USA > New Hampshire > Belknap County > Barnstead > History of Barnstead [N.H.] from its first settlement in 1727 to 1872 > Part 10
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Dr. Jewett died at the old homestead in the year 1836, April 22, aged 79. He left three children, Spofford D., a clergyman, Jeremiah P., a physician, Jane, wife of Hazen Wheeler, Esq., each having a family. His widow still sur- vives him, being one hundred years old the 4th day of April, 1872.
DR. NOAH J. T. GEORGE. Dr. George settled at the Parade in 1822. He was a democrat, and aside from pro- fessional practice he wrote for the press and published a life of Gen. Jackson, a Gazetteer of the State of Vermont, and a small book entitled " Multum in Parvo," and others. His wife was a daughter of William Ayers. He died of a lingering disease of the spine in 1849. One son and one daughter survived him.
DR. SIMON P. WOODWARD. Commenced practice at Centre Barnstead in 1824. He was well-read, was ener- getic and had a good business here. About the year 1836 he removed to New Market. He died in 1854 leaving children.
DR. WILLIAM GROVER. Settled at the Centre where he had an extensive practice, was a leader in the church, represented the town in the State Legislature, and was a member of the State Medical Society. In the sick cham- ber his kind word and cheerful countenance failed not to inspire a salutary hope in the hearts of his otherwise weary and desponding patients. He died suddenly in 1853 of
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PHYSICIANS.
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an abscess on the liver. His wife, who was a Miss N. P. Taylor, of Hampton, and one daughter, survived him. The town deeply mourned his loss.
DR. CHARLES WHITTLE. Commenced business in the south part of the town in 1830. He previously had had some practice elsewhere, but continued here but about two years ; he then left for some other field of labor.
JOHN WHEELER, M. D. Was born in Barnstead, Sept. 15, 1828 ; was grandson of Dr. Jewett, Sr. He fitted for college at Gilmanton Academy, and graduated at Dart- mouth College in 1850, studied medicine with Dr. J. P. Jewett, of Lowell, Mass., and with C. T. Berry, of Pitts- field, N. H., attended Medical Lectures at Bowdoin, Bos- ton, and Berkshire Medical Schools, and graduated at the latter in 1852.
He immediately succeeded Dr. Grover in Barnstead, where he has been in practice ever since, with the excep- tion of four years at Pittsfield, and a while in the army. Many medical students, more than twenty, have pursued their studies, either a part or the whole of the usual term, under his direction.
DR. WILLIAM WALKER. Was the son of Joseph A. Walker. He graduated at Jefferson College, and died at Barnstead in 1855.
DR. GEORGE W. GARLAND. Was a medical student at Bowdoin and graduated from there in 1837. He studied medicine also with Dr. Dixi Crosby at Hanover, and commenced practice at North Barnstead, at which place he continued up to 1848, a skillful practitioner, and in a suc- cessful business. Since then, as ever, he has prospered with an extensive practice, residing in the city of Law- rence, Mass.
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HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD.
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DR. MARK WALKER. Graduated in 1854, and settled in the north part of Barnstead. He still continues his practice in this and the neighboring towns, and proves to. be one of Barnstead's best physicians.
DR. BETTON W. SARGENT. Resided here in practice from 1848 to 1853, and then went to the far West. During the Rebellion he served as a surgeon on the staff of Major General Thomas. He read with Dr. Knight of Franklin, and now resides at Rochester, N. H. His wife was the daughter of Dr. Farrington, of Rochester, formerly a member of Congress.
DR. ALBERT G. WEEKS. Resided in practice at North Barnstead in the year 1851 and up to 1853. He had been a student at Dartmouth and at Harvard College, was a gentleman and a scholar. He died in 1853.
DR. ALVIN JENKINS, was an M. D., from Dartmouth in 1862, opened an office at Centre Barnstead in 1863. He removed to Great Falls, N. H., where he now remains in business.
DR. S. S. WENTWORTH. From Dartmouth College in 1863, practised in his profession at Centre Barnstead in 1864, and then left and settled in Ellenburg, New York.
