Gazetteer of Grafton county, N. H. 1709-1886, Part 78

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 78

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In 1880 Plymouth had a population of 1,726 souls. In 1885 the town had nine school districts, seven common schools, one graded school, and one high school. Its nine school-houses were valued, including furniture, etc., at $14,900.00. There were 400 children attending school, twenty of whom were pursuing the higher grades, taught during the year by two male and fourteen female teachers, at an average monthly salary of $32.00 for males and $24.00 for females. The entire amount raised for school purposes dur- ing the year was $2,666. 10, while the expenditures were $2,725.00, with Rev. H. P. Peck, superintendent.

PLYMOUTH is a handsome post village located on a beautiful terrace near the confluence of Baker's river and the Pemigewasset, in the northeastern part of the town. It has considerable prestige on account of being one of the county seats, and then, too, it " is a charming representative New Eng- land town, bright and busy all the year round, but especially attractive when the season of summer travel makes it the fair threshold of the hill region." The locality is rendered particularly pleasant in consequence of this large influx of metropolitan representatives of fashion and culture, though the society is at all times pleasant and agreeable, as churches of every principal denomination are found here, or very near in neighboring towns, courses of lectures, social and other entertainments numerous, and the leading secret societies well represented. Educational facilities are excellent, and always have beer., as an academy, since changed into the State Normal school for both sexes, has existed here many years. The rapidly growing Holderness School for Boys, half a mile distant, fits youths for college, the United States military and naval academies and for active business life, very cheaply, pleas- antly and thoroughly, while the common schools stand high.

Aside from its public buildings, Normal school, many elegant residences, beautifully shaded streets, summer hotels, two weekly papers, and a fine pub- lic park, the village has three churches, (Congregational, Methodist and Uni- versalist), four general stores, two drug stores, hardware store and tin shop, jewelry and music store, two clothing stores, furniture store, two fancy goods and millinery stores, three meat markets, one bakery, a wagon and sleigh shop,

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two harness shops, several blacksmith shops, an extensive lumber-mill, grist- mill, marble and granite shops, several tanneries for manufacturing glove stock, several glove and mitten factories, etc., and about twelve hundred inhabitants.

It was on the site of this village, authorities claim, that Captain Baker sur- prised the Indian village in 1712. For fifty years thereafter it was passed by raiding parties of both whites and Indians, and ultimately became the birth- place of Abolitionism in New Hampshire. Not alone for these interesting facts is the village celebrated, however, illustrating as they do the extremes of civilization ; but in its court-house Daniel Webster delivered his first plea, and in its hotel Nathaniel Hawthorne breathed his last, in 1864.

WEST PLYMOUTH (p. o.) is a hamlet located in the northwestern part of the town. It has one hotel, a summer boarding house, and about a dozen dwell- ings.

GLOVE HOLLOW, a hamlet at Lower Interval, has a few dwellings and a tannery and glove factory. It was here that some of the first settlers in the town located, and formerly quite an extensive business was carried on at this point.

The Plymouth Water Co. was organized in 1879, for the purpose of fur- nishing the village with an adequate water supply. J. F. Langdon was chosen president, and John Mason treasurer, to act with a board of five directors. The works were constructed by J. F. & W. Langdon, in a satisfactory man- ner. The reservoir is located about a mile and a half from the village, affording a head of 173 feet, water being brought in an eight-inch main. This affords good facilities for protection against fire, motive power for a grist-mill, planing-mill, carriage factory and printing office, and an abundant supply for domestic purposes.

' The Pemigewasset National bank, occupying a fine brick edifice south of the park, on Main street, was organized November 21, 1881, with a capital of $75,000.00. The bank has an average deposit of $85,000.00, and a sur- plus fund of $5,000.00. N. H. Weeks is its president, and O. B. Copeland, cashier.

The Grafton County Agricultural Society grounds at Pemigewasset trotting park, northerly from the village, has suitable buildings and a two-mile track. C. M. Morse, president ; Nathan H. Weeks and others, vice-presidents ; W. A. Cable, treasurer. The society is in a prosperous condition, its annual fairs are well attended and among the best in the state.

The State Normal school, occupying a fine brick structure near the center of the village, was established here in 1870. Its board of instruction is as follows: Charles C. Rounds, principal and superintendent of training schools, and instructor in psychology, didactics, school management, history of edu- cation and geometry ; Flora McDonald, algebra, physics, chemistry, botany, physiology and history ; Helen M. Cobb, Latin, geography and teacher and critic in high school grades ; Mary L. Clifford, drawing and teacher and critic of primary methods ; Hattie M. Springer, teacher and critic in grammar

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Photo Electrotype Fog Go. N.Y.

