USA > New Hampshire > Strafford County > Dover > Dover, N.H., its history and industries issued as an illustrated souvenir of...twenty-fifth anniversary of Foster's Daily Democrat, descriptive of the city and its manufacturing and business interests > Part 10
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present incumbent, the Rev. Ithamar W. He was baptized Beard was chosen rec- tor and entered upon his duties Nov. 5, .1876.
REV. ITHAMAR W. BEARD.
Ithamar Warren Beard was born in Pittsfield, N. H., Feb. 23, 1840. He fitted for college at the Low- ell public schools, the Brimmer school in Boston, the Lawrence academy in Groton, Mass., and the Cam- bridge High school from which he was graduated in 1858. He entered Harvard college the same year and was graduated in the class of 1862. During the civil war REV. ITHAMAR W. BEARD. he was lieutenant in the 19th Mass. Reg., but was obliged to resign his position on ac- count of his father's failing health. He stud- ied law in the of- fice of D. S. and G. F. Richardson, Lowell, Mass., and was admitted to the bar of Middle- sex county, Oct. 17, 1864. He was Secretary of the State Mutual Fire Insurance Com- pany, Boston, in 1865. He prac- ticed law in Low- ell in 1866. He was Register of Deeds in Lowell in 1867 and was reelected in 1870. 'The old church occupied the Dec. Ist, 1869, ST. THOMAS' EPISCOPAL CHURCH. he married Marcy Foster of Nashua. northeast corner of the present site of the
by the Rev. Theo- dore Edson, D. D., of Lowell, March 25th, 1866. He was con- firmed by the Rt. Rev. Manton Easttrom, D. D., April 5 th, 1866. He was President of the Lowell Y. M. C. A. the first two years of its existence. He was graduated B. E. from the Cambridge Theo- logical school June 1 8th, 1873. He was or- dained Deacon by the Rt. Rev. Henry Vealy, D.D., June 15 th, 1873. He was ordained Priest by the Rt. Rev. B. H. Paddock, D.D., June 21, 1874. He was rec- tor of St. James church, South Groveland, Mass., from July 28th, 1873, to Nov. Ist, 1876. He was rector of St. Thomas' church from Nov. Ist, 1876, to the pres- ent date and he is still the rector. He has been a member of the . Dover School Board, is chap- lain of Moses Paul Lodge, Sen- ior Pastor of the city, presiding officer of the Ministers' Asso- ciation, a dele- gate to the gen- eral convention of his own church and he has been chaplain of the County Farm for ten years and more.
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City Hall and faced on Central avenue. This building was of wood and was torn down in 1891 and the new stone church was built. The new church was opened for use the first Sunday in September, 1892. Wm. H. Ward of Lowell was the contrac- tor for the mason work, Tibbetts & Clark for the carpenter work, Henry Vaughan, Boston, was the architect.
Washington Street Freewill Baptist Church.
The Washington street church was or-
ganized Feb- ruary 4, 1840, with thirteen members, most of them having been members of the First Freewill Bap- tist church, organized seven years before. For nine months meetings and Sunday - school were held every Sabbath in a small upper room at No. 246 Central avenue, with preaching part of the time. The first pastor was settled in November and the congregation so increased that the Sabbath meetings were soon removed to the Belknap schoolhouse, then on Church street and afterwards to the Court House.
The first house of worship was built in connection with an office for the publica- tion of the Morning Star at a cost of $1600, and was dedicated September 21, 1843. The church then changed its name from Central street to Washington
street and the number of its members was one hundred and fifty. The vestry, part- ly under ground, was afterwards finished and occupied for twenty years, and then abandoned as it was damp and unhealth- ful. In 1852 the house' was enlarged, and the next year an organ was purchased at $800.