DR. JEREMIAH BLAKE, once a student at the medical school at Yale College, resided and practised medicine here at the Parade, about two years. In 1862 he removed to Gilmanton Iron-works, where he still remains.
While at Barnstead he married Mrs. Elkins, the daugh- ter of Abram Bunker. The Doctor for a while was in the ministry with good success, and whether as a physician or a divine he has ever proved himself industrious, prompt and efficient in every good word and work.
DR. DANA BUZZELL commenced here about the year 1839, but did not remain.
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DR. JOHN P. ELKINS also practised here from 1844 to 1848.
DR. JAMES EMERSON, a native of Barnstead, and a graduate of Dartmouth Medical School, was in the prac- tice of his profession at the Centre from 1858 to 1862. Since then he has practised in New Ipswich, N. H., in Ashby, Mass., in Claremont, Minnesota, in Pittsfield, N. H., and last of all in Gardner, Mass. Thus having connected his practice with the geography of his country, the Doctor now remains steadfast and is doing a spacious business.
GRADUATES.
The following is a list of College Graduates who are natives of Barnstead, and who have located themselves in different sections of the United States :
Spofford D. Jewett, Rev. (now of Middlefield, Conn.), was the first college graduate. He preferred the minis- try, and after preaching the gospel thirty-six years, in 1866 retired by reason of declining health, thereafter preaching only occasionally.
George F. George, son of Rev. Enos, studied medicine in Georgia, settled in Shady Valley, Ga., where he still resides.
Franklin T. Harwood, a graduate of the Harvard Medical School, of the class of 1851, settled at Great Falls, N. H.
John Wheeler, M.D., A.B., from Dartmouth and from the Berkshire Medical School in 1852.
George W. Garland, M. D., from Bowdoin, in 1837, now at Lawrence, Mass.
William Walker, M.D., from Jefferson Medical School, in 1853, died in Barnstead, in 1855.
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HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD.
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Mark Walker, M.D., from Jefferson Medical School, in 1854, now in Barnstead.
James Emerson, M.D., from Dartmouth Medical School, in 1858.
Caleb W. Hanson, M.D., from Dartmouth Medical School, in 1858, now in Northwood.
John Hanson, from Dartmouth College, 1859, now in business in the West.
Joseph B. Rand, M.D., from Dartmouth College, in 1858, now at White River, Vt.
John P. Elkins, M.D., from Bowdoin, in 1862, now in Wilmot.
Augustus C. Walker, M.D., from New York Medical College, in 1863, now in Roxbury.
Laban M. Saunders, M.D., from Dartmouth College, in 1864, died in Barnstead, in 1867.
Arthur C. Newall, M.D., from Ohio Medical College, in 1865, now in Farmington.
Jeremiah P. Jewett, was the first in Barnstead who took a degree as an M.D., his biography will be found in the appendix.
Hanson C. Canney, M.D., from Dartmouth College, in 1865, settled in Auburn.
Phineas H. Wheeler, M.D., from Dartmouth College, in 1865, settled in Alton.
Nath. W. Woodhouse, M.D., from Dartmouth College, now in Wilton, Iowa.
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George H. Towle, M.D., from Harvard College in 1865, settled in Deerfield.
I. Lysander Eaton, M.D., St. Louis Medical School, settled in St. Louis, Mo.
Darius M. Edgerly, M.D., from New York University.
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NOTE .- Doctors Eaton, Saunders, P. H. Wheeler, A . C. Walker and Newall, were all Acting Assistant Sur- geons in the United States Army during the Rebellion of 1861.
PHYSICIANS OF THE NEIGHBORING TOWNS.
PITTSFIELD.
ABEL BLANCHARD began his practice in 1803. He was a bachelor ; at one time he offered Pittsfield $500 towards founding an academy there, but that good people thought it would make their sons and daughters proud and lazy ; and therefore rejected the offer. He left the town in 1807 and went to Pembroke, and disposed of his money in the building of an academy there. Pittsfield has since honored herself in her schools of learning as well as in her improvements in manufacturing, in agriculture, and in the arts.
