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Gc 974.202 C74c v.2 1136125
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01095 9093
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STATE HOUSE, 1865-1903.
HISTORY
OF CONCORD
ONCORD
NEW HAMPSHIRE
FROM THE ORIGINAL GRANT IN SEVENTEEN HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE TO THE OPENING OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY
PREPARED UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE CITY HISTORY COMMISSION
JAMES O. LYFORD, Editor
PENA
RNESS WAS GLAD FO 125
THEM
1853.
UCATION RELIG
CONCORD
ADOPTED CITY CHARTER
VOLUME II
AUTHORIZED BY THE CITY GOVERNMENT JANUARY 14TH, 1896
THE RUMFORD PRESS, CONCORD, N. H.
1903
COPYRIGHT, 1903, BY THE HISTORY COMMISSION OF CONCORD
CONTENTS.
1136125
VOLUME II.
CHURCH HISTORY-James O. Lyford (Chapter 19)
· 685
First Congregational Society, or North Church 686
The Friends, or Quakers
713
The Episcopal Church
714
The First Baptist Church
727
The First Methodist Church 735
The Second Congregational (Unitarian) Church . 741
The West Concord Congregational Church . 750
The South Congregational Church 756
The White Memorial (Universalist) Church 764
The East Concord Congregational Church . 771
The Curtis Memorial Free Will Baptist Church
775
The First Baptist Church at Penacook 779
The Methodist Church at Penacook
786
The Pleasant Street Baptist Church 790
The Second Advent Christian Church . 794
The First Congregational Church of Penacook 798
The Roman Catholic Church (St. John's)
805
The Church of the Immaculate Conception (Roman Catholic) at Penacook 812
The Plymouth Brethren 818
The Baker Memorial (Methodist) Church
.
819
The Salvation Army . .
823
The French Catholic Church (Sacred Heart) 824
The Swedish Baptist Church 825
The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church . 827
The Church of Christ, Scientist 829
The Friend's Christian Union 831
CANALS, STAGE LINES, AND TAVERNS, Henry McFarland (Chapter 20) . 832
CONCORD AS A RAILROAD CENTER, Henry McFarland (Chap- ter 21) . . 866
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION, Jacob H. Gallinger (Chapter 22)
905
DENTISTRY, James O. Lyford (Chapter 23) 928
NEW HAMPSHIRE STATE HOSPITAL (Asylum for Insanc) Joseph B. Walker (Chapter 24) 932
MARGARET PILLSBURY GENERAL HOSPITAL, James O. Ly- .
ford (Chapter 25) . 950
PAGE
iv
CONTENTS.
N. H. MEMORIAL HOSPITAL FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN, James O. Lyford (Chapter 26) 956
BENCH AND BAR, Charles R. Corning (Chapter 27) . 959 NEWSPAPERS AND THEIR EDITORS, Frank W. Rollins (Chap- ter 28) 1016
DOMESTIC CUSTOMS AND SOCIAL LIFE, Frances M. Abbott (Chapter 29) . . 1046 THE ROLFE AND RUMFORD ASYLUM, Joseph B. Walker (Chapter 30) . 1083 POLITICAL AND PUBLIC EVENTS AT THE CAPITAL, Charles R. Corning (Chapter 31) . 1091 ·
STATE PRISON, Joseph B. Walker (Chapter 32) 1153
CONCORD IN THE CIVIL WAR, Howard F. Hill (Chapter 33) 1162 SCHOOLS, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE, John C. Ordway (Chapter 34) 1203
CONCORD LITERARY INSTITUTION, John C. Ordway (Chap- ter 35) . 1311
METHODIST GENERAL BIBLICAL INSTITUTE, John C. Ord- way (Chapter 36) 1317
ST. PAUL'S SCHOOL, James O. Lyford (Chapter 37) 1322
ST. MARY'S SCHOOL, Thomas C. Bethune (Chapter 38) 1335
OFFICIAL ROSTER, James O. Lyford (Chapter 39) · 1338
Selectmen of the Town
· 1338
Moderators of the Town
·
Clerks of the Town and City
· 1342
. Aldermen 1342
Presidents of Common Council
. 1346
Clerks of Common Council .
