History of Carroll County, New Hampshire, Part 61

Author: Merrill, Georgia Drew
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Boston : W.A. Fergusson & Co.
Number of Pages: 1124

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SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. - For many years there were mem- bers of the Congregational church living at Union village, at which place Rev. N. Barker preached occasionally, as did Rev. W. Jenness. In 1879 Rev. Charles F. Goldsmith, then preaching at Union, was ordained to the work of the ministry as an evangelist by a council called by the First Congregational Church. In 1880 Rev. Joseph Fawcett began his ministry of two years. November 25, 1881, the Second Congregational Church was organized and recognized by council. Its thirteen members were : Rev. Joseph Fawcett, Mrs Ann G. Fawcett, Mrs Maggie Field, Asa Merrill, Mrs Susan C. Merrill, Mrs Josephine Nute, Mrs Catherine Meikle, Mrs Mary M. Meggie, Mrs Elizabeth Nute, Lewis Plumer, Lovey Sanborn, Mrs Martha J. Burley, and Mrs Clara A. Burley. "Sterling preached, Christie charged, Secretary Greeley prayed, and Thompson right hand." This church had a healthy growth during the pastor- ate of Rev. Gardner S. Butler, an earnest, consecrated man, ordained in 1877, who came to Union in the winter of 1883 and remained five years. The last two years were especially fruitful and bore testimony to faithful efforts ; over forty added. The church has now a membership of nearly seventy. Much successful religious and temperance work, largely by members of this church and congregation, has given tone to public sentiment and greatly strengthened the walls of society. The present minister is Rev. William France, just ordained, with prospect of a successful pastorate. The deacons from the start were Lewis Plumer and Asa Merrill. The " Union " Sunday-school is large and flourishing ; it has 143 members, and has had for a number of years as its wise and energetic superintendent, Edwin W. Junkins, whose departure to Wash- ington Territory is deeply regretted. His successor is Charles W. Horne. A bell was presented to the church some three years since by Alonzo Kimball, Esq., of New York, whose father, Noah, grandson of John, was a member of the Congregational church. A hall and chapel combined has been lately erected by members of this society near the railroad station. Rev. Frank I. Nute, son of Samuel F. Nute, of Union, and great-grandson of Josiah Page, who has been some years in the ministry, is a member of this church. The entire church membership of the town is not far from three hundred, and the number is on the gain.

FREEWILL BAPTIST CHURCHES. - Of the so-called Baptist society in 1788, we have no further history. Samuel Allen, Samuel Allen, Jr, Ebenezer Cook, John Horn, John Hill, Jacob Wiggin, Simeon Wiggin, Tobias Hanson may have been interested in the Free Baptist ideas just

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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.

spreading, and Benjamin Randall lived in New Dedham near. In 1806 he wrote a letter to a branch of the Lebanon monthly meeting, which then was composed of quite a number, most of whom lived in the Weeks district and likely met there. Mayhew Clark, who began exhorting about this time, John Clark, his brother, Nathaniel Lock, John Watson, John Weeks, Josiah Allen, Joseph Hill, Reuben Lang, William Maleham, James Hutchins, Betsy Clark, Deborah Weeks, Moley Allen, Sarah Tuttle, Betsy Weeks, Patience Watson, Bridget Hall, Sarah Blake, Abigail Lock, etc., may have constituted the first Free Baptist church, said to have been at North Wakefield. After the first became extinct, the second Free Baptist church was organized in 1831, and was a centre of influence for many years in the Spinney neighborhood, or South Wakefield, its original members including David Spinney, Joseph Spinney, Solomon Wiggin, Paul Farnham, Francis Berry, John Farnham, Joseph Libby and Nathan, David Archibald, James Hutchins, Solomon Lewis, Alva Spinney, John Hanson, Bert Cook, Sarah Cook, Susan Horn, Charlotte Wiggin, Hannah Archibald, Lydia Garvin, Agnes Garvin, Loru- hamah Farnham, and others. This church was supplied by different preachers until 1835, when the meeting-house was finished and dedicated, and the mem- bers gladly saw Joseph Spinney, a young man of their own number, ordained. He was their pastor for many years, and broke unto them the bread of life. In 1852 he became a zealous advocate of the immediate second advent of our Lord, and April 9, he and twenty-two.members, followed later by twelve others, withdrew from the church. After that the church had as pastors, Elder Cummins Parris, Elder John Chick, and Hiram P. Mansur, who was ordained October 30, 1862, and served quite a number of years (their last pastor) ; after that he served for some years as pastor of the Acton Free Baptist Church, Milton Mills, one of the five Free churches in that first year of Benjamin Randall's ministry, 1780. His son, Herbert Mansur, is a recent graduate of Bates College and Theological School, Lewiston, Maine.

