USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Troy > Historical sketch of the town of Troy, New Hampshire, and her inhabitants from the first settlement of the territory now within the limits of the town in 1764-1897 > Part 20
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schools graded; the grammar department being put in the town hall room, when no more pupils were admitted from adjoining towns.
It is fitting that more than a passing notice should be taken of the labors of Mrs. Wright, whose services as a teacher in Troy covered a period of sixteen years, fifteen
MRS. LOUISA B. WRIGHT.
of which were continuous. Her labors commenced in March, 1868, as teacher of the high school. The follow- ing year she became a resident of the town, and for nine years taught the high school and that in Distriet No. 1,
EDUCATIONAL HISTORY. 265
or until the change was made in the arrangement of the schools, and the high school changed to the grammar department in 1878. She taught the latter until the summer of 1883, when she went to West Swanzey for one year, returning in the fall of 1884, teaching until the close of the summer term in 1885.
Mrs. Wright completed her one hundredth term of teaching at the close of the summer term in 1880, and her forty-fourth in Troy, which was celebrated by suitable exercises at the town hall on July 3d.
Mr. William Butler was chairman of the committee of arrangements, and in his introductory remarks, spoke of the occasion as no ordinary one, for he knew of no one, not advanced in years, who had taught one hundred terms of school. David W. Farrar was president of the day, and spoke of the importance of one hundred terms of school in a community like this, and of its salutary influence and the liability not to give it that consideration commensurate with its importance. Rev. S. H. McCollester, of Marl- borough, delivered an address upon "Education," and at the close, Rev. J. S. Herrick presented Mrs. Wright with one hundred dollars in gold, consisting of twenty five- dollar coins, and former pupils from Swanzey presented an additional sum. Numerous toasts were given, which were responded to by H. W. Farrar, M. E. Wright, A. C. Dort, Rev. D. W. Goodale, C. C. Smith and Rev. S. H. Mc- Collester.
After leaving Troy, Mrs. Wright went to Marlborough, where she taught for about three years, when she went to Kansas. With increasing years has come increased knowl- edge from continuous study, and she has until recently been actively engaged in educational work, having been principal of the high school in Seneca, until the summer of 1897.
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HISTORY OF TROY.
The old schoolhouses not being sufficient to accommo- date the increasing number of scholars in the village, the town at the annual meeting in March, 1893, voted to build a new house, and chose a committee to procure estimates for a four-room schoolhouse, either wood or brick, and secure a location. This committee consisted of John H. Congdon, Henry M. Whittemore and J. H. Bige- low. They reported at the next annual meeting, their report being adopted. The matter was then taken up in the town distriet meeting. At the meeting, March 13, 1894, Charles D. Farrar, Augustus Hodgkins and George A. Starkey were chosen a committee with authority to locate and purchase a lot. The committee made a report at an adjourned meeting held April 7th, when it was voted to purchase of Joseph W. Raymond the north lot on the muster field. At a meeting one week later, E. P. Kimball, Asa C. Dort, Franklin Ripley, Geo. A. Starkey and Wm. J. Boyden were chosen a building committee, who were to procure plans and estimates and report at a future meet- ing, when the sum of ten thousand dollars was voted to be raised. At a meeting September 29, an additional sum of two thousand dollars was voted to be raised.
The plans were drawn by Barker & Nourse, architects, of Worcester, Mass., and the contract for building was let to W. E. Austin of Jefferson, Mass.
The building is situated at the head of the new street on the muster field, and is seventy-six by forty-seven feet, two stories, with basement, built of brick with granite trimmings. The entrances are on the east and west ends, the halls and corridor occupying the entire north side of the building; the four school rooms are on the south side of the building, exposed to the sunlight and well lighted and ventilated. The floors are of hard pine and the walls are sheathed with the same, with natural slate blackboards.
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The rooms are twenty-eight by thirty-four feet, con- taining book closets, and the two rooms on each floor being connected by a teacher's room, with suitable ward- robe rooms outside. The building is heated with steam, and the basement besides containing the heating appa- ratus, has two large playrooms, cach twenty-eight by thirty-three feet, with concrete bottom. The entrance
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NEW SCHOOLHOUSE.
doors are made to swing both ways and wide stairways give easy access to the basement and second story.
