USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Gazetteer of Cheshire County, N.H., 1736-1885 > Part 25
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).
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 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96
.
207
TOWN OF JAFFREY.
The Proctor House, J. B. Proctor, proprietor, is a fine hotel located on the southern slope of Monadnock mountain.
Jaffrey Cotton-mills. - About October 1, 1884, White Brothers bought the Cheshire Fiber Co.'s mill, a brick structure about 120x40 feet, three stories high, located on the Contoocook river, about one mile below East Jaffrey vil- lage, and have refitted it with cotton spinning and carding machinery, and will have that portion of their work done there, and the weaving will then oc- cupy the greater part of the mill at the village.
The Gilmore saw and grist-mills, located on road 29, occupy the site of the first grist-mill, erected by William Davidson, about roo years ago. That mill, run by him for many years, was finally burned. It was rebuilt by Gardner Bower, who sold to Moses Perkins, he to Levi Daggett, and finally, in 1850, it came into the hands of Harvey J. Gilmore. He sold the property to his son, George F., and E. Heath. The former subsequently bought out Mr. Heath and is now sole proprietor. He manufactures lumber and chair-stock and does custom grinding.
Wilber Webster's shoe-knife factory, located at East Jaffrey, was built for a saw-mill, by Reuben Ramsdell, now of Rindge, in 1869. Mr. Webster pur- chased the property in 1872, and has carried on the manufacture of shoe- knives therein ever since.
Asahel G. Raymond's saw-mill, located in the eastern part of the town, was built about twenty-four years ago. A thriving business is done here. It is a flag station on the Monadnock railroad.
After the township was surveyed and divided among the proprietors, a bounty of £142 was offered, for the purpose of encouraging settlement, to. the first five men who, with their families, should settle within one year from that date, June, 1750, and remain one year. The same proportion was also allowed to one or more families complying with the same conditions. Whether any settlement was made does not appear from any known record. A tra- ditionary report, however, has it that a Joel Russell and his family attempted a settlement in the southern part of the town, and while there a son was born to him, the first white child born in the township. Whether he settled soon enough or remained long enough to claim the bounty does not appear. There is a reliable account of a settlement in 1752, made by Moses Stickney, Richard Peabody, and others, and that while here Simon Stickney, son of Moses, was born, December 9, 1753, making him, setting aside the Russell tradition, the first white child born in the township. This settlement, how- ever, proved a failure, through fear of Indians, and all the settlers left, except one man, a Captain Platts, probably the pioneer of Rindge. The first per- manent settlement, then, was not made until 1758, by John Grout and John Davidson. Grout settled on lot 20, range 10, and Davidson on lot 21, range 3. Grout was a prominent man, and made, in connection with Gilmore, an- early report of the settlement of the town to the proprietors. He died in 1771, and tradition claims that his body was buried where the first meeting-
1
208
TOWN OF JAFFREY.
house was subsequently built. John Davidson remained here until his death, in 18II. A third traditionary report has it that his daughter Betsey was the first white child born in the town. From the report made by Grout and Gil- more, as mentioned above, and from other sources, the following list of the poineers has been prepared, those who became permanent settlers having a star prefixed to their name :-
John Borland,
Joseph Caldwell,
John Little,
James Caldwell, Jr.,
Andrew McAlister, Alexander McNeil,
Thomas Caldwell, Chrysty, Daniel Davis,
William Mitchel, Munroe,
*Joseph Dunlap,
James Nichols, Organ,
Thomas Davidson,
Jonathan Parker,
Thomas Emery, - Fitch,
*William Smiley, John Swan,
*Roger Gilmore,
*John Gilmore,
*Joseph Turner,
*John Grout, Glover,
*William Turner, Thomas Turner,
Enoch Hale, Hale,
Solomon Turner, Taggot, George Wallace,
*John Harper,
Widow Henderson,
Thomas Walker,
*Joseph Hogg,
Robert Wier,
*William Hogg,
*Matthew Wright,
Robert Holmes,
Leranus Wright.
