USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Chesterfield > History of Chesterfield, Cheshire county, N.H., from the incorporation of "township number one," by Massachusetts, in 1736, to the year 1881; together with family Histories and genealogies > Part 14
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Dancing has ever been a favorite amusement in the town, espec- ially with the younger people. Many years ago, Stephen Streeter, Jr., in his poem entitled " Old Chesterfield," wrote :
"And as for amusements, we've many a sort ;
The young people dance, 'tis their favorite sport ;
While some are too lazy so briskly to stir,
And a game with their 'pasteboards' they therefore prefer."
Card-playing at one time degenerated into a positive evil among certain of the inhabitants, for gambling was pretty extensively practised, even as late as 1820 or '30, by some who were consid- ered fairly respectable. It was carried on most at the taverns, where men congregated and played for liquor, and oftentimes for money.
Wrestling was for a long time a favorite sport with men and boys, and there were some noted wrestlers, among them Nathaniel Wal- ton, Sen. Walton was. a blacksmith, and a man of extraordinary physical strength, being able to pick up his anvil by the horn, and carry it a considerable distance. It is related that a celebrated wrestler who was traveling about the country seeking some one who could throw him, stopped in Chesterfield, where he found his match in Mr. Walton, who " laid him out handsomely."
On town-meeting days, training-days, at raisings and huskings, the best wrestlers generally wrestled for the championship.
" Ring-wrestling " and "snapping the whip" were sports in which even adult men engaged.
Playing at quoits was a much more popular sport formerly than at present, and the old-fashioned games of ball were played by men as well as boys.
" Raisings " and " huskings" often wound up with a "frolic," which did not always result so much from the natural hilarity of those who participated in it, as from the effects of the rum and brandy which nearly everybody freely imbibed on such occasions ; for it is useless to deny that the excessive use of alcoholic drinks, though they were much purer then than now, was a bane to society in the time under consideration. On such occasions as raisings, huskings and the like, men, young and old, would indulge in actions which, in their sober senses, they would have regarded as absolutely foolish.
20
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" Quiltings " were long in vogue among the women of the town, and are, perhaps, not wholly out of fashion. They were occasions of much good cheer, and, of course, not attended with so much boisterous hilarity, as were like gatherings of men and boys.
The annual " bee " for drawing the minister's wood was an occa- sion, also, for a pleasant social gathering. Sometimes the teamsters would vie with one another, to see whose team could draw the largest load. At the proper time, the pastor would invite them into his house, and treat them liberally with refreshments.
Though Chesterfield has never been a notably religious town, the different denominations have been pretty well represented, at times, as was set forth in the poem already quoted :
"And as for religion, we've many a kind ;
Each one supports that which does best please his mind ;
There are some are quite noisy, while others are still ;
Some hold to 'election,' and some to 'tree-will.' "
POPULATION OF THE TOWN AT DIFFERENT PERIODS. 1767. Total number of inhabitants, - - 365
(See p. 38.)
1773. Unmarried men, 16 to 60, 55
Married men, 16 to 60, 109
Males under 16, - - 224
Males 60 and upwards, 12
Unmarried females, - 220
Married females, I 20
Widows, - 7 -
Slaves,
-
0
Total, 747
1775.
Males under 16,
-
- 241
Males 16 to 50, not in the army -
155
Males above 50, - - - 30
Persons gone in the army, - Females, - 412
36
Slaves,
O
Total, 874 1786. Total number of inhabitants, -
- 1535
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The number of inhabitants of the town in every tenth year since 1 790 has been as follows ;
1790,
1905
- 2161
1800, - ISIO, IS39
IS20, -
- 2110
IS30,
2046 .
IS40, -
1765
1850,
16So
*IS60, -
1434
1870,
1289
ISSO, -
-
1173
NUMBER OF HORSES AND CATTLE OWNED IN THE TOWN AT DIFFERENT PERIODS.
