Gazetteer of Grafton county, N. H. 1709-1886, Part 45

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- comp. cn
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Syracuse, N. Y., Syracuse Journal Company, Printers
Number of Pages: 1266

USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Gazetteer of Grafton county, N. H. 1709-1886 > Part 45

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This fund came from the estate of Gen. David Culver, of Lyme, who had offered the State his farm as a suitable place for the school, and his entire estate as an addition to the fund. His offer had not been accepted and his property had been given to Dartmouth college to be used for agricultural purposes. After some litigation with the Culver heirs Dartmouth college made a compromise by which about $20.000 was received, the college being released from the obligation to establish the school upon the farm in Lyme-

Relying upon this estate the trustees of the two colleges in the spring of

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1870 laid the foundation of Culver Hall, which cost when completed $40.000. The State by appropriation furnished $15.000.00 of this money, and the widow of General Culver, anxious to carry out the intentions of her husband, gave from part of the estate about $10,000.00, and " expressed her desire to President Smith that her money should go to sustain the interests of the College of Agri- culture and the Mechanic Arts." Although the state law establishing the college, was passed in 1866, the college was not opened to students until the fall of 1868, and the first class was graduated in 1871. There were two distinct courses of study, each conisting of three years of twenty-seven weeks. After a few years the second term was lengthened by the addition of four weeks, in 1878 a third term was added, and in 1883 the course was changed so as to consist of a first year of two terms, and three full college years. These changes have made it possible for the college to give more than an equivalent for the course, outside of the dead languages, pursued in classical colleges. A con- siderable increase has been made in the number of technical agricultural subjects studied, and a prominence has been given to such scientific subjects as enter into the science of agriculture.

The success of the college has been largely due to Hon. John Conant, of Jaffrey. Soon after the opening of the college he purchased for it a valu- able farm situated near Culver Hall, and afterwards furnished most of the money for the erection of Conant Hall, which is used as a boarding house for students. Still later he established scholarships of all the towns in Ches- hire county, and in all gave the college $60,000.00.

Besides Culver Hall and Conant Hall, the college has a small building called Allen Hall, which is used for students. The farm, which at present consists of 360 acres, is in a high state of cultivation, and has new farm buildings recently erected.

The first professor in the college was Ezekiel Webster Dimond, who had the chair of Chemistry. He had specially prepared himself for the work by travel and study in Enrope, and during the few years of his life, his energy in origin- ating and executing was seen in the village as well as in the college. Dr. Thomas Crosly was appointed to the chair of Natural History soon after the college was organized, and filled that position until the time of his death, in 1872. During the first years of the college, most of the work of instruction was done by the professors of Dartmouth college; but it has since been found more satisfactory to have a special faculty thoroughly identified with the interests of the college.

Including the class of 1885, fifteen classes have been graduated. The num- ber of graduates is 103, or sixty per cent. of the whole number of students in these classes. Of these graduates, 36 per cent. have been connected with agriculture, 12 per cent. have studied medicine, 5 per cent. have taken the two other professions, 10 per cent. have become civil engineers, manufactur- ers, and mechanics, 7 per cent. have become teachers, 7 per cent. have entered the United States signal service. and the remaining 30 per cent. have been distributed among ten different occupations.

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The gradual growth of the college may be judged from the fact that the number of graduates in the last five classes has been greater than in the first ten.

According to the charter of the college, the board of trust consists of four trustees elected by the trustees of Dartmouth college, and five elected by the governor and council ; but in practice, a majority of the trustees are usually trustees of Dartmouth college.

Since the organization of the institution, the State has appropriated for it, in all, $55,000.00. The present value of the funds, buildings, and property, is about $200,000.00.

While the college has met with much opposition and prejudice, it has also found many strong friends and supporters. There have never been any reasons growing out of its location, which have driven students away, but reports have sometimes been circulated which have kept students from coming. At the present time an excellent feeling exists between the students of the two colleges, and students of the State college have a representation on the Dartmouth college paper, and in the various college organizations.

In return for the appropriations, the college gives free tuition to all New Hampshire students, and in various ways furnishes considerable additional assistance, while the necessary expenses are so much reduced that students are, in some cases, able to earn enough to meet them.

The graduates, through their alumni association, have shown a strong interest in the college. They have recently placed a memorial window in the new Rollin's chapel, to show their appreciation of the labors of Rev. Asa D. Smith, D. D., LL. D., who was president of the college from its organization to his death, in 1877.

