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 6
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MAIN CLASS ROOM, DOVER BUSINESS COLLEGE.
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The department of business practice and the Counting-room department are the crowning features of the College-those which have contributed to its reputation for thoroughness and efficiency. The pupil here becomes in all essentials a practical business man. Night sessions are held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at which the same course is taken as in the day classes and students are graduated on completing their course.
Mr. Henderson was born in Pickering, Ont., Canada, in 1861, receiving his early education at the Whitly High School. He subsequently took a course at Picker- ing College and obtained a professional teacher's certificate from the Toronto Normal School. He afterwards graduated from the Central Business College, Toron- to. His teaching experience extends over a period of twelve years, in both Public Schools and Business College work. When Bliss Brothers founded their School in this city he was chosen principal and is today sole proprietor of the D'over Busi- ness College. Mr. Henderson is well- grounded in and thoroughly familiar with every particular of business as practiced in the best Commercial offices, and the success the College has attained under his skilful and capable management is as pleasing as it is pronounced.
Hon. John Tapley Welch.
Hon. John Tapley Welch, who assumed charge of the Post Office May 24, 1898, is widely known in this section, has held many positions of trust and is recognized as a man of abundant executive ability. The appointment of Postmaster was se- cured by Mr. Welch after a long and exciting contest.
Mr. Welch was born in Dover, Decem- ber 15, 1856, and was educated in the public schools of Dover and at Dartmouth College. After completing his education he devoted many years to newspaper work. He served as city editor of the Whiteside Sentinel of Morrison, Ill., the Dover Daily Republican and Dover Daily
Times, and was for several years the Dover correspondent of the Boston Globe.
He has had much experience in a cler- ical capacity, having been clerk of the Dover police court in 1881-1882, register of probate for Strafford county from 1882 to 1887, five years a member and first secretary of the board of trustees of the Dover Public Library, and from February 1 890, to July 1894, was chief time clerk of the government printing office at Wash- ington. Mr. Welch represented Ward 3 in the legislature of 1889, and served as clerk of the committee on railroads.
He has always been an ardent Republi- can and an active supporter of his party.
HON. JOHN T. WELCH, Postmaster of Dover.
He has been a delegate to every Republican state and district convention since 1882, is at present a member of the republican state committee and has been a member of the Dover Ward 3 committee for several years. He also served as supervisor of elections during the presidental election of 1884.
In 1896 he was unanimously nominated for Senator in the 22nd Senatorial district and was elected by the largest majority ever given in the district. In the Senate
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he was chairman of the committee on re- vision of laws and also served on the com- mittees on education, roads, bridges,canals, and manufactures.
Mr. Welch is a member of the New Hampshire Historical Society, the Dover Historical Society, the Sons of the Ameri- can Revolution and the following secret societies in Dover : Mt. Pleasant lodge and Prescott Encampment, I. O. O. F .; Olive Branch Lodge, K. of P .; Wanalan- set Tribe of Red Men ; Coeur de Lion Castle. K. G. E., and Dover Lodge 184, B. P. O. E.
The Late Levi Gerrish Hill, M. D.
For half a century Dr. Hill was iden- tified with Dover ; his in- terest and ac- tivity never flagging from the time of his coming in 1848, to his death in 1898.
To the most remark- able degree he escaped the infirmities of age, con- tinuing his professional duties to within one month of his decease. His tall figure and stately courtesy seemed a part of Dover.
Dr. Hill was a thorough New Englander, whose ancestors were conspicuous in the early history of the colony : Elder Hate- vil Nutter, Thomas Leighton, John Hill of New Hampshire, Henry Sewall, Stephen Dummer and Captain William Gerrish of Massachusetts were his grandfathers in the 17th century. Chief Justice Samuel
Sewall was his kinsman, and also Lt. Gov. William Dummer. He was the son of Andrew Neal and Sally ( Leighton) Hill and was born in Strafford, N. H., July 7th, 1812.
His boyhood was spent on his father's farm-attending the district school till the age of fifteen, after which he attended Newmarket and Gilmanton Academies.
Deciding upon the medical profession he attended three full courses of lectures at D)art - mouth Medi- cal College and was grad- uated there- from in 1838.
The degree of A. M. was conferred up- on him by Dartmouth College in 1883.
