Topsfield Town (part 1 of 7)

Topsfield Town

Topsfield, Capt. Daniel with every. teken of respect for his memory, and sympathy for his afflicted family. As.it was on .the. day assigned to military parade and review, the militia company in the town, the command of which he had recently resigned, appeared under arms on the occasion, commanded by Capt. Bradstreet, and went through those movements and positions usual on such occasions, attended with solemn music. - The order and decorum of the military, made a favorable impression on a numerous assemblage of people. The solemnity observable on the occasion was expressive of the public estimation of an honest man, a good neighbor, and a worthy citizen.

Dug Mhoral

year chosen a Kepresentative. This continual giving ground to the enemy will and by and by firmly fix their power in Massachusetts. Salem Gazette, May 20, 580}.

DIED. - At Topsfield, Maj. Joseph Gould, aged 77 - a man long respected for his distinouished virtue, patriotism and piety. Salem Register, Fune 16, 180}.

Thomas Rebley

NOTICE is hereby given, to all persons interested in the laying out the NEWBURYPORT TURNPIKE ROAD in the County of EKssex. - That the Committee appointed by the Court of Sessions to lay out said way and to estimate the damages any person may sustain thereby, propose to mect at the head of State street, in said Newburyport, on Monday the 18th July inst. A. M. and thence proceed upon the business of their appointment. - THOMAS REBLEY, per order, Ghee lacie July 12. Salem Register, Aug. 8, 180}.

Source changes here: from The Historical Collections of the Topsfield Historical Society, by Topsfield Historical Society, published 1911; 42,406 words in this source stream.

Topsfield Town

Tuat valuable Dwelling House with the land under and adjoining, with all the other buildings thereon, now occupied by Billy Emerson, in Topsfield. For further particulars apply

The fifth semiannual meeting of the Essex County Teachers' Association, will be holden at Topsfield, on Friday and Saturday, the 22d and 23d of the present month. The following Lectures may be expected : -

Friday At 10 o'clock A.M. by Thomas B. Fox, of Newburyport, on "The Meaning and Objects of Education." At 11 o'clock, by Lionel Tenney, of Andover, on "Teaching the Primary Branches of Instruction." At 2 o'clock P. M., by Sam'l M. Worcester of Salem, on " The English Language." At half past 3 o'clock, a discussion to be opened by Samuel RB. Hall, of Andover ; Question - " Can schools be governed by moral suasion only."

Saturday - At 9 o'clock, A. M., a Discussion or Lecture. At 10 o'clock a Lecture by John A. Vaughan, of Salem, on " Moral and Religious Influence in schools." At 11 o'clock, by Benj. Greenleaf, of Bradford, on "The Geology and Mineralogy of the Country."

All persons interested in the progress of Education, especially teachers and delegates from the several School Committees in the County, are invited.

- ~McFagan, son of Robert and Jane (McGuchin) McFagan. Thomas F., son of Fred E. and Hattie E. (Fuller) Watson. Abbie Elmar, dau. of George P. and Sarah (McNulty) Davison. Thomas F. son of Frederick E. and May H. (Lowe) Pingree.

Eveline L. dau. of Melvin W. and Bessie E. (Welch) Smerage. John R., son of John W. and Florence M. (Derry) Fuller. Richard L. son of Forrest W. and Alice L. (Perkins) Rust. Mabel A. E., dau. of Mathias I. and Anna (Olesen) Hansen. Stephen A., son of Thomas A. and Annie V. (O'Donnell) Pierce. Walter Albin, son of Walter S. and Lulu A. (Albin) Peterson. Constance L., dau. of William A. and Grace E. (Pierce) Fuller. Roger T.,son of Timothy J. and Edith A. (Smith) Fuller. Thomas E. P. son of Morris J. and Mary A. (Bennett) Brown.

Qoo1 Aasy Shy Ao

158 VITAL STATISTICS FOR 1909. MARRIAGES. 1909. Richard J. Walsh (Topsfield), son of James and Bridget (Brennick) Walsh. on "4; Lena G. Currier (Middleton), dau. of James M. and Rebecca 4 AE eee i Currier. be J. Collins (Vops field), son of Richard and Margaret (McHugh) - sie Collins. ak - Vflizabeth I. Kirby (Danvers), daa. of Michael W. and Mary (Murphy) Kirby. Harlan M. Greaves (Charlestown), son of Severenous A. and June 's Sarah E. A fotperses n) Greaves. . Berniece D. Fraime ( roPabat®) dau. of Francis C. and Elizabeth { (Bor tina) Fraime. Clarence H. Lunt (@everly), son of Hervey and Elizabeth A Sent : (Blake) Lunt. ay = Grace G. Peabody (Topsfield), dau. of Alden P. and Lydia A. (Wildes) Peat body. (Lewis H. Williams (Topsfield), son of Thomas P.and Eliza H. re aie ae (Harding) Williams. ae: 9- Elizabeth W. Carrol! (Ipswich), dau. of Levi J.and Phebe A. (Dodge) Carroll. (Geo. L. Bowser (fopsfield), son of Joseph and Henrietta (Cole) Oct rh J Bowser i * ') Bella MacDona id son amsiriegs dau. of Ronald and eg a ( (MacDonald) Siac Donald. (Dutton T. Hill, (Topsfield), son of George and Nell (Cartey) ; Hill. nee 34 4 Isabel Russell, (Salem), dau. of James and Isabel (Martin) { Russell. DEATHS 1909. Jan. 9. Roseltha, wife of Edward Otis Gould and dau. of William O. and Beisey (Burbank) Sides, aged 69 yrs., § mos., 26 dys. Jan. 20. Daniel Fuller, son of Benjamin and L'sther (Wilkins) Fuller, aged 66 yrs.,4 mos., 17 dys Feb. 23. Eva, wife of Samuel Hoodand aau. of Francis and Elizabeth (Hawley) Thomas, aged 47 yrs , 8 mos. Mar. 25. Albert Hermon Davison, son of George H. and Elma _L. (Averill) Davison, aged 50 yrs., § mos., 10 dys. Mar.30. Margaret, wife of Richard Collins and dau. of John and Margaret

Vital Statistics For 1909

Domingus Gonsalvus Roderick, son of Antonio Gonsalvus de Gago and - - - (Roderigues) Roderick, aged 75 yrs., 8 mos., 6 dys. Ephraim Perkins Averill,son of Ephraim and Lydia (Potter) Averill,

Buildings Constructed During The Year 1909

Melvin W. Smerage, Pemberton Ave.; dwelling-house and barn. Miss Margaret Cummings, River St.; dwelling-house and garage. Harry Williams, Main St.; remodelled barn, ete.

Buildings Constructed, Iqio, - - - - 168

~ ENDING DEC. 31, I910 - - - - Say ° ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TREASURER FOR THE YEAR " ENDING DEC. 31, 1910 - - - - - vil | THE PHYSICIANS OF TOPSFIELD, WITH SOME ACCOUNT \ ~ OF EARLY MEDICAL PRACTICE, BY HENRY FOLLANSBEE LONG, Portrazts, - - - - - I x EARLY TOPSFIELD SCHOOL REPORTS, BY GEORGE S FRANCIS DOW, - - - 2 - - o tag > THE BRIDGES IN TOPSFIELD, BY HENRY FOLLANSBEE x LONG, - - - - - - - aeEO BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF WILLIAM N. CLEAVELAND, 57 TINTYPE PORTRAITS OF TOPSFIELD PEOPLE TAKEN ABOUT 1868, Portraits, - - - - - 61 NEWSPAPER ITEMS RELATING TO TOPSFIELD, COPIED | BY GEORGE FRANCIS DOW, Coztinued, - - 65 EARLY RECORDS OF THE TOWN OF _ TOPSFIELD, COPIED BY HENRY FOLLANSBEE LONG, Contenued, 145 TOPSFIELD VITAL STATISTICS, 1910, - - - - 165 CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS, I9IO, - - - - 168 BUILDINGS CONSTRUCTED, IQIO, - - - - 168 ay O11! ate oad omaua | AAD GAT LO 'aaaueasat pote 20 TAQWA SAU : a Mail Nl. Ong te aa oura"a TMUOQOA aMoOe HTIW LITTON we @MAIDIeVH4 aT "JOU VAMHH Y@ SOITOAAY IAongaM YIHAT YO.

For The Year Ending Dec. 31, I9Qio

The membership of the society on December 31, 1910, was 252. Only four new members have been elected during the year, while one has resigned and five have been removed by death: - -Henry W. Lake, a charter member and at the time of his death a director of the society; Mrs. Jennie Hood Bosson of Reading, whose genealogy of the Hood family was printed in the last volume of our Historical Collections; Miss Anna S. Lamson of Topsfield; Fred A. Phelps of Laconia, N. H., and David Cummings of Boston. Mr. Cummings executed a will on Oct. 8, 1907 and when it was offered for probate on April 25, 1910 it was found that the sum of two thousand dollars had been given to this society together with an interest in the residue probably amounting to a like sum. This generous bequest makes it possible for the society to acquire a permanent home and having in view the possible ownership of real property, incorporation under the laws of Massachusetts was effected at a meeting held September 2nd, and at the same mecting a committce was appointed to ascertain on what terms the Capen house, so called, might be secured as a permanent home for the Society, thereby preserving for later generations one of the most interesting of the 17th century dwellings yet remaining in Essex County. After conference, however, it was found that the present owner declined to sell the property and the terms under which the house might be leased for a period of five years scemed so disadvantageous that it seems necessary to abandon the proposed plan. No other building of recognized antiquity now remains in town that is worthy of consideration in this connection and if the plan of acquiring permanent quarters is to be followed out it necessarily must be along other lines. In the not distant future it will be an imperative necessity to provide enlarged quarters for the erected, no doubt some arrangement could be made whereby the society would be provided with suitable rooms and the financial details arranged with mutual advantage.

Volume 14 of the Historical Collections has been distributed during the year and Volume 15 is about ready to be sent to the binder. Four meetings have been held at which papers have been read by Henry F. Long and the Secretary.