The Thayer School of Civil Engineering .- This department was founded in connection with Dartmouth college by the late Gen. Sylvanus Thayer, a distinguished officer of the U. S. Corps of Engineers, and the chief organizer of the U. S. Military academy, so that he is considered "the father" of that institution. His bequest was nominally $70.000.00. The course of study and practice extends over two years, and is purely professional or post-gradu- ate in its scope. The time spent in the school is about sixty-eight weeks, leaving summer months available to the students for summer employment. The requirements for admission include the usual full courses of mathematics, natural philosophy, chemistry and astronomy, as taught in the leading col- leges and scientific schools. Thus the aim is to secure only men of consider- able maturity and ability, and with this high standard, comparatively few young men are found qualified for the course. The whole number of gradu- ates, beginning with 1873 and including the year 1886, is forty-one, and the average age at graduation above twenty-five years. Those are preferred who have already had some practical experience, because such accomplish the work prescribed with more zeal and appreciation of its value. In some cases students remain on professional work for a year between the first and second

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years of the regular course. Before graduation each student prepares a thesis on some professional topic, which must be acceptable to the faculty and board of overseers. The latter body consists of the president of Dartmouth col- lege and four non-resident professors or experts of reputation. They, with the faculty of the school, prescribe the courses of study and exercise a gen- eral supervision of the management. They attend the annual examination and decide upon the merits of the students. The degree of civil engineer is conferred upon graduates. The policy prescribed by the founder, and hitherto maintained, is justified by the alumni record, most of whom have al- ready taken high rank as railroad engineers, civil engineers in general practice, bridge constructors, hydraulic and sanitary engineers, civil assistant engineers under the U. S. government, astronomers and professors. Since the open- ing in 1871, the school has been under the immediate direction of Prof. Rob- ert Fletcher, Ph. D., a graduate of the U. S. Military academy at West Point, N. Y.

The Medical Department was established in 1797, beginning with a course of lecture in November of that year by Dr. Nathan Smith, who was ap- pointed professor of anatomy and surgery by the trustees of the college. In ISIt a building was erected with money appropriated by the State. There are now six full professorships connected with the department, and six addi- tional lecturers. Upwards of 1,800 students have been gra luntel in medi- cine, of whom nearly 1,ooo are now living. The number of students in at- tendance at the full course has averaged, of late, about seventy. A site has recently been obtained for a hospital to be attached to the department, which it is hoped may be soon erected.

David Tenney, father of David, John and Andrew Tenney, was one of the pioneer settlers of this town, locating here at an early day, on road 13. Elisha, son of David, Jr., was born in this town May 21, 1785, and married twice, first, Phebe Freeman, in 1814, who bore him two children, and died in 1827. He married for his second wife Sarah Freeman, of Lebanon. in 1829, and had born to him six children, five of whom are living. His son Reuben A. was born January 6, 1841, married Jennie Wardrobe, of Campton, Can., in 1866, and has had born to him six children.

John Tenney, the third of eight children of Joseph and Anna Tenney, was born at Woodbury, Conn., September 2, 1729, and married Olive Armstrong, March 11, 1755. He came to this town at a very early dry, was one of the original proprietors, and for a short time occupied a log cabin which he built. He soon after built and occupied a house on road 24. Of his children, Silas became a major of militia, serving in the Revolution, was a successful farmer, and, in 1800, built the house where O. W. Miller lives, in which he died. Reuben removed to Hartford, Vt. Andrew was a farmer, and lived near where his father settled. Truman moved to Waterford, and afterwards to Morristown, Vt. He became colonel of militia. David was born in Nor- wich, Conn., in 1759, was eleven years of age when he came to Hanover with

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his parents, married Anna Jacobs and reared thirteen children. He was a pensioner of the Revolutionary war, and died at the age of ninety-two years. His children were as follows: Elisha was a blacksmith, residing in North neighborhood ; Shelden was a tanner and shoemaker, also residing in North neighborhood ; Seth was a farmer and militia captain, and went to Ports- mouth in the war of 1812; Divid was also a militia captain, went to Ports- mouth in 1812, and spent his life on the old farm; Elijah was lame, and was mail carrier from Hanover Center to the Plain for twenty years; Joseph, who married Ann H. Davis, moved to Ohio in 1836, where he engaged as a mer- chant, and served as postmaster and justice, returned to Hanover in 1847, where he now lives, has been town clerk five years, and justice from 1849 to 1883; Eunice married Elijah Miller, Esq. ; Susan, Orange Woodward ; Lucy, Harby Morey ; Vina, Alba Hall; Anna, Benjamin Ross; Olive, Isaac Ross ; and Percey, Benjamin Smith. Capt. John, son of John and Anna (Arm- strong) Tenney, was born July 9, 1767, married Lucinda Eaton, and reared six children, three of whom are living, viz .: Capt. John, aged eighty-four years, resides in Hanover ; Lucinda, widow of Ashbel Smith, is eighty-two years of age, and also resides at Hanover ; and Adna, aged seventy-five years, resides in Winona, Minn Capt. John Tenney, Sr., was captain of militia, infantry company. His son John was sergeant of an artillery company in 1823, lieutenant in 1824, and captain from March, 1826, until December, 1826, when he resigned, being about to remove to Randolph, Vt., where he remained until 1833. He then returned and bought the farm where he now lives. He has served as justice of the peace for twenty years, beginning in 1848, and has been selectman three years, and was chairman of the board in 1857-58. He married Tryphena Dow, and has a family of four sons, viz. : Ulysses Dow, who is a portrait and landscape painter, in New Haven, Conn. ; John Francis, a merchant at Federal Point, Fla .; Leumel D., a farmer in Hanover, and Roswell A., a farmer in Norwich.

