncey has always been an earnest advocate of temperance and ac- tive in that cause. When but sixteen years of age he joined the Cadets of Temperance, a junior section of the Sons of Temperance, of St. John's. He passed through all the officers of the Cadets, and became a member of the senior organization, holding successively all the offices in that body. He was a member of the Star of Hope Division, S. of T., of Stoneham, being honored in turn with all the offices in the Division. He was a charter member and occupied the highest office twice of Crystal Gem Lodge of Good Templars. When he went to Brockton to work he withdrew from this lodge and became a member of Fraternity Lodge of North Bridgewater, then the largest lodge in the State. He held several 294 lilOC.KAl'lllCAL SKETCHES. offices in that Lodge, including that of Worthy Chief. While at North Bridgewater he was cho.sen by the Grand Lodge of Good Templar.s of Mass- achu.setts as delegate to the International Convention of Good Templars held at Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1871. He was a member of Helping Hand Temple of Honor, of this town, but declined office in that organization. He is a member of the Congregational Church. His residence is on the corner of Marble and Lincoln Streets. CHARLES BUCK. Charles Buck was born in Stoneham November 26, 1829. His fiither was Joseph Buck and his motner's maiden name was Sally Tweed. He received his education in the common schools, graduating from the High School. He worked upon his fathers farm and at butchering until twenty years of age, and in 1851 went to work for Allen Rowe & Sons cut- ting shoes and remained with them until 1861 when he was employed by Daniel Hill and D. 1'. Sevey at the same trade. In 1865 he formed a part- nership with Brown Sweetser in the meat and provision business, which con- tinued until November i, 1869, in the store in Central Square now occupied by Holden Bros. In 1869 he bought out Mr. Sweetser's interest in the bus- iness and soon after took in Mr. Andrew Latham as a partner. In 1872 Mr. Buck sold out his interest in tlie Central .S(juare store and engaged in the wholesale hide business at 20 Clinton Street, I>oston, where he still continues under the firm name of Charles Buck & Son. Mr. Buck was married to Cynthia F. Herrick, of South Danvers, January 13, 1858. Three children were born to them: Charles F. Buck, Gilbert E. Buck and Albert F. Huck. Charles F. is now in business with his father on Clinton Street. Gilbert, the second son, died December 2, 1866, and Al- bert F. recently graduated from Amherst College with high honors, and is now teacling in Connecticut. Cynthia F. Buck died January 22, 1878, and Mr. l!uck was married again February 20, 1879, to Miss Julia P. Crawford. Mr. Buck is a citizen who has the respect and love of the inhabitants of the town in which he was born and has always livecL He has served one term as Selectman and refused a nomination for a second. No man stands higher as a loyal citizen and upright business man than he does. See page 28 for view of residence. RICHAKn DOHSCN WALL. Richard D. Wall, son of Gilbert and Maria (Dobson) Wall, was born in Bayfield, N. B., May 3, 1842. His early life was spent in his native town, where he received a common school education. He came to Boston in March, 1865, and entered the em- ploy of a large carriage manufacturing establishment on Beverly Street, and one year later came to Stoneham as an employee of O. A. Edgell, carriage BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 295 builder, en Block Street. In 1872 he purchased the plant from Mr. Edgell, and ha.s continued the bu.sine.ss to the present time. During these years many elegant vehicles have been turned out from this establishment for this and other towns, including several Ijeautiful and substantially built hose wagons for the tire department of this town, Milton and other places. In 1876 he was married to Miss Eugenie Green of Stoneham. Of this union is one child, Hessic. Mr. Wall is a member of Wamscott Tribe, No. 39, Imp. O. R. M., and is a frequent attendant at the Methodist ELpiscopal Church. S. W. CHAMIIEKLI.N. Samuel Wentworth Chamberlin, inventor and manufacturer of machinery, was born in Kochester, N. H.. Dec. 21, 1832, is a descendant of William Chamberlin, who settled in Cambridge, Mass., in 1672, and is the son of Moses and Nancy (Wentworth) Chamberlin, his parents being of sturdy New Hampshire and Maine stock. His father was a cousin to C}en. Joshua L. Chamberlin, of Maine, and his grandfather, Samuel Chamberlin, was a Lieutenant Colonel in the War of 1812. On his mother\s side lie is a cousin to the well known pioneer printer "Long John" Wentworth, of Chicago, 111., and is a descendant of Rev. Wil- liam Wentworth, who settled in this country in 1638 and the next year with others formed a government in Exeter, N. H., and was of the same family as John Wentworth, the last English Colonial Governor in this countr3^ .Mr. Chamberlin attended the public schools of Rochester and Dover, N. H., leaving school at the age of fifteen and going to work in the Sawyer Mill, at Dover, where he was employed two 3'ears and the ye~r following was second overseer in the carding room of the Whitehouse Mills, Rochester, N. H., where, he says, "I had a good position, but like other boys did not ap- preciate it and gave it up, and learned to make boots and shoes." In May, 185 1, at the age of eighteen and a half years he went with several others to Charlestown, .South Carolina, where he was employed as foreman in the bottoming room of the South Carolina shoe factory for eight months. In December of the .same year he returned North and settled in Natick, Mass., where he employed six men and worked at the shoe business for two years. From Natick he removed to .Stoneham .March 4, 1854, soon after he was 21 years of age. He employed .several men, and was in the shoe business for nearly seven years, during the last two of which he was experimenting on shoe machinery, and in 1859 he invented a machine for burnishing boot and shoe heels, on which he was granted letters patent July 23, 1861. The first machine was bought by George Haynes, of Haverhill, Mass., in May, 1861. SAMUEL W. CHAM BERLIN. BIOGRAI'HICAL SKETCHES 297 After the patent was granted Mr. Chamberlain gave up the shoe business, and began the manufacture of these machines, and has followed the business over 30 years. This was the tirst successful machine ever made for the pur- pose, and it superseded all other methods for finishing boot and shoe heels. More than 2500 of these machines have been manufactured and sold under his patent, many hundred of them being now in use. This machine was placed upon the market previous to the McKay Sewing or Heeling Machine, or the New Era pegging machine, or any other machine for bottoming boots and shoes that became generally used, but there were machines in use for cutting sole leather and for fitting uppers. Mr. Chamberlin sold a one-half interest injjthe patent in 1873 to the Tap- ley Heel Burnishing Machine Association, of Boston, Mass., for $12,225.00. and was for one year manufacturing agent for the Association, at the end of which time he again began manufacturing machinery on his own account, and has continued in the business ever since. He has during that time invented and improved machines, and has of late improved his original machine and four patents have been taken out on his Improved Heel Burnisher, and it again stands at the head of machinery used for the purpose, and patterns are now being m.ade and patents applied for on still more recent improvements. The machine bids fair to supersede all others of the kind. Mr. Chamberlin has taken out nine letters patents and has recently ap- plied for two more, and now controls si.x. At one time he controlled twenty- two patents, some of which were quite valuable, and has made money on patents an.i shoe machinery. He has manufactured the following patent shoe machinery: Hill Scouring and Buffing Machine, Rotary Power Heel Breaster, Wax Heel Burnishers, Edge Setters, Hot Kit Heel Burnishing Machines and many others, and has fitted up many shoe factories complete. Mr. Chamberlin was married at Natick, Mass., June 17, 1855, to Miss Ellen A. Austin, of Dedham, Mass., and they lived together nearly twenty- five years, until her death in 1879. December 25, 1881, he was married a second time, at Lowell, Mass., to Mrs. Georgia A. (Manning) Elderkin, of Machias, Maine. One son, Edgar L., who died in 1865. was born to him by the first wife but he has had no children by the second wife. Mr. Chamber]in"s advice to the coming generations is to "Work when you are young ; do not count the hours but the dollars and loaf when you are old, or earlier if you can afibrd it."" Mr. Chamberlin has resided in Stoneham over thirty-seven years, and for more than twenty years owned and occupied a fine residence No. 2 Winthrop street. Mr. Chamberlin has taken thirty-two degrees in Masonry, was one of the charter members of King Cvjus Lodge, of Stoneham. and is a member 290 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. of Waverly Royal Arch Chapter and Hugh de Payens Commandery. K. T., of Melrose, and a member of the ancient and accepted Scottish Rites, of Boston, and belongs to the Lodge of Perfection, Council of the Princes of Jerusalem, Chapter of Rose Coix, Council of Kadosh and Grand Consistory for the State of Mass. He was also one of the charter members of Wamscott Tribe, No. 39, Imp. O. R. M., of Stoneham, and belongs to several other societies. He attends the Unitarian Chmrch. ROBERT HENRY BOVCE. Robert Henry Boyce, son of James and Jeanette Boyce, was born in Lon- donderry, N. H., Feb. 26, 1849. Lentil sixteen years of age he worked on the farm and attended the com- mon schools of his native town. In the year 1865 he came to Reading and in the spring of 1866 moved to Stoneham, entering the employ of his brother, C. M. Boyce, blacksmith. A few years later he accepted the position of engineer at Drew & BuswelFs shoe factory on Franklin Street, which he held until 1880, when he established the business of manufacturing taps, innersoles and stiftenings in the base- ment of the Stoneham Co-operative Shoe Company building. He com- menced on a small scale, and by close attention to business and constantly adding new and improved machinery, has built up a thriving trade in the New England States. Business is never dull with him, keeping steadily at work from 12 to 15 hands with good pay. Mr. Boyce has recently removed his business to more commodious quarters in T. H. Jcnes' block. Mr. Boyce was married in Stoneham July, 1869. to Miss Georgia A. Paul. Of this unionjis one child, Harry. Mr. Boyce is a member of Columbian Lodge, I. O. O. F., and is an at- tendant at the Unitarian Church. He has a beautiful residence on Montvale Avenue, near Main Street. CHARLES -M. BOVCE. Charles Morrison Boyce, blacksmith and stable keeper, was born in Lon- donderry, N. H., December 14, 1S39, and is the son of James and Jeannette (Moore) Boyce. He attended the district school in his native town and afterwards went to Pinkerton Academy, Derry, N. H. When eighteen years of age he came to Reading, Mass., and went to work for Myron Damon to learn the trade of a blacksmith. He served a three years apprenticeship with Mr. Damon, and after working at his trade for a year later he enlisted for nine months in Co. D, Fiftieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, in August, 1862, from Reading. His regiment went to Boston Rouge, and was in all the engagements BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 299 there, and afterwards went to Port Hudson and was there during the siege of that place. Mr. Boyce's company remained in tlie service three months longer than the term of enlistment, and he was not discharged until August 1863, after having served a year. In October, 1863, Mr. Boyce came to Stoneham and l)uilt a shop at Farm Hill, in the north part of the town, and started in the blacksmithing business on his own account. He remained there tliree years, wlien he bought the lot of land on Pleasant Street on which his business is now located and re- moved his shop there ; where he has since remained and has done a good business, necessitating the enlargement of his building. In addition to blacksmithing, about three years ago he opened a livery stable on Main Street, not far from his blacksmith shop on Pleasant Street, and has also been successful in that and is now doing well. Mr. Boyce was united in marriage in Reading, Mass., October 25, 1866, to Miss Henrietta M. Green, daughter of James A. Green, of Stoneham, and they have had one son, Charles Stevens, who is now living. Mr. Boyce was a member of the Board of Overseers of the Poor of Stone- ham, for five years, is a member of J. P. Gould Post 75, G. A. R., Colum- bian Lodge, I. O. O. F.. and Miles Standish Colony, U. O. P. F. He resides in a homestead which he built on Pleasant Street, next to his blacksmith shop. EDCiAR L. PATCH. Professor Edgar L. Patch is a native of Spencer. Mass., where he was born December 2, 185 1, and is the son of Leonard A. and Elizabeth E. (Brown) Patch. He was educated in the public schools of Worcester, and in preparation for his profession he took a full course in the Massachusetts College of Phar- macy, of Boston, from which he graduated in 1872. From thirteen to si.xteen years of age he was engaged in a variety of pur- suits, and at sixteen he went to work in a retail drug store. When eighteen years of age he united on his own account with Henry Canning in the retail drug business at the corner of Green and Chambers Streets, Boston, and this co-partnership is in existence at the present time, the business having continued at the .same locality since it was established. In 1879 Mr. Patch was appointed to the chair of Theory and Practice of Pharmacy and in 1886 to that of Director of the Pharmaceutical Laboratory in the i\Iass. College of Pharmacy, corner of St. Botolph and Garrison Streets, Boston, and he still holds both these positions. Prof. Patch organized the E. L. Patch Co. and established the laboratory on Montvale Avenue, Stoneham, for the manufacture of chemical and phar- maceutical products in October, 1888. Active business operations were commenced May i, 18S9. Since then the plant has been twice enlarged and PROF. EDciAR L. PATCH. 302 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. further additions are in contemplation and this business promises to become one of the most important industries of the town. Mr. Patch was married in St. John, New Brunswick, June 5, 1873, ^o Miss Matilda S. Ferguson, and six sons have been the fruit of their union, five of whom are living, namely: James Alfred, Arthur Lionel, Ernest Llewellyn, Claude Eldred and Ralph Reginald. Prof. Patch came to Stoneham in September, 1870. His home is at 28 Lincoln street. He is a member of the First Baptist Church, of which he is Deacon and Treasurer and was for several years President of the Stonehem Young Men's Christian Association. See page 187 for view of laboratory. FRANCIS K. SWEETSER, ESQ. Francis K. Sweetser, attorney and counsellor at law, is a native of Stone- ham, where he was born January 21st, 1865. He is the son of Francis K. and Myra A. (Spurr) Sweetser. He attended the public schools of Stoneham until he was fifteen years of age and then went to a fitting school at West Dedham, Mass., for two years. He entered Tuffs College at the age of seventeen and graduated in the class of 1886, of which he was class historian. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 303 He spent two years, from 1886 to 1888 in the law office of Hon. Charles Robinson, Boston, and during nearly two years following attended the Har- vard Law School. He was admitted to the bar in 1889 and in that year opened an office in the Equitable Building, Boston. In January, 1891, he entered the law office of Hon. Charles T. Gallagher and D. Frank Kimball, 209 Washington St., Boston. He has had an evening office in Central Square, Stoneham, since he commenced to practise. Mr. Sweetser was united in marriage in Saco, Maine, October 21, 1890, to Miss Jennie M. Clement, of Saco, formerly a resident of Stoneham. He is a member of King Cyrus Lodge, F. and A. M., and is a member of the Unitarian Church. He is a young man in whom the citizens have confidence and has been ap- pointed on several important committees chosen to look after special town in- terests, notably finances, drainage, and to look after the town's interests around Spot Pond. He is also a Trustee of the Public Library and Town Solicitor. PROFESSOR QUEEN. Charles Butterfield Melvin, Jr., better known as Prof. Queen, sonof Chas. B. and Maria C. Melvin, was born in Lawrence, Mass., 1850. He received his education in the grammar and private schools of that city and Eaton's Commercial College, Boston. At the age of thirteen he entered the employ of the Weekly Journal printing office, Lawrence, remaining about one year, when he accepted a position on the Essex Banner of Haverhill, Mass., as press boy; from there he came to Stoneham with his parents in 1865, where he has since made his home. Mr. Melvin first engaged in the show business under his own management in 1866. For ten years he played alone in the smaller towns of Massachusetts, New York and Connecticut. In 1876 he entered into partnership with an old showman, Charles H. Dearborn, and for eight years ran very successfully several exhibitions — Orium & Pond's Panorama, Burnham's Tableaux of America, etc. After the death of his partner, he played successful engage- ments for many prominent managers at a good salary, viz : Rich & Harris, B. F. Keith, Austin & Stone, Bradenburg of Philadelphia. After leaving Mr. Bradenburg he retired from the show business for two years, and became assistant manager of the Central Hotel, but on account of several complications and not liking hotel life, he accepted an engagement for four months from Mr. Geo. H. Batcheller, the well known circus manager, to lecture Prof. Woodward's famous seals ; from here he went to the Front Street Theatre and Museum at Worcester, under the same management, and occupied the position of lecturer and assistant superintendent, remaining there four months, but his health again failing him he returned to Stoneham, 304 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. where for the past 3 years he has resided, playing occasional engagements for societies, museums, etc., besides being a skilful necromancer and lec- turer. Prof. Queen is a writer of merit for the local press, many of his articles having been read with delight. PROFESSOR QUEEN. r. He is a Past Grand of Unity Lodge, No. 77, 1. O. O. F., of Boston, a member of the Board of Trade of Stoneham, and also the Town Finance Committee, Providence Lodge ot Elks, and attends the Congregational Church, Stoneham. HCjWas is 1871 married to Miss Ida G. Green, daughter of Benjamin and Martha Green of Stoneham. After travelling for over twenty-five years he has chosen Stoneham' as his permanent place of residence, and is now building a fine residence on the •outskirts ot the town, where in his old age he can enjoy the fruits of his labors. JOHN BEST. John Best, shoe manufacturer, was born in Boston January 17, 1S36, and is the son of James and Ellen (Graham) Best. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 305 He attended the public schools of Boston, and went for two years to the English High School. In January, 1S51, he came to .Stoneham and worked from that time to 1 86 1 in the shoe shops. In July, 1861, he enlisted in Co. G, Tliirtecnth Regiment, was a corporal and served for three years. He was engaged in the following battles: Dam No. 5, Falling Waters, Thoroughfare Gap, Second Bull Run, Antictam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Rapahannock Station, Cedar Mountain, JOHN BEST. ■Gettysburg and Wilderness. He was wounded in the left arm at the Battle of Gettysburg, July i, 1863, and wounded in the left hand and received a gun-shot wound in the right thigh at the Battle of the Wilderness. He was confined in several hospitals on account of his wounds and was taken pris- ner in several battles. He was discharged at Boston, August i, 1864. After his discharge he returned to Stoneham and was again employed in the shoe factories, being for sometime foreman of the cutting room at E. P. Duncklee's. He was one of the incorporators of the Stoneham Co-opera- tive Boot & Shoe Co. and was its first president and agent, remaining with the company for three years. From 1875 to 1880 he worked in different 20 3o6 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. factories and in the latter year went into partnership with W. H. Gorham in the manufacture of misses', children's, boys' and youths' grain and split shoes, the firm name being Gorham & Best. They did business in a portion of the Stoneham Co-operative Co.'s factory, employing about twelve hands besides working themselves, and turning out three cases per day. In 1886 Mr. Best bought Mr. Gorham's interest and has since done business alone. About four years ago he removed to his present location in the Rounds Build- ing, on Main street. He manufactures about four cases per week for the New England trade. Mr. Best was married in Charlestown, Mass., November 25, 1858, to Miss S. Elizabeth Clark, of that city. They have had five children, all now living, viz: Alfred E., John H., Mary L., Fred W. and Lucy I. They reside at No. 31 Pond Street. Mr. Best is a member of J. P. Gould Post 75, G. A. R., of which he was Adjutant four years and Commander one term, and has been a delegate to the National Encampment at San Franncisco, Columbus, Ohio, Milwaukee, Wis., and will also go to Detroit in the same capacity. He is also Assistant C. of R. of Wamscott Tribe, Imp. O. R. M., Secretary of Stoneham Coun- cil, A. L. of H., Secretary of Miles Standish Colony, U. O. P. F., is a member of Stoneham Council, Royal Conclave of K. & L., the Fraternal Associates of America and Wyoming Lodge, F. & A. M., and has taken a demit from Waverly Royal Arch Chapter and Hugh de Payens Commandery, of Melrose. He was an Assessor of Stoneham for four years, Collector of Taxes for three years and was Representative to the Legislature for one term. WILLIAM p. FLETCHER. William Putnam Fletcher, paper box manufacturer, was born in Woburn, Mass., January 29, 1861, and is the son of Bernard and Lydia (Home) Fletcher. He was educated in the public schools of Woburn, going partly through the High School. Upon leaving school he went to work for Roland Davis to learn the busi- ness of making paper boxes, and was with him about two years, and was afterwards employed for two years by the Woburn Paper Box Co., John Honey, proprietor. He then started in business for himself in Woburn, where he remained about three years, and then came to Stoneham in 1884, commencing busi- ness on Main street, in the old Richardsan & Critchett shop, now Patrick Cogan's. He remained there about two years, was in the Rounds' building on Main Street for a year, and then removed to larger quarters in Jerome Fay's shop, on Pine Street. After doing business there about four years he lilOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 307 built the large new factory he now occupies on Pleasant Street, and moved into it in February, 1891. When he commenced business he had no custom to speak of. He made shoe cartons and fancy bo.\es, employing three others besides himself. On coming to Stonehem he gave up fancy work and gave all his attention to making shoe cartons, employing about ten hands and turning out about 1200 boxes per day. His trade is mostly local, has steadily increased from year to yeer until he now employs about twenty-five hands and his output is 5000 boxes per day. Mr. Fletcher has been twice married, first in Woburn, November 28, 1883, to Miss Sarah M. Brackett, of Cambridge, who died in the following August, and second in Stoneham, October 29, 1890, to Miss Edna A. Benton, daughter of L. P. Benton, of this town. Mr. Fletcher is a member of Crystal Fount Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Wo- burn, Boston Encampment, I. O. O. F., of Boston, and of the Stoneham Board of Trade. WILLIAM TIDD. William Tidd, retired leather manufacturer, is one of the best known citi- zens of Stoneham, having been for many years the head of the well-known firm of William Tidd & Co., tanners and curriers of leather, one of the most extensive and successful manufacturing firms in this line of business in the country. No man stands higher among the members of this trade than Wil- liam Tidd. Mr. Tidd is a tanner by inheritance as well as by superior knowledge and life-long experience in the business. His ancestors for three generations were leather makers. His great-grandfather, Jonathan, built a tannery and currying shop in 1748 where J. Otis Cummings' factory now stands in North Woburn. Mr. Tidd's grandfather, also named Jonathan, succeeded to the business of his father, and for a time is said to have been the only leather maker in Woburn. The first ancestor of Mr. Tidd in this country, John Tidd, came from the Isle of Wight. When a mere boy Wm. Tidd worked in his father's factory and long before he arrived at maturity had acquired a thorough knowledge of the trade. Mr. Tidd is the son of William and Rosanna (Buckman) Tidd, and was born in North Woburn, Mass., July 15, 1814, the house in which he was ushered into the world being now occupied as the Woburn Home for Aged Women. The homestead had passed out of the hands of the Tidd family but several years ago