USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Haverhill > History of the town of Haverhill, New Hampshire > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90
GEN
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/historyoftownofh00whit 0
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01096 3665
GENEALOGY 974.202 H29W
HISTORY
OF THE
TOWN OF HAVERHILL
NEW HAMPSHIRE
By
WILLIAM F. WHITCHER
1919
MFOR
Rumford
1127472
PREFACE
In 1840 Grant Powers caused to be published "Historical Sketches of the Coos Country and Vicinity." The major part of this history was devoted to the early settlement of Haverhill.
Bittinger's "History of Haverhill," published in 1888, served to show the need of a carefully prepared authentic history of the town that would preserve for future generations a record of their ancestors who suffered so many privations that their descendents might enjoy the comforts of civilization.
At the urgent request of his friends, William F. Whitcher consented to undertake the work and for some years devoted his time to interview- ing aged people, visiting cemeteries, looking up records, etc. It was his aim and hope to fully complete and publish this history, but before he could finish the work he was stricken with what proved to be his last ill- ness. His earthly career closed on the thirty-first day of May, 1918.
As a public speaker Mr. Whitcher was often called upon to deliver orations and addresses; if not a graceful he was a strong and impressive speaker. When much interested he spoke with animation and at times with an eloquence which rarely failed to stir the feelings of his hearers.
He took a prominent part in the legislative work during his services in the State Legislature both in the committee room and in debate.
He did naught to extenuate his faults, nor did he magnify his virtues. He suffered no man to prevent him from exercising his own judgment and expressing his own opinion. He was independent in forming his convic- tions and positive and outspoken in advocating them. He suffered at times from the misjudgment of his fellow citizens.
He contributed liberally to the support of the church; a constant attendant upon divine service and listened with attention to the sermon. A great reader, he collected a large and valuable library. His collection of books bearing on genealogy, history and biography was one of the most extensive and valuable in the state.
In politics he was true to his political friends and fair with his political enemies.
In private life his genial manners and fine conversational powers made him a most desirable and interesting companion.
His death left a void in the community which will not soon be filled.
The history is almost wholly as it came from the author's hands. A few expressions have been changed and some parts have been slightly
rearranged, but these changes are only such as the author himself would doubtless have made in the final revision. To him belongs the credit of the whole.
It was not possible to give full genealogies, many of the biographical sketches are regrettably incomplete and no history ever was free from errors.
Had Mr. Whitcher lived to publish this work proper credit would have been given to the many who assisted him in collecting information. As it is the thanks must be general.
