Essex County, Massachusetts - Chapter 13: Town of Andover, 1922

The true date of settlement at Andover is and probably ever will be an uncertainty in history. There are so many conflicting theories that the writer of this chapter will not undertake to make a positive statement concerning it. However, it is quite safe to conclude from such records of church and state as are at command, that the original set- tiers came in about 1642 or 1643; for on May 10, 1643, an order was passed by the General Court for a division of the whole plantation into four shires. Cochichawicke is mentioned as one of the eight towns comprising the shire of Essex. Very soon after its settlement, its name was changed to Andover, at the request, likely, of the immigrants, who had came from Andover, Hants county, England. John Woodbridge, of Newbury, later the first minister in Andover, purchased from the Indians the land included in this township. Cutshamache, the Sagamore of Massachusetts, was the chief with whom the bargain was made, and the price paid was six pounds and a coat. This purchase and preceding grant were confirmed by the General Court in 1646, when the town was incorporated with its present name. However, as late as 1648, it was always spelled in print and public records as "Andiver", and was originally bounded by the Merrimac, Rowley, Salem, Wobum and Cambridge. In 1829 Andover extended its northern border along the Merrimac river for nearly eleven miles.

At what is now known as North Andover in North Parish was effected the first settlement of this town. Many years ago, the Rev. Charles Smith wrote on this settlement as follows :

The grantees, or proprietors, for convenience, mutual protection, social intercourse and to enjoy the better their religious worship and teaching, settled near each other, around their meeting house, on "home-lots", containing from four to ten acres each, according to wealth and importance of the occupant To the owner of a home lot was assigned meadow, tillage and wood-land in the remote parts of the town. The allotment was in proportion to the size and value of the village lot. These outlying farms were gradually built upon and lived upon by their owners. But not for many years was such occupancy common. For a long time living away from the village was discouraged; and on one occasion, the town went so far as to forbid any inhabitant's building a dwelling-house in any part of the town other than that which had been set apart for such houses, except by express leave of the town. The penalty for a disregard of this order was a fine of twenty shillings a month for the time the disobedient person should live in such prohibited place. But as the population increased, and the roads became passable, and danger from hostile Indians was largely diminished, people removed to their farms in the present South and West Parishes.

The records of the earliest settlers are scant. In them is to be found a list of what purports to be the original proprietors, which reads as follows: Mr. Bradstreet, John Stevens, Edmund Faulkner, Henry Jacques, John Lovejoy, Andrew Allen, John Osgood, Nicholas Holt, Robert Barnard, John Aslett, Thomas Poor, Andrew Foster, Joseph Parker, Benj. Woodbridge, Daniel Poor, Richard Blake, George Abbot, Thomas Chandler, Richard Barker, John Frye, Nathan Parker, Wm. Ballard, John Russ.

It should be remembered that the original proprietors and settlers took up for their personal property only a small portion of the land, holding in common the remainder, and in resei-ve for future settlers, with a liberal allotment for the church and its ministry.

At the beginning of the eighteenth century the church building, or meeting-house, as then called, became too small, and not fully up to the times, and the membership desired better quarters. Hence it was voted, in 1705, "to build a new meeting-house as sufficient and convenient for the whole town as may be." May, 1707, it was again voted "to build a meeting-house for ye inhabitants of Andover of these following dimensions, viz : of sixty foot long, and forty foot wide and a twenty foot studd, and with a flatt roofe." When the question of a location on which to build came to a vote, the decision favored the South Precinct. It was but natural that those residing in the North Parish should rebel at their meeting-house being transferred to the South Parish. A long drawnout battle was fought at town meetings and in General Court deliberations over petitions and counter-petitions, but the result was that the General Court decided to divide the territory into two precincts. The locating of a church building was then considered of much greater importance to the masses than is the location of a county seat and court house building in these later days. After much pulling and hauling, with no little bitterness, the two parishes or precincts were set off and legally given bounds and a provision for a meeting-house in each.