The building will accommodate two hundred and twenty-five pupils, and was appropriately dedicated Thurs- day afternoon, April 18, 1895, addresses being delivered by Fred Gowing, state superintendent of public instruc- tion, and Rev. S. H. McCollester of Marlborough.
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There being no further use for the two primary sehool- houses, the committee sold the same at auction; the north one was purchased by Samuel Mortimer for five hundred and two dollars, and the south one by Moses Abare for four hundred and twenty-seven dollars, and they have since been converted into tenements.
We have attempted to give a brief sketch of the efforts of the people to promote the cause of popular education, and which, like all great enterprises, had a small begin- ning; but by the persistent efforts of a few individuals, the work has been gradually carried forward until the present time, when nearly all the citizens are interested in the work.
The town has always done, by way of appropriation, all that could reasonably have been expected. For several years after its incorporation, the amount annually raised for the support of schools was two hundred and fifty dollars, in addition to the literary fund, and this sum has gradually been increased until the present time.
In 1896, the sum raised was nineteen hundred and seventy-five dollars, and the whole amount expended was over twenty-four hundred dollars. The whole number of different pupils registered was two hundred and eighty, of which two hundred and fourteen were in the village.
But the question will probably arise, has this increased expenditure yielded an adequate return? The answer is best given by the schools in comparison with those of the earlier period. How different the schools and method of teaching of the present day! Then teachers were paid eight or ten dollars a month. Now three or four times that amount is paid, and we have reason to feel that the money is well expended. Then the government of a school was often conducted by force, and the most essential qualifi- cation of a teacher was bone and muscle to wield the rod.
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It is said that Jupiter on one occasion made a procla- mation that he would crown the person with immortality who had done the most good, and been the greatest blessing to his fellow-men. The competitors were numer- ous; the warrior, the statesman, the sculptor and painter, the musician and benevolent, all pressed their claims. But Jupiter, seeing an old gray-headed, sage-looking man standing far behind the rest and apparently taking no active part in the matter, asked him what made him look so smiling? The old man replied that all these competi- tors were once his pupils. "Crown him," says Jupiter, "and seat him at my right hand."
CHAPTER XV.
PHYSICIANS AND LAWYER.
DR. JUSTUS PERRY .- DR. EBENEZER WRIGHT .- DR. CHARLES W. WIHTNEY .- DR. LUKE MILLER .- DR. A. M. CAVERLY .- DR. MARY ANN HARRIS .- DR. DANIEL FARRAR .- DR. DANIEL B. WOODWARD .- DR. BENJAMIN H. HART- WELL .- DR. JOIIN DODGE .- DR. CARL G. METCALF .- DR. M. S. FERGUSON. -DR. BENJAMIN E. HARRIMAN .- DR. M. T. STONE .- LUTHIER CHAPMAN, ESQ.
For some years the inhabitants of what is now Troy, residing upon the borders of Marlborough and Fitzwilliam, were dependent for medical assistance upon the physicians located near the center of these towns, for the population was too small to support a resident physician. But after the formation of the new town was seriously contem- plated, efforts were made to obtain one, and Dr. Justus Perry of Marlborough was selected. Of his early life but little is known beyond the fact that he was a native of Barre, Mass., and studied medicine with Dr. Stephen Batcheller, Sr., of Royalston. He settled in Marlborough in 1786, and possessing great natural and acquired ability, he gained the reputation of a skillful physician, and for a few years did an extensive business. But unfor- tunately he acquired the habit of using strong drinks, a habit which so increased as to disqualify him for the practice of his profession. He located in what is now Troy, in 1796, and an effort was made to reform him, that his usefulness should not be lost to his fellow-men. He was induced to sign a temperance pledge, obligating himself to abstain from the use of all intoxicating drinks for one year, in consideration of which the citizens bound themselves to furnish him with a horse and all medicines
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free of charge during the year. This pledge he faithfully kept, but as soon as the time expired he relapsed into his former dissipated habits, and losing his practice, returned the following year to the center of Marlborough, where he died in 1800.
The next physician who located here was Dr. Ebenezer Wright. He was the son of Capt. Ebenezer Wright and was born in Templeton, Mass., Nov. 3, 1761. He ac- quired a good English education and entered upon the study of medicine at Rutland, Vt. He settled in Fitzwil- liam in 1785. He is said to have possessed the rudiments of a great mind, applied himself closely to business, became noted for his sound judgment and soon gained the confi- dence of the community. In compliance with the request of individuals he removed to this village in 1811. He was here during the excitement attending the efforts to obtain the charter of Troy, and took an active part in those measures which resulted in the organization of the new town. He returned to Fitzwilliam in 1814, continuing the practice of his profession until his death, March 16, 1829.
Dr. Wright was succeeded by Dr. Charles W. Whitney, who located here in 1815. He was the son of Dr. Isaiah Whitney and was born in Rindge in 1791. Dr. Isaiah Whitney was born in Harvard, Mass., Dec. 13, 1765; married Dorcas, a daughter of Dr. Charles Whitman of Stowe, in August, 1787. The Whitman family are descend- ants of the first settlers of New England. Dr. Charles Whitman was the son of a physician, and whose grand- father, also a physician, came from England, one of the band of Pilgrims on the Mayflower, in 1620.
Dr. Whitman of Stowe, was surgeon in the army during the Revolutionary war, and his wife was a Stevens, and it is asserted that she was a descendant of the celebrated Indian princess, Pocahontas.
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HISTORY OF TROY.
Dr. Isaiah Whitney, soon after his marriage, settled in Rindge and continued in the practice of his profession until his death, Nov. 30, 1839. Doreas, his wife, died in Rindge, July 11, 1844. They had ten children, five sons and five daughters.
Charles W. was the second son, and he gave the follow- ing account of his history: "My youth was spent like that of most children at that time; I was very fond of fishing; nothing suited me better than to be angling for the spotted trout in the various streams of my native town, and this was a great detriment to my future knowledge. In the fall and winter of 1809, I roomed with Philip Payson and recited to his father, Seth Payson, D. D. In 1810, I was sent to New Ipswich Academy, and in the spring of 1811 commenced the study of medicine under the tutelage of my father. In the spring of 1813 I was sent to Boston to study and practice with John Randall, M. D., six months, and in December of the same vear I commenced the practice of my profession in Marl- borough, Mass. It was thought by many at that time that experimental knowledge formed the most important part of a young medical student's education."
He left Marlborough in the spring of 1815, and assisted his father in Rindge a few months, but, the narrative con- tinues : "In October, I started for Vermont to look me up a place to practice my profession, got up among the Green Mountains where the sun would shine a few minutes, and then there would be a snow squall, and above all, I did not like the looks of the land or the people; I became homesick and thought I would much rather winter among my native hills, so made traeks baek much faster than I went on, and on arriving at Capt. Gorham's hotel in Troy, the Captain invited me to locate here. I told him I would take the matter into consideration and decide in
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a few days. My father advised me not to come, on account of the smallness of the place; but having no place in view, I concluded to make the trial. I came, engaged board at D. W. Farrar's, boarded there three years, built my house in 1818, married Mary, daughter of Dea. Samuel Griffin of Fitzwilliam, in November of the same year."
* * Ains let
CHARLES W. WHITNEY, M. D.
He became a member of the New Hampshire Medical Society, and was licensed May 8, 1828, and he was also a member of the Western New Hampshire Medical Associa- tion. He was an excellent citizen, a judicious, careful
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HISTORY OF TROY.
practitioner, and enjoyed the confidence of the people. He continued in practice until advanced age, feeble health and serious loss of hearing obliged him to relinquish it. He said: "1 can truly say what few of my age can, I never called for a glass of spirit of any kind for myself, at either of the taverns or stores, since I established myself in town." Although disabled by these infirmities, he enjoyed the society of his friends and retained his intellect until the end.
In consequence of the impaired health and partial deaf- ness of Dr. Whitney, who found it difficult to perform all the labor required of the physican of the town, it was thought advisable to obtain a younger man to take a part of the professional business. Consequently, Dr. Luke Miller located here in 1847. But little is known of his early life, except that he first saw light in the town of Peterborough, and practiced dentistry some years in his native town. He studied medicine with Dr. Albert Smith of Peterborough, and commenced practice with Dr. Hitch- cock of Ashby, Mass., remaining a few months, coming to Troy, where he did a fair amount of business. He removed to Winchendon, Mass., in the fall of 1853, remaining about a year, when he came to Fitzwilliam, and entered into partnership with Dr. Silas Cummings. In 1857, he removed to Chatfield, Minn. His wife was Abby Ann Lovell.
