USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Lyman > Historical sketches of Lyman, New Hampshire > Part 7
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8
122
MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES.
had not been sailors. One of the orators of the town at once announced his intention of climbing up and delivering a speech. He reached the top of the tower in safety, when he was taken with a sudden dizziness and was unable to hold his position. His friends, see- ing his danger, went to his relief. The orator had become perfectly helpless, so a rope was tied around him, and he was lowered to the ground in safety, where he soon regained his normal condition.
In those days stoves were unknown, and there was no means of warming the churches,-even in the coldest days in winter. This church was sold by the owners to David Smith in the early sixties, who took it down and with the materials erected the building now used as a parsonage, also the dwelling known as the Ira Titus house. In 1862 the yellow church was out of repair. The members of all denominations again united, and put it in good condition, forming a union church. The dedication occurred in mid-winter, and was considered a great event. The choir, under the leadership of Adam G. Eastman, a well known singer, was rehearsing for a long time. An all day service was held and the sermons were delivered by Elder Shipman, Advent, and the Rev. Frank Healey, Universalist. The church was filled to overflowing, people coming in from many towns around. The occasion was long talked about and commented upon by people who were there.
123
MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES.
Very little can be learned now relative to the clergymen of the early period. A church was formed here in 1814 by Rev. David Sutherland of Bath, who often preached to the people. In 1816 a revival of great interest occurred, and Rev. Samuel Goddard labored here. In December, twenty-two persons were received into the church; and in March following, fourteen more were admitted. In 1832 the church numbered fifty-three members, at which time the pop- ulation of the town was seven hundred and forty-two. In 1856 there was a Methodist society, consisting of seventy-three members.
Rev. Mr. Campbell preached here about 1840. In those days it was considered necessary that a minister should have a strong voice, and an ability to pound the desk well. Mr. Campbell seemed to possess those qualities in a remarkable degree. He was quite an exhorter and succeeded in getting up a great revival. Believing in immersion, he baptized a large number in Smith pond, late in the fall when the pond was filled with ice. The next year he requested all the members of the church, who had only been sprinkled, to come forward and be immersed. Uncle Elijah Knapp and his son, Hiram, were members of the church in good standing, but had only been sprinkled. To the request that they be immersed, they demurred. Elder Campbell labored long and earnestly with Uncle Elijah to convince him that he was in the
124
MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES.
wrong. Uncle Elijah was a man of high character, had been a member of the church for a long time, and felt that he stood on solid ground. He was moulded in a rough environment, and at times was somewhat given to explosives. At last Elder Campbell went down into the field where he was at work one day and made a supreme effort to convince him. Uncle Elijah bore it in silence for a while, but at last rose up, and with flashing eyes said, "I swear I wont be baptized agin, an' Hiram swears by y - he wont." There was no more argument after that, on the part of Mr. Campbell.
The Rev. Frank Healy, a Universalist, preached here during the early sixties. He was a highly culti- vated man and a speaker of great power.
Rev. Mr. Watkins was stationed in Lyman several years. His family was large at that time, and his salary small, so he was given the position of superin- tendent of schools. At the annual town meeting, after reading his report, he offered the following re- marks : "There has been some trouble in District No. 7 during the winter term. I have investigated the matter somewhat, and in my opinion it is some sort of a subterranean difficulty." The difficulty was never fathomed, and Mr. Watkins soon took up his residence in another town.
Rev. Isaiah Shipman, who preached to the people of Lyman for several years, was born in Westminis-
1
MRS. MINDWELL BARTLETT.
125
MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES.
ter, Vt., October 15, 1810. November 17, 1835, he married Charlotte R. Cook, of North Springfield, Vt., and became a citizen of Sugar Hill in 1845, where he was pastor of the Advent church for twenty-two years. During his pastorate there, he was frequently called to Lyman, where he was much respected, both as a man and a minister. He died in Lisbon village in 1882.
DOMESTIC AND SOCIAL LIFE.
