Some Medford farmers who had milk routes in Boston in the Thirties and forties.
Oliver M. Gale, died in 1Malden.
Horatio A. Smith, died 1897, aged 95, in Medford.
Edmund Symmes, died 1843, aged 48, in Medford.
—Beard, on Joseph Wyman Farm.
Joseph Wyman, died 18—, in Medford.
Albert and Octavius Smith. Octavius died 1845, aged 26, in
Medford. Albert died 1891, aged 84.
John C. Magoun,2 on the Edward Brooks Farm.
Stoddard, on the J. Q: Adams Farm at West Medford.
Captain Nathan Adams, died 1842, aged 79, in Medford.
Dea. Nathan Adams, died 1849, aged 60, in Medford. [p. 4]
About 1844 the railroad commenced to bring milk from distant country towns to Boston. The railroad men cut prices, and personally solicited patronage directly in the dwellings and elsewhere. This made trouble between the two parties.
The writer has seen his uncle (a Medford milkman), when he was sure he had been stung by a railroad man, drive abreast of his wagon, locking wheels, and then there was war.
I do not know whether the Medford men were frozen out of the business, or their routes were bought up. I think, with the exception of two, their farms were not paying property after giving up their routes in Boston.
Of the men now living who had any active part in the business in the forties are Everett Wellington, H. A. Smith, Jr., and the writer (who was taken out of school for three months as substitute for Octavius Smith, an uncle, who died in February, 1845). These three were about fifteen years old.
Up in the morning at 3 A. M., the cows milked and got ready to move, I carried the morning's and the previous night's milk, collecting some on the road at E. T. Hastings' and Joseph Swan's, delivered some in Medford and Charlestown and the North and West Ends, also in the vicinity of Fort Hill (about fifty gallons). In the afternoon I drove to Woburn to collect more milk. In Boston Peter C. Brooks was a customer, and numbers of other Medford families, including Robert Bacon's, and Miss Lucy Osgood's brother David. Considerable truck went over the road both ways for them; for instance, swill for Miss Lucy's pig. A Mr. Lovering, cattle drover and dealer, used to drive a herd of cows into the country at certain times and return them later. I recollect seeing Everett Wellington driving some of his father's stock through Lexington at one time, probably to pasture.
There were many working oxen, and one large slaughter-house and tannery where the Armory now stands. [p. 5]
Tolls were paid on the Medford Turnpike and on Warren and Charles River Bridges. Miserable roads in the towns and cobble-stone pavements in the city. Oftentimes, in winter, the snow in Boston streets (including what was shovelled from the sidewalks and fell from roofs) was higher than the walks, making bad cradle holes—‘hard road to travel.’
The Wellington farm was at the dead end of Ship street, with a gate at entrance to farm. The B. & M. R. R. cut through it in 183—. James, one of the brothers, was manager on the farm, and Isaac did the outside work. They lived within three miles (air line) of Boston, and drove six miles to get there. I think Isaac always wore a tall beaver hat. He was a gentlemanly man, and lived to be over ninety. The brothers lived in the same house which is standing today, and is one of the oldest houses in Medford.
About 184—the farm was laid out in house lots. Today it is a thriving village, with a railroad station, church, schoolhouse, post office, and is called Wellington.
The Wellington brothers came to Medford in 1800 from Lexington.
Oliver M. Gale's farm was near Malden line, later set off from Medford to Malden.
Horatio A. Smith lived on the Le Bosquet farm at Symmes' Corner. He lived to be ninety-five. Marshall Symmes, now ninety-two years old, bought the farm, and with his sons is running it today. Governor Brooks was born in the old house, which has been moved and is standing in the yard and used for storing vegetables.
Edmund Symmes lived at Symmes' Corner, where his father lived before him. The place had been in the family since England buncoed the Indians. A portion of the land is in the Symmes family today.
—— ——lived on the Joseph Wyman farm on Winthrop street, now owned by the Russells.3 The house was replaced by a modern one. The barn, which stood across the street, was burned a few years ago. I think [p. 6] Joseph Wyman, when he gave up the stage-coach, was on the milk route a short time. He sold the farm to William A. Russell, who came from Somerville.
Albert Smith's farm was on Woburn street. His father came from Lexington in 1810, leasing what was called the Payson or Soley farm at that time. The house stood on what is now the corner of High street and Boston avenue, very near the Middlesex Canal. A few months before his death he rented the James Wyman farm, corner of High and Woburn streets. He had a milk route to Boston until his death in 1830. Albert continued the route, assisted later by his brother Octavius. Besides milk, they furnished their customers with fruit, vegetables, corn and rye meal, berries, poultry, herbs, oftentimes filling a bedtick with straw, carrying it to the city on top of the covered milk wagon. All milkmen did likewise.
The house and barn on Woburn street, now standing, are the only twin farm buildings in Medford of their date.4 John H. Hooper says the place was an old road tavern. Albert Smith bought it about 1839. The previous tenant was John R. Kidder, who was a butcher.
John C. Magoun lived on the Edward Brooks farm in West Medford. He moved to Somerville. I think Magoun Square was named for him. A brother, Aaron, was a teacher in the Park street school, and later, for many years, in the Cambridge schools.
Mr. Stoddard lived on the C. F. Adams farm at West Medford, on the south side of the canal.
Capt. Nathan (Squire) Adams' farm was on both sides of Main street, and included the Mystic Park. He died, 1842, aged seventy-nine. His nephew, George E. Adams, succeeded him. The buildings were on the east side of the street.
Dea. Nathan Adams lived half way up Winter Hill. The buildings were on the west side of the street. He died, 1849, aged sixty. [p. 7]
In Charlestown Square, in the rear of Sawtell & Jacobs' grocery, were sheds and a stable where many milkmen, on the return home, used to call to bait themselves and horses. Sawyer's Cellar Restaurant, near by, was not idle.
Noah Johnson, who lived on Marm Simonds' hill, had a local route. J. E. Wellington bought him out, ran it about a year, and sold to a Mr. Milliken of Lexington. This was long before J. E. Ober's time.
There were, perhaps, no others doing a local milk business at that time, so many Medford people had cows of their own.
