Melrose City (part 2 of 2)

" FaiDAY, Mat the 19tii 1780." "This day was the mOHt Remarkable day that ever my eyes beheld the air had bin ftiU of Bmoak to an uncommon degree So that wee could scairce Bee a mountain at two miles distance for 3 or 4 days Past till this day after Noon the smoak all went off to the South at sunset a very black bank of a cloud appeared in the south and west the Nex morning cloudey and thundered in the west about ten oclock it began to Rain and grew vere dark and at 12 it was allmost as dark as Nite so that wee was obliged to lite our candels and Eate our dinner by candel lite at NooD day but between 1 and 2 oclock it grew lite again but in the Evening the cloud cairn over us again the moon was about the full it was the darkest Nite that ever was seen by us in the world.'*

" JaH. 13, 1761. " Received of Phinehas Sprague june'r eight Pounds lawful money jt being for my going a Solger to forte Cumberland and I had a promes, not of Six Pounds be fore.

When slavery existed in Massachusetts some of these old families in Melrose were slave-holders, as is witnessed by the following document given to this same Sprague :

" Know all men by these present that I, Thomas Nickels, of Reding, In the County of Middlesex, gentilman for and in Consideration of the sum of thirty three pounds six shillings and Eight pence lawful! money of New England to me in hand paid by piniash Sprague, .hin of Maiden in the same County above s"* Cordwinder whereof I do hereby acknowledge the Receipt and my selfe therewith fuly and entirely satistied have bargened sold set over and Deliverd, and by these present in plain and open markit acording to the due fourm of law in that case mad and provided do bargain set over and Deliver unto the said phinas Spraigue Jon a negro woman namd pidge with ohe negro boy to have and to hold to his proper use and behoofe of him the said phinas Spraigue his heirs, executors administrators and assigns for ever and I Thomas nickles for my self my heirs executors administrators and asigos ganst all in all manner of person I shall warrant and forever Defend by these presents In witness whereof with the Deliver of the bargained persons I have set to my hand and seal the twenty-five Day of april iu the 17 fifty-three year of y RaigD of oure Souerign lord gorg the Second oner grate Britton.

James Barrett first settled in Charlestown in 1635, from whence he went to Maiden, where his son James was born, in 1G44. His son. Deacon Jonathan Barrett, born in 1675, went to Melrose about the year 1705, locating on Barrett Lane (now Porter Street). He died in 1749, bequeathing to his son Joseph a slave named Israel, to serve him for six years. 1»-

*' This Indenture witnesseth that whereaa Deacon Jona. Barrit, late of Maiden, deceased ordered in his last will and Testament y( his Negroman Survent lerial should serve his son, Joseph Barrit faithfujiy for ye space of six years after ye decease of ye above sd Testator, of which time there being Two years Past the ad Negro being desirous of Laming ye Trade and art of a Cooper which his sd master, Joseph Barritt complied with and by these Presents Puts and Binds the abuve sd Negroman a Prentice unto Jacob Barritt of the town of Lancaster in the County of Worcester and Province of Massachusetts Bay in New England Miller and the sd apprentice to serve him and wife from ye Day of ye Date hereof for and during the full term of fore years next during all which time ye sd apprentice his sd master and mistress faithfully shall serve, there secrets keep, there lawful commands gladly everywhere obey. He shall do no damage to his sd master nor his mistress nor see it to be done by others without Letting or giving notice thereof to his sd master or mistress Goods or Lend them unlawfully to any one, he shall not Commit Fornication nor contract matrimony within ed term. At Cards or Dice or any other unlawful Game he shall nut play, whereby his said master or mistress may be damaged, with his own Goods nor the goods of othei-s he shall not absent himself Day or Night from his masters or mistress services without their Leave nor haunt ale-houses taverns or play houses. But in all things behave himself as a faithful Apprentice ought to do during said term. And the sd master and mistress shall use ye utmost of their Endeavors to teach and in struct the said apprentice in the trade and mystery of a Cooper and procure and provide for him sufficient meat drink apparel waahing and loging fitting for an apprentice during ye sd term and at the expiration of ye sd Term return ye sd Apprentice as well clothed as at present to ye above sd master Joseph or his heirs who shall by these presents he obliged to receive the sd apprentice and clear the sd Jacob Barrit and his Heirs from all charges yt may arise after his time is out with him and for the true performance of every part of the sd covenants and agreements, either of ye Parties Bind themselves to the other by these presents in witness whereof ^they have Interchangeably put their hands and seals this seventh Day of September Anno Domini one Thousand seven Hundred and fifty-one and in the Twenty fifth year of his Majesties Reign.

" Cambridoe, Aug*. 17, 17S1. " Reed of M'. Joseph Barrett the sum of Twelve Pounds Solid Coine in full for all Accorapta, Debts Dues and Demands Against M'. Joseph Lyonds or M'. Joseph Barretts Class for Procuring a man for three years' service in the Army.

Captain Jonathan, son of the above Joseph, was the first to begin the manufacture of shoes in Melrose, an industry still carried on by a grandson Jonathan Barrett. There are numerous Barretts now living in Melrose, among them Artemas, son of Captain Jonathan, from whom the foregoing documents were obtained, and who owns many others of like interest.

Lieutenant Phineas Upham, of Maiden, was the son of John Upham, who came to this country and was admitted freeman in 1635, and settled in Maiden about the year 1650. Lieut. Upham was an active officer in "King Philip's War," conducting many scouting-partics, and was mortally wounded at the battle of ** Narragansett Fort," December 19, 1675.

a few days before the fight, and which they sent " To the Hon. Governor and Council now Sitting at Boston," in which they made a request for company quartermasters, horses, trumpeters, etc.

From this Lieut. Upham descended all the Maiden and Melrose Uphams ; his grandson, Phineas, settled on Upham Hill, not far from the year 1700, where some of the old homesteads still remain, on one of which, that of George Upham, is still seen the old-fashioned well-sweep with its " iron-bound bucket."

Other interesting details concerning these and a number of the other early families may be found in the "Historical Address, delivered in Melrose, Massachusetts, July 4, 1876," in accordance with Congressional act and Presidential proclamation, known as " The Centennial Fourth."