The years since 1760 have wrought great changes in the domestic and social life of the people. The first houses were made of logs, with chimneys of stone. The fire-place was very large and deep. The large stick, placed at the back of the fire-place, was called the "back-log," which would last for several days. On this was placed the "top-stick," and in front the "fore- stick," and between these were the coals. At one end of the fire-place was the old stone oven, under which was a deep place called the ash-hole, where the ashes were thrown. The chimney-place served another purpose as well as for warmth and amusement. Here the meals were prepared. Over head was the "lug- pole," as it was called, made of a green stick of wood, and placed far enough above the fire so as not to be- come ignited by the heat and flames. From this pole hung the "trammels." These were long straight pieces of iron punched with holes into which the "pot-hooks" were set, so that the pot or kettle could be lowered or
126
MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES.
raised at pleasure. The "crane" was a later contriv- ance and served the same purpose. The frying-pan was set directly on the coals, and there was also the "Dutch oven," which was made of iron, shaped some- thing like a deep covered dish, and had short legs. It was set on the fire and live coals placed on the top so as to aid in heating.
Friction matches came into use about 1833, and their introduction caused a decided change in domestic arrangements. Before that time it was a serious re- sponsibility for the housewife and family to see that the fire did not go out ; and on going to bed the coals in the fire-place were carefully buried in ashes to in- sure the preservation of fire enough to kindle with in the morning. If, notwithstanding this precaution, the fire did go out, the tinder-box was resorted to, or per- haps the male head of the household would get a gun and strike fire with that. In default of these expedi- ents, one of the children was sent to the nearest neighbor's house to borrow fire, bringing home a burn- ing brand, or some live coals between two chips. Mrs. L. B. Hoskins said she had been sent many times when a child to the neighbor's to borrow fire.
The houses were fitted up with furniture made of wood from the forests. Dishes were made of wood and pewter. Brooms were made of hemlock and ash. The food was good. Meat was plenty and eaten in large quantities. Very few potatoes were used.
127
MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES.
Luther Hoskins was heard to say, he could remember, when, if a farmer raised two or three barrels of pota- toes, he wondered what he could do with them. The most common food was bread made of rye and Indian meal, which was usually eaten in milk. Tea and coffee were rare. Tea was frequently made of sage, and much liked by the older people. Coffee was made from burnt bread crusts, also from corn, beans, and roasted wheat.
The two oldest houses in town are those lately oc- cupied by George Eastman and E. Flint Hoskins. The houses on the Kent, Thornton, and Knapp places, also the one formerly on the town farm, were all built about the same time. They were built by Jacob Hurd of Bath, nearly one hundred years ago. He also built a two-story house on the Hoskins place, which was . burned in 1841. The houses occupied by J. F. Olin and Orlo Parker on Parker Hill were built about 1830 by Deacon Underwood.
Paring-bees and huskings were social occasions. Muster-day was a great event in early times, and people far and near met on that occasion. The great sport for young men at all gatherings of this kind was wrestling, which at that time was quite a science. They would frequently wrestle all day at musters and town meetings.
Church-going was rather social in its character. Two sermons were delivered each Sunday, one in the
128
MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES.
forenoon, and the other in the afternoon. People would carry their dinner or lunch, and while eating at noon, they were very social. They would talk over the news, and the men would get out of doors, on the sunny side of the church, and sometimes make a trade on the sly. This was known as "horse-shedding." In winter time a great deal of visiting was done, but it was considered neither polite, nor good manners, to visit during haying time, but in winter people would hitch up and with sleigh-bells gingling, drive to the home of some friend in the evening. The time would be spent pleasantly till about ten o'clock, when the good house-wife would go and prepare a supper. Meats would be cooked, biscuits made, and the whole meal served hot.
Quilting-bees were very frequent. The ladies would meet at the home of some neighbor by invitation, in the afternoon and make quilts till night, when supper was served. Later the young men would join the party, and the time would be spent in dancing and playing games till a late hour. The great social events for the young people were the balls, held in the winter time. Very elaborate preparations were usually made for these affairs. They would usually send to Concord and have invitations printed, and the companies were intended to be very select. The dance would com- mence at two o'clock in the afternoon. They would dance through the afternoon and continue till day-
129
MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES.
light the next morning. Two suppers were served, one at night, and the other later in the evening. In early times they were held in private houses, but later in John Burt's hall. The hall or room would be lighted with tallow candles in tin candle sticks, placed at each side of the windows.
