Gazetteer of Cheshire County, N.H., 1736-1885, Part 9

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 9

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).

ALSTEAD is a handsome post village located in the northwestern part of the town on Cold river. It has two churches (Congregational and Universalist), six or seven stores, several shops or mills of various kinds, and about 100 dwell- ings. Formerly there was a large amount of paper manufactured here, and from this circumstance the place was called Paper Mill Village, a name which clung to it until about twenty years ago, when the postoffice received the name of Alstead. A point of interest in the vicinity worthy of mention is the "Cocked Hat," a name given an eminence just east of the village from its singular re- semblance to that species of chapeau. Here Cold river and Warren brook unite, at the northern base of this hill. An old bed of one or both of these streams is plainly discernable, however, upon the east and passing around the south and west sides, thirty feet above the present level of the streams. In this dry channel are found numerous large specimens of pot-holes, worn centuries ago, in the solid rock by the old current.

ALSTEAD CENTER, (p. o.) a hamlet located upon a hill about half a mile east of the geographical center of the town, was formerly the business center of the town, and about 1802, the prospective sight of the county court-house. It long since lost its prestige, however, and now along its single street, a school house, aCongregational houseof worship, and perhaps a dozen dwell- ings remain.

EAST ALSTEAD (p. o.) is a hamlet located about a mile from the east line of the town, near Warren pond, and consists of one street running north and south, bordered by a Congregational church, one store, and about a dozen dwellings. Just west of this, however, upon the outlet of the pond, is a liamlet containing three mills, a grocery and ten or twelve dwellings, where quite an extensive lumber business is carried on.

Messer Bros.' turning and planing mill, located at East Alstead, was built for a grist and carding-mill, about 100 years ago. About 1862 it came into the possession of William H. Messer, and of the present owners in 1881. They employ six hands in the manufacture of baby-carriage spokes, sap- spouts, pails, knife handles, etc.

E. P. Kidder's saw-mill and rake factory, located at East Alstead, was

TOWN OF ALSTEAD.

originally built for a starch factory, by a Mr. Kidder about fifty years ago, and came into the present proprietor's hands in 1858. He employs six men and manufactures about 100,000 feet of lumber, 5,000 rakes, and 1, 600 spokes per annum.

John D. Holmes's grist-mill, operated by F. W. Nourse, it located at Alstead village. It was built by Cragin & Morrison, about 1840, and was purchased by Mr. Holmes in 1867. It has three runs of stones and grinds about 20,000 bushels of custom grain and about 20,000 bushels of western corn per year. Mr. Holmes also has a saw-mill, which cuts 500,000 feet of lumber and 500,000 shingles per year.

C. S. Angier's carriage shop, located at Alstead, was purchased by him of S. K. Elwell, in 1867, and about 1879 he added the undertaking business. He makes a specialty of team wagons and sleds, making about twenty each season. He also does a jobbing business and sawing and planing.

S. O. Ball's carriage shop, located at Alstead, was purchased by him of L. D. Edwards, in 1864. He builds carriages and sleighs and does a general repair business.

C. E. Cook's foundry, at Alstead, was built by A. R. Emerson, about 1863, and was purchased by Mr. Cook in 1869. He manufactures plows, harrows, cultivators, etc., making about $1,000.00 worth of farm implements, and doing $1,500.00 worth of job work per annum.

J. H. Forrestall's saw-mill and chair-stock factory, located on road 5, was built by him in 1876, upon the site of a mill he erected in 1858. He employs four men and manufactures 300,000 feet of course lumber and from $3,000.00 to $5,000.00 worth of chair-stock per annum.

Gardner G. Banks's saw-mill, on road 14, built by him about thirty years ago, manufactures coarse lumber and shingles, turning out about 5,000 feet of the former, and 6,000 to 8,000 of the latter per day.

George A. Brooks's edge tool factory, at Alstead, was built by Hamlet L. Rice, in 1842, who then commenced here the manufacture of axes and car- penter's tools. In 1864 he sold out to George A. Brooks, who has since conducted the business. He manufactures axes, spoke-shaves, chisels, razors, and all kinds of carpenter's tools.

St. Paul's Lodge, No. 30, F. & A. M .- Alstead has an old and interesting free mason's lodge, dating back to the year 1818. On the 11th of June, of . that year, the above lodge was chartered to James Chandler, Eber Carpen- ter, Samuel Egerton, John Chandler, Josiah Crosby and William Marvin. These people were constituted into a lodge on the 16th, when James Chan- dler was made worshipful master. Ainong the oldest members of the lodge was "Uncle" Allen Slade, who was taken into membership July 1, 1819, and remained in the lodge until his death, February 12, 1884. He was born May 26, 1796, and was made a mason in Faithful Lodge, No. 12, at Charles- town, soon after arriving at a lawful age. The oldest member now living is Daniel Mack, whose membership dates from August 17, 1826. The lodge

TOWN OF ALSTEAD.

was first gathered at what is now Alstead Center. About 1850 it was re- moved to Paper Mill Village, where meetings were held in the attic of Ball's building. Finding that room small and inconvenient, the lodge built a hall, as the third story on the ell of the old paper mill, there being in the lower stories a machine and wood-work shop. In September, 1868, the whole building was destroyed by fire, the lodge losing their hall and all their furni- ture, jewels, records, and even their charter, the insurance barely cancelling their debts. A few generous masons contributed liberally, and Social Friends Lodge, No. 42, of Keene, with the true charity of masonry, contri- buted their set of solid silver jewels and a large part of their furniture to their truly destitute sister lodge. They returned for a time to their old attic hall or until C. K. Vilas and A. R. Emerson built a block on the burnt dis- trict, when the lodge leased a hall of Mr. Emerson for ten years. November 28, 1880, however, the last paper-mill and the elegant new block were de- voured by the flames. Again was the lodge without a hall, though nearly all its furniture and jewels were saved. For a third time an alter was erected in the attic. During the following summer Messrs Vilas and Emerson again rebuilt, and in the second story of Mr. Emerson's block the lodge has erected for itself a commodious hall, and is now prospering, though laboring under debt. The present officers are as follows: F. Bragg, W. M .; W. Master, John F. Dickey ; Jackson Marvin, S. W .; Frank W. Nourse, J. W .; Edward A. Turner, Treas .; George P. Dickey, Sec'y; Elbridge Phelps, S. D .; and Frank W. Nourse, J. D.

The settlement of the town was commenced about the time the charter was granted. Messrs. Simon Baker, Isaac Cady, and William Druse being the first to spend a winter in the town. Among the earlier settlers were the family names of Burroughs, Clark, Warner, Stephens, Chandler, Beckwith, Waldo and Shepard. In 1767 the population had increased to 130 souls. In 1771 there were twenty-five families and ten single men in the town, be- sides nine others who partially resided here. The first proprietor's meeting was held at the house of Timothy Dilano, June 4, 1766. when Samuel Chase was chosen moderator, and Timothy Dilano, clerk. The first town-meeting was held March 11, 1766, when Timothy Dilano was chosen moderator, and Jason Wait, clerk. The town was first represented in Provincial congress in 1775, by Nathaniel S. Prentice.