Residence of the late Joseph A, Dodge, Plymouth.

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TOWN OF PLYMOUTH.

grades ; and Frances S. Forsaith, teacher and critic in fourth and fifth year's grades.

The Pemigewasset House, located on Main street, is one of the finest sum- mer hotels in the state. It has a frontage of 230 feet, with a wing of eighty- four feet, and is three stories high. It contains 150 light and airy rooms, which can be furnished en suite when desired ; also large and commodious halls, parlors and dining-rooms. The house is lighted throughout with gas, and the bath-rooms are amply supplied with hot and cold water.

Little's Hotel, G. W. Little, prop., located on North Main street, will ac- commodate fifty guests.

Chase's summer boarding-house, located on Russell street, will accommo- date twenty-five guests.

Hiram W. Merrill's grist-mill, on Mill street, built in 1882, has one run of stones and does custom grinding.

W. R. Park & Co.'s steam saw and lumber mill, at Plymouth village, built in 1884, manufactures about 4,000,000 feet of lumber per annum.

H. S. & F. N. George's glove factory is located on South Main street, turns out about 1,000 dozen pairs of gloves and mittens annually.

A sketch of the aboriginal occupation of Plymouth, the causes which led to the first visit by the whites to its soil and the subsequent settlement made by them, has already been detailed in the chapter devoted to the general his- tory of the county ; the same may also be said of its erection into a half- shire town, its county buildings, and its railroads and newspapers. For the following additional remarks on the general history of the town, we are mainly indebted to the historical sermon preached by Rev. Henry A. Hazen, in the Congregational church of Plymouth, in December, 1865.

In November, 1762, a party of eight explorers came up from Hollis to cut a path and select a place for a settlement. Their names were Elnathan Blood, Josiah Brown, Jotham Cummings, Col. David Hobart, Zachariah Par- ker, David Webster, John Willoughby and his son, afterwards " Elder" Wil- loughby. The invaluable intervals on the rivers attracted them to this place. Returning to Hollis, they procured the charter of Plymouth, July 15, 1763, and pushed with energy their plans. Eight men were employed here through the summer of 1763. and others the last part of the year, in preparing for the reception of families ; and some of these men spent the winter in the town. In the spring of 1764 the first families arrived. There is some conflict of testimony as to the time and order of their coming ; but Abel Webster, John Willoughby, Jr., Silas Brown and others, were certainly here in June ; James Hobart and Zachariah Parker, probably; and perhaps David Webster and Josiah Brown. Before the year ended, Jotham Cummings, James Blodgett, Samuel Dearborn, Ephraim Weston and Stephen Webster, with their fam- ilies, had arrived-all from Hollis, except Weston, Dearborn and Stephen Webster, who were from Chester. In the spring of 1765 so many were ready to go to the new colony that in April the proprietors voted to hold their next

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meeting in Plymouth ; and on May 19th they did meet at David Webster's. In 1767, when a census was taken, there were 227 inhabitants in the town. In 1774 the population was 345.

Plymouth was then chiefly a Hollis colony. Of the fifty-five names men- tioned in the charter, besides those of the governor and seven others, mem- bers of the council, or otherwise public men, two-thirds were Hollis men, counting as such half a dozen from the adjacent towns.

The following statement made by Jotham Cumming, Jr., son of the early settler, gives a fair idea of the hardships attending the life of the pioneer :-

"My mother rode from Hollis on horseback, brought a child on her lap, and baggage which contained all her furniture to keep house with. Their sufferings for a few of the first years were most distressing. They had to go to the meadows and pull wild onions. and fry them in the fat of bear's meat, to subsist upon, without a morsel of bread. My father, with others, went to Concord on snow-shoes, with hand-sleds, and hauled up three bushels of corn- meal each ; and for a number of years-as late as the Revolutionary war- I well remember how good a piece of bread tasted, after being without it for three weeks. Most of the efficient men were gone to meet the invading army of Burgoyne, and left their wives and children to be a prey to wild beasts and Tories. In the night the woods would ring with the howling and fighting of wolves and other furious animals; and, what was worse, alarıns would fre- quently come down, that the British and Indians were coming upon us from Canada. I remember well, that one Sabbath they had got down as far as Haverhill, and were hourly expected here. Every man who had a gun car- ried it to the meeting-house, where were assembled the women and children, to seek protection from the sanctuary. Though not five years old, I walked beside my mother, with an infant in her arms, three miles, to attend meet- ing ; most of the way through woods. Heads of families, whether profes- sors or non professors, habitually taught the children the Assembly's cate- chism on the Sabbath ; and our venerable pastor collected the children once or twice a year. at the meeting-house, to recite the catechism, and receive religious instruction."

