In 1820, there were in the villages of East Chelmsford, Belvidere, and Centralville, about two hundred and fifty inhabitants.  Whipple’s powder-mills and Howe’s flannel-mill were then in operation, and there were several sawmills and gristmills.  Ira Frye’s Tavern stood on the site of the American House.  There was Hurd’s mill, a blacksmith shop at Massic Falls, a few other such establishments as a country village usually affords, and several substantial dwelling-houses, farmhouses, and cottages, conspicuous among which was the Livermore House in Belvidere.

[Illustration:  ROGERS HOMESTEAD, BELVIDERE.]

The operations of the Merrimack Company soon attracted settlers.  In 1822, a regular line of stages was established between East Chelmsford and Boston.  In 1824, the Chelmsford Courier was established, and became at once the organ of the growing community.  The next year a militia company was organized; the Fourth of July was celebrated with appropriate ceremonies; the Middlesex Mechanics’ Association and the Central Bridge Corporation were incorporated; the Hamilton Manufacturing Company was established; and the inhabitants of the village of East Chelmsford petitioned to be incorporated.  The petition was granted, and Lowell became a town March 1, 1826, with a population of about two thousand.  The name of the town was adopted in honor of Francis Cabot Lowell, a business associate of Nathan Appleton, and a promoter of the manufacture of cotton goods in this country.

The years of 1827 and 1828 were marked by great depression in the commercial and manufacturing circles of the country, but Lowell had a good start, and her prosperity was assured.  The Lowell Bank, the Appleton Company, and the Lowell Manufacturing Company, were established in 1828,—­the year the first ton of coal was brought to town.  The coal was used for fuel in the law office of Samuel H. Mann.

In 1829, the Lowell Institution for Savings was incorporated, and William Livingston established himself in trade.  For a quarter of a century Mr. Livingston was one of the most active, most enterprising, and most public-spirited citizens of Lowell.  Much of the western portion of the city was built up by his instrumentality.

[Illustration:  WORTHEN-STREET OR SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH.]

The Middlesex Company was established in 1830, as was the Lowell fire department.  The Town Hall was also built; and Lowell numbered sixty-four hundred and seventy-seven inhabitants.

[Illustration:  CENTRAL METHODIST CHURCH.]

In 1830, Mr. Jackson undertook to connect Boston and Lowell with a railroad.  A macadamized road had been surveyed, when this new road was projected; and it was a part of the original plan to have the cars drawn by horses.  The successful operation of Stephenson’s Liverpool and Manchester Railroad was known to Mr. Jackson, and he was encouraged to persevere.  The road was completed at a cost of $1,800,000 and