The publication of the history is made possible through the public spirit of the town, as shown by the vote at the annual meeting of March, 1918:
"Voted, That a committee consisting of Henry W. Keyes, E. Bertram Pike and George E. Cummings be appointed to purchase the History of Haverhill manuscript by Hon. William F. Whitcher and cause the same to be printed and placed on sale."
G. E. C.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER I-GENERAL DESCRIPTION
HAVERHILL-ONE OF SIX IN 170,000 NAMES-NAMED FOR HAVERHILL, MASS .- JOHN HAZEN A DISCOVERER-FORTUNATE IN LOCATION-RICH IN DRIVES- IRREGULAR IN SHAPE-HITCHCOCK'S DESCRIPTION-DEARTH OF LAKES AND PONDS-ORES AND METALS-THE WHETSTONE INDUSTRY-LIME AND SOAP- STONE-ROADS-LOCAL NAMES-FARMING TOWN BUT FILLED WITH VIL- LAGES. 1-8
CHAPTER II-INDIANS, AND FIRST VISIT OF WHITES
LITTLE KNOWN OF INDIANS-"THE SWIFT DEER HUNTING COOSUCKS"-HAVE DECREASED-PENHALLOW TELLS US IN 1704 of CORN PLANTED HIGH UP THE RIVER AT COOS-CAPT. JOHN STARK-CAPT. PETER POWERS IN 1754-MAJ. ROBERT ROGERS IN 1759-SURVEY MADE BY THOMAS BLANCHARD. 9-14
CHAPTER III-THE CHARTER AND PROPRIETARY
JOHN HAZEN AND JACOB BAILEY IN COOS IN 1760-THE PROMISED CHAR- TERS BY GOVERNOR WENTWORTH-BEGAN SETTLEMENT IN 1761-CHARTER GRANTED MAY 18, 1763-HAZEN LOOKED OUT FOR FRIENDS-FIRST MEETING HELD IN PLAISTOW IN JUNE, 1763-TWENTY-FIVE MORE HELD-DIVISION OF LAND-GRANTS FOR MILLS-THE PIERMONT CONTROVERSY. 15-31
CHAPTER IV-SETTLEMENT AND FIRST SETTLERS
FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN HAZEN AND BAILEY: HAZEN CAME UP IN 1672-HIS CHAR- ACTER SEEN IN FIRST SETTLERS-BRIEF SKETCHES OF EACH-JOSHUA HOWARD, TIMOTHY BEDEL, JOHN PAGE, JOHN HURD, ASA PORTER, CHARLES JOHNSTON, AND OTHERS-TOWN MEETINGS-CENSUS GROWTH FROM 1767 TO 1773. 32-65
CHAPTER V-ATTEMPTED SECESSION AND REVOLUTIONARY WAR
HAVERHILL DURING THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION-OFFICERS APPOINTED BY THE EXETER GOVERNMENT-CAUSE OF DISAFFECTION IN COOS AND ATTEMPTED SECESSION-ITS HISTORY AND THE RESULT-HAVERHILL STOOD BY THE PATRIOT CAUSE-COL. HURD LEAVES TOWN ON COL. PORTER'S RETURN HOME-IN DOUBLE REVOLT-NAMES OF HAVERHILL SOLDIERS-ONE HUNDRED AND NINETEEN MEN. 66-82
V
vi
CONTENTS
CHAPTER VI-READJUSTMENT AFTER THE WAR
READJUSTMENT CAME AFTER THE WAR-DEPRECIATED CURRENCY-MR. POWERS CONCLUDES HIS WORK-TORIES ASKED TO LEAVE TOWN-PAPER CURRENCY VOTED TO BE ISSUED-CENSUS, 1790-1800-DIFFICULTY IN SECURING SELECTMEN-VACCINATION CONTROVERSY-BROOK AND CORNER OUTGROW- ING THE PLAIN-FEDERALISTS IN POWER-HAVERIIILL, A COMMUNITY OF FARMERS-SOCIAL LIFE-EACH HOME A MANUFACTORY-CHURCH AND TAVERN.
83-96
CHAPTER VII-CHURCHES
OLDEST OF ORGANIZATIONS IN TOWN-THE CHURCH-MR. POWERS CALLED AS PASTOR IN 1765-TOWN DIVIDED INTO TWO PARISHES-HOUSE AT HORSE MEADOW BUILT FIRST-LADD STREET ORGANIZED IN 1790-DISCUSSION OVER TAX RATE FOR MINISTERS-DIFFICULTY SETTLED-CONTROVERSY WITH CHURCH AT NEWBURY OVER TIMOTHY BARRON AND CAPTAIN WESSON- JOHN SMITH SETTLED BY TOWN AS MINISTER-GRANT POWERS-BOUGHT METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH AT CORNER-"SMOOTH AS A BONE"-NORTH PARISH-PIKE-METHODIST EPISCOPALIAN-FOUR CHURCHES-BAPTIST -- UNION MEETING HOUSE, NOW ADVENTIST-PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL- UNIVERSALIST-EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION-MENTAL LIBERTY SOCIETY- PASTORS BORN IN HAVERHILL.