William Dewey, with his family, came to Hanover, from Connecticut, some time between 1763 and 1770, and made his home near the river, own- ing a large farm at the corner of roads 33 and 19. He reared thirteen chil- dren, all of whom lived to be over forty years of age. His son David mar- ried Mehitable Wright, of Hanover, and located in Chelsea, Vt., of which place he was among the first settlers, and became deacon of the church there. His son William married Mary Fish, and reared five children, all born in Williamstown, Vt., four of whom are still living. He moved to Hanover in 1844, where he died in 1884. His son Ira F. served in the late war, in Co. B, 5th N. H. Vols. He married Isabell Knapp, of Marathon, N. Y., and served as town clerk in 1880, '81 and '82. His children are Edwin P. and Charles S.

George Dewey, the oldest of two sons and two daughters of Luke Dewey, was born in Hanover village, February 3, 1805. He became a farmer, making a specialty of raising Spanish Merino sheep, and was one of the first

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who gave special attention to the improvement of sheep in Hanover. He purchased some of Consul Jarvis, of Weathersfield, Vt., who imported them from Spain. He was captain of militia, was largely interested in town affairs, and was a member of the County and State Agricultural Society. He mar- ried Laura A. Chedel, of Pomfret, Vt., and was the father of five children, viz. : Edward G., Henry G., Laura A., Mary J. and Ellen M. Mr. Dewey died April 20, 1867. His widow, who survived him eighteen years, conducted the farm, assisted by Andrew McLean, a Scotchman, who was in the employ of Mr. Dewey and his widow over fifty years. Mrs. Dewey died March 20, 1884. Henry G. resides in Washington Territory.

William Chandler came to Hanover, from Pomfret, Conn., about 1775, made a clearing and built a house. He returned to Connecticut, married Mary Grosvenor, whom he brought to his new home. He married for his second wife Patty Hill, and for his third wife, Eunice, daughter of John Ten- ney, of Hanover. Mr. Chandler was for a time a merchant in Keene. He bought 200 acres of land in Hanover, of which Henry Chandler's present farm is a part, and paid for it in Continental money. In 1795, his brother Henry, a tailor by trade, moved to this town. In April, 1799, William Chan- dler and thirteen other families formed themselves into what they styled a " Moravian Community," and were to share things in common. Mr. Chan- dler's house and barn were the center of operations, but some of the families lived at other places. Four of the principal men were directors, of whom William Chandler was chairman. One of the rules was that any young man of the community might marry in or out of the circle, and bring his wife in, but one of their own girls could marry none but a man of the community. When Henry Chandler made a coat for one of the world's people, and the pay for it in grain was handed over to another family in the community, the pangs of hunger made him look about for the reason why a lazier family t'an his own should be allotted his earnings. The many instances of this kind caused discontent. William urged his brother to keep quiet, that the under- taking might have a fair trial. At the end of six months, when each was as- signed his portion of the summer's work, almost all were disappointed at the smallness of their share. William Chandler, as the owner of the farm where most of the crops were raised, and of the house where many of them lived, claimed and took, as he thought justly, a large share. The corn was stored in his garret, the hay in his barns, and he would allow none to be moved. At this there was a general murmur, and when the question was put "whether they would continue in common another year," nearly all, led by Henry Chandler, voted in the negative. William Chandler served as town clerk of Hanover, and was clerk of the Baptist church. He reared four sons and seven daughters, and died April 21, 1844, aged ninety years. His grandson John W. now lives in Hanover. Henry Chandler, who was lame, one leg being shorter than the other, married Martha Brown, and reared nine chil- dren, six of whom were born in Pomfret, Conn. He died here June 5, 1813,

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aged fifty-seven years. His widow survived him twenty-eight years. His son Jeremiah served as selectman, town representative, &c., and always lived on the farm where his father settled. He married Lucy Egerton, and had born to him eleven children, three of whom are now living. He died in 1881, aged eighty-seven years. His son Henry, who owns and occupies the homestead, married Martha S. Clark, and has two sons and two daughters.