Immedi- ately after gradu ation Dr. Hill be- gan practice at Salisbury, N. H. Two years later he established himself in Norfolk, Va., where resided his only brother, Capt. Andrew Leighton Hill. In Nor- folk he ac- quired a good practice but his fondness for New England impelled him to return to New Hampshire.
THE LATE DR. LEVI GERRISH HILL.
The Medical Societies of the City, County and State, had in Dr. Hill an ac- tive and progressive member. He was president of the New Hampshire Medical Society in 1869, and president of its board of trustees from the establishment of that Board. He was president of the Dover Medical Society in 1854 ; president of the Strafford District Medical Society
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in 1862; permanent member of the American Medical Association ; vice pres- ident in 1881 ; president of the Examin- ing Board under the registration law of New Hampshire during the first ten years of its existence, 1878 to 1888; honorary member of the Portsmouth Medical Soci- ety, and of the Maine Medical Associa- tion.
On November 13th, 1893, he was elected president of the Dartmouth Alum- ni Association of S. E. New Hampshire.
Dr. Hill was a Mason-member of Strafford Lodge since June, 1856. In November, 1849, he joined the Weco- hamet Lodge of Odd Fellows. He joined
served on the field as captain of the Thirty-fifth Massachusetts infantry ; Ade- laide Shackford, wife of Rev. James M. Buckley, L.L.D., of Morristown, N. J .; and Margaret Leighton, deceased, wife of Seth M. Milliken of New York city.
Late Joseph Dame Guppey.
Capt. James Guppey was born in Bev- erly, Mass., in 1732, and came to Dover while young to be educated for a nautical career, and at the age of twenty-one com- manded a ship. He sailed from Ports- mouth, N. H., and Salem, Mass., his fam- ily residing in Portsmouth. In 1767 he
RESIDENCE OF THE LATE DR. HILL, WASHINGTON STREET.
the First Parish church of Dover, May 6, IS77.
Dr. Hill was married July 30, 1838, to Abigail Burnham, daughter of the late Samuel Shackford, Esq, a woman of re- markable beauty and strength of charac- ter, whose death on October 25th, 1895, was deeply mourned by a wide circle.
Their children are : Clara A., wife of the late George F. French, A.M., M.D., of Minneapolis, Minn., surgeon United State volunteers and personal staff sur- geon of Gen. U. S. Grant ; Abby A., wife of Maj. William N. Meserve, then in com- mand of Forts Barnard and Albany, near Washington, D. C., having previously
purchased the Capt. Heard farm in Dover, and after repairing the house, which was built in 1690, removed his family there. When our independence was established he relinquished a sea-faring life and re- tired to his farm. In August 1782, the government sent him to the friendly French fleet on our coast as a competent and trustworthy pilot. He piloted five of the fleet to Portsmouth harbor and re- mained with them three months as the confidential business advisor of Marquis de Vandrenil. He died in 1826, aged ninety-three years, leaving his farm to his son John, who was born in 1768 and died in 1855, aged eighty-seven years. John
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had five sons ; two died in early manhood, February 11, 1823. He received a good of the other three Gen. J. J. Guppey of common school education supplemented
THE OLD GUPPEY HOUSE (BUILT 1690), PORTLAND STREET.
Wisconsin, a graduate of Dart mouth, died in 1893, aged seventy- three years. The next one, Joseph D., died in Dover in 1890. The youngest, Jer- emy B., owns the home- stead farm, and with his two sisters, Mrs. Abby G. Trafton and Miss Hannah G. Guppey, occupies the same house built in 1690 that his grand- father and father occu- pied so many years.
Joseph Dame Gup- pey was born in Dover,
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THE LATE EX -MAYOR JOSEPH D. GUPPEY.
by a special academic course in mathematics . He inherited the family physique, and was a sound, practical man, always ready to give a strong, com- mon-sense opinion upon any subject to which his at- tention h a d been called. In early life he succeeded as a school teacher, and his fellow- citizens re - peatedly showed their confidence in · his integrity and ability by placing him mn positions of public trust
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and responsibility, auditor, moderator, school committeeman, county commis- sioner, member of the Constitutional con- vention and mayor in 1879-1880. He retired from each office with honor and credit. It may be briefly added that ex- Mayor Guppey was a good type of that useful class of citizens who are always safe advisors in critical times or in an emer- gency of any kind.
