History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire, Part 106

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis
Number of Pages: 1200

USA > New Hampshire > Sullivan County > History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 106
USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 106

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

THE FARRINGTON PAPER-MILL .- On the same privilege, and drawing water from the same pond, but on the north side of the river, is a large, well- appointed paper-mill, owned and operated by the S. T. Coy Paper Company. This mill has been built within the last two years, on the site occupied fifty years ago, more or less, by Leonard and Hiram Gilmore, brothers, for a blacksmith-forge and trip-hammer shop, where they made axes and other edge-tools, carried on a general blacksmith- ing business and made heavy mill irons for many years. Subsequently on this same spot was a paper-mill where straw wrapping-paper was made,

owned and operated successively by Daniel F. Maynard and John S. Farrington.

COLONEL BENJAMIN TYLER'S SMELTING AND IRON-WORKING ESTABLISHMENT .- Simeon Ide is authority for the statement that " soon after build- ing his grist mill, in 1766, as before noted, Colonel Benjamin Tyler put a dam across the river, a few rods where the Sullivan Railroad Company's ' High Bridge' now stands, and built a small shop in which he had a forge, a trip-hammer and other tools for manufacturing mill irons and other heavy articles, from iron ore, which (I am told by one of his grandsons) he drew from a lot of ground just below the sc-called 'Dry Saw-Mill,' two or three miles north of Charlestown Street. Here he did a large and lucrative business for twenty years or more, employing (my said in- formant says), a great part of the time, some twenty or thirty hands. He died in 1814, aged eighty-one.

" In 1800 Colonel Tyler put in operation, at or near the site of the Jarvis paper-mill, what was known as the ' Flax-Mill' in those days, the use of which was to prepare flax for the old hand spinning-wheel."

BANKS.

THE CLAREMONT BANK, capital, $60,000, was in operation as early as 1826. The date of its charter is not known to the writer. Geo. B. Upham was president; James H. Bingham, cashier ; directors, Geo. B. Upham, John Tap- pan, Samuel Fiske, Leonard Jarvis, David Dex- ter, Phineas Handerson, Godfrey Stephens. About 1842 Erastus Glidden became cashier. His business was wound up between 1844 and 1846. The officers at that time were George B. Upham, president ; Erastus Glidden, cashier ; Directors, George B. Upham, George N. Farwell, Ambrose Cossit, William H. Farwell, John W. Tappan, Nicholas Farwell, Samuel Glidden.

CLAREMONT BANK, chartered and organized in 1848. Ambrose Cossit, president ; Uriel Dean, cashier ; Directors Nicholas Farwell, Am- brose Cossit, Issac F. Weshorbe, William Ros-

CLAREMONT.

siter, George N. Farwell, Worchester Jones, Thomas Sanford. In April, 1851, Mr. Dean resigned and George N. Farwell was elected cashier in this place, and in March, 1853, his son, John L. Farwell, was elected assistant cashier. In March, 1856, Mr. Farwell resigned and John L. Farwell was elected cashier.

On November 22, 1864, the organization was changed to the Claremont National Bank, under the laws of the United States. George N. Far- well, president ; John L. Farwell, cashier ; Di- rectors, George N. Farwell, Thomas Sanford, Nathaniel Tolles, Aurelius Dickinson, Lewis Perry, Jotham G. Allds, Charles H. Eastman. Present capital, $150,000. In October, 1881, provision was made for a vice-president, and John L. Farwell was elected to that position, and his son, George N. Farwell (2d), was elected cash- ier.

Nicholas Farwell, who was a director in the old bank, was the father of George N., grandfather of John L., and great-grandfather of George N. Farwell 2d. It will thus be noticed that four generations of the Farwell family have been successfully and prominently connected with the financial history of Clare- mont; and that at the present time the un- usual record is made of three generations occupy- ing official positions in the Claremont National Bank, viz .: George N. Farwell, president ; his son, John L. Farwell, vice-president, and his grandson, George N. Farwell (2d), Cashier.

SULLIVAN SAVINGS INSTITUTION was chartered by the New Hampshire Legislature in 1838; organized in 1847, and commenced business in 1848. President, Ambrose Cossit; Treasurer, George N. Farwell. After the institution was organized and well started in business, Mr. Far- well resigned and Samuel C. Bailey was elected treasurer in his place. January 7th, 1882, Mr. Cossit resigned the presidency, and Timothy East- man was elected president, and George N. Far- well was again chosen treasurer. On January 2d, 1856, John L. Farwell was elected treasurer. At that time the deposits amounted to $134,265.24.

