History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire, Part 98

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 98
USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire > Part 98

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).

proposals ; the other half at the year's end and so yearly, the time he shall continue our minister."

In addition to the above, it was " Voted, that the town will give or provide Mr. Olcott thirty cords of wood, annually brought to his door during the time he shall continue to be our minister : to begin to provide him his wood, as above said, at the time he shall keep house by himself."

His ordination took place on the 28th of May, 1761.

Such had been the changes in Charlestown, owing to the war and the circumstances of the dis- mission of Mr. Dennis, that it was deemed best, at the ordination and installation of Mr. Olcott, that a new church should be organized, which was accordingly done. This consisted, so far as males were concerned, of Mr. Olcott and nine others, viz. : Isaac Parker, Seth Walker, Seth Putnam, Stephen Farnsworth, Ebenezer Putnam, Thomas Putnam, Joel Matthews, William Heywood and John Spafford. Of this church Ebenezer Putnam was installed the first deacon. The female members, owing to the loss of the church records, cannot now be ascertained.

On the 11th of August, 1760, before the settle- ment of Mr. Olcott, the town voted to build a log house for public worship, of the following dimen- sions, viz. : thirty-four feet long, twenty feet wide, and eight feet between joints ; and to place it on Meeting-House Hill. They voted twenty pounds, lawful money, to be levied on the inhabitants for building the house, provided so much should be needed A committee was appointed to see to and forward the building, with directions that it should be completed by the last day of the following Sep- tember. On the 17th day of the following October the town voted to raise the further sum of ten pounds, lawful money, for the purpose of " finishing the house so far as to build seats, glaze the house, finish the pulpit, so far as needful, make window- shutters and calk the said house."

The house was completed in 1768.

Mr. Olcott became an efficient agent in helping forward the prosperity of the place. Under the

HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

influence of his guiding and directing mind the church prospered, education made progress, and society became both more cultivated and orderly ; and he did much in every respect by his instrumen- tality for laying that foundation of prosperity and respectability which the town for a long series of years so abundantly enjoyed. He died June 26 1793.

During a period of seventeen years the parish remained destitute of stated preaching. During the latter portion of this period, however, Rev. Daniel Foster supplied. He died in 1809.

His successor was Rev. Jaazaniah Crosby, D. D., who was installed October 17, 1810. He became a Unitarian, and in 1835 a number of the church members, who could not follow his teachings, with- drew and organized what is now the Congregational Church. Dr. Crosby officiated until 1855, when he resigned the main charge of the parish, and had the following colleagues : Revs. Adam Ayer Edward Baker and L. Stone. He, however, as- sisted occasionally until 1863 He died December 30, 1864. Hle was succeeded by Rev. John M. Merrick, who commenced his labors April 1, 1879, and continued until his death, March 19, 1870. Rev. Eugene De Normandie became pastor July 1, 1871, and remained until April 1, 1876. He was succeeded by Rev. A. S. Nickerson, who began his ministry June 1, 1876, closed June 1, 1878 ; Rev. A. E. Mullett, began his ministry October 1, 1878, closed January 1, 1880 ; Rev. T. D. Howard, began his ministry March 1, 1880, and is the present pastor.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH .-- The Congrega- tional Church was formed August 1, 1835, with thirty-five members who had withdrawn from the old church in consequence of the Unitarian views expressed by Dr. Crosby. The first pastor was Rev. Joseph Curtis, who remained about one year. His successors were Rev. John C. Wilder, J. De Forest Richards, from 1841 to 1851 ; Worthington Wright, from 1851 to 1855. After the dismission of Mr. Wright the church was without a settled pastor until 1874. The pulpit was supplied, how- ever, during this time by stated supplies, among

whom were Revs. J. G. Wilson, Joseph Garland, F. Shattuck, S. G. Tenney and Henry H. Saunder- son, from October 10, 1864, to October 10, 1873. Rev. George W. Kinne was installed April 29, 1874, and remained until April, 1876 ; Benjamin Labarce and Rev. Ezra Alden were temporary supplies until Rev. George HI. Dunlap, from August 23, 1877, to March, 1881. Rev. George H. French has been the minister since April, 1881.