KOADS. - The first road, and only one for many years which passed through Melrose, was laid out by order of the General Court, at a session held September 10, 1653, when

" Thomas MarshaU. John Smyth & John Sprague being chosen to lay out the country high way betweene Eeddiuge & Winnesenicft do lay it out as follows from Redding towne. through Maldon bounds, betwixt the pond & John Smyths land, k so by the east sidft of M'. Joseph Hills land, to New Hockley Hole, & so in the old way by the Cow Pen, A: thence aloug on the east side of Thomas Coitmore's lott, by Ele Pond, in the old way to Thomas Lynds laud, then through the first field, and so by the field by his howse, from thence, on the old way, by Slaldon meeting bowse, through the stony Bwampe, Ac. . . . the sd way to be fower poles broade, in good ground, & six or eight where need requires."

" The old way," so often referred to in this order, means the old crooked Indian or bridle-path or trail, in use before this date, winding hither and thither, going around this hill, shunning that swamp or bog, and over which the early traveler wended his way between Reading and Chelsea. Portions of this old original road are still traceable within the bounds of Melrose, and the rocks in the wheel-ruts show the abrasion of the old-time usage very distinctly.

On a plan of Maiden, surveyed by Peter Tafts, Jr., of Medford, in 179r), the only roads laid down in what was then North Maiden are, this main road, called the " Reading Road," and a " Stoneham Road," now Wyoming Avenue, which leaves this near where Masonic Hall now stands. About this time " Upham Lane," now " Upham Street," was built through to Chelsea line, a portion of which town, at that time, extended up to Reading, between Maiden and Saugus ; and what is now Howard Street had been built through to Saugus, making a continuous county road from Stoneham to Lynn. Main Street, as now existing, was laid out in 1806. For many years these were the only roads or streets iu Melrose, which now has forty miles of streets within its borders.

Chapter Xvi Ecclesiastical And Educational History

The first organized religious society in Melrose (then North Maiden) was the Methodist Episcopal Church. In the spring of 1813 a committee, consisting of Phineas Sprague, James Green and Jesse Upham, requested the Kev. Timothy Merritt - then a member of the Legislature from Maine - to preach in the little old school-house, which was situated on the corner of the old road, now Lebanon Street, and Upham Lane, now Upham Street. A political sermon had been delivered in the Orthodox Church at Maiden Centre, which caused great dissatisfaction among the residents of North Maiden ; and the call to Mr. Merritt was the result of an indignation meeting held in one of their barns. After a few Sabbaths Mr. Merritt was succeeded by Rev. Thomas Pierce, who was to receive $2.00 a Sunday.

In September following, Rev. Ephraim Wiley was engaged to preach, and some time during the next year a house was hired of Cotton Sprague, which stood on the site now occupied by the residence of the late Liberty Bigelow. In consequence of their continued success, a society was formed in 1815 ; and in 1818 a meeting-house, thirty feet long by thirtytwo wide, was built at the junction of Main and Green Streets. Rev. Orlando Hinds was pastor at this time. He was followed by Rev. Isaac Jennisou, and in 1820 the Rev. Ephraim Wiley again became pastor, being sent this time by the Methodist Conference. Next in succession came Revs. Leonard Frost, John Adams and Samuel Norris. Then came a period when the pulpit was supplied by local preachers, about which time some dissatisfied members withdrew and formed the Protestant Methodist Church, hereafter referred to.

The Methodists continued to occupy their meetinghouse until 1842, when it was enlarged, improved and re-dedicated November 30th of that year. This house was occupied until 1858, when it was sold, moved to Main Street in the centre of the town, changed into Concert Hall, and was burned November 30, 1875, with Boardman's piock, justthirty-tjiree years from the day it was dedicated.

Their present church edifice on Main Street, was dedicated April 1, 1858, and up to this time the following ministers had been settled over the society : Revs. G. W. Fairbanks, Le Roy Sunderland, Ezra Sprague, R. D. Estabrook, Mudge, Otheman, Newhall,°R. Wallace, D. Richards, H. M. Bridge, Nathaniel Bemis, John C. Ingalls, F. Griswold, John Merrill, Mark Staples, W. H. Hatch, Shepard, W. C. High, J. W. Perkins, N. D. George and J. A. Adams.

The first pastor settled in the new meeting-house Wiis Rev. H. V. Degen. He was followed by Revs. A. D. Merrill, John L. Hanaford, George Prentice - 14-iii now professor in Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn., - Henry Baker, Frank K. Stratton, M. E. Wright, A. W. Mills, S. B. Sweetzer, Isaac H. Packard, Dr. William Butler, John D. Pickles and Samuel Jackson, who is the present pastor, with a church membership of 324.

About the year 1828 some members of the Methodist Episcopal Church became dissatisfied with some portions of its church government, and withdrew therefrom. They organized as the Protestant Methodist Church, purchased the old district school-house and moved it to the corner of Main and Upham Streets, near where now stands the First Baptist Church.

This was replaced a few years later by a larger building, and the original school-house church moved to Foster Street, on the corner of Myrtle, where it was altered into a tenement-house, and burned at the time the Orthodox Congregational Church was destroyed, February 19, 1869.

For several years the Protestant Methodist Church prospered. Meanwhile, many Baptists had become residents of the town, and, on January 1, 1850, by mutual agreement, the Protestant Methodist Society was merged into the First Baptist Church, then formed, and which took possession of all the church property. Many of the Protestant Methodists remained and joined the Baptist Church. This new organization immediately called and settled the Rev. Thorndike C. .Tameson as pastor. He remained until November 2, 1858, when he went to Providence, R. I., and was afterwards chaplain in the Second Rhode Island Volunteers during the Great Rebellion.

Rev. James Cooper succeeded Mr. Jameson, and remained until January 30, 1862, when he resigned to accept a pastorate in Philadelphia, Pa. In December, 1862, Rev. Lewis Colby became pastor, who officiated until July 23, 1864. In September following Rev. William S. Barnes was ordained. He remained until June 15, 1868, when, having changed his theological views, he resigned and entered the Unitarian denomination, receiving at once a call from the newly-organized Unitarian Society of this town. He afterwards went to Woburn, and is now in Montreal, Canada. Rev. James J. Peck was pastor from August, 1869, until April 1, 1871. September 15th of that year the Rev. Almond Barrelle became pastor, and he remained until April 1, 1875. During his pastorate the old church edifice was sold to the Catholics, and a handsome brick chapel built on its site, which was dedicated November 17, 1874. A year later the Rev. Napoleon B. Thompson was installed, who remained until November 1, 1876. Rev. Robert F. Tolman was ordained pastor June 27, 1878, and remained until April 1, 1886, The present pastor, Rev. George A. Cleaveland, was installed October 21, 1886. The number of church members is 349, and the Sabbath-school has a membership of 3.57.