The Third Free Baptist Church was, I judge, at East Wakefield, but owing to diminished numbers is practically extinct. James Hill and wife Sally, who lived to old age, Moses Perkins and wife, and others are reputed members ; perhaps also Captain Nathaniel Meserve, an old and respected citizen for many years, active among the Free Baptists. Of Union is Deacon Samuel B. Ames, with his large frame and warm heart, and J. Morrill Woodman, a very active member, a few years ago ordained to the ministry. To the same church belonged Rev. John D. Waldron, now at Springvale, Maine. He has united to churches by baptism 424 persons in twenty-one years.

The Fourth Free Baptist Church was the fifth and last organized at Union village, July 22, 1868, with nineteen members, of whom eight remain, including the clerk, Charles W. Horne, Nathaniel Durrell, Job H. Burleigh, Sarah A. Edgerly, Emily A. Hall, Joseph O. Rines, Sarah J. Rines, Charles W. Horne,

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TOWN OF WAKEFIELD.

Mary F. Horne, Rowena D. Brackett, Mary E. Cate, George W. Dicey, Susan A. Dicey, Sally A. Junkins, George W. Morrison, Lizzie W. Morrison, Ben- jamin Roberts, John Wallace, Dorothy Wallace, Victoria A. Wentworth. It had but one pastor, Rev. Joshua A. Stetson, who served one year. Rev. Samuel P. Fernald preached in 1859 and 1860.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHES. - The first Methodist preaching in Portsmouth, and, it may be, in New Hampshire, was when Jesse Lee visited it, 1790-91. Along in 1810 Rochester was supplied by a preacher from the Tuftonborough circuit. Wakefield, as early as 1828, may have been in the same circuit, for they had a class that used to meet at the house of Francis Chapman, and the Word was dispensed to them by circuit preachers, as Roswell Putnam and Herschel Foster, who also went to Brookfield and to the Dow district. A church was at Union village for many years in active operation. Milton circuit, October, 1831. A. H. Houghton, preacher in charge, J. Wors- ter, assistant circuit preacher, held quarterly meetings at Milton, Union village, Brookfield, and Wakefield. October, 1832. Wolfeborough, Milton Mills, Mil- ton Three Ponds, Brookfield. John Adams, L. E. Gordon, assistant. 1833, July. Circuit divided into Milton and Wakefield cireuits ; quarterly meeting at new meeting-house : John Adams and Moses Chase, preachers. 1834, last quarterly conference at the old meeting-house in centre of the town. 1839, Joseph Smith, preacher; Elisha Mills, local preacher and class leader at Union ; stewards, Thomas Chapman, Luther Wentworth, Joseph Walker, Samuel Applebee. 1842, January 8, Caleb Dustin, preacher; 1844, John French ; 1846, I. C. Emerson ; 1853-54, Lorin H. Gordon ; 1857, Daniel W. Barber, preacher, James Thurston, presiding elder. The last minister appointed was Rev. Joseph P. Frye (Milton Mills and Union) in 1882.

