Merrimac Town (part 9 of 9)

In 1867 ^^1^ ^*"^^ opened a repository in the marble block No. 155 Fremont street, one of the finest and most com])lete carriage warerooms in die coimlry. I'ut even with this addi- tional cai)acity, which gave a floor area of fifty thousand square feet, the reciiiircinent for more room soon became apparent, and Mr. Sargent, a few years later, added to this already extensive establishment a capacious brick stnicture at Nos. 53 and 55 Portland street, adjoining and communicating with the Sudbury and Friend street estates.

Several changes have occurred in the |>ersonnel of the fimi since the first organization of the company, but, in all these years, Mr. Sargent has retained the active management of affairs, save for a few months, while he was in Euroj^e not long since. During the last twenty-five years he has resided in lk>ston, but his interest in his native town has never in the least abated. Having by his more than ordinary business talent and energy accjuired a competency, and, more than that, Mr. Sargent has remembered his native town by building this costly hall, which will serve as a memento of his generosity for ages to come.

The establishment of a library for the use of the citizens was the next im))ortant step taken. As a l)asis for a future library, Dr. J. R. Nichols generously offered to donate one thous;in<l volumes, which were readily accepted at a public meeting held .August 2 1 St, and Patten Sargent, J. A. I^nckester, John S. Poyen, James R. Nichols, William H. Hubbard and William Chase were appointed trustees.

The public library, having been properly prepared for public use, was dedicated on the 10th of May, 1877, when services were heUl in Sargent's Hall. It was a very interesting occasion and the large number of citizens assembled were addressed by Rev. W. H. Hubbard, who was president on the occasion, Dr. J. R. Nichols, Mayor Jenness and Rev. Dr. Seeley, of Haverhill. This library contains three thousand, two hundred volumes of well selecleil books, well arranged in the nicely-fitted library room, in the rear right hand corner of the Town Hall.

History Of Mrrrimac

Dr. Nirhols, the founder of the library, is the son of the late Stephen NichoK, l'.s(|., of West Ainesbury, (now Mcrrimac) aiKl was bom July 19th, 1819. He worked on his father's farm till lie was seventcon years old, when he went to Haverhill anil entered as clerk the ajwlhecary store of his uncle, Mr, Moses Nichols. He had no opportunities for education, except such ,is the district siIkhiI afforded three months in the winter. Hc

In 1841 he commenced the study of medicine and attended medical lectures at Dartmouth college in 1842. The degree of M. 1). was conferred u|)on him by this college, and, also, in 1S67 the honorary degree of Master of Arts. Entering into the drug business in Haverhill in 1843, 'he continued there until 1856, when, after returning from a visit to lCuro|>e in 1856-7, he removed to Boston and established himself as a manufacturing chemist, doing an extensive business with all sections of the country. After returning from a second visit to lOurope in 1872, he relin(|uislied business in Boston and returned to Haverhill.

Dr. Nichols found time during his business career to wriu* l>ooks, give attention to inventions and discovery, lecture frc- (|uently u|>on science, art, agriculture, etc., and serve in various public and private capacities, involving trust and ri'N)Mmsibility.

tic is the auUior of hvo well known lM>oks, ** h'iresidc .Stientc" and ** (Chemistry of liie I'arm," published prior to 1872. Tlie records of the Patent Office show that nine patents ha\e been granted to him in twenty years, most of which are invention^ in scientific apparatus and new methods of chemical manipulation. In 1865 Dr. Niciiols established the |K)pular scientific joiunal : '* Boston Journal of Chemistry," which he has contin ueil to edit since that time, a period of sixteen years. Since relinijuishing chemical manutacturing in Boston, nuich ol his lime has been devoted to railroad management. lie served as president of the Vermont \: Canada railroad for live years, from 1873 to 1878, and he has been dire<:tor in the lk).st(m \' Maine railroad sinii* 1873. In iS()7 he was appointed by the late ( leorge Teabody, I'.mj., of London, one of his trustees of the I'lssex fund, ami is now a trustee of the Peaboily Academy of S«:ience.