Dr. A. M. Caverly located in Troy, Sept. 1, 1853. He was a descendant of Moses Caverly, who was born about the year 1715, in Croydon, a town which lies about ten miles south of London Bridge, England, and who, in com- pany with two younger brothers, Nathaniel and Thomas, immigrated to this country about the year 1740, and settled in Portsmouth. Moses married a Johnson of Ports- mouth, about the year 1743, and resided there till about 1770, when with his brother Thomas, he removed to that
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part of Barrington now included in Strafford. Nathaniel afterwards resided in Barrington a short time, but eventu- ally moved to Township No. 4 (now Charlestown), where he died. Moses had five sons : Phillip, Charles 1st, John, William and Charles 2d; and one daughter, Abigail, all of whom were born in Portsmouth.
Phillip, the oldest, was born March 23, 1745; removed with his father and the rest of the family to Barrington ; married Bridget Pendergast, who was born Feb. 24, 1745, and resided in Barrington till his death, April 1, 1813. During the time of the Revolutionary war he took an active part in opposing the arbitrary acts of the British ; his name occurs upon the "Test Papers" from his adopted town, as one who joined the " American Association," and in 1777, he entered the army, and was on duty several months in the state of Rhode Island. After the war his time was devoted to farming, and he owned one of the best farms in Barrington, and had considerably property invested in wild lands in different parts of the state. He had nine children, eight sons and one daughter. Moses, the eldest son, was born April 3, 1771; married Judith, daughter of John Caverno, Aug. 4, 1793, and the follow- ing year removed to Loudon and located on a lot of land given him by his father. He died June 25, 1821. Mrs. Judith Caverly died Feb. 1, 1824, aged forty-nine years. They had two sons, Solomon and Moses, the former was born Feb. 21, 1795, the latter, April 13, 1797. Solomon married Sarah, daughter of John Moore of Canterbury, Nov. 14, 1816, and settled on a farm given to him by his father, and adjoining the homestead. They had two chil- dren, a son and daughter.
The son, Abial Moore Caverly, was born Nov. 28, 1817, and after having pursued a preparatory course of study, became the pupil of R. P. J. Tenney, M. D., of London, under
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HISTORY OF TROY.
whose instruction he remained one year. The last two years of his medical course were spent under the tutelage of Dr. William W. Brown of Manchester. He attended lectures at Dartmouth Medical College and the Phila- delphia College of Medicine, graduating from the latter institution, after which he spent several months in the Pennsylvania Hospital. He married Caroline, daughter of Thomas Ames, Esq., of Canterbury, March 25, 1845, and the following year was elected principal of the South Grammar School in Manchester, and he entered upon the duties of the position the next spring. Mrs. Caroline Caverly died Feb. 2, 1851, and the following year he resigned his position as teacher, and again resumed the study and practice of medicine with Dr. Brown. On com- ing to Troy he purchased the location owned by Dr. Mil- ler, near the railroad bridge, now owned by Mrs. F. S. Schnell, and resided there until the 30th of November, 1854, when he married Sarah L., daughter of Solomon Goddard, and afterwards resided on the Goddard place.
Dr. Caverly was a skillful and successful practitioner and had a large practice, and was honored with several town offices. He was Superintending School Committee for several years, Representative to the Legislature in 1861 -62, town clerk, 1857-59. He possessed a love for anti- quarian and historical researches, and while engaged in riding over these hills, as duty called, he collected infor- mation concerning the early settlement of this region and the early settlers, which was incorporated in a "History of Troy," published in 1859. The possessors of this infor- mation long since passed from the stage of life, and the facts here presented have been valuable in giving a more complete history of the towns from which this town was formed. In the spring of 1863, he removed to Pittsford, \'t., where he continued in practice until his death. Being
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actuated by the same love for historical research, he col- lected material and wrote a " History of Pittsford," which was published in 1872.
ABIAL M. CAVERLY, M. D.
Mary Ann Harris, daughter of Luke Harris, entered upon the study of medicine at the time when the subject of the medical education of women was first brought forward. The first women's medical college was estab- lished in Philadelphia, although there had previously been formed in Boston a " Female Medical Educational Society," which was chartered in 1852, for the education of mid- wives, nurses and female physicians, and in 1856 was chartered as the "New England Female Medical College." From this institution Miss Harris graduated in 1859, and after graduation settled in Abington, Mass., remaining for three years. Not being in robust health she returned to her native town and practiced her profession during the
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summer season for about three years. She married Jabez Butler in 1869 and removed from town, giving up the practice of medicine. The following resolution was adopted at the annual meeting in 1894:
MARY A. HARRIS BUTLER, M. D.