The Orthodox Congregational Church was organized July 11, 1848. Services had been held previous to this in the parlors of Dr. Levi Gould and Deacon Jonathan Cochran ; and the first minister. Rev. Stillman Pratt, began to preach as early as April 25th of th.at year, in Deacon Cochran's house, on Grove Street. The first house of worship, costing $3500, was erected on Foster Street, and dedicated May 17, 1849. This was built largely through the efforts and solicitation.? of Deacon Cochran and Dr. Gould, both of whom worked upon its foundation with pick and shovel. Deacon Cochran died'January 6, 1885, nearly ninety-four years of age. Their church edifice was remodeled, enlarged and re-dedicated January 5, 1859, at a cost of $10,000, and was burned February 17, 1869. The present building, costing $42,000 was dedicated October 26, 1870. Mr. Pratt resigned his pastorate in April, 1851, and was succeeded, January 15, 1852, by Rev. I. H. Nortbrup. He resigned the following March, and J.anuary 12, 1854, the Rev. Alexander J. Sessions was installed. He held the pastorate until July, 1858, and was followed by Rev. Edward H. Buck, who was installed in September, 1859. He died January 31, 1861. Rev. Henry A. Stevens was ordained September 12, 1861, and remained until May, 1868. The present pastor. Rev. Albert G. Bale, was ordained December 3, 1868. On the 2d of December, 1888, Mr. Bale preached an historical sermon, itbeing the twentieth anniversary of his settlement, and the fortieth of the church. In 1883 a parsonage costing $6000 was built on the old church lot, which joined the land purchased for the present edifice.

The Sabbath-school was established before the first church was built, and, by the kindness of the Boston and Maine Railroad Company, met in the old passenger depot at the centre station, where the church services were also held for a considerable time. The present membership of the church is 385; and of the Sabbath-school, 472.

The First Universalkt Society of Melrose was organized February 10, 1849. Previous to this there had been occasional preaching by Universalist ministers, first in the little school-house at the corner of Lebanon and Upham Streets, then in the school-house on Upham Street, where now stands the grammar school-house, and which was built in 1829. The first settled pastor Rev. Josiah W. Talbot was installed March 18, 1849. Under his untiring energy and perseverance a chun^h building was erected and dedicated January 1, 1852, with a sermon by Rev. A. A. Miner, D.D. Mr. Talbot resigned the pastorate November 13, 1853, and was succeeded by Rev. Mr. Cooledge, who remained until 1856, when Rev. J. S. Dennis was installed as his successor, April

1, 1856; Mr. Dennis resigned in 1858, and in November of that year Rev. B. F. Bowles was installed. He remained only until the end of 1859. Rev. George H. Deere commenced his labors September, 1860, continuing until 1862, when he was succeeded by Rev. George W. Quimby, who remained until 1864. Rev. Selden Gilbert was settled in 1865, remaining one year. From 1866 until 1869, Rev. B. H. Davis was the pastor, being succeeded by Rev. John N. Emery September 1, 1869. In 1872 Mr. Emery resigned and was succeeded by Rev. J. E. Bruce, who remained until 1875. March 6, 1876, Rev. William A. Start was installed, and he resigned in December, 1877. Rev. Charles A. Skinner was settled as pastor September, 1878, who resigned May 1, 1881. He was succeeded by Rev. Richard Eddy, D.D., who was installed in September, 1881. He remained until September 1, 1889, when he resigned. On November 14, 1889, Rev. Julian S. Cutler, the present pastor, was installed. During the latter part of Dr. Eddy's pastorate it was decided to build a new church. The old one was sold, moved to another part of Essex Street and converted into our present Franklin Hall. The new church edifice was dedicated March 24, 1889; sermon by Dr. Eddy and the address to the people by Rev. A. A. Miner, who preached the dedicatory sermon for the old church January 1, 1852. Present membership of the church 62, of the Sabbath-school 167.

The Trinity Episcopal Church was formed in 1856. Beginning April 13th, five services were held in the parlor of Mrs. Theresa Rice, on Lake Avenue, after which they were held in Lyceum Hall, Main Street. The first rector was Rev. William H. Munroe, who organized the Sunday-school and remained until 1862, when he resigned. He is now the rector of Christ Church, Boston, During his pastorate a church edifice was erected on Emerson Street, which was consecrated March 25, 1860, by the Rt. Rev. Manton Eastburn, Bishop of Massachusetts. Mr. Munroe's successor was Rev. John B. Richmond, who remained until July 1868. Rev. Robert Ritchie succeeded and remained one year. Rev. Charles Wingate was chosen rector June 13, 1870, resigning in 1876. During a year's absence of Mr. Wingate in Europe, Rev. Samuel P. Parker had charge of the parish. April 27, 1876, Rev. Henry A. Metcalf was chosen rector, remaining until 1880, when he Avas succeeded by Rev. Charles L. Short, holding his first services December 21,1880. He was pastor until May, 1888. June 21, 1887, a new stone church was consecrated It was built by the Tyer family as a memorial to Henry George, Elizabeth, and Catharine Louise Tyer. Its cost was $28,467.40. Under one of the trusses on the south side is placed a carved stone from the ruins ot Melrose Abbey, Scotland, obtained through the efforts of the late William L. Williams.

Unitarian Church. - The first permanent movement for the establishment of a Unitarian Church was made in 1866, when services were begun in Concert Hall, on Main Street, by Kev. W. P. Tilden, under the auspices of the American Unitarian Association. Soon after the Unitarian Congregational Society of Melrose was organized, in July, 1867. It continued to hold services in Concert Hall for several years ; having for pastors, beside Mr. Tilden, Revs. John D. Wells, John A. Buckingham, William Silsbee and William S. Barnes, who left the Baptist denomination and was settled over this church for a few mouths, resigning in January, 1869. July 7, 1869, Rev. A. S. Nickerson was installed as pastor and resigned in April, 1870. At this time, while without a settled minister, a new church was built on the corner of Emerson and Myrtle Streets, and dedicated May 1, 1872. Services had been continued meanwhile by the friendly oflices of a number of pastors. The first minister to be settled in the new church was Rev. Daniel M. Wilson, who was installed November 15, 1872. He resigned March 1, 1876, and is now settled at Quincy, Mass. From September 1, 1878, to September 1, 1881, Rev. Nathaniel Seaver, Jr., was the pastor. Rev. Henry Wescott was settled over this parish in conjunction with the newly-formed one in Maiden, November 1, 1881. He died July 17, 188.3, much lamented. A handsome memorial volume was published soon after his death, containing a number of his sermons and a memoir by John O. Norris. The Rev. John H. Heywood, forty years pastor at Louisville, Ky., was installed September 7, 1884, remaining until September