At North Wakefield there is reported to have been an organized Methodist Episcopal church years ago, but not far from 1880 a new church, or class, was organized and the Lord's Supper observed in the new Wesley chapel. Rev. H. T. Barnard, Free Baptist, preached for a time at Leighton's Corner and North Wakefield. Rev. W. Burrell also preached and was largely instru- mental in securing the new place of worship. North Wakefield was then in the Tuftonborough circuit, embracing Tuftonborough, East Wolfeborough, and North Wakefield. The old meeting-house was, I believe, a union house and had a long line of ministers ; Elders Taplin and Hayes among the Methodists, and Elder Walker and Olin Page of Baptists. Rev. Henry E. Allen since 1880 will be long remembered for his zeal and kind heart among his parishioners at Brookfield, Hackett Schoolhouse, and at North Wakefield. Frank Chamberlain, a local preacher, supplied for a season.

A church was organized at Wolfboro Junction in January, 1887, with seven members, and a new cireuit was formed embracing Wolfboro Junction, Brookfield, East Wolfeborough, and North Wakefield, and April,

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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.

1887, Rev. George A. Luce was appointed minister in charge. He lived at the Junction, and to his hearty labors with the hand and voice and heart is due largely the new church at the Junction and the general prosperity of the circuit. He served two years, and was followed in 1889 by Rev. J. Mowry Bean. The church building was dedicated in November, 1887. There are now forty communicants.

SECOND ADVENT CHURCH. - Earnest meetings were held by followers of William Miller in 1842 and onward, and April 9, 1852, Elder Joseph Spinney and twenty-two members, followed later by twelve others, withdrew from the Free Baptist Church and became a separate society, and have maintained from that day to this a somewhat vigorous existence, holding meetings all these years, still looking for that blessed Hope. Their early minister still ministers, and the young man who there began his ministry, now venerable with age, is at this writing opening up this summer season of 1889 near the place where he was ordained fifty-four years ago. For these many years he has been almost the town minister, so wide has been his circuit and influence, joining in marriage many happy pairs and called from near and far to bury the dead of his former acquaintance - Elder Joseph Spinney, of winning face, long white beard, and snowy hair, a patri- arch in looks, yet young in heart. Abial W. Sibley, born in Wakefield, in 1833, ordained in 1862, at Chelsea, his first pastorate, has been a leading spirit in the Advent Christian denomination, now numbering 100,000 in the United States. He has been teacher and preacher for twenty-two years, and elected annually secretary of the Advent Christian Missionary Society. There are a goodly number of Adventists in town of varied types. A flourishing society exists at Woodman's Mills and has had regular preaching for several years from Elders T. Lindsay Churchill and Charles Colman, both of Brook- field, and other ministers. Interesting meetings for prayer and conference have also been held with Brother Alonzo Wentworth.

EPISCOPAL CHURCH. - The new village of Wolfboro Junction was not complete without this sacred edifice. On Saint John the Baptist's day was laid the cornerstone, and the mission church of Saint John the Baptist at Wolfboro Junction was consecrated by the Right Reverend William Woodruff Niles, D.D., Bishop of New Hampshire, September 14, 1877. The church was built partly by gifts from the people of the town, largely from those. of friends in Brooklyn, N. Y. To a lady of that city was due the building of the rectory. All the triangular piece of land on the north of the church has been, by A. Augustus Low, Esq., of Brooklyn, N. Y., given to the village for a park, to be in charge and under the care of the wardens and vestry of the church and others whom they may elect from time to time.

The first rector was Rev. W. B. T. Smith. The longest ministry has been that of the Rev. William Lloyd Himes, six years, winter of 1881 to that

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of 1887, years of faithful Christian toil. At the beginning of the mission there was but one communicant ; present number, thirty-two. Sixty have been baptized. There is but one other Episcopal church in this county, Christ Church, North Conway, although there are scattered communicants in various parts.

The officers for the ensuing year, as for several years past, are Charles A. Hackett, senior warden ; Hiram W. Nichols, junior warden; James W. Garvin, treasurer; John H. Garvin, secretary.

This mission has furnished two lay readers for the diocese of New Hamp- shire. Rev. William Stanley Emery succeeded Rev. William Lloyd Himes in September, 1887.

