History of Carroll County, New Hampshire, Part 80

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

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Dr Aaron M. Howe, Thompsonian, was at the Centre a few years prior to 1850. His office stood near the site of W. A. Heard's residence.

Rev. Harrison N. Hart, M.D., son of John and Mary C. (Gilman) Hart, was born in Sandwich, June 28, 1830. He was educated at common and high schools, and early studied medicine. He, however, was drawn in another direction, and in 1856 became a member of the New Hampshire Conference of the Methodist Episcopal church, filled pastorates in Hinsdale and Manches- ter, and supplied other pulpits for some years. His health failing, he engaged in the shoe-trade in Centre Sandwich for five years in the "sixties." For the last fifteen years he was in the homeopathic practice of medicine here until his death, August 1, 1889. His sole surviving child, Elmer B., is the present (1889) efficient and courteous town clerk.

About 1846-47 Dr Simeon D. Buzzell was located at North Sandwich. A Dr Moody was also here a few months some time later.

Dr William A. Page, of Centre Harbor, established a ten years' residence at North Sandwich in 1855, had a good patrouage, but. returned whence he came.

Dr Wilbur Fisk Sanborn, a native of Sandwich, a graduate of Harvard Medical School, after a successful practice of five years in the insane asylums of Concord and Somerville (Mass.), came back to his parents' home in North Sandwich in 1880, and opened an office. He soon became widely and favor- ably known, was a skilful and sympathetie physician, and was fast building up a wide practice. The work of a country practitioner was too exhausting for a delicate constitution, and he died much regretted, March 14, 1884.

Dr A. H. Harriman succeeded Dr Sanborn, remaining until 1887.

Dr Horace J. Binford was born in Chatham, December 27, 1856, commenced his medical studies February 20, 1882, under the instruction of Dr D. Lowell Lamson, of Fryeburg, Maine, attended the full course of lectures at Dart- mouth Medical School in 1883, entered the University of Vermont, November 6, 1884, and was graduated from that institution June 29, 1885. He was located as a physician at Mexico, Maine, from January 19, 1886, until Novem- ber 1, 1887, when he came to North Sandwich and began practice.

George N. French, a native of Sandwich, studied medicine and became a physician. He relinquished this profession to enter the United States service, and was after the war appointed to a clerkship in the United States treasury

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department at Washington. He now holds a responsible position in the same branch of service, is one of the oldest officials, and takes rank as one of the most efficient. He is one of the best known of the sons of Sandwich residing outside her limits. He is much interested in the town and is liberal to her enterprises.

Dentist. - Dr Samuel Beede Wiggin, born in Sandwich, was educated at the Friends' School, Providence, Phillips Exeter Academy, and Amherst College. His dental education was acquired in Boston, and after fully mas- tering the science of the profession, he established himself as a dentist in Centre Sandwich in 1876, and has been in practice most of the time, and is now permanently located there. He has been much in public business and honored with public trusts, and was register of probate from 1876 to 1879.

Mills and Manufactures. - Levi H. Smith has a saw and shingle mill, with cider-mill connected, on Montgomery brook, between Centre Sandwich and Chick's corner, about one-half mile east of the latter place. Gilman & Hoyt now lease the "Carter mill" in Sandwich notch, and mannfacture dimension- timber and shingles (water-power). Samuel H. Dorr has a sawmill on Red Hill river at Centre Sandwich which does some business. This mill was built nearly a half-century ago, is an up-and-down mill, occupies the site of the second mill in town, and is the only one that to-day stands on an original site. The heirs of Isaac Adams now own the gristmill on Red Hill river near the Centre. It has three runs of stone, and was built to succeed one burned about twenty years ago.

Nicholas M. Bean and son, Lorenzo D., have an up-and-down sawmill on Bear Camp river about half a mile from North Sandwich. They produce boards and shingles. At the outlet of Bear Camp pond Charles Follet, of Tamworth, does the largest manufacturing business of any water-mill in town in dimension-timber, boards, shingles, laths, etc. Frank Plummer has a shingle and cider mill on the site of the old Brown's mill on Bear Camp river about one mile above Bean's mill. Joel Page manufactures excelsior, hoe-handles, and spool-stock on the site of the old Weed's mill at North Sandwich. He is doing quite an extensive business. Larkin W. French has a shingle-mill about half a mile below Page's on Swift river. He also gets out considerable spool- stock. R. B. Durgin has a mill below French's where he makes salt-box shooks and has done some business in excelsior. Herbert D. Chilson has a steam-mill (forty horse - power) on the east bank of McGaffey river on Whiteface interval. He does custom sawing, and produces dimension-timber, boards, square-timber and laths. Employs in the winter from twenty-five to thirty men. Production about 10,000 per day. An old up-and-down mill owned and operated for many years by William Heddle is situated at the upper end of Bennett street, under Black mountain.

