History of Coos County, New Hampshire, Part 16

Author: Merrill, Georgia Drew
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Syracuse [N.Y.] : W. A. Fergusson
Number of Pages: 1194

USA > New Hampshire > Coos County > History of Coos County, New Hampshire > Part 16

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In October, 1884, the Democrat was revived by F. A. Kehew, who began its publication in Eagle block, Lancaster, and sold it in May, 1887, to Willard C. Colby, the present proprietor, who took possession June 1st.

The Coös Republican .- This paper, next in date of issue, was estab- lished in December, 1854. It was first published in the Town Hall build- ing, Daniel A. Bowe, of Middlebury, Vt., for several years principal of

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Lancaster academy, being editor, and David B. Allison, an old Concord printer. manager, the two uniting in the firm of Bowe & Allison. The Republican was started as the organ of the party of that name. The health of Mr. Bowe was not firm, and in the autumn of 1857 he was com- pelled to abandon business. He died the April following. Col. Allison continued the publication until December, 1858, when the establishment was purchased by Henry O. Kent, who removed it to rooms in the Kent building on Main street. Col. Kent says :-

"For twelve years, from December, 1858, to October, 1870, the paper was owned by me, and was under my direct control, save during the period of my absence with my regiment, when it was leased to Daniel C. Pink- ham, Esq., then clerk of the courts for the county.

"During this time it was my endeavor to establish the concern as a business enterprise and to labor for what I conceived the interests of jour- nalism; I never regarded money expended for an energetic, local paper, or for judicious advertising or job work, as a gratuity for which the proprie- tor was to be under deep obligation, nor did the receipt of stale publie doc- uments or garden seeds, constitute utterly conclusive evidence of the emi- nent fitness of the donor for further public advancement,-integrity and capacity being, in my belief, equally essential requisites."

Among the apprentices under the administration of H. O. Kent, were Henry B. Berry, afterward in the army; George H. Emerson, Henry W. Denison, Richard H. Emerson, now of Gorham; George H. Colby, and Harry C. Hartshorn, of Lunenburg, Vt., who, with George H. Emerson, conducted a job printing office in Lancaster for some time.

Col. Kent sold the Republican to Chester B. Jordan & Co., in October, 1870, and the office was moved to the Postoffice building. Subsequently the " Coos Republican Association " was formed, and assumed control of the paper, which it conducted until it was sold in August, 1571. to F. E. Shaw, who soon let it go back into the possession of the association.

Chester B. Jordan, Esq., first assumed, but temporarily. the editorial chair. On his retiring, Wesley W. Pasko, of New York, a writer for the Press of that city, entered upon the duties, to him followed successively Josiah H. Benton, Jr., Benjamin F. Whidden, Jonathan Smith, F. W. Williams, W. C. Mahurin. F. E. Shaw, W. C. Mahurin again for a time after Mr. Shaw relinquished his possession. From July, 1877. when Mr. Mahurin vacated the editorial chair, a Miss Kingsley was editor for the association until April, 1878, when the office was destroyed by fire.

During the next month (May) James S. Peavey removed his office from Littleton to Lancaster, and continued the publication of the Republican from the store opposite the old American House on Elm street, until Octo- ber, when he moved his office to the new Eagle Hall block. In December, 1880, Mr. Peavey sold the Republican to A. F. Rowell and (. D. Batchel-

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der, who admitted C. L. Griffing as a partner, in September, 1881, forming the firm of Rowell, Batchelder & Griffing, which continued until June, 1882, when Rowell and Batchelder retired. In September, 1883, C. D. Phelps & Co. (J. H. Baird) became the owners. Soon after Mr. Baird pur- chased the entire office, and, in 1884, the publication of the paper, which had been the Lancaster Republican since 1881, was discontinued. The press, type, etc., were sold at auction to F. A. Kehew, and used by him in the Democrat office.

The Prohibition Herald, the state organ of the temperance party, was published at the job printing office of Emerson, Hartshorn & Co., from January 1, 1871, for one year, when it was removed to Concord. The edi- tors were Rev. L. D. Barrows and Dr. John Blackmer.