DR. THOMAS SHANNON came to Pittsfield when Dr. Blanchard left. Dr. Shannon was of the old school, edu- cated under Prof. Nathan Smith. In 1827, soon after founding the Medical School, Dr. Smith removed to Moul - tonboro', and died there, aged 80 years.
HON. R. P. I. TENNEY, M.D., was a son of Dr. Wm. Tenney, late of Loudon, and succeeded to his father's practice in that town, but afterwards located himself in Pittsfield, since greatly increased in thrift and beauty, where he found an extensive field for his professional skill, and where he still lives, a leader in his profession, and a friend to all mankind. He lives in the midst of a happy family. He married Miss H. A. Sanborn, of Gilmanton, N. H. They have an amiable daughter by the name of Abbie. The Doctor was a Councillor to the Governor of New Hampshire during the Rebellion, and at that time did
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valiant service for his country in raising and transmitting the New Hampshire regiments to the armies of the North. Long life to him !
JEREMIAH BLAKE, M.D., was a native of this town, commenced practice here in 1826 and continued in this ten years ; studied theology and then went into the minis- try. He still continues his medical practice, residing at Gilmanton Iron Works.
ENOCH BARNES, M.D., practised here.
JOHN S. ELLIOTT, M.D., had an office here for several years, and then went to Manchester.
LOUDON.
Abraham Silver, M.D., an early settler in L., but removed to Gilmanton.
Benjamin Kelley, M.D., practised here in 1787, re- moved to Lower Gilmanton.
Anthony Sherburne, M.D., settled in L., removed to Gilmanton in 1807, but soon died.
Jedediah Tucker, M.D., a Congregational preacher as well as physician, died in 1825.
William Tenney, M.D., was from Newburyport. He settled in Loudon in 1800; had a great practice, was social and kind. He died in 1826, aged about sixty years, much lamented.
R. P. I. Tenney, M.D., was the successor of Dr. Wil- liam Tenney, his father, but afterwards removed to Pitts- field, where he still remains in practice.
ALTON.
John Morrison, M.D., one of its first settlers, still in practice, at the age of of seventy-five.
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NEIGHBORING PHYSICIANS.
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Dr. Curry was in practice in Alton, in 1828-9. He died in 1830.
Drs. Nathaniel Dorman and A. W. Lougee also prac- tised in Alton.
BARRINGTON.
Robert Woodbury, M.D., was early in Barrington, his fame was wide, he was a school-mate with the late Presi- dent John Quincy Adams, had a practice of more than fifty years, and died in 1856.
John S. Furnald, M.D., practised nearly thirty years and died while yet in his strength of manhood.
David McDaniel and William Waterhouse, also, were located in Barrington.
NEW DURHAM.
Daniel Mowe, M.D., a celebrated physician, was here many years. He removed to Lowell, where he lived with professional honor, and died Nov. 3, 1860, aged 71.
John Elkins, M.D., was skilful, and had an extensive field of labor in New Durham.
NORTHWOOD.
John Smith, M.D., an early settler, read with Dr. Kel- ly and had much practice in Northwood.
Benjamin Kelly, M.D., was in Northwood from 1780 to 1791, and then he settled in Gilmanton.
John Starr, M.D., had several years' practice in North- wood, but died early.
Thomas Tuttle, M.D., was a native of Barrington, set- tled in Northwood, and has had a respectable practice.
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HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD.
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CHICHESTER.
Amasa Kelly, M.D., one of the first in his profession in Chichester, came in 1799, became blind and died in 1845, aged seventy-five.
Samuel Sargent, M.D., of South Chichester, died in 1842.
EPSOM.
Samuel Morrill, M.D., practised here and then removed to Concord.
David L. Morrill, M.D., resided here a while, moved to Concord and was subsequently Governer of New Hamp- shire.
Josiah Crosby, M.D., practised in Epsom at first, and then at Manchester, and is now residing there.