The first born in the town was Jacob Cady, and the first birth was that of a child of Simon Baker. The wife of Isaac Cady, who afterwards married a Mr. Clisber, was the first woman who came "into the town." The first bap- tism was administered by Rev. Thomas Fessenden, of Walpole, at the house of Capt. Dilano, in September, 1768. The first grist-mill was built by Capt. Timothy Dilano on the outlet of Warren Pond, about 1769. About this time, also, was built the first saw-mill, by Gen. Jonathan Chase, a few rods west of the site of the first meeting house. The first fulling-mill was built by Simon Abells and Daniel Williams, on a small stream which crosses the

TOWN OF ALSTEAD.

road leading from the middle of the town to Alstead village, not far from the head of the falls southwest of what, built in 1812, was long known as "Kitt- ridge's stone factory." The first cider-mill was built by Capt. Oliver Shepard. An oil-mill was built by Maj. E. and Lieut. E. Kingsbury, in 1792, near the site of the first fulling-mill ; was afterwards removed to Cold River, and was subsequently swept away by a freshet. A cotton factory was established on the outlet of Warren Pond, in 1817, by Abel Hills, which continued in oper- ation only a few years. A woolen factory, a little below the cotton factory, was built by Ezra Kidder in 1824. Capt. Levi Warren, from whom Warren pond derived its name, was given a water-privilege on the outlet, providing he would erect a mill and put in a carding machine, which he did in 1805. The first paper-mill was built by Maj, Elisha Kingsbury, in 1793. This was destroyed by fire in the spring of 1806, and rebuilt that summer. This in turn was burned, September 4, 1868, being that time the property of Pren- tiss, Bemis & Co. They rebuilt in 1869, and the property was again de- stroyed, November 28, 1880, together with the stores of H. A. Lovell, T. Tufts, C. K. Vilas, and A. R. Emerson, and also a dwelling. A fire at this village in January, 1839, destroyed the saw and grist-mill of Hallett & Morri- son. A fire at Alstead Center, June 11, 1882, destroyed a church building and the dwellings of John Hopkins and Mrs. Amos Shepard.

Among the accidental or tragic deaths that have visited the town, we have gleaned accounts of the following : Charles Wheeler was killed by the pre- mature discharge of a cannon, while participating in a sham battle, in 1828, near the old paper-mill. Harriet, daughter of Capt. Amos Kidder, was burned with her father's dwelling, November 18, 1832. Simon Shepard, in his old age, acquired a mania for seeking minerals, and while searching for them in the bottom of a brook, fell and was drowned, at the age of eighty-one years. Caroline Dinsmore was killed by a fall from a wagon, March 13, 1842. Joseph Porter also fell from a wagon, breaking his neck. Caroline Murphy, while on her way to a dancing party, January 8, 1841, was drowned in a freshet in Warren brook, about three-quarters of a mile above the bridge at Alstead village. Near this spot, also, Mrs. Edward Blake was killed, in September, 1842, by her horse becoming frightened and backing off the bridge. Three children of Emerson Wallace-Pownal W., Caroline E., and Maria A.,-were burned with the dwelling of their parents, November 17, 1845, during the absence of their mother, who was making a call on a neigh- bor. Henry Porter, son of Darius Porter, aged twelve years, was drowned while bathing, July 23, 1853. Ingalls J. Wood was killed by being thrown from a wagon-load of apples, October 13, 1879.

Rosina Delight Richardson, Barnum's famous " fat girl," was born in the northeastern part of Alstead, in April, 1833, weighing five pounds. She reached her greatest weight, 515 pounds, when nineteen years of age. She married a Mr. Wood and died in Florida, May 2, 1878. Allen Slade reached the greatest age of any person who ever lived in the town, dying at the age of something over 100 years.

79~

TOWN OF ALSTEAD.

The first company of militia was formed here in 1773, of which Timothy Dilano was chosen captain, Samuel Chandler, lieutenant, and Jason Wait, ensign. "It is worthy of notice," says Rev. Seth S. Arnold, in an historical sermon printed in 1826, " that a spirit of independence, and much decision of political character prevailed among the first settlers of this town, when the Revolutionary war commenced. In that time of doubt and peril ; when it was so difficult to know what was expedient, and what would be the result of so great an attempt ; when the friends of liberty might hesitate through igno- rance or prudence, and shrink from the danger, there was only one man in the town who adhered to the cause of Great Britain ; and a committee was. appointed by the town to deprive him of fire-arms and to confine him to his farm, which duty they faithfully performed. There was, however, an unhappy division in town, before the boundaries between Vermont and New Hamp-