The ways and customs of old have changed. In those days all the cloth was spun and woven at home. The candles were "dipped," which was quite a science. All the travel* was by foot or on horse back. Wood- en plates gave way about 1815, as also did sanded floors and hemlock brooms. Four-wheeled carriages came about 1820. Clocks came into use about 1810. Several of the old tall clocks were owned in Lyman. Elijah Knapp, Luther Hoskins, Joshua Thornton, and Deacon David Gordon, each, owned one. The brass ones were manufactured at one time in Bath, and were sold for about sixty dollars. In 1830 there were only two stoves in the town of Lyman, and those were owned by Deacon Underwood and Mr. Kent. The old ways and customs have passed, and we are still looking forward to new ones.
MORMONS.
About 1830 three Mormon missionaries came to Littleton and Lyman and gained several followers.
* A stage line was once established from Bath to Waterford, pass- ing through Lyman, but it only continued for a short time before it was abandoned.
130
MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES.
The meetings were held for several years in both towns, in school houses and at various private houses. Most of them, however, were held at the house of Phineas Parker in West Littleton. In Lyman some of them were held at the house of Parker Stickney, on the hill above Young's pond; hence came the name of Mormon Hill for that locality.
At last, James Parker, Phineas Parker and wife, all of Littleton ; and Zadoc Parker and wife of Lyman, emigrated to Salt Lake City. They all remained there through life. Zadoc Parker became a Mormon Elder, and was one of the leading members of the society. He lived to be a very old man. His wife was his cousin, Marriam, a sister of Leonard Parker. These people were frequently heard from by their friends and relatives in the East, and none of them ever prac- ticed polygamy.
STORES.
The first person in town who sold goods was a man named Wheeler. He lived on the Perley Smith place, now occupied by the family of Julius Smith, and kept a small store in his house. The first building, erected in town for exclusive use as a store, was built by Lemuel Parker on the premises now occupied by Os- man P. Titus, and the original building was standing until very recently. This must have been built very near 1800. Mr. Parker did business in this store until his failure, when the business was taken by William
131
MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES.
Eastman who conducted it for a few years only. These were the only men who did business in this store. About the year 1825 Moses Whitney built a new store on the site where the present store in town now stands. He only conducted the business a short time and failed. It was next managed by Hemphill & Clement for a few years, when Clement withdrew and the business was conducted by Hemphill alone. The business was carried on next by Hiram Cutting. This man did a very large trade for several years, and subsequently engaged in mercantile pursuits at Lower Waterford, Vt., in company with Barron Moul- ton.
The next merchant on Parker Hill was Ben Paddle- ford, who was succeeded by Col. Azariah Moore. In 1848 Charles Parker and Riley Young bought the store property, both real and personal, paying $1000, and commenced trade under the name of Parker & Young. They built the south section of the double house which was occupied by Mr. Young, Mr. Parker's family living in the section next the store. They also built the ell extending from the double house toward the store and finished a hall in the up- per part which was used by the community for dances and social gatherings of all kinds. Mr. Young moved to Lisbon Village in a few years and opened a branch store. Mr. Parker conducted the Lyman part of the enterprise.
132
MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES.
This firm did a very large business up to, and dur- ing the period of the Civil war, dealing in real estate, lumber, starch and all kinds of produce.
In 1864 they sold out the entire plant to Miner & Titus for $2000. Mr. Parker joined Mr. Young at Lisbon.
Miner & Titus conducted the business until 1871, when they tore down the old store and erected the large and commodious building now standing. They only did business for one year in the new store, when they sold out to M. M. Stevens and Seth F. Hoskins. Stevens & Hoskins conducted the business for three years. It has since been operated by various parties.
When the store was bought out by Parker & Young, Col. Moore moved down to Tinkerville and built a small store just above the school house. He did a small business there for a few years, when a company was formed by Eber Eastman, Dr. Samuel Hoskins, Lebbeus Hastings, Col. Azariah Moore, Isaac Barber, William Little, and Francis Burt Jr., who bought the enterprise, and conducted it under the name of "The Union Store," employing John Barber as agent and general manager. This company did business for several years when it failed and closed up its affairs. The store was managed a short time sub- sequently by Cyrus Wheelock. Several years after this, the building was taken down and rebuilt on Parker Hill, and occupied by Moses B. Wheelock.