In 1692, as appears from an old tax-list, the majority of inhabitants were at the North End of the town. In 1708, when the question as to the location of a meeting-house (new one) came up, a majority of the voters were found to be at the South End. For fully fifty years the North Parish contained the meeting-house, the minister and the principal citizens. The North Parish was especially distinguished as being the home of Simon Bradstreet, who was governor of Massachusetts Bay Province for thirteen years, and whose family were looked up to by the community. For the present, the reader will turn his att>ention to the history of South Parish - the Andover of today - which was then but an outlying section of the township. A small part of the lands had been allotted to the first settlers. The larger part, held in common, was used for pasturage and wood-land. Those who owned farms four or five miles out worked at a great disadvantage, on account of Indian scares, bad roads, etc. With the passage of years, things changed, and these outlying farms were much utilized by their owners. South Parish became a noted agricultural section of the county, and its people were looked upon as a class of hardy. God-fearing settlers.

Andover had less actual trouble with Indian raiders than many of the other towns in the county ; there was only one attack in which life was lost among the settlers. This occurred on April 18, 1676, the invaders being a band of the alhes of King Philip. The raid might have ended differently had not a scout, named Ephriam Stevens, discovered that a band of Indians were crossing the Merrimac river. He hastily notified the settlement, and the men working in the fields took refuge in the garrison-house, and thus were all saved. This house was oc- cupied by George Abbot, and was but a few rods to the south of South Church of a later date. Unfortunately, two sons of George Abbot did not get word in time to make the garrison-house. The elder, nineteen years of age, was killed by the Indians. His brother, only thirteen years of age, was taken captive, but after four months was returned by a friendly old squaw. A few men from the South Precinct lost their lives, while engaged in keeping the Indians away from the settlement, during tKe various wars with the whites, but not a large number suffered such a fate.

As early as 1673 encouragements were given to such as would locate in Andover in some manufacturing enterprise. The town voted to ^'grant to Edward Whittington and Walter Wright five acres of land for encouragement of erecting a fulling mill, which they promised to set about the next spring." In 1675 "liberty was granted a tanner that he shall be allowed by the town to make use of what bark is needful for his works in town, provided he fell no trees that are fit for building or mill timber." In 1682 "liberty was granted to any man that the town or the committee shall choose to set up a saw mill, fulling mill and grist mill upon Shawshin river, near Rogers brook, to take up twenty acres of land adjoining said place and to enjoy the same forever, with the privilege of a townsman."

In 1688 "it was voted that the twenty acres of land shall be improved by Joseph and John Ballard and their heirs, so long as they shall keep up a grist mill, fulling mill, etc. In the same year, it was voted "to encourage setting up iron works." The iron works mentioned were necessarily small affairs, but served well for the time being. Not until 1775 did manufacturing take on goodly proportions. In the winter of 1775-76, Mr. Phillips built a powder house on the Shawshin river. This was built as a pressing necessity, to make powder for the Continental army, but it chanced to be both good for its original object and very profitable to its owner. After the war had ended, the mill still continued to operate until 1796. In October of the year just mentioned, an explosion took place, and two men were killed. Later, the proprietor of the powder mill converted it into a paper mill; when there was no demand for large bills of powder, then it was that he produced pai)er. Soon Mr. Houghton, a devout Quaker from England, who had but recently failed in the paper business in the Mother Country, settled in Andover, and became a partner with Mr. Phillips. The two sharea equally in the profits, one finding the capital, the other managing the affairs of the enterprise. After many years, paper-making was given up and the plant was sold and converted into the Marland Manufacturing Company, of which Abraham Marland was the sole founder. This enterprise was one of the leading factors in the town for many years.

plant. This was started in the autumn of 1834, for the purpose of making chalk-line from cotton, by use of a patented machine invented by Mr. Dove. Before it was in operation, however, the plans were changed by taking in as his partner John Smith, who wanted to make flaxthread; so they went to Scotland and secured specifications for the necessary mills. Here they made ships cords, sewing flax-threads, shoethreads, etc. The only competitors in America were the merchants from Europe. At first, there was a prejudice against home-made threads, but after eight years, the company could not begin to fill its orders and was compelled to increase its capacity. In 1843, the company purchased the Abbot woolen mills. Finally, after eventful, useful careers, the two founders passed from earth's shining circles, and the business passed on to their heirs by whom it was run for many years longer.

Among other useful and profitable industries in Andover may be named the Ballard Vale Manufacturing Company, incorporated in 1836. John Marland was the enterprising president of the concern. Some Boston capitalists and a number of business men from Andover made up the stockholders. At first flannel making was the aim and sole object of this mill. Had the managers "let well enough alone," all might have gone well ; but they reached out all over the country, and sought to raise silk-worms and weave silk ; also to make various fine woolen goods. With all these things on hand, they failed, and the stockholders were heavy losers. The factory ultimately fell into the creditors' hands, and the treasurer, J, Putnam Bradlee, took it over, reorganized it, and went ahead with flannel making successfully.

The Craighead & Kintz Manufacturing Company succeeded to the old plant erected and operated by a Boston corporation, called the Whipple File and Steel Company. It manufactured files and fine steels. Misfortune befell its business endeavors, and it finally collapsed. Craighead & Kintz started, in 1883, the manufacture of brass and bronze goods. In 1887 nearly three hundred men were employed in these shops. Over one hundred thousand dollars a year was the output in the eighties. With time, these factories have changed, merged with others, or gone out of business entirely.

The Tyer Rubber Company was incorporated in February, 1876. It used the old Boston & Maine railroad shops for headquarters. This concern made a diagonal rubber cloth used in the making of overshoes and arctics. Henry George Tyer, founder, invented many rubber goods in his day. He was bom in England in 1812, came to America in 1840, and first settled in New Jersey, where he identified himself with the rubber trade. He came to Essex county in 1856. It was he who first discovered the art of producing white rubber articles. Another of his inventions was the "Campo-shoe." For his inventions he never received royalty in proportion to the value of his discoveries, though for some of them he was well paid. He died at his residence in Andover in 1882,

The industries of Andover today are limited to about the following manufacturing plants, all doing a prosperous business in their line of production: J. W. Barnard & Son, boots and shoes; Frank H. Hardy, brush makers; Ballardvale Milling Company, makers of flannel goods; W. C. Donald & Company, manufacturers of lampblack; the American Woolen Mills, the Osgood Mills, the Stevens Mills and the Sutton Mills. There are also two saw mills, one owned by Albert P. Couch, the other by Louis J. Kibbee.

Andover always having been a noted school and college town, it naturally comes in for its share of excellent public libraries. The public library sprang from the old "Social Library" in a very early day - about 1770. It distributed books for at least seventy years, when these were sold at auction, and scarcely a home in the vicinity today but has one or more of the books formerly in this collection. One of the rigid rules found in the records concerning the 1770 library, just named, reads thus: "For the future no person shall be admitted a member whose place of residence from the North Meeting-House in Andover exceeds ten miles. Each member shall pay not less than four dollars cash before becoming a member."

The present imposing Memorial Hall Library was erected in 1872-3, and dedicated at a cost of $40,000. It was founded by John and Peter Smith, but John Dove was also a liberal contributor. The December, 1920, report of the librarian sets forth these facts: "Our circulation during this last year has been the largest in the history of the library. At the Memorial Hall 37,542 books were issued, an increase over 1919 of 1,937 volumes. At Ballardvale 6,445 were issued, an increase of 139 during the year. This makes a total of 44,398 books borrowed for home use in 1920, which is a large circulation for a town the size of Andover. In 1919, 42,322 volumes were borrowed."

Andover is now a second-class postoffice, with two free delivery rural routes extending into the surrounding country; the routes average about twenty-three miles each. There are also five city mail carriers. The last fiscal year's postal business amounted to $38,200. The postoffice has been in its present location since 1918. Connected with this office is a station office at the village of Shawsheen. This was established as a branch office July 1, 1920, and is kept in a leased building.

Since President Grover Cleveland's administration, the postmasters at this postoffice have been William G. Goldsmith, four years ; Abraham Marland, four years, under President Hamson; William G. Goldsmith served again four years until the election of President William McKinley in 1896. Arthur Bliss then became postmaster, and served sixteen years, being succeeded May 1, 1914, by the present postmaster, John H. Mc- Donald.

In 1920-21 the following list of officers were serving the municipality of Andover, which was originally incorporated May 6, 1646 - two hundred and seventy-five years ago: Selectmen: Walter S. Donald Charles Bowman, Andrew McTenien; Assessors: Walter S. Donald ' Charles Bowman and Andrew McTenien; Town Clerk, George A Higgins- Tax Collector, William B. Cheever; Town Treasurer, George A Higgins- Supenntendent of Schools, Henry C. Sanborn; Superintendent of Water Department, Frank L. Cole; Chief of Fire Department, Charles F Emerson; Chief of Police, Frank M. Smith; Constables: George W Mears FVank M. Smith and Thomas F. Dailey ; Tree Warden, Edward H Berry- Moderator of Town Meetings. Alfred L. Ripley; Finance Committee:' Hen^ A. Bodwell, Edward V. French, Chester W. Holland, George Abbot, George B. Frost, J. Harry Campion, William B. Corliss tn <R7c,m Itnt^^ l^'^'^ ^'"'^"''^^ according to the last report amounts to $l,d01,285.78. The assessors' last report shows the following- Number of polls assessed, 2,323; personal and real estate holdings, $10,086-

By reason of the three great educational institutions located at Andover for so many years - the Theological Seminary, Abbot's Academy and Phillips Academy for girls-the very atmosphere surrounding the place, figuratively speaking, seems charged with the elements of education, intelligence and refinement not known in the ordinary town of any section of the country.

^ As one of the oldest towns in the United States, Andover enjoys universal distinction. Its name has always been coupled with famous histoncal events. Andover's famous school, Phillips Academy, was founded m 1770 by Samuel Phillips, and was the first incorporated academy m the country. This institution has been greatly aided in its growth by the generous benefactions of the Phillips family to whose efforts can be attributed much of its great success. The late Bishop Phillips Brooks was a direct descendant of this illustrious family

Andover is justly proud of its Theological Seminary, and of such men as Professor Calvin E. Stowe and Professor Austin Phelps who were among its presidents. Thousands upon thousands of young men have been graduated from this Seminary to go out into the world as professionals, in the role of ministers, lawyers, physicians and journalists.

Abbot Academy, the first school exclusively for girls in this section of the country, was opened in 1829, through the efforts and bequests of Madam Sarah Abbot.

dover, and his wife Anne is famous as the first poetess in America. Their descendants, such men as Oliver Wendell Holmes, Wendell Phillips and R. H. Dana, have all earned wide renown, hence Andover can be justly proud of her sons.

In the language of another, it may be said: "Among the things which alone would make Andover famous are the facts that here Harriet Beecher Stowe, authoress of "Uncle Tom's Cabin", made her home for several years, and her house is still standing and known as the Stowe House. The house still stands, also, in which in February, 1832, Samuel F. Smith, then a student at Andover Theological Seminary, wrote the song that was destined to become our national hymn, 'America.' "

Among the interesting objects in Andover pointed out today to the visitor from distant parts of the world is, first: The "Old Oak of Andover," in the rear of the Seminary building. It has been estimated that at least four thousand students in the last century have been seated or have walked beneath its branches. "Then hail to the oak, the brave old oak, when a hundred years are gone." I

"Phillips Inn," or the old "Stowe House", built in 1828, of solid stone, still adorns the lot directly opposite the stone chapel of the old Theological Seminary. It is a two-story structure (the original part) and was constructed as a carpenter shop and gymnasium for the seminary. It passed into the hands of Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe in 1853, and in one of its ground floor rooms she wrote and revised her "Uncle Tom's Cabin" before it was published in book form, it first appearing as a serial. It was also in this building that this celebrated American authoress wrote most of the "Key to Uncle Tom's Cabin," as well as the interesting and thrilling work entitled "Dred, or Curse Entailed." In 1887 this house was opened as a hotel, and was known as the Mansion House, and so continued until 1902, when the name was changed to "Phillips Inn." It is still conducted for the benefit of visitors, summer boarders and tourists.

