The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-05-22

lawyer Of this part Of the country He paa.ed almost
the whole Of his life, after 1892, In some con-
nectio0 with the State government, either sena-
tor, representative, or executive councillor. He
was for eleven years Speaker Of the House, and 10
considered to have been the best presiding officer
that Massachusetts ever produced. He was de-
cided federalist In the days when federalism meant
something clse than ghost or skeleton for demo-
Gratis to swear at His eldest daughter married
Abbott Lawrence, and his second SON, John p. Bige
low has been conspicuous in state and Boston poll
Bgelow resided in Medford. Samuel Dana, native
of Groton, commenced the practice of the law there
in the same year with Mrl Bgelow, whose rival he
was, both at the bar and in politics. He is described
as having been calm, smooth and persuasive while
Mr. Bigelow was energetic, forcible and commanding
Beside often representing GrOton in the House OF
Representatives, he was nine years q member Of the
State Senate of which body he three times chosen
President. In lSl4 and 1916 he was member Of
Congress, and in l820-2l he was delegate in the
Convention which amended the States constitq-
ton. He had seat on the Common Pleas bench
for nine years. Of the Prescots- the most distin-
guished family, not only of Groton but OF all New
England shall have something to say when writin9
from PeppereI. George s. Boutwell, came 10 reside
here in 1885, when he was about eighteen years
old. After serving seven years In the House OF lie
representatives., he was chosen Governor In 1891 and
reelected in 1852. He was three times the demo
cratic candidate for Congress in the late Inlrd ds-
trict The only member of Congress ever furnished
by Groton, beside Mr.. DANA was William M. Rich
artison, who served from 1911 to 1914. He was
court, where he gave judgment in the famous Dart
mouth College case. George +. Farley, one OF the
ablest lawyers Of Massachusetts,, resides here. Mr..
Butler the historian Of the town, is venerable gen
teman of seventy seven years, and is as active
man of half that length of life. He is decided
ederalist, and holds fast to the principles Of his
, youth.
able regard for the cause Of education. From 1851
down to the present time the town records bear
abundant evidence of their wisdom in this respect,
their appropriations keeping pace with the increase
of their means. social library was commenced in
1896, but languished for many years, and what is
now called the Parish Library ia the only institution
of the kind in Groton The Groton Academy was
founded in 1893, and though it had to struggle in its
early years with adverse fortunes, 1t is now one OF
the most fiourishing educational institutions in Mas
sachusetts. This is due to the berality of several
distinguished persons, who have made Of the aca-
deny striking object of their liberaty In 1918
Mrs. Hannah Brazer bequeathed to it large sum
of money, though it was some time before it fell in
In 1912 Mr. Amos Lawrence gave to the academy
the sum of $4,000, having previously presented to
and a large number of books, among which was
copy Of LA Places Mecanique Celeste" translated
by DIR. Bowditch. In l845, the same gentleman
made valuable donation of books to the institution;
in the next year he conveyed to it the Brazer estate
which he had purchased at cost OF $i,400. In
1874 Mr.. W lillian Lawrence, brother Of Amos, gave
10000 to the academy, and S. 900 in lS46. Such
beralty is it is udicous in its operation
The institution is properly called the Lawrence
Academy, and is one Of the best in Massachusetts,
beautifully situated and well conducted
Groton has the reputation Of being one Of the
handsomest towns in New England, and particular
iy attractive in the pleasant summer time. have
never seen texcept in winter and early spring. but
do not find it difficult to believe what is said or it by
The venerable historian Of the town is quite enthus
astic in praise OF it's appearance. The artificial pros
pcct Of GrotoD' he says, is not inferior in its kind
to the natural landscape. A view from the hills on
I'm Etas1n of fI,A CIV ~
morning, from Farmers row, when the sun is de-
Ginning in the west having in sight the whole street.
threef0urths Of mile in length, handsomely studded
with neat and well painted dwellings, the Lawrence
Academy and three churches, with stately spires
pointing heayenwards, is not exceeded in beauty by
any country village in the Commonwealth" With
the exception of salt water there would to be
nothing wanting to the natural attractions of the
place. and as the sea has bad habit Of remaining
away from inland places suppose Groton is not to
be blamed Tor its absence The ponds, or small
lakes OF Groton. are quite numerous There are
seven OF them in the towns limits, and parts OF
evsia others. They abound with fish Of various
kinds and there taken from Of them large
quantities OF ice. Mr.. Cage OF the great Boston
dealers in this chaste article, has several cehOuses
on the banks Of Sandy Pond which lies hard by the
Fitchburg railroad, and where he has just slowed
away some thousands of tons of ice, wherewith to
comfort our unfortunate fellow creatures of the Tro-
pics. Duck Pond has known inlet or outlet.
There are chalybeate springs at Massapoag Pond,
near to which buildings have been erected for the
accommodation OF visitors; but as, like Mr.. Sam We'll
Ter, am not fond of the taste of iatirons cannot
speak to the peculiar intensity Of the nastness OF
these mineral waters.
The Nashua formerly Lanca..er) river runs
through Groton. 1t is a very beautiful stream in
many places, but not useful to Groton as it might
be. There arc bnt two falls in it In this town of any
account, and of these but privilege is "impro-
we'd, that, namely, ofStoneywadng place, where Mr..
Hollinssworths paper works are building, and which
is a very beautiful spot though the fire which de-
stroyed the former mill ruined several magnificent
buttOnwood trees that used to cast their ample sha-
d0ws over the stream. Squannacook river divides
saving, grinding and paper mills. Mr.. Holdings
worth has mill on it for the manufacture
of the coarser sorts Of paper There many brooks
quite competent to the production Of lulling muir
nurs' and trout, As never fish, fearing that in.
stead OF catching | might be caught must refer
you to Governor Boutwell, who is an expert with
the rod and line, for the mysteries of the brooks.
Some SIX years since the people OF Groton laid out
new cemetery, about the centre of the town, the
old one having been filled up with the dead Of al
most two hundred years, and so raised up that, a.
Dickens says OF the occupants of London church.
yard the departed villagers are cheek by owl with
life The cemetery is laid out with good taste and
the monuments and headstones. which are quite
numerous, are, as general rule, in the same style.
The father of the brothers Lawrence is here buried
and his Oldest son, Luther Lawrence, who died while
Mayor OF Lowell, lies near him Amos and William
Lawrence sleep at Mount Auburn. The view from
the cemetery is very beautiful. You can see q
large part Of the town thence and all along the hor
rzon are lines OF hills, blue almost as the elegant
and majestic Blue Ridge itself, and in some places
towering to heights that make the word mountains
applicable 10 them. The Watatuck aud Wachusett
are broadly defined against the sky, while the great
Monadnoch is just visible in the far distance and
seems as Il" dim dropping from the Clouds" The
people oil Groton have proved the truth of the asser-
ton OF popular writer, that there is in the heart
OF man native sense OF beauty. latent sympathy,
a harmony with all that is lovely on the earth which
makes him unconsciously seek out spots of peculiar
sweetness, not only for his daily dwelling, but also
for both hs temporary resting-place and for the
mansion Of his long repose."
There are many hills in Groton, most of which are
arabic to the very submits. Instead Of presenting
that dreary barren and rocky appearance that is so
common with our New England eminences, they
look rich, il not in oil and wine ut least in mat
tiers that can bring those luXures when desired.
The forest trees chestnut, pine MAPLE walnut,
birch, aud various kinds of oak. On several farms
large quantities Of walnuts and chestnuts are an.