Mr. William Tidd caused negotiations to be made for its purchase, and after securing possession he presented it to the corporation of the above named home, and it was dedicated with elaborate exercises about two years ago to its present use. It was remodeled somewhat and en- larged, and is now an ideal home for its purpose. ^^^ %^ WILLIAM TIDD. •^iL i'A0 V 310 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Mr. Tidd attended the public schools of Woburn and in his spare time worked in bis father's currying shop. He also attended the Warren Academy in that town . His health not being very good he started off on his twenty-first birthday on a fishing trip and was gone about six months, and on his return he again went to work for his father. His father becoming embarassed William occu- pied several years in settling up the business after which he finished leather with his brother Charles for awhile. In 1840 Mr. Tidd came to Stoneham and in partnership with Wm. T. Bloomer, as Tidd & Bloomer, they finished leather in the basement of the old tavern in Central Square, giving employment to ore other man besides themselves. It was in a small way but Mr. Tidd laconically says: "Had to do something; got to live, and worked hard tc do it, too." After six months they bought a little shop on the corner of Main and Church Streets, about where Mr. Tidd's residence now stands. After awhile as their business incrersed they needed more room, so moved the shop back down by the common and enlarged it. This was in 1847 or '4^ '^"d at this time they were employing about twenty hands finishing leather for other parties. They remained there about five years and then built a factory on the site of the present factory of Wm. Tidd & Co., on Pine Street, and it is now a part of the latter. The original building was 40 x 80 feet, with three floors including the basement, and was built in 1852. The old shop was sold and was afterwards divided up and moved away. The firm was still Tidd & Bloomer and they continued to curry for others, although they commenced tanning in 1854 and finished on their own account as well, making money until 1 86 1, when the war bioke out. At that time business came to a stand still and failures were general. Tidd & Bloomer lost a great deal of money by bad debts and indorsements but by a hard struggle kept from failing and dissolved partners! ip in 1861. From February 1862 to January 1866 Mr. Tidd was in business alone but on the latter date he took Iii.s son Charles into company with him under the firm name of Wm. Tidd A: Co.. and from that time on the active manage- ment of the busiress citvclvi il upon the son. In January, 1866, Mr. Tidd's son-in-law, Mr. Charles II. 1 rown, was admitted as a partner. Good times prevailed for years and ihc fiiMi worked hard, rapidly increased its business and made mone\- fast. Sime .he factory was first built it has been enlarged a number of times and is no ..n (.xtensive plant. This firm has employed at one time more than 225 hands and has turned out immense quantities of leather, keeping the help employed all through the year and never stopping the factory even when business was dull. Ahout the time of the great Boston fire Mr. Tidd retired from active busi- ness but continued as a member of the firm for a number of years later. He BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 3 II has no interest in the business at present although his name remains at the head of the firm, and he owns the buildings. Mr. Tidd is now accounted the wealthiest man in Stoneham and is the largest taxpayer. He owns considerable real estate and the mansion on Main Street where he lives is one of the finest residences in town. Although nearly seventy-seven years of age Mr. Tidd is in perfect health, is active, bright and smart and appears good for the enjoyment for many years to come of the fruits of his labors and close attention to business. Mr. Tidd was united in marriage in North Woburn while a resident of that village, September ii, 1836, to Miss Harriet H. Flagg, of that place. The ceremony took place in the house where Count Rumford was born, it being the home of Miss Flagg's mother at the time of the wedding. They have had six children, four of whom are living and reside in Stoneham, viz. : Oriana, wife of Charles H. Brown, Charles William, John Buckman and Hattie Flagg, wife of Frank A. Walker. Mr. Tidd has never had any inclination or ambition for office, political or otherwise, and has therefore not been prominent in town affairs, but possesses the respect of the people of the town to whose prosperity he has contributed much. He is an attendant at the Unitarian Church, is a member of Wyoming Lodge, F. and A. M., Waverly Royal Arch Chapter and Hugh de Payens Commandery, all of Melrose. He was for twenty-four years a Trustee of the Stoneham Five Cents Sav- ings Bank and was for a number of years chosen as one of the Vice Presi- dents. JOHN M. NO YES. John Murray Noyes, shoe manufacturer, was born in Auburn, Me., Jan- uary I, 1848, and is the son of Nathan Whitney and Sally (White) Noyes. He attended the common schools of Auburn until he was about sixteen years of age and during his school days learned to make sloes of his father^ that being the latter"s trade. Soon alter finishing his schooling he took out work from a shoe manufac- turer and did bottoming of shoes by contract on his own account. This he continued up to the time he came to Stoneham in the summer of 1867. He went to work here for R. W. Emerson & Co., and was employed at shoe making by that firm until the fall of 1872, when he went back to Auburn and worked for the shoe manufacturing firm of D. Harwood & Co. In the summer of 1875 he returned to Stoneham and was employed in the factory of John Hill «& Co. for two years and then by John Barrett, of Mel- rose, for two years. In the spring of 1879 he went into company with Vinton & Jenkins, of this town, shoe manufacturing, and was with them until November, 1887, 312 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. when he went into business alone in the FitzGerald Building, on Hancock Street, and has remained there since. When he first started alone he manufactured about three cases per day of misses' and children's, boys" and youths' medium grade shoes for the retail trade, and employed about twenty-five hands. About a year and a half ago he stopped selling to the retail trade and now manufactures wholly for job- bers. His business has steadily increased until it has reached eight cases per day, employing about fifty hands. In June, 1890, Mr. Noyes went to Warren, R. I., where he manufactured the majority of his goods for nine months and then gave up and returned to Stoneham. He is now preparing to make ten to twelve cases, seventy-two pairs to a case, per day, which will employ sixty or more hands. He now manufactures a medmm line of misses' and children's grain and glove grain heel and spring-heel boots and shoes for the Western, South Western and Southern trade. Mr. Noyes was married in Auburn, Me., November 7, 1868, to Miss Mary S. Frye, a native of Andover, Mass., but a resident of Auburn at the time of marriage. She died without issue February 20, 1887. Mr. Noyes united with Tranquil Lodge, F. & A. M., of Auburn, June 30, 1868, and is still a member of that lodge. He is a charter member of Wam- scott Tribe, Imp. O. R. M., was elected its first Sachem and has held the oflice three terms and has recently been elected to the same office again. He was a member of the Knights of St. Crispin when that order was in existence, and was also a member, and for a time Dictator, of Stoneham Lodge, K. of H., but withdrew in good standing in 1887. LENN/EUS C. PKESCOTT. Lennteus Clayton Prescott, railway conductor, was born in Fitchburg, Mass., August 24, 1855, and is the son of Nathan Otis and Lucy A. (Rich- ardson) Prescott. His parents removed to Nashua, N. H., when he was about five years of age and he attended the public schools of that city. Afterwards going to Providence, R. I., to live with his uncle he took a course in the Bryant and Stratton Commercial College in that city, after leaving which he assumed the charge of real estate and kept accounls lor his uncle until 1876. In that year he returned to Nashua and entered the employ of the Boston & Lowell R. R. as train baggage master between Nashua and Boston. He held that position for eight years when he was transferred to Stoneham and appointed as conductor on passenger trains between this town and Bos- ton. He has remained here since, continuing in the capacity of a conductor and running between Stoneham and other places on the railroad, now a part of the Boston & Maine system, and Boston. Through his efforts since he BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 3^5 has been a conductor Stoneham has secured additional trains and other im- provements and by being atfable and courteous he has become very popular with the regular patrons who travel on his trains. This is evidenced by sev- eral elegant presents he has received from them. The class of 1887 of Tufts' College presented him with a valuable gold-headed cane ; in 1889 he was the recipient from the students of the same college of a magnificent gold watch, the works being the best movement made by the American Watch Co. of Waltham, and the heavy gold cases being properly inscribed within and containing his monogram engraved on the outer case; and on January i, LENN/EUS C. PRESCOTT. 1 89 1, his friends and patrons of the road, among them being the college boys and passengers from all points on the line, gave him a costly solid silver lantern, together with a gold watch chain and a charm in the form of a gold ticket punch, which is an e.xact miniature counterpart of the one he uses on his daily rounds. Mr. Prescott'was married in Stoneham, September 27, 1886, to Miss Min- nie E. Burtt, of this town. A son and daughter have been born to them both of whom have passed away. 314 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Mr. Prescott is a member of Fells Lodge, A. O. U. W., of Stoneham, and an attendant at the Baptist Church, Tremont Temple, Boston. JAMES W. MACDONALD. James Wallace MacDonald, Principal of the Stoneham High School, was born in Holton, Me., June 26, 1844, his parents being Alexander and Nancy MacDonald. When he was about a year old his parents removed to Bangor, and his early education was obtained in a district school in a suburb of that city, where, vvith a course of ten weeks of each year and private study at home, he fitted for the Bangor High School, from which he graduated in 1864. J. W. MACDONALD. By extra study he entered Bowdoin College a year in advance, beginning with the sophomore class and graduating in 1867. He then came to Rock- land,JMass., and took charge of the High School there for a time and for a yearfafterwards had charge of the Academy at Hanover, Mass. Following that^he was principal of the High School at Soulli Abington, now Whitman, Mass., for five years. While there he started the South Abington Times which he published in connection with his school duties. He was also Pres- ident of the Plymouth County Teachers' Association. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 315 In 1876 he sold out the Times and gave up his position as teacher in Whit- man to accept the principalship of the Stoneham High School, entering upon his duties here in September of that year and continuing in charge to the present time. Mr. MacDonald is much interested in his work and his influence as an ed- ucator is felt not only at home but extends to other parts of the country. He has published works on Geometry and has a reform method of teaching this study, published within two years, which is attracting considerable attention. He has also lectured on this method before the Mass. Institutes in charge of the Board of Education of the State. The present natural method of teach- ing Latin which is now spreading over the country was first taught in the Stoneham High School in 1880, during his principalship. Through his efforts the Stoneham Teachers' Association was formed and he has been its president since its organization. He is also a member of the Mass. Teachers' Club and of the Mass. High School Teachers' Association, and was president of the latter for two years, up to the present year. He is also a member of the Mass. State Teachers' Association and was secretary for three years. Mr. MacDonald was united in marriage in Whitman, Mass., November, 24, 1874, to Miss Emma F. Prouty, of that town. His residence is on Montvale Avenue. While living in Whitman he joined Puritan Lodge, F. and A. M., from which he took a demit when he came to Stoneham. He is a charter member of Stoneham Council, A. L. of H., and for a few years was its treasurer. He was one of the incorporators and assisted in the organization of the Stoneham Co-operative Bank and has been secretary of this institution for the past year. Soon after Mr. MacDonald came to Stoneham he became impressed with the fact that the town was peculiarly adapted by natural beauties for a resi- dential town and its progress in this direction seemed to him to be prevented only by lack of proper railroad facilities with Boston. He gave much attention to this subject and satisfied himself that a railroad from the centre through the Fells was feasible, and in 1890 he caused a dis- cussion of the subject to be brought up in his school as a portion of the ex- ercises of the graduating class which created general public interest and had great influence in stirring up the citizens to bring about tlic building of such a road. The Board of Trade took the matter in hand and has had the hearty co- operation of Mr. MacDonald in accomplishing the desirable result which is now about to be secured. He was chairman of the combined railroad committee of the Board of Trade and citizens up to the time of the town meeting at which money was voted to insure the building of the railroad. 