In April, 1765, Lydia Webster, daughter of Stephen and Lydia Webster, was born. She was the first English child born in the town. At this birth every woman in the town was present, and every husband attended his wife as far as the premises, and there remained until the vote was declared ! This was a great day in Plymouth. Josiah Hobart was the first male child born in the town. Ephraim Lund built the first saw and grist-mill.

In October, 1775, the selectmen of Plymouth reported "eight men gone in the army." Of these, the first place, no doubt, belongs to David Hobart. Twenty years before he had been a sergeant in Captain Power's company, Col. Joseph Blanchard's regiment, fighting for Crown Point and Ticonderoga ; and throughout that war he proved himself so competent an officer that when the Revolutionary war broke out he was appointed Colonel of the 12th regiment. In this capacity he did good service, and, at the battle of Benning- ton, distinguished himself, leading the attack on the right wing of the British which was the decisive stroke of the battle. David Webster was the worthy companion of Hobart. He had also served in the seven year's war, being in

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TOWN OF PLYMOUTH,

Captain Hazen's company in 1757, and in 1760 in the famous Ranger's Corps of Rogers and Stark. The cannon of Bunker hill, heard in Plymouth, sum- moned him to the field. He was appointed ensign in Hobart's regiment, and rose through all the grades to its command. In this capacity he served in Poor's New Hampshire brigade, at Saratoga, and shared in the memora- ble victory over Burgoyne. His brother, Amos Webster, commanded a com- pany in Morgan's famous Light Artillery, whose service were particularly effective in this campaign, and fell in the battle of Stillwater. Jotham Cum- mings was an officer in 1775, in a company of rangers, for the defense of the frontiers on the Connecticut river ; and John Willoughby, besides other services, was one of the volunteers. and placed in command of a Coös com- pany, when the approach of Burgoyne summoned Stark and the whole state to their brave and successful attack upon him. And there was, of course, many others from Plymouth, who, in humble station, shared the perils and glory of the Revolution. Their names deserve to be reverently sought out, and carefully remembered.

But Plymouth was not wholly patriotic. In 1775, February 17, the town voted "that the Honorable John Fenton, Esquire, represent this town in General Assembly." Previous to this time, Plymouth, like all the recently chartered towns, had not been admitted to representation in the General As- sembly, that body claiming the right, and contesting it warmly and success- fully with the governor, to determine when towns should receive this privi- lege, Probably, authority had been received from Governor Wentworth for this Plymouth election ; but when Fenton presented himself, with representa- tives from Lyme and Orford, they were promptly refused admittance. Pos- sibly, politic motives of favor at court, where he was evidently a favorite, may have influenced the selection of Fenton. But some distrust was felt, and they proceeded to instruct him as follows :-

" Sir : We, the freeholders of the town of Plymouth, being highly impres- sed with the most favorable sentiments of you, from the eminent services con- ferred on this county, and the town of Plymouth in particular, since your first acquaintance with us, should think it needless, at any other time than this, to give you instructions respecting your conduct as our representative in General Assembly. But when we reflect on the momentous affairs now pend- ing between Great Britain and her colonies, and the imminent danger that threatens them (for we look upon the interest to be mutual), we trust that you will not construe our instructing you to arise from any distrust or want of confidence, but from anxious wish and hearty desire to see the strictest harmony once more established between our parent state and her colonies, according to their charter and other rights, as they have been practiced from the first accession of the august House of Hanover, to the time of the Stamp Act. We, therefore, think it our duty to instruct you as our representative.

"First : That you will do everything in your power to preserve the laws of the land inviolate, and, by every legal means, prevent a diminuation of them in every respect whatever ; for, should the people either throw them aside, or in manner disregard them, we apprehend that anarchy and confusion must quickly ensue.