Hon. Hosea Ballou Perkins.
Hon. Ho- sea Ballou Perkins was born in Dover August 4, 1819, and is the son of Robert Per- kins and Re- lief Earle. He has the dis- tinction of belonging to one of the old- est and most honored fam- ilies of New Hampshire. His ancestors were men who made history and there are in Dover to- day the old mansions built by these men, which are now some of our time-honored reminders of days and people that have passed from all but memory.
Mr. Perkins received his education in the public schools of New Hampshire and throughout his school days showed the greatest aptitude for acquiring knowledge and improving his opportunities.
Leaving school at the early age of fourteen, he divided the remaining years of his boyhood between farm and clerk
life, going to New York City when seven- teen years old with no capital save his na- tive energy and tact, and without an ac- quaintance in the metropolis except a poor colored man.
He began his business life in New York as a clerk in thewell-known carpet establish- ment of Shaw & Carter. At the end of his second year he refused a liberal salary from this company and embarked in busi- ness for him- self, taking for a partner his younger brother, James P. Per- kins. For twenty-five years the ca- reer of this firm of carpet merchants was one con- tinued success in spite of the financial crisis through which our country passed during that time.
HON. HOSEA BALLOU PERKINS.
During the last year of Fernando Wood's may- oralty of New York the nomination for the assem- bly in the Twelfth Ward was tendered Mr. Perkins and declined. Later, under the leadership of John Kelly, he was nominated for State Senator, but refused the nomination, much to the re- gret of his party.
Mr. Perkins has been a life long Dem- ocrat, efficient and active on the stump, during many campaigns. He never sought any political office, but was content to serve the educational interests of the city for more than thirty years as Commissioner and Inspector of Public Schools.
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In 1871 Mr. Perkins received the hon- orary degree of Master of Arts from Bow- doin and in 1875 from Dartmouth College. It was in the fall of '75 that he delivered to the Dartmouth students his popular lecture on Robert Burns, the Scottish poet, which was repeated two years later at the request of the faculty. Mr. Perkins has delivered many addresses before agri- cultural societies, colleges, political and other gatherings, also before lyceums in different parts of the country. As an after-dinner speaker he has always been in great demand. During the Civil War he represented his native state in the New England Relief Association, pleading elo- quently the cause of the Union.
When the Second New Hampshire reg- iment arrived in New York under the command of Colonel Marston, Mr. Per- kins was selected by the sons of New Hampshire, resident in this city, to make the address of welcome, which he did on the Battery in the presence of ten thousand people, and the address was published in several of the New England papers.
The following is an extract from one of Mr. Perkins' addresses before the Board of Education of New York City : " I had hardly been in this Board one month when a gentleman well known in this commun- ity, holding a high social position, but not especially noted for his liberality, said to me : 'Commissioner, I think public ed- ucation is a failure.' I answered him that if he entertained such an idea it was a delu- sive dream that enwrapped his senses, an idle fancy sporting with his fears. And let me say here, to-night, in the presence of this Board and of the intelligent mem- bers of the press and of all, that the com- mon school here in this great city, amid the bleak hills of New England, or on the broad prairies of the far distant west, is no more a failure than 'popular liberty, constitutional law, or the Christian relig- ion.' The past is full of its great achieve- ments, the future will acknowledge its sovereign power.
The common school a failure ! Why, sir, you might as well attempt to dam up the waters of Niagara with cobwebs as to try to fetter the feet of the noble men and women who are engaged in the grand
work of popular instruction in this great, free and prosperous republic, whose very foundations rest upon the intelligence and virtue of the people.
From our public schools and our col- leges are to go out into the world the men and the women who are to make states and form our national strength, who are to still further illustrate the grand idea that man is capable of self-government, endowed by his Maker with natural rights older than the sceptre of the king, and that can be taken from him only by that Omnipotent Power ' to whom a thousand years are but as yesterday when it is past,' and who controls the destinies of men and nations.
Look back, oh illiberal and misguided opponent of public education, through the mist and haze of the past, and tell me if you can what paintings of Apollos, what statutes of Phidias, what poems of Homer or Virgil are half as noble, or have contributed half as much to the general welfare and prosperity of mankind as the humble little temple of learning em- bosomed amid the pine forests of Maine, or standing upon the bleak shores of Erie or Ontario.