97-135
CHAPTER VIII-SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION
TIMOTHY CURTIS, THE FIRST SCHOOLMASTER-SCHOOLHOUSES AT TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS EACH-WOODSVILLE HOUSE COST LESS-INTERIOR OF OLD SCHOOLHOUSE-TEXT-BOOKS AND SUPERINTENDENCE-FIRST COMMIT- TEE IN 1815-RECORDS OF TWO SCHOOLS-TOWN SCHOOLS IN 1885-UNSUC- CESSFUL ATTEMPT TO SECURE A COLLEGE-HAVERHILL ACADEMY-LIST OF SCHOLARS AND TEACHERS-MR. SAMUEL SOUTHARD. 136-161
CHAPTER IX-CIVIC AND POLITICAL
TOWN MEETINGS FROM 1800 TILL 1918-WHAT WAS DONE AND WHAT FAILED- NEW NAMES-EXCITING EVENTS-NEW TOWN HALL AND CLERK'S OFFICE- TOWN SEESAWED-APPROPRIATIONS GREW LARGER YEAR BY YEAR .. .. . 162-216
CHAPTER X-IN THE WARS OF THE REPUBLIC
NEW HAMPSHIRE, A FEDERALIST STATE-JOHN MONTGOMERY-HAVERHILL TOWN MEETINGS TAKE PART-NAMES OF SOLDIERS AT STEWARTSTOWN AND PORTSMOUTH-MOODY BEDEL-MEXICAN WAR-CAPTAIN BATCHELDER AND NAMES OF SOLDIERS-THE WAR FOR THE UNION-MONEY VOTED-SOLDIERS WITH EACH INDIVIDUAL RECORD-THE WAR WITH SPAIN-THE WORLD WAR-NAMES OF SOLDIERS. .217-244
vii
CONTENTS
CHAPTER XI-ROADS, BRIDGES AND CANALS
ROADS IN THE FIRST PLACE POOR APOLOGIES-LAID OUT BUT LITTLE DONE-IN 1783 £100 WAS RAISED TO REPAIR HIGHWAYS-IN 1807 $800 WAS RAISED AND IN 1898 AND 1899 $8,000-THREE BRIDGES ACROSS THE RIVER-FOR A LONG PERIOD ALL TOLL, NOW ALL FREE-THE LAST MADE FREE IN 1917- THE RIVER AND ATTEMPTS TO MAKE IT NAVIGABLE-ALL FAILED-THE RAIL- ROAD-PRESIDENT QUINCY'S REMARKS-CONNECTION WITH THE PASSUMPSIC- GREAT CELEBRATION AT WOODSVILLE IN 1853-ADDITIONS TO ROAD-LAND
DAMAGES-HAS BUILT UP WOODSVILLE.
245-271
CHAPTER XII-COURTS AND BAR
COURTS ESTABLISHED IN GRAFTON COUNTY IN 1773-COURT HOUSE IN HAVERHILL -FIRST TERM APRIL 21, 1774-SUSPENDED DURING THE REVOLUTION --- COURT HOUSE BUILT-DISSATISFACTION-MOVED TO CORNER IN 1793- BURNED IN 1814-REBUILT IN CONNECTION WITH ACADEMY-NEW COURT HOUSE ERECTED IN 1846-REGISTRY OF DEEDS, PROBATE OFFICE AND JAIL FOLLOWED-REMOVED TO WOODSVILLE-THE BAR-MOSES Dow, ALDEN SPRAGUE, GEORGE WOODWARD, JOHN NELSON, DAVID SLOANE, JOSEPH BELL, NATHAN B. FELTON AND OTHERS-GILCHRIST IN CASE OF STATUTE LAWYERS- HAVERHILL POLICE COURT 272-300
CHAPTER XIII-THE MEDICAL PROFESSION
DR. SAMUEL WHITE CAME TO NEWBURY IN 1763-THE ONLY PHYSICIAN IN COOS UNTIL AFTER REVOLUTIONARY WAR-DR. MARTIN PHELPS FIRST IN HAVER- HILL-FOLLOWED BY DRS. EDMUND CARLETON, EZRA BARTLETT, JOHN ANGIER, PHINEAS SPALDING, HENRY B. LEONARD, JOHN MCNAB, SAMUEL P. CARBEE, CHARLES R. GIBSON-PRESENT PHYSICIANS-DRS. MILLER, LAW- RENCE (DIED 1919), DEARBORN, SPEARE-DENTISTS-"GOOLD" DAVIS-THE COTTAGE HOSPITAL 301-319