The Independent Gazette, independent in politics, was published at Lancaster, the first number being issued in January, 1872, George H. Emerson and Harry C. Hartshorn, publishers; James S. Brackett, editor. The editorial chair was soon occupied by Mr. Emerson, who conducted it till August, 1877, when I. W. Quimby and W. F. Burns became proprie- tors. Mr. Burns sold his interest to Joseph Roby, Jr., after a few months, and Mr. Quimby soon became sole owner. He continued to publish the paper (changing the name to Lancaster Gazette, January 1, 1879,) until November 10, 1883, when he sold it to the Lancaster Printing Co., George P. Rowell, the well known advertising agent of New York city, being the real owner, and it was carried on under his ownership until September 25, 1885, when Mr. Quimby again became proprietor and has since been pub- lisher. It is a bright, neat, newsy local paper, and is well worth double its price (one dollar a year, cash in advance). Publication day, Tuesday.

The Coos Herald was a little sheet edited, printed and published at Lancaster, in the winter of 1836, by Charles N. Kent, then aged thirteen. Mr. Kent, who was an amateur printer only, is now a member of the advertising firm of George P. Rowell & Co., New York.

The Journal of Familiar Science was a quarto issued during 1870, at Lancaster, by S. Randall & Co., druggists.

The Northern News, a sheet 8x12, was edited and published by Fletcher Ladd, when a lad of eight years.

COLEBROOK.

The Northern Sentinel, democratic, was established at Colebrook, November, 1870, by James S. Peavey, who published it until the month of April, 1872, when he was succeeded as proprietor and editor by Albert Barker, Esq., who showed great ability. E. S. Cummings purchased it in June, 1884.

The Colebrook Weekly News was founded in 1875 by Charles A. Bridge, who, after a year or two, sold it to his brother, John D. Bridge.

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The above papers were consolidated in December, 1884, forming The News and Sentinel, the Colebrook Publishing Company becoming the pub- lishers. E. S. Cummings has been manager and editor from that date. Independent weekly, $1.00 per year in advance.

WHITEFIELD.

In 1876 N. A. Burnham published a small sheet, the Whitefield Blade, for a few months. In 1880 W. C. McCausland, an amateur printer, established the Coos Advertiser; it was published about a year. The Coos County News has just been started.

GORHAM.

The Mountaineer, weekly, $1.00 a year .- V. V. Twitchell began the publication of this spicy and interesting journal in April, 1877. It very soon attained a high reputation for humor, and a circulation which extended to every state in the Union, and to England. Much of the lit- erary matter, which forms quite a specialty, is written expressly for the Mountaineer. With all these outside matters, it has kept up a rep- utation as a good local newspaper. Mr. Twitchell has built up a fine busi- ness, passed through one disastrous fire, and although never in robust health, is good, we hope, for many years' editorial service.

The Messenger, an amateur paper, was published a short time in 1881, by Fred Ingalls, who, in 1887, became associated with V. V. Twitchell in the publication of the Mountaineer.

For Among the Clouds, see General History-White Mountain chapter.

The Coos Agricultural Society was organized in 1821, and existed four years. For its brief life it accomplished much good. In an address deliv- ered before this body, October 17, 1821, Adino N. Brackett shows the very high aims of the founders of that society. He says it was formed to "encourage agriculture and domestic manufacture." To the farmers he says: "To draw forth your activity and your exertions, for your own benefit, is the object of this institution. Not a cent which you contribute is to be sent out of the county; but the whole returns to you in premiums, the honorable reward of your industry. In addition to which. if you raise and expend one hundred dollars for premiums, the state has in its treasury funds to an equal amount, to be laid out in the same manner. Thus is every inducement held out to raise and expend the sum above mentioned. The man who pays two dollars, immediately adds other two to the wealth of the county; and this beyond the indefinite amount which will be accumulated by the increased activity which will exist in the departments of agriculture and domestic manufactures." Concerning the latter, Mr. Brackett asks: "What is the exact state of domestic manufac-

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tures among us? Are we principally clothed with articles of this kind ? It is believed, that of the male population, at least three-fourths are clothed in articles manufactured within the county or within the United States. But the observation, if extended to the female part of society, would not hold true to the same extent."

