interested in railroads, and, as I have said, became famous

in their management.

Jacob Foss was the patriotic citizen who is remembered whenever the old flag is flying in Charlestown on public days, a fund for the payment of which was provided for in his will. He will be the worthy subject of a special article at some future time.

Samuel Kidder & Co. were interested with Benjamin Bell, a well-known chemist of the town, in the manufacture of tartaric acid by a new formula of Bell's, which for many years was kept profoundly secret, and great gain was the result. The building in Winthrop Street which had been used by the Hydes as a soap-factory was afterwards purchased by Kidder & Co., and this Charlestown specialty was produced there in large quantities and distributed all over the country. This business was continued until 1877. Rochelle salts, the basis of Sedlitz powders and other chemicals, were prepared by Kidder & Co. in large quantities and sold to the wholesale druggists far and near. Dr. Samuel Kidder was a man to be remembered as a citizen of the town. The local apothecary-shop of the firm could never be too highly appreciated; and the amount of good done in it by the careful selection of first-class medicines, and by uncommon attention in their preparation and delivery, can hardly be estimated.

Doctor Kidder's estate on Cordis Street was the next below the Hydes', on the same side of the street. He lived here for some years and then removed to Medford. He continued in business in town until 1852, coming to the store regularly every day. In front of his house on Cordis Street was another noticeable garden of the town.

A look through his gateway would give you a view of regularly formed flower-beds, edged with box, skillfully clipped and shaped. Great bunches of red peonies would stare you in the face, while a profusion of old-fashioned damask roses filled the air with their delightful fragrance. Persian lilacs, snowballs, and snowberries did their part in making up the arrangement, and white lilies, the brilliant red London pride, the brilliant blue larkspur, various kinds of flox, and canterbury-bells were worked into the design where they would best improve the general effect. Hybrid perpetual roses were then unknown, but a few moss-roses had their prominent places in the garden, and the good old-fashioned white and cinnamon roses lifted themselves high on the corners of the house and around the fence-posts. The fruit-garden was much like others in the vicinity, with the addition of one or two Saint Michael pear-trees which always yielded a good crop. The boys in the neighborhood had to pray often not to be led into temptation, while the pears were ripening.

Doctor Kidder sold the estate to Samuel Abbott, who resided here for thirty years or more, until he died in 1852. He was a partner with Ralph W. Jewett in the West India goods business, on Main and Back (now Warren) streets, the store running through from street to street. The business, commenced in this way, before 1812, when they purchased the store, was continued by Jewett & Abbott, Samuel Abbott & Co., and William Abbott, a brother, until 1875, when the store was torn down to give place to the brick building now owned and occupied by Louis Klous as a clothing-store. The Abbott house on Cordis Street was demolished to make

room for a block of brick houses which cover the whole estate and are now the residences of Colonel Solomon Parsons, J. T. Reed, and others.

Next below this estate was that of Gilbert Tufts, the father of Honorable Arthur W. Tufts, who, a few years ago, removed from this, his native place, to Boston Highlands, where he has become somewhat distinguished. Gilbert Tufts was of the firm of Nathan Tufts & Co., extensive tanners, who must be mentioned hereafter in a notice of the business of the town. Mr. Tufts sold this

estate to Charles Forster, and removed into a new house on Washington Street. Mr. Forster resided here for many years and then removed to Somerville. Previous to this, a portion of the estate had been sold to Charles Thompson, who built on it the brick house so long occupied by him, now the residence of Doctor Houghton. JUNE 9, 1888.

VI

On Cordis Street

Charles Thompson -Samuel Thompson -The Academy Captain David Low- Richard Baker.

C

HARLES THOMPSON'S garden remains as it

was when he died in 1871. It is quite large,

inclosed by an iron fence on two sides, and by a brick wall on the other. It differs from the other gardens which have been described, as it has a buckthorn hedge all along the side of the fence and a profusion of climbing plants, begonias, Chinese wistarias, and woodbines, which cover the south side of the house and all the wall on one side of the garden. Altogether, it is a very pleasant place to look upon.

Mr. Thompson was a very prominent man in the town in his time. He held many of its most important offices, and the business of the old town-meetings was hardly thought to be legal without him as moderator. He was indeed a dignified and well-posted chairman of public assemblies. In the Legislature of the State as an honorable senator, and as member of the Governor's Council, he commanded attention, and he was one year the Democratic candidate for Lieutenant-Governor. He was a director in several railroad companies, and president of the Charlestown Mutual Fire Insurance Company, a successful institution under his administration for nearly

man.

twenty years. His youth was spent in the office of J. W. Langdon, Boston, and he was an excellent business He was afterwards established with his father in the iron business, the store of the firm being in a building still owned, I think, by his family, on the corner of Main Street and the alley-way leading to the First Church. Luther Lapham, who died in Medford somewhat more than a year ago, was brought up with him and became his partner. Thompson & Lapham had stores in Charlestown and on old City Wharf, Boston, and did a large business. The Charlestown store was afterwards sold to Nathaniel Lamson. Honorable Francis Thompson spent his youth in the Boston store, was afterwards joined as partner, and continued the business in Custom House Street, Boston, nearly up to the time of his death. The house was always successful, and confidence in its integrity and fair dealing was perfect.

Luther Lapham's residence in Charlestown covered a long term of years; and, as he never married, he made his home much of the time with his partner on Cordis Street. He had all the qualities which are necessary to make up an agreeable and really high-minded man; and he will be remembered as such a man by all who ever had any dealing with him or enjoyed his friendship socially. After he withdrew from the firm of Thompson & Lapham, he busied himself for some years in the management of several ships, of which he was the owner.

Samuel Thompson's house, which was torn down after its purchase by Charles Thompson, was of wood, two stories high, with its end on the street, like the houses above it. Samuel Thompson died in 1815. He was