Another historic object is here found in what is styled "Rabbit Rock," an early resort for the students who were fitting themselves for the missionary service in foreign lands. Here the young men used to assemble in a secluded spot, and converse and hold prayer service. The citizens and alumni of the Seminary years ago placed a fine memorial tablet attached to a giant granite boulder, and this is a perpetual memorial to that noble band of young students possessed of the missionary spirit. It was here that the "Iowa Band," comprising seven young Congregational ministers, who banded themselves together, used to meet and lay plans for establishing Congregational churches in the West. Later they all settled in Iowa, and there formed the early churches of this faith.

Calvin Stowe and his wife, Harriet Beecher Stowe; an infant, and their son, who was drowned. This sacred spot is marked only by a plain Scotch granite tombstone with an ornamental cross at its top ; but it may be suggested that Harriet Beecher Stowe's greater monument was in her written words, and her achievements as an abolitionist worker and authoress.

Near the edge of this cemetery is to be seen a modest marble tombstone marking the resting place of Samuel Harvey Taylor, bom 1807, died 1871, while teaching his Bible class. He was at the head of Phillips Academy from 1829 to 1871, during which period there were upwards of six thousand pupils under his faithful care. He was among the foremost earlier American educators in his chosen field.

In conclusion, it may be said that here one sees the home of Dr. Smith, author of " America ;" the Abbot house, oldest in Andover, built in 1690; Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward's residence, the old Latin Commons of Phillips Academy, the Elm Arch, Memorial Hall and Public Library, Rabbit's Pond, and the Golf Club grounds.

South Parish of Andover originally embraced the present town of North Andover and all of Lawrence lying south of the Merrimac river. A.S has been shown, the first settlement was effected at what is now the old center of North Andover. Here the house of worship was erected; here the minister resided, as well a» a majority of the voters. In another chapter, an account is traced of the bickerings between the two church and town factions in settling the matter of a church site, which at last was determined by the General Court. The meeting house was built and occupied for the first time in January, 1710 ; £100 were raised to meet the cost of the structure. **Young men and maiden had liberty to build seats round in the galleries on their own charge."

The first minister called was Rev. Samuel Philips, a graduate of Harvard College. October 17, 1711, this church was fully organized, with a charter membership numbering thirty-four, as follows: George Abbot, Dorcas Abbot, John Abbot, Sarah Abbot, Nehemiah Abbot, Abigail Abbot, Rebecca Ballard, Hannah Ballard, Hannah Bigsby, Anne Blanchard, William Chandler, Sarah Chandler, Thomas Chandler, Mary Chandler, Francis Dane, Hannah Dane, Mary Russell, Ralph Farnham, Sarah Farnham, William Foster, Hannah Holt, Elizabeth Johnson, William Johnson, George Johnson, Mary Johnson, Wm. Love joy, Mary Lovejoy, Mary Lovejoy, Christ. Osgood, Sam Philips, Sarah Preston, John Russ, Deborah Russ, Mary Russell and Phoebe Russell.

The earliest deacons were John Abbot and William Lovejoy. The ministry of the beloved pastor continued for almost sixty years, terminating in his eighty-second year. The date of his death was June 5, 1771, and his successor was Rev. Jonathan French.

only larger." This building was opened for public worship in May, 1734. The seating of the house always caused much trouble in New England in those early times. In this case a committee was appK)inted to "dignify seats and pews according to their judgement, having respect for money and age." This plan lasted twenty-three years, after which it was forever abandoned. The reader will doubtless be interested in the following description of this church, written by Hon. Josiah Quincy in a letter to Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe, while he was a student in Phillips Academy:

It was surrounded by horse-blocks innumerable with a disproportionate number of sheds; for the pillion was the ladies' delight, and alone or in pairs, with their husbands or fathers, they seldom fail to come trooping to their devotions. The church itself was a shingled mass, lofty, and, I should think, containing twice the area of its successor. This, however, may be the exaggeration of my boyish fancy, but it had three lofty stories, with three galleries in the interior, always densely filled with apparently pious zeal and earnest listeners. In the left hand gallery sat the ladies, in the right the gentlemen, in the midst of whom and in front sat the tjrthing man, with his white pole three or four cubits in length, the emblem of his dignity and power, and in his right hand a short hazelrod, which, ever and anon, in the midst of the sermon, to the awakening and alarm of the whole congregation, he would, with the whole force of his arm, bring down with a ringing slap on the front of the gallery, shaking it, at the same time with a terrific menace at two or three frightened urchins, who were whispering or playing in a corner. In a square box in front of the pulpit sat the deacons, one of whom had pen, ink and paper, and was carefully taking the heads of the preacher's discourse, preparing documentary evidence, either that the sermon was old, or its doctrines new, or consonant with the orthodox platform. In the front gallery sat Precenter Ames, or Eames, with a pitch-pipe, the token of his authority, with which, as soon as tho first line of the Psalm was read, he gave the note to the choir of both sexes - twenty or thirty of each - following the deacon, reading line by line, in an ecstacy of harmony which none but the lovers of music realized. And a mighty congregation seemed to realize their felicity, for they joined the choir with a will, realizing or exemplifying the happiness of which they sung. Upon the whole, it was an exciting scene, elevating and solemnizing the mind, by the multitude that took part in it.

The windows of the vast building were of diamond-shaped glass panes, of rhomboid form, in length about three or four inches, in breadth about two or three. Opening like doors outward, these windows were loose and shackling. In the winter, when the north wind shook the vast building with unmistakable power, their rattling was a match, and sometimes an over-match, for the voice of the clergyman, while the pious females in the pews, sitting, for the most part, on hard benches, with small muffs, and their feet only comforted with small stoves, or stockings over shoes, or heated bricks, had much ado through their sufferings to keep their attention fixed, or the text in memory, and register the infinitesimal heads into which it was divided.

Returning to the various pastors of this church, it may be stated that Rev. French remained as pastor until called by death in 1809, covering a period of thirty-six years and ten months. During this time was fought the Revolutionary War, with all its attending sorrovv^s and anxiety. After Rev. French's death, the church had no pastor for about three years. A new church was dedicated December 7, 1788. The next pastor was Rev. Justin Edwards, who remained from 1812 to 1816, during which time the West Parish was set off, and then he became its pastor. In 1827 Milton Badger became the pastor, and he served about eight years, when he was dismissed and made secretary of the American Home Missionaiy Society. During his administration as minister here, the Methodists and Baptists first held public worship in the town. The Methodists drew off a few church members and a much larger number of taxpayers. The Baptist church organized in 1832, and that took some strength from the Congregational church. Next came Rev. Lorenzo L. Longstroth, for two years, and he was succeeded by the Rev. John Taylor from 1839 to 1852; next was Rev. George Mooar, 1855 to 1861; Rev. Charles Smith, 1861-77 ; James H. Laird, May, 1877-84; John J. Baird, 1884 to 1893 ; Rev. Frank R. Shipman, 1893 to February 25, 1914, when Rev. E. Victor Bigelow was installed pastor. The present membership of the church is 578, and the Sunday school has an enrollment of 550 pupils and teachers. Eugene M. Weeks is superintendent.

The West Parish Congregational church was organized in 1826, and as incorporated comprised a membership of one hundred and seventy X>ersons. The members were largely farmers. The charter members included nineteen men and thirty-four women. The present membership is one hundred and ninety-four, with a Sunday school of sixty enrolled ; Herbert Merrick is superintendent. A stone church building was constructed in 1826, the same having a wooden spire. With improvements, the same building is in use today. The pastors have included Revs. Samuel Cram Jackson, 1827-50; Charles H. Pierce, 1850-55; James H. Merrill, 1856-79; Austin H. Burr, 1880-85; Frederick Green, 1885, succeeded by Rev. Robert A. McFadden, George 0. Andrews, J. Edgar Park, Dean A. Walker and the present pastor, Rev. Newman Matthews.