shire were established. After much warmth of feeling, and ger.eral agitation the town began to transact business under the State of Vermont, in April, 1781, but returned to the authority of New Hampshire in January, 1782. In 1786 the questions were agitated in town meeting whether the town would give encouragement to the county for becoming a shire town, and whether an agent should be chosen to petition the general court for the same. They were passed in the negative. The town voted, however, in 1802, to build a court-house and jail, on condition that this be the shire town, and that the town have the county property at Charlestown and Keene." It is needless to add that this latter vote was never acted upon.

During our late great war, Alstead furnished, under all calls, 135 men, in- cluding citizen volunteers 85, drafted men 2, and alien volunteers and sub- stitutes 47, and I re-enlisted man, to whom was paid in bounties $34,600.00. The expense incurred above bounties was $545.79, making a total of $35,145.79. With reference to votes on the subject of bounties, etc., we print the following : The first official action of the town was taken May 15, 1861, when it was voted " to appropriate $500.00 to fit out soldiers to go in defense of the country, and to aid their families." August 25, 1862, it was voted " to pay each volunteer for three years $200 00 bounty, when mustered in, and to raise a sum not exceeding $8,000.00 to carry out the provisions of said vote." On September 17, 1862, it was voted "to pay volunteers for nine months $200.00 bounty, and to raise for this purpose not exceeding $7,000.00." September 5, 1863, it was voted "to pay each drafted man, or his substitute, who actually entered the service from Alstead, $300.00," and on October 2, it was voted "to raise not exceeding $8,000.00 to carry out the provisions of said vote." On December 29, 1863, it was voted "to pay United States and State bounties, and receive assignments of the same, and raise not exceeding $4,000.00 for same, and not exceeding $2,000.00 to pay bounties over and above United States and State bounties." February 24, 1864, it was voted "to pay three men (named) $roo.oo each from the- town." June 4, 1864, a vote was passed " to pay drafted men, or their sub-

TOWN OF ALSTEAD.

stitues, $300.00 each, and to raise not exceeding $10,000.00 for that pur- pose." July 18, 1864, it was voted " to procure thirty volunteers and pay each $700.00," and September 27th it was voted "to pay $800.00 for each one-year's man (volunteer) and $200.00 in addition to the State bounty for each drafted man, and to raise $20,000.00 for the purpose." Finally, De- cember 24, 1864, it was voted "to each man who will volunteer from the town of Alstead for three years, $1,000.00."

Isaac Cady, from Pomfret, Conn., came to Alstead about 1763-64, settling with his wife upon a farm at East Alstead, she being the first white woman to locate in the town. Mr. Cady became a Revolutionary soldier, and won a prominent place in the estimation of his townsmen. His son Joseph spent his life here as a farmer and reared a family of six, only two of whom, Will- iam and James B., residing on road 39, are living. £ The latter resides with his son, F. O., who served the town as selectman in 1883.

Samuel Chandler, from Enfield, Mass., came to this town with his two brothers, Joel and Zebulon, in 1767. Samuel located in the southwestern part of the town, was one of the first selectmen, and died in 1784. His son James, born here in 1771, died in 1857. James bore an active part in town affairs, holding the office of selectman, justice of the peace, etc. His son Lyman now resides here, an ex-town clerk. Nathan, son of Joel, married Esther Marvin and reared three children, Samuel, Polly, and John M. He died in 1824. His widow became the wife of Alexander Murphy. Samuel has been engaged in the shoe trade at Alstead and other places about forty years. He married Mary L. Kilburn in 1841, and has four children, Austin N., Herbert E., Emma E., and Charles S.

