History of Andover, (Essex County) Massachusetts United States of America

Our database does not include an historic photo for Andover, (Essex County) Massachusetts, do you have one you would like to contribute? Contact Us!

Local History Notes:

ANDOVER, a post-township of Essex county, Massachusetts, 21 miles N. from Boston, and 16 miles N. E. from Salem. The township extends to the Merrimack river on the N., and is intersected by several railroads. The situation of the village is elevated and pleasant. The streams in the vicinity afford excellent water-power, which is extensively employed in manufacturing. Flannels, linen, and shoe-thread are the principal articles. Andover is the seat of Phillips Academy, one of the oldest and best-endowed academical institutions in New England; and of Andover Theological Seminary, founded in 1807. Phillips Academy was instituted in 1788, principally through the efforts of the Hon. Samuel and John Phillips, from whom it derives its name. It has a valuable chemical and philosophical apparatus, and libraries containing 2500 volumes. The buildings are on a range with those of the theological seminary, about 40 rods distant. The large income arising from the funds, amounting to about $60,000, enables the trustees to secure the services of distinguished teachers, and at the same time make but a moderate charge for tuition. The Andover Theological Seminary, under the direction of the Congregationalists, stands on a pleasant elevation, commanding a fine prospect. A president and five professors compose the faculty. Qualifications for entering are testimonials of a good character and a liberal education. The course of study requires three years. Tuition and room-rent are free to all, and additional aid is furnished to indigent students. Number of graduates up to 1852, 1066. Number of students the same year, 87. Volumes in the library, 21,259. Besides these, Andover contains a number of other educational institutions, several churches, and a bank. A quarterly periodical, the Bibliotheca Sacra, is published in this place. Incorporated in 1646. Population in 1830, 4540; 1840, 5207; 1850, 6945.

Biographies:

George Swett Appleton, publisher, was born at Andover, Mass., Aug. 11, 1821, third son of Daniel and Hannah (Adams) Appleton. He attended Phillips academy, Andover, Mass., and later went to Europe, where he studied for four years at the University of Leipsic, Germany, after which he travelled, becoming proficient in the Italian, German and French languages. He was a connoisseur of painting and accumulated a fine collection of masterpieces of art. Upon his return to America he was for several years engaged in the book publishing business in Philadelphia. In 1849 he returned to New York and was admitted to partnership with his brothers in the firm of D. Appleton & Co. His eminent attainments as a scholar and connoisseur of art were of great service to the firm; of which, in fact, he was the literary counsellor. He instituted and carried on the monthly issue of Appleton's Art Journal for many years; developed the resources of the house for publishing foreign classics in the original and in English, and text-books to facilitate the study of foreign languages; and planned the Popular Science monthly. Mr. Appleton died at his home in Riverdale, on the Hudson, July 7, 1878.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Jane Means Appleton Pierce, wife of President Pierce, was born in Hampton, N.H., March 12, 1806; daughter of the Rev. Jesse Appleton. She was married in 1834 to Franklin Pierce, and they had three children (sons), two of whom died in infancy, the youngest son, Benjamin, when about thirteen years of age, was instantly killed while en route from Boston to Concord, N.H., and near Andover, Mass., the car in which he sat with his parents being derailed, and both parents escaping without injury. This shock coming immediately before her husband's inauguration as President and her advent as mistress of the White House, greatly affected her health, which was not rugged, and she took up the cares and duties of her Washington life under great depression. Aside from her necessary duties as the first lady of Washington official life, which she performed with dignity and tact, she withdrew wholly from the gaieties and festivities of society. After her return to her home in Concord, she traveled three years with her husband in Europe, and died at Andover, Mass., Dec. 2, 1863.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Abiel Foster, representative, was born in Andover, Mass., Aug. 8, 1735. He was graduated from Harvard in 1756; afterward studied theology, and was ordained pastor of the Congregational church at Canterbury, N.H. He served in the New Hampshire legislature and was a delegate to the Continental congress, 1783-85. In 1784 he was a member of the New Hampshire constitutional convention, and the same year he was made judge of the Rockingham county, N.H., court of common pleas, and was afterward appointed chief justice. He represented his district in the first U.S. congress, 1789-91, was a member and president of the state senate 1793-94, and was a representative in the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th congresses, 1795-1803. He died in Canterbury, N.H., Feb. 6, 1806.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

George Mooar, educator, was born in Andover, Mass., May 27, 1830; son of Benjamin and Susanna (Cummings) Mooar; grandson of Benjamin and Hannah (Phelps) Mooar, and a descendant of Abraham Mooar who settled in Andover, Mass., about 1686, and married Priscilla, daughter of Daniel and Mary (Farnum) Poor. He attended Phillips Andover academy, and was graduated from Williams college, A.B., 1851, A.M., 1854, and from Andover Theological seminary in 1855. He was married, Oct. 5, 1855, to Sarah A. Comstock of Centerbrook, Conn. He was ordained Oct. 10, 1855; was pastor of the South Congregational church at Andover, Mass., 1855-61; removed to Oakland, Cal., where he was pastor of the First Congregational church, 1861-82, and of the Plymouth Avenue church, 1874-88; professor of systematic theology and church history in the Pacific Theological seminary, 1870-92, and was appointed professor of apologetics and church history in 1892. He was a member of the commission of twenty-five appointed by the national council of Congregational churches to prepare a creed and catechism for the church, 1881-84. He received the honorary degree S.T.D. from Williams in 1868. He was associate editor of the Pacific, 1863-86, and editor, 1886-96, and is the author of: Historical Manual of the South Church, Andover (1859); Handbook of the Congregational Churches of California (1863); The Religion of Loyalty (1865); The Prominent Characteristics of the Congregational Churches (1866) and a volume of sermons. He also prepared for press Genealogy of the Mooar and Cummings Families.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor