Gazetteer of Cheshire County, N.H., 1736-1885, Part 60

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 60

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).

Alexander Watkins came to this town from Pomfret, Conn., about 1777-'78,

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TOWN OF WALPOLE.

and married Hannah Ruggles, who bore him eight children-seven sons and one daughter. He died June 27, 1839, and his wife died January 6, 1866. His son Charles, born August 7, 1793, married Amy Sherman, and located upon the place now owned by his son Charles E., where he died. He reared a family of eight children, six of whom are living. Of these, O. H. P., Charles E. and Alfred reside in town, the first two on road 40. Clarissa married A. Jennings, Sophia married D. Gilbert, and Amy E. married H. Lawrence. Alexander, son of Alexander, was born May 5, 1786, married Mary Sherman and reared a family of eleven children, seven of whom are living. He lived for a few years on the place where his son George now resides, then lived in Ohio for several years, after which he returned to this town and located upon the place where he died, on road 24. The children who are living are George, Mary Ann, William C., who lives in Ohio, Ephraim, Frederick, Hiram, and Francis C., who lives in Springfield, Mass. George, who was born in the place where he now lives, married Susan E. Jennings, and has six children, as follows : Carrie A., Leonard G., Frank C., Sumner S., Alonzo J. and Louise O. Hiram, son of Alexander, Sr., was born Sep- tember 27, 1801, studied the medical profession with Dr. Daniel Gilbert, of this town, and completed his studies with his brother Alfred, in Troy, N. Y., about 1828. He commenced practice in that city and continued until about 1858, when he returned to Walpole, where he has since lived. He, following his brother Alfred's example, for some reason changed the spelling of his name to Wotkyns. He was at one time quite interested in military affairs and was surgeon of the 155th Regt. N. Y. S. Militia for seven years, from 1826 to 1833. He has declined the nomination for mayor of the city of Troy, N. Y. four times. He has been very successful as a physician, and has attended over 3,400 cases of child birth and never lost a case. He has had conferred upon him county, state and New York state medical licenses, making him competent to practice in any place or country. He married Sarah, daughter of Jeremiah Dauchy, of Troy, N. Y., and has had born to him three children, Jane A., Thomas C. and Helen A. The latter is the only one living, and resides at home. Dr. Wotkyns is in good health and very active for a man of his age. A large majority of the family of Alexander Watkins and their descendants have lived well-to-do people. Thomas Tole came to this coun- try from Ireland, about 1823, and located in Drewsville, where he lived for a short time. He then bought a place in Langdon, N. H., where he resided for a few years, and then returned to this town, locating . upon the farm now owned by J. H. Putney, on road 2. He lived here until his death. He reared a family of ten children, all now living, seven of them residing in town.

Isaac Jennings, born at Holliston, Mass., March 15, 1777, married Thank- ful Moore, and came to Walpole February 8, 1808. He located upon the place now owned by Joseph Kidder, where he lived until 1839, when he moved to the farm now owned by his son George. He died October 18, 1851, and his wife died August 21, 1861. About 1830, Daniel Jennings,

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father of Isaac,. came to the town and lived here till his death, July 6, 1833- George, son of Isaac, was born March 17, 1819, married Lydia S. Williams, of Westminster, Vt., March 4, 1846, and has had born to him seven child- ren, four of whom are now living. Of these, George A. lives in San Fran- cisco, Cal., Clara L. lives in town, Ida L. married J. E. Littleton, of Worces. ter, Mass., and Minnie A. lives at home. Alonzo Jennings, son of Isaac, was born here August 2, 1813, married twice, first, Adeliza, daughter of Alexander Watkins, Jr. ; second, Clarissa, daughter of Charles Watkins, in 1850. He had born to him four children, Charles A., William A., Amy W. and Alice W., and died October 13, 1883. He was successful as a farmer and stood well as a citizen. His widow and children live in town.