Jolın A. Marston & Son, near the Centre, have built up quite a successful

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business in manufacturing verbena baskets with "Marston's patent handle." To this they have added that of pansy and verbena baskets, and put in a small engine in 1888. Frank K. Pierce commenced the canning of corn, tomatoes, and other vegetables in 1884 at North Sandwich, and his business has assumed large proportions.

Sandwich Savings Bank was incorporated in 1872. Its office is in the store of E. M. Heard. The president is Hon. Moulton H. Marston ; the treasurer is Edwin M. Heard. Mr Heard is a social gentleman of popularity and business ability, and the bank is one of the solid institutions of the county.

Hotels. -- The oldtime hostelry, the Sandwich House, has been under the proprietorship of Henry S. Dorr for the past two years. He is making many improvements ; has a tennis court; and the house is pleasantly located. The rooms are large and airy, and, during the summer, accommodate numerous guests.

The Maple House, Thomas E. Burleigh, proprietor, and Pleasant House, kept by J. C. Burleigh, are also open during the year. The Maple House is a favorite resort.

The principal tradesmen are: Charles Blanchard, E. M. Heard, F. M. Smith & Co., merchants, Centre Sandwich; Arven Blanchard, merchant, and Charles E. Blanchard, Reporter book and job printing-office, Sandwich Lower Corner ; Alvah Webster, N. W. Mason, merchants, North Sandwich.

The Sandwich Cattle. - In the first quarter of this century a very noted race of cattle were bred here. They had the height and length of the Dur- hams, but not their thickness, symmetry, or short horns, and were large-boned, coarse, and mostly red in color. It is conjectured that they were descendants of the first cattle brought into New Hampshire. These came in 1634 from Denmark, were of large size, yellowish in color. This stock existed pure in the west of Maine until 1820. The oxen were famous for size and strength. About 1800, General Derby imported a deep-red bull from Holland to London- derry. If the Sandwich breed came from a crossing of these stocks, they were kin to the original English short-horns. They were extremely popular for a time, brought high prices, but, as their flesh had a greenish-blue tinge, the people would not eat their beef. About 1824, Colonel John Prince imported a North Devon bull to an island in Winnipiseogee lake. This he sold to Elisha Hanson, who brought it to town, and the leading stock-raisers took pains to improve their stock. About 1855, Colonel Joseph Wentworth introduced a prize Devon bull of the famed Hurlburt stock. Stephen Beede also intro- duced the Devon breed a little later.

Freshets. - These are of frequent occurrence in the streams heading among the mountain sides. In Swift river in the north part of the town annual freshets occur of from six to ten feet. In 1844 and 1855 bridges were torn from their foundations; in 1820, 1826, and 1869 (notably 1820), the wild waters

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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.

assumed such a height as to carry terror to all observers. The Hoit house was surrounded by deep, raging torrents, and the family driven from the place. The flood of 1869 assumed, perhaps, still greater dimensions, carrying away bridges of solid construction (one, the Durgin bridge, being bolted to the solid rock with iron bolts two inches through), and working sad havoc all along its course.

Longevity. - The plain fare, steady labor, and health-giving air which sweeps from the mountains have justly given to Sandwich a reputation for longevity of human life, excelled by few places in the habitable globe. In 1884 were living, according to a writer in the Reporter, in one section of the town " Jonathan R. Duntley and John Moulton, born in 1793; Mrs Moulton, only a year or so younger ; John Cook and wife and Mrs Mary Blanchard, born in 1795; William Mason, born in 1796, and Jeremiah P. Moulton in 1798." Mrs Esther Sargent died in 1883, aged over one hundred and four years. Richard Bryant died, aged one hundred and one. Mrs Hurd, born in 1745, died in 1847.

Summer Boarding-houses. - For a long time many of the pleasant farm- houses have been visited annually by swarms of summer visitors who find nowhere purer water, fresher air, or more lovely or fascinating views of awe- inspiring or picturesque scenery than are presented here, and many have made it a business to care for these sojourners. Among the principal ones of those who keep summer boarding-houses are : Alonzo MeCrillis and Oliver L. Ambrose and son on Whiteface intervale. Mr MeCrillis accommodates thirty guests, and Mr Ambrose sixteen ; Samuel D. Wiggin, at Rock Maple Ridge House, entertains thirty ; Jonathan Tappan, Tappan House, thirty ; Samuel Burley, twenty ; Samuel Chase, Burley Hill, twenty ; John A. Marston, fifteen ; Albert Fogg, fifteen. Many others care for a smaller number.