The printing establishment needed en- larged accommodations, and the church sold its interest in the house and held its last service there January 26, 1868. A large brick edifice was erected, at a cost of $24,000, its vestries were occupied in the autumn, and the house was dedica- ted October 28, 1869. The payment of its debt was complet- ed in April, 1882, but on the morning of May 2d a fire in an ad- joining build- ing extended to the church and in one hour all was in ruins. In the afternoon a terrific wind blew in a part of the stand- ing wall, bury- ing five per- 17 sons, four of whom were taken out badly injured and one was instantly killed.
WASHINGTON STREET FREEWILL BAPTIST CHURCH.
Sympathy was kindly offered, and the Belknap church, being without a pastor, tendered the use of its house, which was gratefully accepted and occupied till December 24, when the vestries were completed, and the audience room was dedicated March 22, 1883. The cost of rebuilding was $13,000, including the cost of the organ, which was $1300. The debt incurred by the rebuilding was.
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bravely carried by the church until 1893, when the church received $1000 by be- quest from the estate of Robert Cristie. By faithful effort and noble sacrifice over $2000 was raised among its friends and on Feb. 4th, 1896, they gathered in the church to witness the burning of the mort- gage. Since then all pews have been free, and the running ex- penses of the church have been met by free- will offering.
sor Co., Vermont, March 2 Ist, 1857. He is the son of John and Ann T. (Currier) Gilkey. He was brought up on a farm where he had the advantages of a common school edu- cation. At the age of eighteen he entered Lyndon Institute, Lyn- don Centre, Vt., to prepare for college. In the fall of '77 he en- tered Bates College, Lewiston, Me., gradu- ating in '81. For three years he worked as a druggist, one year in Audubon, Iowa, and two years in Saco, Me. He then entered Cobb Divinity School in Lew- iston, Me., graduating in 1887. He has held four pastorates. The first of one year in New Gloucester, Maine, the second of two years in
The church is thor- oughly evangelical in its spirit and methods, loyal to the Free Bap- tist faith and doctrine, and a firm supporter of denominational benev- olences. In Oct., 1897, there were 170 resident REV. R. E GILKEY. members of the church and 58 non-resi- the Corliss Street church, Bath, Me., the dent making the total membership, 228. third of four years in the Brown church,
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FRIENDS MEETING HOUSE.
REV. R. E. GILKEY.
R. E. Gilkey was born in Sharon, Wind-
Richmond, Me. He entered upon the labors of the fourth and present pastorate May Ist, '92.
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Society of Friends. .
The first mention we find of any Quak- ers in Dover is in 1662 when three travel- ing sisters were whipped out of town by order of Major Walderne. Dr. Belknap remarks in his " History of New Hamp- shire " that the Friends once comprised a third part of the population of the town. Their numbers now are quite respectable. The first " meeting" of Friends in Dover was established at Dover Neck as early as 1680, where their first meeting-house was built prior to the year 1700. It
stood about half a mile north of the one built by the First Parish two hun- dred years ago, and was taken down about the year 1770. The one now occu- pied by the so- ciety was erec- ted about the same time. Previous to this, however, they had a small house on Silver street, which was built prior to 1720, for it appears by their records that in December o f that year they " agreed to re- pair their house at ('ocheco."
ADVENT CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
This house stood where the residence of Jacob K. Purington now stands. At that time they held meetings at Dover Neck as well as at Cocheco. The first "Monthly Meeting" was set up in 1702, and this record ex- tends back to that time. The first " Quar- terly Meeting" was established in 1708.
Advent Christian Church.
The Advent Christian church was or-
ganized May 4, 1881, by a body of Chris-' tians who had worshipped in houses and halls since 1843, having been literally without a resting-place during that pe- riod. At a meeting of the society and its friends in the spring of 1881, George E. Durgin, John Brooks and William H. Vickery were appointed to contract for the building of a house of worship.