The first services of this church were held in the old court-house until the erection of the church edifice, in 1839.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH .- The first Methodist Society in this town was formed in 1801. A society was incorporated July 3, 1827, with the following members: Jacob Wright, Nathan Howard, John Metcalf, J. B. Hubbard and Thomas Whipple.

The following is a list of pastors of the church :

1836, Rev. Zeb. Twitchel; 1837-38, Rev. Amos Kidder ; 1839, Rev. Silas Quimby ; 1840-42, Rev. Benjamin C. Eastman ; 1843, Rev. Samuel 1. Cush- ing; 1844, Rev. Amon S. Tenney ; 1845, supplied by Rev. G. W. Y. Rogers ; 1846, by Rev. Thomas H. Rood; 1847, Stephen Eastman ministered; 1848, Rev. Jared Perkins ; 1849, Rev. Richard Newhall ; 1850-51, Rev. Matthew Newhall; 1852-53, Rev. Simeon P. Heath ; 1854, Rev. Charles H. Chase ; 1855-56, Rev. Nelson Martin; 1857, Rev. John English ; 1858-59, Rev. R. Edmund Danforth; 1860-61, Rev. Joseph Faucet ; 1862, supplied by the Rev. A. C. Dutton ; 1863-65, Rev. Silas Quimby ministered to them; 1866-67, Rev. Lucien W. Prescot; 1868, Rev. Samuel J. Robinson ; 1869-71, Rev. Joseph H. Hilman ; 1872, Rev. Andrew L. Kendall; 1873-74, Rev. Charles E. Rogers ; 1875- 77, Rev. George F. Wells ; 1878-80, Rev. Joseph Hayes; 1881-83, Rev. George N. Bryant; Rev. A. R. Lunt, from April, 1884, to present time.

ST. LUKE'S CHURCH .- The Episcopal Church in this town was organized April 18, 1822, the chief movers in the enterprise being Roys Jones, Dr. Putnam Barron, Shaler Towner, Thomas and Daniel Whipple, James Meacham, David Parker and others.

In 1829 the name of the church was changed to St. Luke's.

CATHERINES

"WOODSIDE."

RESIDENCE OF SHERMAN PARIS, CHARLESTOWN, N. H.

CHARLESTOWN.

The first rector was Rev. James B. Howe. His successors were Revs. George Richardson, Edward Ballard, Darius Barker, Henry S. Smith and Edward Livermore.

From 1841 to 1860 there were no regular services held in town. In that year services were com- menced, and March 23, 1863, a parish organization was effected with the following officers: Porter Spencer, senior warden; George Olcott, Jr., and Richardson Robertson, vestrymen. The church edifice was erected in 1863, and consecrated De- cember 11 th of that year. It was beautified and enlarged in 1869. The first rector of the church was Rev. Francis Chase, who remained until May, 1874 He was succeeded by Rev. R. M. Berkeley, who officiated until May 30, 1882 ; Rev. Charles F. Sweet was rector from October 1, 1882, to May 1, 1883; Rev. Henry L. Phillips was in charge from July 1, 1883 to September 9, 1884; since which time the parish has had no settled rector.

" WOODSIDE"-Charlestown is, as a town, not only of interest on account of the reminiscences of the exploits of early days, when the valor of its inhabitants saved it from extermination by the merciless savages ; not only from the stern integ- rity, the industry, the perseverance and the intel- ligence of its settlers, the wealth of its productive farms, the charms of the picturesque mountain scenery and ever-changing views which so divers- ify the lovely Connecticut Valley ; not only from the massive intellects which, reared under the shadow of its hills and on the borders of its waters, have attained the fullness of ripe maturity and gone forth to occupy prominent positions of honor and distinction in the service of the State, and in the fields of law, literature, religion and science, among whom the names of Gilchrist, Cushing, Ol- cott and Hubbard are conspicuous, but on account of the cultured taste that, combined with the kind profusion of nature, have made it a summer re- sort which those who are "to the manor born," and the stranger, tarrying for a brief period amid its beauties, alike pronounce one of the most en- joyable and attractive to be found in many a mile of distance, and to combine many of the lovely

features found by Dr. Johnson in his fabled " Val- ley of Rasselas." The magnificent elms, towering in arching columns of strength and beauty over the broad, clean streets, the quiet calm and restful- ness that here comes to soothe the tired spirit, the perfect healthfulness of the climate and the taste- ful residences and their artistic surroundings, all blend in painting upon the canvas of the mind a picture of rural joy and sylvan happiness which will not soon be obliterated.