By Henry Follansbee Long

In the early days of New England there was no distinct class of men following the profession of medicine, but the practice was taken up in connection with some other calling. In every community either the minister or the schoolmaster or some skilled nurse was expected to act in cases of need. In taking care of the sick, the neighborly interest stood in good stead, in fact much in olden days had to depend upon kindly neighbors. At the period when Massachusetts was settled, medicine was anart rather than a science. ;

The question of some medical man to serve them was a matter considered deeply by the colonists. 'For many years before the Puritans came to this country, being subjected to bitter persecution, and foreseeing the possibility of an ejectment, a considerable number of their ministers studied medicine. They saw the probable needs of the future, and fitted themselves, as best they could, for any emergency that might arise in a new settlement, hence they formed a large proportion of the early physicians of Massachusetts." Even to-day we see our foreign missionaries studying medicine as practical preparation for their duties in a new field. This custom, in fact, is as old as civilization itself, from the days of the ancient priests of Egypt, Greece, and Rome, who were the ones to collect and preserve the traditions of medicine. There is no record that any of the early Topsfield ministers practised medicine, but one of the early practitioners was also a schoolmaster. Some of the early remedies are at times amusing and at others disgusting. Many and manifold are the remedies to "chear the heart," to " drive melancholy," to "cure one pensive,' "for the megrums," and "for a grief," and without doubt the lonely colonists often needed them. We also learn from the old records that « things ill for the heart were beans, pease, sadness, onions, anger, evil tidings, and loss of friends; a very arbitrary and unjust classification." Our ancestors were troubled with insomnia. Hereisacure: "Bruise a handful of anis-seeds, and steep them in Red Rose Water and make it up in little bags, and binde one of them to each Nostrill, and it will cause sleep." Among othor things we learn that, " picking the gums with the bill of an osprey is good for the toothache, . . . bear's grease 1s good for aches and cold swellings, . . . a stone found in the head of the codfish, when pulverized, stops fluxes of blood." For fevers it was customary to take "two salt white herrings and slit them down the back and bind them to the soles of the patient's feet." : Another ingredient of the early doses, - unicorn's horns - mnust have been difficult to secure in New England. John Endicott says in a letter written in 1634, "JT have sent you Mrs. Beggarly her Unicorns horne and bezar stone." Both the unicorn's horn and the bezoar_ stone were sovereign antidotes against poisons. In the Win. throp Papers, in a letter to J. Winthrop, Jr., under date of January 26, 1656, we find tho following: "Lett me: tell you an easy medicine of mine owne that I have seene do miraculous cures in all sortes of vicers, and in knitting soddainly broken bones . . . Beate to subtile powder one ounce of crabbes eyes, then putt vpon it ina high glasse foure ounces of strong Wine-Vinegar. It will instanely boyle vp extremly ; lett it stand till all be quiett; then straine it through a fine lenon; and of this liquor (w® will then tast like dead beere; without any sharpnesse) giue two spoonefuls att a time to drinke, three times a day; and you shall see a strange effect in a weeke or two," and, '* For all sortes of agewes, I haue of late tryed the following magneticall experiment, with infallible successe. Pare the patients nayles when the fever is coming on; and put the paringes into a little bagge of tine lenon or sarsenet; and tye that about a line eeles necke, in a tubbe of water. The eele will dye and the patient will recover. And if a dog or hog eate that cele, they will also dye."

Little by little, however, these disgusting agents were dropped, and in their places came the herbs and simples of our grandmothers. The family that did not provide itself with a plentiful supply of he bs was considered negligent of its duties. Every housrehold had its simple domestic remedies for common complaints, and few were the families that did not possess some old book containing manuscript receipts for all sorts of ordinary ailments. Some of the more common herbs used for concoctions, which in some cases were given without rhyme or reason and make us wonder how the patient could possibly recover, were, wormwood, tansy, yarrow, dandelion, burdock, plantain, catnip, and mint (all these herbs came here by importation), and ellicampane, angelica, gentian, St. John's wort, betony, and the like.

With a low standard of professional education, even among the physicians, it was not to be expected that there would be much general intelligence on medical matters in the community at large. The credulity of the ignorant was remarkable. In England the touch of the royal monarch was considered to cure king's evil and scrofula. It is not strange, therefore, that some lingering faith in the absurd customs should crop out in New England. In the early days general complaint appears against the '"shoemakers, Weavers, and Almanack makers ... who have Jaid aside the proper Business of their Lives to turn Quacks."

In the early days of the Colony there had been excellent opportunities, in the treatment of disease, for successful imposition on the ignorant and unthinking, and the quacks were not slow in availing themselves of the opportunity. In the year 1649 a law was passed which is creditable to the wisdom of that time, in regulating, within certain limits, the practice of medicine and Surgery. It was a salutary enactment, as far as it went, but it afforded only a slight protection against the deficiencies of the profession. The tendency of the law was to confine the profession to skilled persons. The enactment was as follows : -

"Chirurgions, Midwives, Physitians." « Forasmuch as the law of God allowes no man to impaire the Life, or Limbs of any Person, but in a judicial way :- -

"Jt is therefore Ordered, That no person or persons whatsocver, employed at any time about the bodyes of men, women or children, for preservation of life or health, as Chirurgions, Midwives, Physitians, or others, presume to exercise, or put forth any act contrary to the known approved Rules of art, in each mystery and occupation, nor exercise any force, violence or cruelty upon, or towards the body of any, whether young or old (no not in the most difficult and desperate cases) without the advice and consent of such as are skillfull in the same Art, (if such may be had) or at least some of the wisest and gravest then present, and consent of the patient or patients if they be mentis compotis, much less contrary to such advice and consent; upon such severe punishment as the nature of the fact may deserve, which Law nevertheless is not intended to discourage any from all lawfull use of their skill, but rather to incourage and direct them in the right use thereof, and inhibit and restreine the presumptious arrogancy of such as through presidence of their own skill, or any other sinister aspects, dare boldly attempt to exercise any violence upon or towards tbe bodyes of young and old, one or other, to the prejudice or hazard of the life or limbe of man, woman or child." generally used, and always kept on hand by apothecaries. The ministers used to bleed and pray in all severe cases. Then there were the barber surgeons, who wielded with equal facility the razor and the lancet, as well as used the jaw-breaking key on the aching teeth of their unfortunate customers.

Many of the early ministers also played the part of apothecary, buying drugs at wholesale and compounding and selling medicines to their parishioners. Small wonder that Cotton Mather, who was not the only kind-hearted New England minister who set up to heal the body as weil as the soul of the entire town, called the union of physe and piety an ' Angelical Conjunction." is no question but that they were more or less involved in the prevailing errors of the community in which they lived. But, on the whole, their record is a clean one, so far as we can get at it, and where it is questionable, we must remember that there must have been many poorly educated persons among them, and that all must have felt, to some extent, the influence of those sincere and devoted, but unsafe men, the physic-practising clergyman, who often used spiritual means as a substitute for temporal ones, and who looked upon a hysterical patient as possessed by the devil, and who treated a fractured skull by prayers and plasters.

Dr. Michael Dwinell

On a little knoll on the western side of Salem street, in Topsfield, and a few feet north of the driveway leading to the present old Dwinell house, may still be seen the site of the house of Topsfield's first recorded physician, Michael Dwinell. At this point it may be well to mention the fact that Dr. Zerubbabel Endicott, son of Gov. John Endicott, who lived on his father's grant of 1639, which is now owned and occupied by Frank 'W. Killam, and situated in Boxford, on the 'Middleton road, a short distance beyond the town line, may have practiced here. He was connected with the Topsfield church, but was excomi al a rE

Michael Dwinell was born in Topsfield, December 5, 1670, the second of nine children and the oldest son of Michaell and Mary Dwinell. His house was taxed as a dwelling until 1778, and afterwards was used as a barn. The old well is still in evidence.

Michael, the father, may have come from Scotland or Treland, though family tradition says he came from France. He is supposed, by some, to have been in Topsfield about 1664, though some records have it that he was a French Huguenot who came to Topsfield "after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685," but his son Michael, the physician, was born in 'Vopsfield in 1670, and by the church records it appears that " Michael Dunnell's" wife was in full communion in 1684. He is also recorded, under date of December 18, 1678, as having taken the "Oath of Allegiance and Fidelity." On October 24, 1672, he purchased from Francis Peabody, for £70, fifty acres of land "lyeing and being in Topsfield . . . on the South Syde of the River called Ipswich River : bounded in part by Salem line." In his will of June 29, 1710/11, he gives to his son Dr. Michael «all y' parcell of Land abounding his house, as he hath improved for himself," and several pieces of meadow. This will wag not probated till March,i 717/18, and under date of March 3, 1717/18, his children, beneficiaries under the will, Mary, Michael, Thomas, John and J oseph, regarding their father's will, deposed that "as he did among some other things dubious of exact meaning, we have mutually agreed to divide the land between us ina different manner."

Michael Dwinell, junior, is styled in old deeds as « physician and chirurgeon." What were his medical studies previous to his acquiring his title, are not known at this day. In 1697 he is spoken of as " Mikell Jr.," and not: until 1724 does his name appear as Doctor Michael, when it is found ina deed given that year. He might have been studying his profession along the lines of hysterics, when, on March 1, 1691/2, lie was on duty at Ipswich jail, where he was to overlook Sarah Good, accused of witchcraft, it being recorded by the sheriff, «that night I sett a gaud to watch her at my own house, namely, Sam] Braybrook, Michaell Dunnell of Topsfield and Jonathan Baker."

It is of interest to read a letter from Dr. Wilham Douglas of Boston, written in 1720, regarding fees. He writes: "Ihave here practice amongst four sorts of People; some families pay me five pounds perannum each for advice, sick or well, some few fee me as in Britain, but for the Native New Englanders I am obliged to keep a daybook of my consultations, advice and Visits, and bring them in a bill; others of the poorer sort I advise and visit without any expectation of fees."

Doctor Dwinell was married atleast five times, and family tradition has increased the number to seven, for Esther Richards Dwinel, widow of John, who died Oct. 81, 18387, at the advanced age of 101 years 8 mos. 10 days, maintained that at different times Doctor Michael had seven wives, and when questioned as for which he felt the strongest affection, replied "that he knew no difference."