James Babb, M.D., a native of Chichester, twenty years in practice, died in 1843.
Hanover Dickey, M.D., served in his profession in Epsom, was a native-now in Lowell, Mass., and is still in practice.
John Proctor, M.D., also practised in Epsom.
GILMANTON.
William Smith, M.D., was the first doctor in Gilman- ton. Came from East Kingston in 1778. He died in 1830, aged ninety-eight years.
Jonathan Hill, M.D., settled in Gilmanton, in 1778. He was a native of Stratham. .
Obadiah Parish, M.D., a native of Canterbury, married a Miss Badger, came to Gilmanton in 1790, died in 1794, aged thirty.
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GRADUATES.
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Abraham Silver, M.D., came to lower Gilmanton, and was in his profession in Gilmanton some years.
Simon Foster, M.D., a native of Andover, Mass., came to Gilmanton in 1800 ; practised thirty years.
Daniel Jacobs, M.D., born at Mansfield in 1764, grad- uated at Dartmouth College in 1787, came to Gilmanton in 1796, had a good practice, died in 1814, aged fifty-one.
Benjamin Kelley, M.D., came to Gilmanton in 1801, was a fellow of the New Hampshire Medical Society, died in 1839, aged seventy-five.
NOTE .- Dr. Kelley had a son by the name of Hall J. He was a teacher in Boston, but hearing the story of the great West, he shouldered his pack and gun and, on foot, took a bee line westward. After many weary days he lost sight of all settlements, having reached and traversed vast prairies and spacious forests on the way. At length he found himself among savages, three thousand miles away from home, in Oregon. At that time he had not seen the face of a white man for two long years. The story of events on the way, the wild experiences in the midst of a new country, his manner of life among the western Indians, &c., were often related by him with thrill- ing interest. His travels were published.
There were several physicians other than those above named, who from time to time did good service in Gilman- ton, and other neighboring towns, and who of course some- times visited Barnstead professionally, among whom were Doctors Asa Crosby, Nathan C. Tebbetts, Otis French, and others.
COLLEGE GRADUATES.
Spofford . D. Jewett, now a clergyman settled in Connecticut, graduated from Dartmouth College in 1826.
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HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD.
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He was the first college graduate at Barnstead, studied theology at Andover, was the son of Dr. J. Jewett of Barn- stead, had been thirty-six years in the gospel ministry up to 1866, when on account of failing health he retired from his field of labor.
George Franklin George, Esq., from Dartmouth College, now in practice at Shady Dale, Georgia, a son of Rev. Enos George, deceased.
Albert Elisha Hodgdon, Esq., a son of Charles, from Dartmouth College in 1842, opened a law-office in Barn- stead, but died in 1847.
John P. Newell, Esq., at Dartmouth College, was the first scholar in his class, read law, and then took charge of the High School in Manchester. His wife was the daughter of Charles Jas. Bell. Mr. Newell is far known and much respected.
Horace Webster, L.L.B., from Dartmouth College in 1849, and a graduate of Harvard Law School. His wife was the daughter of Rev. Amos Blanchard, of Lowell. He died in 1867. His wife soon followed him to the spirit land.
John Wheeler, M.D., from Dartmouth College in 1850, and now in full practice in Barnstead.
Charles A. Bunker, from Dartmouth College in 1864, now teaching in Peacham Academy.
Nathaniel L. Hanson, from Dartmouth College in 1864, engaged in teaching.
David M. Edgerly, M.D., from Dartmouth College in 1864, in medicine, graduated at New York University.
Lewis W. Clark, Esq., a native of Barnstead, gradu- ated at Dartmouth College in 1850, read law and settled in Pittsfield, thence to Manchester, N. H., is in a large
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MERCHANTS.
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practice. He has a generous heart and a strong mind. He is now (1872) Attorney-General of New Hamp- shire.
Alonzo H. Quint, D.D., from Dartmouth College in 1846, and from Andover afterwards, was chaplain in the Second Mass. Regiment during the Rebellion-wrote its history-and now is pastor of a church at New Bedford.