Among the loveliest of the homes so pleasantly and thickly scattered through the village is " Woodside," the residence of Sherman Paris, a business man of New York City, who, while traveling in 1867, passed a few days in Charles- town, became acquained with its beauties and pur- chased the " Old Olcott Place," with the view of keeping it as a country-seat, but, perceiving the rare advantages of the locality, he remodeled and enlarged the house for a permanent residence, laid out the grounds according to the most approved methods of modern landscape gardening, built ex tensive green-houses and graperies, a " pavilion," or summer-house, which, for lightness, neatness and beauty of its architecture, is, perhaps, unsur- passed by any structure of its kind in the country ; and, with his artistic tastes and the means to grat- ify them, he has made " Woodside " and its sur- roundings "a thing of beauty and a joy " to every passer-by.

Floriculture is here brought, as near as possible, to perfection, and the garden is not surpassed by any in New Hampshire. Imagine thousands upon thousands of the finest green house flowers and plants, with their varied hues, placed into the open ground, and one may get something of a concep- tion of the sight which awaits the visitor. The luxuriant hedges are the wonder of the country- rivaling those of England-and are an object of interest to many English tourists, who are drawn to Charlestown especially to see them. But the pen of the writer cannot, in any adequate manner, describe the beauties and perfections of " Wood- side." It should be seen and enjoyed by every lover of the picturesque.

HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

CHAPTER IV.

CHARLESTOWN-( Continued).

Educational-First Schools-Early Votes of the Town- Private Schools-Masonic History-Faithful Lodge, No. 12-List of Physicians-Lawyers-Connecticut River Bank-Connecticut River National Bank Robbery of Bank-The Town Hall-Civil lfistory-Town Clerks from 1753-1885-Representatives from 1768-1885.

EDUCATIONAL .- The first reference on the old town records to the subject of schools is under date of August 12, 1763, when it was

" Voted 1st, on the 4th Article that the town will pay for schooling past, viz. : Doct. Taylor and Samuel Stevens, Esq. Dissent entered, viz. : James Porter, Seth Walker, Jr., Simon Sartwell, Jos. Willard, Lieut. John Sawyer, James Nutting Willard, Moses Willard and James Farnsworth, all appeared and objected against the foregoing vote and paid for entering the same.

" Voted 2d, on the 4th Article that there shall be a school kept in the town for the future.

" Voted 3d, on 2d Article that the school shall be kept in different parts of the town, in proportion to what each part shall pay towards said school.

" Voted 4th, on 2d Article, that Messrs. Ebenezer Putnam, Samuel Stevens, Esq., and Simon Sartwell be a committee to see that the school be proportioned agreeable to the foregoing vote.

" Voted 5th, on the 4th Article that the aforesaid committee be empowered to provide such school mas- ters or mistresses from time to time in the several parts of the town as shall be needful till our next an- nual meeting."

In October, 1764,-

" Voted that the school shall be kept in the differ- ent parts of the town, in proportion to what each part shall pay towards said school. Voted, that John Hast- ings, Jr., James Porter and Thomas Putnam be a committee for regulating the above said school."

There was a school by the vote of the town also in 1765. There is no further record of any school till 1769, when the following votes were passed at the annual town-meeting :

" Voted on the 4th Article, that there shall be a school kept in the town.

" Voted 2d, on said Article, that the school be kept in the different parts of the town, in proportion to what each part shall pay towards said school.

" Voted 3d, on said Article, that it shall be left withi the selectmen to proportion the school in the different parts of the town, and also to provide a school-mas- ter."