Abigail, born Nov. 5, 1719, married Humphrey Deering of Arundel, Me. ; He married, second, Dec. 10, 1724, Elisabeth Fisk of Wenham, who died Mar. 26, 1730. Their children were:

On July 6, 1787, he married Charity Cotta of Salem, who died Nov. 8, 1752, and lastly, for his fifth wife, he married, Feb. 1, 1753, widow Mary Balch, "who died suddenly, a very aged woman, upwards of 90 years, April 14, 1774." He had died on December 24,1761, aged 91

" His will, dated July 17, 1753, like that of his father, was signed with his seal and mark. It mentioned his wife Mary, to whom he gives "the use and income of all the Jands," and also " one cow;" to his son Michael he leaves 5 shillings, to be paid in 7 years after his own and his wife's death; to his son Stephen, 5 shillings ; his son Jacob 5 shillings; his granddaughter, Esther Balch, wife of David Balch, 5 shillings; son Benjamin, house and barn, and Jand and meadow in Topsfield, and all else, bonds, and books, debts, etc., to his wife. He also mentions his daughters, Sarah Foster, and Mary, Hannah, and Abigail. The inventory of his estate, presented Feb. 1, 1762, amounted to £145. Among other articles mentioned were: Sum Books, 5/1, Two Coats and Ono Great Coat.

Prior to the practice of Doctor Dwinell, and during his early years, Topsfield may have been served by the famous Doctor Oakes and Doctor Bullivant, both of Salem. John Dunton, the London bookseller, who visited New England in 1686, writes of these men as follows :- -

"Dr. Oakes. He is an eminent physitian, and a religious man; at his first coming to a patient he persuades him to put his trust in God, the fountain of health; the want of this hath caused the bad success of most physitians, for they that won't acknowledge God in all their applications, God won't acknowledge them in that success which they might otherwise expect." variety of nature, that not a drug or simple escapes his knowledge, so that he never practices new experiments upon his patients, except it be in desperate cases, where death must be expelled by death. This also is praise-worthy in him, that to the poor he always prescribes cheap, but wholesome medicines, not curing them of a consumption in their bodies, and sending it into their purses, nor yet directing them to the East Indies to look for drugs, when they may have far better out of their gardens."

Dr. Amos Dwinell

The second physician in Topsfield was Amos Dwinell, the ninth child of Thomas, who was a brother to Doctor Michael. He was born Mar. 19, 1721/2, the son of Thomas and Dinah (Brimsdill) Dwinell. She was of Lynn, they having married May 23, 1701. Amos was admitted to a full communion in the Topsfield church on Aug. 29, 1742. He married, May 26, 1749, Anna Perkins, at Rowley. There is no record of any children. Under date of April 16, 1748, in a deed of eight acres of land to Uzziel Rea, he styles himself « Amos Dwinell of Topsfield, Physitian." He witnessed a deed in Topstield in 1746, and is called "physician and doctor." In the assessors' records for the years 1747-8-9, he is styled " Doctor." Just where he received his education is not known. His uncle, Doctor "Michaill,' died Dec. 24, 1761, and it is quite probable that the nephew may have been taught by him. Where he practiced after he left Topsfield is not known, but in a letter written by John Adams, dated Oct. 21, 1798, and printed in Gage's History of Rowley, an Amos Dunneil is meutioned, but he is not listed with the regular physicians of Rowley. After his marriage, in 1749, he seems to have disappeared from this vicinity, and it is not known where he died. His father's will was dated June 21, 17-47, and in it he bequeathed to Amos all his estate, « both Real and Personal in Topsfield, or anywhere else."

Dr. Joseph Bradstreet

1727, and was the youngest son of Simon and Elizabeth (Capen) Bradstreet. She was the daughter of Rev. Joseph Capen of Topsfield. In a deed dated Oct, iT, 1749, from Joseph to his brother John, he styles himself " Joseph Bradstreet of Salem Village, Student in Physick." It was customary in those early days, as there were no medical schools in Massachusetts, to apprentice young men to some leading practitioner, and in due time the young man went forth with the master's certificate in bis pocket, a full-fledged physician. Some obtained a license from the court to practice.

Joseph Bradstreet married, first, February 8, 1770, Abigail Fuller of Middleton. In the intention of marriage, Oct. 29, 1769, he is called «Dr. Joseph." A son Joseph was born in Topsfield on March 26,1771. She was separated from him by act of the "Governor and Council of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay." October 17, 1771, and he was ordered to pay her £5 yearly, in "four equal quarterly payments." He married, second (published Nov. 16, 1783), widow Hannah Ross of Ipswich, and died in Topsfield Oct. 5, 1790, at the age of 63 years.

His practice did not require all his time, for under date of Sept. 28, 1756, the town of Topsfield voted to "abate the Rate Laid on Doct. Joseph Bradstreet in the year 1755, when he was Keeping School for the town." The town also allowed to Dr. J oseph Bradstreet "two Pounds Hight shillings for one months Keeping School in the year 1756." September 22, 1788, it was voted that "the town agree to Board Doct. J oseph Bradstreet During the time hee shall keep school to pay the town the sum of

Dr. Richard Dexter

"During the generation immediately preceding the Revolution the science of medicine in Massachusetts was making progress by slow and Steady steps. The bond of union with the clerical profession existing from the earliest days of colonial life had been cut, and there was no longer any practical connection between the two callings.

Doctor Dexter, who began his practice in Topsfield in 1740, and continued till his death, Nov. 25, 1783, was probably the first practitioner of the medical art in Topsfield who devoted his time exclusively to it. He was the son of John and Winnefred (Sprague) Dexter, and was born June 15, 1713, at Malden, Mass. He was of Irish descent, the Dexter family being closely identified with the history of Ireland from the beginning of the 12th century. Richard Dexter, the great grandtather of Doctor Dexter, " with his wife Bridget and three or more children, fled to England from the great Irish massacre of the Protestants, which commenced Oct. 27, 1641. What vessel he came over in is not known, but he was in Boston prior to Feb. 28, 1642, when he became an inhabitant." His father was John Dexter, who died in 1722,and who was for many years a deacon of the church and selectman of the town of Malden, Mass., and commanded a Company of Foot during the reign of George I, receiving his commission from Governor Samuel Shute in 1717. His mother, Winnefred Sprague of Malden, was born in 1678, and died in 1752. Wer "reverend son," the Rev. Samuel Dexter of Dedham, says she " was a very pious woman, strictly religious, lived in the fear of God, and died strong in faith and full of comfort and joy."

On June 18, 1741, Doctor Dexter married Mehitabel Putnam, who was then living in Boxford, probably with her sisters, Mrs. Francis and Mrs. Thomas Perley. She was a sister of the heroic General Israel Putnam, and it is said she possessed many similar conspicuous traits of character to those of her brother. She was the daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Porter) Putnam. They had a daughter, Mehitable, born Nov. 3, 1742, who married Rev. John Treadwell, and died July 3, 1786, at Ipswich. Mrs. Dexter died Sept. 2, 1801, aged 79 years. Doctor Dexter and his wife were admitted to full communion in the Topsfield church on Oct. 31st, 1742.

land says "he had, I believe, the confidence of the people here, not only as a physician, but as a citizen." About 1742, he built as a residence, the house on lower Main Street, now known as the « Agricultural Farm House." It is said that Madam Dexter, who was a fine equestrienne, while the house was in process of construction, rode her horse. into the second story by way of aninclined platform that was used in carrying the building supplies. It is also said that a detachment of troops returning from Arnold's Expedition against Quebec, camped under the large pine tree that stood in front of the house, until within a few years. re Doctor Dexter's education previous to his practice in Topsfield is problematical. 'The available literature of the profession was scan ty, and for that reason easily mastered. The doctors had no knowledge of pathology, and were but very few regular graduates of medicine in the country for more than a 'hundred years after its settlement. In his time there were no medical schools in this country and few had the means or inclination for study abroad. Medical students were frequently bound out, like apprentices, to their instructors, and were compelled to do all sorts of chores around the house and barn, as well as the professional drudgery. In those days the physicians used to buy their own drugs and prepare their own medicines, and it was the province of the students to pound the bark and spread the plasters, as well as to mix the ointments and make the pills. In short they were to be useful to their employers, as best they might in any way, whether in bleeding patients, pulling teeth, or attending to cases of minor surgery, Sometimes they boarded with their masters, being intimates of their families, and im some cases marrying the daughter of the house. It was customary for physicians in their daily rounds of practce to be accompanied by their scholars, in order to show them the different forms of disease, and to teach them the rules of diagnosis. On their return home the young men would sometimes undergo a form of questioning, which was considered an examination. In this way, with a certain

«They did not measure the drugs with the precision nowadays, - the asbestos stomachs and colossal minds of our forefathers were much above such petty minuteness. " These lax directions accompany old prescriptions, and the patients some how followed them. The amount of medicine to be taken would be "the bigth of a walnut," or « enough to lie ona penknifes point," or " enough to cover a French coin," or "as bigg as a haslenut," or "as great as a charger," or "a pretty draught," and "apretty bunch of herbs," but the most concise of all directions was when one was told to "take a pretty quantity as often as you please."

Cheerfully these public servants toiled over the hardest roads, in every season and in all weather, to attend rich and poor alike ; the country doctor could not choose his patients if he would. A rigid standard of custom gave his services to all who needed them, fees being hardly considered when any one needed medical attendance.

The fees were very modest. Even in Boston, prior to 1782, the ordinary visit was charged at one shilling, six pence to two shillings. Half a dollar was only charged "such as were in high life." In the year 1782,a club of the leading physicians fixed the common fee at fifty cents, in consultation at one dollar, while night visits were doubled. Capital operations in surgery were at five pounds lawful money; medicines were charged at very high prices comparatively.