Meeting-houses. - Eight years had elapsed, instead of the six required by charter, since the Declaration of Peace in 1763, when the frame of the first meeting-house was raised. The finishing of it was interrupted in 1775 by the Revolution ; yet as late as 1800 it had not reached its full development, for, September 6, 1785, it was voted that "no porches are to be built "; " vendue of pew privileges," on the 8th ; "S. E. and S. W. corner privilege not to be sold, leaving room for the stairs "; 1793, April 29, "commenced to build and sell pews": 1800, May 3, "how much will the Town raise to finish the Meeting House and inclose the Burying Ground." After that there were attempts to build a hall at Wakefield Corner, the then rising village, and then to move the meeting-house. But for over sixty frosts of winter and heats of summer it stood, somewhat the worse for wear, until 1838-39, when it was transplanted to the more congenial soil of Union Village, and from time to time improved and beautified, so that now the first builders would fail to recognize their former temple. Before 1820 the new meeting-house, in lot 90, Wake- field Corner, began to lift its massive frame toward the sky. In 1818 the town would not agree to take the new meeting-house and finish it for its own use. Finished when, no one knows, but dedicated in 1831, this stately structure with imposing columns in front, above the broad, well-hewn granite steps, with its lofty steeple ever a source of pride, and the huge interior including rooms above and below, still stands as a monument to our fathers' ideas ; while the time-honored edifice at North Wakefield has gracefully yielded to the far less spacious Wesley Chapel, the gift of Adam Brown and others, and since then Time's cold and wintry blast has brought it low, although it was made of the best lumber which the forest could then produce.

The parsonage at Wakefield Corner was bought in 1846, for three hundred dollars. In the fall of 1886 it was improved at an expense of nine hundred dollars, and since then by other additions. The next meeting-house was the "Spinney," in 1835. But this "old" Spinney meeting-house was replaced in 1872 by the very neat and tasty structure built as a " Union " house by the Free Baptists and Adventists.

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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.

The latest addition to the churches of the town was in Wolfboro Junction, when, in 1887, the Methodist Episcopal Church was dedicated ; a comely struc- ture within and without, the contribution of many purses. Thus six localities have been marked by church buildings, but as many as twelve churches or societies, have been formed to supply the supposed needs. "Meetings " have been held in private houses and schoolhouses and in groves, "God's first temples."

CHAPTER XLIV.

Education, Early Provisions for - Teachers' Wages - First Schools - Districts - School Committees - Common Schools - Dow Academy - Wakefield Academy - Collegiates - Teachers, etc. - Libraries - Societies.

E DUCATIONAL. - Very early the town made provision for at least the limited education of those days. The school lot, by the provision of the charter of the grantees, must be set apart for the use and mainte- nance of a school. For twenty-five years William Blaisdell seems to have occupied it. As the income from that would not be adequate, our fathers voted so much. In 1776, "8€ for schooling, one half to be laid out in the summer, the other half in winter." In 1777, Captain David Copp, Mr Daniel Hall, Mr William Moore, and Mr John Kimball were chosen as the first school committee, and £11 voted for schooling, " one half to be laid out below the pond, the other half above." In 1778, no division was specified as to season or place, but the school was to be kept near Mr John Kimball's, below the pond. The amount was increased to £30; in 1779, to £60; in 1782, money sufficient to support a "man school " for six months; in 1785, the interest of the school lot and £24; in 1786, £64 ; in 1789, an article " to see if the town will let 30 € of the school money to Dr Thomas Lindsay ; " in 1794, "3 months' schooling to people above Pine River," ££60 including interest from Blaisdell; in 1798, $200 including interest; in 1804-07, $200 ; next year (I think) $300, exclusive of interest money, and $300 for town expenses.