3l6 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. CHARLES E. HORNE. Charles Edwin Home, chairman of the Board of Assessors, is a native of Farmington, N. H., where he was born September 25, 1838, and is the son of Peter M. and Mary E. (Pendexter) Home. He attended the common schools at Farmington and the academy at Wolfboro, N. H., and assisted his father about the farm during the same time. In the spring of 1858 he came to Stoneham and went to work in the shoe shop of W. F. Knowles to learn the trade. He was employed by Mr. Knowles and others until the war broke out, when he enlisted in Co. G, Thirteenth Regiment Mass. Vol. Infantry, from Stoneham. He was mus- tered into the service as a sergeant July 16, 1861, and served three years in the various capacities from sergeant to first lieutenant. He was wounded slightly at the battle of Gettysburg, and lost his right arm from a wound received at the battle of Spottsylvania Court House, May 8, 1864, where he was also taken prisoner and confined in Libby Prison, at Richmond, for about five months. He was then paroled, came home, and was discharged in September, 1864, his regiment having been mustered out while he was in prison. Since the war he has continued to live in Stoneham. In 1866 he was appointed to a position in the Massachusetts House of Reoresentatives, and was employed there about ten years. He was appointed Postmaster of Stoneham by President Grant and held the office for nearly sixteen years, until he was removed by President Cleve- land. In 1887-88 he was Collector of Taxes of Stoneham, and for the past five years has been on the Board of Assessors, of which he is now chairman. Mr. Home was married in Bethel, Maine, October 20, 1875, to Miss Addie C. Stevens, a native of Bethel, but a resident of Stoneham at that time. They have had one daughter, who died in January, 1890. Mr. Home is a member of J. P. Gould Post j^^ G. A. R., of Columbian Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Stoneham Council, A. L. of H., a member and a Past Dictator of Stoneham Lodge, K. of H., and attends the Unitarian Church. He owns and resides in a pretty residence on Central Street. Arthur William Rice, newsdealer, stationer, etc., was born in Sturbridge, Mass., July 14, 1846, and is the son of William H. and Mary A. (Phillips) Rice. He obtained his schooling in the common schools of his native town, and afterwards served an apprenticeship of four years in printing offices in Worcester and Boston. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 317 Following this he was travelling salesman for about a year, and on May i, 1S69, he came to Stoneham and opened a news, stationery and periodical store on Franklin Street, nearly opposite his present location, and in the fall of 1888 removed to the store he now occupies, which was built for him by the Stoneham Odd Fellows' Hall Association. Mr. Rice is a member and Past Master of King Cyrus Lodge, F. & A. M., and a member of Beulah Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, both of Stone- ham, also of Waverly Royal Arch Chapter and Hugh de Payens Command- ery, of Melrose, and of Aleppo Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Boston; also of Highland Council, O. U. A. M., of Stoneham. He is now Tax Collector of Stoneham, to which office he was elected at the annual March town meeting of 1891. JAMES WHITCHER. James Edgar Whitcher. son of Amos and Polly Whitcher, was born in Benton, Grafton County, N. H., November 29, 1847. He received his early education in the public schools of his native town, after which he was a student at the Newbury (Vermont) Seminary, and at the New Hampton (New Hampshire) Literary Institution and Commercial College. 3l8 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. When twenty-two years of age he entered the employ of A. W. Arnold, the veteran grocer, and after an experience of seven years, formed a partner- ship with his brother under the firm name of VVhitcher Brothers, conducting the grocery business for ten yeais at the corner of Main and Winter streets, when he sold out to his brother, later engaging in the same business for A. F. Willey with whom he still remains. Mr. Whitcher was married in Salem, on the 8th of September, 1875, to Susan R., daughter of Person C. and Lucy (Webber) Thompson, of Stone- ham. They reside in the modest but pretty house, recently erected by Mr. Whitcher, at the corner of Benton and Warren Streets, in the Lincolnville district. In politics he is an ardent Republican. Mr. Whitcher has enjoyed the confidence of his party, having been for many years a member of the town committee and its present chairman. In 1887 and "88 he was a Representative to the General Court, defeating for the first time George Cowdrey, for several years the Dean of the House ; serving upon the committee on drainage, performing the duties of Secretary. In 1888 he also held the office of Selectman. In religious and social circles he has ever been active and prominent. Since 1869 he has been a steward or trustee of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Stoneham, and for several years Superintendent of the Sunday School and director of the musical service. In temperance work he has been equally active having been early a member of the Good Templars, Secretary of the Law and Order League, and for two years Grand Worthy Templar of the Temple of Honor of Mass. He is also a member of Columbian Lodge, No. 29, I. O. O. F., and was the first president of the Stoneham Board of Trade, in all departments winning the respect and approval of his associates as an active progressive citizen. J. ALDEN STOCKWELL. James Alden Stockwell, attorney and counsellor at law, was born in Stone- ham September 16, i860, and is the son of Albert S. and Fannie E. (Bryant) Stockwell. His great-grand-father on his father's side was one of the pioneer settlers of Lancaster, N. H., and on his mothers side his ances- tors have lived for two hundred years in the territory incuded in Stoneham. In the acquirement of his education Mr. Stockwell has stmggled very manfully and to his own efforts solely is the credit due for what he possesses. When he was but three years of age his father died in Andersonville prison, in 1864, leaving the wife and mother with four children to support and without means. The subject of this sketch was kept in the public schools of his native BIOGRAP?IICAL SKETCHES. 3I9 town until he was fourteen years of age when he was obliged to leave and go to work. He was employed in Hill & Rowe's shoe factory for a short time and then went onto a farm in Richmond, N. H., where he remained a year and then returned to Stoneham and entered the shoe factory of Brackett & Mann, at Farm Hill. There he worked for four years at the bench, at the end of which time he felt warranted, with what money he had saved, in attending Wesleyan Academy, Wilbraham, Mass., for the purpose of fitting for college. He took the regular four years classical course in two years and two terms and earned as much money as he could during vacation time. In 1882 he entered Wesleyan University, at Middletown, Conn., but his funds giving out after he had been there a short time he was obliged to give up and come back to Stomeham to work. He was employed by Hill & Rowe and afterwards by Sanborn & Mann at lasting shoes until 1884, when with the money he had saved from his wages he continued his college course at the Boston University College of Liberal Arts, having an opportunity to teach in the evening schools of Boston and in private schools and at tutor- ing, thus being enabled to cover his expenses. In 1886 he entered the Boston University School of Law from which he graduated in 1888 and took the degree of L. L B., acquiring the three year's course in two years. During the first year he had charge of the English department of Comer's Commercial College and in the second year gave lectures on Commercial law in the same school, earning over $1000 in the two years besides keeping up his studies. He was admitted to the bar in July, 1888, and immediately opened an office in Boston, at 29 Pemberton Square, and in November he opened an office in Stoneham, being now located in Chase's Block, Central Square. Mr. Stockwell is unmarried, is an attendant at the Congregational Church, is a member of the Theta Delta Chi of the College Fraternity, King Cyrus Lodge, F. & A. M., Columbian Lodge, I. O. O. F., Wamscott Tribe, Imp. O. R. M., John H. Dike Camp, S. of V., and the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, and is a special Justice for the Fourth District Court of Eastern Middlesex. He was one of the first promoters and organizers of the Stoneham National Bank, and it is largely due to his energy that the town is now favored with this institution. J. W. SPENCER. John Willard Spencer, carpenter and builder, was born in Berwick, Maine, December 13, 1831, and is the son of Jonathan and Abigail (Wentworth) Spencer. He obtained his schooling in the common schools of his native place and afterwards worked on his father's farm lor a time. In 1849 he removed to Lawrence, Mass., where he served as an apprentice 320 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. at the trade of carpenter and joiner, for two and a half years. He remained in Lawrence working for others and during the latter part of the time in business for himself, until July 5, 1858, when he came to Stoneham. He went to work on the new factory of John Hill & Co., then in process of erection, and when that was finished went into business with Elijah H. Clement, with whom he was associated until the spring of 1861, when he en- listed for three years as a private in Co. G, Thirteenth Mass. Vol. Inf. and was mustered in July 16. He was promoted to Corporal August i, 1862, to Sergeant January i, 1863, and to Orderly Sergeant Nov. i, 1863. He served in the Army of the Potomac, and was in the second battle of Bull Run, Chantilla, Antietam, South Mountain, Fredericksburg, Wilderness and all the battles in which his regiment participated, except Gettysburg, . when he was in the hospital. He was made a prisoner at the battle of Laurel Hill but was soon after reCfiptured by Sheridan's Cavalry near Beaver Dam Station. In about a fortnight he was returned to his regiment after going down around Richmond with Sheridan to the James River. He was mustered out in front of Petersburg in July, 1864, and came home and after being discharged resumed his former business alone, Mr. Clement having died in the meantime. In 1882 he took his son, Frank W., into business with him and they have continued together since. Among the prominent buildings which he has erected are the Hill & Rowe factory, most of the factory now occupied by Vinton & Jenkins, one of the large factories owned by M. H. FitzGerald, the residences of Arad Gerry, William Tidd, E. L. Patch, Onslow Gilmore and T. H. Jones. He has also built many others, in all amounting to over one hundred. Mr. Spencer has been married twice, the first time in Lee, N. H., May 21, 1853, to Miss Elizabeth A. Brown, of Nottingham, N. H., to whom one son, Frank W., was born and is now living. She died in 1856. His second marriage took place in Melrose, Mass., February 20, 1863, to Miss Eliza A. Sanborn, of Brookfield, N. H. Two daughters, Lizzie and Addie, both living have been the fruit of this union. Mr. Spencer and family reside on Hancock Street. Mr. Spencer was Representative to the Legislature in 1882 from this district, is a member of King Cyrus Lodge, F. & A. M., and Stoneham Council, A. L. of H., of Stoneham, and is an attendant at the Unitarian Church. THOMAS H. JONES. Thomas Henry Jones, shoe manufacturer, was born in Lancaster, Mass., October 14, 1835, and is the son of Thomas and Mary (Tweed) Jones. Jlis education was obtained in the common schools of Lancaster, Lunen- JOHN W. SPE-\'CER. 322 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. burg and Stoneham, Mass., and for a time he attended the commercial col- lege of Payson & Dunton, in Boston. He came to Stoneham March 19, 1850, and went to work for Allen Rowe & Son, doing all sorts of work about their factory and grocery store, when not attending school. After tnnishing his schooling he continued with this firm until i860, about ten years in all. He then went to work in the shoe factory of Sweetser, Battles & Co., where he was also employed about ten years, when he accepted a salaried position with R. W. Emeison, at Mel- rose, as general manager of Mr. Emerson's shoe factory. Here he remained about a year when Mr. Emerson removed his business to Stoneham, Mr. THOMAS H. JONES. Jones continuing with him in the same capacity for several years when he be- came a general partner, the firm being called R. \V. Emerson & Co. In 1880 Mr. Jones bought out the business and went into partnership with H. H. Mawhinney and H. H. Seaver, under the firm name of H. H. Mawhin- ney & Co., and he has continued in company with these gentlemen up to the present time. When Mr. Jones first became a partner with R. \V. Emerson the firm em» ployed about 125 hands and manufactured about fifteen cases of women's, BIOGRAPHICAL SKKTCHES. 