When the French Acadian family of Michael Dugoy were living in Topsfield, Doctor Dexter was their physician, and in 1759 he charged the town on their account for «13 professional visits, Hystarick pills and powders, 3 purges Stumatick mixter, blisters and purgative powders," all supplied for the magnificent sum of eighteen shillings. There was a Doctor Sawyer of Ipswich who attended this family, and there is a charge for the " French Doctor" amounting to £1.4.0. Where he came from is not known.

eal library, which was purchased intact by Dr. Nehemiah Cleveland, but two volumes, but the inventory of his estate shows " 3 Large Books" valued at £1. 2, and " Books and Pamphlets" valued at £1. 16.0. The inventory of his estate, which amounted to £1240-19 - 2, includes " Homestead and 387 acres, also 53 acres of land, Pew in the Meeting House, Riding chair, 2 Great Coats, 4 strait bodied Coats, 8 Jackets and 4 pair Breeches, 12 pair stockings, 1 Beaver Hat, 1 Wig and 1 Desk valued at £3, One large Bible £1, 3 large Books £1.2, Books and pamphlets £1.16.0. Instruments £2. 14, 8, Brass Ink horn, 8s., Druggs and medicines, Bottles and phials containing the same £7.6.0. Case of Bottles with medicines £1. LO. In the museum of the Essex Institute is preserved a silver mounted Jancet case of shark's skin with the name "R, Dexter" engraved on one end. This case afterwards fell into the hands of Doctor Treadwell of Salem and from him it passed to Doctor Choate who gave it to the Institute.

" Erected in memory of Doct. Richard Dexter; who af. ter a course of endearing services, of paintul suffering, - supported by the hope which Christianity inspires, - cheerfully departed this life Nov. ae, F160, Aetk: TT:

Dr. David Norwood

For the years 1779 to 1782 inclusive, there is record of two doctors. The first of these was Dr. David Norwood, who was taxed in the year 1779, for poll, personal and real estate, "for Baker's Estate." The second was Dr. Caleb Rea, Jr. who was taxed for poll and personal in the years 1781-2. Dr. David Norwood was probably from Lynn, the son of Thomas Norwood, Jr., and born April 16, 1755. His mother was probably Lydia Hawkes. He married Aug. 19, 1778, at Newburyport, Klizabeth, daughter of Cornelius and Elizabeth (Giles) Tarbell. Doctor

Norwood and his wife must have come to Topsfield shortly after their marriage. Their one child Betsey, who married Samuel Prince of Manchester, was born in Topsfield, Dec. 21, 1779. Mrs. Norwood's parents "lived in Danvers until 1779, when they removed to Andover, and have removed with his wife's parents for the records of Merrimack, N. H. show that he was living there about 1780. On Feb. 5, 1781, "Caleb Rea of Topsfield, - physician, in consideration of one hundred pounds . . . paid me by David Norwood of Merrimack in the County of Hillsborough, New Hampshire, physician," transferred land in Danvers that he had purchased of Andrew and Mary Putnam on Nov. 7,1780. On June 8, 178+, he conveyed to Joseph Leach 1-2 acre of land with dwelling house and barn, and is styled in the deed as David Norwood, " physician of Manchester." In 1794 he is recorded as having " Jabored excessively" during the " great sickness." He died in Manchester, Mass., May 26, 1808, aged 54 years. The inventory of his estate shows surgical instruments, Art of Surgery, and old books. He probably was the first surgeon who practiced in Topsfield.

Dr. Caleb Rea, Jr

Dr. Caleb Rea, Jr., was born in Danvers, March 8, 1758, and was the second son of Dr. Caleb and Ruth (Porter) Rea. The elder Dr. Caleb Rea served as surgeon in Col. Jona. Bagley's regiment in the war for the conquest of Canada, in the campaign of 1758, and was in the memorable expedition against Ticonderoga, and died in 1760 at Danvers.

On the 27th of May, 1775, Doctor Rea enlisted as a surgeon. Jlis professional duties, according to family tradition, seem to have been principally on the privateers which were fitted out in Salem and Beverly. Towards the close of the war Doctor Rea was living in Topsfield, just where is not known, and then removed to Ipswich, where his eldest child, Thomas, was born July 11, 1782. Previous to October, 1783, Doctor Rea removed his family to Windham, Maine, for at that session of the Court of General Sessions he was licensed to retail spirituous liquors in that town. His practice in Maine covered many adjoining towns. He died Dec. 29, 1796.

While living in Topsfield, Doctor Rea married, on Oct. 4, 1781, Sarah, daughter of Capt. John and Abigail (Blaney) White of Salem, Mass. Mrs. Rea died Jan. 22) 1836, aged 78 years. Their children were: Thomas, born July 11, 1782, in Ipswich ; Sally, born Pept. 20, 1785, in Windham; Mary, born Apr. 14, 1787, in Windham; Caleb, born Apr. 11, 1789, in Windham ; Porter, born July 19, 1792, in Windham; Albus, born Feb. - , 1795, in Windham, and was a doctor in Portland, Maine.

Dr. Nehemiah Cleaveland

In 1783, the year of Dr. Richard Dexter's death, two physicians, Nehemiah Cleaveland and John Merriam, settled in Topsfield. They were both young men, and from that time they divided between them the medical practice of the place, and often extended their visits into the neighboring towns. ,

Nehemiah Cleaveland was born Aug. 26, 1760, and was the youngest son of Rev. John and Mary (Dodge) Cleveland of Ipswich. He married, first, Oct. 6, 1787, Lucy, daughter of Dr. John and Lucy (Bolles) Manning of Ipswich. She died June 6, 1791, aged 29 years, childless, and he married, second, Experience, daughter of Dr. Elisha and Tamarson ( Kimball) (Coit) Lord, of Pomfret, Conn. They had nine children, Her sister, Alethea, married Rev. Asahel Huntington, pastor of the church in Topsfield from 1789 until 1813.

'* Nehemiah Cleaveland, at the age of sixteen, was an attendant on his father during the siege of Boston, and afterward enlisted in 1777, and served for nearly twelve months. He saw service at West Point and in New Jersey, and was also at Ticonderoga. At the age of 21, being disappointed in earlier hopes of a college education, he entered on the study of medicine with his brother, Parker, Cleaveland, at Byfield, and later with Dr. John Manning of Ipswich. . . | He entered on practice in Topsfield in 1783, which was neither extensive or lucrativo.

Oes Sot

He soon received a comniission as dustice of the Peace, an office of some distinction in those days, and was thus led to engage, to a certain extent, in concerns of a civic character. He became known and highly appreciated as a man of good judgment and prompt business habits, and was much employed in the public affairs of town and county." He served the town as selectman in 1801, 1802 and 1803, and from 1809 to 1812 inclusive. He was an ardent politician and was elected by the Federalists to serve as a State Senator in 1811 and 1812, and from 1815 to 1818 inclusive, and then refused longer to be a candidate. In 1814 he was mado a session justice of the Circuit Court of Common Pieas, and frem 1820 to 1822 he was Associate Justice of the Court of Sessions for Essex County, and the following year was appointed Chief Justice. He retired in 1828, and that year received the honorary degree of Doctor of Medicine from Harvard University. He was a Commissioner of the County for over twenty years.

One of the greatest service he rendered the town was the founding of the Topsfield Academy. He also was. very prominent i in the church of Topsfield, and the church records show that he was held in high regard when it is recorded "that the pastor shall be authorized to associate Dr. Cleaveland with himself in the examination of persons for the adinission to the church in such cases as he may be in doubt about himself." of the three persons in Topsfield who subscribed to a

Towne, Esq., and Jobn and Nathaniel Averill. He was. the first poster aeten of Topsfield and the president of the Eastern Stage Company. He lived in a house on Main erably remodelled. 'Vhis house was probably built by Jacob Robinson sometime prior to 1780, Dr. Cleaveland coming into possession about 1795. From Dr. Bentley's Diary, under date of Sept. 16, 1801, it appears that Doctor Cleaveland kept a tavern, for he records that " Dr. Cleveland of Topsfield has converted the mansion house of Porter into a very convenient tavern, below the meeting house in Topsfield."

"Doctor Cleaveland was just six feet in height. His form was erect, dignified, and commanding. Uniti! past thirty he was spare and slender. He afterwards became corpulent, weighing at one time two hundred and sixtyfive pounds. Yet such were the height and proportions of his frame that bis corpulence never materially injured its symmetry.

"Wis health, until about fifty years old, was uncommonly firm, but after a severe sickness, he never regained his former firm health, and continued to be subject to attacks of severe pain and confinement, and scarcely ever rode without feeling more or less uneasiness. A sulkey, which he used constantly for the last twenty-five years, was the only vehicle which he could ride with tolerable comfort."

In practice he is described as cautious and careful, and as never undertaking dificult surgical operations. "He was punctual in attending to calls, and kind and cheerful in the sick room. He possessed in a high degree the qualities which ensure to the physician the confidence and attachment of his patients. Amid the strife of parties and the collision of rival interests, a man so decided and active could not be without opponents. These he had, and bitter ones."'

The Boston Medical and Surgical Journal of June, 1839, says of Doctor Cleaveland: "During the fifty years of his practice in Topsfield, few days probably passed when his opinions or assistance were not sought in some matter aside from his profession. There are few occurrences or questions incident to common life in regard to -

Dr. A. L. Peirson of Salem, writing of Doctor Cleave- Jand in the Medical and Surgical Journal, notes that "he was a much respected member of the Essex South District Medical Society. No man among us set a better example of professional integrity and honor. The few who could boast of his friendship will long remember with pleasure the virtuous and_ kind- hearted old man, whose influence was uniformly and efficiently exerted in

Dr. John Merriam

Dr. John Merriam was the son of John and Sarah (Jones) Merriam and was born in Concord, Mass., Aug. 10, 1758 and removed to Topsfield in December, 1783. He studied medicine in Charlton, Mass., and married Hannah Jones of that town. He was licensed to practice by the Medical Association of Worcester County. On March 31, 1784, he bought the house now owned by Philip 8S. Palmer. Twelve years later he purchased land opposite his residence, and erected the two story house now standing at the junction of Haverhill and Ipswich streets. In the old house were born Doctor Merriam's three children: Royal Augustus Merriam, who was born Jan. 30, 1786, and was his father's successor in the practice of physic; Frederick Jones Merriam, born Dec. 8, 1788, who also lived in Topsfield; and Almira, born Jan. 25, 1791, who died unmarried in 1839 at her brother's home. Mrs. Merriam died in the new house Feb. 20, 1806, aged 43 years. On Sept. 18, 1808 Doctor Merriam married, second, Miss Mary Stiles of Topsfield. He died of consumption Nov. 21, 1817 at the age of 59 years. His widow Mary died at Boxford, Dec. 24, 1825, aged 62 years,

The only public office be held was that of selectman for the year 178%. He was an old time physician with a considerable practice. It is said of him that he '' was well prepared for the work of his profession, as the times then were. His medical library was large for those days. From entries made in his own handwriting in books of his library, it would appear that his studies preparatory to the study of medicine were considerable, and that he had some knowledge of Latin. There is no word of his school days, but it may be presumed that he had the advantages that other young men enjoyed. He might have received instruction from an educated man, before taking up his medical studies. From what we learn of him, it is certain that he stood high as a medical practitioner and that he had the respect of his patrons and of the community in general. He had a large practice that extended into the adjoining towns. As was often the case, in those days with the country physician, he gave some attention to the cultivation of the land. He acquired property and left a considerable estate, and a name that bas been handed down with respect."

