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

46 ANNALS OF LYNN 187I.
south, a staunch Union man
;
and he suffered severely, in a
pecuniary way. After the close of the war, he was able to gather
up something from his scattered fortune, and passed the remainder
of his life in Lynn, in comfortable though not affluent circumstances.
He was accustomed to take a practical view of life, and
for his reading chose the more solid works. And having been
in contact with all classes and travelled in various parts of the
country, with an observing e3''e, he was enabled to impart much
useful information. The house in which he died was the same
which he had in process of erection at the time of the burning
of his manufactory, in 1833. "Taylor's Building," on the corner
of Elm street, and adjoining the western extremity of " Healey's
Arcade," which was, at the time of its erection, probably the most
costly building in Lynn, and considered by many to be quite
beyond the requirements of the times, remains as evidence of his
enterprise.
By the great fire in Chicago, which commenced on the night
of Oct. 7, it was for a time feared that some of our business men
would suffer materially, the shoe and leather dealers there being
indebted to Lynn manufacturers to the amount of some $150,000.
But the real loss, happily, proved inconsiderable. A meeting in
aid of the sufferers by the calamity was held in Music Hall on the
evening of October 10, at which resolutions of sympathy were
adopted, and arrangements made for systematic contributions
of money, clothing, and all articles of prime necessity. The
contributions in money amounted to something above ;^ 17.000.
And some forty cases of bedding, clothing, boots and shoes, &c.
were likewise gathered and forwarded.
President Grant passed through Lynn on the morning of Oct.
16. A large crowd had assembled in Central square to greet
him, but he merely stepped out upon the platform of thePullman
car in which he was journeying eastward, bowed to the multitude,
and bad them good morning.
The autumn foliage this year presented unusually rich and
varied tints. It was a rare treat even to one accustomed to these
annual displays to witness the brilliant show, and many a fair
lady could be met on a pleasant day wending her way from the
woods with leafy gatherings of almost dazzling brightness.
Two human skeletons, supposed to be aboriginal remains, were
exhumed, in Ocean street, Nov. 2.
A very violent easterly storm commenced on the evening
of Nov. 14, and continued through the 15th. The wind was
very high, and drove the sea in with great fury. Much damage
was done along the coast. The lower part of Beach street was
overflowed to the depth of something more than two feet, and
the condition of the wharves indicated a tidal influx as great,