. 1347
Common Councilmen .
1347 .
Assessors
. 1353
City Treasurers .
· 1355
Collector of Taxes
. 1355
Chief Engineers of Fire Department
. 1355
Superintendents and Commissioners of Highways . 1355
Sanitary Officers
. 1356
City Engineers .
. 1356
City Auditors
1356
City Marshals
· 1356
· City Solicitors 1356
Police Justices
1356
Superintendents of Schools .
. 1356
City Messengers
. 1356
1341
Mayors of the City 1342 .
V
CONTENTS.
Residents who have held National, State, and County Positions. National
President, Cabinet, U. S. Senators, Representatives, Judges, Attorneys, Marshals, Collectors and Na- val Officers of Customs, Ministers, Consuls, Com- missioners and Pension Agents, Assistant Secreta- 'ries and Treasurers, Comptrollers and Auditors of Treasury, Solicitor of Navy Department, Special Agents of Treasury Department, etc. . 1357
Postmasters of Concord . 1357 . .
Concord Post-office Roster .
1358
1360 State .
Governors, Councilors, Secretaries of State and State Treasurers .
Attorney and Adjutant-Generals, Bank, Insurance, Railroad, Labor, and Forestry Commissioners, State Historians, Indexers of State Records, Boards of Health and Charities, Commissioners of Pharmacy, State Printers, Wardens of State Prison, State Librarians and State Superintendents of Public Instruction .
1361
Presidents of the Senate and Speakers of the House . State Senators, Representatives, Clerks of Senate and House 1362
1361
Delegates to Constitutional Conventions 1368
Judges of Supreme Court, Law Reporters, Clerks of Court
1369
County
1369
Solicitors, Sheriffs, Judges and Registers of Probate . 1369
Registers of Deeds, Treasurers and Commissioners 1370
MISCELLANEOUS (Chapter 40) 1371
The New City Building
1371
Military Organizations
1374
Telephone and Electric Light
1375
The Iroquois and Mohawks
. 1376
. Lawyers of Concord 1378
Physicians of Concord 1379
Asylum Physicians
. 1381
Dentists .
1381
INDEX, Harriet L. Huntress
. 1382
.
.
.
1357
1360
ILLUSTRATIONS.
VOLUME II.
PAGE
State House, 1865-1903
. Frontispiece
Log Meeting House .
687
The Second Meeting House
694
Third North Church .
695
The Walker Monument
696
North Congregational Church
706
Immanuel Chapel.
712
Friends' Meeting House
714
First Episcopal Church
717 721
Roger E. Foster Memorial Parish House
724
St. Mary's Chapel, Penacook
724
St. Timothy's Mission
First Baptist Church, Original Edifice
726 728 733
First Baptist Church, Present Edifice .
First Methodist Church
736
Present Church First Methodist Society First Unitarian Church
739
Second Unitarian Church
745 748 753
West Concord Congregational Church
First South Congregational Church
Present South Congregational Church
Chapel on the Plains .
First Universalist Church
White Memorial Church
East Concord Congregational Church .
Curtis Memorial Church
First Baptist Church, Penacook . 781
Methodist Church, Penacook 789
Pleasant Street Baptist Church . 792
Second Advent Christian Church
797 802
First Congregational Church, Penacook
House where First Catholic Service was Held 805
St. John's Church
· 807
.
St. Paul's Church
.
743
Third Unitarian Church
757 759 761 767 770 772 778
ILLUSTRATIONS.
vii
Entrance to Calvary Cemetery . 808
Church of Immaculate Conception
816
Baker Memorial Church
822
Church of Sacred Heart
825 827
Swedish Evangelieal Lutheran Church
828
The Church of Christ, Scientist .
829
Home of Mrs. Eddy
830
Canal Boat and Freight House of Merrimack Boating Com-
pany
835
Post Riders' Notice
842
Butters' Tavern .