It was built from the plans and under the direction of George Brown, the ar- chitect, at a cost of $5000. The seats are free and the church is supported by free-will offerings. The building contains an audience- room, 36 x 48 feet, and a ves- try in the base- ment. The house was ded- icated April 16, 1882, by a ser- mon preached by Elder John Couch, of Law- rence, Mass.
The First Unitarian Society of Christians in Dover.
The first meeting for forming this so- ciety was held Aug. 28, 1827, the society be- ing organized on the 4th of September fol- lowing.
The first meeting for public worship was holden at the Court House, Nov. 4, of the same year, when Rev. Henry Ware, Jr., then pastor of the New Brick church, Hanover street, Boston, and afterwards Professor of Pulpit Eloquence in Cam- bridge Divinity school, officiated. The house was built of brick in the year 1828,' situated on Locust street and cost $12000. It was dedicated and Rev. Samuel Kirk- land Lothrop ordained Feb. 17, 1829.
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FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH.
square feet, stood two houses, one of which he moved away, converting the other to rectory uses at an additional expense of $1 200.
Father Richard began building St. Charles' Church May 1, 1896, and said the first Mass therein on the eighth day of the following November. The church cost, to build, $9400, the fittings and furnishings run- ning the total expense up to $12,000.
REV. JULIAN J. RICHARD.
Father Richard was born at St. Maurice, P. Q., March 24, 1856, studied at the college and seminary of Three Rivers, and was or- dained Sept. 19, 1880, by Bishop Laflesche, for the diocese of Three Rivers. For seven years after ordination he was a professor in the
The dedicatory services were performed by Rev. Dr. Nichols, of Portland, and ordination sermon by Rev. Dr. Parker, of Port- land. .The church was gathered the evening pre- vious.
St. Charles Roman Catholic Church.
The parish of St. Charles, consisting of the French- Canadians of Dover, was organized in 1893. Rev. Julian J. Richard was ap- pointed first pastor, Nov. 5, of the same year, saying Mass the following Sunday in Lowell Hall, where he officiated regularly. Aug. 17, 1894, he bought, for $6500, a fine lot on the cor- ner of Third and Grove streets. On this property, which contains 10,000
ST. CHARLES CATHOLIC CHURCH.
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college of Three Rivers, afterwards spend- ing a year on duty at the cathedral. He came to the diocese of Manchester June 23, 1888, and was thereupon stationed . at St. Augustine's, Manchester, where he remained until April 17, 1890, when he was transferred to St. Mary's Church, in the same city. April 3, 1893, he was made administrator of St. Francis Xavier's Church in Nashua, the pastor being in Europe. From the latter city he came to Dover.
Young Men's Christian Association.
The Dover Young Men's Christian As- sociation was organized in 1888 and first occu- pied rooms in Ham's Block on Washington street. Soon after the increased membership demanded larger quar- ters and the association moved to Odd Fellows' Block. In December, 1896, the new Union Block was completed, the entire second floor of which was fitted up for the Association, with reading and recre- ation rooms, parlors, a well equipped gymna- sium, with baths, and a hall with seating ca- pacity of about two hundred. The rooms are open every week day from 9 A. M. to 10 P. M. and on Sunday afternoons, and the strange young man from out of town always receives a cordial welcome. Through its reading-room, li- brary, mock-congress, camera club, gym- nasium, pleasant, social life, religious ser- vices, the Association seeks to elevate men, mentally, physically and morally. Membership is open to all young men of good moral character. At the present time the Association has a membership of nearly 200 with officers as follows :
President, William C. Ogden : Treas- urer, Frank E. Garside ; Recording Sec-
retary, Burton T. Scales ; Auditor, Ernest B. Folsom ; and Board of Directors, Chas. E. Cate, Rev. W. H. S. Hascall, Alfred E. Faye, Frank E. Meserve, E. H. Frost, T. M. Henderson, H. H. Burley, E. A. Crawford ; E. B. Read, General Secretary.
Rev. James Thurston.