Luther E. Shepard, from Dartmouth College in 1851, read law, and is now in practice, doing a successful busi- ness in Lowell, Mass.
NOTE .- Augustus C. Walker, William Walker and Ar- thur C. Newall, are natives of Barnstead, and were students at Dartmouth College for the term of two years.
MERCHANTS.
The traders in Barnstead have advanced about in the following order :
Richard Cinclair, commencing in 1774, on Province Road, was the first.
Paul G. Hoyt.
Moses Styles, from Kingston.
Nathaniel Goodhue, in 1814. Second store at Parade (barter trade).
Charles G. Cinclair, from Bethlehem ; Goodhue's suc- cessor.
John Kelly commenced in 1817. From Gilmanton ; kept at Parade.
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HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD.
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Nathaniel D. Chamberlain, in 1821 ; from Alton.
John Berry, from Pittsfield ; kept at South Barnstead. Commenced in 1819 ; was here several years. Returned to Pittsfield.
John Kent was Berry's successor.
Samuel Webster, at North Barnstead ; commenced in 1820.
George Nutter was Webster's successor and a success- ful merchant.
Ebenezer Hall commenced at Parade in 1822 ; several years here ; removed to Concord.
Samuel J. Edgerly and P. Hodgdon were in trade several years. Hodgdon removed to Ossipee.
John Peavey, Esq., opened the first store at the Centre, and traded many years.
Eliphalet S. Nutter, Esq., was in trade at Barnstead Parade a considerable time, and proved one of its most successful merchants. He removed to Concord in 1855.
The stores of these men, for the most part, were filled with West India and dry goods, for which they often took pay in lumber, &c., such as ship-timber, boards, shingles, firkins, corn, potatoes, oats, butter, eggs, tow-cloth, &c.
Kelly, Goodhue and Webster were extensive traders, and were the purchasers of all such articles. Beyond this, Webster went largely into the lumbering business. The fine forests of pine and oak then standing, began to yield to the woodman's axe, furnishing for the market many a stately mast and much ship timber, as well as an abundance of the finest boards and shingles. He was from Gilman- ton and was in trade here a quarter of a century-was an industrious worker, and, as the farmers would say, " died in the harness."
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HAND LABOR.
1863
At the first settlements, and for more than forty years up to 1812, manufacturing in this and the adjoining towns was all done by hand labor. Every article of wearing apparel, every article of household furniture, all farming utensils, and all kinds of implements used by this community were wrought out without the aid of machinery, through the ardent, exhausting toil of men and women at hand labor.
The farm produced the flax, and the variegated flocks afforded an abundance of white and black wool. The flax was at first rotted and dried ; then it was subjected to the break, which was worked by hard hand labor ; then it was swingled and combed, when it became nice, smooth and shiny, and fit for spinning or for the market.
The linen and the large wheel then stood ready to assist in preparing it for the web, and the old clock reel to transfer it into skeins, and to count it into knots.
The old-fashioned loom then took it, and the rattle of the shuttle and treadles, and the reverberation of the - lathe in driving the threads, were heard afar; while, at the same time, the health of the industrious housewife was invigorated in this process of manufacturing cloth through hand labor. Be it remembered that life, through such an industry, was made the more profitable, cheerful and happy.
The use of most of the cloth in various ways made of flax, wool and cotton, was for the home consumption. Fabrics thus made and thus used administered to the im- mediate comforts of the household, and at the same time tended to inspire it with a complacent self satisfaction.
The first attempt to improve the old Scotch wheel was in the patent head. This was intended to increase the
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HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD.
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revolutions of the spindle, and lessen the revolutions of the wheel itself, and thereby to save labor. Cotton was scarce, and commanded a high price, being imported from India, and usually in very small quantities.
The old linen wheel, with its foot power and pine distaff, were the same from time immemorial. Any sug- gestions with the view of improvements in them would have been looked upon with distrust, and as being in vain. So it was during the first fifty years of our history.