CHAPTER XIV-NEWSPAPERS AND LIBRARIES
PRINTING WAS BEGUN IN HAVERHILL PREVIOUS TO 1800-FOUR OR FIVE SMALL PAPERS-IN 1820 THE "GRAFTON AND COOS INTELLIGENCER" APPEARED; SKETCH OF NO. 3, VOL. 1-"NEW HAMPSHIRE POST," ANTI-MASONIC-REMOVED TO LEBANON-" DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICAN," 1828-1863-WOODSVILLE REGISTER 1883-GRAFTON COUNTY REGISTER BY BITTINGER PRESS-REMOVED TO WOODSVILLE IN 1890-SOLD TO W. F. WHITCHER IN 1899-SOLD MARCH 1, 1916 TO F. E. THAYER-THE SOCIAL LIBRARY-THE HAVERHILL-THE WOODSVILLE, GIFT OF IRA WHITCHER-NORTH HAVERHILL, TOWN ASSISTED IN BUILDING -TOWN LIBRARIES 320-336
viii
CONTENTS
CHAPTER XV-TAVERNS, MAILS AND STAGES
TAVERNS-CAPT. URIAH MORSE-JOHN HAZEN-LUTHER RICHARDSON-CAPT. JOSHUA HOWARD-MR. COBLEIGH-EZEKIEL LADD-AT THE CORNER-THE BLISS-EDWARD TOWLE-THE WILLIAMS-THE GRAFTON-JOSEPH BALCH, FIRST POST RIDER-JOSEPH BLISS, FIRST POSTMASTER-MULTIPLIED IN LATER YEARS-STAGE LINE PROJECTED IN 1811-STAGE ROUTES-FIRST STAGE OWNERS-NAMES OF POSTMASTERS. 337-347
CHAPTER XVI-BANKS AND BANKING
Coos BANK INCORPORATED IN 1803-LARGE TERRITORY COVERED FOR TWENTY YEARS-GRAFTON BANK CHARTERED IN 1822-LASTED TILL 1845-PAYSON AND BRITTON-WOODSVILLE GUARANTY SAVINGS IN 1889-WOODSVILLE LOAN AND BANKING ASSOCIATION IN 1891-SUCCEEDED BY THE WOODSVILLE NATIONAL BANK 348-353
CHAPTER XVII-LODGES, FRATERNITIES, SOCIETIES
FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS-CHARTER GRANTED IN JUNE, 1799-MOVED TO ORFORD IN 1809-CHARTER FORFEITED IN 1844-RESTORED IN 1857-ODD FELLOWSHIP, CHARTER GRANTED IN 1848-SURRENDERED IN 1858-NEW LODGE AT WOODSVILLE IN 1874-GRAND CANTON ALBIN-OWNS LODGE BLOCK-MOUNTAIN VIEW LODGE, 1902-NOW OWNS A BLOCK-PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY-INDEPENDENT ORDER OF GOOD TEMPLARS-TWO LODGES K. OF P. -WOMAN'S READING CLUB-THREE CHAPTERS OF DAUGHTERS OF AMERICAN REVOLUTION 354-359
CHAPTER XVIII-CRIMES AND THEIR PUNISHMENT
UNDER N. H. LAWS THERE WERE 15 CRIMES PUNISHABLE BY DEATH-IN 1917 BUT ONE, MURDER, REMAINS-MURDER TRIALS-FIRST, THAT OF TOOMALEK- THOMAS WEBSTER-JOSIAH BURNHAM-HIS TRIAL AND EXECUTION-SERMON BY "PRIEST" SUTHERLAND-WILLIAM F. COMINS-ENOS DUDLEY-SAMUEL MILLS-FRANK C. ALMY. 360-366
CHAPTER XIX-MANUFACTURERS AND MERCANTILE
LUMBER, BEGINNING IN 1764-THE MILLS BUILT SINCE-AT THE BROOK VARIOUS FLOURISHING INDUSTRIES-SHOVEL HANDLES AT WOODSVILLE-LIME BURNING -PIKE MANUFACTURING CO .- THE MERCHANTS. 367-371
CHAPTER XX-THE CORNER, NORTH HAVERHILL, WOODSVILLE AND PIKE .
