Gazetteer of Cheshire County, N.H., 1736-1885, Part 18

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- comp. cn
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., Printed at the Journal Office
Number of Pages: 1034

USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Gazetteer of Cheshire County, N.H., 1736-1885 > Part 18

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 (link on the Part 1 page).

Ira D. Knight, whose father, Pratt, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, was a native of Marlow, in this county. His son, Ira D., married Cordelia Hemingway, who bore him nine children, seven of whom are living, and he is at present a resident of Keene. where his youngest son, Walton, also re- sides. His son Charles F. married Maria Moore, of this town, by whom he has reared four children. He resides on road 44.

Roger Weston, son of Roger who was in the Revolutionary war and drew a pension, married Deborah Lawrence, of Mason, N. H., who bore him seven children, all of whom are now dead. His son Roger married Mary Winn, of Pepperell, Mass., and had born to him four children, three of whom are living. His second son, Sumner J., married Sarah Morse, of Mason, Hillsboro Co., and has three children. He now resides on a farm on road 37.

Samuel Derby, a native of Hollis, N. H., came to this town when he wa's twelve years old. He married three times, first to Lois Twithell, second to Betsey Knowlton and third to Ruth Perry. Only two of his ten children are now living, viz .: Betsey Jane, of Minnesota, and Dexter, of this town. The latter married Julia, daughter of Jonas Brooks and Julia (Greenwood) Piper, and has two children, Samuel C. and Emily E. He now occupies the home- stead farm on road 45.

Samuel Brown, a native of Beverly, Mass., married Bethiah Adams, who bore him two children. His son Samuel married Olive Fairbanks, of West Boylston, Mass. He was a farmer and resident of Boylston, and reared a family of twelve children, six of whom are living. One of these, Dea. Moses A., married Susan, daughter of Paul and Ariathusa (Ross) Fairbanks. Two children are now living. He resides in this town upon a farm on road 6.

Samuel Pierce came to Jaffrey, from Rindge, married Hettie Brooks, and reared a family of ten children, three of whom are now living. His son Charles W. married Abbie G. Gowing, of Dublin, who bore him thirteen children, eight of whom are dead. His widow now occupies the home farm here with her son Frank E., who married Ida M., daughter of James M. and Jane M. (Chandler) Hannaford.

Dr. Henry H. Smith, the only physician and surgeon of this town, came here from Claremont, N. H., in October, 1865, commenced practice, and has remained here to the present time, meeting with great success. He married Arabella S., daughter of Thomas and Sophia (Appleton) Fisk. He was a naval surgeon in the late war, where he remained until its close.

Warren L., son of Daniel and Esther Fisk, married Emily M. Mathews, of Faribault, Minn., has five children, and resides on road 12 in this town. He has been justice of the peace twelve consecutive years, town clerk twen- ty-three years, and town treasurer twenty-four years.

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TOWN OF DUBLIN.

Henry H. Piper, son of Henry C., married Laura W., daughter of Rev. George M. and Persis F. (Weeks) Rice, has one child and resides on road 12. He was appointed delegate to the Exposition of New Orleans for 1884, by the Bureau of Education at Washington.

Thaddeus Mason, Jr., married Lydia, daughter of Ivory Perry, and had born to him six children, one of whom is now living. His son Dexter mar- ried twice, first, Abigail, daughter of James Adams, who bore him four chil- dren, two of whom are living, and second, Harriet G., daughter of Samuel and Mary (Adams) Farewell, of Nelson, who bore him three children, all of whom are living. He was a native of this town and settled on a farm on road 4. He finally retired from the farm to the village of Dublin, where his widow now resides. He held many offices of trust in the town, being select- man ten years, town clerk and treasurer nine years, and representative at Concord two years. He died May 11, 1884. His son Milton D., now a merchant in Dublin, married Ella Gowing, and has one child. His son Fremont E. married Annie Piper, and has two children.

David Townsend, a pensioner of the Revolution, came to what is now Har- risville, from Lynn, Mass., and settled upon the farm where Jabez Townsend now lives. His son Charles M. now occupies a farm in this town, on road 15.