Dea. Noah Vilas, the only child of Peter Vilas, the immigrant and the pro- genitor of the entire Vilas family in America, came to Alstead in 1779, from Grafton, Mass. He had a family of six sons and two daughters. The first son, Joseph, and one daughter died in infancy. Wm. F. Vilas, Postmaster- General in President Cleveland's cabinet, is a descendant of Dea. Noah Vilas.

Lieut, Nathaniel Vilas,from Grafton, Mass., fourth son of Dea. Noah, came to Alstead in 1778, locating in the southwestern part of the town. Here he car- ried on a farm and engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes, employing in the latter occupation twelve hands. He built the first water works into Boston, bringing the water in logs from Roxbury, Vt. He was twice married, first to Mary Chandler, and second to Lavina Crosby, both of whom bore him twenty children. He was a lieutenant of militia, held several of the town offices, and died in 1853. His son, Cyrus K., was born here in 1815, and for the past twenty-five years has been engaged in the drug business. He represented the town in the legislatures of 1845-46 and 1876-77, was a delegate to the Constitutional convention of 1876, has held the office of town treasurer for two or three terms, and has been moderator about eighteen years. Mr. Vilas's only son is a physician practicing in New York city ; one of his daughters, Mrs. A. A. Packard, resides in Springfield, Mass., and the other, Fannie M., is attending school in the same city.

TOWN OF ALSTEAD.

Thomas Dinsmore came to Alstead at an early day and settled near the village, upon the farm now owned by John G. Turner. He carried on black- smithing and farming, reared a large family, and died about 1842. His son, Calvin, born on the old homestead, died here in 1868. He was also a black- smith and a farmer. Of his large family of twelve children, eight attained a mature age, and five of the six surviving ones reside in the town. John G. is president of the Connecticut River National bank of Charlestown ; Ed- ward resides on Pleasant street, and Thomas resides on road 23. The latter went to Boston when a young man, and was there engaged in the produce business for thirty-two years. Since 1874, however, he has resided in his native town. He has taken an active part in public affairs, and in 1882 was elected to the state senate. Another son, Lemuel W., resides in the village.

Joseph Watts was born here and resided in the town until his death, in 1816. He resided just north of the village, where he reared four children, none of whom are living. An adopted son, George U. R., is now a resident of the town. John, Isaac and Jesse, brothers of Joseph, also spent their lives here. None of their descendants now reside here.

John Slade, of Irish descent, came from Enfield, Conn., to this town in the autumn of 1773. He married widow Leason, of Enfield, Conn., by whom he had five sons and two daughters. His sons were John, William, Thomas, Daniel, and Samnel. John, Jr., moved to Brookfield, Vt. Lieut. William Slade married Anna Root, of Windsor, Conn., by whom he had five sons and three daughters. Samuel married Hannah Thompson, by whom he had three sons and five daughters.

Asa, Reuben, and Jude Hatch, brothers, all of whom had served in the Revolution, came to Alstead, from Tolland, Conn., at an early day. Azel, son of Reuben, was seven years of age when his parents came here, and sub- sequently located on road 25, upon the farm now occupied by his grandson, also named Azel. He held a captain's commission during the war of 1812. His wife, Rhoda Williams, bore him twelve children, ten of whom attained a mature age, and six of whom are now living. He bore an active part in town affairs, was selectman twenty-seven years, representative five years, a justice of the peace, etc. He died at the age of ninety-two years. Azel, Jr., born on the old homestead in 1817, has been superintendent of school committee, justice of the peace, moderator forty years, clerk of the Congregational society twenty years, secretary of the Sabbath school forty-two years, and superin- tendent of the same twenty-seven years. When Reuben came here from Tolland, he brought a colony of bees, descendants of which are still on the farm in possession of Azel, Jr.

Nathaniel D. Messer was an early settler in the town, and resided here until his death, having raised a large family. One son, William H., died here in 1881. He was engaged in the manufacture of wooden-ware, rakes, etc., where his son, Frank D., now carries on the same business.