The Present Revenue of the town is derived from hay, fat oxen, wool, early lambs, butter, eggs, maple sugar and syrup (the production of which could probably be doubled), lumber, excelsior, shooks, box-boards, hoe-handles, baskets, interest on government bonds, pensions to soldiers and their families ; while summer boarders pay quite a revenue for their rides, entertainment, "the pure wine of the mountain air," and the enchanting glory of the mountains.

According to the report made to the state department of agriculture in 1889, Sandwich made in the year just ended 103,500 pounds of butter, 200 pounds of cheese, produced 4,125 pounds of wool, used 90 tons of ensilage, 100 tons of commercial fertilizer, and received $6,500 in cash from summer boarders. It is but a short time since an " annual revenue " was received from the state treasurer in the form of ninety dollars bounty for killing nine bears in town, and twenty dollars for one wolf. This can hardly be considered a regular source of income however.

There was a large accession to the population of Sandwich after the

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Revolution, emigration from Dover, Temple, Weare, Rochester, Epping, Gilmanton, Exeter, etc., bringing numerous families of substance, character, and influence. In 1790 the population was 905; in 1800, 1,413; in 1810, 2,232. This emigration continued until 1830. In 1820 it had a population of 2,363 ; in 1830, 2,744. From 1830 the tide of emigration set from, instead of toward, the town, and in the next fifty years it lost nearly eleven hundred of its population. From 1849 to 1855 a large number went to the West, principally to Illinois, where a new Carroll county was populated. Their departure was a severe blow to the town, as some of the ablest citizens were in the list ; among them were the families of Dr Aaron and Henry Howe, Otis and Josiah Cook, James Buswell, Elder James Bean, George Page, Lyman Webster, M. W. Copp, Daniel W. Vittum, Samuel S. Ethridge, John and Henry Prescott, and others. In 1850 the population was 2,577, and from that time there has been a steady decline; in 1860 there were 2,229 inhabitants ; in 1870, 1,854; in 1880, 1,701.

At the breaking out of the Civil War in 1861 Centre Sandwich, and, in fact, the town, was in prosperity. It was quite a manufacturing centre, shoes being made in great numbers. At the call for enlistments some fifty or sixty of the townsmen enlisted. As they were not credited to Sandwich, the town had afterwards to make up the demanded quotas at great expense. This produced high taxes, drove away business enterprises, and depressed home capital, so that it has never attained its manufacturing prominence of ante- bellum days. The loss of the young men who went as soldiers and never returned was a great one to the town, and although almost a generation has passed since the Civil War, it has never recovered from it.

From what has been said the inference might be drawn that the old town is in rapid decay. To the surprise of those who return after years of absence, they find a most flourishing and prosperous town. Wealth, culture, education, flourishing churches, are everywhere found ; while the buildings alone are probably worth more than the entire inventory of the real estate in 1830.

Sandwich is a good farming town and its soil is as varied as its surface. Sand, clay, and loam exist in all their varieties and mixture capable of yielding every production common to the climate. It is not even a wornout soil, but wants only good fertilizers in return for its production, and with proper culture will richly repay the farmer. No town in the state can produce better corn, potatoes, wheat, oat, carrots, and turnips if properly cared for.

According to the inventory of 1889 there are 351 polls in town ; 379 horses, valued $23,846; 400 oxen, valued $17,156; 594 cows, valued $13,698; other neat stock, valued $12,564; 906 sheep, valued $2,404; 30 carriages, valued $1,830; money at interest, $15,190; stock in trade, $9,200; mills and machinery, $3,880; valuation of real estate, $356,138; total valuation, $492,850.

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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.

CHAPTER LIX.

Characteristics of Early Settlers - Emigration - Early Population - Early Commerce and Highways - Place of Settlement - Colonel Jonathan Moulton - The Association Test - Signers' Names - Inventory of 1783 -- Sketches - Daniel Beede - Daniel Beede, jr - Aaron Beede -- Israel Gilman - Ezekiel French - Captain Nathaniel French - Roby French - John Beede - Thomas Beede - Samuel Ambrose - Enoch Hoag - Etc. etc.