Dr. Nichols has been prominent in agricultural matters for many years, and was ap|)oinle<l by (lovernor kice a member of the Massachusetts State Board of Agriculture in 1878. .Although never in robust health, the rei:onl of his life show> it to Uixw heen a hiisy one, and the record affords interest and encouragement to young men in indigent circumstances and illustrates the power of inchistry, perseverance and study to promote success in life. He now resides at Haverhill, spending the summers at his farm near the city.

The town is favorably situated for business, having a l)ranch railroad connecting with the Boston & Ntaine railroad at Newt(»n junrtion, N. II., which nlTords rcndy coiiunimication wilh the great business centres of the comitry. The principal business is the manufacture of carriages, which are shipped to uearly all parts of the world. A great variety of carriages arc manufactured, some of which are of very expensive workmanship and finish. The Manufacturing (Company, incor|K)rated in 1.S4S for the manufacture of carriage wheels, many years since added (he uKUUiljictinc of lania^c p.uts, and the extensive demand lor their goods has made the establishment a profitable investment. For nearly a (juarter of a century the late Mr. T. r. Merrill was agent of the company. At his death his son. VIr. V. S. Merrill, was appointed to the vacant position.

The Merino Shoe C*()m])any is, also, /giving employment to a large lunnlifr of hands and producing a large amount of goods, which \\m\ a ready market in the country.

Merrimacport is. also, the chief depot for the large amount of coal used in town, which is brought there by water and then carted to the consiuners.

This section is very pleasant in summer, when the river is a five with steamers and boats. More than a score of steamei-s are busy on the river, many of which carry pleasure parties from the ( ities up river to T.lack Kocks, toiiching at the wharf here for passengers, and each sncceeding year will add to the nuin ber ol iuKits an<l passengers.

Merrimac" has four meeting houses, viz.: Congregationalist. Hai>tisi. Universalist at the Centre village and Raptist at the I'ort. There are, also. (!atl)olic services held each Sabbath iiioniing in town by the pastor of St. Joseph church at the Mills. At Merrimacport a Methodist society has recently been organized, which holds meetings in Citizens' Hall.

There are seven school-houses in town, viz. : High school building at Merrimac Centre, Bear Hill, Highlands, Birching Meadow, landing and two at Merrimacport. 'i'he school at the landing has been discontinued, there not being a sufficient number of scholars in the vicinity to reijuire one. ITiere are at present ten schools in town.

During the early days of the settlement, **Jamaco" suffered from Indian raids, as well as other sections of the town, and it lias been asserted that Capt. Foot was taken prisoner on one of their incursions and tortured to death ; but this tradition may be considered doubtful. It was not an uncommon thing for the people to flee to "Capt. Foot's fort" for protection, when danger of this kind threatened, lildward Cottle, one of the first eighteen, settled near C bottle's landing, and was so much troubled by Indians that he 1>ecanie discouraged, sold out and left for Dukes county. He had two houses burnt, one by Indians and (he other by accident. On an alarm by the Indians in 1722, all fled to the fort, and .it was on this occasion that a desc:endant of Edward Cottle : Anna Cottle, was born, who lived nearly a century. John lloyt, 2d, was robbed and plundered by Indians, he says, and it is very ])robable that but scanty accounts and traditions have reached us at the i>resent day of those early troubles and trials. For the protection of " Birching Meadow " people, a garrison house was built on land recently owned by the late Knos Heath.

The surface of the town is somewhat broken by numerous hills scattered over the territory, but there are many good farms which are well cultivated. Near the l^mding district the ledge which tmderties most of the territory in this region, crops out on the bank of the river and affords an abundance of valuable material for building purposes. When the C^hain bridge was building at Deer island in 1792, Mr. John Merrill, who then lived in the vicinity of Hon. William Nichols', boated immense (piantities of stone from this ledge to sink the piers. Mr. Mer- rill owned the ledge and planted the large orchard on his homestead, which was subsequently purchased by Mr. Nichols, and is now in the possession of his son, (Jeorge W. Nichols, Kst],

There are two extensive plains in town : one near the Congregational church, which, in " y« olden time,*' was noted for its fort, meeting-house, burying ground and training ground, antl the second was near Tappan I«^mery*s and the eastern cemetery, more especially noted for the "(ircat Trninings," which were somelimes held there, and, also, for Indian relics.