Rev. James Thurston is of the seventh generation from the common ancestor of the Thurstons of New England-Daniel Thurston, who immigrated to old New- bury, Mass., in 1635.
He was born in Buxton, York County, Maine, March 12, 1816. His parents removed to Danville, now Auburn, Me., when he was quite young. His early life was spent on the farm and he enjoyed such edu- cational advantages as were found in the country common schools of that day. He subsequently com- pleted a course of studies in the Maine Wesleyan Seminary at Readfield, Me. He commenced his career as a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church in 1838 and remained in that work in Maine when he was " transferred " by the venerable Bishop Hed- ding to the
REV. JAMES THURSTON.
New Hampshire conference. His first appointment in New Hampshire was at Portsmouth in 1848. He has served some of the principal churches in the state and had two terms as Presiding Elder. He has twice been chosen as delegate by his brethren to the general conference.
He was appointed as pastor of the church in this city in 1869 and served two years when he was disabled by nervous prostration. During all the period of his ministerial life he preached twice on ev- ery Sabbath and often three times. He never had the benefit of a vacation, which
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was something quite unknown in those days. In all the earlier years of his ser- vice he received but a meager compensa- tion for his labors. He was married in 1840 to Miss Clara A. Flint of Lubec, Me., who was always a most worthy helper in all his labor. She died in 1890. Mr. Thurston has made Dover his home for nearly thirty years, and is now the oldest resident clergyman in our city. He has served the New Hampshire Legislature as chaplain two terms, the only minister who had that distinction. He was a member of the House of Represe n t a - tives in 1885, from Ward two in this city and a member of the constitutional convention in 1889, serving as chaplain to that body. He has performed such ministe- rial service as his strength would allow, having been a Class Leader and Trustee of St. John's church. He has acted as correspon - dent for sev- eral newspa- pers. He is a member of Strafford Lodge of Free Masons and an honorary member of St. Paul Commandery Knights Templar. He is the oldest Mason in this vicinity, having been made one in 1844. In poli- tics he is a conservative Republican.
Harrison Haley.
Harrison Haley is a son of John and
Sally (Butler) Haley and was born at Lee. He received his education in the schools of Lee, Newmarket and Ports- mouth. Upon leaving school he entered his brother's grocery store at Newmarket as clerk and later accepted a position as salesman in a dry goods store at Lowell. In the fall of 1849 he came to Dover and opened a dry goods store in which busi- ness he continued until the fall of 1870 when he was chosen cashier of the Co- checo Nation- al Bank, which position he has since filled. Mr. Ha- ley has ever been most ac- tive in the va- rious enter- prises of the city, always ready to do his part to pro- mote any cause that was for the good of our citizens. His public spirited ness and persever- ance have been manifest in many of the public enter- prises of Do- ver. Through his energetic efforts a street * railway was built, adding considera bl y to the conven- ience of the
HARRISON HALEY.
public. The introduction of the City Water Works, the establishment of a Chil- dren's Home and a Home for Aged Peo- ple are among the movements which en- gaged his interest and zeal. The erection of an Observatory on Garrison Hill from which thousands of people have greatly enjoyed the grand views, was also an en- terprise of his. He has been a member of the City Government and of the Board
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of Education. In religious persuasion he is a Methodist and has been for seventeen years Superintendent of the St. John's Methodist Episcopal Sunday-school.
Hon. Charles H. Sawyer.