Roman Catholics. - Until 1873 the Catholics of Melrose were included in the parish of Maiden and Medford, when it was set apart as a separate parish under the care of Rev. W. H. Fitzpatrick. The church edifice of the First Baptist Society was purchased and removed to Dell Avenue and used in October of the same year. Previous to this, May 1, 1870, a Sunday-school had been organized and had held its services in Freemason's Hall ; and a Catholic service, or Mass. had been Ueld on Grove Street, December 25, 1854. Mr. Fitzpatrick was succeede'd a few years after the organization by the present incumbent, Rev. Dennis J. O'Farrell.

The Highlands Congregational Church was organized September 29, 1875, with Rev. D. A. Morehouse as its pastor. Preaching services had been held quite regularly for several years previous to this, in the chapel corner of Franklin and Tremont Streets, the gift of Deacon George W. Chipman. Here the Highland Union Sunday School also held regular sessions for many years. November 19, 1876, the present pastor, Rev. John G. Taylor, began his pastorate. The same year a movement was begun to build a church. The edifice, situated on Franklin Street, was finished and occupied September 29, 1880. An additional chapel was built in 1885, and the total cost of the building has been $12,500. In 1883 Mr. Taylor went abroad for fourteen months, and during his absence the Rev. Henry Bates officiated as pastor. Present number of members of the church, 130 ; of the Sunday-school, 259.

Soon after the establishment of the Boston Rubber Shoe Company's works, at the Fells village, in 1882, the First Baptist Church organized a Sunday-school, and began to hold religious services. On the 25th of January, 1889, the Fells Baptist Church was organized with 26 members. The pastor is Rev. William H. Hacket, who had officiated for some time previous to the organization of the church. The present membership is 71 ; and that of the Sunday-school, 133. Both church and Sunday-school meet in a hall at the corner of Main Street and (ioodyear Avenue, the property of the Boston Rubber Shoe Company, free of all charge. The hall was built soon after the works were established, and has always been placed at the disposal of this religious movement ; and in it was kept the Converse School previous to the building of the new school-house on Washington Street for the Fells District.

All of these churches have their auxiliary societies, some thirty in number ; among them, Social Circles, Missionary Societies both foreign and home, Young People's Society fcf Christian Endeavor and the Epworth League.

Initiatory measures have been taken with a view of establishing a Young Men's Chri-stian Association ; there was one formed in 1858, but it was not of long duration.

Schools. - The only school in Melrose for many years was held in the plain, unpainted district schoolhouse, which was sold to the Protestant Methodist Society in 1828. It was built in 1800, was twenty by twenty-five feet in size and was situated on a knoll on the old road, now Lebanon Street, about a dozen rods south of "Upham Lane," now Upham Street. In this old school-house Robert Gerry, who died in Stoneham, April 1, 1873, in his ninetieth year, taught school during the winter season for twenty-four years in succession, beginning in 1803. After this house was sold, a new one was built on Upham Street, in 1828, by the schoolmaster, Mr. Gerry, for the town of Maiden. This was burned about the year 1845; and the one built on its site was the only school-house Melrose had when it was incorporated ; in it was kept a primary, intermediate and grammar school. This house was burned in April, 1874, and succeeded by the present structure, the " Centre Grammar School." The High School building on Emerson Street was erected in 18(j9. Melrose now has eleven schoolhouses, with thirty-two teachers. The amount of money appropriated for schools for the year 1890 was $28,700. The amount of the "Town Grant" for schools in 1851 was $1200 ; and there was received from the State School Fund $55.90, making a total of $1255.90 expended for school purposes.

Besides contributing articles to a number of the magazines, he has written the articles, " Florida," " Georgia" and "Sebastian Cabot," for the " Cyclopsedia Britannica."

Rev. Richard Eddy, D.D., was born in Providence, R. I., June 21, 1828. For several years he was a pastor of the Universalist Church. Many of his sermons have been printed. His larger works are : " History of the Sixtieth Regiment, New York Slate Volunteers," of which be was chaplain ; " Universalism in America," " Alcohol in History " and " Alcohol in Society." He has been editor of different new.spapers and is now editor of the Universalist Quarterly and General Review.

Hon. Daniel Wheelwright Gooch was born in Wells, Maine, January 8, 1820. Graduated at Dartmouth College in 1843, and admitted to the Suffolk Bar in 1846. Came to Melrose (ihen North Maiden) in 1848. Elected representative to the General Court in 1852, and a member of the Constitutional Convention in 1853. He was an adherent of the Free-Soil party until the formation of the Republican party, with which be has ever since acted. He has several times been elected a Representative to Cougress ; was a member of the Thirty-fifth, Thirty-sixth, Thirty- seventh and Thirty-eighth Congresses, in the latter serving as a member of the Congressional Committee on the Conduct of the War, and was chairman on the part of the House; its four years of investigations were printed in several volumes. Having been elected to the Thirtyninth Congress, he resigned, September 1, 1865, to accept from President Johnson the appointment of naval officer for the port of Boston, which position he held for a year. In 1868 he was elected a delegate to the Chicago Convention. In the Fortythird Congress he again served as Representative for the Fifth Massachusetts District. From 1875 to 1886 he was pension agent at Boston, after which he resumed the practice of the law. A number of his legal arguments have been printed, notably those in the " Hoosac Tunnel," " Troy & Greenfield Railroad " and " Joseph M. Day, Judge of Probate," cases. Many of his Congressional speeches were printed in pamphlet form ; among them were " The Lecompton Constitution and the Admission of Kansas into the Union," " Polygamy in Utah," " The Supreme Court and Dred Scott," " Organization of the Territories," " Any Compromise a Surrender," " Recognition of Hayti and Liberia" and "Secession and Reconstruction."

Frederick Kidder was born in New Ipswich, N. H., April 16,1804, and died at Melrose December 19, 1885, in his eighty-second year. Went to Boston in 1822, and with his brother was several years in business in Wilmington, N. C.