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" Secondly : We recommend to you in the strongest terms, to discounten- ence every act of oppression, either as to the persons or properties of indi- viduals, as we look upon such proceedings to be highly prejudicial to the common cause, and directly tending to fill the minds of the people with jealousies and distrust, the bad effects of which must appear obvious to every man of common understanding.

" Thirdly : We desire that you will not, on any account, give up, or in any manner suffer a diminuation of the rights and privileges we now enjoy, as we live under good and wholesome laws; and,

"Fourthly : That you will do the utmost in your power to keep harmony in the House, that the public affairs of the Province may be discussed with cool- ness and impartiality ; much depending on such conduct at this time of our difficulties ; also, that you will endeavor to have the House open, that those out of doors may be acquainted with the debates of their members, the prac- tice of secrecy heretofore used tending much to the disquiet of numbers of their constituents."

Fenton needed their watching ; and we surmise that his influence toned down these resolutions, and explains their cautious generalizations and the lack of the prevailing patriotic tone with which so many towns spoke when Lex- ington and Bunker Hill were at hand. This man was the clerk of the court o Grafton county, which was established in 1773, and was doubtless a friend of Governor Wentworth, who appointed him. He did not return to Plymouth. He sent, from Portsmouth, April 25, a warning to the people of Grafton county to stay at home and attend to their farming ; saying, "I am informed that if the people of the back settlements take up arms, a number of the In- dians and Canadians will fall upon them." The Provincial Congress asked his authority. He was forced to admit that he had none ; and he made him- self so obnoxious to the patriots that he was siezed at the house of Governor Wentworth, dispossessed of the records of the courts, voted "not a friend to this country," and imprisoned at Exeter and at Hartford, where General Put- nam's influence procured his release, on condition of his leaving the country.

Winthrop Welles, one of the early settlers, married Dorothy Ely, and came to this town in 1765, locating on the place where William Gilson now lives. Winthrop, Jr., one of his three sons, born in town, married Polly, daughter of Samuel Marsh, and reared five sons and six daughters. His fourth son, Henry, born in 1804, married twice, first, Elizabeth Edson, in 1826, who bore him five daughters, and died in 1848, and second, Lovina Gordon, of Bridgewater, in 1852, and has had born to him four sons and one daughter. Of these, Henry N. is in Texas ; Fred A. and Frank E, twins, reside at home with their father, just south of the village, on Hebron road ; and Flora J. (Mrs. George Richardson), lives in Silver City, Mexico. Fred A. is a teacher.

Joseph Reed came to Plymouth from Westford, Mass., in 1773, with his wife, Martha Fletcher, and two children, Martha and Mary, and located on the hill a little south of Glove Hollow. One son and six daughters were born to him in Plymouth, of whom Joseph, born in 1792, married Susan, daughter of Jonathan Cummings, and reared four sons and two daughters. His son

√ osept A Dodge

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TOWN OF PLYMOUTH.

George C. was born on the homestead in 1814, married Phebe C., daughter of Aaron and Anna (Hoag) Currier, in 1844, and died on the place where he was born, September 18, 1874. William H., born in 1822, married Mary E. Moses, of Campton, in 1861. Of his four sons and one daughter, Charles W. was born in 1863, and married Mary E., daughter of Edward and Mary (Smith) Currier, May 1, 1885 ; Henry W., born in 1865; George C., born in 1867, was drowned June 30, 1884; Jennie May, born in 1869; and Joseph M., born in 1872. Charles W. and Henry W. reside upon the homestead of their great-grandfather, where they were born.

William George and his family came to this town, from Hollis, about 1775, and located upon the place where C. W. George now resides. Moses, son of William, was born in August, 1774, and married Susannah Nevins, in 1800. Of his children, Matilda died in 1848; Austin, born in 1803, married Sarah Morrison, of Plymouth, and reared one son, Henry S., born in 1838. The latter, when nineteen years of age, worked at the glove business for Ward & McQuesten. He married Mary J. Farnham, in 1859, and has one son, Fred N., born in 1860. Henry S. George and his son Fred N. are engaged in the manufacture of gloves and mittens, and manufacture annually about 1,000 dozen pairs, their shop and residence being located on South Main street. Austin died in 1849. Amanda, daughter of Moses, married Samuel Noyes, of Massachusetts, and died in 1865. Elmira married Noah Cummings, and died in 1874. Washington, born in 1804, married Louisa, daugh- ter of John and Phebe (Wells) Abbott, in 1838, and had born to him two sons and four daughters, namely, Ellen A. (Mrs. James Peabody), of Plymouth ; Harriet A., who died in 1880; Martha C. ; Louisa V .; Wilber O., who died in 1879; and Charles W. Washington George served as town representative in 1854-55, was selectman many years, and also justice of the peace. He was a prominent member of the Congregational church for forty- five years, of which he was deacon, and was also superintendent of the Sab- bath-school. He died on the homestead, August 21, 1876. His widow, son, Charles W., and two daughters, Martha C. and Louisa V., reside at the old home.