January 5th, 1859, Albro Blodgett was elected president, in place of Timothy Eastman, deceased. Jannary 2d, 1861, Albro Blodgett resigned and Jonas Livingston was chosen in his place. Mr. Blodgett was re-elected January 4th, 1865. Dan- iel W. Johnson was elected president January 5th, 1870. February 7th, 1874, Mr. Farwell resigned the treasurership, and Albert Rossiter was elected in his place. December 27th, 1882, Mr. Rossiter resigned, and John L. Farwell was re-elected.

At the last annual meeting, January 7, 1885, the report of the treasurer showed Deposits, $1,- 116,932.91 ; surplus, $16,065.64 ; guaranty fund, $60.000. The whole number of depositors was 2852.

These banks were originally located on Broad Street, on the site of the present residence of Geo. L. Balcom. In 1853 they were removed to the north end of Farwell's Block, Tremont Square. In 1876 these corporations united in erecting the building now occupied by them at a cost of $28 .- 000. This was constructed with especial reference to the needs of the banks, and they took posses- sion in 1877.

ECCLESIASTICAL.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. - As has been stated the first denomination to have stated preaching and to settle a minister in Claremont was the Congregational, and the inhabitants of this faith were by far the most numerous when the town was first settled. Rev. George Wheaton was ordained and settled here February 19, 1772; died June 24, 1773. Rev. Augustine Hibbard was settled October 19, 1774; dismissed December 28, 1785.

The most reliable account we have of the first meeting-house is, that a building to be used as a Congregational meeting-house was erected near what is known as the Harvey Draper place, on the road to the Junction, in 1785; that in 1790 it was taken down and removed in pieces to the location of the present town-house, and there put together again, and the next year was finished inside. In 1808 the east tower and the front, or circular por-

HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

tion were added. From that time until 1835, when the new Congregational Church, on Pleasant Street, was erected, this building was used both as a church and town-house. After that date its use for a church was abandoned.

There was no settled pastor from the time of Mr. Hibbard's dismission until March 9, 1796, when John Tappan was ordained. He was dismissed in 1802. He was excommunicated from the church the following year, entered mercantile life, and remained in town until his death. For about two years, from August, 1803, Rev. Elijah Brainerd was acting pastor. Under him the church was re- organized by the adoption of more explicit articles of Faith and Covenant, and Rules of Discipline. The members of the church were enrolled for the first time, so far as appears, in 1804. The names of sixteen male members and of twenty female members are recorded at that time.

Rev. Stephen Farley was installed December 24, 1806. His pastorate closed April 4, 1819. The " Church Manual," published in 1879, says :

"The first marked revival occurred in 1816 ; as a result fifty-four were added to the church on pro- fession of faith in that year. This work of grace, however, brought no peace. The pastor's attitude in relation to it was not satisfactory to those most active in promoting it, and he seems not to have enjoyed the confidence of the new converts. The result was divisions in the church and a painful want of har- mony between the church and the society, the latter sympathizing strongly with the pastor. During the years 1819 and 1820 no new members were received. Not long after his dismission Mr. Farley became openly a Unitarian."

The Claremont Congregational Society was formed February 20, 1806, and held its first meet- ing June 9th of that year. Up to this time parish meetings were called by the selectmen of the town, and the records kept by the town clerk. " The Congregational Society of Claremont" was incorporated June 20, 1815.

"The society took the lead in calling the next pastor, Rev. Jonathan Nye. He received and accepted the society's call in the autumn of 1820. But it was not until the May following that the church was pre-

vailed upon to accept him, and then not without many misgivings. He was installed June 6, 1821, not, however, to enjoy a quiet ministry. Those were day of discipline in more than a single sense, of which the aged speak with sorrow. The misgivings of the church proved too well founded. Mr. Nye was dis- missed in 1828."

Tradition has it that after Mr. Nye was dis- missed from his pastorate, charges were preferred against him as an unworthy member of the church, and he submitted to a trial of considerable length. The charges seemed to have been substantiated by proof, and Mr. Nye was called upon for any answer which he might have to make. He arose, and in a very cool and respectful manner said, in substance, that he had listened very attentively to the proceedings, and while doing so it had oc- curred to him that if he was to be turned out of the church, it might be necessary for him to join first. The fact was that he had never been admitted as a member of the Congregational Church.