In the year 1825, a Dr. Joseph Field was taxed for a poll. Nothing further can be found concerning him, and he must be considered as a wandering physician.

Dr. Jeremiah Stone

Dr. Jeremiah Stone was born Nov. 2, 1798, in Marlborough, N. H. He began practice in Topsfield, Jan. 6, 1826, and continued for about twelve years. He was the son of Shubael and Polly (Rogers) Stone. Dr. Stone graduated at the Dartmouth Medical College in December, 1825, and came immediately to Topsfield. He was the first doctor in Topsfield who received his education at a Medical School. Finding that a country practice with it, long and tiresome drives was impairing his health, he removed to New Bedford and thence in 1864 to Provincetown, Mass., where he remained until his death April 23, 1875, with the exception of two years spent at Chatham, Mass. He was one of the incorporators of the Topsfield Academy, and was town treasurer for the year 1834. He married Feb. 28, 1828, Esther, daughter of Moses and Esther (Dwinell) Wildes. They had Esther Wildes, born Dec. 16, 1828; Moses Wildes, born July 7, 1836 ; and Susan Alzea, born February 28, 1834.

«In town affairs, he ever took an active interest, endeavoring to build up the place and render it truly prosperous. Foremost in all good movements, he cordially espoused the cause of anti-slavery in its earliest days, when it was unpopular to be an abolitionist. He was an ardent supporter of temperance, and an earnest worker in the Congregational church, of which he had been a member since 1814. He was an honorary member of the Massachusetts Medical Society, which he joined in 1831. He was intolerant of quackery in every form and strict in his views of professional etiquette. Prompt in decision and self-reliant in the emergencies of his profession, he inspired and retained confidence in his skill. Though often abrupt in his manners, yet bencath was a warm heart that beat in sympathy with the needy and oppressed. Harnest in his convictions, decided in his opimions and cheerfal in his disposition, he carried the elasticity of youth into the last years of his advanced life. 'Tall and erect, of powerful presence, he inspired with hope the sick who sought his aid. Toa naturally buoyant spirit was added the sustaining power of a strong and earnest religious faith that made belief to him a bright and clear reality."

Dr. Joseph Cummings Batchelder

Dr.Joseph Cummings Batchelder suceceded Doctor Stone about 1838. He was born in Topsfield, May 10, 1809, and was the son of Capt. Jacob and Mary (Cummings) Batchelder. He married Nov. 3, 1837, Anna Wellington, who was born June 9, 1816, the daughter of Rev. Charles Wellington of Templeton, Mass. He began practice in Lynn, after having studied medicine with Dr, J. W. D. Osgood of Templeton, and remained there for less than two ears when he removed to 'Topsfield and stayed till 1850, going then to Cambridge, Mass., where he practised for seven years, and from i857 till his death April 26, 1885 he practised in Templeton. He was a member of the legislature from opsficid in 1846 and served as assistant surgeon, from Mar. 1, 1c62 to August, £862.) 10 the 25" Massachusetts Volunteers, in North Carolina. In 1843 he built the two story bouse on Main street now owned and occupied by Merrill B. Bailey. He became a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society in 1838. Mrs. Batchelder died in Templeton, of pneumonia, April 26,1885. They had three daughters.

Dr. Koyal Augustus Merkiam

Dr. Royal Angustus Merriam,* the son of Dr. John and Hannah (Jones) Merriam, was the next physician. He was born Jan. 30, 1786, and entering Dartmouth College was graduated in 1808. He studied medicine at the

M.B. in 1811, and M.D. in 1820. In 1832, he became a member of the Mass. Medical Socicty. In January, 1812, he commenced ithe practice of medicine in Middleton, where he met with considerable success, especially in cases of typhoid fever. The next year he returned to Topsfield. His short stay in Middleton is easily accounted for by the fact that his father was in failing health, and had been somewhat of an invalid for several years. Here he con. tinued in the practice of his profession from 1813 to 1823, when, looking for a larger field of action, he went to Marblehead where he established himself and remained nine years. Returning to his native town in 1832, he occupied the house on Main street where he afterward lived. " His library was large and well supplied with the standard works. Surgery was his specialty." Doctor Merriam married Mar. 12, 1839, at Newburyport, Adeline, born Mar. 20, 1806, daughter of Nathaniel Marsh of Newburyport. Their children were: Sidney Augustus, born Mar. 11, 1841, who studied medicine and was graduated from Dartmouth College in 1861; and Arthur Marsh, who was born April 12, 1843.

Doctor Merriam " was interested in public affairs, and was active as a public man, holding offices of trust in the town, and as a member of associations, industrial, philanthropic, and social. He was often called to serve the town, probably no citizen more often, in various trusis. He held the offices of Selectman, Overseer of the Poor, School Teacher, member of the. Schoo] Committee and Superintendent of Schools, and was selected to serve on committees in the more important crises of town affairs. He was' elected for twenty-two years a member of the School Committee, and probably always was its chairman, excepting when he served as Superintendent." He wasa magistrate of the town, an incorporator of the Academy, and was a member of the Essex Agricultural Society from 1821. He died Noy. 13, 1864.

During a part of the time of Doctor Merriam's practice in Topsfield, Dr. George Whitefield Sawyer of Boxford was in friendly competition with him. Doctor Sawyer was born in Ipswich in 1770, and married Polly Killam of Middleton in 1800. He subsequently settled in Boxre ford as a physician, on the farm known as the "Sawyer farm," on the road to Middleton, near the present residence of Frank W. Killam. "He was acknowledged to be a good physician for the times; and his natural bluntness of speech oftimes amused his patients. After honoring his profession for many years by a life of integrity and trust, he died March 23, 1855, at the age of 85 years."

Dr. Charles Parker French

After Doctor Merriam was well along in years, other physicians came to Topsfield. The first of these was Dr. Charles Parker French, who was born Nov. 27, 1628, in Lyndeborongh, N. H., the son of Isaac P. and Clarissa (Barnes) French. He was graduated at Dartmouth College in 1847, and came to Boxford, and "secured board with the late Major William Lowe, and commenced practice there in 1848." He continued his practice in Boxford for nearly two years, and in 1849 came to Topsfield. During the years 1850 and 1851, he lived in the old "Shepard house," which formerly stood just beyond the present residence of Augustus W. Smith. Doctor French married, May 1, 1850, Mary S., daughter of Oliver T. and Sarah A. (Towne) Peabody of Boxford. She died Feb. 10, 1871, in Denver, Colo. He was a largo, fleshy man, and was "much liked for his humorous disposition. His medical knowledge was deemed sufiicient for good practice.' He remained in Topsfield four years, and, in May, 1854, went to Virden, Hlinois, afterwards moving to Denver, Colorado, where he died Feb. 23, 1904. He became a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society in 18052.

Dr. David Choate

The next physician was Dr. David Choate, son of Dayid and Elizabeth (Wade) Choate, who was born in Essex, Mass., Nov. 27, 1828. He married, Jan. 1, 1856, Susan Elizabeth, daughter of Philip and Susan (Stanley) Kimball, who was born in Ipswich Feb. 24, 1829, and died in Salem, Mass. They bad two children: Helen Stanley, born Feb. 5, 1858 ; and Susan Elizabeth, born Sept. 29, 1862.

Doctor Choate was educated in the schools of his native town and at Phillips Academy, Andover. He commenced the study of medicine with Prof. Dixie Crosby, M. D., of the Dartmouth Medical College, and subsequently entered the Harvard Medical School, from which he was graduated in 1854. When attending his last lectures, Dr. Choate Burnham of Hamilton, Mass., urged him to settle in Hamilton. He practiced in that town from October, 1853, to April, 1854, going back and forth on the train to his studies at Boston. While in Hamilton, William Cleaveland and John Wright of T opsfield called and urged him to come to Topsfield, as Doctor French was planning to go to Illinois, and Doctor Batchelder having gone to Templeton, Topsfield had oaly Or R.A. Merriam, who, although well advanced in years and retired from active practice, still gave his assistance in troublesome cases, which he continued to do till his death. Doctor Choate accordingly went to Topsfield in April, 1854, and boarded with Mr. and Mrs. Humphrey Balch. Doctor Choate occupied one of the front rooms as an office. He had an ordinary carriage at first, but thinking a gig better suited for his practice in Middleton, Boxford and Linebrook, he had one built for him by Thomas Kk. Leach, the Topsfield wheelwright. After his marriage in 1856, he moved into the house yet standing on the corner of Main and Summer streets, and now owned by Mrs. Ephraim Peabody. He frequently called into consultation Dr. Cox of Salem, who, after a time, urged him to settle in that city. Although Doctor Choate liked Topsfield, services, yet he was unused to the hardships suffered during the winter season while on long drives, andso welcomed a chance to go to Salem, removing there in June, 1857. At this time he charged seventy-five cents a visit for calls in Topsfield, and also often went to Boxford for that sum. After he had decided to leave Topsfield, the citizens offered him an increase of 25% on the charge for his visits as an inducement to remain. Doctor Choate had many applicants for his practice, finally selling to Dr. Justin Allen of Hamilton. He still lives in Salem, where "he has had a very extensive practice, and by his kindliness, his professional skill and fidelity, he has gained a strong hold upon and a warm place in the hearts of those in whose families he had visited. Dr. Choate is a most indefatigable worker, and cheerfully responds to many calls, day or night, when he knows there will be no financial remuneration. He is known as the ' Beloved Physician." He became a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society in 1858, and isa member of the Essex South District Medical Seciety. He is a member of the Essex Congregational Club, and for thirty-four years has been a deacon of the Tabernacle Congregational Church of Salem. He has served on the School Board. During the Civil War he was examining surgeon for volunteers and drafted men, and from 1863 to 1869 was examining surgeon for pensions. He was on the staff of the Salem Hospital for fourteen years following its organization. He lives on Norman street in Salem.