Jonathan Blanchard came to this town, from Putney, Vt., April 3, 1815. He brought with him his wife, Polly (Pierce), and his daughter Mary, and located upon the place where his son Willard L. now resides, on road 9. His father and mother afterward came to this town, and remained here until their death. Jonathan Blanchard had born to him ten children, five of whom are living, as follows : Louise L., Willard T., John P., Rowell S., and Joseph M. He died in 1847, aged sixty-six years, and his widow died in 1872, aged eighty- five years.

Benjamin Gates, born in Acworth, N. H., in 1806, came to this town about 1827. He married Adaline E., daughter of Francis Snow, and reared a family of nine children, two of whom, Charles and Harriet, are living. The latter married H. G. Wightman, and lives in town. Mr. Gates died in 1874. His widow now lives with her son and daughter, on road 18.

Augustus Faulkner, son of Paul, was born in Lancaster, Mass., in 1805, and married twice, first, Harriet, daughter of Charles Stratton, who bore him two children, Charles S. and Ann L. He came to this town about fifty years ago, lived in Drewsville about five years, and then located in Walpole village, where he now resides. He has been engaged in the machinist business. He married for his second wife, Mary Maynard, who has borne him one child, George M., who lives at home. Charles S. lives in New York city, and Ann L. lives at home.

E. E. Stowell, son of Jotham E., was born in Lyndon, Vt., in 1811, and came to this town in 1830, where he worked for Aaron Hodskins, Jr., for five years. He married, for his first wife, Almira, daughter of Aaron Hodskins, in 1833, who bore him one child, Abbie, who died in infancy. In 1835 he located upon the place where he now lives, on road 34. His wife died in 1875, and for his second wife he married Mrs. Mary A. Powers, of Keene, November 3, 1880.

Christian B. Lucke, son of Gustavus, was born in Richmond, Va., Feb- ruary 9, 1822, and at the age of twelve years was sent to Walpole to attend school, where he remained two years. He married Harriet R., daughter of George Watkins, in 1843. He came to this town tolive in 1845, and in 1852 took charge of the Cold River station, on the Cheshire railroad. He re-

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mained there four years, when he was given charge of the Walpole depot, and was there sixteen years. He has been tax collector eight years, town repre- sentative in 1872-'73, and is now one of the supervisors of the town. He has had born to him two children, Virginia, who died in infancy, and Gustavus, who is a successful merchant in Sherbrook, Conn.

Nahum Wilson, son of Eleazer, was born in Westmoreland, March 7, 1777, and married Lovisa, daughter of Asahel Bundy, born March 17, 1780. He was a farmer, and was located in the town of Langdon, N. H., where his wife died September 21, 1842. He died at the residence of his son, Nahum, Jr., in Drewsville, August 26, 1865. Henry R., son of Nahum, Sr., resides in Drewsville, where he has lived since 1844. He married Roxanna Colburn, of Langdon, N. H., and has worked at the carpenter's trade most of his life.

Lyman Houghton came to this town from Lunenburg, Mass., in 1837. He married Phebe L., daughter of Elisha Hooper, and had born to him six children, as follows : Henry E., John L., Charles W., Mary E., Lucy M., and Edward F. Lucy M. married William H. Fuller, Edward F. lives in Claremont, N. H., and the rest live in this town. Lyman Hampton was an active business man, and was a member of the Christian church for several years.

Ebenezer Smith, Sr., moved to Langdon, from Spencer, Mass., and located in the eastern part of the town. Ebenezer, one of his six sons, married Su- sanna Durant, and reared a family of eight children, five of whom are living. His son Esdras was born in 1800, and married for his first wife Laura A. Cooper, who bore him three children. He married for his second wife, Alice M. Jennison, and has had born to him five children, four of whom are living. Mr. Smith moved to this town in 1862, and is now living on road 36}

William Selkirk, a native of Scotland, moved to Canada, where he mar- ried Janet Brown, and reared a family of eight children, seven of whom are living. His sons, John and James, moved to this town in 1861. The latter is a carpenter, and lives on road 23. His mother resides with him. John is in the milling business.

Jonathan Putney was one of the early settlers of this county, and reared a family of six children, as follows : Amos, Ezra, Samuel, Asa, Abigail, and Sally. Amos married Nancy Daggett, and was a soldier in the war of 1812. His wife died in 1854, and his death occurred in 1865. His children were Eliza, Francis, Maria, Permelia, Adaline, Jonathan H., Willard D., Loren D. Harriet E., Lucy J., Bradley A., and Louisa M. Jonathan H. married Bet- sey M. Tole, and resides in this town, on road 2. He has two children, Willie H. and Minnie E., who live at home.

John Tuttle, son of William, and a native of this county, married Abigail Stowell, of Rockingham, Vt., and reared a family of ten children, four of whom are now living. Of these Abigail and John L. live in Charlestown, N. H., Orline lives here, and Susan married Joseph Kidder of this town.

Nathaniel Monroe, son of Isaac, was born in Marlow, in 1818, and mar-

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ried Susan, daughter of Daniel Warren, of Stoddard, N. H., in 1842. He moved to Bellows Falls in 1853, had charge of the toll bridge for nine years, and then came north to Walpole, where he has since lived. He became en- gaged in the nursery business and in gardening, and is now interested in the water works and in gardening. He has one child, Anna E., who married J. H. Heald, of this place.

Moses Wright, son of Elizur, was born in Surry, N. H., in 1797. He married, for his first wife, Rebecca Foster, and for his second wife, Fidelia Wilson, of Keene, in 1848. He moved to this town in 1850 and located upon the place where he now lives, on road 292.

True Webster, Sr., moved to Gilsum at an early day, was engaged in the shoemaking business and also in farming. True, Jr., one of his large family of children, was born in Gilsum, married Nancy Ware, and had three children -one son and two daughters. His son, Benjamin E., married for his first wife Emily Nims, and after living in Gilsum two years, moved to Boston, where he remained eighteen years. He then came to Walpole, where he has since lived. He married for his second wife Abigail Nims, a sister of his first wife. He has three children, as follows : Daniel E., who lives in Spring- field, Mass., Benjamin F., of this town, and Lillie E., who lives at home.

Richard Knapp, son of James, was born at Brattleboro, in 1809, and mar- ried Rhoda Dodge, of Stoddard N. H., in 1837. He carried on the tailoring business in Charlestown, N. H., and after living in that place and in Spring- field, Vt., he came to Walpole in 1870. He has since resided here, carrying on the tailoring business. He has had four children, three of whom are now living. His son George R. was in the 14th N. H. Vols., served three years, was honorably discharged, and went to Savannah, Ga., where he was assistant postmaster about two years. He died soon after. Charles H., son of Richard, was also in the 14th N. H. Vols., served until the close of the war and now resides at home. James E., son of Richard, resides in Leom- inster, and Henry C., another son, lives in Boston, Mass. Mr. Knapp served in the Ist N. H. Vols.

Joshua March, a native of Walpole, married Judith Hodkins, of that place, reared two sons and two daughters, and died in 1841. His son John S. mar- ried Sarepta, daughter of Philip E. and Abigail Bunda, and has had born to him eight children, five of whom are living. He still resides in Walpole at the age of eighty-two years. His second son, William, married Frances S. Rickford, of Walpole, and now resides in Keene. Jeord Rickford was of Revolutionary fame and was the first man that drew a pension at Wood- stock, Vt.

Oliver T. Joslyn came to this town in 1872, and in 1879 moved to the place where he now lives, on road 9. He is engaged in gardening, having one of the finest gardens in the county. His father, J. O. Joslyn, resides with him.

St. Peter's Protestant Episcopal church, located at Drewsville, was organ-

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ized by Thomas C. Drew and others, with seven members, August 30, 1817, Rev. Truman Foote being the first rector. The church building, erected in 1836, is a stone structure capable of seating 180 persons, and is valued at $2,500.00. The society now has thirty-seven members, with Rev. Edward A. Renouf, rector. The society has a Sabbath-school with seventeen mem- bers, and three teachers.

The United Christian Society, at Walpole, was organized in 1817, by its pastor, Rev. Edward B. Rollins, with thirty-five members. The church build- ing, erected in 1826, will seat 225 persons and is valued at about $1,500.00. The building was repaired in 1883 at an expense of $450.00. The society now has forty-two members, with Rev. H. M. Eaton, pastor. The Sabbath- school has an average attendance of thirty-five.

The First Congregational church, located at Walpole, was organized in 1832, by Thomas Sparhawk, Thomas Seaver, William Jennison and others, Rev. Edwin Jennison being the first pastor. The church building, erected in 1834, will seat 300 persons, and is valued, including grounds, at $8,000.00. The society now has ICI members, with no regular pastor.

The Roman Catholic church, at Walpole, was organized by its first pastor, Rev. D. Murphy, with 200 members, in 1870. The church building, erected the same year, will seat 100 persons and is valued at $1,200.00. The society has about 200 members, with Rev. N. Cournoyer, of North Walpole, pastor.

St. Peter's Roman Catholic church, at North Walpole, was organized by its first pastor, Rev. Murice Galvin, with 300 members, in the autumn of 1877. The church building, erected in 1878, will seat 300 persons cost $5,000.00, and is now valued, including grounds, at $8,000.00. The society now has 500 members, with Rev. N. Cournoyer, pastor.

W ESTMORELAND lies in the western part of the county, in lat. 42° 58' and long. 4° 40', bounded north by Walpole, east by Surry and Keene, south by Chesterfield, and west by Putney, Vt., thus includ- ing the Connecticut river in its limits, the west bank of which forms the west- ern boundary line of the town. The township has an area of 22,466 acres, and was originally granted by Massachusetts under the name of No. 2, as de- tailed on page 91, was subsequently known as Great Meadows, and finally, February 11, 1752, it was incorporated under a Wentworth charter, with its present name, the grantees being Thomas Chamberlain and fifty-eight others.

From the beginning of its settlement Westmoreland has been noted for its fine farming land, hence its name Great Meadow, and it to-day is probably one of the most fertile and productive towns in the state. In surface it is not so hilly as most of the neighboring townships, though it is sufficiently diversified to afford a very pleasing landscape, and is visited each summer by

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many city people for the sake of its beauty and cool climate. Among its best farms are those of the intervale land along the Connecticut. One of the finest of these, consisting of about 200 acres, located on road 24, was pur- chased by the county in 1867, for a county poor farm. This farm was, in 1884, superintended by Nathaniel Rogers, and has sixty-four charges, male and female. Connected with the farm, also, is a house of correction, though at the present time there is only one inmate. The territory is well watered by numerous small streams which fall into the Connecticut, the largest of which is Partridge brook, flowing from Spofford Lake in Chesterfield, which affords some good mill privileges.

In 1880 Westmoreland had a population of 1,094 souls. In 1884 it had twelve school districts and thirty-two different public schools. Its twelve school-houses, including sites, furniture, etc., were valued at $4,060.00. There were 191 pupils attending these schools, taught by three male and twenty-three female teachers, the former receiving an average monthly salary of $26.66, and the latter $21.44. The entire amount of revenue for school purposes during the year was $1,852.34, while the entire expense was $1,420.56.

WESTMORELAND, a post village located a little south of the center of the town, is known as the South village. It has two churches (Congregational and Universalist), a store, hotel, two blacksmith shops, carriage shop, tin shop, and about eighteen dwellings.

PARKHILL, a post village, located northwest of the South village, has one church (Congregational), a store, carriage shop, and about half a dozen dwell- ings.

EAST WESTMORELAND is a post village in the extreme northeastern part of the town. It has one church (Christian) a store, blacksmith shop, town-hall and about a dozen dwellings. About an eighth of a mile west, however, is a cluster of eight or ten dwellings. Their hall was built by subscription, in 1876, and is called Centennial Hall. It will seat about 500 persons, and presents a very neat appearance.

WESTMORELAND DEPOT (p. o.) is a hamlet in the northwestern part of the town. It consists only of the depot and three or four dwellings.

Edwin J. Goodnow's saw-mill on road 9, on Partridge brook, was built by him in 1861. He employs four men in the manufacture of plain and matched lumber, shingles, lath, chair and pail-stock, also doing custom work.

Leonard Wilcox's grist and saw-mill, on road 31, on Partridge brook, was bought by Mr. Wilcox, of Charles M. Quimby, in 1875. There has been a mili on this site for at least one hundred years, and it is known as the Mc- Neal mill. Near it also is the site of an old linseed oil mill and one of the old stores. Mr. Wilcox does custom work.

Edward B. Butterfield's saw-mill is on road 48, on Partridge brook. He manufactures lumber, shingles, lath, and box and pail-stock.

· Ezekiel Bosworth's saw and grist-mill, on Mill brook, road 15, does custom

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grinding and manufactures lumber and shingles. This site has been in use for about 100 years, and most of that time was owned by the Hall family, and is still known as the Hall mill. Near here was also a cloth-dressing mill at one time.

The first settlement in the town was made in 1741. In the spring of that year Daniel How, Jeremiah Phips, Jethro Wheeler and Nehemiah How, with their families, started up the Connecticut in canoes from Northfield, Mass. Daniel How, however, had been previously, with a surveying party, and he it was, probably, who had attracted the others thither by stories of the great fertility of the " Great meadows." They settled upon the farm now owned by Frederick G. Parker, on road 8. He subsequently erected a small fort, the exact site of which is still pointed out as a little knoll on the said farm. Accessions were made to the little settlement from time to time ; but the French war came on in 1744, which greatly retarded the growth. Hardly had the little township recovered from its effects when the second war came upon it. Still, it recovered so rapidly therefrom that in 1767 it was the third largest township in what is now Cheshire county, having a population of 391 souls.

The " Great Meadows " was a favorite spot with the Indians in their jour- neyings up and down the Connecticut. The settlers were several times attacked by the Indians, and various mischief was done, though of no great magnitude. In one of their incursions the Indians killed William Phipps, the first husband of Jemima How, and in another carried Nehemiah How, the father of her second husband, a captive to Canada, where he died. But the story of these troubles are familiar to all,-well-known subjects of general history. (See Belknap's Hist. N. H., Vol. II., pages 240-42.)

The first list of town officers recorded was at a meeting held March 5, 1775, when Joseph Burt was chosen moderator; Heber Miller, clerk ; Heber Miller, Archelaus Temple and Waitstill Scott, selectmen ; Job Chamberlain and Dan- iel Carlisle, constables ; Aaron Chandler, Caleb Rugg, Isaac Chamberlain, Joseph White, Heriden Wheeler, Joseph Wilbour, and Ephraim Stone, high- way surveyors ; Samuel How and Joseph Burt, surveyors of lumber ; Abial Eddy and Lieut. Isaac Stone, tythingmen ; John Cole, Jedediah Chamber- lain, Lieut. Isaac Butterfield and Nathan Wilbour, hog-reeves ; Job Cham- berlain, sealer of weights and measures ; Jonathan Sawyer and David Wil- bour, deer-keepers ; Joshua Pierce and Jonas Butterfield, fence-viewers ; Ben- jamin Pierce and Jonas Butterfield, sealers of leather.

