USA > New Hampshire > Sullivan County > Acworth > History of Acworth, with the proceedings of the centennial anniversary, genealogical records, and register of farms > Part 13
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129
EMIGRATION.
on the road by a man who was at work in his barn, and who threatened to prosecute him, he could proceed only by showing his permit.
As the stream of immigration began to subside, the stream of emigration gradually rose. As at the present time, thesc emi- grants scattered far and wide. The largest bodies of them, how- ever, settled in Washington County, Vt., about Lake Champlain, and Jefferson and Alleghany Counties, N. Y., and in Ashtabula County, O. Parley Keyes was one of the earliest of the .. . i- grants. An incident in his life illustrates the character of these men. In the year 1814 he and a neighbor became bondsmen for a paymaster in the army. This man became a defaulter to the amount of sixty thousand dollars, and his bondsmen were obliged to make up the loss. He reported that the money had been sto- len from him, but Judge Keyes became convinced that he had the money concealed, though he could prove nothing. Not feeling willing to lose the money he determined to resort to desperate measures to bring the truth to light. Carefully ascertaining how long a person could probably remain under water without drown- ing, he and his fellow-bondsman induced the defaulter to meet them upon the banks of Black River. Here they assured him of their conviction that he knew where the money was, and of their determination to drown him at once if he did not divulge his se- cret. Unmoved he exclaimed "he knew nothing of the matter." This was no sooner said than he was plunged into the water. Upon being brought to the surface. he re-asserted his innocence. He was immediately put back into the water. When drawn out again he appeared like a lifeless corpse. But he recovered his voice only to re-assert his innocence stoutly. Affairs were becom- ing desperate, but Judge Keyes was equal to the emergency. He told him in a tone that convinced the guilty man that he was in earnest, that they would sink his body in the water never to emerge with life, and hurry his soul before the judgment seat with all its guilt upon it, did he not confess at once. Whereupon the secret was immediately disclosed and the place of concealment re- vealed. Judge Keyes hastened to the house, and to the chamber indicated, and knocked. A stir was heard within but no response. Bursting open the door he found the wife of the guilty man sit- ting upon the bed. Not finding the money in the trunk where he had been told to look, he immediately removed the woman from the bed, and there found the money concealed in a quilted garment.
17
130
THE HISTORY OF ACWORTH.
When the defaulter returned to the house his wife was not to be found, but soon intelligence was brought that she had been seen crossing the fields in the direction of the river. Her body was soon found in its depths, convincing the community of what they had suspected, that she was the instigator of the crime.
The emigrants from Acworth are now scattered from Canada to the Gulf and from one ocean to the other. They have generally carried the church and the school with them wherever they have settled .*
SPOTTED FEVER.
The spotted fever of 1812, was the most fatal epidemic ever known in Acworth. Thomas Grier, had visited Massachusetts with his wife, and upon their return they were both prostrated by sickness. Jennie their oldest daughter, a strong healthy girl of nineteen, prepared dinner for a party of young men, who had come to provide the family with their winter's wood. After placing the food upon the table, she was taken with a violent headache. Dr. Carleton was called and immediately pronounced the case " spotted fever," medicine made no impression, and before midnight she was a corpse. The next case was a child of John Davidson's, near Derry Hill school-house. The disease spread rapidly, there being cases in opposite parts of the town at the same time. Most the people were more or less affected by premonitory symptons, and it was considered contagious by every one. The weather was extremely cold, all business and labor were suspended, except what was absolutely necessary, and while a universal fear and gloom pervaded every family in the town, very few refused to go when needed, either in case of sickness, or in burying the dead. The funerals were well attended, and dur- ing the first weeks the bereaved families, as far as they could, provided mourning suits, but as the disease progressed, the mourn- ing habiliments were deferred for the time. Few families in town escaped without loss of relatives, more or less distant, requir- ing according to the custom mourning garments ; and after the merchants brought home their spring goods, the whole population seemed to be clad in the habiliments of woe. As the spring opened, the disease assumed a milder form, but not until it had carried off fifty-three of the inhabitants.
* For a notice of the Davidsons, pioneer settlers in Alleghany County, N. Y., and the Warrens, early settlers in Cuyahoga County, O., see sketches of their families, in Genealogy.
MRS. SALLY WILSON
THE NEW YEUX PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATION
131
SPOTTED FEVER-THE COMMON.