Teachers and Wages. - " In 1807, in Hall district, paid Mr Sanborn for boarding Elizabeth Piper, and glass, $8; "in 1808, Richard F. Dow, teaching in Middle district, $63, and in Hall district, $54.87; Sally Copp, for teaching in the Clark district, $21, Samuel Fellows, $24. The earliest teachers before this (1791) were paid : Master Nicolson, 12 shillings ; Master Robinson, £2, and by Colonel J. Wingate, £3 9s. 9d. ; Master John Basdel, 73 months at £3

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per month, he boarding himself, £22 10s .; Master David Glody, 9} monthis at 60s., £27 15s., and in 1792, £6 18d .; Isaac Fellows, for boarding, £1 12s .; Captain Andrew Gilmon, for pay to Master Robinson; Joseph Gage, for pay to Master Glody, £8 18s. 4d., and Walter Neal to same; Abner Allen paid in specie, for gun lost in war, £1 10s .; in 1794 Lieutenant Daniel Hall, for boarding Master Evans, £1 17s. 6d .; in 1795, Master John Dame, and one Newlson ; and since then a small army of school ma'ams and masters, at varied wages, from 60s. or $10 a month and board themselves. From 1791 to and in 1889, from $28 to $40 a month was paid to the teachers of the seven out of eight districts in the town, which had nearly $1,600 from all sources for the 302 scholars, of whom 286 registered during the year; 16 between 5 and 15 not attending; 8 under 5; 270, 5 to 15; 10, 16 and over. The board of education asks for at least $750 more than that required by law ($1,120). The school funds are diminished more than a thousand dollars by the town's applying the savings bank tax to other purposes.

Schools, etc. - 1805, December. Act of legislature authorizes towns to divide into school districts. Before this was done by arrangement of the inhabitants or by selectmen. In 1827 the former town system gave place to the district system, in order to secure for the large number of scholars in rural towns the most prudent distribution of time, money, and education in the schools. In 1885, after forty-eight years of absence, the town system returned to receive the criticism of those who thought that " the fathers fixed it about right," not thinking that the town system is much older than the district system.

The first schools were probably in private houses, but in the fall of 1796 a schoolhouse was built, the first recorded, and the next spring it was voted to excuse the Hodgdon district from paying anything towards its building, and also all below Hardy's from paying towards building, probably the same schoolhouse. To the question, "Shall the district 'cawled' the Wiggin district remain a district, or belong to the lower or south district ?" it was voted that it shall be a district by itself, if it build its own schoolhouse. This it likely agreed to, for the next year, 1798, March 12, we find due in the districts, and it is one: "Lower," $33.50, or south (now Piper) ; . Wiggin, $31.33 (Oak Hill); Wingate, $45.42 (Corner) ; Fellows, $4.67 (Dow) ; Horn, $20.33 (Witch-trot) ; Clark, $23.00 (Pine River); Wentworth, $12.40 (over the river) ; total, $170.55. The sums may give some idea of the number in each district.

In 1799, July 4, Abner Allen was paid for building a schoolhouse in lower district, $129.00. March 4, Levi Neal, for one in upper district, $129.90, "he to put on a few shingles near the chimney and some laches." March 4, Jacob Welch, $129.00, for building one, where I cannot say. He lived in Dow district, which later, in 1812, was set off from No. 2 and called No. 8.

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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.

Appropriated, February 17, $225 to build a schoolhouse, to be finished by the last day of September and to be twenty-eight feet long, twenty-two wide, eight and one-half high, set on southwest side of the brook running near the mouth of the road to Jacob Welch's. The names of those set off to form No. 8 indicate also the locality in which they lived, namely, Jeremiah Dearborn, Joshua Wingate, Moses Copp, Jonathan Copp, Richard F. Dow, Isaac Fel- lows, Nathan Fellows, Nathan Dearborn, Nathan Dearborn, Jr, Jonathan Burley, Daniel Welch, Ebenezer Hill, Richard Cook, and, on road to Parsons- field, Jacob Welch, Joseph Welch, John Whittier, Benajah Brown, Noah Horn, and Jonathan Brown.