In 1845 Messrs. Benjamin F. and Charles Copeland, together with Mr. Kidder, bought of the Barings, of London, a tract of land on the Schoodic Lakes, in

Eastern Maine, containing over a hundred thousand acres, being more than thirty miles in extent. This proved to be a very profitable investment, and would have been much more so had they continued to hold the land for a while longer than they did. He was one of the trustees of the Public Library from 1870 to 1882, most of the time chairman.

His first literary work was a history of his native town, New Ipswich, N. H., which was issued in 1852. In that early day of town histories, this was one of the most complete and thorough works that had appeared. His other volumes are: "The Expedition of Captain Lovewell, and his Encounters with the Indians," "' Military Operations in Eastern Maine and Nova Scotia during the Revolution," " History of the First New Hampshire Regiment in the War of the Revolution," and " History of the Boston Massacre, March 5, 1770." His magazine articles reprinted in pamphlet were : " The Adventures of Captain Lovewell," " The Abenaki Indians," " The Swedes on the Delaware," and " The Discovery of North America by John Cabot. A First Chapter in the History of North America."

Robert Fowler Leighton, born in Durham, Maine, January 23, 1838, was for several years principal of the High School of Melrose, during which time he wrote several educational works : " Greek Lessons," " Latin Lessons," and " Harvard Examination Papers." Since then he has given his attention to historical works, and has written a " History of Rome," " History of Greece," " Cicero's Select Letters," and " Historia Critica M. T. Ciceronis Epistularum ad Familiares ; " this was published in Latin, in Leipsic, Germany.

Mary Ashton Livermoee was born in Boston, December 19, 1821 ; was a teacher in Charlestown and Duxbury, Mass. In 1857 her husband, Daniel P., established the New Covenant, a Universalist journal of which she became associate editor for twelve years, during which time she frequently contributed to periodicals of her denomination and edited the Lily. When the Rebellion broke out she became connected with the United States Sanitary Commission, headquarters at Chicago, performing a vast amount of labor of all kinds - organizing auxiliary societies, visiting hospitals and military posts, contributing to the press, answering correspondence, and the thousand and one things incident to the wonderful work done by that institution. She was one that helped organize the great fair in 1863, at Chicago, when nearly $100,000 was raised, and for which she obtained the original draft of the Emancipation Proclamation from President Lincoln, which was sold for $3000. As she says in her extremely interesting volume " My Story of the War": "Here were packed and shipped to the hospitals or battle-field 77,660 packages of sanitary supplies, whose cash value was $1,056,192.16. Here were written and mailed letters by the ten thousand, circulars by the hundred thou- sand, monthly bulletins and reports. Here were planned visits to the aid societies, trips to the army, methods of raising money and supplies, systems of relief for soldiers' families and white refugees, Homes and Rests for destitute and enfeebled soldiers, and the details of mammoth sanitary fairs."

When the war was over she instituted a paper called the Agitator, which was afterwards merged in the Woman's Journal. Of this she was editor for two years and has been a frequent contributor to it since. On the lecture platform she has had a remarkable career, speaking mostly in behalf of the woman suffrage and the temperance movements. A few years ago she was " one of the four lecturers that were most in demand and that commanded the largest fees, the other three being men." Many years she has traveled 25,000 miles annually, speaking five nights each week for five months of the year.

Her printed volumes are : " Thirty Years Too Late," first published in 1847 as a prize temperance tale, and republished in 1878 ; " " Pen Pictures ; or. Sketches from Domestic Life ; " " What Shall We Do with Our Daughters ? Superfluous Women, and Other Lectures;" and "My Story of the War. A Woman's Narrative of Four Years' Personal Experience as Nurse in the Union Army, and in Relief Work at Home, in Hospitals, Camps and at the Front during the War of the Rebellion." Of this work one has well said : " Should every other book on the war be blotted out of existence, this one would completely reflect the spirit and work of the Women of the North."

For " Women of the Day " she wrote the sketch of the sculptress, Miss Anne Whitney ; and for the " Centennial Celebration of the First Settlement of the Northwestern States, at Marietta, Ohio, July 15, 1788," she delivered the historical addresss.

Rev. Daniel Parker Liveemore, born in Leicester, Mass., June 17, 1818, Universalist minister, besides editing the New Covenant for a dozen years and contributing to newspapers and magazines, has published several pamphlets of a denominational character, and a half-dozen on the subject of " Woman Suflrage," in favor of which he strongly argues.

Thomas D. Lockwood, born in England, December 20, 1848, is an eminent electrician, an acknowledged authority in all matters pertaining to electrical telephony. He is electrician in charge of all matters connected with patents, and the collection and collation of electrical information for the American Bell Telephone Company. Besides very many articles contributed to the electrical press, he has had published three volumes : " Electricity, Magnetism and Electric Telegraphy," " Electrical Measurement and the Galvanometer," and " Practical Information for Telephonists."

Gilbert Nash was born in Weymouth, Mass., April 22, 1825, and died there April 13, 1888. He lived many years in Melrose. He wrote a history of

William Frederick Poole, A.M., LL.D., the eminent librarian and bibliophile, was born in Salem, Massachusetts, December 21, 1821. While in Yale College he became assistant librarian, which was the beginning of a life-long profession. He has been the librarian of the Mercantile Library Association of Boston, the Boston Athseneum, the Public Library of Cincinnati, the Public Library of Chicago, and is now in the Newberry Library of Chicago, founded by the munificence of the millionaire, Walter L. Newberry. For many years he lived in Melrose during which time his pen was ever busy. During the controversy between the Webster and Worcester Dictionaries, in 1855-56, he published three pamphlets championing Webster as being the best authority. He has issued several pamphlets connected with " Cotton Mather and Salem Witchcraft," and wrote the chapter on " Witchcraft in Boston," for the" Memorial History of Boston," issued in 1880 ; and for Justin Winsor's " Narrative and Critical History of America," vol. 6, he wrote the chapter entitled " The West, From the Treaty of Peace with France, 1763, to the Treaty of Peace with England, 1783." In the discussion concerning the historical claims of " The Popham Colony," he wrote many articles and issued one pamphlet. In 1867, a new edition of Edward Johnson's "Wonder-working Providence of Zion's Saviour in New England,'' was published for which he wrote an introduction and numerous notes. In 1874-75, in Chicago he edited a monthly literary paper called The Owl, which was succeeded by ITie Dial, to which he has been a constant contributor, chiefly in historical criticism, in which he has few equals. " In this department his work has always been in the nature of a plea for judicial fairness and candor in historical writing, and his pen has constantly been on the alert to discover and expose the pet fallacies of the villifiers of the fathers of New England, and of all those with whom the demands of rhetoric seem louder than those of truth." His best, known work is '" Poole's Index to Periodical Literature," which was first issued in 1848, as "Index to Subjects in the Reviews, and other Periodicals to which ho Indexes have been published," enlarged as "An Index to Periodical Literature," in 1853, and again enlarged and issued in 1882. To this a supplement is to be published every five years. This " is a work of the times, for the times; the vast and hitherto pathless continents of periodical literature are surveyed, systematized, and made accessible." Dr. Poole has been president of the " American Historical Association," and of the " American Library Association."