323 misses" and children's slices per day. They did business in tlie Tidd factory on Pine Street, cofner of Tidd Street, the factory being enlarged for them twice during the tfen years. Tliey continually increased their output and in 1880, when thev diss(jlved they were making about thirty cases per clay and employing aljout 200 hands. H. H. Mawhinney & Co. remained in the Tidd l)uilding until 1S90, the business growing until they were turning;^out about 2500 to 3000 pairs per day and giving employment to nearly 275 hands. In 1889 Mr. Jones purchased land, with buildings thereon, between Frank- lin and Block Streets, removed the buildings and in the fall began preparing the foundation for his present extensive factory. This was finished and oc- cupied in October, 1890. It is a modern equipped factory, containing new and improved machinery, and is the largest in Stoneham. It is 175 feet long, 50 feet wide, has five finished stories and a cellar, and in its arrange- ment and furnishing comprises all the latest ideas that experience has devised for a shoe factory, and is convenient in all its appointments. Under pres- sure of business it would probably accommodate 500 hands and could turn out 100 cases per day. At present about iys hands are cm.ployed and the output is fifty cases per day of pebble, oil and glove grain and women's, misses' and children's pegged, standard screw and sewed polka, polish and button boots and shoes for Southern and Western trade. In addition to this factory Mr. Jones furnishes power to the building facing on Central Sc|uare which he bought of Mr. Mawhinney in 1889. This he remodeled, finishing the front part of the first and second floors into stores and offices, and letting the balance for manufacturing purposes. Mr. Jones has been twice married, first in Charlestown. Mass. 1859, to Miss Eunice Maria Frost, of Charlestown, who died about two years later. His second marriage was in Melrose, October 4, 1865, to Miss Caroline L. Sweetser, of Stoneham. By the latter he has had one daughter, Carrie Emerson, who is now living. Mr. Jones has always given his attention wholly to business, has never mingled in public affairs or held office, and has never joined any of the fra- ternal societies. He resides in a substantial residence on the corner of Warren and School Streets, which he built in 1878. DEXTER BLCKNAM. Dexter Bucknam is a native of Stoneham where he was born January 3. 1817, and is the son of Edward and Sally (Willey) Bucknam. He ha; always resided in .Stoneham and was educated in the common schools of the town. In 1825 and '26 there was no school-house in the district and the school which he attended then was kept in the dwelling house now owned by Jonathan Green, on Green's lane. 324 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. He learned the shoemaker's trade and after leaving school worked at it until he was [about twenty years of age when he commenced manufacturing misses' and children's shoes for the retail and jobbing trade which he con- tinued for twenty-five years. In 1850 he was appointed by the late Judge Charles Devens, who was then U. S. Marshal for Mass., to take the census for the towns of Reading, Noith Reading, South Reading, now Wakefield, Melrose and Stoneham. For about twenty-five years he acted as a justice for the trial of civil and criminal cases in Stoneham. DEXTER BUCKNAM. Mr. Bucknam was married^ in IJoston in 1844 to Miss Eliza Shay, of Boston. He has six children, all daughters, living, namely: Eliza A., Maria P., wife of Daniel Gilson, of New Ipswich, N. H., Sarah C, wife of Frederick A. Pierce, of Brighton, Mass., Ella I., wife of W. A. Stone, of Melrose, Mass., Josephine, wife of Wm. E. Worcester, of Allston, Mass., and Georgi- anna, wife of Charles S. LeBaron, of Boston. BIOGRAPHICAL SKF.TCHES. 325 He was one of the incorporators of the Stoneham Five Cents Savings Bank and has been for a number of years one of tlie trustees. He enjoys the distinction of having been an Odd Fellow longer than any- other man in Stoneham, his membership dating back over forty-nine years. He joined Crystal Fount Lodge, No. 9, of Woburn, May 26, 1842, and went through the chair and became a Past Grand and a member of the Grand Lodge in August, 1843. In that year there were enough joined this lodge from Stoneham to form a lodge in their own town, and they withdrew and organized Columbian Lodge, No. 29, December 14, 1843, Mr. Bucknam being a charter member. He was elected a Past Grand of the lodge, and represented it in the Grand Lodge. In 1845 ^"^1 1846 he was District Dep- uty of Crystal Fount, Columbian and Souhegan Lodges. On the reinstitu- tion of Columbian Lodge in 1868 he again became a member, and in the same year joined Bunker Hill Encampment of Charlestown. A. B. VEATOX. Alphonso Burton Yeaton, son of John W. and Delana E. (Welch) Yeaton, was born in Portland, Maine, September 4, 1849. He obtained his education in the public schools of Portland, and after going nearly through the High School he went to Portsmouth, N. H., and was an apprentice there for three years in the tin-plate and sheet-iron working trade. After working for a year at his trade in Boston he went back to Portland and was employed by the Portland Packing Co. for two years and for a year later worked at canning lobsters on the coast of Nova Scotia. He then returned to Portland and after working two years at his trade he formed a partnership with his father in the wholesale fish business, the firm being J. \V. Yeaton & Son. After doing business about seven years they sold out and the son worked for a year at farming in Eliot, Me., and at his trade in Boston for a year, and in 1879 came to Stoneham. He went into the employ of F. H. Richardson in the store on Main street and on Mr. Richardson's death rbout a year later he bought out the business and has continued it at the same stand ever since, conducting a successful J)usiness. Mr. Yeaton was married in I'ortland. Me., October, 1873, to Miss Mary B. Weston, of that city. They have had one child, Mary F., who is still living. Mr. Yeaton is a member of the L'nitarian Church and of Flighland Council, No. 36, O. U. A. M. 326 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. WILLIAM C. NASH. William Clemson Nash, son of Jesse and .Mary (Clemson) Xash, was born in Birmingham, England, September i8, 1S51. When about two and one half years of age his parents came to America and settled at East Woburn, Mass., and during his ninth year they removed to Stoneham. where he has since resided most of the time. He attended the primary school at Woburn and the higher grades at Stoneham up to the third year in the High School. Following this he WILLIAM C. NASH. attended the New Hampton, N. H., Academy for a year and Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College in Boston for about six months, earning his own living and paying his tuition in the two last named institutions by work- ing in the shoe factory of John Hill & Co., during vacation. After leaving Bryant & Stratton"s College he went into the employ of F. S. Hill & Co., as Assistant Superintendent, where he remained five or six years until the firm gave up business. For four or five years after this he was mechanical expert for the McKay Sewing Machine Co., on their sewing, heeling, and lasting machines. RIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 327 In 1884 he went into the shoe manufacturing business with his brother in the FitzGerald Building, on Hancock Street, tlie firm being W. C. Nash & Co. After doing business there for about four years they removed to New York State, where they dissolved partnership in about a year and the subject of this sketch returned to Stoneham in the spring of 1890. Since his return he has held the position of managing agent of Middlesex Boot & Shoe Companv, doing business on Emerson Street. Mr. Nash was married in Stoneham, November 9, 1872, on the day of the great Bostonfire, to Miss Emma J. Wardwell, of Stoneham. Two chiWren, both living, have been the fruit of their union, viz : Ernest Frederick and Alice Augusta. Mr. Nash is a member of King Cyrus Lodge, F. & A. M. and is an attend- ant at the Unitarian Church. DR. D. D. PEABODY. Dr. Daniel Dexter Pcabody, dentist, was born in Danvers, Mass., October 17, 1846, and is the son of Daniel and Sarah S. (Clarke) Peabody. He acquired his education in the district schools of Danvers, Middleton and North Reading, in the Grammar School at Woburn, and the High School at Stoneham, coming to this town in 1862. He worked in the shoe factories here when out of school. While attending the High School he enlisted in July, 1864, for 100 days in Co. K, Fifth Mass. Vol. Infantry, and served in Maryland and Virginia. On his discharge at the expiration of service he re-enlisted as a private in Co. A, 15th U. S. Infantry, and served in Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi. After about eight months service he was promoted to hospital steward, U. S. A,, and held that position until discharged at Santa Fe., New Mexico, in April, 1868. In 1867-68 he served under Hancock and Custer in the frontier troubles with the Indians. On his discharge he returned to Stoneham and began the study of dentis- try with Dr. A. W. Tenney, with whom he remained about two years. While with Dr. Tenney he took a partial course at the Harvard Dental School. In the summer of 1870 he commenced practise in Francestown, N. H., where he remained about two years, then in Lake Village, N. H., for a year, and then removed to Sherman, N. Y., where he practised seven years. While in Sherman he was a member of the Eighth District Dental Society, and for four years was a delegate to the New York State Dental Society. In July, 1880, he returned to Stoneham and went into partnership with Dr. Tenney, with whom he was associated five years, at the end of which time he opened an office on his own account, and has his present office in Dr. Cowdrey's building. Central Scjuare. 328 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Dr. Peabody was married in Stoughtoii, Mass., April 25, 1872, to Miss Nellie A. Smiley, of Stoughton, but formerly of Stoneham. They have no children. Dr. Peabody was raised in Olive Lodge, No. 575, F. & A. M., of Sher- man, N. Y., and was transferred to King Cyrus Lodge, of which he was Chaplain for four years. He was a charter member of Fells Lodge, No. 63, A. O. U. W., and was made its lirst Past Master Workman, and in si.