Resolved, That the thanks of the Town of Troy are hereby presented to Mrs. Mary A. Harris Butler, for her gift, free of all expense to the town, of the tower elock which now adorns the town house.
Resolved, That the town clerk be requested to transmit to Mrs. But- ler, an attested copy of this resolution.
Daniel Farrar, M. D., was born in Troy and was the sixth physician to locate in the town. He graduated from
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the Harvard Medical School in the spring of 1862. He was appointed Assistant Surgeon of the Third New Hampshire Regiment, Aug. 13, 1862, and arrived at the regiment about the middle of September, 1862. His posi- tion at this time was an anomalous one, as in his appoint- ment a vacancy was anticipated in the medical staff and
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DANIEL FARRAR, M. D.
soon after occurred. He began his duties at once and performed them well. In the spring of 1863, the regiment was scattered, two companies being at Hilton Head, S. C., seven companies were at Pickney Island and one company
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at Pope's. Dr. Farrar remained with the two companies at Hilton Head. On April 15, 1863, after the regiment had gone to Edisto Island, Dr. Farrar was ordered to special duty, taking charge of the sick at the outposts of Hilton Head (Seabrook, Fort Mitchel, Pope's, Jenkin's Island and Spanish Wells), with headquarters at Pope's. He had scarcely entered upon these duties when he was relieved by an order relieving everybody in the brigade of which the Third New Hampshire was a part. He rejoined the regiment at Edisto River, and not being in good health very soon after sent in his resignation, which was not accepted. He repeated the act at once and was honorably discharged, on surgeon's certificate of disability, at Botany Bay Island, on May 4, 1863. Upon his return home he commenced practice here. Not being physically strong he could not endure the rides over this hilly country, and he gave up his practice sometime in 1865, and afterwards removed to Leominster, Mass., where he continued in practice till his death, June 3, 1875.
Dr. Farrar was succeeded by Daniel B. Woodward, M. D., who practiced until about 1868, when he removed to Ellenburgh, N. Y., where he now resides.
The next physician was Dr. Benjamin H. Hartwell, who was born in Acton, Mass., Feb. 27, 1845; graduated at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, March, 1868. He commenced practice here the following May, and remained until March, 1869. He removed to Aver, Mass., where he has since resided, a highly respected and successful physician.
Dr. John Dodge came next from Springfield, Vt., but remained only a few months.
Dr. Carl G. Metcalf was the tenth physician. Born in East Unity, N. H., April 21, 1846; studied medicine with Drs. Butler of Lempster and Swett of Newport, graduating at Albany Medical College in December, 1869. Commenced
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practice in Troy in February, 1870, remaining until April, 1872, when he removed to Middleton, Mass., where he was located three years. Failing health required a year's rest, and in 1876 he located in Marlborough, Mass., where he resided until his death, Nov. 1, 1884. He married, in August, 1872, Abbie A., daughter of Rev. Levi Brigham.
The next physician to settle here was Dr. M. S. Fer- guson, but he remained only a short time.
The twelfth physician to locate here was Dr. Benjamin E. Harriman. He was born in Concord, Oct. 20, 1854, while his family were temporarily residing at the capital, his father, Ex-Governor Walter Harriman of Warner, fill- ing at that time the responsible office of state treasurer. He commenced the study of medicine in 1874, with A. H. Crosby, M. D., of Concord. He attended one course of lectures at the University of Vermont, two at Bellevue Hospital Medical College, and three at Dartmouth Medical College, graduating from the latter institution in November, 1877. He commenced the practice of medicine at Manchester in the December following and almost im- mediately acquired a good practice, and met with a success most flattering to a beginner. He had not been in robust health for several years, and in June, 1878, he broke down and gave up his practice, going to Florida for the winter, without much apparent benefit. In October, 1879, he established himself in Troy, and once more at- tempted to practice, meeting with encouraging success, but the labors of a country practice so wore upon him, that he again succumbed and he returned home the last of the fol- lowing February, and now, really for the last time. Even then he would not admit that his life's work was done, but combatted his disease as best he was able and looked forward to the time when he should be strong enough to renew the practice of his profession. These hopes were
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