Dr. Samuel Rogers, eldest son of Dr. John Rogers, was born in Plymouth, August 24, 1785. He studied medicine with his father, and commenced prac- tic at the age of twenty-one, and continued the same for nearly fifty years. His practice extended over a large territory, which embraced Plymouth, Hol- derness, Rumney, Campton, Thornton, Ellsworth and Woodstock, and he was one of the most successful physicians in this section of country. He was the first physician in New Hampshire that deviated from the rule of the allo- pathic school, and allowed his patients all the ice and cool water they desired when burning up with a fever. Other physicians pronounced his departure an absurdity, but in time his judgment was vindicated by all physicians adopt- ing his method. He was one of those men that did not believe in running in one groove, but like the eclectics of to-day, believed there was good in

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TOWN OF PLYMOUTH.

everything, and to select the best from whatever source it originated, was, in his judgment, the highest duty incumbent on him whose calling was to alleviate the sufferings of humanity.

Dr. Rogers was one of the earliest abolitionists in New England, when it cost something to be one. He espoused that cause, believing it to be right and just. and, not only were William Lloyd Garrison, George Thompson, of England, Parker Pillsbury and John G. Whittier, frequent guests around his hearth-stone, but the poor fugative, guided by the north star, fleeing from bondage to Canada, always found shelter beneath his roof.

Owing to feeble health, Dr. Rogers was obliged to retire from the practice of his profession towards the latter part of his life, and August 29, 1858, at the advanced age of seventy-three years, he was called to pass the charmed boundary and join the loved ones who had gone before, while all united in saying " a good man has gone from our midst."

Moor Russell was born at Derryfield, N. H., in 1757, came to Plymouth: n 1790 and located on the place opposite the present residence of Frank W. Russell, and here began a mercantile business in 1798. On December 23, 1790, Mr. Russell married Betsey Webster, who bore him children as follows: Nancy, born July 20, 1793 ; David M., born July 3, 1795 ; Catherine M. born May 28, 1797; Eliza, born August 23, 1799 ; William W., born May 15, 1801 ; Mary, born January 26, 1804; Walter W., born March 8, 1806; Jane A., born August 9, 1808 ; Julian, born August 13, 1810; Charles J., born January 16, 1813 ; and Julia A., born September 27, 1815. Of the family there are now living, Eliza, wife of Benjamin G. Edwards, of Brook- lyn, N. Y. ; Jane A., widow of Milo P. Jewett, of Milwaukee, Wis. ; and Charles J., who was a member of the firm of Russells & Webster here for some years, went to Boston in 1853, was a banker there until 1867, and now resides in Milwaukee, Wis. William W. Russell entered his father's store in 1813, at the age of twelve years, where he remained until 1822, when, with his brother, David M., he went into business for himself, establishing the business which, after many changes of partners, is continued by his sons William W., Jr., and Frank W. William W., Jr., married Clara J., daughter of Stephen Smith, October 24, 1861, who died November 16, 1875 ; for his second wife he married Martha C., daughter of Arthur and Hannah (Dud- ley) Ward, May 24, 1877. Frank W. was born June 22, 1847, entered the military academy at West Point in 1864, graduated in 1868, and was com- missioned 2d lieutenant of the 6th U. S. cavalry the same year. He re- mained in the service until 1872, when he returned to Plymouth, married Louisa, daughter of Philander and Louisa Augusta (Webster) Hall, October 1, 1873, and has children born as follows : William Wallace, May 22, 1876; George Moor, April 28, 1878; Susan Carleton, October 31, 1879; Walter Hall, May 21, 1882 ; and Louis Webster, March 22. 1885. A daughter died in infancy. Alfred, another son of Moor Russell, graduated from Dartmouth college in 1850, later graduated from Cambridge Law school, and is now a lawyer, residing in Detroit, Mich.

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Gazetteer of Grafton county, N. H. 1709-1886, Part 78

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