In March, 1770, the sixth article in the town warrant was " To see if the town will provide for a school the whole or part of the ensuing year and to vote on any other matter that shall be thought or found necessary."

On this it was voted that a school be kept and the sum of twenty-seven pounds should be raised and assessed on the inhabitants for its benefit ; and that the town should be divided into three districts, each of which should draw its proportion of the money raised according to its other assessment, and, provided either district should fail to appro- priate its proportion to the use of a school, such proportion as was not thus appropriated was to be forfeited to such district or districts as should ap- propriate it to that object. Simon Sartwell, Cap- tain John Church and Elijah Grout were the committee to divide the town into districts. Messrs. Ebenezer Putnam, Elijah Grout and Peter Laba- ree were appointed a committee to provide a school for the north district ; Messrs. Simon Sartwell, Seth Walker and Joseph Willard for the south district, and Messrs. John Church, Lemuel Hast- ings and Abel Walker for the middle of the town.

In the November following these votes the mid- dle district took measures to provide themselves with a school-house. The following is a list of persons employed upon the house from November 5 to November 12, 1770, and also an account of some materials furnished . by individuals for the building :

On this house Abel Walker worked eight days ; Joseph King, bricklayer, six; Lemuel Hastings, four and a fraction ; Sylvanus Hastings, four ; John Simons (Simonds), Jonathan Wetherbe and Taylor Spencer, three each; Peter Page, Elijah Parker, Peleg Williams, Landon Priest and Aaron Wil- lard, two each ; Bradstreet Spafford, Barrat (pro-

CHARLESTOWN.

bably John Barrett) and Elisha Farwell. one each ; Stephen Alvord, three hours ; Samuel Hunt found five hundred feet of boards.

In 1772, £50 were voted for schools; in 1773, €40; 1774, €40; 1775, £45; 1777, €45; 1778, £100; 1780, €45; 1781, €45; and 1782, £60 The schools have been liberally supported from that time to the present.

Among the private schools which have existed in the town were those of Rev. Samuel Crosby, Rev. Daniel Foster, Mrs. Gilchrist and Miss Pratt.

MASONIC.

The first Masonic body in this town was called Vermont Lodge, which met for the first time here November 26, 1781. It was moved to Springfield, Vt., in 1788.

FAITHFUL LODGE, No. 12, was chartered by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts February 23, 1788. A second charter was granted by the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire April 30, 1800. It was in- corporated June, 1821. No convocations of the lodge were held from 1828 to 1862. The lodge was revived in 1862.

LIST OF PHYSICIANS .- John Hastings was one of the early inhabitants, and the earliest physician and surgeon of the township, and also one of its most distinguished and useful citizens Among others were David Taylor, William Page, Oliver Hastings, Thomas Bliss, Joseph Roby, Edmund Pelouze, Putnam Barron, Jacob Adams, John Duncan, Dr. Webber, Horace Saunders, Pliny Safford, Alexander Campbell, Hiram Hoyt, John W. Furbur, S. E Hale, Otis Russell Freeman, David H. Marden, Daniel Pierce, James Monroe Whitaker, David Comstock Moore, N. Grout Brooks, Dr. Frink, Dr. Leech, Dr. Pollard, Dr. Hall and Dr. Chandler.

LAWYERS .- Simeon Olcott, Benjamin West, Jo- seph Dennie, (a short time), Frederick A. Sumner, John C. Chamberlain, Samuel West (a short time), Samuel Hunt, Jr. (a short time), William Briggs, Henry Hubbard, George Olcott, John James Gilchrist, Edmund L. Cushing, Henry Hubbard, Jr., Alfred T. Batchelder (firm of Colby & Bat- chelder, since May 1, 1874).

BANKS.1-The first bank in Charlestown was chartered July 2, 1823, to continue until March 1, 1844, under the name of "The President, Directors and Company of the Connecticut River Bank." Capital, $60,000, in one thousand shares of $60 each. The first meeting of the corporators was held in Hassam's Hotel July 10, 1824. The bank commenced business September 1, 1824. September 11, 1824, William Briggs was appointed a committee to build the vault and stone-work, and Horace Hall, Enos Stevens and Vyrling Lovell a committee to build the building, which was completed in 1825, and cost in all, including the vault, about $2400.