Mrs. Lydia Howe, who died in 1806, at the age of ninety-one years, was the mother of the first child born in the township. Joseph Wilbour was the first representative. At a proprietors' meeting, held at the house of Thomas Chamberlain March 31, 1752, Samuel Hunt was chosen moderator, Caleb How, clerk, and Daniel How, Jethro Wheeler, Thomas- Chamberlain, Benjamin Aldrich, Richard Ward, Caleb Ward and Joseph Hutchins, "a committee to lay out the house lots." At this meeting also,

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it was voted to "give any person who built a grist-mill in said town the sum of £150, old tenor, and also give him fifty acres of land on Mill brook." Jethro Wheeler, Daniel How and Thomas Chamberlain were chosen a com- mittee to make arrangements for said mill, and it was probably completed before the following August. At a meeting held March 12, 1766, it was voted to set off " from Walpole the northeast corner of Westmoreland to Keene," which privilege was granted by the legislature, October 25, 1768. The rec- ords for 1771 say that there was great freshet on the Connecticut. The set- tlements for years thereafter crowded to the hills. At a census of the town taken in 1775, the following returns were made :-

Males under sixteen years of age 213

Males from sixteen to fifty not in army I27

Males above fifty 23

Persons in army 38

Females 357

Total. 758

On April 22, 1779, the town voted that £40 be raised "for sending Arche- laus Temple as a representative to Concord." August 12, 1779, it was voted to move the meeting-house from the site of the first settlement to Parkhill. For this purpose £1,000 was voted to be raised, this large amount pointing to the depreciation of currency of the time. On July 7, 1784, it was voted to appoint a committee of fifteen persons to see that a certain person who was a "Shaking Quaker," be sent out of the town. At a meeting held on the 4th of September, of the same year, it was voted that they "allow no Shak- ing Quakers to remain in town over night, except at a hotel." In 1788 a vote of one shilling each was voted for killing crows, and at a subsequent meeting a bounty of four pence each for blackbirds. The records for the year 1816 show that summer to have had a frost each month, except August, and snow fell on the 9th of June. The road over Snow's hill to Keene, was opened this year. The summer of 1826 was visited by clouds of locusts, de- stroying the hay crop, so that cattle were slaughtered for their hides, and to prevent their starving. The first framed house in the town was built by Joseph Wilber. It occupied the present site of the barn upon the farm of Elbridge P. Amidon, on road 19. This farm was bought by Constant Chaffee, in 1798, and has since been in the possession of that family, the present owner being a son of Anna L., who married Otis Amidon.

William Hutchins, accompanied by his brothers, Ebenezer and David, came to this town from Attleborough, Mass., as early as 1773, and first located upon the farm now owned by Willard R. Gline, on road 41, corner 33. He afterward moved to the place now occupied by his grandson, Otis, on road 35. He reared a family of four sons and four daughters, none of whom are now living, and died in 1838. His oldest son, Otis, was a graduate of Dartmouth college, and was a licensed preacher, and taught school most of his life. He only had two children, one of whom, Otis, is living, and resides upon the

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homestead farm, where his father died in 1866, aged eighty-five years. In 1871 Otis Hutchins, Jr., was town representative. He married Sarah C. Pat- ten, of this town, who has borne him four children, two of them now living at home. His oldest daughter is at the State Normal school, at Westfield, Mass., and one son is at Keene, in Spencer's hardware store.

Ephraim Amidon moved to Westmoreland, from Oxford, Mass., previous to 1777, and settled upon the farm now owned by his grandson, who bears his name. He was a member of Captain Kimball Carlton's company in 1777, and was at the battle of Bennington. He died in Westmoreland at the age of seventy-three years. Nathaniel, one of his ten children, always lived on the old homestead, and reared a family of nine children, one of whom, Ephraim, a farmer and carpenter, married Sally P., daughter of Gardner Smith, of Chesterfield, and has had born to him six children, five sons and one daughter, all living, three of them living in Brattleboro, two in Chester- field, and James W., with his father, on the old homestead.

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Gazetteer of Cheshire County, N.H., 1736-1885, Part 60

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