At one period the tanning and currying business was carried on extensively at Merrimacport by Charles L. Rowell, Esq., and others. A dam wns built across the small stream sometimes called *' Patten's Creek," which gave good opportunity for grinding bark and jiursuing the business, lately, however, but little has been done nnd the business with a few exceptions has died out in the county. A little farther up the stream a second dam was bm'lt a few years ago, and the establishment known as -'Wright's Mill," creeled for planing nn<l ine<!hnnical purposes. This building was subsec[uently [)urchased by Alfred W. Morrill tV ('on»pany for the purpose of manufacturing wheels. It has since been washed away by the breaking of the dam, and at present remains unoccupied.

John S. Poyen, ICs(|., commenced building a large hotel the present fall. It is a fine building, three stories high, and will afford such accommodations as have long been needed. It is now known as the Monomack House.-

The Congregational society was incorporated this year under the title of "The First Orthodox Congregational Society of Merrimac." The church was, also, remodeled internally, with new walls, re-seating and frescoing, giving it the appearance of n new and elegant room. It was re-dedicated on the first day of January, 1879, l*rof. H. R. Smith preaching the sermon.

John S. Poyen. I!s(|.. a prominent l»nsinc\ss man in Iowik <hed l\ Itrnarx jj«!, at l*t»int IViri*, (inadalonpe. West Indies, whither he had g(me to visit his friends. Tlie news of his death was s.id in the extreme to his familv an<l nnmerons friends, who were e\pi«tin^ his return in a few weeks. l''or many years he ha<l 1m --n an extensive dealer in carriage snpplies, an<I his strict d«\niion to husiness had enabled him to accnnnilatr a large properly. His fme risidenre on Main stri- I is among the hest in the village. In matters of pnhlic interest he was among the fn -ii lo contrihnte, anri his loss will he \erv sensihiy O'lt. I''(»r ihi' pnhlif convenienrr he hiiill Ihe large hot(*l on Main slieel. In \arions ways Mr. l*oyen has contrihnted largely towards beantilling and improving the village. He was of l«Vench descent, his fnher removing from the West Indies to Mast Haverhill many years ago, where Mr. Poyen w.is horn in iSiS.

The post-oRice here was established abont 1S2.4 and kept in the little yellow bnilding which stood nearly in front of (loodwin and Cleary's block. Col. l\dmnnd Sargent was the first postmaster, holding the office many vears. flis son. f)rlando II Sargent, rode to the Mills on horseback tor the mail and bp-'ighl it along in his hal. Affer a while the service was

Hrs-I National Hank Of Mkkrimac

This con>pany was incorporated in 1848, with a capital of 540,250. The amount of business done in 1880 was {^75,266: number of hands employed, 35 ; number of sets of wheels made, 4094 : number of sets of parts, 3800. F. S. Merrill, agent.

Mkrino Shok Company

This company was incorporated in 1876, with a capital of f 40,000. Its business in 1880 amounted to #100,000; number of hands em]>loyed, 75 ; number of pairs of boots and shoes made, 90,000. A. A. Hawley, agent.

This fa (lory < ommenced business about the year 1834. Jonathan H. Sargent, T'/Scp, started the manufacture of axles at West Amesbtiry, and .iftenvards added the manufacture of steel carriage springs. Mr. Richard Stoyles was an experienced work man in the latter branch and continued in Mr. Sargent's employ many years. The Merino Shoe Company now occupy the fai - torv where Mr. Sargent managed a profitible business for many \ears. mannfactiiring axles and springs.

This lodge was chartered in 1869. The membership num bcrs one hundred and eighteen, anil their meetings are held in Masonic Hall. R. H. Sargent is the Worshi|)ful Master.

This association was organized January 19th, 1867. Its first oflicers weie J. I). Pike, president: H. A. Kell(*y and Isaac |ones. vice presidents : IChner I*. Sargent, secretary and treas urcr ; \. A. Ni< Ih»Is. corresponding sccrclarv. A free n\'iding room was established and is yet maintained Prayer meeti?igs are held excrv Sabbath evening at the rooms.