Jacob Wellman, son of Jacob, and a native of Linesboro, N. H., was at the battle of Bunker Hill, under General Warren, and after the war was honorably discharged, and drew a pension. His second wife was Elizabeth Moore, who,bore him fourteen children. His son John married Betsey Moore, of Bedford, N. H., and reared nine children, six of whom are now living. His second son, Jesse P., married Acsah J. Coburn, of Walton, N. H., has eight children, and resides on road 39, in this town.

Captain Abram Moore, a pensioner of the Revolution, was a native of Bolton, Mass. His son Abram married Julian Holmes, of Upton, Mass., reared seven children, and finally settled in Dublin. His son, Orson H., mar- ried Sarah E. Southwick, of Marlboro, and has one son, Fred W. He resides on the home farm, with George W.

Elmer B. Howe, son of Jotham and Myra (Kemball) Howe, married Lucy, daughter of Israel and Tabitha (Wheelock) Marsh, of Keene, and has four children. He was a soldier in the late war, enlisting in Company C, 15th Mass. Vols, was taken prisoner, and was one of the sufferers in Libby prison. He now occupies a farm on road 10, in this town.

James Gowing, Jr., of Scotch descent, came to Dublin, from Lynnfield, Mass., in 1788, married Abigail Greenwood, in 1792, and reared eight chil- dren. His father, James, Sr., settled in Jaffrey in 1777. Joseph, son of James, Jr., and father of Charles W., was captain of the Dublin Grenadiers. Almerin, the fourth child, born October 1, 1799, married Sarah Sanders in 1826. He was selectman in 1837-39, and was captain of the Dublin Gren- adiers. George A., the eldest son of six children, born December 8, 1827,

15I

TOWN OF FITZWILLIAM.

married Lydia S., daughter of Benjamin Perry,October 15, 1850, and has two sons, Clifford and Clisson E., and one daughter, Ellen (Mrs. M. D. Mason), all residing in Dublin. Charles W., son of Joseph, married Julia Foster, of Walpole, and has two children. His son, Fred C., married Jennie Newton, of Troy, and now resides on the home farm, with his father, on road 22, in this town.

The First Congregational ( Unitarian) society, located at Dublin village, was originally organized, with forty members, in 1772, Rev. Joseph Farrar, being the first pastor. Their first church building, erected in that year, was succeeded by a second in 1818, and that in turn by the present, built in 1852. The latter is a fine wooden structure, capable of comfortably seating 400 per- sons, cost about $6,500.00, and is now valued, including grounds, etc., at about $9,500.00. The society now has forty-five members, with Rev. Hasket D. Catlin, pastor. The society has also a flourishing Sabbath-school, with sixty-five members.

The Trinitarian Congregational church, located about three-fourths of a mile from the postoffice, on the road to Peterboro, was organized by a council convened for the purpose, with Rev. M. Bradford, moderator, and Rev. T. S. Barston, scribe, November 21, 1827, with eight members. Rev. Henry A. Kendall was their first settled pastor. Their first house of worship was a brick structure, erected in 1835. The present edifice was put up in 1877. It is a neat wooden building, capable of seating 200 persons, and cost $3,000 .- .00. The society now has ten members, with Rev. George B. Cutler, pastor.

F ITZWILLIAM, one of the southern tier of townships in the county, lies in lat. 42° 45' and long. 4° 54', bounded north by Troy and Jaf- frey, east by Jaffrey and Rindge, south by the state line, and west by Richmond. The town was originally granted by the Masonion proprietors, as Monadnock No. 4, January 15, 1752, to Roland Cotton and forty-one others. These grantees, however, failed to comply with the requirements of the charter and thus forfeited their right to the territory, and it was subse- quently, early in 1765, re-granted to Samson Stoddard and twenty-three asso- ciates. On May 19, 1773, upon petition of the inhabitants, a New Hamp- shire charter was obtained of Governor Wentworth, and the town was incor- porated under its present name, given in honor of the Earl of Fitzwilliam. In the charter deed, which contained the usual restrictions and reservations of those documents, the township was bounded as follows :-

"Beginning at the west line of Mason's patent, by the north line of Massa- chusetts six miles ; east by South Monadnock [now Rindge] five miles ; thence north 80° west one and one-quarter miles to the southwest corner of Middle Monadnock ; thence north by the needle two miles and forty rods; thence north 89° west to the patent west line as lately marked; and from thence south by that line to the place of beginning."