854
Stickney Tavern
855
Washington House
Columbian Hotel
George Tavern Sign
Old Phenix Hotel
Phenix Hotel, 1860
Eagle Coffee House
861
New Eagle Hotel
Old American House
Elm House
Washington Hotel, Penacook
Bonney's Hotel, Penacook .
Present Passenger Station .
Engine of First Passenger Train to Concord
Second Passenger Station
Third Passenger Station
Boston & Maine St. Paul Express
878 880 882
Illustrations of Street Railway . 897
Boston & Maine Railroad Shops
. 900
Thomsonian Infirmary
. 916
Front View N. H. State Hospital
933
Twitchell Building (N. H. State Hospital) .
941
Summer Sanatoriums at Lake Penacook
943
Margaret Pillsbury General Hospital . 953
N. H. Memorial Hospital for Women and Children 957 Franklin Bookstore and N. H. Patriot office 1025
The Herbert House 1047
Parson Walker's House
. 1048
The Farrington-Fuller House .
· 1049
861 862 863 864
865 867 874 876 876
Modern Type of Locomotive
Railroad Square, 1858, showing Portsmouth R. R. Station
· 857 . 858 858 859 860
Swedish Baptist Church
viii
ILLUSTRATIONS.
The Benjamin Kimball and Roby House
1056
The Fiske Store
· 1057
The West and Rollins House
. 1061
Benjamin Rolfe and Countess Rumford House
1084
Rolfe and Rumford Asylum
1088
The Countess Rumford Monument
. 1089
Franklin Pierce Monument
1133
Statues of Hale, Webster, and Stark, in State House Park .
1143
Soldiers' Memorial Arch
· 1146
The Perkins Statue
1151
Original State Prison 1156 .
. 1157
Present State Prison .
. 1159
Eagle Hotel during the Civil War
1171 ·
Bell Schoolhouse
. 1215
Old North End Schoolhouse
1231
Dimond Hill School
. 1232
West Street School
1232
Second High School .
1241
Penacook Grammar School
1242
Merrimack School
· 1254
West Concord School
· 1265
Third High School
1266
Eastman School, East Concord
1268
Walker School
. 1269
Franklin School .
. 1291
Present High School and High School Cadets
. 1293
Dewey School 1303
Present Rumford School
. 1304
St. Paul's, looking South from Pond . 1323
1325
Farmhouse, Rectory, and Middle School
. 1327
Chapel and Sheldon Library
· 1328
Orphans' Home, St. Paul's School
1330
New Upper School
. 1332
Athletic House and Playing Field
. 1333
St. Mary's School
. 1336
New City Building
. 1373
·
Original Prison with Additions .
·
"Upper School, The School and Lower School Schoolhouse and Gymnasium
· 1326
HISTORY OF CONCORD.
CHAPTER XIX.
CHURCH HISTORY.
JAMES O. LYFORD.
For nearly a century the people of Concord were identified with the North Congregational society, the one established with the set- tlement of the town. The first settlers were of one mind in their religious views, and their descendants for several generations were instructed in the faith of the fathers. The control which the propri- etors had of the lands granted to them, and the rules they adopted, tended to promote the settlement of those of the Congregational belief. The increase of population was not rapid, owing to the con- test over titles arising out of the Bow controversy. In fifty years the inhabitants numbered but little over one thousand, and at the beginning of the nineteenth century the population was but slightly in excess of two thousand. Held together by their troubles with the Bow proprietors and their defence against Indian raids, they had little opportunity for considering differences of religious opinions, if these had existed, and it was well into the nineteenth century before attempts were made to organize other denominational societies.