Newton S. Huntington. born in Lebanon in 1822, has lived in Hanover about sixty years. He was educated at New London and Hanover, and was chosen cashier of Dartmouth National bank when it was organized in 1865 ; was elected treasurer of Dartmouth Savings bank January 1, 1866, and served in those offices until elected president of both banks. He is a self- made man, has traveled in all our northern states east of the Rocky Moun- tains, some of the southern states. and was in Europe in 1879. He has held all the various offices the town could bestow, has been selectman, treasurer and moderator more than twenty times, was member of the House of Repre- sentatives in 1859 '60, 1885-'86. In politics he is a Republican, and in religion a Baptist. He was a farmer until thirty-five years old, was in the firm of Dodge & Huntington five years, and Huntington & Simmons one year next preceding his election as an officer of the Dartmouth National bank. For thirty years there has been hardly a time when he has not had estates upon his hands to settle. Dartmouth college conferred upon him the degree of A. M. The first of this family in Hanover were Andrew, Heze- kiah, and Sarah, wife of Jonathan Freeman. Elias settled in Lebanon about the same time (1770 to '75). Andrew, with his brothers Christopher and Samuel, were in the Revolution. Elias was born February 23, 1756 or '57, married Mrs. Mary Eaton, of Hanover, had two children, Elias, Jr., born July 18, 1797, and a daughter, Mary, who married Daniel Richardson, of Lebanon. Elias, Jr., was married February 18, 1818, and died February 6, 1825. He was a farmer and had one son, Newton S., and one daughter who died un- married.

Timothy Smith, born at Hadley, Mass., in June 1702, was the first of the family to settle in Hanover, and was a descendant of Lieut. Samuel Smith, who came to Hadley, Mass., which town he named, from Hadleigh, England, in April, 1834. Timothy's father died when he was only four years of age, and he and his mother went to Weathersfield, Conn., and lived till he was eighteen years of age. He then became a seaman for three or four years. He married Esther Webster, of Glastonbury, Conn., about 1724, and his chil- dren were as follows: Edward, Rebecca, Timothy, Mary, Esther, Abijah, Jemima, Hannah and John, all of whom settled in Hanover. Hannah was the only one unmarried when they came, and her marriage to Isaac Walbridge was the first in Hanover. Timothy Smith had a ferry across the Connecti- cut, opposite his farm. He had sufficient land, so he gave to each of his sons too acres, to each daughter 50 acres, and to Dartmouth college 100 acres. Gideon Smith, the husband of Rebecca, gave to the college fifty acres.

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Three of the original farms, forming the Timothy Smith tract, are still owned by the descendants of the original settlers. Edward, the eldest son, was deacon of the Congregational church at Hanover Center, owned the farm where George W. Johnson now lives, and reared two sons, John and Edward. The former owned the Smith homestead, and Edward, Jr., built a house on the east end of the farm where Chandler P. Smith now lives. Edward, Jr., married Hannah Chandler, and had born to him eleven children, viz .: Asahel, Noah, Ashbel, Cyrus Porter, Chandler P., Irene, Russell, Hannah and three who died young. Asahel married Anna Owen, was captain of militia, deacon of the Congregational church at Hanover Center, served as town representa- tive, and was selectman and justice of the peace many years. Of his chil- dren, Cyrus Pitt, who has served as selectman two years, and was town rep- resetative in 1878-79, married Abbie Wilson, of Fitzwilliam, and lives on road 2 ; Adaline E. married Franklin W. Smith, and lives on road 33 ; Laura P. married Horace P. Brown ; Asahel A., who has lived in Boston for forty years, married twice, first, Mary Benning, who bore him one son, Frank H .. and second, Mary Stanton. Edward W. and Noah W. are dead. Noah, son of Edward, Jr., graduated from Dartmouth college, and became a Congre- gational minister. He reared four children, and died at New Britain, Conn., about 1831. His son Edward P. was the head of the christian commission dur- ing the war, and commissioner of Indian affairs under President Grant. Ashbel, son of Edward, Jr., was a farmer, was colonel of militia, served as town repre- sentative, etc. He married twice, first, Esther Camp, and second, Lucinda Ten- ney. He reared eleven children, as follows : Roswell T., who is a dealer in books, etc., at Nashua, and is an inventor and genealogist ; Esther R., who became Mrs. Parsons. of Brooklyn, N. Y .; Ann W. Mason, of Boston ; Hannah E. Smith, of Brooklyn ; Adaline L., now deceased; Newton J., a farmer in Toulon, Ill .; Noah Payson, of Peperell, Mass .; Charles E., now deceased ; Chandler P., who served in the late war, in Co. G., 40th Mass. Vols., has been selectman, represented his town in 1882-83, and occupies the house built by Edward, Jr .; Mary F., now deceased, and William H., a baker in Chicago, Ill. Cyrus Porter, son of Edward, Jr., graduated from Dartmouth college, became a lawyer, and resided in Brooklyn, N. Y. He served as State senator, was mayor of the city, and held numerous other offices. He married, and reared eight children. Charles P., son of Edward, Jr., was a graduate from Dartmouth college, became a physician, and resided in Dan- bury, Conn. He married, and reared two children. Irene, daughter of Edward, Jr., married John Wright, and reared five children. Russell, son of Edward, Jr., married Mary Richardson, reared three children, resided in Hanover, and died in California. Hannah, daughter of Edward, Jr., mar- ried Jerome, Canfield, has had four children, is the only one now living, and resides in Brooklyn, N. Y. Hezekiah Goodrich, son of Mary, one of the daughters of Timothy Smith, was born in Windsor, Conn., in 1757, moved to Hanover in 1771, and to Norwich in 1774. He enlisted in the Revo-