Dr. Justin Allen

Dr. Justin Allen* was born in Hamilton, Mass., Sept. 29, 1826, and was the son of Ezekiel and Sally (Roberts) Allen. After atteuding the schools of his native town, he studied at Williston Seminary, East Hampton, Mass., 1845-6, and in 1847 was enrolled at Rockingham Academy, Wampton Falls, N. G., and at Hampton Academy. In the year 1848 he was again at Williston Seminary, and in 1849-1850, was back at Hampton Academy. Entering Dartmouth College, he left in the spring of 1851, and continued his studies at Brown University, graduating from that institution with an A. B. in 1852. In 1853- 1854 he attended lectures at the Berkshire Medical Institute, and in 1855 the medical lectures at the Tremont Medical School. In 1856 he received the degree of M. D. at Harvard, and in June, 1857, came to Topsfield, buying the practice of Dr. David Choate. He continued his practice here and in the neighboring towns till 1894, when he retired from active professional work, enjoying in the next few years several trips abroad, He died, unmarried, Nov. 5, 1908, aged 82 years.

When he first came to Topsfield he lived in the house now owned and occupied by Henry H. Roberts, afterwards removing to the house on Main street now owned by John H. Towne, where he lived eighteen years, then removing to the George P. Dow house at the corner of Main and Prospect streets, and lastly moving into the adjoining house, which he had purchased and where he lived till his death. He became a member of the Massachusetts Medcal Society in 1859, retiring as an active member in 1892. He was the first President of the Topsfield Historical Society, and continued as such until his death.

Dr. William Dudley Hill

Karly in 1881, Dr. William Dudley Hill, a native of Lebanon, Maine, settled in Topsfield. He was born in 1858, the son of Orrin T, and Mary E. (#oss) Hill, and married, June 1, 1881, at Kingston, N. H., Kitty Hartwell Pearson, born in New Bedford, Mass., daughter of Mark R. and Kate (Hartwell) Pearson. Doctor Hill was graduated from the medical department of the University of Vermont in 1879. He lived in the house on School avenue now owned by Alphonso T. Merrill, but remained in Topsfield only a few years, removing to Paterson, N. J., then to Maryland, or Virginia, and to New Hampshire, where he conducted a sanitarium, and is still living. He also practiced dentistry, having a chair in the press-room now occupied by A. T. Merrill.

Dr. George Merrill Randall

Dr. George Merrill Randall came to Topsfield, Oct. 22, 1889, and was associated with Dr. Justin Allen. He was born at Vassalboro, Maine, Mar. 20, 1863, and was the son of George LeBarron Randall, a native of Barnstable, Mass., (who received the degree of M. D. at Maine Medical School, Bowdoin College, in 1842, and practised in Maine for thirty years), and Caroline Matilda (Sturgis) Randall, who was a native of Maine. Doctor Randall received the degree of M. D. at the Maine Medical School, Bowdoin College, in 1889, and later went to the Boston City Hospital where he was Surgical House Officer. After selling his practice in Topsfield he went to Augusta, Me., where he practiced for seven years, and contracted pulmonary tuberculosis which sent him into the mountains of California for one year. After regaining his health he returned to Augusta and practiced five years, and then removed to Lowell, Mass., where he is now located. He holds a commission as 1st Lieutenant in the Medical Reserve Corps, U.S. A. He married June 7, 1893, Alice Martha: Hawes, daughter of Isaiah and Lucy (Hatch) Hawes. They have no children.

Dr. Thomas Lincoln Jenkins

Dr. Randall sold his practice to Dr. Thomas Lincoln Jenkins, who was born Oct. 10, 1866, in Chelsea, Mass., the son of Loyal Lovejoy, of Portsmouth, N. H.and Mary Jane (Norton) Jenkins, a native of Addison, Maine. He married June 18, 1902, Lucy Maud Garbutt of Revere, Mass., daughter of Andrew and Lucy Ann (Dunderdale) Garbutt. They have one child, Mary Lucy Jenkins, born May 10, 1908. Doctor Jenkins, after graduating from the Revere public schools, and the Charlestown. High School, attended the Harvard Medical School, graduating in the class of 1890. On November 1, 1890 be came to Topsfield. In 1891, he became a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society. He was Assistant Surgeon in the 8th Mass. Inf. U. S. Vols. in the Spanish-American War and is now Major and big te of the 2nd Brigade, Mass. Vol. Militia.

Dr. Byron Sanborn

Dr. Byron Sanborn, the son of James Stanlius and Mary Ella (Yeaw) Sanborn, was born in Loudon Centre, N. H., August 18, 1874. He was graduated with the degree of A. B. from Dartmouth College in 1897, and from Dartmouth Medical School in February, 1900, he received the degree of M. D. After studying in Raston and New York Hospitals he came to Topsfield, Sept. 28, 1901. In 1909 he became a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society and also the American Medical Society. On Sept. 25, 19801, he married Mary Rebecca, daughter of E dward Pickering and Emma (Glover) Leavitt of Concord, N. I. They have one child, Victor Paul, born August 2, 1903.

Dr. Nathaniel Bradstreet

Dr. Nathaniel Bradstreet,* the son of Henry and Abigail (Porter) Bradstreet, was born in Topsfield, Oct. 4, 1771. He was fitted for college by Rev. Asahbel Huntington, and entered Dartmouth College in 1791, but after remaining there a year, he entered Harvard from which college he was graduated in 1795, afterwards studying medicine with Dr. James Thacher of Plymouth and Dr. I. A. Holyoke of Salem. In the autumn of 1798, he was appointed chief surgeon of the sloop-of-war Merrimac, Moses Brown of Newburyport, captain, and made several voyages to the West Indies in that vessel. In February, 1800 he resigned his commission and shortly afterward commenced the practice of medicine in Newburyport where he continued till his death. He became prominent in his profession and was highly esteemed as a physician and surgeon. At the time of his death he was a Councillor of the Massachusetts Medical Society. He died at Newburyport Oct. 6, 1828. He married Mary Crombie by whom he had eight children.

Dr. Israel Balch

Dr. Israel Balch, the son of David, 3d and Sarah (Peabody) Balch, was born in Topsfield Sept. 14, 1788. He fitted for college with the Rey. Asahel Huntington, entering Dartmouth when he was eighteen years old. "He received no aid from his father to defray his educational expenses. His grandfather Peabody made him a present of $450 which was all the pecuniary aid he had, that he did not earn himself." He was graduated in the class of 1811. After graduating, he taught schoola year in Topsfield, and a year and a half in the Academy at Amesbury. After studying medicine with Dr. Nathan Smith of Hanover, N.H. and three years with Doctor French of Amesbury, he began to practice in Salisbury, in 1814, and continued till 1820, when he removed to Amesbury, where he resided and practiced, until his death July 7, 1858. He was married at Amesbury in 1814, to Miss Nancy Goodwin, who was born Oct. 12, 1793 and died at Amesbury in 1860. They had four children : Mara, born July 20, 1816; died unmarried, Aug. 29, 1895; Israel, born July 20, 1817, died May 20, 1821 ; Israel Daniel Perkins, born June 18, 1822 ;and David Lowell Dearborn, born Oct. 13, 1828.

" He was a very successful practitioner of medicine and surgery. For seven years he was surgeon of a regiment. He had the largest medical library in Amesbury or vicinity. Many young men sought his office for instruction in medicine and surgery, navigation and higher mathematics. He wrote and delivered several lectures on scientific subjects. He was gifted with a strong scientific mind. He took out several patents and made some very peculiar clocks. In contriving and manufacturing surgical instruments, he exhibited much ingenuity. He was a strong advocate of temperance and a firm abolitionist."

Dr. Josiah Lamson

Dr. Josiah Lamson, the son of Josiah and Marcy (or Mercy) (Perkins) Lamson, was born in Topsfield, Aug. 15, 1789. -He was fitted for college at Bradford and Dummer Academies, his preceptor at the latter school being Benjamin Allen, LL. D. In 1814 he was graduated at Harvard College. The following three years he spent in the study of medicine with Thomas Kittredge, M. D. otf Andover, Mass. He also attended the medical lectures of the Harvard College Medical School in 1816 and 1817, and in the autumn of 1817 received the degree of M. D. from the Censors of the Massachusetts Medical Society. Soon after he was invited to Chebacco (now Essex) by a committees of the parish, and began the practice of medicine there in 1818, and continued until March, 1861. He married, first, Sept. 9, 1824 Rebecca Sargent, who died Mar. 22, 1837, aged thirty years. On April 80, 1839, he married, second, Betsy Dodge. He had two children : Alvin and Mary J., and died April 16, 1870, greatly respected.