Lord Bacon suggested to the people of Great Britain a system of public educa- tion, but the titled, tinselled and courtly throng of that period did not think it safe, under their form of government, to edu- cate the masses, and they rejected Bacon's plan, and 'like the base Judean, they threw a rich pearl away.' But to-day has changed the picture !- the people of Great Britain are proud of their public schools, and public education engrosses the atten- tion of her best and brightest intellects. If people living under a monarchical gov- ernment are taking so much interest in the education of the masses, why talk of public education being a failure in this glorious land of ours, where every man can rise in the majesty of his own intel- lect and where the avenues to knowledge, distinction and power are clear and broad for all.
But, Mr. President, if our great system of education be ever destroyed by antag- onists of whatever name (I allude to no particular sect or faction), I, for one, can-
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not but think its light will linger even when its sun is set, gilding the loftiest spires of our land with the departing glo- ries of a system that now commands the admiration of the young, the generous and the good.
Our public schools, to-day, are better organized and equipped and are doing better work than at any previous period in their history. Let us then, whether in this Board or out of it, give to them our counsel, our means and our best efforts. Let us plead for education in all lands and among all people, and when educa- tion shall have become universal, may we not hope for that happy epoch for which the good have so long prayed, and the war- rior's battered panoply shall be laid aside. Then will peace, the blessed angel of peace, be crowned with tri- umphant garlands ; then, in the eloquent language of another ' will dim Meroe shout freedom from beyond the fountains of the Nile, and lips as stony as the sphinx will preach the Gospel ' of the better day."
Mr. Perkins is a member of the Tam- many society, Demo- cratic club, Fordham club, and has been president of the Wash- ington Heights Century club for the past ten years.
On November 9, 1843, Mr. Perkins was united in marriage to Harriet Louise Hanmer and their children were Edwin Earle, who died in 1893, Harriet Ida, Helen Hanmer, James P., Jr., who died in 1851, Lucy Charlotte, died in 1853, Mary Grace and Robert Randolph.
Probably no man in New York is bet- ter known in society or among the habitues of the rides and drives than is Mr. Perkins. Although he has attained more than the
JAMES E. HAYES, Sheriff, Strafford County.
usual number of years allowed to the aver- age man, of even the most robust health, Mr. Perkins is active, energetic and sparkling with the spirit of vigorous man- hood. No social gathering is quite com- plete without his presence. He has en- joyed the friendship of some of the great- est men of the metropolis, past and pres- ent, and his beautiful residence amid the trees of Washington Heights is fragrant with memories of these men who have from time to time enjoyed the stately but cordial hospitality which is a pleasing fea- ture of his home life.
James E. Hayes.
James E. Hayes was born April 13, 1840, on the old homestead at Farming- ton, which his great- grandfather, Daniel Hayes, cleared from the wilderness. The homestead was also the birthplace of Daniel Hayes, Jr., the grand- - father, and of his son, Richard Hayes, the father of the subject of this sketch. Richard Hayes married Martha A. Edgerly of Far- mington, who bore him two children, Annie M. Hayes, who mar- ried Alvah M. Kimball, and James E. Hayes. In 1882 Mr. Hayes erected, in his native town, a factory for the manufacture of heels for boots and shoes, which is now in charge of his son, Eugene B. Hayes. The marked popularity of Mr. Hayes was attested in the flattering vote by which he was chosen to his present re- sponsible position in 1895. For many years he had served as a Deputy Sheriff and his appointment to the position of Sheriff of Strafford County was but a just tribute to his merit. Although prac- tically a stranger to public functions, Mr. Hayes' incumbency of the sheriff's office has been an eminently able one, the many
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problems constantly arising in connection with his multifarious duties being handled with care and discretion. Mr. Hayes also acts as Keeper of the Jail. In politics he is a firm supporter of Republican princi- ples, having cast his first vote for Abra- ham Lincoln. He represented the town of Farmington in the state legislature in 1872 and in 1887 was elected selectman of the town. He was married Nov. 24, 1870, to Miss Mary E. Peavey of Far- mington, a daughter of John L. and Emily Furber Peavey, and has two sons, Eugene B. Hayes, deputy sheriff, and manager of his heel factory at Farmington, and John R. Hayes, a student.
Union Electric Railway.