The Coos and Essex Counties Agricultural Society was organized in 1870, and embraced all the towns and places in Coös county, and the tier of towns in Essex county, Vermont, lying upon the Connecticut river, north of the town of Concord. The object of the society is stated to be the "improve- ment of agricultural productions, useful domestic animals, domestic man- ufactures, and the mechanic arts." The first officers were as follows: President, William D. Weeks, Lancaster; vice-presidents, John W. Harts- horn, Lunenburg; Hazen Bedel, Colebrook; secretaries, Charles E. Benton, Guildhall; George H. Emerson, Lancaster; treasurer, Henry O. Kent, Lancaster. In addition to these, there was a large executive committee from the various towns. List of presidents: William D. Weeks, Lancas- ter, 1870-1; John W. Hartshorn, Lunenburg, 1872-3-4-5; Edward Spauld- ing, Lancaster, 1876-8-9; Josiah H. Benton, Maidstone, 1877-8; J. G. Crawford, Lancaster, 1879-80; George E. Carbee, Lancaster, 1881-2; George P. Rowell, Lancaster, 1884; J. W. Dodge, Lunenburg, 1885-6. The society has had successful and unsuccessful fairs, but has kept up an organization, and at the present time is in a prosperous condition. The officers for 1886 were: President, J. W. Dodge, Lunenburg; vice-presi- dents, William C. Spaulding, Lancaster; L. T. Hazen, Whitefield; Sidney B. Whittemore, Colebrook; secretary and treasurer, I. W. Quimby, Lan- caster; executive committee, George M. Stevens, Jason H. Woodward, George R. Eaton, Joseph Winch, H. J. Guernsey, the president, secretary and treasurer being ex officio members.

Patrons of Husbandry .- This order has a following of earnest and wide-awake agriculturists, with granges in Lancaster, Whitefield, and other towns, but has not a great numerical strength in the county.

Railroads .- Few railroads have been constructed in Coös county, and there is not much to be said of them, but if we should write of all the futile efforts made to obtain railroads, the hopes that have been raised and blasted concerning the railways that were to be made, but were never completed, there could much be written which we must omit.

Atlantic & St. Lawrence R. R .- In 1847, while Hon. Jared W. Williams was governor of New Hampshire, the Atlantic & St. Lawrence railroad was incorporated. Its length from Portland to Island Pond was 149 miles, fifty-four of which lay in this state. This was leased by the Grand Trunk railway in 1853, at a rental of six per cent. upon the cost of construction, or $6,003,900. In order to get possession of an existing charter covering the ground it pledged itself to construct a branch to Lancaster. It broke

CoÖS COUNTY PRESS --- AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES -- RAILROADS. 137

its pledge, and appeal was taken to the legislature, but a compromise was effected by payment of $18,000 to the citizens of Lancaster, who, after reimbursing a few people for money spent in trying to secure the road, used the balance, about $15,000, in building the Lancaster House. This road was completed to Gorham in 1850, the trains beginning to run regu- larly to and from Portland on the " Fourth of July, " 1851. Trains ran to Northumberland and North Stratford from Gorham, in 1852: to Island Pond. Vt., in 1853; connecting with the St. Lawrence & Atlantic at the Canadian boundary in July, 1853. This road has done much to develop the resources of the country along its line, and has created several prosperous villages, -Gorham, Berlin Falls, Groveton, and North Stratford.