Dr. Elisha Huntington

Dr. Elisha Huntington, the son of Rey. Asahel and Althea (Lord*) Huntington, was born in Topsfield, Apr. 9, 1796. He was fitted for college under the direction of his father, who for nearly twenty-five years, was the devout and faithful minister of Topsfield and who made it a part of his occupation to fit young men for college. He entered Dartmouth College at the age of fifteen, and was graduated in the class of 1815. He studied medicine with Doctor Bradstreet of Newburyport, and attended medical lectures at Yale College, taking his degree in-1823, In 1824 he went to Lowell, Mass., and entered at once upon a career of professional and oflicial duties such as it is rarely the fortune of one man to experience. He was eminent as a physician and enjoyed a large practice. While Lowell was yet a town, he served two years as a member of the school committee. After its incorporation as a city he served three years as a member of the Common Council and two terms of two years each as a member of the schoo] committee. He was three times elected as Alderman, and in 1839, during his second year as president of the Common Council, he was elected to fill the office of Mayor, made vacant by the death of Hon. Luther Lawrence only a few weeks after entering upon his second term of office. He was re-elected to fill that office in 1839, 1840, 41, 44, 45, 52, 56, 57,58. In 1853 he was elected Lieutenant-Governor of Massachusetts. Tor two years he was president of the Massachusetts Medical Soci. ety, and also for two years served as president of the District Medical Society, having held all the minor offices of that society. He was a most active member of the Middlesex Mechanics Association, and was chairman of the lecture committee for several years. He married May 31, 1825, Hannah Hinckley, daughter of Joseph and Deborah (Freeman) Hinckley of Marblehead, Mass. She died Sept. 19, 1859. Dr. Huntington died Dec. 13, 1865. Their children were : James Freeman, born Sept. 6, 1826, married May 30, 1848, Ellen Sophrona Whipple; Francis

Dr. Humphrey Gould

Dr. Humphrey Gould, the son of Zaccheus, jr. and Anna (Brown) Gould, was born in Topsfield, July 3, 1797. Doctor Gould, after graduating at Williams College established himself at Danvers, and after remaining a short time, removed to Rowe, Mass., where for about fifty years he was an honored and influential member of the community - a type of the "beloved physician." He was in close social relations with most of the leading professional men in Western Massachusetts and was " universally respected and esteemed, alike for his high moral tone, his extensive knowledge, retentive memory and sound judgment."

Dr, John Augustus Lamson

Dr. John Augustus Lamson, the son of John and Priscilla (Averill) Lamson, was born in Topsfield, March 3, 1831. His early education was received in the local schools, and Phillips Academy, Andover Mass. In 1853 he was graduated from Dartmouth College, and began the study of medicine with the late Charles Haddock, M. D. of Beverly, Mass., then entered the Boylston and Tremont Medical Schools, 'Boston. He was graduated March 12, 1856, from the medical department of Harvard Univ ersity Immediately on receiving his medical degree, he was appointed one of the physicians of the « Boston Dispensary," which office he held for three years. In 1861 he was appointed Examiner for Volunteers by Surgeon-General Dale.

In 1862 he was appointed surgeon of the 42d Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers, and went into camp, but resigned his commission before the regiment left for the seat of war on account of impaired health from the exposure of camp life. (All the officers and three companies of this regiment were captured on arriving at Galveston, Texas, and the surgeon who was Dr. Lamson's successor was held in close confinement till released by death.) He was immediately re-appointed by Surgeon-General Dale as Examiner for Volunteers. In 1863 he was appointed Assistant Exaraining Surgeon under the "Conscription Act." This office he held until the end of the " draft.' During the war he examined, of volunteers, conscripts and substitutes, more than 12,000 men. In September, 1863, he was appointed the physician, chief in charge, of the " Discharged Soldiers' Home," from which he resigned four years later.

He wasa member of the Boston School Board ten years, ending 1871, in which year he was elected a member of the Legislature, and re-elected the following year, representing the wealthiest ward of the city. The year 1873 he spent in European travel, visiting many of the hospitals in London, Dublin, Vienna, Paris and Berlin, and then extended his trip to Constantinople and the East. In 1880 he was appointed Chief Medical Examiner of the " Kquitable Life Assurance Society," for Boston and Eastern Massachusetts. He retired from general practice in 1893. On Oct. 18, 1876, he married Mary Elizabeth Whitcher of Milton, Mass., the daughter of Hon. Joseph Batchelder and Barbara Ann (Horton) Whitcher.

Dr. Charles Treadwell Israel Rea

Dr. Charles Treadwell Israel Rea, son of Israel and Eliza Anu M. (Whitcomb) Rea, was born in Topsfield, Dec. 10, 1835. He entered the Harvard Medical School in 1856 remaining there three years, and graduating in 1859 from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia. He first practised at Manchester, Mass. for two years and then removed to San Francisco, Cal., where he has since resided. He married Martha R., daughter of Dr. Asa Story of Manchester, Mass., by whom he had no children.

Dr. George William Perkins

Dr. George William Perkins, the son of Caleb Kimball and Mary Lucinda (Peabody) Perkins, was born in Topsfield, Jan. 6, 1860 ; fitted for college at Phillips Exeter Academy ; was admitted to Harvard College June 30, 1879 and passed the year 1879-80 with the class of 1883 as a freshman. He skipped the sophomore year, and joined the class of 1882, as a junior in the fall of 1880, and graduated with the class. 'The first two years after graduation he held the position of assistant in biology at Harvard, and at the same time pursued his studies at the Harvard Medical School till June, 1885; in 1886 receiving the degreo of M.D. On June 1, 1885 he was appointed for the usual term of eighteen months a member of the house staff on the surgical side of the Boston City Hospital, and at the conclusion of this service he accepted a position as division surgeon in the medical department of the Union Pacific Railway, with headquarters at Ogden, Utah. He spent two months at Denver to familiarize himself with railway medical work, reaching Ogden in September, 1886. where he resided til) his death Nov. 18, 1908.

He had charge of the Company's Hospital, located at Ogden, for the western district of the Medical Department which comprised about fifteen hundred miles of the Union Pacific System in Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Utah, along which are scattered several assistant surgeons who send all serious cases of injury or sickness to Ogden for treatment. He was also surgeon for the Southern Pacific Railway at Ogden. In addition to his railway work and private practice he dida large amount of consultation and operative surgical work for other doctors. He was president of the Utah State Medical Society and a vicepresident of the Harvard Medical Alumni Association.

By George Francis Dow

The first printed report of the school committee issued by the town of Topsfield, was for the year ending March, 1839. This was in accordance with statute provision recently enacted. Dr. Royal A. Merriam was chairman of the committee and probably prepared the report.

After introductory explanation, appears the following : " The Committee have endeavored to follow the statute as nearly as circumstances would allow, by visiting and exercising such supervision as the law enjoins. In these visits the majority of the Committee have been prosent at the commencement and close of each school and once or more about the middle of each term, as were between three and four months in length, making their visits about once a month. The town, not districted, maintained four Schools from six to eight months each in the year, at an expense of five hundred dollars for the whole. The branches taught are Reading, Writing, Spelling, Defining, Geography, Arithmetic, Grammar, History, and Philosophy." the committee state that "no complaints of dissatisfaction" have come to their knowledge. The schools, four in number, were taught by Misses Ruth Batchelder, Mary P. Lamson, Harriet Towne and Mary P. Towne, all natives of the town. Emerson Gould taught the winter term at the Centre school which "was not so fully attended as in years previous, there being a private Female School kept in the vicinity." "There was no marring or injury done to the buildings, not even a pane of glass broken for the Winter." (34)

Early Topsfield School Reports

The term was sixteen weeks; whole number of scholars 79, with an average attendance of 66. The North school was kept by Nehemiah Cleaveland Bradstreet and the East school by Seabury T. Witt, "a gentleman whose literary and moral qualifications were undoubted," but who proved not to be a success as " there was a failure in a perfect control over the school." John G. Hood presided over the exercises at the South school which " excelled in writing." "The several schools have been provided with a Black-board, almost a stne gua non in every school. Indeed, there are few schools at this day without one; they are considered indispensible." "A few new books have been furnished at the expense of the town, to the amount of six or eight dollars." The committee suggested the propriety of engaging 2 " Female Teacher " for the Centre school, to aid the «" Male Teacher' when the attendance should exceed fifty scholars, and they also recommended that more money be expended on the summer schools as they were then more largely attended than in the winter.

The report for the succeeding year is well written and probably was from the pen of J. C. Batchelder. The duties of parents were discussed and one paragraph reads as follows: "A few words concerning the policy of locating school houses in bye and unpleasant places, would not be inopportune. Children are beings prone to observation, and are not so insensible to the 'sublime and beautiful' as many seem to imagine; neither are they wanting in attention to personal comfort and convenience. Every one may perceive that a warm, pleasant and well furnished room has more attractions than one of an opposite character, and from a knowledge of this fact it is desirable that more regard should be had to the situation and condition of school houses. Every house should havea play ground in its immediate vicinity, and much more attention should be bestowed on the orderly arrangement and finish of school rooms; in fine, a little care and expense would soften the too often repulsive aspect of our school houses, which in their present condition have a very slight resemblance to Minerva's Temple of the Sciences."

«The North School, under the direction of Mr. Robert Gould, like the times, appeared to be ' sadly out of joint.' Very little dependence couid be placed on the children's attendance. A majority of them made their appearance or not, as circumstances favored or opposed; and until parents awake to a sense of duty to their children, the best regulated efforts of the teacher cannot be successful."

The report for the year of 1840-41 was, in the main, a philosophical oration on life and morals. Little information is given as to the progress made in the several schools during the year, but the school buildings are held up for inspection. "Our school houses can hardly escape the well merited term of nuisance ; the inhabitants all lament their condition, but notbing is done to improve them. It is the deliberate opinion of your committee, that not one of them is suitable for the use to which they are appropriated - in execrable repair, badly situated, gloomy, dirty.

and old. Few are there among us who can point to our temples of learning and exclaim, in the language of the Roman matron, ' these are our jewels" "

For some reason, perhaps expense, no report was printed for the succeeding year, but the year following, 1842-8, is particularly complete, showing the date of each visit made to each school with the conditions existing. On July 15, the scholars at the Centre school were found to be "in rather a languid state." The report fails to state what the temperature was at that time, but probably the Farmer's Almanac for that year did not read, "about this time expect snow." August 14th the scholars at the Centre school were 'censured for idleness and disorder.'' .

The whole number of scholars attending at this time was 79 and the teacher was paid the munificent sum of $10.25 per month. The committee decided that the erection of a new meeting house in the immediate vicinity of the school house " ought to be considered an extenuating circumstance"' in the matter of disorder in the school, but the opinion is expressed that the " disposition of the teacher was too amiable and indulgent" and she was " better qualitied to be an usher than a principal ina large school." During the winter term, which was taught by Humphry

Balch, the whole attendance was one hundred - but the average attendance was much below owing to the opening of the Topsfield Academy under Kdmund F. Slafter. School libraries were introduced into the various schools this year and the committee suggested bringing all the schools together on examination day, advocating the plan as a stimulus to greater effort among the scholars.