One fact stands out pre-eminent in the church history of Concord, and that is the spirit of religious toleration which has always existed. It is true there was opposition on the part of the Reverend Timothy Walker to the coming of evangelists of other denominations to Con- cord in the early days, but that opposition was more secular than religious, prompted by a fear of divisions among the people that would work to their detriment as a community when they had need of unity in all things to protect their interests and promote their prosperity. At a later day there was little, if any, opposition to the founding of new denominations, even though their establishment drew from the congregation which attended worship at the North church. Typical of this were the installation of the first Unitarian minister in the church of the First Congregational . society, the exchange of pulpits by the first Unitarian minister with the Methodist ministers who
2
686
HISTORY OF CONCORD.
were assigned to Concord, and frequent acts of Christian fellowship and helpfulness which marked the early years of religious re-align- ments. This spirit has continued a strong characteristic of Concord, and was especially pronounced in the tributes paid by Protestant pastors and people to the character and religious work of Father Barry, the first Roman Catholic priest of Concord, at the time of his death. Few communities can show in their history so much of that Christian unity which is now recognized as essential to the promotion of the Christian religion.
The detailed history of the different denominations which follows is in the order of their formation. It centers around the different pastorates, and tells the story of the struggles and trials which in most instances attended the founding and carrying forward of new religious societies. Several societies have lost their houses of wor- ship by fire, others have suffered by dissensions, but with the opening of the twentieth century all appear to be moving forward in unity and strength.
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL SOCIETY, OR NORTH CHURCH.
At Sugar Ball, in East Concord, overlooking the interval, is a granite monument which bears these inscriptions :
"On the intervale below this spot, a committee of the General Court of Massachusetts Bay, their surveyors and attendants there present to locate and survey the Plantation of Penny Cook, con- ducted the first religious service ever held in the central part of New Hampshire, on Sunday, May 15, 1726. Rev. Enoch Coffin, Preacher."
"Erected by the Congregational Societies of Concord, October, 1899."
This monument is the fruit of the action of the Congregational churches of Concord taken at their fifty-sixth annual meeting as a Congregational union, the year before. The committee having the matter in charge were John C. Thorne of the First church, Frank P. Andrews of the South church, Fred A. Eastman of the West church, Charles E. Staniels of the East church, and Charles H. Sanders of the Penacook society. October 26, 1899, the monument was dedi- cated with appropriate exercises in the presence of over one hundred people.
The first public assembly in the town of Concord, thus commemo- rated, was one for public worship, and was attended by a chaplain, the Reverend Enoch Coffin, who conducted religious services in a camp at Sugar Ball plain both parts of the day. This was an assem- bly of people who had come to view and survey the township pre- paratory to its settlement, and this simple service in the open air was
687
CHURCH HISTORY.
but the forerunner of the religions devotion of the first settlers and their immediate descendants. Within twelve months from this time the first church was built, antedating the saw- and grist-mill, two of the earliest and most important structures of the early New England towns. "It was begun and finished," says Joseph B. Walker, in his history of the meeting-houses of the First Congregational society, "monthis before the first family moved into the settlement." From his description it was a block house, built of logs, forty feet in length and twenty-five feet in breadth, standing near the north corner of what is now Main and Chapel streets. It was built of hewn logs of suffi- cient thickness to be bullet proof. There were no windows in it, nor any door to the pulpit until 1736. In the sides and ends in the lower part were port-holes through which to shoot Indians, and in the upper part were large holes which served the purpose of win- dows. It was begun in 1726, and was ready for occupancy as early as May 15, 1727, for the proprietors held a meeting there on that date. A floor was put in two years later, af- ter a sawmill had been erected, and further im- provements continued to be made from time to time until it was superseded in 1751 by a frame meeting-house located on the site of the present Walker schoolhouse. A main Log Meeting-house. aisle ran from the center of this log church, with rows of benches on either side made of split logs, until boards could be obtained at the sawmill. The men sat on one side and the women on the other. The pew was to come later, built at private expense for private use. In this building was held the first ecclesiastical council in New Hamp- shire north of Dunstable and west of Somersworth, convened for ordaining and installing the first settled minister of Concord, the Reverend Timothy Walker, November 18, 1730.