The origin of the Free Christian Church is memorable in the history of Andover. Its occasion was the protest of its founders against slavery and intemperance. Their earnest souls rebelled against the indifference and the apologetic attitude prevalent in the community toward these great evils of the times. They favored active efforts to oppose slavery and the use of intoxicating liquors and wanted greater freedom of utterance and action than the existing churches gave.

Meetings held in private houses for the discussion of these subjects led to the organization of a parish on November 24, 1845, and of a church on May 7, 1846. The forty-four Christians who formed the church adopted a simple creed and covenant, and took the name of the Free Christian Church of Andover, - "Free", because they recognized the equal rights of persons of whatever race oi^ color; and "Christian" because of their acceptance of the fundamental teachings of Christ, without sectarian bias. Several of the founders came from the Methodist church, which was then disbanding. More came from the two

Congregational churches, and a few took Christian vows upon themselves for the first time. They excluded from their fellowship "persons who manufacture, sell or use intoxicating drinks as a beverage, slave-holders and apologists for slavery, as not practically honoring Christ." It required strong convictions. Christian courage and self-sacrifice to take a step involving the disapproval of the other churches and such financial and religious responsibilities ; but it was taken prayerfully, deliberately and heartily, and the results justified it. The church took on vigorous life at once, has ever since been a positive force for good, and has a present membership (May 1, 1921) of six hundred and five.

Its first pastors all studied at Oberlin, Ohio, and felt the evangelistic influence of that institution and of Rev. Charles E. Finney. For ten years the church retained its independent relation to other churches, and then came the fellowship with the Congregational churches of the Andover Association, with which it is still connected. It rented an unoccupied Universalist meeting-house of the town until 1850, when through the generosity of one of its members it came into possession of the unused Methodist house of worship. This was removed from Main street to Railroad street near the station, where, beautified and enlarged, it was the home of the new organization for fifty-eight years. Many of the students of the Theological Seminary gave valuable assistance in the Sunday school in the last half of the nineteenth century and enjoyed the hospitality of the near-by parsonage, which was built in 1855.

The increasing needs of the church having made a new location advisable, the entire property was sold to the Boston & Maine railroad company in 1907 and a new location on Elm street, near the town square, was purchased, upon which a new brick meeting-house was dedicated September 19, 1908, well equipped with all modem conveniences for church work. It is of colonial style, to suit the traditions of a town with Andover's history, and its architects were McKim, Mead & White, New York City. At the annual meeting of January 21, 1920, the church voted to become incorporated, and new by-laws and covenant were adopted with the National Council creed of 1913.

Not many years after the establishing of the manufacturing business in Ballard Vale, a desire for church privileges arose. Accordingly, March 18, 1850, a number of residents met and formed the Ballard Vale Union Society for the Support of Public Worship. It was called the Union Society, because its members represented several religious sects.

The services were held in the old schoolhouse. At the first services, Professor Park officiated, and after that theological students from the Seminary conducted the services until September, 1850, when Rev. Henry S. Green began his work here, which continued nearly thirty years and ended only with his removal to his reward above, June 11, 1880.

December 31, 1854, a council convened at the home of Mr. Green and organized the Union Congregational Church. The following were the original members: Henry S. Green, Mary P. A. Green, Matthew Chandler, Dorcas Chandler, Lydia Goldsmith, Ellen Morrison, Mary Holmes, Mary McGinty, Zoa Mann, Mary A. Winning, and Jerusha J. Crane. All but two of these came from the South Church, Andover. In 1876, on account of the inconveniences of meeting in the school house, the present church building was erected. Mr. Green generously donated the lot of land on which the church stands, and at his death bequeathed his residence on Marland street to the church as a parsonage. This was subsequently sold and the present convenient parsonage adjoining Mie church was erected in 1890. The church organ was purchased during the pastorate of Rev. Edwin Smith, chiefly through his energetic efforts.