Giles Marvin, one of the early settlers, located in the eastern part of the 6*

TOWN OF ALSTEAD.

town, where he was engaged in farming and worked at his trade as a carpen- ter and joiner. His son William, born here in 1779, died in 1867. Five of his eleven children are living, three in Alstead. Jackson resides on High street, and Fred J. is a prosperous merchant, located on Main street.

James Kidder settled in Alstead at an early day. His son Ezra carried on a cloth manufactory for a time, and was also engaged in the manufacture of starch. James, Jr., reared a family of seven children, three of whom are now living. One of them, James A., resides on road 47.

Amos Kidder, son of Samuel, who came from Massachusetts at an early day and located upon the farm now occupied by Samuel M., died here in 1873, at the age of ninety-four years and seven months. Three of his six children are living, viz: Amos, in Newport ; Mrs. John McNeil, in West- minster, Vt. ; and Samuel M., on the homestead farm. The latter, the youngest son of Capt. Amos, was born in Dalton, N. H., December 17, 181I. He has lived in Alstead since two years of age, and has been identified with the Methodist church over fifty years. He has served his full share in the public affairs of the town, being six years a selectman, and postmaster for a. longer term. He married Harriet N. Atwood, of Acworth, May 14, 1839, and has three daughters, Mrs. Austin E. Smith, Mrs. M. J. Kidder, of Alstead, and Susan E. (Mrs. Charles H Washburn), of Marlow.

Sylvester Partridge came to Alstead, from Londonderry, Mass., in 1783, locating in the northern part of the town. He was then about twenty-one- years of age, and soon after married, though his wife lived but a short time. He then married Mrs. Rachel Fay, who bore him three children. By his third wife he had four children. His only son, by his second wife, Capt. Theron, was the father of Alfred W. and James S. Partridge, who now reside here. Two other grandsons of Sylvester, Alva W. and Edward M. Smith, also reside here, and also a granddaughter, Mrs. Melissa Joslin. Alva W. occu- pies the old homestead. Edward M. is an attorney, located at Alstead vil- lage. During the spotted fever epidemic of 1812-14, four of Sylvester's chil- dren died and were buried on the same day. Theron Partridge died Feb- ruary 6, 1858, aged sixty-nine years.

Emerson Smith came to Alstead, from Hollis, N. H., about 1800, being formerly a resident of Maine, and a carpenter by trade. His son, Ralph E., was born at Hollis in 1791. He learned the clothier's trade and carried on the business here for a number of years. He married Bia, daughter of Esq- Moses Hale, reared eight children, and died in 1854, aged sixty-three years. Of his three sons, two are living, Moses H., in Nebraska, and George H., in Harrisonville, both of whom served in the late war. Two daughters of Ralph E. are living, Maria L. Woodward, in Petersham, Mass., and Mary U. (Mrs. John Kingsbury) in Surry. Esq. Hale, mentioned above, was a land surveyor and spent a large portion of his life surveying lands in Cheshire and Sullivan counties. He was a justice of the peace many years, town representative, state senator, member of the governor's council, and served as a captain in the

TOWN OF ALSTEAD

Revolutionary war. He was a native of Haverhill, Mass., born December 8, 1754, and died January 16, 1827. He married Abigail, daughter of Richard Page, September 8, 1778, who bore him five children.

Samuel Thurston came to Alstead, from Marlboro, N. H., about 1800, locating near where his grandson, Lorenzo G. now resides. He was a school- teacher and farmer, and died December 23, 1873, aged ninety-eight years, four months and eight days. Three of his five children are now living. Franklin R., in Concord, Joseph, in Keene, and Alden S., in this town. The latter has taught school fifty-five terms and has held the office of selectman, justice of the peace, superintendent of school committee, etc.

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Gazetteer of Cheshire County, N.H., 1736-1885, Part 9

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