Jonathan Hopkinson,
In 1773 the population had grown to 303 souls, representing fifty-two fam- ilies. On the 17th of August they received, in answer to a petition to the provincial legislature, a New Hampshire charter, in which the town was given a new name, Jaffrey, in honor of George Jaffrey, one of the Masonian pro- prietors and at that time a member of the Governor's council. Captain Jon- athan Stanley was authorized, within sixty days, to warn the first town meet- ing. After the incorporation the settlement increased rapidly, large numbers during and after the Revolution coming in from Massachusetts.
Pursuant to a warning duly issued by Captain Stanley, the first town meeting convened on the 14th of September, when the municipal government was legally organized by the election of the following list of officers : Captain Jonathan Stanley, moderator ; William Smiley, town clerk; Captain Jonathan Stanley, William Smiley, and Phineas Spaulding, selectmen ; Roger Gilmore, tythingman ; Hugh Dunlap and John Harper, field drivers ; John Davidson, constable; Roger Gilmore, Robert Weir and Samuel Sherwin, to count with the selectmen and constable ; David Allen, William McAlister, Robert Weir, Ephraim Hunt, William Turner, and John Gilmore, surveyors ; and William Hogg and Joseph Wright, fence viewers. Henry Coffeen was chosen a rep-
Russell,
*John Davidson,
David Hunter, Ephraim Hunt,
James Caldwell,
Benjamin Pires
Agregar nell' -
209
TOWN OF JAFFREY.
resentative to the third provincial congress at Exeter, May 11, 1775. Will- iam Smiley was the first representative to the state legislature, in 1784. Asa Parker was the first state senator in 1826-27. Roger Gilmore was the first justice of the peace, appointed in 1785. The vote of public money for sup- port of schools is recorded under date of 1775, when £8 were raised. No attempt towards building a school-house was made until 1788, when it was voted that each school district build a school-house within eighteen months ; but how many was built in accordance with this vote is unknown. The first college graduate was David Smiley, who graduated from Harvard in 1796. Alexander McNeil was the first keeper of a public house, near the center of the town. The first town-meeting was held at the inn of Francis Wright, where Dana S Jaquith now resides. A Mr. Breed is said to have been the first merchant, or storekeeper, though the names of Joseph Thorndike and David Sherwin are the first on record, in 1793. The first postoffice was probably established in 1801, with Peter Lawrence, postmaster. The first mail stage, Dearborn & Emerson, proprietors, was established from Boston to Walpole and return once a week. The first saw-mill was probably built by Thomas Davidson, on lot 22, range 5, where O. J. and A. S. Raymond now own property. About this time, sooner or later, two others were built at what is now locally known as Squantum. The next saw and grist-mill was built by John Borland, at what is now East Jaffrey. In 1778 he sold the same to Dea. Eleazer Spofford, who was the leading man in that business till 1813, when he sold his farm to Daniel Adams, and his mills and water-power to a company, who in 1814 built a factory for the purpose of spinning cotton yarn. This yarn was made into cloth by hand-looms. The other mills were, one south of the meeting-house, built by William Davidson, and one at the Spring village by Abram Bailey. On the site of the last mill there was after- wards erected a woolen-mill by Edward Bailey, which on being burnt, was supplanted by a wooden-ware establishment. In 1833 a saw-mill was built by John Hodge, on a stream running from Hodge pond to the Contoocook river. It was burnt in 1836, re-built, and went into disuse in 1860. A full- ing mill was built by Josiah Belknap at an early date, near the site of the William Davidson mill. He removed to . Springfield, Vt., about 1818. A fulling-mill was built at East Jaffrey, by Joseph Lincoln, and afterwards owned for many years by Samuel Foster. It is now used for a knife factory. A mill was built by a corporation called the Cheshire mills, afterwards owned by Alonzo Bascomb, now used for the manufacture of paper pulp. On or near the site of the first cotton-mill built in Jaffrey, Alonzo Bascom built the present large brick-mill now owned by the White Bros. A starch-mill was built at Squantum, and burnt January 2, 1839, with Samuel Abbott in it.