George Olcott was cashier during the existence of the bank. He was appointed August 21, 1824.

Presidents.

Aaron Dean, from July 24, 1824, to December 5, 1824.

Horace Hall, from December 5, 1824, to March 16, 1842.

Enos Stevens, from March 16, 1842, to March 16, 1843.

Samuel Crosby, from March 16, 1843, to the end.

Directors.

Aaron Dean, from July 10, 1824, till 1829.

Horace Hall, from July 10, 1824, to March 16, 1842.

Robert Rand, from July 10, 1824, to the end.

William Briggs, from July 10, 1824, to the end.

Henry Hubbard, from July 10, 1824, to March 7, 1842.

Enos Stevens, from July 10, 1824, to March 3, 1845.

Vyrling Lovell, from July 10, 1824, to March 10, 1843.

Samuel Crosby, from March 1, 1830, to the end.

Isaac H. Wetherbe, from March 7, 1842, to the end. David Holton, from March 6, 1843, to the end. Samuel Webber, from March 6, 1843, to the end.

Henry Hubbard, re-elected March 3, 1845, and served to the end.

Seven directors were required by the charter.

The average dividends of this bank during the

1 By George Olcott, Esq.

HISTORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

time it was in operation were 7.166 per cent. per annum. On final settlement it returned to the stockholders its capital and twenty-four and seven- tenths per cent. surplus profits.

At the time of the general suspension, in 1837, the bank determined not to suspend, and redeemed all its notes in specie-reducing their circulation to $3000, re-issuing their bills in August and Sep- tember, 1838. Bills of a new impression were issued in the latter month.

The second bank in Charlestown was chartered June 18, 1844, under the name of the " Connecti- cut River Bank," to continue until January 1, 1865. In approving the charter Governor John H. Steele says, " I have signed the charter with reluctance-a reluctance arising from a doubt as to the constitutional right of any State to create a banking company. See Article 1, Section 10, of the United States Constitution." The capital stock was originally $60,000 in one hundred shares of $600 each, which was increased in 1848 to $90,- 000, and in 1855 to $100,000. The bank com- menced operations January 1, 1845.

George Olcott, Esq , was cashier from the be- ginning until his death, February 4, 1864. His son, George Olcott, Jr., entered the bank as clerk in August, 1853, was elected assistant cashier in 1862, and at the death of his father was appointed cashier in his place, which office he held to the end of the charter.

Presidents.

William Briggs, from July 11, 1845, to -, 1847. John W. Tappan, from March 1, 1847, to March, 1848.

Henry Hubbard, from March 6, 1848, to March 5, 1851.

Samuel Webber, from March 5, 1851, to March 5, 1855.

Hope Lathrop, from March 5, 1855, to the end.

Directors.

William Briggs, February 11, 1845.

Samuel Hubbard, from February 11, 1845, to March 4, 1850.

John W. Tappan, from February 11, 1845, to March 6, 1848.

Roswell Robertson, from February 11, 1845, to March 1, 1852.

Samuel Webber, from February 11, 1845, to March 5, 1855.

Henry Hubbard, Jr., from February 11, 1845, to March 3, 1851.

Samuel Walker, from February 11, 1845, to March 6, 1854.

Samuel St. John, Jr., from March 1, 1847, to March 6, 1848.

Hope Lathrop, from March 6, 1848, to the end.

Henry Hubbard, from March 6, 1848, to March 1, 1851.

Joseph W. Colburn, from March 4, 1850, to March 1,1852.

Royal Shumway, from March 3, 1851, to March 1, 1852.

Lanson Robertson, from March 3, 1851, to March 1,1852.

Ansel Glover, from March 1, 1852, to the end.

Ashbel Hamlin, from March 1, 1852, to the end.

Robert Elwell, from March 1, 1852, to the end.

George M. Dickinson, from March 1, 1852, to March 6, 1854.