HE early settlers were of that strong, positive, intellectual stock which has furnished to the state so many eminent lawyers, jurists, legislators, gov- ernors, and other public worthies, and had they been surrounded by the social and political influences which encompassed their relatives in Rocking- ham county, there is no reason to doubt that they would have occupied as high positions, state and national, as were occupied by them. They were preemi- nently patriots. Only eight out of forty-six voters in 1776 refused to give in their adherence to American independence, and their refusal only came from the non-combatant spirit of the Quaker element. They were honest, religious. industrious citizens, did good men's work fearlessly in their day, and their descendants have demonstrated their worthiness by their advanced positions on moral and religious questions. Their intellectual worth and ability have been recognized in many positions of honor and trust at home and abroad. No town in the state has sent out worthier or more numerous sons to uphold the honor of the place of their nativity and perpetuate the virtues of its carly settlers. It is the leading town of the county in temperance work, and the vote on constitutional prohibition in 1889 was 137 in favor to 61 against.

Emigration. - After the pioneers had established themselves in their rude homes, and reports of the wealth of the soil, its future capabilities, the pro- fusion of the game, moose, bear, etc., the richness and plenitude of the trout in the cool mountain streams, had gone back to the seacoast, the proprietors, who were men of wisdom, soon found ways to make emigration rapid and comparatively easy. The population increased beyond all precedent. In 1775 there were 243 inhabitants ; in 1776, 46 voters. The north part of the town was carly settled. In 1790 there were 905 residents ; in 1800, 1,413. By this time the town was very generally cultivated, and was assuming a high rank among the towns of the state. Orchards of very ancient growth are even now found near the summits of the lower mountains, and many old cellars are still in existence high up in the mountain pastures of Sandwich. Three hundred farms of various sizes on which buildings once stood are now abandoned and have become appendages to other farms, or nature has asserted its wild dominion, and groves of oak and rock-maple now stand where, ninety years

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TOWN OF SANDWICH.

ago, the grim old farmers thrust the sharp sickle into the rank wheat-fields. In 1810 Sandwich was more populous than Dover, Keene, or Rochester, with its 2,232 souls. Every hilltop that was not more than five hundred feet above the general level of the town had its farm buildings set like a city upon a hill.

Early Commerce and Highways. - Communication between Sandwich and the seacoast was much more easy than to many of the towns settled at about the same date, and possibly its population increased faster from that cause. The frozen surface of Winnipiseogee lake gave an easy and advantageous highway in winter, and in summer good navigation. The early roads as much as possible followed the hills, avoiding the swamps and mire of the low grounds. Rivers were to be bridged (in the first place for foot passengers only) by two trees thrown side by side across them, in places where the streams were sufficiently narrow. Paths from one settlement to another were first cleared, then marked by spotted trees. Later came wagon roads. They were cut out about one rod in width, corduroyed in miry places, although inferior to many of the back-lot lanes of the farms of to-day. Quite early in the century the subject of building a new highway to open a commerce between the farmers in eastern Vermont and western New Hampshire with the dealers in West India goods in Portland was much considered. A public highway extended up the easterly slope of Guinea mountain, and far on over the level land towards Guinea pond; then a private way continued to wind among the hills and woods west of Mount Israel, striking the Notch road far up toward Thornton. Just when it fell into disuse does not appear, but traces of it yet exist in the depths of " the forest primeval," and remind us of Thomas Buchanan Read's description of the'

Ancient road that winds deserted Round the margin of the hill.

Some time from 1812 to 1815 the first chaises appeared on the roads, and from the latter date rapid improvement occurred in their care. The county road to Thornton has from the very first been an onerous tax to Sandwich.

It seems somewhat remarkable that the remote parts of the town should have been so early settled and so soon after abandoned. This is especially true of North Sandwich. Southwesterly from Birch intervale an ancient road extended toward the Whiteface intervale, which as early as 1810 had been abandoned. Northwesterly from Aaron Beede's Whiteface farm, an ancient highway extended upon the lower spur of Flat mountain, where an ancient orchard bears witness that the hand of industry has been there. This was once the home of John McGaffey, the grandfather of Eliphalet McGaffey and Josiah McGaffey, whose title-deeds are dated in 1786.

From Weed's mill a highway extended westerly along the southerly slope of Young mountain, as far as the General Hoit pasture, and then extended

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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.

northwesterly up to the Goodwin pasture; the whole distance being nearly four miles. On this road were ten houses, none of which now remains. From this same road another highway extended north between the higher and lower summits of Young mountain, on which several inhabitants then resided. A highway extended from Jonathan Beede's (now Jonathan 'Tappan's) up the east side of Guinea mountain, and it is still in dispute whether nine or sixteen families lived there. The school district, of which this mountain formed a part, numbered one hundred scholars. The orchards still remain, or a part of them, but appear as if rough weather had been to the windward of them for a hundred years. This very season the white rose has bloomed around the door- ways where once stood the ancient houses, and the whole scene seems

Rich in the uncultivated loveliness Of gardens long run wild.