\ months after was elected Receiver, which position he has continued to hold to the present time. He has also been Deputy of Mishawum Lodge, No. 61, of Woburn, for three years. In 1879 he introduced the Equitable Aid Union into Massachusetts and has been Deputy Supreme President for Massachu- setts ever since. He is a charter member of J. P. Gould Post j^, G. A. R. He has been a member of the Congregational Church, of Stoneham, since 1868 and was Superintendent of the Sabbath School from 18S2 to 1887. He is also a member of the New England and ALissachusetts Dental Societies, the Board of Trade, and of the Stoneham Y". M. C. A., ot which he was the first treasurer, and has been a director and \'ice President. He resides on Wright Street. MICHAEL H. FITZGERALD. Michael Henry FitzGerald, leather manufacturer, was born in Ireland, April 2, 1844, and is the son of Michael and Margaret (FitzGerald) Fitz- Gerald. His parents came to America with their family in 1S4.9 and took up their residence in Winchester, Mass., in the schools of which town the subject of this sketch was educated. After attending two years in the High School he gave up and went to work for Shepard & Perry to learn the business of a tanner and currier. He served an apprenticeship of three years and six months with this firm, the last six months being in the office and salesroom in Boston. Business and wages being good in currying shops at that time he concluded he could earn more at the table so went back to the shop for two years in Winchester, and afterwards in Woburn, until Shepard & Perry associated with Alex. Moseley and Edward H. Dunn and the large factory at Winchester was built, Mr. Shepard and Mr. Perry planning the building and afterwards doing the currying, although the firm was called Moseley & Dunn. Mr. FitzGerald went to work for this firm and shaved the first side of leather that was shaved in the new factory. lie remained there until 1868, when he went to Sandy Creek, N. Y., with John H. Pierce and they bought the Root & Earl tannery. Then James and Andrew Pierce and Andrew N. Shepard joined with them and the firm was called A. N. Shepard & Co. After Moseley & Dunn dissolved partnership at Winchester Mr. Dunn came into the firm and the name was changed to Shepard, Dunn i!\: Co. lUOCiKAl'llICAL SKETCHES 329 In 1871 William I', and Samuel Tierce, then c'oing business in Woburn, sold out to James Skinner & Co. and went to Sandy Creek and bought into the firm of Shepard, Dunn & Co., when Mr. FitzCierald withdrew and re- turned to Winchester. Soon after he formed a partnership with Franklin W. Perry and Sylvester Cutler under the name of Perry, Cutler & Co. and they did business at Wil- mington. He remained in this firm until the Boston fire in 1872 and the panic in 1873 caused the firm to dissolve, and Mr. FitzGerald came to Stone- ham in 1873 'i"'^ bought the Captain Hurd factory on Hancock Street, This he remodeled and continued the manufacture of grain and split leather there until the factory was destroyed by fire in August, 1880. In the same fall he built what he now calls factory No. i of his collection of large facto- ries on the same street and resumed the manufacture of leather. In 1 88 1 he built factory No. 2 to accommodate F. W. B. Worthen, Vin- ton & Jenkins and L. P. Benton, all shoe manutacturers, and they took leases for five years of diiferent rooms as wanted. In 1882 he built factory No. 4 for \'intGn& Jenkins, they having outgrown their quarters in factory No. 2, and Burley & Usher took Vinton & Jenkins' rooms. In the meantime he had Iniilt factory No. 3 and in 1882 he rcmoceled this for John Campbell who occupied it lor a time and it was then taken by Nash Brothers who remained there until they went to New York State. It is now occupied b} C. K. White on the lower floor and by Stackpole & Daniels on the upper floor. Factory No. 4 is now rented to John M. Noyes on the lower floor, who also occupies the whole of factory No. 5, built in 1890. H. G. Wallace & Son occupy the second floor of factory No. 4, and Green & Jones Brothers occupy the two upper floors and also one room in factory No. i, which Mr. FitzGerald remodeled in 1889. At that time he gave up the manufacture of leather and in August of that year went to Chicago to represent the firm of E. H. Dewson & Son. He remained there until the January following and then returned and went into the factory of Theodore Boutelle, at Woburn, who finished leather for him. He is now in the factory of F. Chandler Parker, who is finishing for him. In addition to the tenants named heretofore Mr. FitzGerald has in his large factories on Hancock Street the following: Factory No. i, first floor, S. W. Chamberlin, machinist ; part of second floor, Luther Martin, shoe manufac- turer; upper floor and also fourth floor of factory No. 2, R. E. Kinsley, shoe manufacturer; factory No. 2, part ot basement, Mrs. Sarah A. Marston, manufacturer of sole leather tips ; third and fifth floors, J. H. Dempsey ; second floor is still occupied by F. W. B. Worthen; David Tibbetts, sewing and nailing, and L. C. Shaw, shoe manufacturer, also occupy portions of factory No. 2. 330 BIOGRAPHICAL . SKETCHES. Mr. FitzGerald was married in Salem, Mass., October 21, 1873, to Miss Christina A. Gannon, of that city, and one daughter, Ida M. G., now living, has been born to them. Mr. FitzGerald has never joined a fraternal society nor held public office. He is a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church. WESLEY C. HOLDSWORTH. Wesley Clarke Holdsworth, son of Thomas and Lucy (Titus) Holdsworth, was born in Digby, Nova Scotia, December 15, 1841. He attended the common schools of Digby and afterwards was apprenticed to a carpenter in Hillsburgh to learn the trade which he did. He worked at this trade in Nova Scotia and in and about Boston for sixteen years, when, becoming tired of carpentering he went to Frederickton, New Brunswick, to learn the business of manufacturing confectionery with his brother-in-law. After acquiring a knowledge of the business he went to Newcastle, N. B., and manufactured on his own account, having stores there and at Chatham. He remained there three years when, in 1880, he came to Stoneham and opened a confectionery store and manufactory in his present quarters, where he has since remained and done a very successful business. About three years ago he opened a store in Woburn. Mr. Holdsworth was married in Yarmouth, Me., August 31, 1865, to Miss Harrie P. Humphrey, a native of that town. He was made a Mason in Northumberland Lodge, F. and A. M., while residing in Newcastle, N. B., and is a member of Stoneham Lodge, K. of H. THOMAS F. BURTT. Thomas Ford Burtt, watchmaker and jeweller, was born in Wilmington, Mass., February 8, 1831, and is the son of Thomas and Eunice (Upton) Burtt. His early schooling was obtained in the district school in his native town and afterwards in the schools of Reading to which town his parents removed. L'pon leaving school, at the age of between fourteen and fifteen years, he went to work for his uncle, the well-known Daniel Pratt, to learn the trade of a clock-maker, and remained with him for six years. He then went into the dry goods store of Samuel Nichols, his father-in- law, and was employed there until 1S55, when he came to Stoneham and was engaged in the watch-making and jewelry business on Main Street for two years, and for two years afterwards was in the same business in Danvers, Mass. In i860 he removed to Portsmouth, N. H., where he was in the jewelry business until 1872, having a fine patronage during and after the war. On giving up at Portsmouth he went into the employ of the American Watch Co., at Waltham, having charge of the general jobbing of watches iUOGRAI'IilCAL SKETCHES. 331 returned for some fauli to be put in order. He worked tliere and in the fin- ishing department tor several vears, earning large wages, but overwork injured his health and he was obliged to give up and recuperate. After six months he went to Lvnnfield, Mass., where he lived two years and travelled, keeping out of doors for his healtii. After recovering he came to Stoneham again in SciJtember. 1879. and opened a jewelry and watch re- pairing store on Central Street, opi)osite the Central House, where he re- mained for about six \ears when he took a lease of a building on the TIlOiMAS F. BUKTT. corner of Central and Emerson Streets, erected for him by Charles Emerson. On tlie expiration of his lease he removed to his present store in the Whittier Building, September 10, 1 88 7. ^tl In March, 1890, he sold his business on account of ill health, to his son, Lewis Chester Burtt, who afterwards sold to Joseph Durst. Since that time he has done something at making old-fashioned hall clocks until a short time ago, when he bought out his former business of Mr. Durst and is now back at the old stand. Mr. Burtt was married in Reading, Mass., May 3. 1852, to Miss Marion A. Nichols, of that town. They have had seven children, five of whom are 332 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. living, viz: Marion Gertrude, widow of Joseph H. Cheever, of Waltham, Walter Everett, Minnie Estelle, wife of Linn^us C. Prescott, of Stoneham, Thomas Fred and Lewis Chester. AM of the three ?ons are familiar with clock and watchmaking, and Mr. Ijurtt himself stards in the front rank in his traele. A wonderful piece of mechanism which Mr. Eurtt has constructed and which is now in his possession is a large musical clock v hich he has worked on at odd times for more than three years. There is only one other like it in this country. It is ingeniously eontrivtd .^o that in addition to giving the time the dial also shows the day of the month and the changes of the moon, giving all its phases, and the works are arranged so that at a quarter past the hour a chime of bells is struck, at half past -.he hour two chimes are sounded and the inecming hcur is stiuek en a Inge bell, at three Cjuarters past the hour three ehimes with a el:rge rie ;evic(d, ct ere minute before the hcur a tune is playeel and the h.cur is then told cfi en the large bell. The clock contains twelve metal bells and nineteen striking hammers and is valued at $600 to $700. It stands nine feet high. Mr. Burtt is a number of Fi.'^eataCiua Loe'ge, No. 6. I. O. O. F., of Ports- mouth, N. H., is a Past High Priest of Columbian Encampment, I. O. O. F., of Stoneham, a number of Highland Council, No. 36, O. U. A. M., being Senior Councillor on the third degree stall", is a member of Forest Union, No 686, Equitable Aid P'nion, and was a charter member of Helping Hand Temple of Honor, No. 21. He is also a member of the Congregational Church, and while residing in Portsmouth, N. H., he was for three years a member of the Common Coun- cil of that city. *HAZEN WHITCHER. Hazen Whitcher, retired hardware dealer, was born in Warren, N. H., May 21, 18 1 7, and is the son of Jacob and Sarah (Richardson) Whitcher. He attended the common schools of his native town and when a young man removed to Benton, N. H., wheie he worked at tarming and carpentry for a number of years. In 1846 he came to Stoneham and started for himself as a carpenter and builder and in following }ears was one of the principal builders and erected many buildings now standing in the town. About 1848 he added undertaking to his business and hired quarters in the basement of the Universalist Cluirch, located on the site of the present Unitarian Church. During these early years he was appointed Deputy Sherift' and served four years. He also served on the police Ibrce for sixteen years and during more than half this time was Chief. He was for many years the popular janitor of the Town Hall and was se.xton of the Universalist Church from its organiza- BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 333 tion until the society sold their edifice in 1869, after which, from 1869 until the spring of 1891, he was sexton of the Unitarian Church. Previous to 1870 Mr. Whitcher'had done some business at making picture frames and repairing Init at that time his son-in-law. Col. O. H. Marston, succeeded to that business and in September, 1871, Mr. Whitcher opened a hardware store where T. F. Burtt is now located and Col. Marston removed his business there also. In 1S76 Mr. Whitcher removed his stock and trade to the Dow Building where he did quite an extensive business. About five years ago he retired from active business and turned it over to Col. Marston. HAZEN WHITCHER. During the late years of his life he has dealt considerably in real estate, owning quite a number of houses and other buildings in Woljurn and Stone- ham . Mr. Whitcher was married in Iknton, N. H., , to Miss Sally Tyler, of that place, and three children have been born to them, one of whom, Sarah R., wife of Col. O. H. Marston, is living. Mr. Whitcher is a Universalist by faith and attended that church as long as the society was in existence since which he has attended the Unitarian Church. 334 I'.KUiKAPIIirAL SKETCHES. He is a charter member of Columbian Lodge, I. O O. F., and also a charter member of Crystal Cem Lodge. L O. G. T. His residence is on ronieworth Street. * Mr. W'hitcher died .May 14, 1S91, while the port'on of this work giving sketches of prominent living men was in preparation. .vi.iuox J. N()Wi:i.i,. Albion Jason Xowell, photographer, was born in Ur.n^or, .Maine, on the 28th day of May, 1866, and is the son of (uanville A. and .Susan""Ann (Alley) Nowell. .