1787. Horses, I35
Oxen, - 133
Cows, - - 404
Cattle 2 and 3 yrs. old, 421
I yr. old, - -
308
1799.
Horses,
-
- 200
Colts 1 to 3 yrs. old,
Oxen,
-
-
IS5
204
Cows, -
Cattle 2 and 3 yrs. old, - 532
563
I yr. old, - - -
503
I S20. Horses 5 yrs. old (or more), 204
4 yrs. old, - 33
66 2 and 3 yrs. old, 52
Oxen 5 yrs. old (or more),
249
4 yrs. old, -
121
Cows, - - -
6S2
Cattle 2 and 3 yrs. old, -
587
IS40.
Horses (4 yrs. old, or more),
-
2So
Oxen, - - -
335
Cows, - -
2 and 3 yrs. old, 2S
- 637
Cattle 2 and 3 yrs. old, - - 66 L
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1860. Horses over IS months old, 274
Oxen, - - 293
Cows, - Cattle 2 and 3 yrs. old - -
56g
712
ISSO.
Horses over 18 months old, 318
Cattle over 18 months old, - - 1190
MILLS AND MANUFACTURES.
The manufacture of any kind of wares or goods has never been very extensively carried on in Chesterfield; yet, it is proper to notice here some of the oldest mills, and some of the most important manufactures.
Saw-Mills .- The first mill erected in the town was undoubtedly John Snow's saw-mill. (See p. 38.) A grist-mill was also built near it at an early period. After the death of John Snow, in 1777, both mills were owned by his son Zerubbabel ; and at the time of their destruction, in 1826, they were owned, in part at least, by the latter's son John.
One day late in the summer, or early in the autumn, of the year just mentioned, a heavy shower suddenly transformed the Catsbane into a roaring torrent. The dam of the fulling-mill that stood not far from the present residence of Mrs. Jannette Davis, at the West Village, gave way, and an enormous volume of water rushed down the brook, sweeping away everything that was unable to withstand it.
Not only were the saw-mill and grist-mill swept from their foundations and carried down the stream, but the bridge that spanned the brook a little way below the mills, and a distillery (also owned by Mr. Snow) that stood near the house in which Mrs. Mary E. Streeter now lives, shared the same fate.
Anson Hosley erected the present upper saw-mill at the West Village, now owned by O. R. Farr. It was originally located where W. W. Farr's saw-mill now stands, but was taken down and removed, a few years after it was built, to its present location.
The saw-mill now owned by Warren W. Farr, at the West Vil- lage, was built by Silas P. Yeager, in 1858.
About 1830, Wilder Harris and Nelson Hosley built a saw-mill a few rods from the month of the Lily Pond brook, which was in use many years. The same persons also built a shingle-mill near the mouth of the same brook.
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About 1797 (apparently) Eldad Granger built a saw-mill and grist-mill on Leavitt's brook, near the foot of the " gulf road." In IS14, Edmond Farnsworth and Oliver Hastings moved the saw- mill to a place near the head of the road just mentioned. It has since been moved to where it now stands.
· James Robertson and Silas Thompson built a saw-mill, probably before the beginning of the present century, on the upper part of the Wheeler brook. It stood on the site of the one now owned by Benj. F. Pierce, and had several successors.
Jonathan Hildreth had a saw-mill on the upper part of Catsbane brook as early as 1770. Since that date, a saw-mill seems to have been located, most of the time, on or near the same place.
About ISoo (apparently), John Darling, Sen , built a saw-mill on Broad brook, which was used a number of years.
About 1836, Asa Fullam built a saw-mill on the same brook. This mill was burned in 1853, and afterwards rebuilt by Geo. L. Fullam.
About 1815 (perhaps), Josiah Torrey built a saw-mill in the . southeastern quarter of the town, near the present highway leading from Factory Village to West Swanzey.