Among the distinguished men who have had their homes in Jaffrey, and to whose memory the town fondly turns, may be mentioned the following : Rev. Laban Ainsworth, born at Woodstock, Conn .. July 19, 1857, and died here on Wednesday, March 17, 1858, aged one hundred years, seven months 14*
210
TOWN OF JAFFREY.
and twenty-eight days ; Hon. Abel Parker, born at Westford, Mass., March 25, 1753, came to Jaffrey, May 5, 1780, and died here in 1831, aged seventy- eight years ; Hon. Isaac Parker, born here April 14, 1788, and died at Bos- ton at an advanced age ; Levi Spaulding, born here August 22, 1791, and died in Ceylon, June 18, 1873; Hon. Joel Parker, LL. D., was born here January 25, 1795, and died August 17, 1875.
Of the old inhabitants in the town, at the present time, Benjamin Cutter is- the oldest, being ninety-two years of age ; Ethan Cutter the next oldest, ninety years ; Eleazer W. Heath also ninety years; Abner Bailey, the next, at eighty- six ; John Felt, the next, at eighty-five years.
The following Jaffrey soldiers in the Revolution are mentioned in the state: report :-
Ephraim Adams,
Samuel Adams,
Thomas Adams,
Moses Cutter, Nathan Cutter, James Cutter, John Davidson,
George Atridge,
Matthew Davis,
Joseph Bates,
Jonathan Dean,
Jonathan Blodgett,
Benjamin Dole,
John Briant,
John Dole, Hugh Dunlap,
Asaph Brigham,
Daniel Emery,
Joseph Brooks,
Daniel Emery, Jr.,
Simeon Burt, Joseph Cutter,
Robert Gilmore,
John Gilmore, Dudley Griffin, Jacob Gould, Jr.,
Benjamin Prescott,
John Hale,
Moses Peabody,
Lieut. John Harper,
Joseph Perkins,
Daniel Harper,
Jacob Pierce,
Ebenezer Hathorn, James Haywood,
Kendal Pierson,
Ebenezer Ingalls,
Asa Priest,
Benjamin Jaquith, John Matthews, William McAlister,
Oliver Proctor,
Abraham Ross, Bezaleel Sawyer, Jesse Snow, Michael Silk,
William Smiley, Jr., died in service at Tinconderoga, 1776.
Phineas Spaulding, Benjamin Spaulding, Jonathan Stanley, Samuel Stanley, James Stevens, John Stone,
Benjamin Stone, John Taggert, Jonathan Taylor, Peter Tower, Lieut. William Turner, Samuel Weir, Joseph Wilder, Ezra Wilder, Ephraim Whitcomb,
Elias Whitney, Cotton Whiton,
Francis Wright.
Daniel Avery,
Alpheus Brigham,
James French, Jr.
Samuel Ober,
William Osgood,
William Pope, Jonathan Priest,
James Reed,
2II
TOWN OF JAFFREY.
The following is a list of the soldiers who settled here during or after the war :- Stephen Adams, William Emery, Lieut. Oliver Bacon, Samuel Emery,
Nathan Fish,
Isaac Bailey, Isaac Bailey, Jr., Hart Hatch,
Thomas Fisk,
Jonas Gerry,
Jacob Baldwin, Lieut. Samuel Buss, John Cox,
John Lake,
Thomas Dalton,
Lieut. Benjamin Lawrence,
Francis Mason, Lieut Abel Parker,
James Turner,
Henry Thompson,
Whitcomb Powers,
Lieut. Jereme Underwood,
William Redfield,
Isaac Wesson,
Joseph Robbins,
Silas Wilder,
Moses Stickney,
Abel Winship,
Moses Stickney, 2d,
Ithamer Wheelock,
Samuel Stickney, David Stratton,
Thomas Wheelock,
Joseph Wright.
In the war of 1812, nineteen soldiers were sent to the support of Ports- mouth, and two, David Cutter and George F. Cutter, served in the Mexican war. In the late civil war the town furnished 151 men, five of whom were killed in battle and twenty-three died of wounds or disease while in the ser- vice.
Roger Gilmore, Esq., was one of the early settlers of the town and the first settler on road 30, near the center of the town. Most of the town meetings were held, previous to the erection of the first meeting-house, in 1775, at his home. When the town was organized, he was chosen the first tythingman, a very important office in those days. He was a delegate to the constitu- tional convention in 1791, and was the first justice of the peace appointed by the state, after the adoption of the constitution in 1784. When the first military company was organized, in 1775, he was chosen first lieutenant and afterwards captain. He died in November, 1807, at the age of sixty-nine years. His son Harvey married Mary, daughter of John and Sarah (Hay- wood) Byam. His son George F. married Annie R., daughter of Thomas and Lucy (Osgood) Gardner, of Rindge, who bore him four children. He resides upon the home farm, on road 29.
