History of Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts, including Lynnfield ...

128 Biographical Sketches. Chase.
remarkable they seemed to have some comprehension of his
meaning and be willing to exert themselves to merit his favor.
It was Bayard Taylor, if
we rightly remember, who claimed that
there are minds which can establish intelligent communication
with lower animals. Perhaps there are, and that this Mr. Chadwell's
was one of them.
Chase, Hezekiah. Mr. Chase was for many years a wellknown
and highly respefted resident ; was first president of the
Nahant Bank, and long identified with the business enterprises
of the day. His residence was on Western avenue, near the
Summer street crossing ; and the grist, spice, and coffee mills,
in that vicinity, so long known as Chase's mills, were owned by
him, and from him took their name. His death, which occurred
on the 26th of March, 1865, was occasioned by injuries received
on being thrown down by a sudden jerk of the cars as they
started from the West Lynn depot. His age was 72, and he was
a native of Plaistow, N. H.
Chase, John.
Mr. Chase, at the time of his decease, was one
of the few remaining old-time shoemakers, and had little pra6lical
knowledge of the recent improvements in the mode of manufacture,
as well as little taste for them. At the age of twelve, in
accordance with the custom of the time, he finished his schooling
And upon that seat he
and was put upon the shoemaker's seat.
worked for seventy years, using the same lap-stone and several
of the same tools, for that long period. How many feet his
labors must have helped to clothe during those many years, we
He was an intelligent, worthy man,
need not pause to calculate.
adlive in politics, and among the early advocates of the abolition
of slavery. For thirty years he was a member of the First
Methodist church. The old seat on which he worked and some
of his tools have been preserved as relics that will be appreciated
by curious inquirers into the earlier history of the great manufacture
of New England. He died on the 2d of 06lober, 1876,
aged ^-^ years.
Chase, Rev. Stephen — minister of the Lynnfield parish some
twenty-four years. See Annals, 1755.