About the beginning of the present century, there was a saw- mill on Partridge brook, at what is now Factory Village, near the place where Geo. S. Fletcher's present residence stands. There was also a grist-mill connected with it, and both were owned, at one time, by Benj. Farwell. At that time there was a dam across the brook at that point.
At about the same time, there was a saw-mill where Pierce's bit- shop now stands, at the same village. The saw-mill now owned by J. W. Chamberlain, Jr., at Factory Village, was built by Ebe- nezer Stearns before 1825.
The steam saw-mill at the same village was built in 1872 by a company called the " Steam Mill Company." April 9, 1878, it was burned, but was rebuilt the same year by James H. and George Goodrich.
Grist-Mills .- The grist-mill that stood just below John Snow's saw-mill, has already been mentioned. It was built at an early period, but was probably not the first mill of the kind constructed in the town.
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A grist-mill was built near the confluence of the Lily Pond brook with the Catsbane, as early as 1767, and perhaps earlier. (See p. 39.) It was owned by Eleazer Cobleigh, Sen. Upwards of fifty years ago, the stones of which the dam of this mill was constructed were removed, and used in making the abutments of the bridge over the Catsbanc, a short distance south-east of Ransom Farr's house.'
The grist-mill now owned by Warren W. Farr, at the West Village, was originally a shop in which John Snow and Ora Farr manu- factured, for a short time, scythes and hoes. It was afterwards used by Alphens Snow for a blacksmith's shop. About fifty years ago it was converted into a grist-mill by Wm. R. Snow and Worcester Farr. the run of stones being taken from a mill that stood where the Butler saw-mill now stands, on the upper part of the Catsbane.
A number of years before the beginning of the present century, a grist-mill was built a few rods below the location of the present upper grist-mill, at the West Village. This mill appears to have been owned for some time by Dr. Solomon Harvy.
Afterwards (probably about 1810), Ithamar Chamberlain, Sen., constructed a new mill a few rods above the old one, which was kept in operation many years. In 1862, the present mill (now owned by Mrs. Prusha W. Strong ) was built on the same founda- tion by Alpheus Snow and George Smith.
The first grist-mill at Factory Village, is said to have been built by Oliver Farwell, where the saw-mill of Joshua W. Cham- berlain, Jr., now stands. The date of its construction has not been ascertained, but it was probably built before 1787.
The present grist-mill at that village, owned by Bradford C. Farr, was built at a comparatively late date, and is the only mill of the kind in the eastern part of the town.
Fulling-Mills-Mills for fulling and dressing cloth were built at an early period at several different places in the town. The one at the West Village, which has already been mentioned, stood on the north side of the Catsbane, near the present residence of Mrs. Jannette Davis. Elijah Jackson engaged in fulling and dressing cloth in this mill several years between 1794 and 1804, as did sub- sequently David W. Goodrich, Samuel Persons and others. . The dam that was carried away by the freshet in 1826 was rebuilt, and the mill used for some time after that date.
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The first cloth-dresser (or clothier) at Factory Village was Elnathan Gorham, who settled there about 1800. The first wool- carder at that village is said to have been a man named Belcher, and his mill was located near the place where Pierce's bit-shop now stands, on the opposite side of the brook.
Cotton Factory at Factory Village .- In December, 1805, Ebe- nezer Stearns, Moses Smith, Ebenezer Cheney and seventeen others, were incorporated into a company called the " Chesterfield Manu- factory." for the purpose of manufacturing " cotton yarn, cloth and woolens."
At the June session of the Legislature in 1809, an additional act was passed empowering the corporation to raise the sum of $50,- 000, to be employed as should be thought proper. It appears that the shares were fixed at $100 each, and that Ebenezer Stearns held, in ISO9, ten-thousand dollars' worth of the stock ; the rest of the shareholders, of whom there were about twenty, held from five to fifty shares each.
In 1810, the company erected a factory at the village which has ever since been called "Factory Village," or "Chesterfield Factory," the latter being the correct postoffice name. This building, which is 100 feet long by 30 feet wide, and two stories high (exclusive of the basement), was built by Presson Farwell for $700.