THE CORNER-OLD TIMES-LIVERMORE REMINISCENCE-CHANGE BEGAN AFTER 1860-FIRES BROKE OUT IN 1848-ANOTHER IN 1902 AND ANOTHER IN 1913-
ix
CONTENTS
BUSINESS DIRECTORY IN 1827 AND ANOTHER IN 1916-NORTH HAVERHILL FIRST SETTLED-SWASEY'S MILLS-SLAB CITY-HORSE MEADOW-BRIER HILL AND THE CENTRE-CORNET BAND-TOWN HALL IN 1847-NEW TOWN HALL- NOTABLE CELEBRATION OF 150TH ANNIVERSARY AND UNVEILING SOLDIERS' MONUMENT, WOODSVILLE-GOVERNOR'S FARM-J. L. WOODS-GROWTH BEGUN BY CHARLES M. WEEKS-OTHERS C. B. SMITH, IRA WHITCHER, EZRA B. MANN-GEORGE E. CUMMINGS-MORE THAN A RAILROAD VILLAGE- SCHOOLHOUSES-BUSINESS HOUSES-BANKS-HOTELS-DIRECTORY 1916- EAST HAVERHILL AND PIKE 372-415
CHAPTER XXI-THE CEMETERIES
SIX IN TOWN-HAVERHILL-NORTH HAVERHILL-NUMBER SIX-EAST HAVER- HILL-HAVERHILL CENTRE-WOODSVILLE-UNDER CARE OF CEMETERY COM-
416-418 MISSION.
CHAPTER XXII-APPENDIX
OFFICERS-COURT HOUSE-COUNTY FARM-FISHER FARM-MILITIA-POPULATION -SUPERINTENDENT CUMMINGS' ADDRESS-HAVERHILL BIBLIOGRAPHY. .419-447
CHAPTER XXIII-GENEALOGY
HISTORY
CHAPTER I
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
HAVERHILL-ONE OF SIX IN 170,000 NAMES-NAMED FOR HAVERHILL, MASS .- JOHN HAZEN A DISCOVERER-FORTUNATE ON LOCATION-RICH IN DRIVES-IRREGULAR IN SHAPE-HITCHCOCK'S DESCRIPTION-DEARTH OF LAKES AND PONDS-ORES AND METALS-THE WHETSTONE INDUSTRY-LIME AND SOAPSTONE-ROADS -- LOCAL NAMES-FARMING TOWN BUT FILLED WITH VILLAGES.
The number of names of places and localities found in the "Century Dictionary Atlas" is about 170,000, and of these there are six Haverhills: One in England, and five in the United States. It is an English name.
The English Haverhill is an ancient parish and market town in Essex and Suffolk counties, on a branch line of the Ancient Eastern Railway, eighteen miles southeast of Cambridge. It is delightfully situated in a valley and consists of one long street. It has a population of about 4,500, and "a more typical or picturesque English town of its size-with its chequered lawns, its quaint shops, its pretty church and graveyard, and the fine trimly kept estates of its gentry and wealthier folk-it would be difficult to find."
John Ward was born in Haverhill, England, November 5, 1606. He was the son of Rev. Nathaniel Ward, who came to New England in 1634 and became the pastor of the church at Ipswich, Massachusetts Bay, then called Agawam, and the grandson of Rev. John Ward, a worthy and distinguished minister of the English town. John Ward, the younger, received the degree of A. B. in 1626, and that of A. M. in 1630, and in 1639 followed his father to New England, where it was hoped that he might secure a settlement as pastor of some church. No opening ap- pearing, Nathaniel Ward conceived the idea of a new settlement on the Merrimack at a place called Pentucket, and in 1640 twelve families from Ipswich and Newbury worked their way up the river to the locality agreed upon and began the work of building homes in the wilderness. The new settlement grew rapidly, and in October, 1641, John Ward became the first minister. The Indian name of Pentucket was dropped, and in honor of their minister the name of his English birthplace was given to the new town-Haverhill.
John Hazen (Hazzen) was born in Haverhill, Mass., August 11, 1731, the son of Moses and Abigail White Hazen. He was resident of that part of Haverhill known as Timberlane, which was found to be on the north side of the boundary line between New Hampshire and Massa- chusetts, on the settlement of that line in 1741. A part of this tract,
2
1
·
2
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL
sometimes called Haverhill District, was incorporated by the New Hamp- shire government as the town of Hampstead January 19, 1749. John Hazen was one of the leading citizens of the new town and rendered valuable service in the old French war as an officer. He stood high in estimation of the Province authorities, and when in consideration of such service, he, with a large number of friends and relatives, was granted a township in the Cohos country on the Connecticut River, which he promised to settle, the township was given, at his request, the name of his native Massachusetts town, Haverhill.