133
MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES.
MILLS.
The first grist-mill in town was built at the outlet of the Dodge pond. This mill must have been built very near the first of the century, and was owned by David Dodge Sen., who afterwards built a saw-mill and shingle-mill near by. A small grist-mill was built on the Pettyborough brook in the south part of the town several years after, also one in Tinkerville, and these three were the only grist-mills ever in town.
About 1840 the Smith family built a bit factory in Tinkerville, where they did quite a prosperous busi- ness for several years. The plant was eventually burned and was never rebuilt.
Lyman Hoskins Sr. built a saw-mill on the Smith brook below Tinkerville, and Solomon W. Presby built one on the same brook a short distance below, but most of the sawing was done out of town, as the streams were too small to furnish power.
STARCH BUSINESS.
The manufacture of potato starch at one time was quite extensive in the town of Lyman. The first starch-mill in town was built by Carlton Hutchins and Harrison Porter, on the Pettyborough brook. This mill was afterwards purchased by Parker & Young and moved farther up the brook, near the Jehial Knapp place. About 1860 Miner & Titus, Osman P. Titus and Moses D. Young, built a large starch-mill
134
MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES.
at the Dodge pond. This mill did a prosperous busi- ness for several years, but the price of starch gradually declined, till it reached a point so low that its manu- facture was discontinued.
BLACKSMITHS.
Joseph Porter did blacksmithing on the place lately owned by E. F. Hoskins, and probably was the first blacksmith in town. His son, Osman, afterwards built a shop on Parker Hill, where he carried on the business for many years. There was also more or less of this work done during these years in Tinkerville by the Smith family. Julius Smith had a shop there for nearly forty years, doing all kinds of work in iron and wood, and was a very useful man in the community. Hazen Libbey, John Bailey, and Seth W. Presby all carried on the business on Parker Hill at a later date.
SHOEMAKERS.
Moses Eastman was one of the first shoemakers in town. He was followed by Thomas Moore, Samuel Gibson, Dr. James Moulton, Austin Stevens, Gus Burbank, John Martin, and David Smith. The first shoemakers traveled from house to house, but most of the work was done in a shop on Parker Hill.
TANNERY.
William Miner Jr., in early times, built a tannery on Parker Hill, on the place since occupied by Osman
135
MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES.
Porter. The business was carried on for several years by Mr. Miner, and afterwards the plant was pur- chased by George Pearson who conducted the business for a short time, till at length it was closed and never reopened.
TOWN HOUSE.
Previous to 1860 the town meetings were held in private houses and in the churches, hence in 1860 the citizens decided to build a town house. Then arose a very bitter discussion as to where it should be located. The people in the south part of the town were anxious to locate it on Parker Hill, while those in the north part desired to have it built somewhere in their section. At a special town meeting Feb. 15, 1860, the town voted to raise seven hundred dollars to build a town house; also voted to build it near the center of the town, and appointed a building committee, consisting of Sabin Ash, Francis Burt and Moses Bailey. On July 4, the same year, a special town meeting was held in the old yellow church to decide upon a loca- tion. The writer, then a small boy, was present and remembers the occasion very well. There was a large attendance, and much acrimonious debate, when it came to a vote, however, it was decided by a large majority to locate it where it now stands. The site at that time was a small pointed knoll, and the work was let to William Little to level and put it in its present condition. Francis Burt was the most active man on
136
MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES.
the committee, and Luther Russell was hired to build the house. The appropriation, voted by the town, was exceeded somewhat, but the deficiency was promptly raised at a subsequent meeting.
LIBRARIES.