The clock which was put in the factory soon after it was built still does duty ; though it has existed for a period nearly, or quite, equal to the allotted age of man, it still continues to mark the fleet- ing seconds with a strong and steady beat. The large square house with "hip" roof, which stands near the factory, once belonged, also, to the corporation.
For a few years after the factory was built, cotton yarn is said to have been made in it; then it was closed for a while. In 1821. Capt. Wm. S. Brooks, who settled in Chesterfield that year, was chosen agent of the corporation, and began the manufacture of cot- ton shirting. Capt. Brooks continued to manage the affairs of the corporation, as agent, till 1839, when he removed to Brattleboro ; but he retained his connection with the factory till 1850.
About 1853, the factory was bought by Olney Goff, who soon entered into partnership with Barton Skinner. Goff did not long
160
remain in the business, however, but soon sold his interest to Skin- ner, who continued to manufacture shirting several years. The building was next purchased by R. Henry Hopkins and Horace Howe, who converted into a manufactory of doors, window-sashes · and blinds, for which purpose it is used at present.
Tanneries .- The tanning of hides was carried on for many years, on a small scale, at several different places in the town. Levi Davis is said to have engaged in tanning near the place where Elijah Amidon's house now stands, and the business was continued at the same place by Edward Withington, who came to Chester- field about 1819.
Joseph Converse, who settled, in 1794, on Wetherbee hill, was a tanner, and may have followed his trade, to some extent, for a few years after coming here.
David and William Arnold engaged in tanning at the Centre Vil- lage, probably about 1815. Their tannery (which was located near the present residence of Miss Helen A. Aldrich) was purchased about 1817 by Moses Dudley, who continued the business till about 1851, since which time there has been no tannery in operation at that village.
About IS14, Lazarus Tinkham had a small tannery at Factory Village. It was situated on what is now the garden connected with the house in which Geo. R. Carpenter lives.
About IS32, Lloyd Stearns and David Arnold began business in the present tannery at the same village. Stearns removed to Illinois about 1835, when the business was continued by Arnold, at first in company with Nathaniel Walton for a few years, and afterwards alone. . From 1844 to '65, this tannery was owned by Sumner War- ren, now of Keene, who carried on a pretty extensive business. Afterwards Earl Warren, of Westmoreland, continued the business several years ; but at present the building is not used for any pur- pose.
Manufacture of Bits, Augers, &c .- In. 1834 or '35, Joshua Richardson and Oliver B. Huggins, (with whom appears to have been associated Ezekiel P. Pierce, Sen.), built a shop near the con- fluence of the Lily Pond and Catsbane brooks, in which they man- ufactured bits, augers and gimlets for a year or two. The business was then continned by Ezekiel P. Pierce, Jr., and Charles Cross,
161
and subsequently by Pierce, Cross, and Alonzo Farr. This shop was burned down a number of years ago, having been disused for some time.
In 1836 or '37, Richardson and Huggins commenced the same business at Factory Village, in what is now Pierce's bit-shop. This shop was originally the old meeting-house of the East Parish of Westmoreland. It was purchased by Benjamin and Gilman Far- well, who took it to pieces and removed it to its present location, intending it for some kind of a factory ; but it was bought by Rich- ardson and Huggins for a bit-shop.
About 1853, Benjamin Pierce, who had previously been employed by Richardson and Huggins, commenced the manufacture of bits, etc., in the same shop, having purchased it of Barton Skinner. For many years Mr Pierce conducted the business alone, employing a considerable number of hands, and producing yearly a large number of bits, augers, and other boring tools. In 1870, his son, Fred. B. Pierce, began to manufacture the same kind of goods for his father, who conducts the sales of the same, having previously been in company with R. Henry Hopkins for about two years. The younger Pierce employs at present in the bit-shop about 21 men.