The disease returned during the winter and spring of 1813-14, but physicians had more control then over it than during the pre- vious year, and it passed away with the opening of spring. The following is an extract from a letter written in Acworth, April 1, 1812, by Miss Sally Nesmith, (now Wilson,) who was quite active as a nurse during the prevalence of the fever, to her sister Mrs. Peggy Morrison of Londonderry :
-
"We are all well at present, but how long we may be so favored God only knows, for many sicken and die in a few hours. Mr. McCollum's family were all well last Saturday, yet this afternoon he and three of his children were buried. Their corpses with one other, Sally McMurphy, were brought to the meeting-house, and a discourse was delivered by Mr. Wells of Alstead, from the words, "Lord, save us, we perish," to a large concourse of peo- ple from this and the neighboring towns. The like was never before seen in this town. Fire lying dead at one time. There has been a great many deaths here. S. Silsby of Lempster and Ira Ladd of Alstead both died in town. John Davidson has buried three children, James Davidson one, George March two, Capt. Joseph Gregg two, Col. John Duncan three, Mr. Stone one, Jacob Hayward one, John Bailey one, Maj. Grout one, Joel Angier one, all of spotted fever. Mrs. Parkes died of consumption, Mr. Moores of typhus fever. Last Friday night George Clark's wife, who was insane, set fire to the house she was confined in, and before the fire was dis- covered she and the house were almost consumed. Mr. Grier is very low, and is not expected to recover. His son James has had the fever but is bet- ter. I watched at Mr. Perham's last Saturday night. They are all sick but Mr. P. and the youngest child, but are getting better. Last night I watched with young Samuel Anderson, who has been very sick, but he too is recovering. For three weeks I have done nothing but help to take care of the sick and attend funerals. I sleep always when I can get time, for there are so many sick that people are bad off for watchers, and I ani busy most of the time. If the fever should continue as bad as it has been, I am afraid there will not be enough well people to take care of the sick."
THE COMMON.
The common was given to the town by three persons, viz., John Keyes, Henry Silsby and Ephraim Keyes. The first deed, dated 1773, conveyed from John Keyes a parcel of land sixteen rods by fifteen, in the north-eastern corner of lot 10, 5th range, on condi- tion that the inhabitants of the town should build the meeting- house on or near the spot. The northern line of the lot runs just in front of the present church, and the eastern line extends along the road leading to South Acworth. In the same year Henry
132
THE HISTORY OF ACWORTH.
Silsby also gave a parcel of land of the same shape and size in the south-eastern corner of lot 11, 5th range, "for the use of a meet- ing-house spot, training field, and other accommodations of said town, as long as it should be so used." Upon this spot stands the present church and town-house. In 1783 Ephraim Keyes con- veyed to the town a parcel of land very irregular in shape, situated in the corners of lots 10 and 11, 6th range, adjacent to each other and to the common already belonging to the town. On the last day of June and first of July, 1772, the citizens of Acworth met by appointment to "chop down the common, and as much land for Ephraim Keyes as he had cleared on the common." It seems from this and other votes that the town entered upon the possession of the common a year or two before the land was deeded to them.
THE CEMETERIES.
The first public burying-ground was on the common, although two children of Samuel Harper, the first persons buried in town, were interred near the residence of Hiram Hayward, and proba- bly others were buried in private grounds. The first person in- terred upon the common, according to tradition, was Hannah Wil- son, daughter of "big" John Wilson, who died 1775. In 1776, a committee of the town selected what is known as the " old burying- ground," and Lieut. James Rogers, one of the committee and select- man for that year, was the first person buried there. In 1834, the "old burying-ground" becoming crowded, a cemetery was laid out in the field afterwards used for the Centennial Celebration. In the beginning of the next year two processions met there bear- ing the first corpses brought into the grounds, the remains of Mrs. Sophia Newman, and of Mrs. Richardson. In 1847, this ground proving unsuitable for burial purposes, the present cemetery was purchased, and the bodies were removed to it from the other. This ground was tastefully laid out, and great care has been taken of it by the sexton, Mr. Granville Gilmore, who deserves much praise for the interest he has taken in this matter during the many years he has had charge of the cemetery. The first monument in it was erected to the memory of Rev. Phineas Cooke. It now contains many handsome monuments, and is certainly a credit to the town.
SCHOOLS.
We find the first mention of the school-house which stood on the common, in 1778. During this year town meetings were
Granville Gilmore
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATION
133
SCHOOLS -TEMPERANCE.
held in this school-house. There were schools in town before this, however, for the first teacher, Samuel Smith, removed from town in 1773. The first vote to divide the town into districts was in 1786. In 1790, the town was divided into nine districts, which were substantially the same as at present, except the Slader dis- trict, which included the greater part of what is now districts 7, 8 and 9. No. 12 was included in the John Duncan district, and No. 13 was at a comparatively recent period set off from the ad- joining districts. In early days female teachers were expected to teach sewing and .knitting, as well as reading and spelling. An attempt was made to obtain a list of the native teachers, but it was found one might almost as well make out a list of the inhabitants of the town.