•VLHldN 1. XOWELL. When he was three years of age his father diet!, and his mother removed with her lamily to Mount Desert, where she remained lor a year or more, and then came to Massachusetts and settlec' in Lawrence.' At this time the subject of this sketch was between four and five years of age. What general education he acquired in his earl\- da\s was obtained in the public schools of Lawrence in the various grades up to the High School. His artistic talent developed itself when he was quite young, and an early desire to cultivate it possessed him, which continually became stronger. His BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 335 school studies were a drudgery to him, and after graduating from the Gram- mar School at the age of between fourteen and fifteen, he determined to learn the profession he has since followed. He served an apprenticeshij) of a year and a half with A. I>. Hamor, of Lawrence, at that time considered one of the finest artists in his line in that city, and then went to Boston, where he secured a situation with A. N. Hardy, one of the most skilful photographers in that city, whose studio is located at No. 493 Washington street. There he remained nearly five years, and between two and three years of this time was in charge of the re-touching department of the establishment. It can thus be readily observed that his professional education has been acquired under superior advantages and competent instructors, and he is admirably fitted for what he has adopted as his life work. Added to this he possesses a natural mechanical ingenuity which he inherits from his father, who was considered very skilful at his trade. Tliis is of inestimable value to him in many departments of the practical work of his profession. Mr. Nowell gave up his position with A. N. Hardy and came to Stoneham October i, 1888. Purchasing the business of J. E. Edgccomb, he immedi- ately commenced to carry it on under his own name, and has continued since in the same studio that Mr. Edgecomb had previously occupied. He has the field all to himself, and the excellent quality of his work has gained him an ever increasing patronage. In addition to photography he is now doing considerable at French pastel work, at which he is very success- ful. His studio and operating rooms are located on Main street, near Common. Mr. Nowell is unmarried. He is connected with the Stoneham Fire De- partment as a member of Resolute Hook and Ladder Company, No. i ; is a Corporal in Company H, Sixth Regiment, Mass. Vol. Militia: is a member of Miles Standish Colony, No, 7, United Order of Pilgrim Fathers: also of Garnet Lodge, Order of the Solid Rock, and of Wamscott Tribe. No. 39, Improved Order of Red Men. The photographs from which a large majority of the portraits in this work were copied were made by Mr. Nowell, also the photographs of all of the residences, public buildings, business blocks and churches, with a very few exceptions. ODD-FELLOWSHIP IN STONEHAM. The history of Odd Fellowship in Stoneham is worthy of more extended mention than the plan of this work will allow, in that it comprises in the different branches of the order many of the leading men and women in the community. Few towns can boast of so great an interest in this order as is shown by the people of Stoneham, as is demonstrated by the large membership and the BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 337 •character of the memljcrs comprised within the Cohimbiaii LcidL^e, Columbian Encampment, Daughters of Rebekah and Canton Fells. An outline sketch of the origin and growth of this, by far the largest fraternal order in town, will be of much interest as a matter of record. COLUMBIAN LOIJGE, XO. 29. Columbian Lodge, No. 29, I. O. O. F.. was an outcome of Crystal Fount Lodge, No. 9, of Woburn, Mass.. and was instituted December 14, 1843. Several membe:-s of Crystal Fount Lodge resided in Stoneham and enough more joined in 1843 *^o warrant the forming of a lodge in their own town, and a charter was consequently applied for from the Grand Lodge. The charter members were Alfred J. Rhoades, Asaph Langley, Lyman Dike, Samuel Hall, Dexter Bucknam, William Bryant, Jr., Hollis N. Wveth, all of whom withdrew from Crystal Fount Lodge, and Joseph B. Kittredge, from Mechanics' Lodge, No. 11, of Lowell, Mass. The lodge was instituted in a hall on the upper floor of Brown Sweetser's building, the building in which Holden Brothers' store is now located. Here the meetings were afterwards held until the lodge died out in 185 i or "52. From 1868 to 1872 the lodge met in the upper hall in Dow"s Building, since which time" they have met in their own hall. The first officers of Columbian Lodge elected and installed were Alfred J. Rhoades, Noble Grand ; Asaph Langley, Vice Grand : Lvman Dike, Secre- tary : Samuel Hall, Treasurer. Mr. Dike and Mr. Hall are now living, July, 1891. The lodge was instituted by officers of the Grand Lodge. E. H. Chapin, Grand Master. There were eighteen members admitted at the first meeting, including the charter members. Dexter Bucknam, being a Past Grand of Crystal Fount Lodge, was chosen Past Grand of Columbian Lodge, and was representative to the Grand Lodge. There are now li\ing of the charter members the following named : Ly- man Dike, Samuel Hall, Dexter Bucknam, William Bryant, Hollis N. Wy- eth and Joseph B. Kittredge. Dexter Bucknam has been an Odd Fellow over forty-nine years — the longest of any brother now living in .Stoneham. It was owing to two causes that this lodge went down in 185 i or "52. Pre- vious to that time there had been a strong feeling shown by the public against secret societies, and the growth of Odd Fellowship was prevented in conse- quence, and, again, the fees for initiation and degrees were small, and the amount paid for sick benefits was considerable, the result being that the treasury- of Columbian Lodge became depleted, and it was forced to suspend and surrender its charter and books, as were a number of others. Under date of December 24, 1867, a petition was submitted to the Grand Lodge at a meeting held February 6, 1868, asking that the charter and 3^S tUOCKAl'lIU Al Msl". H lli;.S. hooks bo ivturnod. and tliat ihc Kulgo niieis ot" the loiluo. \i/; S\l\aiius Sprasiuc. IXixid H. lioiiN. (Irorm' \\". I>iisi'. 1V'\ut lUukiiaiu. William Hrvaiit. |r.. IXinicl l,ii'rr\. Joseph li. Kiltred^e. l.\ man 1 )ilv.' ami J . i\.(u'rr\. riu' petition was >;rant(.Hl and the KhIi^o roinstiluiotl KelMuaiv 14, iS(>S. willi tlie t'ollo\vin>; as cliartcr nicnibois, viz: Cicorgc W. Dike, Lynuui Dike, Dexter ruicknani. William Bryant, Jr., Daniel (leny ami Sylvamis Sinai^ue. The reinstitution took place in tiie npper h.\ll in Dow's llnildinj;. ami (he tollowini^-named tit'teen monibers admitted at the liist meeting: "fMoraee Cloodrieh. 'flames i'evton. tjohnl'". Heny. tbenj. W. Jones. I'eiiev M. Annis. radill.i I'.eaid. Aithur II. Cowdi'ey. *J. Clinton L'h.ise. (."h.uies C. Dike, W'm. 11. l'..istm,\n. |J. Kiland (.iei'iy. .Andrew J. Kimpton. Wm. W. Pratt. John F. Spr.ii;ue. W'm. 11. .Spr.i^ne. The tollowin^ were ehosen as orticers : (.ieori^e W'. I^ike, Noiile i ir.ind : l.\ni,in Dike. \ iee (ir.uul: Dex- ter Rucknam. Secretary; W'illi.im ISiv.uit, ["icisurer. Kortv-one members were atlmittetl to the lodge during the \ear 1S68, .uul the membersliip has continually increased, until now there are 284 on the rolls. There have been just iit't\- Noble Cu'amls since its reinstitution. and forty-two members have been taken .iw.iy b\ the haml ot' De.itli. The lodge has been steadily prosperous, is we.iltli\ .mil tree hom aebt. .iiul has a good t'unti in the treasury. The present elective ot'licers ot' the loilge .ire .is t'ollows : N. ("... (.'h.uies G. Fall: Wf... D. I'.merson Sprague : Rec. Sec, W. W'.irtl Lhild : I'er. Sec., lames A. lones: Treas., L'h.irles lldtlwin : Trustees. Amos llill. chairman. Isaac F. Hersam. William F. H.ulley. toi.iMin.VN i;nc.\mi'.mi:n r, mk 43. Columbian I'.ncampmeut. No. 43. 1. O. (.>. F.. w.is instituted SejUember II, 1871, the charter members being brothers who withdrew trom New Eng- land Encampment. No. 34, of East Cambritlge. .uul Hunker Hill Encamp- ment. No. 5, of Charlestown. all ot'uhom were members of Columbian Lotlgc except one. Thev were as tollows : (vom Columbi.ui Lodge. Amos Hill. J.uues reyton, S. A. Hrxant, Albert J . Meader. Levi Woodbridge. S\lvauus Sprague, W. Ward Child. Isaac F. Hers;uii, W. D. Rice, Daniel (.Sorry. John F. Sprague. W'illi.im H. Sprague, M. A. Ceorge, Charles Stone. W'm. H. Richardson, Charles C. Dike, C'.eorge Jones. Luther White, Archelaus Welch, Henja- min W. Jones. Nathan H. Stowe. D. H. Harnos. Jr.. Andrew J. Kimpton. J. Clinton Chase, L. C. Dickerson, Hemy Dike. N. C. Ma\o. Heibert C. Richardson, Falward T. Whittier, N. S. Thompson, John E. Wiggin ; from Crystal Fount Lodge. Woburn, Nathaniel Jenkins. ♦Dcccused. t Have since been Noble Grands. { Member before reinstitution. I'.IOOKAI'IIK AL SKKTCIIKS. 339 The tirst officers of the rCnoam lament tUuAcd and installed .Se)jtem];er ii, 1 87 1, were the following: Chief Patriarch, James Peyton; High, Priest, Levi VVoodbridge; Senior Warden, Charles C. Dike; Scribe, (ieorge Jones; Treasurer, Archelaus Welch : Junior Warden, Albert J. Meader. lirothers Peyton, W^elch and Meader are now deceased. The Encampment has thriven as well as the other branches of the order, and now has a membership of about 130. The following named are the present elective officers : Chief Patriarch, George T. Connor ; High Priest, Melzar Eaton ; Senior Warden, Wilder C. Moulton : Scribe, W. Ward Child: Treasurer, Charles O. Currier: Trustees, Luther White, Charles Stoiie and Frank B. Jenkins. One of the most important events in the history of the Encampment, which was also of much interest to the people of the town, was the visit of Prescott and Cocheco Encampments of Dover, N. H., September 6, 1883. A large tent was raised on the lot Ijetween the Town Hall and High School, where a banquet was .served and the visitors entertained. It was made a red letter day in every respect. EVERGREEN LOfJOE, NO. I9, D. OF R. Evergreen Lodge, No. 19, Degree of Daughters of Rebekah, was instituted October 16, 1872, in L O. O. F. Hall, in Dow's Building. It started with thirty-two charter members who.se names were as follows : Sarah F. Meader, Sarah A. Gerry, Emily Peyton, Mary S. Hill, Cinderella Dow, Albert J. Meader, Andrew J. Dow, Amos Hill, Olive C. Chick, Mary 0. Hersam, Delia Eastman, Orin C. Eastman, Charles S. Worthen, Benja- min Hibbard, Harriet A. Wiley, Joseph E. Wiley, S. E. Best, Mary A. Berry, Wm. H. Sprague, Maria E. Jones, E. Cloutman, Mary Cloutman, James Peyton, H. E. Austin, Eliza E. Annis, Louisa A. Hunt, N. S. Thomp.son, F. B. Thompj.son, G. W. Hunt, W. H. Jones, Deborah R. Sprague, Susan Hibbard. The first elective officers chosen and installed were : Orin C. Eastman, Noble Grand : Sarah F. Meader, Vice Grand : Sarah A. Gerry, Recording Secretary; Emily Peyton, Financial Secretary; Mary S. Hill, Treasurer. This lodge has rapidly increased in membership until the register now shows 231 members in good standing, and it is one of the largest and most active lodges in the State. The present elective officers are as follows: Noble Grand, Mary J. Hun- toon: Vice Grand, Louise C. Whittier; Recording Secretary, Alma Johonnot : Financial Secretary, Marion A. Burtt ; Treasurer, Nellie C. Littlehale : Trustees, Jennie Eastman, Lizzie Ireland and A. Osborn Sprague. CANTON FELLS, NO. 26, P. -M. Canton Fells. No. 26, Patriarchs Militant, I. O. O. F., was instituted in 1. O. O. F. Hall, Odd Fellows' Building, March i, 1886. 34° BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. The following were the charter meiiibers : Thomas S. Ireland, James A. Jones, Samuel C. Batchelder, Amos Hill, Frank H. Messer^ Roland H. Robbins. Charles H. Richardson, Willie P. Hill, W. Ward Child, Myron J. Ferren, John F. Jones, Charles F. Brown, Will H White, A. Osborn Sprague, Edwin F. Jones. P. T. Frain, Joseph E. Wiley, Charles O. Cur- rier, Isaac F. Hersam, George A. Osgood, William H. Sprague, Frank L. Whittier, Herbert F. Sheldon, Fred J. Nash, Leonard P. Benton, Milton Messer, William F. Gordon, Richard W. Barnstead, Joseph H. Marcv, Charles B. Carlin, D. Emerson Sprague. The tirst officers were: Captain, Thomas S. Ireland, Commandant; Lieutenant, James A. Jones; Ensign, Samuel C. Batchelder; Clerk, W. Ward Child ; Accountant, A. Osborn Sprague. The present officers are : Captain, Samuel C. Batchelder, Commandant ; Lieutenant, Charles F. Brown; Ensign, Raymond R. Gilman ; Clerk, Charles O. Currier; Accountant, A. Osborn Sprague. The Canton now contains forty-two members. STOXEHAM ODD FELLOWS' HALL ASSOCIATION. The Stoneham Odd Fellows' Hall Association was incorporated March 19, 1872, by B. F. Richardson, Amos Hill, William B. Stevens, George W. Dike. Padilla Beard and Benjamin Hibbard. B. Frank Richardson was elected the iirst President; Amos Hill, clerk, and .Malachi Richardson, treasurer. In May, 1878, the present Odd Fellows' building was bought of Isaac F. Hersam, and about the first of June the hall w^as dedicated for the pur- poses of the order, with elaborate ceremonies. Since that time all the branches of the I. O. O. F. in Stoneham have held their meetings there. The present officers of the Odd Fellows' Hall Association are : Amos Hill, President; A. Osborn Sprague, Clerk and Treasurer; and a board of thirteen Directors. p. G. R. AMOS HILL. The most prominent Odd Fellow in Stoneham, who has been greatly honored bv the order and in whom the order has been honored in return, is Amos Hill. He was admitted a member of Columbian Lodge March 27, 1868, was a charter member of Columbian Encampment and Evergreen Lodge, D. of R., a charter member of Canton Fells, and one of the incorporators of the Odd Fellows" Hall Association, which he was the most active in organizing, was ts first Clerk and is now President. He is a Past Grand of the Lodge, P. H. P. of the Encampment, was Grand Patriarch of the Grand Encampment of Massachusetts in 1875 ^'^d Grand Representative to the Sovereign Grand Lodge in 1876-77* BIOGRArUICAL SKETCHES. 