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

74 ANNALS OF LYNN iS//.
of the Selectmen ;
and after Lynn became a city, was called to
continue in the public service — was an Alderman in the second
year's board, and City Clerk five years. He was also a Representative
in the General Court, and United States Revenue Assessor.
For many years he was an honored member of the
South street Methodist church, and always maintained an unblemished
character. His wife was a daughter of William Breed,
a father in the Quaker faith, and they reared a respectable family,
eight sons and three daughters having been born to them. Few
men, after so long and active a life go to their final rest more
worthy of grateful remembrance.
The velocity of the wind in and about Lynn, during a storm,
March g, was seventy-two miles an hour.
The annual session of the New England Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, commenced in Lynn, in the old
historic Common street Methodist meeting-house, April 4, and
continued one week, Bishop Foster presiding. The first session
of the Conference here was held in 1795, in an unfinished chapel
which occupied the same site.
Sweetser's brick block, a substantial four-story building, at the
junction of Central avenue and Oxford street, was burned on
the morning of April 7. It was well fitted with machinery and
other appliances for the prosecution of the shoe business, on a
large scale, and there was considerable stock in the different
lofts. The loss, including that of an adjacent three-story wooden
building", amounted to some $115,000.
The last building on Market street occupied exclusivel}'- as a
dwelling was removed in the spring of this year. It stood on
the southwest side, between Tremont and Summer streets, and
was first owned and occupied by Dr. Coffin.
Some excitement prevailed in the spring of this year regarding
mad dogs, and continued many months. Two or three fatal
cases of hydrophobia occurred. The city authorities ordered
that no dogs should be permitted to go at large unmuzzled, and
many canine lives were sacrificed. Samuel A. Parker, of Saugus,
a worthy man, of middle age, died of hydrophobia, April 17,
having been bitten by a rabid dog, January 15.
A marked religious revival took place in the various evangelical
societies of Lynn, in the spring of this year, and many were
added to the churches. At St. Joseph's (R. C.) meetings in
charge of four Jesuit fathers, from Chicago, were held, commencing
May 20, which excited much attention and were attended
by crowds.
Captain Johnson, the intrepid fisherman who did his part in
celebrating the centennial year by crossing the Atlantic in his
little fishing dory " Centennial," exhibited his memorable craft
in Munroe street, in April. He is said to have declared that a