TEMPERANCE.
In early years New England rum was seen in every liouse, and was used on every occasion. The minister, even, kept a little choice West India rum to treat his brethren, and plenty of an inferior article for his lay visitors. Acworth was not be- hind her sister towns, probably, in this respect, for her sons were certainly "mighty to drink strong drink," as well as to subdue the rugged hills which they had chosen for their home. No doubt the hardships of pioneer life fostered the habit of drink- ing. One of the earliest settlers was accustomed to remark, that "Acworth never would have been settled, had it not been for New England rum." It was not then known that the temperate man was best able to endure hardships. The "Temperance Soci- ety " was formed September 30, 1829. Its officers for the first year were, Lemuel Lincoln, President; Edward Woodbury, Vice- President ; and John Lancaster, Secretary. At the annual meet- ing in 1830, it was reported that there "had been a diminution in the use of ardent spirits of two-thirds within three years." In 1833, "it was ascertained that forty farms in this town are now managed without the use of distilled spirit, and that most of our mechanics have excluded it from their shops." This certainly was a great change. The last recorded meeting of this society was in 1840.
The " Acworth Washington Total Abstinence Society " was or- ganized November 30, 1841. The interest in temperance was then greatly increased, and several influential men, who had stood aloof from the old society, now joined the new one. This society
134
THE HISTORY OF ACWORTH.
continued in active operation more than ten years, and effected much good. There has been also in town a division of the Sons of Temperance, which wielded a powerful influence for good. Acworth has certainly redeemed her character in regard to the use of intoxicating liquors, and she now stands fair as a temperance town.
LADIES' CHARITABLE SOCIETY.
The "Ladies' Charitable Society " of Acworth was organized July 2, 1816, with 138 members. Rev. Mr. Cooke preached a ser- mon from Ecclesiastes xi. 1, 2: "Cast thy bread upon the waters : for thou shalt find it after many days. Give a portion to seven, and also to eight." The object of the society was to foster a spirit of benevolence among the ladies. They adopted a constitution and by-laws which had been drafted by Mr. Cooke. The officers were to consist of a President and a Secretary, who was also to be Treasuress. Any lady could become a member by paying twenty-five cents annually. Up to the present time this society has preserved its organization, and from time to time for more than fifty years, has met to work for benevolent purposes. Its first an- nual contribution was appropriated to translate the Bible into heathen languages. This was very soon after the first missiona- ries had gone forth under the auspices of the American Board. They soon became interested in the education of young men for the ministry, and at their second annual meeting they voted a por- tion of their annual contribution to assist Mr. William McCollum, a native of town, who was then at Kimball Union Academy, pre- paring for the ministry. In 1819, we find them making a dona- tion to Rev. Amos Foster who was then in Dartmouth College, and at another time to Rev. Daniel Lancaster. During all these years they contributed to the various benevolent objects of the day, more generally, however, to the New Hampshire Home Mission- ary Society. The blinds on the Congregational Church were a gift from this society, and many other home objects have received assistance from it. The society has also often contributed cloth- ing, etc., to those who were needy residing in town. Numerous valuable boxes of clothing and other articles, have been sent to home missionaries, to the soldiers during the war, and to the frecdmen. In the early days of the society a correct record of the amount and value of the work done was not kept, and therc- fore we cannot give an accurate estimate of the whole amount raised by the society. Of the one hundred and thirty-eight
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATION
J. A. Real
135
LADIES' CHARITABLE SOCIETY.
original members, only twenty-two are now living. Although more than half a century old, the society is apparently as flourish- ing and vigorous as when first organized.
MERCHANTS.
Among the first merchants in town, were Mr. Towne, and Sam- uel Henry. Willard Carleton, Levi Hayward, and Hugh Henry, whose store was on the site of the house now owned and occupied by Col. C. K. Brooks, succeeded them. Thomas Heaton opened a store for a short time, in a building which had been used as a dwelling-house by James Wallace, near the public well. John and Nathaniel Grout, whose store stood where the dwelling-house of the late Dr. Lyman Brooks now stands, removed the building Mr. Heaton had used, to the present site of M. M. Warner's store, which was used as a store until Nathaniel Grout built a new one on the same spot. He was succeeded by Nathaniel & D. J. Warner; Warner, Woodbury & Archer; Warner & Archer ; D. J. & M. M. Warner, and M. M. Warner. Daniel Robinson succeeded Hugh Henry and erected a new store, now the resi- dence of Col. Brooks. He was succeeded by D. D. Robinson and J. Davis. J. Mills Gove and Ithiel Silsby, Gawen Gilmore and Leonard Gilmore have also traded in town.
