History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts - citizen hylbom blog

ing a day at Nahant, in company with Mr. Patrick
T. Jackson; the latter gentleman expressed great
delight in having even that brief respite from his
numerous and pressing cares. Mr. Boott expressed
a wish tiiat he had cares too, and offered to accept
of any post of service which ilr. Jackson might
assign him." Thus, accidentally, he found the place
for which he was so admirably fitted. We find a
communication from him to the owners of the Locks
and Canals on Merrimack Eiver, dated November 14-,
1821, offering to hire the water-power at §1,800
per annum. The offer was refused, and the Boston
Company proceeded to buy up a sufficient amount
solved the problem in regard to the ability of
manufactures to sustain tiiemselves in the business.
It was here, then, tliat the trust funds held by
J, W. Boott under iiis father's will were to find a
profitable investment, and I find among the articles
subscribed to by the founders of Lowell the fol-
lowing :
—
" Article 6th. Wliereas we have been informed that the
Proprietors of the Locks and Canals on Merrimack River
are possessed of valuable mill-seats and water-privileges,
and whereas Kirk Boot lias witb our consent advanced
money for Ike purchase of shares in the stock of that cor-
poration, and of lands thereunto adjoining, we hereby con-
firm all he has done in the premises, and further authorize
him to buy the remainder of the shares in said stock, and
auy lands adjoining the Locks and Canals he may judge
it for our interest to own ; and also to bargain with the
above-named corporation for all the mill-seats and waterprivileges
they may own."
Kirk Boott we find now thorouglily and syste-
matically engaged in this new enterprise. He gave
himself up heartily to its prosecution, and in the
discharge of every duty devolving upon him he
amply fulfilled the expectations of his most sanguine
friends. But we have become aware of one fact,
that he was not a rich man. The interest from his
portion of his father's estate did not go a great
way toward the support of liimself and family, while
tlie pittance allowed him by the company ($3,000
At a subsequent period Francis, another son, was admitted as a
partner. The father built the mansion-house where the Revere
House now is, in Boston. This was the family mansion until
1845, when it was sold to William Lawrence.
LOWELL.
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per annum ^) in the hght of salaries of the pres-
ent day looks meagre. There was no public-house
at that time suitable for the entertainment of his
friends or the directors, when they came to Lowell.
It fell upon him to make his house their resort,
whether they were attracted here by curiosity or
business. The Merrimack Company built a house
for him which formerly stood on the ground now
occupied by the Boott Mills. Besides his cares
and duties as resident manager of the Merrimack
Company, and afterwards of the Locks and Canals
Company, he was the foremost man in every public
enterprise. He was chosen moderator of the first
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of the stock to control it ; when Thomas M. Clark, town-meeting, and repeatedly represented the town's
clerk of tiie old Locks and Canal Company, was em- interests in the state legislature. He married Anne
ployed to purchase the lands in the vicinity. Tiie Haden in 1818, and had six children.
property in the liands of J. Wrigiit Boott was in March 6, 1838, Luther Lawrence was elected
tlie market seeking a profitable investment. The mayor. He was born in Groton, September 28,
Boston Maiuifacturing Company at Waltham had 1778, and was a son of Samuel Lawrence, a soldier
of the Revolution. He graduated at Harvard in
1801, and read law with the Hon. Timothy Bigelow
of Boston, whose sister he afterward married. He
several times a member of the Massacluisetts
j was
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Legislature, and in 1822 was Speaker of the House.
He came to Lowell in 1831, and built the mansion
on Lawrence Street now occupied and owned by
the widow of Tappan Wentworth. He served the
city with ability, and was re-elected in 1839 by an
increased majority. He entered upon his second
term April 1, 1839. On tiie 16th of the same
month, " while walking through one of the build-
ings forming a part of the Middlesex Mills, he
suddenly fell into the wheel-pit, a distance of seven-
teen feet. His head struck a cast-iron wheel, his
skull was fractured, and death ensued almost im-
mediately."
October S, steam-cars commenced making regu-
lar trips between Lowell and Nashua. A new jail
was built on the land since occupied by the Boiler
Works, near the Wamesit Mills ; it was taken
down after the completion of the County Jail in
1858.
In 1839, as has been stated, Luther Lawrence
was re-elected mayor. After the unfortunate ac-
cident which terminated his life, the city council
declared the office vacant, and April 24 proceeded
to fill it. Elisha Huntington had twenty-four
of thirty votes, and was declared elected. He was
born in Topsfield, April 9, 1796, the son of Eev.
Asahel Huntington. He graduated at Dartmouth,
at the age of nineteen. In 1823 he received the
' In 1832 his s.ilaiy was increased to S 4,000.