From the first settlement until after the Toleration Act of 1819 the affairs of the First Congregational church were so identified with those of the town that they are naturally a part of the general narra-
688
HISTORY OF CONCORD.
tive, and are treated at length in that part of this work. Only those incidents, therefore, will be referred to here which pertain to the his- tory of the society as a church.
In March, 1727, the proprietors empowered Joseph Hall and John Pecker to "agree with a minister to preach at Penacook the year ensuing, to begin the service from the 15 May," allowing at the rate of one hundred pounds per annum for the service. Accordingly, Mr. Bezaleel Toppan was employed. The proprietors appointed a com- mittee June 25, 1729, to " call and agree with some suitable person to be the minister of Penacook." They also voted " that the minis- ter of said town shall be paid by the community £100 per annum"; and further, "that £100 be allowed and paid out of the company's treasury to the first minister, as an encouragement for settling and taking pastoral charge among them." October 14, 1729, they voted, " that every proprietor or intended settler shall forthwith pay or cause to be paid to the company's treasurer the sum of 20 shillings towards the support of an orthodox minister to preach at Penacook." Probably in accordance with this vote the Reverend Timothy Walker was employed; for March 31, 1730, the committee above named were directed to agree " with the Rev. Timothy Walker in order to his carrying on the work of the ministry in Penacook the ensuing year, and to treat with him in order to his settlement." October 14, 1730, Mr. Walker was unanimously called to become the minister of the church and town, and in November following he was formally ordained. At that time there were about thirty families settled in Concord. On November 18, 1730, these people assembled in their house of worship with representatives of the council to install their first pastor. How many churches were represented in the council by pastors and laymen is not known. The names of only three are mentioned as having taken part in the exercises of the occasion. The Reverend John Barnard of Andover, North parish, preached the ordination sermon. The Reverend Samuel Philips of Andover, South parish, delivered the charge of ordination ; and the Reverend John Brown of Haverhill gave to the pastor and church the right hand of fellowship. These ministers had traversed forty miles of wilderness to be present on this occasion. Immediately after the sermon, before the ordination was performed, the church was organ- ized. Nine members, including Mr. Walker, came forward, adopted, . and subscribed the covenant. The names of those who signed were Timothy Walker, Samuel Burbank, Jeremiah Stickney, William Barker, Martha Barker, David Barker, Aaron Stevens, John Russ, and John Merrill.
"It is a matter of deep regret," says Dr. Bouton in his centennial
689
THE NORTH CHURCH.
sermon of 1830, " that the records kept by the Rev. Mr. Walker were so scanty during his ministry of fifty-two years. There is no record of church proceedings after 1736. The votes of the church which are recorded refer to giving in and relating of Christian experience, upon admission to fellow-communion, to the administration of the sacrament once a month in the summer, and once in two months in the winter, the appointment of John Merrill to the office of Deacon in December, 1730, and Ephraim Farnum to the same office in August, 1731, and two cases of discipline, one ' for several sins of the tongue,' and another for 'speaking falsely with a dishonest design,' for which offenses the persons were suspended from the com- munion, but upon open confession were afterwards restored. There is a subsequent record, without date, that Deacon Farnum desired a dismission from the office of deacon. At a church meeting he was dismissed and George Abbot chosen in his room."
It is unfortunate that the diaries kept by Parson Walker were not preserved. A few which survive the destruction of time contain among other things many facts connected with the history of the church. In these diaries Parson Walker kept a record of his daily labors, including those of Sunday. They would have supplemented the church records and given much additional information regarding its transactions.
In his religious sentiments Mr. Walker was classed with the minis- ters who at that time were called " moderate Calvinists." "In his preaching," says Dr. Bouton, "Mr. Walker was not discriminating as to doctrines, but insisted chiefly on the duties of practical religion. He attended no meetings except twice on the Sabbath and the pre- paratory lecture. With these services, however, the people were sat- isfied, and he had the happiness of seeing them improve in their worldly circumstances, sober, industrious, and upright in their con- duct, and habitual attendants on the domestic and public duties of religion. Most of the parents either entered into full communion with the church, or 'owned the covenant,' and had their children baptised. On the imperfect record which he left are the names of ninety-five who were admitted to full communion ; namely, thirty- four males and sixty-one females; but there is no record of the number of baptisms. This record of admissions probably terminated many years before Mr. Walker's death, for but few of those who are recorded were living at the settlement of his successor, though the church at this latter period consisted of about one hundred and twenty members."