At South Acworth the mercantile firms have been : Mr. Piper, J. F. & J. E. Richardson, J. B. Richardson, J. F. Richardson, John P. Davis, James A. Wood, J. F. Paige, Charles E. Spencer.
MILLS.
The first grist-mill was built at South Acworth before 1772, and was owned by Dea. Thomas Putnam. This mill after a few years was carried away by a freshet, and Mr. Henry Coffin, then owner, was carried off with it and lost his life. The next mill was built by William Mitchell on nearly the same site, about 1790. His successors were, John Mitchell, Elisha Parkes, William Da- vis, Roswell George, J. F. Paige, and S. A. Reed. This mill was also swept away by high water, and Mr. Reed built a grist and saw-mill on the same site, at a cost of about $10,000. This build- ing is certainly creditable to the public spirit of its builder. It is now owned and occupied by J. F. Paige. He grinds on an aver- age about 15,000 bushels of grain annually, and saws about 400,000 fect of boards. There was once a grist-mill where Lau- riston Keyes now resides, owned by Joshua G. Silsby, and after-
136
THE HISTORY OF ACWORTH.
wards by Jesse Wallace. John Reed had a small grist-mill, for a little while, where O. R. Kemp now resides. John Thompson once owned a grist-mill at East Acworth, and was succeeded by Rodney Buss. John Thornton once used the water power now owned by J. M. Reed to run a grist-mill.
The first saw-mill was probably built and carried away in con- nection with the first grist-mill. The next mill at South Acworth was built by William Mitchell, who was followed by John Mitch- ell, Elisha Parkes, John F. Davis, Roswell George, and Barney & Porter. The first saw-mill in East Acworth was erected by Dea. William Carey, and was subsequently owned by Jonas Keyes, Moors Keyes, Mazelda Keyes, Levi Barney, Abel Bailey, and Si- mon Graves. It was rebuilt by Ambrose Alexander, and sold to James and Albert Spaulding. It is now owned by Rodney Buss, who saws about 400,000 feet of lumber annually, most of which he manufactures into boxes, and wooden-ware of various kinds. The saw-mill now belonging to Rufus Hilliard, was built by Dea. Jonathan, and afterwards owned by his son Dea. Henry Silsby. There was formerly a saw-mill just below Mr. Hilliard's, built by Supply Reed, and owned by Supply Reed, Jr., and by David Cur- rier. The saw-mill on Cold River at the foot of Gates Hill, has been owned and run by Robert and Thomas Clark, Winchester Wyman, Ruel G. Bascom, John Clark, and now by George F. Nichols. About 50,000 feet of lumber is sawed there annually. George and Solyman Spaulding, Wheeler & Scripture, William Welch and Ephraim Bixby have occupied the saw-mill now owned by Jason H. Boynton. He saws about 50,000 feet of lumber annually. Dea. Thomas Ball built a saw-mill in the west part of the town, which was run a few years.
The first carding-machine in town was in the grist-mill built by William Mitchell. The second was in a room finished off in the saw-mill at the bridge in South Acworth. A. M. Crosby erected the first mill for dressing cloth, near where the present factory stands. Messrs. Jones & Parks were the first manufacturers of woolen cloth, and their successors have been Jones & Wetherbee, Jones & Holden, Holden & Ryder, Ryder & Proctor, John Dean, John Scribner and Nathan Adams who now manufactures 6500 yards of cassimere annually, using 8000 pounds of raw wool. Dan Foster built the first mill for dressing cloth in East Acworth, af- terwards owned by William Boardman, who sold to Seth Adams in 1814. He was succeeded by Moores Keyes, who was followed
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MILLS-MECIIANICS-PRESENT CONDITION.
by John Thornton, who did a large business in dyeing and dress- ing cloth, and in carding wool, for several years. He sold the mill to Rodney Buss, who converted it into a factory for the manufac- ture of bobbins and other articles of wooden-ware. John Thorn- ton afterwards built a large mill below the old one which he sold to James M. Reed, who now manufactures hoops, etc.