Benjamin Lawrence, a lieutenant in the Revolutionary war, came to Jaffrey from Groton, Mass., in 1788 or 1789 and settled on a farm on road 5, where Fred. J. Lawrence now resides. He married Rebecca Woods, of Pep- perell, Mass., and reared a family of ten children. His son Ithamer married twice, first, Betsey Jewell, who bore him three children, and second, Rebecca Emery, by whom he also had three children. His son Benjamin married Sarah E., daughter of James D. and Betsey P. Sawyer, of Jaffrey, and had three children, two of whom are living, viz .: Walter F. and Annie E., residents of Jaffrey Center.
Thomas Goff,
Nathan Hunt,
212
TOWN OF JAFFREY.
James Stephens, a lieutenant under General Washington in the Revolution, and a native of Andover, Mass., came to Jaffrey about 1769. He was twice married, first to Elizabeth Lacy, and second, to Betsey Wood Litch, and set- tled upon a farm on road 44, where Henry Chamberlain now resides. Polly, the youngest of his seven children, and the only one now living, resides on the home farm and is eighty-seven years of age. Polly, a granddaughter of James, has a set of spoons made from the silver mountings that were upon the sword worn by her grandfather during the war. His only son, James, Jr., married Mercy Adams, of Rindge, located on road 44, and reared three chil- dren. One of these, Charles, also resides on the home farm.
Thomas French, son of David, was born December 17, 1765, at Billerica, Mass., and married Hannah Cummings, of Londonderry, N. H, March 31, 1788. He came to Jaffrey about that time and first settled on road 19, upon what is now known as the Spaulding farm. He was a farmer and a shoemaker, reared nine children, one of whom is now living. His son Luke married twice, first, Nancy W. Blanchard, who bore him four children, and second, Lucy Spaulding, by whom he had nine children, seven of whom are living. He now resides in Jaffrey village.
John Cutter son of Nathaniel, born at Woburn, Mass., March 16, 1765, came to Jaffrey in 1789. He married Abigail Demary, of Rindge, and soon after commenced business as a tanner, buying the tannery of a Mr. Tanner, which was afterwards occupied by his son, B. Cutter, Esq., but which has since been demolished. He was a man of singular energy of character and was the first person in Jaffrey who kept his accounts according to the decimal system. By frugality and industry he acquired a competency. His son Ethan married Nancy B., daughter of Timothy and Elizabeth (Stiles) Blodgett, of Fitzwilliam, and resides in Jaffrey, where he has been keeper of a public house for forty years. He has been town treasurer several years and was postmaster fifteen years. Jonas, one of his two children, married Lydia V., daughter of Joseph and Seba (Barnes) Eveleth, of Dublin, N. H., and is now proprietor of the Cutter hotel in Jaffrey Center, formerly known as the Grand Monadnock House. Only one of. his two children, Mortimer E., is living. He married Nellie E. Platts, of Winchendon, and has one child, Edith I.
Benjamin Cutter, son of John, was born January 8, 1793. He married Grata, daughter of Nathan and Abigail (Hale) Hunt, of Rindge. She died November 5, 1871, aged seventy-eight. Mr. Cutter settled in early life where he now lives. He became a tanner and currier with his father, and pursued the manufacture of leather originally in the establishment erected by his father, and afterwards, until 1850, in the building now occupied for the same purpose by his son Julius. He has been a prominent man of the town, not seeking political honors, but ever ready to serve when called by his fellow townsmen to do so, and always ready to help in doing good wherever occa- sion required. He has been a willing helper of the poor. He has always been a Democrat, but liberal in his views on politics and religion. He was
Benjamin Gutter
213
TOWN OF JAFFREY.