There are three other Haverhills in the United States, all small towns. Haverhill, Ohio, is in the southernmost county-Lawrence-was set- tled by a party led by Asa Boynton who went from Haverhill, N. H .; while the leading spirits in the settlement of the little towns of Haverhill, Iowa, and Haverhill, Kan., were from the Massachusetts town.
The New Hampshire Haverhill is like no other New Hampshire town. Indeed, no two of these towns are alike. Towns, like people, differ. Each has a life peculiarly its own, depending upon geographical location, physical features, time and manner of its founding, character of its found- ers, the industries and customs of its people, its institutions, social, religious, educational and political. Haverhill has little or nothing in common with other Haverhills mentioned. It differs from the other towns of the state and county, indeed, from its next-door neighbors, Bath, Benton and Piermont. Newbury, Vt., is its twin sister. The charters of the two towns bear the same date. The leading grantees of each town were the same. John Hazen and Jacob Bayley headed the list of the Haverhill grantees and Jacob Bayley and John Hazen the list of Newbury proprietors. The twin towns were settled by the same class of people; their first church was the Haverhill and Newbury Church. They had for nearly a quarter of a century but one meeting house. Peter Powers was the minister of the two towns, but their growth and development has been along different lines. Each town has had its own peculiar life; each town has its own individuality. Haverhill is fortunate in location. Lying on the east of New England's great river, the Con- necticut, it is bounded on the west by Newbury, Vt., north by Bath, east by Benton, and south by Piermont, though a glance at the map will show that a small area in the southwestern section of the town is also bounded on the north and east by Piermont, an explanation of which will be given later. The parallel 44 degrees north latitude crosses about a mile below the southern boundary, and the meridian 72 degrees west longitude passes through the town about a mile east of the river. The length of the town on the river side is about ten miles and on the east about eight miles, with an average width of a little over six miles, the width on its northern boundary exceeding somewhat that of the south-
3
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL
ern. The narrowest part, that from the village of North Haverhill eastward, is something less than six miles. The western boundary, conforming to the winding of the river, is very irregular.
Few if any towns in New Hampshire, a state famous for its scenic beauty, have more of which to boast in natural attractiveness and charm than has Haverhill. Its ten miles and more of winding river down the valley from "the Narrows" of the Connecticut and the mouth of the Ammonoosuc at Woodsville, flanked on the right a part of the way in the broad intervals of the Great and Little Oxbow, and by the wooded hills of Newbury, the villages of Wells River, Newbury and the hamlet of South Newbury, and on the left by like Oxbow intervales, the rich uplands and the villages of Woodsville, North Haverhill and Haverhill Center, furnish Connecticut Valley prospect than which there is none more beautiful the entire length of the noble river. The Mount Gardner range stands at the north like a sentinel overlooking the town. The drive down the river to North Haverhill, through the Horse Meadow street, on over Brier Hill if one chooses, gives views unsurpassed. From the North Haverhill Village plateau, there is to the west the superb view of the beautiful Oxbow intervales, and to the east Black Mountain, Sugar Loaf, and, in the background overtopping all, grand old Moosilauke, finest of all the mountains of New Hampshire, standing solitary guard over the two beautiful valleys of the Connecticut and the Merrimack.
The valley views from Ladd Street and Powder House Hill at "the Centre" are of unsurpassed loveliness, while the drive up through the valley of the Oliverian to East Haverhill, thence over the Limekiln road, or Brushwood road to the Centre then over the Pond road to Swiftwater just on the border of Bath, and thence over the hill to Woodsville, in case one did not choose to go from Swiftwater up over Bradley Hill to Benton, and turning there almost under the shadow of Moosehillock take the old County road to North Haverhill-this drive, or this series of drives, will be found all the way a wonder and delight. Haver- hill, with its rivers, its ponds, French and Woods, its hills and near mountains, its valleys and uplands, is a gem of beauty among beautiful New Hampshire towns. It has not, like the English Haverhill or its nearer godmother, the Massachusetts Haverhill, mills and machinery, manufactures and commerce of which to boast, but it has its unrivalled scenery, its fertile acres, its productive farms, its thrifty and prosperous villages, and its honorable history in which it may justly take worthy pride.