Robert Holmes, Dea. William and Robert MeClure, Mathew Towne and Rufus MeClure have manufactured fanning-mills. There was once a flax-dressing machine which was run by horse- power erected near Dea. Thomas Ball's, by John Lancaster. It did quite a business in its day. Joab Newton, Benjamin Newton, Robert MeClure, Rufus MeClure and Rufus Howe have manufac- tured hand rakes, and Theron Duncan carried on at one time a large business in manufacturing horse-rakes. John Wilson in early days manufactured spinning-wheels. John Moore, David Montgomery, William Haywood and Edward Woodbury have been dealers in stoves. Amos Ingalls made plows. Davidson & Parks were machinists. Among the early shoemakers were Simeon Ingalls, John Williams, Enoch Stevens, Isaac Butter- field, Dean Carleton, Mason Blanchard, Silas Gleason, Parmenter Honey, Christopher Ayres and James Wallace. Some of these went around from family to family to make shoes, while others had shops. David Campbell was the first wholesale shoemaker, who was succeeded by Gage & Robinson and Robinson & Chap- man. The " Acworth Boot & Shoe Co." was a joint stock com- pany which was bought out by John Blanchard. The business is now carried on by Blanchard & Woodbury, who manufacture about 11,000 pairs of boots and shoes annually. The first tannery was established near what is now Dodge's blacksmith shop, by Lemuel Lincoln. He sold out to Mr. Albree and put down a new yard a little south of the old burying-ground, where he and after him his son, Dea. Amasa Lincoln, carried on the business of tanning for many years. David and Joseph Blanchard put down a tan-yard and carried on the business where O. R. Kemp now resides. A tannery once existed on the Underwood Brook, near George W. Neals'. Dea. Levi Barney put down a tannery many years ago in East Acworth. A clothes-pin factory has been recently erected by C. B. Cummings in South Acworth.
As will be seen by reference to the census, the population of Ac- worth is one-third less than in 1810. Emigration to the West is the main cause of this decrease. Thousands have gone forth from 18
138
THE HISTORY OF ACWORTH.
these hills to assist in developing the resources of the great West. This depopulation is mainly felt in the outskirts of the town. The population of the central village was probably never greater than at present, and South Acworth for several years has been growing rap- idly. The wealth of the town has not decreased as the population. The valuation in 1868 was $481,379; value of lands, $283,554; number of sheep 6,771, value $14,122 ; number of neat stock 894, value $43,967 ; number of horses 292, value $22,887. Amount of lumber annually cut, reckoned in board measure, 1,200,000 feet. Amount of grain raised is estimated at 15,000 bushels. Number of boots and shoes manufactured by Blanchard & Woodbury, 11,000 pairs. Amount of shoe pegs manufactured by Maj. Ephraim Cum- mings, 5,000 bushels. Number of yards of cassimere made by Na- than Adams, 6,500, using 8,000 pounds of raw wool. In the manu- facture of wooden-ware by Rodney Buss about 400,000 feet of lum- ber are used. One hundred and fifty cords of wood is manufactured by J. M. Reed into hoops, bails, handles, etc., annually. It is be- lieved that Acworth surpasses every town in the State in the amount of maple sugar made. In 1868, 128,400 pounds were manufactured.
CENSUS AND RATE OF MORTALITY.
In this table the average number of deaths annually is given, each decade embracing five years preceding and five succeeding the year in which the census was taken :
Year.
Population.
Deaths.
Year.
Population.
Deaths.
1790,
704
1840,
1,450
18.3
1800,
1,376
10
1850,
1,251
23.5
1810,
1,523
23
1860,
1,180
27.8
1820,
1,479
18.5
1868,
1,070
22
1830,
1,401
16.8
MODERATORS.
1771-3. Henry Silsby.
1791.
John Duncan.
1774. Samuel Smith.
1792-3. Daniel Grout.
1775-9. Thomas Putnam.
1794. Henry Silsby.
1780-1. Daniel Grout.
1795. Thomas Slader.
1782-3.
John Duncan.
1796. Daniel Grout, Esq.
1784-6.
Daniel Grout.
1797-8. Thomas Slader.
1787. John Duncan.
1799. Lasell Silsby.
1788. Joseph Finlay.
1800. Maj. John Duncan.
1789. John Duncan.
1801-4. Lasell Silsby.
1790.
Thomas Slader.
1805. William Grout.
MODERATORS-TOWN CLERKS-TOWN TREASURERS. 139
1806.
Joel Angier.
1836.
Jonathan Gove.
1807.
Gawin Gilmore.
1837.
John Robb.
1808. Joel Angier.
1838.
Samuel Slader.
1809-10.
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