The first library in town was established in 1805, when a charter was secured for the incorporation of a public library. It was called the "Lyman Social Library," and contained about fifty volumes, well bound in leather, and mostly of a historical and religi- ous character. It was kept in the house of Dr. Samuel Hoskins for several years, and afterwards moved to Mr. Kent's. The library always remained here al- though the house changed owners several times, but during the sixties the books all disappeared, and it is presumed they were sold during the period of the civil war for old paper. In 1870 a society was formed known as the "Ladies Benevolent Association," which soon organized a public library. This movement was largely due to the efforts of the Rev. Amos B. Russell
Any person could become a member of the library association and continue so, by the payment of one dollar as the initiation fee, and a yearly tax of fifty cents. The original officers were Mrs. I. D. Miner, president; Mrs. George Cowen, vice-president; Mrs. Calvin Titus, secretary ; Mrs. S. L. Locke, treasurer ; and Rev. Amos B. Russell was the first librarian. This library has grown from its foundation,- new
LUTHER HOSKINS.
137
MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES.
volumes being added each year, until it contains several hundred well selected books. It has recently been changed to a town library, which gives it a much larger field of usefulness.
SCHOOLS.
In the early history of the town, it appears that the schools were held in private houses, and very little money was appropriated for the purpose. In 1807 a committee, consisting of Joshua Thornton, Caleb Emery, Daniel Moulton, and James Richardson, were appointed to divide the town into seven school dis- tricts which were numbered. From this period more money was appropriated and the schools received bet- ter attention. The number of students increased until there were sixty or seventy scholars in some of the districts, many of whom were full grown men and women. Some of the old time teachers were: Am- brose Cushing, Horace Emery, Joshua Stevens, Douglas Dexter, and James Calhoun. The schools were turbulent, and the methods of the teachers were necessarily severe, while some of the punishments were barbarous. The teachers were armed with heavy hardwood rulers with which they never hesitated to knock a scholar down if necessary. Other punish- ments were forcing the pupil to bend over and hold his finger on the floor for an indefinite time, forcing a gag into the mouth and allowing it to remain, and fastening a lock of the hair down so close to the fire
138
MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES.
that they would suffer from the extreme heat. Insub- ordination was always in the air, and it was considered a crowning mark of glory by the scholars, if they could "lick the master," or throw him out of the school house. Some seasons these outbreaks, and little rebellions, would seem to become epidemic; and strange as it may now seem, these disgraceful pranks were often winked at by the parents. During one of the winter terms in District No. 4, taught by Samuel Hos- kins, there occurred a mutiny of unusual proportions. The assault on the teacher was led by George Smith, Jack Cass, and Jerome Burt. They had gotten him nearly to the door, when he drew his knife and stabbed one of them. The sight of blood cooled their enthus- iasm and they at once left him master of the field During the early sixties, under the existing law at that time, the county school commissioner, annually visited all the schools in the county, and delivered one lecture in each town. This office was held for several years by ex-senator J. W. Patterson, a man of much culture and literary ability, and whose lectures were both in- teresting and instructive.
POTASH.
Various means were resorted to, in order to obtain supplies for their families, by the early settlers. One of these was the making of potash or salts from the ashes of wood. This was often done in the primeval forests. The new lands that were first cleared were
139
MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES.
covered with a heavy growth, mostly of hard wood, and when clearing their lands of this timber, the ashes, made from the wood, were collected and put into leaches, generally made of hollow logs, cut from the trunks of hollow trees, and after being thoroughly leached, the lye was boiled in kettles, to a consistence, called "salts of lye." These were sold mostly to the Hutchinses, merchants in Bath, who gave about three or four cents a pound, and afterwards transported it to Boston or some other market. Many men found employment in this business, during a large portion of the winter season.
SUGAR MAKING.
Sugar making was one of the social events of the year, although the methods were primitive as compar- ed with those of today. The trees were tapped by cutting in a slanting notch with an ax. At the lower end of this notch a curved iron, called a "tapping iron," was driven in, and into this hole pine spouts, split out with this same iron, were inserted. The sap was caught in wooden troughs. These were made by cutting off logs about three feet in length, which afterwards were split in halves, and a cavity made in each half with an ax. At the close of the season the troughs were set on end against the trees, and left for the next season. The sap was gathered in two pails hung on a sap-yoke, and boiled in large iron kettles hung on a green pole over the fire. Another kettle
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.