Roswell Robertson, from March 6, 1854, to March 1,1858.

Jonathan Baker, from March 5, 1855, to the end. John W. Tappan, from March 5, 1855, to March 2, 1857.

John M. Glidden, from March 2, 1857, to the end.

Samnel Walker, from March 1, 1858, to April 21, 1858.

Edmund L. Cushing, from April 21, 1858, to March 6, 1864.

Charles Willard, from March 6, 1864, to the end.

The number of directors was seven.

November 1, 1845, a dividend of $10 a share was declared; March 2, 1846, $20; September 7, 1846, 824; March 1, 1847, $27; September 6, 1847, 4} per cent .; March 6, 1848, 4} per cent.

From this time to March 3, 1851, the semi- annual dividends were four per cent. From Sep- tember 1, 1851, to the end, in September, 1864, they were three per cent. The bank, on final settle- ment, returned to the stockholders the full amount of the capital stock.

The third bank in Charlestown was organized

CHARLESTOWN.

under the laws of the United States as " The Con- necticut River National Bank," October 21, 1864. Capital, $100,000. President, Hope Lathrop ; Cashier, George Olcott.

Robert Elwell was president from January, 14, 1879, to January, 1884; John G. Dinsmore president since January 23, 1884; Richard Rob- ertson, vice-president since January 23, 1884.

Directors.

Hope Lathrop, September 28, 1864; died December 31, 1878.

Ansel Glover, September 28, 1864; died March, 1879.

Ashbel Hamlin, from September 28, 1864, to Jan- uary 13, 1873.

Jonathan Baker, from September 28, 1864, to Feb- ruary 26, 1867.

John M. Glidden, from September 28, 1864, to October, 1872.

Joseph G. Briggs, Jr., from September 28, 1864, to March 20, 1865; re-elected January 9, 1872; resigned in 1877.

Enoch Hammond West, from September 28, 1864, to January 10, 1865.

William Dana, from January 10, 1865, to Novem- ber 18, 1870.

Benjamin Whipple, January 9, 1866; died May 1879.

George Olcott, April 8, 1867.

Charles Willard, January 9, 1877, to October 29, 1883.

John G. Dinsmore, January 14, 1879.

Robert Elwell, January 14, 1879; died January, 1884.

William A. Rand, January 13, 1880.

Richard Robertson, October 29, 1883.

Roswell Huntoon, January 23, 1884.

The dividends up to and including July, 1880, were ten per cent. per annum. Since that time they have been eight per cent.

The charter of the third bank expired Septem- ber 15, 1884, and on that same day the bank started on its fourth twenty years' charter with the same officers, viz. : John G. Dinsmore, president ; Richard Robertson, vice-president ; George Olcott, cashier ; John G. Dinsmore, Richard Robertson,

George Olcott, William A. Rand and Roswell Huntoon, directors.

This bank was broken into on the night of the 10th of June, 1850, and all the money abstracted from the vault. The robbery was committed by Abijah Larned and his brother, the former of whom was subsequently arrested by Sheriff Baker, of Grafton, and Hon. Henry Hubbard, who was president of the bank that had been robbed. Larned was brought to Charlestown, where he found the evidence against him to be so strong that he concluded it would be the part of wisdom to make confession of his guilt to the officers and directors of the bank, which he did.

The burglars arrived at Charlestown about nine o'clock on the evening of the 10th, and at about midnight their work was done. In this time they had picked four locks and secured in money about twelve thousand dollars. The premises were thoroughly searched, and every trunk and box that had been deposited in the bank for safe keeping was broken open, and all that was valuable to them in its contents taken. On leaving, both the doors of the vault and the bank were re-locked, and there was no appearance, on entering the building, that anything had been disturbed, and it was only when they found the locks so out of order that they could with difficulty be opened that Mr. Olcott suspected the evil that had been done.

But the remarkable part of the matter is to come. After securing their booty, aided by an exceedingly fast horse, they started for home and intended to arrive there in the shortest possible space of time, so that no suspicion should be excited by their absence.

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History of Cheshire and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire, Part 98

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