Almost a hundred years ago the old two-story double houses began to be built, and the fashion of the day was to build chimneys of such enormous bulk as to defy tempests and earthquakes and all the destructive elements of earth and air.

Bricks were made as early as 1790 on the Samuel H. Burleigh place and on the Leander Pierce place ; the bricks used in the house built by Major Aaron Quimby in 1796 came from these yards. Soon after other yards were opened on the Asahel Wallace place, the Amos Gale place, the McCrillis place, the George Hoyt place, and elsewhere.

Place of Settlement. - As stated elsewhere, Judge Beede's daughter Phebe gives the place of first settlement to be on Wentworth hill. Judge Hill says : " Tradition has it that the first settlement in Sandwich was made near Little pond. I believe in this matter history and tradition agree. The first tree cut down was near the same pond."

Colonel Jonathan Moulton, a large proprietor of Moultonborough, resided in Hampton, and assumed the right to sit as representative for the district composed of Sandwich, Tamworth, and Moultonborough. He thus appeared in 1776, but in consequence of a remonstrance sent from Sandwich, the con- vention, December 27, 1776, caused a new precept to be sent to the selectmen of Sandwich for the election of another representative. Still, whenever no representative was sent after this, Colonel Moulton would appear for the district. There were sharp disputes and conflicting claims of lands under the grants of Moultonborough, Tamworth, and Sandwich, as early as 1775; litiga- tion and suits of trespass in court were in progress, and Moulton's place in the legislature was advantageous to the claims of his town and clients. These disputes were kept up for twenty years, when the last of several committees appointed to settle them reported in favor of Sandwich; finding "that the

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TOWN OF SANDWICH.

disputes kept up by General Moulton appeared to them more calculated for private emolument than for the good of the proprietors or the peace of the people."

The Association Test and Sandwich signers. - We, the subscribers, do solemnly engage and promise that we will, at the risk of our lives and fortunes, with arms, oppose the hostile proceedings of the British Fleets and Armies against the United American Colonies.

Isaac George (1), Nathaniel Knowls (2), Henry Weed (3), Richard Sinkler (4), Jeremiah Page (3), David Bean (6), Christopher Tappan (7), Bagley Weed (8), Samuel Brown (9), Jonathan Page (10), John Page (11), John Prescott (12), Jacob Smith (13), Israel Gilman (14), Simeon Smith (15), Eliphalet Maxfield (16), Enoch True (17), Joseph Iloit (18), Thomas Burley (19), Daniel Beede (20), Elias Ladd (21), Elias Smith (22), Nathl. Ethridge (23), Benj. Atkinson (24), John Glidden (25), Benj. Bean (26), Edward Smith (27). John Ladd (28), Jeremiah Hilton (29), Daniel Beede, Jr (30), Mieah Rice (31), Joshua Preseott (32), Benj. Blanchard (33), Josiah Bean (34), Edward Wells (35), Elias Ladd, Jr (36), Nathaniel Seribner (37).

In pursuance of the request of the government set up at Exeter, we have asked all male inhabitants of Sandwich who are above twenty one years of age to sign the above declara- tion ; and the above signed the same; and the following are the names of those who refused to sign : -

Jacob Jewell (38), Benj. Seribner (39), Moses Weed (40), Nathaniel Weed (41), Henry Weed, Jr (42), Mark Jewell (43), Jacob Weed (44), Nathan Beede (45), Aaron Beede (46).

Test : June 15, 1776.

Mark Jewell, Joshua Preseott, § Seleetmen of Sandwich, N. H.

Inventory of the Pools & Estats of Sandwich as taken in 1783 by Dan" Beede and Bagley Weed Select Men of Sandwich.

Polls, 33; Slaves, 0; orehard, 0; Arable land, 76 aeres ; Mowing land, 117 aeres; Pasture land, 80 acres; Horses, 2; Mares, 1; Colts, 0; oxen, 18; Cows, 45; three years old, 4; Two years old, 27; Yearlins, 9; Mills, 0; Wharves, 0; ferries, 0; Money &e, 200 L M; Stock in trade, 0.

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History of Carroll County, New Hampshire, Part 80

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