In the foregoing, Dr. Bouton does not discriminate between the situation of Parson Walker and his successors. Mr. Walker was a
690
HISTORY OF CONCORD.
co-laborer with his people. He was both farmer and preacher, for like other ministers of frontier towns he cultivated the soil to assist in providing for his family. Then again, he was the adviser and lead- ing actor in the legal controversies in which the inhabitants were involved with the proprietors of Bow. He was not only farmer and preacher, but the counselor and leader of the settlement in all that affected its material welfare. The marvel is not that he attended no meetings except twice on the Sabbath and the preparatory lecture, but that, with his other duties, he was able to do so much and do it so well.
It was a select company who settled in Concord, and probably no colony was ever planted where the colonists were chosen with greater care to secure amicable relations. They were in accord in their re- ligious views, and all traditional accounts of the early church indicate hearty co-operation of pastor and people. This harmony was due in large part to the influence of Parson Walker, who was the moving spirit of the settlement, and who was jealously watchful of his flock. Twice during his ministry was the church menaced, in his judgment, by religious agitations which affected other communities. About 1740 a great revival of religion began in New England. "Previous to this time," says Dr. Bouton, " there had been a great decline of evangelical religion. But few additions had been made to the church. Many of the ministers were extremely formal in their public services, preaching much about moral duties, but leaving out of view the prominent doctrines of grace. Both ministers and churches were sunk in a state of religious lethargy, from which no ordinary means could arouse them. The Reverend George Whitefield, sounding aloud the gospel trumpet, denounced those who were at ease with Zion and thundered the terrors of the Lord into the ears of the impenitent. A great reform followed. . But in regard to this work both ministers and churches throughout New England were divided. Some favored; some opposed; some regarded chiefly the happy influences and result of the work in edification of Christ and the conversion of sinners ; while others could not avert their eyes from the excitement, noise, bodily agitation, and divisions in the churches, which in some cases unhappily attended it. Among the latter was Mr. Walker."
He not only warned his people against hearing those men preach, but said he, " If any of you think yourself unable to manage a con- · troversy with them, invite them to accompany you to my house and I will gladly undertake this or any other service I am capable of for the benefit of your soul." Mr. Walker's influence was so strong that neither Whitefield nor any other of the famous preachers of that era
691
THE NORTH CHURCH.
ever held services in Concord. In 1771, Hezekiah Smith, a Baptist elder and evangelist, was at Haverhill, Mass., preaching there and in the surrounding towns. He came to Concord, and Mr. Walker preached a sermon warning the people against hearing him and others of his class. Using Romans xvi, the seventeenth verse, as his text, he said,-" Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrines which ye have learned, and avoid them." "Every one who hears me read this verse has, I doubt not, already judged that they give as exact description of the character and conduct of the person who has been lately labor- ing among us as can well be imagined. Will any one ask whether he has caused divisions and offences, let them look upon the village south of Haverhill and about twenty parishes round. If they do not find matter of conviction there, let them travel about two hundred miles west and near one hundred east, and then return and view the small gleaning's he has made in the several towns in these parts, and I believe inquiry will be thought satisfied." There is a tradition that two persons were so affected as to leave the meeting-house while Mr. Walker was preaching this sermon, and that they afterwards became Baptists. "It is evident," says Dr. Bouton, " some parts of this ser- mon were written under the influence of strong excitement. The Mr. Smith who was spoken of in such decided terms of disapproval, I am informed sustained a high character for learning and piety. He may be considered the father of the Baptist churches in New Hamp- shire, and his name is still venerated by this denomination of Chris- tians."
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