This company which now controls the street transportation of passengers in Do- ver and vicinity is well worthy of extended notice in this work. Its growth has been marvellous and in complete harmony with the progress of the age, providing unri- valled facilities for public pleasure and convenience.
When in the early part of 1882 the idea of a street railway was first conceived by Mr. Harrison Haley it was looked upon as a wild scheme, too much for the little city of Dover, but, notwithstanding the opposition and ridicule of the enterprise, by the perseverance of Mr. Haley the nec- essary capital, $20,000, was subscribed by liberal and public-spirited citizens who at that time had no assurance of ever receiv- ing any return for the money subscribed, but were confident it would be a great public good. It did, however, pay dividends.
The building of the road between Saw- yer's and Garrison Hill was commenced in the spring of 1882 the work being pushed on so rapidly that by the follow- ing July the first cars were run over the new road, a distance of two and one-half miles.
The old road succeeded for some years and was greatly appreciated, but the great development of electricity showed the fu- tility of attempting to run cars on anti- quated principles while the new power of electricity could be procured upon fa- vorable terms.
The consequence has
been that the horse-cars have given place entirely to the modern and expensively fitted trolley-cars; and the application of electricity as a motive power has contributed much to the convenience of the traveling public.
Since the formation of the present com- pany the management has been constantly making improvements and the change has been decidedly beneficial to Dover. The entire roadbed between Sawyer's Mills and the city of Somersworth, the termi- nals of the line, has been rebuilt and new sixty-foot sixty-pound steel rails laid. In the city limits a steel girder rail has been employed which can be paved with granite blocks between the tracks. The cost of this improvement, including labor and auxiliary expenses, has been very great. But the inestimable benefits derived from a well-equipped railway like ours are practical as well as sentimental. Suburbs are opened up and made more accessible from the city, thereby diffusing the popu- lation, improving the health of the people and largely increasing the number of house owners.
One of the greatest attractions of the road is Central Park, which is situated on the line of the Union Electric Railway, mid- way between the cities of Dover and Somersworth, and contains twenty acres of hill and dale, woodland and plain. Bounded on the west by Lake Willand, a body of water called in the land grants " The Great Pond," and as early as 1674 named " Cochecho l'ond," or " the pond of the Cochecho." The Indian tribe who massacred Maj. Waldron and burned the garrison over his body at Dover, June 27, 1689, often tented around this sheet of water as a fishing ground.
'The air at the Park is of the purest and best. A good, cool breeze can be enjoyed there in the hottest of weather. The scenery around the lake is beautiful. A fleet of boats is there, and a party can spend an hour in pleasure rowing and sailing about the lake, or, if they do not care to row or sail, they can charter a steam launch at a very small expense, and the trip around the like is a most delight- ful one.
This Park has all of the accompani-
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ments required for first-class grounds for picnic or excursion parties. There is a large Casino building, 50 x 150 feet, two stories, containing a large banquet hall and kitchen on the lower floor, and a fine exhibition hall above. Also a Pavilion, 50 x 150 feet, which can be usedl'for meet- ings, entertainments, dances, etc. A lawn tennis ground, suitably enclosed, and a base ball and foot ball ground, with an amphitheatre of 1500 seats, gives a splendid opportunity for either of these popular games. There is also a fine track for bicycle races. The grounds are
than this delightful resort. It is of easy access, and excursion parties over the Boston & Maine R. R., Portsmouth and Dover, and Northern divisions of the Bos- ton & Maine can be furnished with elec- tric cars from Dover and Somersworth to the Park. The proprietors of the Park have expended large sums to make it the
most attractive possible. Arrangements can be made for reduced transportation over all the divisions of Boston & Maine road for picnics and excursions. The use of the Park is free to all picnic and ex- cursion parties. Information relative to
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DIES GENTS BOOTS SHOES
INTERIOR FURBER AND WIGGIN'S STORE.
lighted by electricity, are furnished with seats, swings, picnic tables, etc. Ice wa- ter tanks are well distributed over the grounds throughout the summer season. The walks and grounds are in fine condi- tion. No liquors are sold in or around the Park. An efficient police will also see to it that no disorder is permitted. Churches and societies in the surrounding towns which are to hold picnics the com- ing season should not forget that Central Park is one of the most delightful spots to be found in New England. Here every convenience is supplied, and there is no place better adapted for pleasure parties
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