Difficulty arose again in the choice of a new minister. In a meeting of the society forty-two votes were cast in favor of calling Mr. Moses Thomas, a Unitarian, and but forty-four against. Mr. Elijah Paine was finally called by the church with the concurrence of the society, and ordained April 1st, 1829. His ministry was marked by earnest, evangelical preaching, and eighty were added to the church on profession of faith in 1830 and 1831. Strong ground was taken in the cause of temperance. It was voted in 1833, " That this Church admit no more members to her Communion as regular members, unless they first sign a pledge to abstain from all use of ardent spirits as a beverage." Mr. Paine was dismissed Nov. 14th, 1833.

Rev. Tertius D. Southworth was installed June 18th, 1834. A Mr. Burchard was laboring as a revivalist at this period with neighboring churches, and Mr. Southworth was opposed to his methods, and was thought to have hastened the termination of his pastorate, which occurred July 31st, 1838.

CLAREMONT.

Rev. Robert F. Lawrence was installed January 16th, 1839. His labors seemed to be crowned with success, and more than forty were added to the church in that year. In 1842, in union meetings, the entire town was moved, and forty- one were added to this church. Another revival occurred in 1853.

In 1840 twenty- eight members of the church, many of whom were thought to be good Christians, were suspended from church privileges, on ac- count of their having subscribed to a " Covenant of Christians, who, irrespective of religious denomi- nations, decide on cultivating unitedly holiness of heart and a millenial spirit." Some were sub- sequently restored, but thirteen were finally ex- communicated September 15th, 1841. Mr. Law- rence's ministry continued until January 24th, 1863, twenty-four years.

Rev. Edward W. Clark was installed February 25th, 1864, and on account of failing health was dismissed June 10th, 1870. The following year the meeting-house was remodeled inside, and newly furnished. Rev. Levi Rodgers was or- dained and installed pastor October 19th, 1871. Mr. Rodgers resigned April 10th, and was dis- missed May 5th, 1880. Rev. A. J. McGown was called April 19th, 1881 ; installed pastor Novem- ber 10th, 1881; resigned on account of the death of his wife, September 24th, 1882; dismissed October 24th, 1882.

Rev. Frank P. Tompkins was called to the pastorate December 26th, 1881, and was installed June 19th, 1883, since which he has labored with this church.

EPISCOPAL CHURCH .- On the 28th of April, 1769, a memorial of the inhabitants of Clare- mont, addressed to the " Reverend Clergy of the Church of England and Missionaries of the venerable S. P. G. F. P., to be con- vened at New Milford, in the Colony of Con- necticut in Trinity week," and signed by Abel Bachelor, Her. Rice, Micah Potter, Cornelius Brooks, Benjamin Tyler, Ebenezer Price, Daniel Warner, Levi Warner, Asa Leet, Benjamin

Brooks, Benjamin Brooks, Jr., and Benjamin Rice, it was represented that

" The land here is exceedingly. burdened with tim- ber, which renders the cultivation of it very laborious. However, the little we have brought under cultivation is abundantly fruitful, so that (God willing) most of the necessaries of life will be plentiful. That some of us have numerous families of small children fit for schooling. The number of children under 16 years of age is 35. There are about two families of dissenters to one of ours. We are grieved at the thought of having them brought up in ignorance, and dread their becoming a prey to enthusiasts and being carried away by every wind of doctrine. We believe a good school lays the foundation for a sober, godly and righteous life; and since Samuel Cole, Esq., has been much employed in keeping school and is an inhabitant and proprietor among us (whose character and qualifications some of you know well), we humbly desire you would be pleased to represent our state to the venerable Society, and endeavor that he may be appointed Catechist and Schoolmaster among us a few years till we have got over the first difficulties and hardships of a wild, uncultivated country."

During the two years preceding the date of this memorial the population had largely increased. The accessions were mainly Congregationalists, and that continued to be the rule in after-years. The first minister of the Episcopal Church, who is known to have officiated here, was the Rev. Sam- uel Peters, of Hebron, Conn. He was a mission- ary of the Society for the Propagation of the Gos- pel, and, several years subsequently, was chosen Bishop of the Diocese of Vermont, though never consecrated. As early as 1768 he made an exten- sive missionary tour through Vermont, and, in the fall of 1770, he visited the towns along the Con- necticut River, both in New Hampshire and Ver- mont. Of the latter journey he gave the follow- ing account :

" Upon the 10thi of September I left Hebron, taking my clerk with me. We arrived among the poor im- migrants upon the 16th of said month. The bank of the west side of the river is in the government of New York, lately taken from New Hampshire gov- ernment-a territory now sufficient for two large

HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

counties, viz .: Cumberland and Gloucester; the latter having only one independent teacher (poor enough), the former without any kind of a teacher. Yet in both counties are several thousand souls, who live without the means of grace, destitute of knowledge, laden down with ignorance and covered with poverty. On the east side of the river are many settlements begun whose inhabitants much resemble their neighbors in every uncomfortable property. Among these people I spent four weeks, traveling from place to place, preaching and baptizing, the people being careful to attend divine service, many waiting for a elergyman to reside among them, viz .: in the towns of Clare- mont, Strafford, Thetford, Moretown, Windsor, Orford, Haverhill, and being so nigh one another that one clergyman might accommodate the whole."