One of the most prominent and best-known citizens was Hon. Samuel Edmund Sewall, who was born in Boston November 9, 1799, and died, in Boston De- cember 20, 1888. He graduated from Harvard College in 1817. He came to North Maiden in 1846, when it had but two or three hundred inhabitants. He was elected State Senator from Stoneham in 1852, as his house was just over the line from Melrose ; but this territory was detached from Stoneham and joined to Melrose in 1853. He was identified with the antislavery movement from its beginnings, being one of the few who joined William Lloyd Garrison when he came to Boston in 1830. He was an active member of the Massachusetts Anti-slavery Society and the National Anti-slavery Society. Upon the organization of the Liberty party he was for two years its candidate for Governor. He acted with that and the Free-Soil party until they were merged in the Republican party. He was ever foremost in advocating the passage of laws for the benefit of women, and while in the Senate he drafted a bill which became a law, giving married women the right to hold property. His only printed work is a pamphlet entitled "Legal Condition of Women in Massachusetts," which was first issued in 1868 ; then revised in 1870, again in 1875 and again in 1886. Many years ago he was editor for two years of the American Jurist and Laiv Magazine (a quarterly). He also edited, in connection with Willard Phillips, two editions of Sir John Bayley's Summary of the Law of Bills of Exchange, Cash Bills and Promissory Notes.

Melrose has two weekly newspapers: The Melrose Journal and The Melrose Reporter. The former established in 1870, the latter in 1887. In 1856, a small monthly paper, called the Melrose Advertiser, was published by Me-srs. Severy k Co., for about a year when it was merged in a Maiden paper.

" The Melrose Memorial, The Annals of Melrose, County of Middlesex, Massachusetts, in the Great Eebellion of 1861-65, By Elbridge H. Goss, Privately Printed by Subscription 1868."

" The Centennial Fourth. Historical Address Delivered in Town Hall, Melrose, Mass., July 4, 1876, by Elbridge H. Goss. Also, The Proceedings of the Day. Privately Printed, Melrose, 1876."

" History of Melrose, by Elbridge H. Goss," for the "History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts," Edited by Samuel Adams Drake, who wrote for it the " General History of the County," 1880.

Various communications to the " Maiden Messenger" during 1868, and since then to our local papers, containing copies of original documents and "Historical Notes" by Artemas Barrett.

" The Origin and Present Condition of Free-Masonry in Melrose. Prepared by direction of the Waverly Masonic Association, for the purpose of being deposited in the Corner-Stone of their new edifice,

In 1832, the Rev. S. Osgood Wright preached " An Historical Discourse," at Maiden on Thanksgiving Day, which contained " A Sketch of the History of that Town from the Settlement to the Present Time," in which two or three pages are devoted to " that part of the town, called the North End."

Spot Pond Water. - Nestled amid the higher lands of Stoneham and Medford lies Spot Pond; .so named by good old Governor Winthrop, in February, 1632, when he, with others, traversed its surface on an exploring expedition, because " the pond had divers small rocks standing up here and there in it." Originally, it was much smaller than now, but was largely increased by the building of a dam by the Sprague family, which had possession of it for over a hundred years, many of which were spent in litigation in maintaining these rights. "Still this old hero, Timothy Sprague, at great cost and sacrifice of time, always came off victorious. He was greatly annoyed and harassed through his life, which was frequently in danger. But for this unflinching old veteran the dam would long ago have been removed, and the pond have been worthless for the purposes for which it is now used. To the several towns now enjoying this luxury he proved to be a great benefactor; for, in fighting these battles for himself he was laboring to bless future generations, and is deserving of their gratitude." '

The high-water mark of the pond is one hundred and forty-three feet above marsh level, and its area, when full, is two hundred and ninety-six acres. The purity of its water having been proven by analyzation caused Boston to cast wistful eyes toward it, previous to the introduction of Cochituate water in 1848.

Not until 1867 was any action taken to secure this natural reservoir of water to the inhabitants of the surrounding towns. In that year an act was passed by the Legislature incorporating the "Spot Pond Water Company for the purpose of supplying the inhabitants of said Melrose, Maiden and Medford with pure water." More than two years passed away before any action was taken by either of these three towns toward purchasing the franchise of this company - according to one of the provisions in this act - - and then almost simultaneous action was taken. At a town-meeting held September 24, 1869, Melrose voted to join with Maiden and Medford, and purchased the franchise, and elected the following gentlemen to act as Water Commissioners : Wingate P. Sargent, Jeremiah Martin, Dexter Bryant, Elbridge Green and Joel Snow. A contract to build the waterworks was made with Mr. George H. Norman, and on the 25th of August, 1870, the town was supplied with water ; and from that day to this our citizens have been blessed with an abundance of water for domestic and manufacturing purposes. The first cost of the water-works was $100,000. Since then the pipes and hydrants have been extended through many additional street^ a new reservoir and pumping station for the high-service system introduced in 1886, at a cost of about $39,000, which makes a total net cost of the water-works, January 1, 1890, of $268,- 785.77. $100,000 worth of the water bonds first issued, mature July 1, 1890. The Water Loan Sinking Fund Commissioners will then have in hand $50,000. The total length of main and distributing pipes is now nearly forty miles, and there are over seventeen hundred water-takers.