town clerk for many years, and justice of the peace. He was one of the first to organize the Monadnock National bank, was one of the directors for thirty years, and was president of the bank for about twelve years, until he resigned, in 1881, on account of advancing age. He is now living a retired life. For several years he has been engaged in antiquarian research, and has a more extensive knowledge of the history of his native town than any other man living. His life has been a successful one, and now, in his ripe old age, he is honored and respected by all who know him. His children were Sarah Augusta, born August 10, 1820, wlio married Dr. William J. Campbell, at Jaffrey, in 1844. She died December 1, 1846, in Francistown, N. H. She was a poetess of some local note. Ermina, born November 17, 1821, married David Chamberlin, in 1848. Adaliza, born January 21, 1823, married, April II, 1851, Dr. Gurley A. Phelps, a native of Vermont, but for many years and still a practicing physician in Jaffrey. She died June 3, 1858, leaving one child, Grace Maria. Mrs. Phelps, like her sister, Mrs. Campbell, left partial manuscript, from which a neat volume has been published since her death. Julius, fourth child of Benjamin, was born November 28, 1824. He married Caroline, daughter of John and Huldah Hobert (Conant) Felt, of Jaffrey, and settled on the homestead. He continued the tanning and currying business since 1850 at the old location of his father, until 1883, when he retired. He has two children, Emma M. and Alice E. He has been selectman since 1883. Benjamin F., fifth and youngest son of Benjamin, was born March 17, 1827. He married Mary E. Cooper, daughter of Josiah and Marietta G. Cooper, of Boston. He settled in Boston in 1846, where he was an importer and whole- sale dealer in fancy goods until 1875, when he retired from active business. He represented West Roxbury in the legislature in 1863, '64, was state sen- ator in 1883, and is now an alderman of Boston. He has four children.
Jonah Carter was a native of Leominster, Mass. His son Jonah married Lucy Joslin and came to Jaffrey about 1793. He settled upon a farm on road 61, and reared a family of ten children, only one of whom, Luke, is now living. This son married Lucy, daughter of Silas and Susan (Reed) Ross, and reared a family of eight children, four of whom are now living. He is a manufac- turer of woodenware, and resides upon a farm on road 13.
Jonathan Fox came to this town, from New Ipswich, N. H., and married Sibyl Jackson, of Concord, Mass., who bore him seven children. His son John H., married Isabella W., daughter of Luke Howe, and had born to him three children. He was a physician and the town representative for many years. His residence was located on the academy square, at the Center Vil- lage. His son John H. married Belle W., daughter of Rodney and Angie L. (Turner) Brown, has one daughter, and resides in the village of East Jaffrey. He is town representative at the present time.
Capt. Eldad Prescott, son of Benjamin, was a native of this town, and the first settler upon the farm on road 39 corner of 40. His son Oren married three times, first, Martha L., daughter of Jacob and Martha Adams, of Rindge ;
214
TOWN OF JAFFREY.
second, Caroline A., daughter of William T. Nutting ; and third, Louisa J. Plummer, of Goffstown, who bore him five children. His son Elliot O. married Lizzie A., daughter of Julius A. and Eliza Hale, of Rindge, and re- sides upon a farm on road 35.
Oliver L. Spaulding was born in Jaffrey, N. H., August 2, 1833, graduated at Oberlin college, Ohio, in 1855 ; removed to St. Johns, Mich., in 1857. In 1858 he was elected a member of the Board of Regents of the University of Michigan for the term of six years. Served during the war of the rebellion in all the grades from captain to brevet brigadier-general. In 1866 he was elected secretary of state for Michigan, and was re-elected in 1868. Was a special agent of the United States treasury department from 1875 till he re- signed the position to take his seat in Congress to which he was elected in 1880. In 1883 he visited the Sandwich Islands as chairman of a com- mission to investigate the practical operations of the Hawaiian reciprocity. treaty. In 1884 he declined a third nomination for Congress which was ten- dered him. He is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, and has been grand master of the grand lodge, grand high priest of the grand chapter, grand master of the council of royal and select Masons, and grand com- mander of grand commandery of Knights Templar, of Michigan. Is a mem- ber of the Episcopal church, and has been senior warden of the church at St. Johns since 1866. In 1862 he married M. Cecilia Swegles, daughter of John Swegles, ex-auditor-general of Michigan. He is a lawyer by profession.