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lution from Norwich, and served in the battles of Bennington and Saratoga. He died in Norwich, aged ninety-one years. Franklin W. Smith, James B. Sınith, of Troy, Tenn., and Adaline A. are children of Timothy, grandchildren of John, and great-grandchildren of Timothy Smith, the grantee. Franklin W. married Adeline E., daughter of Asahel Smith, and has had born to him six children, as follows: James Bradley, of Russell, Kan., Frank Welford, who died in the battle of Fredericksburg, Edward T., who died in 1884,- Laura C. (Mrs. E. S. Leavitt), of Cornish, Samuel W., a baker in Manches- ter, and Julia A., now deceased.

Nathaniel Woodward came from Connecticut, a young man, with his bride, on horseback, before 1780, and purchased wild land on the north line of Hanover, where his grandson, John Marshall Woodward, now lives. He was twice married, and reared three children-Polly, who married George Perkins, Nathaniel, Jr., who married Joann Perkins, and Marshall, who went to Illinois, and died there. Nathaniel, Jr., spent his life on the homestead, and reared one son, John Marshall, and six daughters,-Mrs. Asa Camp, Mrs. Cyrus Camp, Mrs. Lysander T. Woodward, of Hanover, and two who live in Ver- mont. John C. Woodward, of Lyme, is a son of Ralph, grandson of John, and great-grandson of William Woodward, also an early settler in Hanover.

Asa Babbitt, of English descent, was an early settler in Hanover, locating where Simon Ward now lives, on road 52. Isaac, the youngest of six chil- dren, was a farmer, resided in Hanover, and reared twelve children. Of these, eight sons and one daughter are living, viz .: Leonard H., in Hanover ; Darwin J., Alden A., and Dexter W., in Lebanon ; Isaac S., Sylvester, Aus- tin, George W., and Almina (Mrs. Frederick C. Merrill), in Enfield, and Charles M., in Franklin.

David Hayes came to Hanover, from Connecticut, at an early date, in a boat on the river, and used to go to Charleston to mill. He settled on the place where J. M. Hayes now lives, on Hayes hill. He received a deed from Jonathan Freeman, as agent of Dartmouth college, in 1794, and from his brother Samuel, a deed of fifty acres, December 8, 1786. David M., son of David, was born in Hanover, in 1787, married three times, first, Hannah March, who bore him three daughters ; second, Almira Morris, who bore him one son and two daughters ; and third, Philena Edgerton. Joel M. Hayes, born May 24, 1828, was a member of the early militia, joining before eighteen years of age, and was raised through all the ranks to captain of the old Granite Guard, an independent company of Hanover, in 1850. He mar- ried Susan Waterman, November 11, 1852, who bore him four children, namely, Charles W., Roswell M., David M. and Samuel.

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Gazetteer of Grafton county, N. H. 1709-1886, Part 45

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- comp. cn Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Syracuse, N. Y., Syracuse Journal Company, Printers Number of Pages: 1266

Author: Child, Hamilton, 1836- comp. cn
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Syracuse, N. Y., Syracuse Journal Company, Printers
Number of Pages: 1266