There is no mention in this narrative of his having organized the church in Claremont at that time. In an article in the Churchman's Magazine, of August, 1805, it is stated that "this church was organized by the Rev. Samuel Peters, in or about the year 1771," and in the documentary history of the church in Vermont, it is positively asserted that in "1771 he was on missionary duty in the western part of New Hampshire and organ- ized the church in Claremont."

The first record of a parish or vestry-meeting in this town is as follows :

" November, 1773. Being the first Vestry-meeting holden after the Rev. Ranna Cossit returned from England with Holy orders, at which Samuel Cole, Esq., was appointed elerk ; Captain Benjamin Brooks and Lieutenant Benjamin Tyler were chosen war- den3; Daniel Warner, Asa Leet and Ebenezer Rice were chosen vestrymen."

The late Rev. Isaac G. Hubbard, D.D., then rector of Trinity Church, Claremont, in an histor- ical address, delivered at Union Church, West Claremont, on the occasion of the centenary of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Claremont, September 27, 1871, and from which address much of our data is derived, said :

"The discouragements and privations attending the position of a missionary over such an outpost in the wilderness may readily be conceived. They must have been great enough in periods of ordinary quietness, for his people were struggling, with small

resources, under the necessity of lifting off, before they could mark the ground from which to derive their support, the burden of a dense forest, the growth of centuries. They had, also, first to pay their rate or tax, as did all the people of the town, for the sup- port of the Congregational order."

Mr. Cossit said :

" Dr. Hubbard was surrounded by constantly in- creasing numbers who were hostile to their faith and worship, which he was commissioned to uphold and defend. And, as for support for himself and family (to say nothing of the luxuries with which ministers, in those days, were in no danger of being pampered), he might pray for his daily bread, but, so far as human eye could see or human help appeared, the prospect was very dismal. We find, in the records, no men- tion, at the time of his settlement, of any salary be- yond the sum of thirty pounds sterling allowed him as missionary by the venerable society. But in 1777, at the Easter meeting, it ' was agreed by the Vestry to give the Rev. Ranna Cossit thirty pounds lawful money for preaching the last year.' This proved too heavy a burden, and in 1778 they ' agreed to give Mr. Cossit fifteen pounds for the year ensuing.'"

In January, 1781, they "agreed with the Rev. Ranna Cossit to give him thirty pounds for a year ending at Christmas, allowing him four Sundays to visit vacant churches. And the Rev. Ranna Cossit agrees to throw by all other business and apply himself to the work of the ministry." This probably continued to be his salary until he left. " The support, however, proved inadequate, with the utmost economy, to protect him from the galling bondage of debt. An anecdote is related of him, which appears authentic, and which I give as show- ing the power of patient endurance to develop a noble magnanimity. He had given his note to a prominent man and landholder in the town, to an amount about equal to his yearly income. He had already paid some small instalments upon the note, together with the interest, when, one day, his creditor called upon him and demanded the whole amount. Mr. Cossit replied that it was out of his power to pay any portion of it immediately, but that when his salary became due he would pay a definite sum, which he named. This answer was not satis- factory ; the whole sum must be paid at the time

CLAREMONT.

mentioned. The minister replied that it would be impossible. He must reserve enough to buy bread for his family. 'Unless you promise to pay me then,' said the creditor, 'I shall sue you at once and take all you have.' 'You can do that,' he answered. 'You can attach my furniture, my library and my horse; you can confine me in jail. But you will not obtain nearly enough from my effects to satisfy your claims, and you will put it out of my power, not only to sup- port myself and those dependent upon me, but to re- deem my pledge to you, which, God being my helper, shall certainly be fulfilled in a reasonable time.' But the creditor clung to the pound of flesh, and, as he departed, he loudly proclaimed his intention to bring an execution that very night. Seeing him inexorable and blank ruin staring him in the face, the good man went to the door and called back the hard usurer, and said, 'My friend, if you are deter- mined to carry out this purpose you will need your note. When you were here to get the last payment which is indorsed on it, you inadvertently left it on my table. I have kept it safely. Here it is, sir.' It is hardly necessary to say that the note was not sued, and that the minister took his own time in which to pay it. But greater trials than these awaited both minister and people.