Melrose Public Libeaey. - At a town-meeting, held in Concert Hall, March 27, 1871, the following vote was passed : That the money now in the treasury, refunded to the town by the county treasurer, pursuant to Chapter 250 of the acts of the Legislature in 1869, and all that shall hereafter accrue to the town under said act, be appropriated for a " Public Library and Reading Room." This is what is known as the " dog-tax." Three trustees were also chosen, viz. : Messrs. Frederic Kidder, E. H. Goss and Charles C. Barry. The library was opened November 1st, with 1400 volumes. It was first located in the Waverly Block, near the centre depot, but was removed to its present location in town-hall building, upon its completion, in 1874. A reading room was opened in connection with the library, December 16, 1885. A small annual appropriation, together with the dogtax, has maintained the institution, and January 1, 1890, there were 8195 volumes and 1148 pamphlets in the library, besides a large number of Congressional Records and United States Government volumes, donated by Hon. D. W. Gooch, not yet catalogued. Number of persons using the library January 1, 1890, 3454. Whole number fif volumes issued during the past year, 33,052. Number of persons using the reading-ioom during the same time, 11,701. Present trustees, Elbridge H. Goss, Cliarles C. Barry, Ruby F. Farwell, Mary L. Charles and Charles A. Patch.

Town Hall. - A handsome brick Town-bouse was erected at a cost of $65,000, and dedicated June 17, 1874, with an address by George F. Stone, Esq., now secretary of the Chicago Board of Trade. The tower clock was the gift of Hon. Daniel Ru.ssell. Besides the hall and the town officers' rooms, the building accommodates the Public Library and Reading Room, and the Savings Bank.

Melrose Savings Bank. - The Melrose Savings Bank was incorporated in 1872, but did not organize until the fall of 1874. The total amount of deposits Oct. 1, 1890, was $383,304.08, with 2218 depositors. Whole number of accounts opened since the bank was established, 4285. Its banking-room is in the townhall. Its present officers are : Daniel Russell, president; W. Irving Ellis, vice-president; John Larrabee, clerk; Elbridge H. Goss, treasurer; Daniel

Cemeteries. - There are three cemeteries in Melrose. The old village cemetery in the centre of the town, on Main street, the Jewish Cemetery on Linwood Avenue, and the Wyoming Cemetery at the south part of the town, which was purchased and dedicated to burial purposes in 1856. This is a beautiful resting-place for the dead, charmingly diversified in scenery, environed with hills, and secluded from residences. It had originally twenty-one acres, but in 1887 it was enlarged by the purchaseof the adjoining Pratt farm, consisting of twenty-five acres, at a cost of $10,000.

Rubber Works. - In 1882 the Hon. Elisha S. Converse purchased what was known as the Joseph Lynde farm, at the southern part of the town, and built thereon the Rubber Works for the Boston Rubber Shoe Company, known as factory No. 2 - the works at Edgeworth being No. 1. The Melrose Factory averages to employ 1200 hands, and has a capacity for employing 1400. It is situated on the west side of Main Street, near the Middlesex Fells Railroad Station. On the east side of Main Street, there is a large tract of wild land, a part of which belonged to the Lynde farm, and a part was acquired by subsequent purchase, which Mr. Converse has laid out and beautified, building miles of roads, and named "Pine Banks Park." It is a charming spot through which to roam or drive.

Eepee8Entatives

Then and Now. - The first town-meeting of Melrose was held May 10, 1850, seven days after the date of incorporation, in " Academy Hall," then standing on Berwick Street, and which was afterwards moved to Main Street, where it became "Lyceum Hall," and where it was destroyed, with other buildings, by the fire of August 21, 1870. The warrant had two articles, viz. : " To choose a moderator ; to choose all necessary Town Ofllcers for the year ensuing." The warrant for the town-meeting held March 3, 1890, had fifty-three articles to be acted upon. The first town report, issued April 1, 1851, was a small broadside, ten by twelve inches, entitled " Report of the Financial Concerns of the Town of Melrose, from May 20, ISbO, to April 1, 1851," and is signed by Jonathan Cochran, Josiah W. Talbot and John Blake, Financial Committee. This is not only a very scarce document, but is something of a curiosity; presenting, as it does, a striking contrast in the town expenses in that day of small things, when compared with those given in the "' Reports of the Town Officers of Melrose for the Financial Year ending December 31, 18S9."

When incorporated, forty years ago, Melrose had a population of 1260 ; to-day it has over 8500. It then had 125 dwelling-houses ; to-day over 1800. Then our valuation was $483,446; in 1890 it was S6, 724,705. Then it had one school-house with three schools ; now eleven houses with thirty schools. Then three churches; now eleven. Then the old-fashioned wellsweep and pump ; to-day Spot Pond water running through its forty miles of streets. It has the illuminating gas, furnished by the Maiden & Melrose Gas Co., for house purposes, and the electric lights for thestreets. With aTown Hall, Public Library, Savings Bank, Fire Department, with a steam fire-engine, a Choral Union, the Melrose Orchestra, a Lyceum with yearly course of entertainments, many Temperance organizations, Odd-Fellows and Masonic associations, a Grand Army Post, two local papers, a number of literary clubs ; with all these institutions and others not here enumerated, situated so near Boston, with railroad facilities unsurpassed, it may well be surmised that Melrose will continue to grow; and at no very distant day will be knocking at the Commonwealth's door for admission to the rank of one of her cities.

Biographical

Daniel Russell, son of Daniel and Mary W. Russell was born in Providence, R. I., on the 16th day of July, 1824, and educated at the public schools of Providence. The necessity of self-support was early impressed upon him, and at the age of seventeen he began real life in his own behalf as a mechanic. For three years he served an apprenticeship at one branch of carriage manufacturing in his native city, and upon graduating from I his school he labored in the same place and at Middleborough, Mass., as journeyman for four years, at the end of which time (1847) accompanied by a fellow-workman he moved to Boston and began the business of selling small wares by samples. Two years later he determined to go to California, but the Hon. Nathan Porter offered him employment in Providence, where he remained for two years, returning to Boston in 1852 and entering the employ of Edward Locke & Co., clothiers.

Three years later Mr. Russell became connected with the wholesale clothing house of Isaac Fenno & Co., and became a member of the firm in 1861, retiring in 1869 with a competency.

He has served three years on the Board of Selectmen, and is at present commissioner of the water loan sinking fund. He is also president of the Melrose Savings Bank. In 1878 he was elected to represent the Sixth Middlesex Senatorial District, serving as chairman of the committee on insurance, and as a member of the committee on agriculture. He was re-elected in 1879, and in 1880 was a delegate to the National Republican Convention.