34I A. W. ARNOLD. Artenias Wavland Arnold, grocer and provision dealer, is the son of Arte- mas and Hannah C. (Spaulding) Arnold, and was born in Moriah. N. Y., December 27, 1827. In his early years he lived with his parents in several places in \'ermon and New Hampshire, and obtained his education in the common schools o these various communities. After leaving school he learned the trade of a shoemaker in Wilmot. X.H., and worked there and in other towns at his trade, following it up after he came to Stoneham in September, 1852, until he was compelled to give it up on account of ill health and adopt some business which would permit of his being in the open air as much as possible. His first venture was in starting out with a horse and wagon selling fruit and vegetables from house to house. He soon added groceries, and in this humble manner was commenced the foundation of a business which has grown to good proportions. He first opened a store in a building situated on what is now a portion of the lawn in front of the residence of Arad Gerry. This building has since been destroyed by fire, some vears after Mr. Arnold removed from it. . After doing business there for some time, he formed a copartnership with George Gould, and they erected the building on Main street now occupied by Joseph Theobald, and carried on the grocery business in that store for about three years, when they dissolved and sold the building. Mr. Arnold then started in business alone in the store occupied by S. G. Chauncev, and was there between thirteen and fourteen years. In February, 1879, he removed to his present store in Odd Fellows" Building, where he has since remained. Mr. Arnold has the distinction not only of being the oldest grocer in Stoneham but the longest in trade of any of the town's merchants, and has in a large degree shared the confidence of his fellow townsmen. Five or six years ago he added meat and provisions to his stock in trade, but pre- vious to that time it had consisted of groceries exclusively. Mr. Arnold has been three times married: first, in New London. X. H., January 31, 1850, to Miss Helen Theresa Sanborn, of Swanton, \'t. : sec- ond, in Bethlehem, N. H., in April, 1852, to Miss Mary Susan Jones, o that village: third, in Lawrence, Mass., November 29, 1854, to Miss Emma Johnson, of that city. He has one son living, the fruit of the second union, Clarence W., born in Stoneham. Mr. Arnold is a member of the L^nitarian Church and of Columbian Lodge, I. O. O. F., and was formerly a member of Columbian Encampment, bu withdrew about two vears ago. 342 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. THOMAS R. SVMMES. Thomas Russell SymiTies, baker, son of Thomas R. and Harriet (Edey) Symmes, was born in Aylmer, Province of Quebec, October 15, 1849. After receiving his education in the common schools of his native town he came to Massachusetts for occupation in 1S66, when 17 years of age. He worked at the business of a baker in several different towns, the last place before coming to Stoneham being in Medford. He came here in 18S0 and purchased the bakery business of J. W. Swint, Avhich he has continued to conduct at the same stand successfully to the present time, giving so great satisfaction to his patrons that his trade has constantly increased, until now he keeps three wagons almost constantly upon the road disposing of his product, besides >\-hat is sold at the store on Main street. i\Ir. Symmes was married in Stoneham November 26, 1885, to Miss Emma Duncan, of Delhousie, N. B. They have two children, Thomas Russell and Albert LcRoy. Mr. Symmes is a member of Columbian Lodge, I. O. O. F. of this town, and an attendant at the Methodist Episcopal Church. EXGIXEERS OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. The Board of Engineers of the Fire Department is a most efficient Ijody of men, who work in harmony and with zeal for the good of the department and the town. The board has been constituted as at prv:s3nt since the spring of 1887 and is as follows: Orin A. Dodge, Chief; George E. Stur- tevant, First Assistant; John A. LaClair, Second Assistant and Clerk. ORIX A. DODGE. Orin A. Dodge, Chief Engineer, son of Moses G. and Elizabeth B. (Bryant) Dodge, was born in Stoneham July 25. 1841, and has always lived here e.xcept during three years and tour months when he was in the service of his country as a sharpshooter. He has followed the trade of a shoemaker. His father was a member of the tire department for many }ears before the son joined, and lor some years after the father and son served together. Chief Engineer Dodge first joined the department in 1854, serving as a torch bearer in the Gen. Worth Engine Co. He progressed from this to suction hoseman, then to leading hoseman, to first assistant in 1872, and finally to foreman of the company in 1873, serving in that capacity for five years. In May, 1878, he was appointed on the Board of Engineers by the Select- men and has been on the board most of the time since. He was Chief Engineer in 1882-83 and was again appointed in 1887 and has served to the present time. As he has accepted a position with his brother in Lynn and will take up his residence there, he will resign as Chief Engineer on August I, much to the regret of the -Selectmen and citizens. 344 r.IOGKAl'lllCAI. SKKTCHES. GEORGE E. STURTEVANT. George E. Stuiievant, tlie senior assistant engineer, was horn in Stone- ham, Sept. 6. 1S40. and is the son of Daniel C and Laura ("■. Stuitexant He has always resided in Stoneham anc' has alwavs tollowed llie tratle ot" a shoemaker. He has been a tirenian tor twenty-nine years eontiniunisly, having com- menced as a torch-bearer in the Clen. \\'orth Engine Co. in 1S62. when six- teen vears of age. He was afterwards a suction hoseman and then leading hoseman, and for a year was foreman of the company. gi\'ing' up that posi- tion to accept that of steward of the company, which position he held for eight years. He was with this company until it disbanded, at'ter the intro- duction of water into the town in 1S83. and then became a member oi Cien- Worth Hose L"o.. ot which he was a member until appointed t)n the lioard of Ergineers by the Selectmen in 1887. and has continued im the T.oard to the present time. JCMIN A. LACLAIK. John A. LaClair, the junior assistant engineer and clerk of the board, is also a native of and has always lived in Stoneham. where he was born No- vember 24. 1855. and, like his associates, has always been a shoemaker. He is the son of John E. and .Mary L. LaClair. He has been connected with the Stoneham Fire Department continuously for over twenty years, having first joined the Gen. Worth Engine Co. in j\Lirch, 1 87 1, beginning as a torch-bearer and progressing from that to suc- tion hoseman and then to leading hoseman and second assistant I'orenian, which position he held for a year. He was also clerk tor one vear and treas- urer. He was a member of this company until it ilisbanded. and then became a member of Gen. Worth Hose Co., with which he run until appointed by the Selectmen in 1SS7 as one of the lioard of Engineers. He was chosen clerk of the board on its organization in that year, and has held the position ever since. ISRtnV.N SWKKTSKR. Brown Sweetser was born in South Reading, now \\akefield. Mass. Sept. 15, 1803, his parents being jNIoses and Ruth (Brown) Sweetser. While a young boy he resided tor a tew years in Stoneham. but returned to Wakefield where he lived until twenty-one when he returned to Stoneiiam where he resided until his death December 14. 1879. His education was obtained in the district schools of the t\\o towns. He was engaged with his brother Warren in the grocery business for a few years, and afterwards with the same brother in the manufacture of razor strops. lilOOKAPHICAL SKETCHES. 345 In 1849 he formed a partnership in the meal and provision business with Joseph Buck and opened the first market in Stoneham in the store now occu- pied by Holden Bros. He remained in the business with Mr. Buck and af- terwards with Joseph B. Kittredge and then with his son Francis Kittredge Sweetser until 1865 when his son died. He then formed a partnership with Charles Buck which continued until 1869 when he retired from business. During his business career he dealt largely in real estate, buying and selling lots every year, and with a few exceptions between 1835 ^"^ 1870 he made^a.s^ many conveyances as any citizen then in active business. UKOWX SWEETSEK. Mr. Sweetser was married in July, 1835. to Eliza Kittredge, a daughter of Dr. Kittredge of Woburn. They had two children. Eliza M., the elder, who was married to Charles Brown, who died in Chicago in 1864, and Fran- cis Kittredge, who also died in the same year. Mr. .Sweetser died December 14, 1879, leaving a widow, Eliza, and his daughter, Mrs. Brown, who had made her home with him since her husband's death, and a grandson, Francis Kittredge Sweetser. a child of his son Francis, and who is now a practising lawyer in the town. 34^ BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Mr. Sweetser was a citizen who took a deep interest in town atitairs and was always ready to aid deserving people or give a helping hand to public enterprise. He was one of the number who subscribed one hundred dollars each to purchase the land now known as Central Square which they gave to the town, and many a poor family when he was in the provision business, and even afterwards was surprised to receive a well-filled basket of provisions. He was a member of the early Odd Fellows" lodge in Stoneham,^and an at- tendant of the Congresationalist Church. CENSUSES OF POPULATION. The censuses of population in Stoneham have been as follows, the first being taken in 1765, viz : 1765 — 340: 1776 — 319; 1790 — 381; 1800— 380; i8ro — 467; 1820 — 615: 1830 — 732: 1840 — 1017; 1850 — 2085; 1855 — 2518; i860 — 3206; 1865 — 3298; 1870 — 4513; 1875 — 4984; 1880 — 4890; 1885 — 5659; 1890 — 6155. ^ i>=< mm^> THE WORK. This volume has been wholly compiled and printed in the office of F. L. & \V. E. Whittier, Publishers. Valuable assistance has been rendered by Professor Elmore A. Pierce of Woburn, who has written most of the bio- graphical sketches of prominent living men and historical sketches of the institutions of Stoneham. The photographs from which most of the engravings were made^were^taken by Albion J. Nowell, Stoneham. The photo-engravings of ^illustrations and portraits were made by the Aldine Company, Boston. >3 y? c^j > Id H H O c Index to Contents, General History of Stoneham, by William B. Stevens, Esq., Pages 9 to 105 inclusive. Biographical Sketches of Pioneers and Prominent Men (Deceased). Pages 1 10 to 142 inclusive. Stoneham of To-Day, Descriptive and General Sketch, Institutions. &c., Pages 144 to 191 inclusive. Biographical Sketches of Prominent Living Men. Pages 192 to 344. HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF IXSTITCTIOXS, ETC. Almshouse .... Banks — Stoneham Co-operative — Stoneham Five Cents Savings — Stoneham National Board of Trade, Stoneham Cemeteries .... Churches of Stoneham Churches — Baptist — Catholic, St. Patrick's — Methodist Episcopal — Unitarian . Fire Department Industries .... Mercantile Business and .Mechanical Trades Military Company Newspapers .... Odd-Fellowship in Stoneham . Police Force Professions, The Public Library Schools of Stoneham . Schools and Teachers, list of, 1890-91 Shoe Manufacturers ; Table showing capacity number employed, etc. Societies and Clubs Town Hall and Armory Whittier, F. L. & W. E., Publishers Y. M. C. A. and Ladies" Auxiliary nd output of factories Page 167 162 161 163 164 169 147 150 150 147 147 177 182 190 176 170 335 275 190 157 152 154 184-5 188 155 282 150 INDEX TO CCNTEXTS. 349 BIOGKAPIIIES OF PIONEERS AND PROMINENT MEN (DECEASED). Buswell, Edward F. Chase, J. Clinton . Cowdrey, George A. Curtis, Jesse . Dii