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TOWN OF FITZWILLIAM.

These bounds enclosed an area of about 26,900 acres. The charter also appointed James Reed, Esq., to call the first town meeting, within thirty days from the date thereof. June 15, 1815, the town was divided and 4,200 acres set off towards forming the township of Troy, as detailed in the sketch of that town.

The surface of the town is broken and uneven, its lakelets, streams, hills and valleys blending with exquisite harmony, in a landscape whose beauty is famous, and which attracts many visitors each season. Of the streams, Camp and Priest brooks, flowing a southerly course, are the largest. Among the lakelets or ponds are Rockwood and Scotts, in the northern part, and South,. Meadow and Sip ponds in the southern part. Among the elevations which lend a picturesqueness to the landscape and afford delightful views, are the Pinnacle, in the central part of the town, from which may be obtained a de- lightful prospect, and Gap Mountain, or Little Monadnock, lying partly in Troy, which, at a distance, appears to be a part of Monadnock. Granite of a fine quality is abundant and is extensively quarried. The soil, though rocky, is generally suitable for grazing and tillage, while there is a considera- ble quantity of very arable and highly productive meadow land. The orig- inal growth of timber on the uplands is maple, beech, birch, oak, pine and hemlock, and on the low lands pine, hemlook and spruce. The Cheshire railroad crosses the town in a diagonal direction from northwest to south- east.

In 1880 Fitzwilliam had a population of 1, 187 souls. In 1884 the town had eleven school districts, eleven common schools, and one graded school. Its eleven school-houses were valued, including furniture, etc., at $8,200.00. There were 261 children attending school, thirty-two of whom were pursuing the higher grades, taught during the year by four male and thirteen female teachers, at an average monthly salary of $37.50 for males, and $29.69 for fe- males. The entire amount raised for school purposes during the year was $2,200.76, while the expenditures were $2,267.71, with A. R. Gleason, Amos J. Blake and Elliot K. Wheelock, committee.

FITZWILLIAM is a pleasant post village located in the northern-central part of the town, on six main roads. Besides the usual mechanic shops, and stores, it has a savings bank, three church organizations, town hall, two ho- tels, and several granite shops and quarries.

FITZWILLIAM DEPOT, a post village located in the central part of the town,. on the Cheshire railroad, contains one church, a few mechanic shops, stores, etc.

HOWEVILLE is a hamlet in the southern part of the town at the foot of South. Pond.

BOWKERVILLE is a small village located in the southern part of the town.

Fitzwilliam Savings bank, located in the Postoffice block, at Fitzwilliam village, was incorporated in 1871, and commenced business in 1872, with Philip S. Batchellor, president, and Milton Chaplin, treasurer. The present officers are Amos J. Blake, president, and Stephen Batchellor, treasurer.

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TOWN OF FITZWILLIAM.

George D. Webb Granite Co.'s quarry and shops are located at the cross- ing of the railroad and road 31. The firm consists of George D. Webb and C. F. Batchelder, of Worcester, Mass., who began work here in July, 1882. They have extensive sheds, a polishing-mill, blacksmiths shops and engine- house, using three engines and two steam drills. Their works are also accommodated with side-tracks to the Cheshire railroad, and they give employ- ment to about seventy-five men in the summer and twenty-five in the winter season, producing all kinds of rough and finished granite. In 1884 they did a business aggregating $85,000.00, using 600 cars for transporting their goods. Alonzo Whipple is superintendent of the works, and Elliot K. Wheelock, cashier.

Fisher & Newton's granite quarry, located off road 15, was opened by John E Fisher about 1880, and Charles Newton became a partner in 1882. They employ about eight men in quarrying and cutting cemetery monumental work and curbing, doing a business of about $8,000.00 per year. Mr. Fisher opened the present Webb quarry in 1867, Dwelly quarry in 1874, and the above in 1880.