During the winter term at the South school, two of the larger boys headed a rebellion against the teacher, of which the report gives an extended account saying that " glass was broken and some loss of hair suffered." The boys were suspended but the infection spread through the neighborhood and after several conierences between the parents and the school committee, the matter was taken before the town at the annual meeting where, in the language of the report, it '"'was very justly frowned upon and the article passed over." 'The complainants charged that improper modes of punishment were used by the teacher, such as striking the head with a bound book, pulling the hair and ears, etc. The report of the committee says, "as to the bound book weapon, if we approve of any corporal punishment, one would not think that a package of paper wrapped up in a piece of sheepskin to be a very deadly weapon ; we think we have heard of paper bullets not being very fatal to the enemy. Nor are the hair and ears a very vital part of the human system." The report also notes that various citizens have considered that " the affair of School Committee was a money making business." Whereupon a summary of work perfoirmed is appended, which included examination of the qua,fiications of teachers, supervision of schools and studies the making of an annual report in detail with a return to the Commonwealth, a census of children between the ages of four and sixteen, and monthly visitations of each school. The chairman performed the greater part of this work and also supplied stationary and for the previous seven years had received from the town a total of $39.50, an unanswerable statement.

national distinction, should be an important item of education in our schools."" So says Richard Phillips, jr. in his report for the year 1843-4, which occupies eighteen closely printed pages and displays complacent erudition combined with a happy commendation of both teachers and scholars. According to the report, the schools were in a highly flourishing condition. The establishment of a high school to be opened only in the winter was advocated.

The following year Charles Herrick was chairman. Nothing other than ordinary was noted in the report save the fact that a new school house soon was to be built in the North district and the recommendation made that the new building be located on some different site. Of the one hundred and ten scholars who attended the Centre school, twenty-three are mentioned as being but four years of age. The new Centre school house erected in the fall of 1844 is mentioned and spoken of as well adapted to the wants of the district. The expenditure for teachers was $570.00

John G. Hood, who had recently taught in the public schools, wrote the report for the year ending March, 1846. His " general remarks" at its close were highly practical. He censured the custom followed by some parents who took their children from the Centre school when they had reached an age at which they could be employed at a mechanical trade. He condemned the policy that " turned out" these imperfectly educated boys to become townsmen, parts of society, on whom the public duties of the community would soon devolve. "Our Republican Institutions are depending on the intelligence and popular will for their continuance and usefulness. Therefore how important it is, that the rising generation should be well instructed, both in moral and intellectual knowledge. This, though of so much importance, appears by many to be lost sight of or totally disrerarded, and sinks into insignificance when compared with dollars and cents."

But while the chairman of the school board severely criticised the money making parent he did not spare the thoughtless and superficial mind, for he says : - " There is, in the community, a very strong inclination on the part of pupils, and in some instances of parents and teachers, to attend to some of the higher branches and thereby become superficial or merely white washed. This needs counteracting ; no scholar should be allowed or even encouraged to omit the common useful branches in order to study the ornamental] and less useful. Common Arithmetic should not be made second to Algebra, nor English Grammer to Logic and Rhetoric. After a knowledge of Reading, Spelling, Defining, Writing, Grammar and Geography is obtained, which is a firm basis for an English Education, then and not till then should scholars aspire to higher branches. By an examination of some schools and scholars, it might be inferred that a new highway to obtain knowledge had been opened, which would entirely cut off the old fundamental branches, and in their place be substituted the elegant, towering and refined." This seems to have been aimed at the North district"where for the past few years, the scholars taught during the winter term by college students, had revelled in the glories of latin, greek, algebra, geometry, astronomy and kindred studies. It is noticeable that the following year found but one scholar in the town, and he in the North district, applying himself to Jatin, and but three who studied algebraic forms while geometry was a thing unknown. Meanwhile improvements were taking place. New school houses were being built and the report grows reminiscent " for the old houses will soon be numbered among the things that were, and known only in history, as one after another of these time-worn and 'boy-abused ' edifices are annually giving place to their neat, gay and youthful competitors."

Little of note is recorded for the following year. Both teachers and scholars seem to have quietly moved along the "even tenor of their way." The new North school house was occupied for the first time during the winter term of 1846-7, and the report remarks on "the height of the room and the ineans afforded for ventilation." When one considers the architectural barrenness of the average " district school' and holds in mind the present outlying

"The last school house is now under contract (the East), on the completion of which, if it falls not behind its temporaries, our Town will have school houses not inferior, but commanding, fascinating and attractive, and to which we can point with admiration, as forts in which our children will have the principles of virtue, morality and religion inculcated, which will ever be a sure national defence for our Republican Institutions."

For the school year ending March 18, 1848 there was no printed report made to the town. A few years ago John H. Towne had the manuscript put into type at his expense and a small edition was struck off. The name of Rev. Anson McLoud appears for the first time as committeeman and at frequent intervals in the following years, his interest in the public schools never flagging. As his name heads the list he probably was chairman of the committee as well might become his influential position in town. "We were much pleased with the correctness and apparent intelligence with which important moral lessons in rhyme, and some beautiful passages from the scriptures were repeated." So Says the report of the North school taught by Miss Clarissa H. Towne.

Mr. McLoud, politic man that he was, gave the town great praise for their recent efforts in building new school houses, and then proceeded to suggest that there were other things needed. "You have done nobly in erecting four new school houses within the space of four years. No country town in this immediate neighborhood, perhaps none in the county and few in the state are so well furnished with neat, tasteful, comfortable, convenient school houses as Topsfield. It is worthy of note and reflects honor upon our citizens that these four houses have been built without opposition or wrangling, yea, with the hearty good will of all. We hope the suggestion will not be out of place to people who have shown so much patriotism and liberality in building the houses, that they take a little pains to ornament the grounds on which the out a few shade trees in proper locations immediately. Let the yards be bordered with rose bushes and shrubbery." How well his suggestion was received and acted upon is well known.

« Singing has been employed in the Centre School with admirable effect" says the report for the next year, which also says "we regard Mr. Berry as a first rate teacher, but think it would tend to the improvement of his school if he would prohibit the communications of the scholars with each other, and also would rely a little less upon concert recitations." Excellent advice.

The winter term of the North school at times must have been rather exciting for the report in mild language regrets that any of the scholars should have been deficient in respectful deportment due to a teacher, at the same time deploring the fact that the teacher should have been injudicious in his management and hasty and harsh of speech. The larger scholars were the flies in this pedagog's ointment. The report announces a discovery which it were well that parents, even at the present day, would ever bear in mind. "We believe that instances have been found in the history of our race, of children who had no very scrupulous regard for the truth." An important fact; and the report goes still further and says, "parents may prevent much disturbance in the neighborhood, much trouble to the teacher, and much shame and chagrin on their own part, if they will search a little after the unvarnished truth, before they give way to passion and resentment." Mr. Mcloud then lays down this axiom - «children who have a descent bringing up at home, never haye quarrels and disturbances at school, either with the teacher, or with other scholars."'

Tho Scotch blood of the worthy pastor came to the surface in his summary this year, and his pen was forged into a Damascene blade with which to bring confusion to the non-progressive element in town. It all grew out of an attempt by the committee to introduce into the schools, at their own expense, a system of weekly report cards now considered so essential. It appears that the committee, with childlike innocence, supposed each parent would take to the innovation as ducks to the brook, but in this they were sadly mistaken. Mr. McLoud most picturesquely describes the furor raised among the parents of the scholars. 'Some of the parents regarded the cards as an innovation, and therefore mischievous. Some looked upon them as anti-scriptural, and therefore wicked. Some thought they were tyrannical and arbitrary, and therefore in conflict with the Immortal Declaration of Independence and the glorious Constitution. Some believed them a crafty device by which they should be certified when their children had played truant, or had behaved badly in school, or had neglected their lessons, and therefore an abomination. At first it was proposed to issue the cards regularly, but learning that they were deemed such mighty engines of evil, fraught with ruin to all our political, social, and religious interests, we directed the teachers not to insist upon a parent's signing them, but to keep the weekly record on the cards, notwithstanding. One of the teachers who had opposed the introduction of the cards, after a few weeks took the responsibility of laying them aside, and we felt like sympathizing with him rather than censuring him, for he had made such a ridiculous mistake in filling out the blanks, and withal had used such awkward chirography, that it must have been extremely mortifying to him to send them round weekly to all the families."

Mr. McLoud prepared the reports for the next two years, and had little to offer of an unusual nature. "A young man from Lynn" tried to teach the East school _ for the winter term of 1850-1, and proved to be a weak member, so that the chairman gave him his discharge papers at the end of the first three days.

Richard Phillips, jr., took charge of the educational responsibilities of the town at the next annual town meeting, and at the close of the year presented a superlative report. Mr. Phillips' command of adjectives, added toa happy faculty for euphonious phrases, gave to the report a most glittering effect.

ered things that called loudly for improvement. He severely criticised the lack of thoroughness and the veneer of various ornamental studies which had been pursued to the neglect of the three R's. An epidemic of scarlet fever prevailed about the town and interfered with the attendance, although nothing is said regarding the closing of the schools owing to its contagious character.

In 1855, Dr. Merriam, on writing the report, began as follows: ' We would that you were either cold or hot; that you would either praise or censure our Reports ; that you would read and make your comments. We have been making Reports year after year concerning the condition of the mental and moral developments of those young immortals for whom you profess to have great anxiety, and yet hardly take the pains to peruse a short account of a year's teaching, whether it be for weal or for woe. We believe this Report is not all honey-sweetened, nor vinegar-acidulated." The worthy doctor spoke truly, for his summary preserved a happy medium of criticism and praise. Butanew star of transcendant brilliancy soon appeared above the horizon and began to shed its rays of wisdom on the town through the medium of the school report. "Squire" Holmes, who, like his illustrious legal predecessor, Sylvanus Wildes of lawful memory, ever enjoyed the delights of a perpetual vacation from exacting legal cares, began to favor the town with choice specimens of his curious wit. The report for 1857 was the first of the series, and the "Squire," being a bit unfamiliar with his task, hardly reached the eloquent pace he afterward attained.