Charles Henry Sawyer was born in Watertown, N. Y., March 30, 1840. He is eldest son of Jonathan and Martha (Perkins) Sawyer. His ancestry on both the paternal and maternal sides were among the early settlers of Massachu- setts. Heat- tended the schools of Watertown until he was ten years of age, when the family re- moved to Do- ver, and he completed his education in this city. He entered the Sawyer Wool- en Mills at the age of seven- teen, the plant then be- ing engaged in the manu- facture of flannels. He had become thoroughly proficient in the business at the age of twenty-six and was then ap- pointed Superintendent of the Mills. In 1881 he became President of the com- pany and since then the general manage- ment of the mills has been in his hands. Throughout his business career Mr. Saw- yer has been markedly successful. He has held many public offices. He served in both branches of the City Councils, was Representative to the Legislature in 1860- '76-'77, a member of the staff of Governor Charles H. Bell in 1881, and in 1884 he
HON. CHARLES H. SAWYER.
was delegate to the National Republican Convention in Chicago. In 1886 he was elected Governor of New Hampshire, and during his term of office he repre- sented the state in many centennial cele- brations that were held during that pe- riod, particularly at Philadelphia on the occasion of the celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of the promulga- tion of the Constitution of the United States. Another centennial was that in New York of the inauguration of Presi- dent Wash- ington. Mr. Sawyer is a Director of the Strafford National Bank, a Trus- tee and Vice- President of the Strafford Savings Bank and a Direc- tor of the Dover Gas Light Com- pany. He has held the positions of President of the Dover Horse Rail- road Com- pany, Direc- tor and Exec- utive Member of the Gran- ite State In- surance Com- pany, Presi- dent of the Elliot Bridge Company, a Director of the Dover and Portsmouth, the Dover, Great Falls and Conway, and the Wolfe- boro Branch Railroads. He is a mem- ber of the Congregational Society of Do- ver. He is a Mason and has been twice chosen Master of the lodge and for many years was Eminent Commander of St. Paul Commandery, Knights Templar. Mr. Sawyer was married February 8, 1865, to Susan Ellen, daughter of Dr. James W. and Elizabeth Cowan of this city. Their
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children are, William Davis, who married Susan Gertrude, daughter of Hon. Joshua G. Hall ; Charles Francis, who married Ger- trude Child, daughter of Hon. Henry W. Sever- ance of San Fran- cisco ; James Cowan, who mar- ried Mary Pep- perell, daughter of Judge George Seward Frost; and Edward and Elizabeth Coffin Sawyer.
The Dover Clothing Company.
The Dover Clothing Com - pany was estab- lished in 1880 and has built up a bus-
iness which is remarkable alike for its magnitude and scope. The com- pany's popularity lies in the fact that all classes of trade are catered to with equal care and ability. They will make you as choice a custom garment as any tailor in New Eng- land, and they will furnish you with a strong, dur- able garment at a very low price, for working wear. Their custom made garments are absolutely cor- rect in fit, style and finish and the assortment of pat. terns kept in stock embraces all the. well known cloths, woolens and cas-
WINFIELD S. BRADLEY.
DOVER CLOTHING COMPANY'S STORE (INTERIOR).
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simeres manufactured by the Sawyer Woolen Mills.
Mr. W. S. Bradley, the proprietor of this representative estab- lishment, is a native of Fairfield, Vt., and is widely and favorably known in business cir- cles throughout this section of the state. He gives close super- vision to the various departments of the undertaking, and has the business thorough- ly systematized. From six to ten assistants are emp'oyed in the store, and from twen- ty-five to fifty in the workrooms, thus assur- ing prompt attention to the needs of pat- rons. The premises comprise two floors
CHARLES E. HODSDON.
sisting of a heavy stock of ready to wear clothing, hats, caps, and all the latest fash- ionable novelties in gentlemen's furnish- ings.
Since the opening of this establishment it has met with splendid success on account of the unusually fine stock of goods carried and the excellent and refined taste shown in their selection.
Charles E. Hodsdon.