D. H. Reed's granite quarry, located about half a mile from Fitzwilliam Depot, was opened by his father, Charles, and himself in 1864. He employs about thirty men in quarrying granite to order, finding a market throughout the Middle and New England states, producing about 600 car-loads per annum. He furnished 636 car-loads for the St. Paul's church building at Worcester.

Ethan Blodgett's granite quarry, on road 30, was opened in 1868. He gives employment to about ten men, and connected with the quarry is the polishing mill of Zenas A. Blodgett.

Bartlett Hayden's granite works, on road 21, were established about 1870, by Bartlett and Albert Hayden, the latter of whom remained until 1883, when he sold out to Bartlett. He manufactures all kinds of cemetery and building work, giving employment to about eight men.

Melvin Wilson & Son's granite quarries, located on road 41, were first opened by Mr. Wilson about thirty-six years ago, first being in business with Calvin Dutton until about seventeen years ago, when his son, Albert F., became his partner. They employ about four men, and have their yards at Fitzwilliam Depot.

Bowen Bros'. chair factory, located at Fitzwilliam Depot, was erected in the autumn of 1882. They manufacture basket and rattan chairs, with hard-wood frames, employing ten men in the shop, and considerable help outside.

Emery P. Auger is engaged in the manufacture of egg cases, of which he is the patentee. His shop has the capacity for making about five dozens per day. The cases are made entirely of wood, with perforated trays, lined with cloth, and are warranted to hold eggs during transportation, without break- age.

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TOWN OF FITZWILLIAM.

Edward Stone's saw and planing-mill, located near Fitzwilliam Depot, was built by Daniel E. Burbank, in 1878. In November of that year Mr. Stone became a partner, and sole owner in March, 1880. He does custom planing and sawing, and manufactures chair-stock, etc., employing from ten to fifteen hands.

Coolidge & Whittemore's pail and bucket factory, located on road 4, near the outlet of Bowker's pond, has been carried on by them since July, 1878. They manufacture about 120,000 buckets and 35,000 dozens pails per year. The business was established about sixty years ago, by Luke Bowker, whose father, Bartlett, was an early settler and built the first grist-mill, and from whom Bowkerville derived its name.

George A. Stone's saw-mill, located on road 9, was rebuilt about eight years ago and has been operated by Mr. Stone since 1883.

Jonas Damon's saw-mill, located at the outlet of Tarbell pond, cuts about 350,000 feet of lumber per year. Connected with the mill is a pail-handle and wooden spoon manufactory, operated by Cudeworth & Petts. Mr. Da- mon has also a pail manufactory in Rindge, employing twelve hands, and a shoddy-mill at Harrisville.

E. & C. Carter's carriage shop, located at Fitzwilliam village, was estab- lished by them in 1836. They manufacture all kinds of wagons, carriages and sleighs. The father of the gentlemen, Josiah Carter, came here from Lancaster, Mass., in 1803, and died here in 1857, aged seventy years.

George W. Wilson's cider-mill, located on road 34, had the capacity for manufacturing 1,000 barrels of cider per year.

Henry P. Howe's saw-mill, stave-mill and chair-stock manufactory, located on road 31, was built by his father, Nahum Howe, in 1850. It is operated by water-power and a twenty horse-power engine.

Seth M. Holman's saw-mill and tub and pail manufactory, located on road 53, has been in his possession since about 1868. The works, when in opera- tion, give employment to thirty-five men.

S. S. Stone's saw and grist-mill, on road 44, was originally built by his grandfather, Artemas Stone, about seventy-five years ago, and was recently rebuilt by Samuel S.

Anson Bebee's saw-mill, on road 42, was built for a grist-mill about 100 years ago, and came into Mr. Bebee's possession in 1864.

The name of the grantees of 1765 were as follows : Sampson Stoddard, Nathaniel Treadwell, Thomas Spaulding, Benjamin Edwards, Jacob Tread- well, Jr., Matthew Thornton, Nathaniel Brooks, David Millen, Jonathan Lovewell, John Honey, John Stevens, John Woods, William Earl Treadwell, Paul March, Charles Treadwell, Edmund Grouard, Jonathan Blanchard, Sampson Stoddard, Jr., Abel Lawrence, James Reed, Benjamin Bellows, George Libbey, Jonathan Willson and Jeremiah Libbey. The first meet- ing of the grantees of which a record exists, after the lots had been drawn, was held at the house of ThomasHarwood, in Dunstable, Monday, May 20,

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TOWN OF FITZWILLIAM.

