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

194 Biographical Sketches. Nye. Oliver.
errors and adding new matter, till a very satisfadlory result has
been reached , and the whole will undoubtedly soon appear in
print, some portions having been already given to the public
among the historical papers of the Essex Institute.
The will of Anthony Newhall, who died in Lynn, January 31
1656, mentions his son John and grandchildren Richard and
Elizabeth Hood. His house was on the east side of Federal
street.
Nye, Dr. James M. — a reputable physician and scientist.
He died April 21, 1872, aged 53 years. See Annals, 1872.
Oliver, Stephen. Mr. Oliver died at his residence on Blossom
street, March 15, 1875, at the mature age of 89 years. He
passed a busy and useful life, and under the old town government
was much in public office. Being an a6live politician, and full
of interest in passing events, and withal
a ready and racy writer
on current local affairs, he exercised considerable influence.
During the earlier years of the anti-masonic excitement he was a
stalwart advocate of the cause ;
was one of the most pungent
writers in the old Lynn Record ; and was a delegate to the
national anti-masonic convention, at Baltimore, which in 1831
nominated William Wirt for the presidency. His zeal in the
cause seemed sometimes to outrun his discretion, till it rather
suddenly waned, and he became a warm adherent of the whig
party. He strongly advocated the re-chartering of the United
States Bank. In 1836 and 1840 he was a member of the State
Senate ; and for a short time, under President Harrison, postmaster.
Being diligent and on the whole—though he had
" ups and downs" — successful in business, he provided well for
a large family, engaging at different periods in various occupations,
but chiefly in the
lines.
retail dry goods and shoe-manufafturing
In one of so much versatility it could hardly be expedled that
literary aspirations would remain altogether dormant ;
and hence,
in addition to his political newspaper writings, which, by the
way, were usually timely and telling,
he sometimes appeared as
an essayist or le6lurer ; and in all his produ6lions there was a
vein of good sense and good nature that secured attention. In