Manufacture of Spinning- Wheel Heads .- Ezekiel P. Pierce, Sen., with whom were associated Asahel Porter and George Met- calf, manufactured the first " patent accelerating spinning-wheel heads" made in Chesterfield. The shop in which these " heads" were made was at Factory Village, and stood near the south end of the dam now owned by Herschel J. Fowler. He appears to have begun the business not far from 1820 ; but was soon obliged to sus- pend the manufacture on account of a controversy between another party and himself about the right to make this particular head.
Afterwards, Jonathan S. Hopkins made " wheel-heads," as they are commonly called, at the same village, in the old building now used by F. B. Pierce for the same purpose. Elliot P. and Samuel F. Hopkins, and others, have also engaged in their manufacture in - the same building.
In 1836, Ezekiel P. Pierce, Jr., began to manufacture spinning- wheel heads in a building erected for the purpose near Factory Vil- lage, (it being the same now used by Ira P. Buxton for the manu- facture of pail-staves, etc.), and continued in the business a number of years. 2I
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Richard Hopkins, Jr., also engaged in the manufacture of wheel- heads, at the same village, for some time. Another veteran manu- facturer of these heads is Sidney S. Campbell, who began the busi- ness about 45 years ago, and has continued in it till lately.
Benjamin Pierce has also been pretty extensively engaged in the same business for many years. At one time during the late war, he employed about 75 hands in the manufacture of wheel-heads, there being a great demand for them at that time. At present they are manufactured by his son, Fred B. Pierce, who employs in this business (and in the making of brush-handles) from 15 to 25 hands.
Between 50 and 60 years ago, John Pierce and his son Alfred began the manufacture of wheel-heads in a little shop that stood on the " Haskell lot," so called, near the elder Pierce's residence. The machinery was driven by horse-power. After a while they moved the building down to the West Village, locating it where Olin R. Farr's new shop now stands. Here they continued the business a while, and then sold their shop to Alanson and Alfred Chamber- lain, who also made wheel-heads. The building and water-privi- lege were next purchased by Anson Hosley, who, as stated in another place, afterwards built the present upper saw-mill. Subse- quently, both the shop and saw-mill were owned several years by Marshall Smith, wheel-wright. They were also owned a number of years by Ransom Farr, who built, in 1874, a much larger and more convenient shop, which is now owned by his son, O. R. Farr. The hall in the second story of this building was added in 1876.
Distilleries .- The distilling of cider-brandy was engaged in to a considerable extent in " that good old time" which the modern topers and dram-drinkers regard as the golden age of their race. Some years, when the apple crop was large, many hundred barrels of cider were used in each of the two principal distilleries at the West Village. One of these (Snow's) has already been mentioned as having been carried away by the freshet in 1826. A new one was afterwards built farther down the brook, near what was after- wards the town poor-house (now owned by Henry E. Amidon). The other was built, and managed for some time, by Ashbel Wheel- er, Sen. It stood near his house and store, now owned by his daughter, Mrs. Prusha W. Strong. There have been several other smaller distilleries in the town at different times, but at present there is none in operation.
163
Miscellaneous .- Early in the present century a Baptist preacher, named Wilbur, made gunpowder in a little mill near the place where Campbell's wheel-head shop now stands, at Factory Village. A certain wag of that time used to narrate the following incident as illustrating the quality of the powder made by Wilbur : One day a barrel of the powder caught fire, and somebody, seizing a pail, went to the brook for water with which to extinguish it; but by the time he returned the powder was half burned up ! .
Sixty years ago, or more, Roswell Bingham had a small brass- foundery at the same village. Bingham also established a small iron-foundery where F. B. Pierce's wheel-head shop now stands. It was owned at one time by Alanson Skinner.
John Snow and Ora Farr made, for a short time, scythes and hoes in what is now W. W. Farr's grist-mill, at the West Village.
Fifty years ago, or more, Thomas W. Mann made scythes in a shop situated near the confluence of the Wild brook with Partridge brook. Brown and Russell also made scythes in the same shop, which was burned many years ago.