1765, when Sampson Stoddard, Esq., was chosen moderator, and Sampson Stoddard, Jr., clerk. The third item considered is recorded as follows :-

" Then the following method for calling meetings for the future was agreed upon, & voted that upon application of the Owners of Ten Original Shares made in Writing to the Clerk (for the time being) Inserting therein the sev- eral matters and things Desired to be acted upon, he shall and is hereby authorized and Impowered to call such meeting or meetings, Posting up Proper Notifications, at some place in Dunstable in NewHampshire, and at some public place in Chelmsford at Least fourteen Days Before hand & all * meetings as so posted up & held accordingly shall be Good & Valid."

The next meeting was held at the house of Capt. Oliver Barron, in Chelms- ford, Monday, August 19. 1765, of which the following is the record of proceedings :-

"WHEREAS, The grantees are Injoined by grant of said Township to Build fifty houses and make them comfortable habitations, on said Tract of Land, such shares to build as the grantees shall determine, & also to have Twelve acres of Land cleared and fitted for Tillage, Pasturing and Mowing, & to add an acre more annually (till an incorporation, on Each share, subject to the Duty of Settlement ; therefore,

"Voted, That the said settlements be Done and Performed by the follow- ing grantees & the Proportion hereafter Declared, Namely, Col. Stoddard, eighteen ; Edmund Grouard, two; Jacob Treadwell, Jr., one; Jonathan Lovewell, one; Benjamin Bellows, two; Matthew Thornton, three ; Na- thaniel Brooks, one ; Thomas Spaulding, one ; John Honey, one ; Nathaniel Treadwell, one; Abel Lawrence, three; Paul March, one; Sampson Stod- dard, Jr., one ; James Reed, four ; heirs of George Libbey, one; Charles Treadwell, one ; John Stevens, one ; Daniel Millen, one; Jonathan Blanch- ard, one; Jonathan Willson, two; John Woods, one ; Benjamin Edwards, one ; and the heirs of Jeremiah Libbey, one ; by Building & Clearing in such Way & Manner as to fulfill the Grant * and, whereas the speedy settlement of said Township Depends much upon having a good saw-mill Built there as soon as may be, Voted that in consideration of Col. Stoddard's Conveying to Mr. Daniel Millen two Lots of Land there, having a mill place on em, for Encouragement of his Undertaking the ardu- ous Task of Building and keeping a saw-mill in Repair, to be fit to go within fourteen months, that said Stoddard be Intitled to Draw out of the Treasury Twenty pounds, Lawful money, & that sum be in full for the said Two Lots of Land * *

* * * Voted that Messrs. Daniel Millen, James Reed & Benjamin Bigelow be a Committee, or the Major Part of them to Mark, Lay out and Clear all Necessary Roads in said Township, Rendering their account to acceptance, until the proprietors order the Contrary."

The settlement of the town was commenced by James Reed, John Fassett, Benjamin Bigelow and others, between 1761 and 1764. But this early set- tlement is spoken of in connection with our sketch of Troy, so suffice it to say at this point, that three years later, in 1767, the town had ninety-three in- habitants, and in 1773, the year of its incorporation under the name it still bears, it had a population of 214 souls.

John Shirley, a soldier of the Revolution, was born on board ship coming from England, and was brought up in Boston. He came to Fitzwilliam about

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TOWN OF FITZWILLIAM.

1780, settling in the village, and married Submit Bogle, of Sudbury, Mass. He reared a family of nine children, and died at the age of ninety-three, in the house where his grandson, William H., now lives. His son, Henry, was born in the town, held the office of selectman several years, and died at the same place his father did, at the age of seventy-two. William H., son of Henry, was born in the house where he now lives, on road 46, and is first selectman of the town.