The old historic Corner and Ladd Street, as well as Horse Meadow, are rich in old-time associations if not in modern hustle and business enterprise. East Haverhill, a little hamlet on the Oliverian-the railroad station is now named Oliverian-nestles at the foot of the hills, gateway
4
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL
on the east from Warren and Benton. Pike is Pike, that is all, the center of an industry known the world over for its manufacture of scythe stones, and in fact all stone sharpeners of edge tools, an industry which with its ramifications from Pike is a monopoly, if not indeed a trust. North Haverhill-once "Swasey's Mills," later "Slab City," now North Haverhill post office but "Blackmount" railroad station-beautiful village of residences and farm houses, centre of town official life, with town hall and town clerk's office, is no unimportant part of the town, and is the business centre for the Brier Hill and Centre sections. Then, in the extreme northwest corner, on a peninsula jutting down between the Ammonoosuc on the north and east, and the Connecticut on the west, lies Woodsville, alive, bustling, optimistic always, county seat, railroad centre, business resort for a large surrounding territory which patronizes its wholesale houses, with its concrete streets, sidewalks, its electric lights, its water and fire department service, opera house, high school, hotels, free postal delivery, its-well,-everything up-to-date one of the most beautiful of northern New Hampshire villages. It would be an ideal summer resort had its residents time to make it such, but they are looking after things which they deem of more importance. Woodsville, with more than half the population of the town, the growth of a little more than a single generation, is in a sense the new Haverhill. It has as a village but little past. Its annals require but little space in a town history. Woodsville's history lies in the future.
The area of the town is about 35,000 acres, much more than one half of which is under profitable cultivation, and in the value of its agricultural products it maintains the highest rank, in some decades standing first in the state, according to the official census returns. It has a large acreage of excellent pasturage, and its woodland, such as has escaped the lumberman's axe, has a constantly increasing value. Much attention has been given in recent years to caring for the second growth of white pine, birch, maple and hemlock which has come up where the original forest has been cut by the lumberman, and increasing attention will be paid in the future. There are but few acres which are not valuable either for farming purposes or for the growth of wood and timber.
The most extensive intervals or meadows on the Connecticut River in the state are to be found in Haverhill, and in Newbury, Vt., where they are from one half to more than a mile in width. These lands are very fertile, being composed of the finest silt, and are enriched nearly every year by a coating of mud from the turbid spring freshets. Back of these intervals are terraces of greater or less width. The lower terraces are of the same material as the intervals, very produc- tive, but are not overflowed. There are higher terraces, commonly known as plains, which usually show an intermixture of sand or
WOODSVILLE FROM MOUNT GARDNER IN 1900
5
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL
gravel. As to the extent and formation of these terraces, Professor Hitchcock says:1
From Wells River to Wait's River, at Bradford, the lowest terrace or interval is one half mile to one mile in width; and the river sweeps in broad curves from side to side between its bordering upper terraces. By the largest of the bends called the Oxbow, the river traverses three and a half miles to make one half mile of entrance, by which a beautiful expanse of interval is added to Newbury. An old channel formerly left this and as much more on its east side. . North Haverhill is situated on the highest normal terrace, 107 feet above the river and 27 feet higher than the corresponding terrace opposite on which Newbury is built. This difference may be partly due to the fact that here was one of the principal outlets of the melting ice-sheet that continued to cover Moosilauke and the high water shed after it had withdrawn from the Connecticut Valley. East of North Haverhill, where there are now only insignificant brooks, we find an abundance of sand and coarse gravel which came from this source. It is dis- posed in irregular slopes, in some portions mounded or ridged, and rising in about one mile 250 feet, beyond which the same materials extend nearly level to French pond. Taking the road to Haverhill town house,2 we pass a ridge of coarse gravel or slightly modified drift, which rises from 40 to 100 feet above the village. Northeast from this, there is a nearly level plain of fine alluvium, with beds of clay. A short distance further east we come to a sand ridge which extends about half a mile along the road, rising 80 feet by a gentle slope, and then abruptly 75 feet more, like the face of a terrace to a level plain on which the town house stands, 247 feet above North Haverhill, and 752 feet above the sea. This plain, its western steep slope, and the first ridge below are all of sand, with none of the coarse gravel characteristic of kames. Similar deposits of fine material reach for a half mile on each side of this road, sometimes in level plains of small extent, but generally in varying slopes, by which they are continuous from the town house to the upper terrace by the river.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.