In 1811, March 11, the following were set off from No. 3 and called No. 7 : Jacob Lock, Reuben Lang, Reuben Lang, Jr, John Lang, John Weeks, John Weeks, Jr, Nathan Weeks, Phineas Weeks, John Watson, Nathan Watson, Samuel G. Vickery, John Clark, Nathaniel Lock, and the northeast line of the land adjoining Jonathan Copp, Joseph Ayres, Thomas Clark, Widow Mary Johnson ; and Daniel Horn is the dividing line between said district No. 3 and the persons above named when schoolhouse is built. No. 7 is now classed with No. 2. Through this Lock and Lang district runs Jockey street, laid out in 1799. The Corner schoolhouse must have been built earlier. In 1813, the limits of the school districts were set. The eight of these have increased to twelve (last two added since 1853), and reduced to eight since the new system.

School Committees. - In 1827, June. a law was passed "requiring towns to choose a committee," and in 1828 "teachers to be examined and obtain certificates before beginning school." In Wakefield, as early as 1777, a school committee was elected, but none mentioned from that time till 1814, when Rev. Asa Piper, William Sawyer, Esq., and Luther Dearborn were chosen at the famously "short town-meeting." For nine years in succession the first two were on the school board, Jonathan Copp for three years, John Wingate for five. Others, under the "1827 law," have had long experience, especially Parson Barker, for many years within the memory of those now living, giving reports prepared with great pains, serving his · town even up to fourscore and three. The following have been in this office : Frederick A. Copp, Morrill B. Smith, Charles W. Varney, John Tredick, John W. Sanborn, Charles W. Sanborn, Dr S. W. Roberts, Haven N. Cook, and others for short terms. In 1886 were elected the first board of education : Frederick A. Copp for one year, John G. Sanborn for two years, Morrill B. Smith for three. The latter died in office December 25, 1887. In 1887 George H. Gage was elected for three years; in 1888 Rev. George A. Luce for one year, to fill vacancy ; Mrs Ella E. Moulton for three years, the first woman thus chosen in town; at the last election, Dr Charles F. Roberts for three years.

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TOWN OF WAKEFIELD.

Common Schools. - The report of 1882 notes the progress of the preceding period of nearly thirty years since reports first published. "It is evident that there have taken place many and marked changes in the condition and welfare of the town in general, and in the state and condition of the public schools in particular. Former ten districts are now twelve; five new schoolhouses erected and several of the old ones materially repaired and improved. The contribu- tions for the support of schools have increased from some $600 to $2,000 per year, while the number of scholars has decreased from 370 to about 300. From two dollars per scholar each year, the appropriation has increased to nearly seven dollars, affording much longer terms of schools and better facilities for educational improvement. Thirty years ago but one district raised more than eighty dollars to be expended in the cause of letters, while several failed to raise one half that amount. Now the smallest amount in any district is much more than the largest of any district at that time. Instead of but few weeks most districts now furnish for half a year educational advantages, and some more than this. Some that had only one short term have two long ones, and others three such. The youth have about all the opportunity they need, or can use to advantage, in acquiring a useful education. If the standard of scholarship in our schools has not reached a higher point, intellectually considered, by longer terms, improved methods of teaching, and superior textbooks, it is reached at an earlier age." The studies : reading and spelling, 283; penmanship, 261; arithmetic, 205; geography, 152; grammar, 112; history, 58; composition, 29; vocal music, 61; algebra, 21; bookkeeping, 16; philosophy, 9; physiology, 4; astronomy, 2; chemistry, geometry, and surveying, 1 each. From 1882 to 1889, scholars reduced from 303 to 302. In 1889 the town voted for schools $500 above what is required by law : $2,000 town expenses, and $7,000 to repair highways, $1,000 to pay on town debts. Each can compare for himself 1889 with 1789 in our common schools. The education thus secured has changed somewhat, and advanced perhaps not more than it ought. The "master" is now "teacher," but the days of some " discipline " may need to continue.

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History of Carroll County, New Hampshire, Part 61

Author: Merrill, Georgia Drew Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Boston : W.A. Fergusson & Co. Number of Pages: 1124

Author: Merrill, Georgia Drew
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Boston : W.A. Fergusson & Co.
Number of Pages: 1124