He is a director of the Maiden and Melrose Gaslight Company and the Putnam Woolen Company, and is connected with the Masonic organizations of Melrose.

October 21, 1850, Mr. Russell married Mary, daughter of Nathan and Mary Lynde, of Melrose. Their children are : William Clifton and Daniel Blake Russell.

By Lorenzo P. Blood

Settlements in that part of Groton lying west of the Lancaster or Nashua River were commenced as early as 1720. After the Peace of Utrecht, a.d. 1713, Indian liostilities and depredations had in great measure ceased, and were no longer seriously dreaded. Thus relieved from anxiety and fear on that score, the frontier settlements extended the line of civilization farther into the wilderness. Territory that heretofore had been the haunt.s of the bear and the savage was transformed into thrifty farms and civilized abodes. The modern advice, " Go West, young man," was evidently in the air, if not yet materialized at that early date. Following this impulse, the young man of Groton pushed his way across the " Great River," and took up for his farm and home a portion of the fertile lands lying westerly therefrom.

At first the settlements were confined to the vicinity of the river, for several reasons. The river afforded an easy means of transportation, as well as a ready supply of food. The intervale land was more easily cultivated than that more remote.

The river was fordable at two places - "Stony Wading Place," at Hollingworth's Mills, and the " Jo. Blood Fordway," near the covered bridge - and thus there was easy communication between the new settlers and their paternal homesteads, only a few miles away. Although emigrants, they were still within the municipality of their old homes : still under the fostering care of the Groton Church. Meanwhile the new settlement grew and prospered until in 1740 if numbered over forty families, and the people began to feel that they were numerous enough to be a separate parish. The affection for the old homesteads and the mother church had become absorbed in a love for the new homes and a desire for a church of their own. Of several petitions from the inhabitants of the northerly and westerly parts of Groton, and the easterly part of Dunstable, presented to the General Court about this time, praying for a township, or district, the following was granted :

" To hl3 Excellency William Shirley, Esq., Captain General and Governor in Cheiff in and over his Majesties Province of y» Ma^sacliusetts Bay in New England; To y« Honourable his Majesties Council and House of Representatives in General Court Assembled on y« Twentysixth Day of May, a.d., 174li.

" Tile Petition of us, the Subscribers, to your Excellency and Honours Humbley Sheweth that wo are Proprietors and Inhabitants of y" Land Lying on y« Westerly Side Lancaater Kiver (so called) in y« North west corner of y" Township of Groton ; & Such of us as are Inhabitants thereon Live very Eeraote from y Publick worship of God in sJ Town, and at many Times and Seasons of y« year are Put to Great Difficulty to attend y» same ; and the Lands Hounded as FoUoweth (viz) : Southerly, on Townehend Rode; Westerly, on Townabend Line; Northerly, on Dunstable West Precinct A old Town, and Easterly on mid Itivor m it now Runs to y First moutioued Bounds, being of the Contents of about

Four Miles Square of Good Land well Scituated for a Precinct ; And the Town of Groton batti been Petitioned to Set of y« Lauds bounded as aforea* to be a Distinct and Separate Precinct, and at a Town Meeting of y« inbabitanta of a^ Town of Groton Assembled on y« Twenty Fifth Day of May Last Past The Town voted y« Prayer of y» s"! Petition and that y Lands before Described should be a Separate Precinct and that y Inhabitants thereon and Such others as hereafter Shall Settle on s* Lands should have y Powers and Priviledges that other Precincts in i'^ Province have or Do Enjoy ; as per a Coppy from Groton Town Book herewith Exhibited may Appear, &c. For the reasons mentioned, we, the subscribers an aforea^, HumbleytPrayes your Excellency and Honours to Set otf ye s^ Lands bounded as aforea'i to be a Distinct and Sepperat Precinct and Invest y« luhabitanLs thereon (Containing about y N" of Forty Families), and Such others as Shall hereafter Settle on s'' Land, with Such Powers and Priviledges as other Precincts in s-i Province have, &c., or Grant to your Petitioners Such other Relief in y» Premises as your Excellency and Honours in your Great Wisdom Shall think Fits and your Petitioners as in Duty bound Shall Ever pray, &c. Benjamin Swallow, Samuel Shattnck (iu), Jobu Blood (iuner), William Spalden, James Shattuck, Josiah Parker, Isaac Williams, David Shattnck, Jacob Ames, Ebenezer Gilson, David Blood, Jonas Varnuni, Elias Ellit, Jonathan Woods, Moses Wooda, Zachery Lawrence, jun'., John Shadd, Jonathan Shattuck, Jeremiah Lawrence, Jam^ Green, Jonathan Shattuck, Jun', John Mozier, John Kemp, Josiah Tucker, Nebemiab Jewett, William Allen, Eleazar Green.

" In answer to the within Petition ordered that that Part of the Town of Groton Lying on the Westerly side of Lancaater River within the following bounds, viz : bounding Easterly on said River Southerly on Townsend Road so called. Westerly on Townsend line and Northerly on Dunstable West Precinct, with the inhabitants thereon, be and hereby are set off" a distinct and separate precinct and vested with the powers and privileges which other Precincts do or by law ought to enjoy, always provided that the Inhabitants Dwelling on the Lauds above mentioned be subject to pay their first part and proportions of all ministeriall Rates and Taxes in the Town of Groton already Granted or

The Townsend road above mentioned was the old county highway as then traveled from Groton to Townsend. This road, which lies wholly within the present town of Groton, is still passable for carriages its entire length from Fitch's Bridge to the Townsend line, although it has been discontinued for many years the greater part of the distance.

By an adjustment of boundary lines made about the time of this petition, the "old Dunstable line" was moved farther north, leaving a triangular strip of land between Groton West Parish and New Hampshire. This tract was three hundred rods wide at its westerly end on Townsend line, and extended over five miles eastward, running to a point a short distance west of the Nashua River, containing about two and a half square miles. It has often been incorrectly called the "Groton Gore." It remained a part of Groton until 1751, when it was ceded to the West Parish upon petition of its inhabitants. In 1803 about four acres lying between the road and the river, at Fitch's Bridge, were rc-annexed to Groton.

According to the records the first "leagal" meeting of the new parish was held at the house of William Spalding January 17, 1742, "by virtue of a warrant granted by William Lawrance, Esq., a justice. Benjamin Swallow was chosen moderator and the following officers were elected: Eleazar Gilson, clerk; Ben-