David Lacy came from Andover, Mass., and settled in Jaffrey previous to 1790, locating on lot 14, tier 8, and his name appears among those of the early land-surveyors. He married Charlotte, daughter of Jonathan and Mollie (Fitch) Blodgett, November 2, 1788, and had born to him nine child- dren. His son William married Betsey Brondson, May 26, 1829, and settled in Jaffrey, engaging in mercantile pursuits in company with E. Cutter and L. Sweetzer, occupying the Ainsworth store. By diligence and economy he found means to enlarge his trade, and in the spring of 1854, he bought and stocked the Foster store, of East Jaffrey, in which he placed his son, James S., who afterwards became a partner and remained as such till his father's death, June 20, 1869. His son James S., married Dorcas C., daughter of Moses and Cozby (Coolidge) Perkins, July 22, 1856. He is now the leading merchant here and a prominent man in town affairs.
Thomas Goff came from Dublin, Ireland, at an early day, and was at the battle of Bennington. His son Robert married Sallie Bryant and settled in Jaffrey, upon a farm on road 28. His only son, Kendall, married Mary Pratt, of New Ipswich, N. H., and has one son living. This son, Thomas K., married three times, first, Louisa M. Farnham, who bore him one son, Charles E .; second, Sarah Sprague ; and third, Annie M. Magoon, of Can- ada, who bore him one daughter, Mary L. He now occupies the old home- stead.
Samuel Pierce came to Jaffrey, from Lunenburgh, Mass., in 1773, and first
Of Spaulding
215
TOWN OF JAFFREY.
settled upon the farm on road 58, where E. Cary now lives. He married twice, first, Abigail Carter, and second, Elizabeth Whitney, and reared a family of ten children. He died December 27, 1824, at the age of seventy- five years. His son Joseph married Esther Jaqueth, settled on the home farm, and had born to him eight children, three of whom are living. He died April 20, 1860. Frederick S., son of Joseph, married twice, first, Mar- tha Tolman, and second, Mary A. Grant. He now resides in East Jaffrey, is justice of the peace, and was appointed deputy sheriff for Cheshire and Hillsboro counties in 1866, which office he still retains. He is an auctioneer and insurance agent, having been engaged in the former business sixteen years, and six years in the latter.
Jacob Jewell came to Jaffrey, from Marlboro, Mass., settled upon a farm on road 5. and had born to him ten children. His son Dexter, the only one living, married Sarah Moore, and has four children. His son Samuel D., married twice, first Frances Cutter, who bore him two children, second Emily, daughter of Joseph and Hannah (Evens) Upton, of Peterboro, N. H., and resides upon a farm on road 18.
Peter Upton, son of Jonathan and Nancy (Whittemore Upton, was born in Tyngsborough, Mass., October 1, 1816. He came to Jaffrey in October, 1837, and entered the store of Hiram Duncan as clerk. Two years later he was admitted to an equal partnership in the new firm of Duncan & Upton. Upon the death of Mr. Duncan, in 1840, the business was continued by Mr. Upton, to whom was also committed the settlement of the estate of his late partner. and the completion of many important trusts which Mr. Duncan had in charge. He continued actively engaged in trade until 1851, retaining an interest in the business until 1861, when he was succeeded by his partner, Hon. Charles H. Powers, a gentleman well known in New Hampshire politi- cal circles. Among many positions of trust and responsibility held by Mr. Upton, it may be mentioned he was postmaster from 1861 until he resigned the office, in 1884 He was town treasurer in 1860 and '61, and represented the town in the legislature of 1848-'49 and '50. From the outset he has been a director of the Monadnock R. R. Co., and untiring in his efforts for its con- struction and subsequent prosperity, and it is hardly too much to say that to Mr. Upton and Dr. Bradley, more than to any, or perhaps all others, is due the very existence of the road, upon which the present prosperity of the town of Jaffrey depends. It may not be out of place in this connection to remark the just pride with which Jaffrey recalls having voted-and paid-the railroad five per cent. of her valuation, while an equal amount in addition was pledged by individual citizens -- every dollar of which was promptly and voluntarily paid-a record not equaled by all of her neighbors. Mr. Upton has always been closely identified with the improvement and building up of the East Village, from a mere hamlet called "Factory Village," without even a post- office, until to-day New Hampshire has no more thrifty and substantial village than East Jaffrey. The occupation of a life time with Mr. Upton has been
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.