The church has had ten pastors, the present pastorate being the longest since that of Rev. Green. Three young men have entered the ministry from this church, viz : Rev. Hiram H. Appleman, Rev. Sherman Goodwin, and Rev. Arthur M. Shattuck. Since its organization, 374 persons have been connected with the church. The present membership is 158. The pastors have been in the following order: Revs. Henry S. Green, 1855-80; J. W. Savage, 1881-82; H. S. Harrison, 1883; Samuel Bowker, 1884-88 ; Gardner S. Butler, 1888-91 ; Emel B. Bray, 1891-92 ; J. C. C. Evans, 1893-96; Arthur L. Colder, 1896-98; Edwin Smith, 1899- 1903 ; Augustus H. Fuller, 1904-1921, and still serving as pastor.

Christ Church, Episcopal, of Andover, was organized in 1835, the work being started by twenty-three families which left the Congregational church in Andover. There are now 400 members, communicants. The Sunday school has an attendance of 137, with W. D. Yates as its superintendent. The present edifice was erected in 1886, as was also the Parish house, the two properties being valued now at $150,000. The material is brick and stone, the main edifice being solid stone. The original church burned on the site of the present parish house. This church is a memorial built by John Byers of Andover, in memory of his father and mother, James and Mary Smith Byers.

The Universalist Church was organized in the autumn of 1838, or rather a society was then formed, and a little later a church organization was perfected. From 1846 on, for several years, services were entirely suspended in this church. During twenty-five years there was regular preaching usually. The records show that the object and doctrine of the church and society was "the promotion of truth and morality among its members, and also the world at large, and as the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is calculated above all truth to inspire the heart with the emotions of benevolence and virtue, this society shall deem it one of its main objects to support the preaching of the Gospel according to the Societies ability, and to aid in spreading a knowledge of it among men." Regular ministers were located in this church to the number of seven, during its entire history, and these included Rev. Vamum Lincoln.

St. Augustine Roman Catholic Church of Andover was formed in 1852 by the Augustine Fathers of Lawrence. The first pastor was Rev. Fr. James O'Donnell, and in succession came Revs. Edward Mullen, O. S.A. ; Michael F. Gallagher, O.S.A. ; Ambrose A. McMullen, O.S.A. ; and J. J. Ryan, who came in the fall of 1887. Since that date the congregation has been cared for by various priests.

At present this town has churches as follows : The Congregational ; the South Congregational; the West Congregational; the Baptist, organized, 1832; Christ Episcopal; Free Christian (Congregational), organized in 1846; St. Augustine, Roman Catholic; St. Joseph, Roman Catholic; Union Congregational, organized in 1855, and the Methodist Episcopal.

Before passing, it may be stated that for more than one hundred and twenty-five years there were no other church organizations in the South Precinct of Andover, save the South and West churches mentioned in this chapter. In 1829 the Methodists commenced to hold services in the Bank Hall, and five years later erected a church building. In 1840 the church was dissolved and the edifice was sold to those who formed the 'Tree Church." In 1851, at Ballard Vale, a Methodist meeting house was erected and a large class formed. The Baptists organized in 1832, and two years later erected a church, but in 1857, after fifteen years' hard struggle, the church society disbanded.

Shawsheen Village is a suburb of Andover and is a recently established place of beauty and modem improvements, few in the country being so fully up-to-date in their improvements. It was the outgrowth of the enteiT)rise of the American Woolen Mills Company, which has for years erected and rented or sold to its steady employes suitable residences. Catching the inspiration from this idea, the president of the company, William M. Wood, laid out a new town or village site between Andover and Lawrence, and named it for the stream, Shawsheen Village, which is the outstanding real estate development of the decade, and one of the most unique as well as most beautiful villages in the Commonwealth. Starting with a little cross-road town of a few houses, Mr. Wood has created a model community - homes, stores, postoffice, a model laundry ; even "ye village inn," tennis courts, and a bowling green have been produced. The most interesting fact is that Mr. Woods' vision has materialized successfully, rather than meeting the fate of so many Utopian dreams of community development. Shawsheen Village is contented and prosperous, steadily growing and achieving, providing an ideal location both for employees of the American Woolen Company and to others desiring to make this modem and model community their home. The street car system passes directly through the village.