General James Reed was the only one of the proprietors of Fitzwilliam, named in the charter of 1773, who located here. He organized three com- panies for the Revolutionary war, and was one of the three colonels from New Hampshire, who fought at Bunker Hill. He continued with the army until he was afflicted with blindness, when he returned to Fitzwilliam, but after- wards removed to Fitchburg, Mass., where he died.

Phinehas Reed, a soldier of the Revolution, came to Fitzwilliam, from Westford, Mass., in 1784, built a tannery and conducted the business. His son Charles followed the same trade, and employed a large force of men in the manufacture of shoes, which were sold in the South. About 1838, he met financial reverses, and had to begin life anew. He was a claim agent for about fifteen years after 1850, and died in March, 1866, aged fifty-three years. His son, D. H. Reed, was born February 8, 1839, and was brought up on a farm. He enlisted, October 11, 1861, in the 6th N. H. Vols., served three years in the army, and was discharged in 1864. He then engaged in the quarry business with his father, which he has continued up to the present date. He married, in October, 1865, Mary A. Keith, of this town, and has one daughter, Abbie F. He has filled, with honor, various offices of the town.

Edward C. Reed, son of Phinehas, was born here, March 8, 1793, and graduated from Dartmouth college, in 1812. He studied law in Troy, N. Y., and settled in Homer, N. Y., in 1816. He was admitted to practice in one court after another, until 1830, when he was admitted to the court of chan- cery. He was elected to the Twenty-second congress ; was district attorney many years, and also judge. He married Amanda Weller, of Pittsfield, Mass., and reared a family of twelve children, four of whom survive him.

Hezekiah Stone came from Massachusetts about 1780, and bought the land where Benjamin Whitcomb now lives. He was a farmer, owned a saw-mill, and had two sons and three daughters. The eldest, Arte'mas, had a son, Artemas, who was the father of Stillman S. Stone. Moses, second son of Hezekiah, was born in Fitzwilliam, December 31. 1785. He was also a farmer, and operated a saw-mill. He was one who responded to the call for troops in 1812, and went to Portsmouth, but not into active service. He died in January, 1854.

Amos Andrew Parker, son of Nahum, was born in Fitzwilliam, October 8, 1791. He was fitted for college at the New Ipswich academy, and graduated from the University of Vermont. He studied law with James Wilson, of Keene,

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TOWN OF FITZWILLIAM.

and opened an office at Epping, N. H., where he remained two or three years. He then went to Concord, N. H., where he established the "New Hampshire Statesman."

Hon. John M. Parker, son of Amos A., and Mary (McClary) Parker, was born in Kingston, N. H., September 17, 1836, but his father, returning to Fitzwilllam, soon after his birth, he spent the remainder of his life here. He was educated in the Fitzwilliam common schools, and in Philip's Exeter academy. He spent three years and three months in the army, and was mus- tered out as lieutenant. He has been engaged in mercantile business here for twenty years, was a member of the house of representatives in 1870 and 1871, and of the senate in 1881 and 1882. He married twice, first, Catha- rine A. Adams, in October, 1866 ; and second, Abbie H. Kimball. He has two children, a son and a daughter.

Dexter Whittemore, son of John, who came here at an early date, and kept a small store in the cottage where he lived, was born in Fitzwilliam, Oc- tober 9, 1798. When Dexter became of age he induced his father to buy the store of Dr. Scott, and there engaged in trade, continuing over forty years. He is said to have been the first merchant of Cheshire county to give up the sale of spirituous liquors. He was chosen to many offices of trust, and was very generous and liberal in all good works. He married twice, first, Betsey Wright, April 18, 1820 ; second, Sarah (Reed) Hayden, January 1, 1857. His death occurred in March, 1865. His first wife bore him seven children, four of whom are living. His three sons, Joel, Thomas W., and Charles, are engaged in business in New York city, while his daughter, Eliza W. Jenkins, and his widow, reside in town.

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Gazetteer of Cheshire County, N.H., 1736-1885, Part 18

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- comp. cn Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., Printed at the Journal Office Number of Pages: 1034

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- comp. cn
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., Printed at the Journal Office
Number of Pages: 1034