Female labor was plenty and cheap. It was common for the girl to work by the week, three shillings being the usual wages for that term of service, and the spinning of five skeins of yarn constituted her legal day's work.
Many families were in the habit of manufacturing tow cloth, which was used to clothe the negro slaves of the South, and which sold here at the country stores for about ten or twelve cents per yard.
Sometimes a fabric was made up of a linen warp and hair yarn filling. This was woven in colors, checked, striped, and plain ; it was quite thick and coarse, and was readily sold at the stores in the early years when cotton first began to be successfully raised in our own country.
Very soon this material began to be spun by machinery, and sold by the pound in yarn, numbered according to the size of its thread, or its number of skeins to the pound.
This was then bought and sold for warp, while linen was used for filling it, producing a durable home-made cloth.
But the years of manufacturing the home supplies of raiment, which evinced the industry, economy, and enjoy- ment of our primeval race, have passed away. The indus-
THE WHEEL OF THE OLDEN TIME.
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FIRST SAW MILL.
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try of our old mothers in this regard has been described in verse as follows :
"Men of my age ! we hail that highland glee That cheered the homes, the hearts of you and me, Of yore. Ye matrons too, whose childhood prime Is merged in memories of the olden time, Call up that hour ! and bear me witness too Of what in early life you used to do ; How then on tip-toe cotton yarn you spun, How buzzed the band, and how the spindle run, How moved the thread around the handy reel, How dear old mother whirled the linen wheel,
While at her knee the prattling baby stands, Provoking grandma with his little hands, To feel the forked distaff's flaxy curl Or ferret out the curious whiz and whirl Of wheel and spool; heedless of frown or fliers, Or flax comb keen. So fondly he admires ! The enchanting scenes of childhood's joyful day, We cherish still, though fled like flowers of May. In truth, alike, the habits had of yore
That linen wheel and loom are known no more."
[ Caverly's "'Merrimac," p. 60.]
BRICKS.
These were made in Barnstead at an early period, clay beds from which to make them being common, and very soon bricks began to take the place of rude unshapely stones, with which were built the chimneys of the ancient houses. They were then burnt in kilns ; no machinery being used, as now, in preparing them for the burning process.
FIRST SAW MILL.
This was situated on the Suncook. It carried an up and down saw and made but one cut at every revolution of the water wheel, but it furnished sufficient of boards and planks to supply the demands of this then scattered
22
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HISTORY OF BARNSTEAD.
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people. Their clapboards and shingles were rived from the rude but more clear forest material, mostly of the old yellow centered pine, having neither wane nor knot for many feet of its length.
Labor was cheap, there being but little to do, which would bring an immediate return in money. Yet they had but to work and wait; as the farm and the forest, oper- ated upon by an economical industry would favor them, and soon did yield to them a full supply and a cheerful livelihood.
From 25 to 40 cents would pay a laborer for his day's work ; corn would bring but about 50 cents per bushel ; hay $5 per ton ; a cow from $5 to $8; a horse from $20 to $40. Clothing was cheap, being home-made as above stated, yet even at these low rates all enjoyed a compe- tence-none seemed to be in want.
In later years the lumbering business increased, and the various products of the forests were from time to time in different forms borne away to the market at the tide- waters or elsewhere, and these in time brought to the farmer a more competent cash return. The manufacturing of barrels, firkins, pails, tubs, &c., was by no means a small business in the early days of Barnstead, as it brought to its inhabitants a constant income, sometimes in articles useful to the household and sometimes in cash.
SHOES.
.
Within the last thirty years much has been accom- plished in this vicinity in the manufacture of shoes. The material stock being cut out, and boxed, in Lynn and other large manufacturing towns, it is then transported here,
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TOWN POUND.
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giving employment to many men and women to a good profit.
All this constituted a part of the home industry of Barnstead, and although taken together, it has not always afforded the most advantageous income, yet it has been productive of sweet contentment and a vigorous health, such as is not often found in the mammoth mills of crowded cities, where such work is done under the labor saving inventions of later and more modern times.
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