As has already been stated, the old factory at Factory Village was purchased by R. Henry Hopkins and Horace Howe, after the manufacture of cotton goods had been abandoned. and converted into a manufactory of doors, blinds, etc. In 1870, it was bought by Geo. L. Hamilton, who still uses it for the same purpose.
Charles S. Kendall made pegs a few years in the building in which E. P. Pierce, Jr., formerly manufactured spinning-wheel heads, and which has been used since 1866 by Ira. P. Buxton for the manufacture of pail-staves, shingles, etc.
In 1863, Rev. T. L. Fowler purchased the building at Factory Village which had formerly been used many years by Joshua Graves for a blacksmith's shop, and fitted it up for the manufacture of clothes pins, and used it for this purpose until November, 1868, when he converted it into a saw-mill.
In 1874, Mr. Fowler sold the mill to his son, Herschel J. Fowler, who has since engaged in the manufacture of pail-staves. The latter has recently erected a two-story building close to the old one, in which he manufactures packing-boxes.
The manufacture of handles for paint and varnish-brushes is car- ried on to a considerable extent by F. B. Pierce at Factory Village.
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In ISSo, Mr. Pierce erected a large and convenient building on the site of a portion of the old wheel-head shop, which is well supplied with machinery for the rapid manufacture of these handles.
At the West Village O. R. Farr manufactures tables and prepares stuff for brush-handles, chairs, etc., in the new shop built by his father in 1874.
The making of brick was engaged in to some extent, many years ago, in various parts of the town ; but at present none are made.
STORES AND MERCHANTS.
The location of the first store established in Chesterfield has not been ascertained, but it was probably at, or near, the Centre Vil- lage. John Pierce may have had a store at that village at the time of the Revolution, as may also Jacob Amidon, as early as 1782. Some of the merchants at the Centre Village have been as follows : Isaac Abbott from 1796 to 1806 ; Samuel King (son of Col. Samuel King), from 1797 to 1800 ; Cook and Elliot several years from 1805 ; Benj. Cook several years before 1819; Levi Jackson from about 1806 to 1821 ; Asa Fullam, in partnership with Jackson, from 1815 to '21, and afterwards alone; Asa Britton for a number of years ; Ezekiel P. Pierce, Sen., from 1821 to 1828 or '29 ; William Haile from 1828 to '34 ; Otis Amidon in 1833, '34 and '35 ; Oscar Cool- idge in 1836 ; Coolidge and Amidon in 1837 ; Oscar Coolidge (most of the time) from 1838 to '51, and in partnership with his son, Henry O., from '51 to '62; Henry O. Coolidge and Charles J. Amidon in 1849 and '50 ; Henry O. Coolidge, in partnership with his father, from '51 to '62, then alone till '66; Reuben Porter and John Kneeland from 1836 to '39 ; Nelson W. Herrick in 1839, '41 and '42 ; Herrick and Cressy in 1840 ; Celatia Farr about five years (1841-'46) ; John Q. A. and Fred. W. Marsh in 1852, '53 and '54 ; James M. Herrick in 1867 ; Romanzo C. Cressey from 1868 to '73 ; Murray Davis and Larkin D. Farr from 1873 to '75; James H. Goodrich, 2d, from 1875 to the present time.
In 1807, Cook and Elliot purchased of Levi Mead three-fourths of an acre of land, at the Centre Village, situated between the old road leading westerly (now disused) and the site of the present " stone store." On this lot they erected a building which was used many years as a store and tavern, and which was burned by an in- cendiary fire about 1847. At the time it was burned, it was owned
165
by Asa Marsh, who, in 1849, built the present store at the Centre Village, which was first occupied by his sons, John Q. A. and Fred. W., and since by Henry O. Coolidge, Jas. M. Herrick, Romanzo C. Cressy, Murray Davis and Larkin D. Farr, and Jas. H. Good- rich, 2d.
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