Charles E. Hods- don was born and ed- ucated in Dover. At the age of fourteen years he entered the store of C. E. Bacon to learn the jewelry business and served eleven years perfecting
INTERIOR HODSDON JEWELRY STORE.
and a basement at 436-438 Central av- enue and are well adapted for displaying the excellent stock of goods carried, con-
himself in its every detail. Ten years ago Mr. Hodsdon opened a modest store in the vicinity of the Democrat office, and
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at the time occupied by Alexander Frazier. Six months later he moved into his present magnificent store in the National Block, 444 Central avenue. The premises are excellently fitted up, the furnishings benig of a substantial nature. Handsome plate- glass show cases show to perfection the rare assortment of cut and uncut gems and precious stones, diamonds, solid gold rings, watches, chains, and ornaments all tastefully arranged and bearing evidence of the splen- did patronage the store en- joys from the best class of our citizens and those of the surround- ing towns. Mr. Hodsdon also carries a line of rare art pot- tery, solid sil- ver and silver- plated ware and an exten- sive line of gold and silver watches and chains, silver toilet articles, bronzes, onyx and marble clocks, cut glass, specta- cles, bric-a- brac, etc. Special atten- tion is devo- ted to watch and jewelry repairing and the mounting of gems. Everything carried in stock is of an exceptionally fine quality suitable for the most fastidious class of customers. Mr. George R. Hodsdon, a graduate of the Bucklins School of Optics of New York, who has been constantly associated with Mr. Charles E. Hodsdon, is in charge of the optical and engraving departments. He makes a specialty of fitting spectacles for weak or defective sight.
In addition to his jewelry business, Mr. Hodsdon conducts one of the largest retail bicycle stores in the state, handling the Stearns, Victor, Waverly, ; Lovell Dia- mond and other high class wheels. In the rear of the store are the workshops where every class of repair is attended to by skilled workmen at short notice.
Hon. Joshua G. Hall.
HON. JOSHUA GILMAN HALL.
Joshua Gil- man Hall is a lineal descen- dant of Dea- con John Hall, who lived on the land now cultivated by John Wesley Clements on Dover Neck. The Hall spring which has been known by that name for over two hundred years is on the Clements farm near the river. It has been used by man and beast since the day that Deacon Hall discovered it.
On the ma- ternal side Mr. Hall is descended from Capt. Jeremiah Gil-
man of Wakefield, who was one of Stark's officers at Bennington, having raised a company for the campaign when over sixty years of age. Report says he was the first man in the fight after Gen. Stark who led the column.
Mr. Hall is the son of Joshua G. and Betsy (Plummer) Hall of Wakefield, where he was born Nov. 5, 1828. He gradu- ated at Dartmouth college in July, 1851,
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and was admitted to the bar in 1855. Since 1857 he has resided in Dover. His public services have been practically con- tinuous from June, 1862, to March 4, . 1881, having been Solicitor for the County of Strafford from June, 1862 to June, 1874 ; Mayor of Dover, 1866, 1867 ; City Solicitor, 1868, 1869; member New Hampshire Senate 1871-'72 ; Represen- tative to New Hampshire Legislature, 1874; Attorney of the United States for the district of New Hamp- shire from April, 1874, to Feb., 1879; elec- ted to the forty - sixth Congress and re-elected to the forty - seventh as a Republican, receiving 16,- 310 votes against 15,- 047 for John W. Sanborn of Wakefield. In these vari- ous offices he has been dili- gent in the discharge of his public du- ties and the confidence of his fellow cit- izens has been shown by continued advance - ment. He is a deacon in the First Parish Congrega- tional church in Dover of which his an- cestor, John Hall, was first deacon, and where, in the words of the old Dover records for the year 1671, he " agried with the selectmen to sweep the Meeting- House and ring the bell for one hole yier & to have for that serves the sum of ten pounds." On Nov. 16, 1861, he was unit- ed in marriage to Miss Susan Elizabeth
Bigelow of Boston, Mass. Their chil- dren have been Grace Bigelow, who mar- ried Wm. H. Cook of Florida, Susan Ger- trude, who married Gen. William D. Saw- yer of Dover, and a son, Dwight Hale, who graduated at Dartmouth College 1894 and was admitted to the bar in 1897.
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