" We can hardly estimate aright at this distant day, and in the midst of circumstances so greatly changed, the position in which churchmen found themselves at the breaking out of the Revolutionary War. The period of religious toleration had not arrived, and the spirit of ancient contests, which had raged for centuries iu the old world and in a measure spent their force, was here revived in all its intense bigotry and malignity. It was not any fear of such men as Samuel Cole and Ranna Cossit, in a civil point of view, that led to their cruel persecution and abuse. Doubtless, they were loyal to the government, and most warmly attached to the Church of England. But they were peaceable, law-abiding men. There was no treachery or sedition in them. Their own principles taught them to obey the powers that be. While the great struggle was going on they could not be hired nor driven to take up arms against the King, neither would they take up arms, nor plot nor conspire against the lives and happiness of their fellow-citizens. They desired to remain quiet and await the decision of Providence. And when that decision came, if it were adverse to their hopes, they

would be as faithful and obedient to the new govern- ment as they had been to the old.

"The speaker is not attempting to defend their political position. His own ancestors, though church- men, were on the other side. The blood of a Revolu- tionary soldier flows in his veins, and he has been nurtured from infancy on the bread of liberty. It was not incompatible with church principles to espouse the cause of the Republic. When the civil power was shaken, under which they had reposed in safety, when the Provincial Governor had fled to the northern dominions of the Crown, then the storm burst on their defenseless heads.'"

Dr. Hubbard read two letters, the first from Colonel John Peters to his brother, the Rev. Sam- uel Peters, in London, and the other from the Rev. Ranna Cossit. Colonel Peters' letter was dated Quebec, July 20, 1778, and was as follows :

" Rev. Dr. Wheelock, President of Dartmouth Col- lege, in New Hampshire, in conjunction with Deacon Bayley, Mr. Morey and Mr. Hurd, all justices of the peace, put an end to the Church of England in this State, so early as 1775. They seized me, Capt. Peters and all the judges of Cumberland and Gloucester, the Rev. Mr. Cossit and Mr. Cole, and all the Church people for 200 miles up the river (Connecticut), and confined us in close goals, after beating and drawing us through water and mud. Here we lay some time and were to continue in prison until we abjured the king and signed the league and covenant. Many died ; one of which was Capt. Peters' son. We were re- moved from the goal and confined in private houses at our own expense. Capt. Peters and myself were guarded by twelve rebel soldiers, while sick in bed, and we paid dearly for this honor ; and others fared in like manner. I soon recovered from my indisposi- tion, and took the first opportunity and fled to Cana- da, leaving Cossit, Cole, Peters, Willis, Porter, Sumner, Paptin, etc., in close confinement, where they had mise- ry, insults and sickness enough. My flight was in 1776, since which my family arrived at Montreal, and in- form me that many prisoners died; that Capt. Peters had been tried by court-martial and ordered to be shot for refusing to lead his company against the King's troops. He was afterwards reprieved, but still in goal, and that he was ruined both in health and property ; that Cossit and Cole were alive when they came away, but were under confinement, and had

HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

more insults than any of the loyalists, because they had been servants of the Society, which, under pre- tense (as the rebels say) of propagating religion, had propagated loyalty, in opposition to the liberties of America."

Mr. Cossit's letter to the secretary of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel was as follows: NEW YORK, June 6, 1779.

" I arrived in this city last Sunday, by permission, with a flag, and am to return in a few days. I trust the Society cannot be unacquainted with the perse- cutions the loyalists have endured in New England. I have been by the committee confined as prisoner, in the town of Claremont, ever since the 12th of April, 1775; yet God has preserved my life from the people. I have constantly kept up public service, without any omissions, for the King and royal family, and likewise made use of the prayer for the high court of parliament, and the prayer to be used in time of war and tumults; have administered the Lord's Supper on every first Sunday in the month, except two Sundays that we could not procure any wine. The numbers of my parishioners and commu- nicants in Claremont are increased, but I have been cruelly distressed with fines for refusing entirely to fight against the King. In sundry places where I used to officiate, the church people are all dwindled away. Some have fled to the King's army for protec- tion ; some were banished ; and many died."

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History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire, Part 106

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis Number of Pages: 1200

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis
Number of Pages: 1200