The White Mountain R. R. was chartered December 15, 1548. Among the incorporators were Royal Joyslin, R. P. Kent, James W. Weeks, W. D. Spaulding, William Burns, Presbury West, Jr., N. D. Day, L. John- son, T. Montgomery, John M. Gove, Morris Clark. This wasan extension of the Boston, Concord & Montreal R. R., from Woodsville to Lancaster, and was opened to Littleton in August, 1853; to Lancaster in November, 1870; to Groveton (51.95 miles from Woodsville) in August, 1872; to Fa- byan's in July, 1874; to the base of the White Mountains, July 6. 1876. This railroad was consolidated with the Boston, Concord & Montreal R. R. in 1873, its owners receiving $300,000 in six per cent. consolidated bonds for their interests. From June, 1884, to June, 1887, it was under the manage- ment of the Boston & Lowell R. R .. which leased the B., C. & M. road for ninety-nine years. The Boston & Lowell, in 1887, leased it to the Boston & Maine R. R.

Portland & Ogdensburg R. R .- A charter was granted in 1569 to build a railroad from the west line of Maine through Conway, Bartlett, White Mountain Notch, Carroll, Bethlehem and Littleton, with the proviso that if it were found impracticable to build a railroad from Littleton to St. Johnsbury, they might locate and build the road from Carroll to White- field, Dalton, and the east line of Vermont. The road was completed to Fabyan's from Portland August 7, 1875, making a connection with the Boston, Concord & Montreal and White Mountains roads there. De- ciding that the road could not be built by the Littleton route, the Port- land & Ogdensburg company constructed two and one-half miles between Scotts and Lunenburg, Vt., making a western connection there with the St. Johnsbury & Lake Champlain R. R. by using the track of the Boston, Concord & Montreal, and White Mountains roads from Fabyan's to Scotts, for which an arrangement was made and still continues. In 1877 the legis- lature confirmed the Portland & Ogdensburg road in the right to the two and one-half miles of road between Scotts and Lunenburg.

Upper Coos Railroad .- During all the years from the settlement of the town to the year 1887 there was no railroad to Colebrook, the nearest.

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point on the railroad being North Stratford, thirteen miles away. In the legislature of 1883 a charter for a railroad was obtained from Stratford to Pittsburg, and in April and May, 1887, a subscription for a narrow gauge railroad was raised, stock to the amount of forty-five thousand dollars being taken. The corporation was organized with J. H. Dudley, presi- dent; Albert Barker. clerk; and Sherburn R. Merrill, treasurer; and about $11,000 paid in to the stock subscription. when Frank Jones, Charles A. Sinclair and George Van Dyke offered to build a standard gauge road through Colebrook and Stewartstown, if the people would raise a gratuity of $25,000. This was quickly done. The old directors resigned, and a new board, consisting of Frank Jones, of Portsmouth, J. B. Cooke, of Salem, Mass., G. W. Armstrong, of Boston, I. W. Drew, of Lancaster, Enoch Sweat, of Woonsocket, R. I., Charles A. Sinclair, of Portsmouth, and George Van Dyke were chosen. Van Dyke was chosen president, Cooke treasurer, and Sweat, general manager. It was voted that the capital stock do not exceed $350.000.

Work at once commenced and the road was formally opened from North Stratford to Colebrook November 29, 1887, giving the people greatly increased facilities for business It will be extended ten miles farther to the Canada line, early next summer, by which time the Canadian Pacific will be ready to touch iron with it, thus opening a new and shorter route to Quebec. It also renders practicable the utilization of numberless water privileges on the Connecticut and other rivers. heretofore unavail- able for manufacturing purposes, owing to the difficulties attendant upon shipping manufactured products. Facilities for manufacturing lumber unequalled in New England can also be found and utilized, which will obviate largely the labor and expense of "driving " millions of logs down the rivers to a market.

If ever a railroad proved a blessing to a section of country, this Upper Coos railroad seems destined to become pre-eminently such. Sharp-eyed capital will surely be attracted to Northern New Hampshire, and one need stretch his imagination but little to people the northern valleys with thriv- ing manufacturing villages, monuments of New England thrift and enter- prise.

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CHAPTER XVI.

MASONRY IN COÖS.

North Star Lodge, Lancaster - Templar Masonry in Northern New Hampshire -- North Star Chapter, Lancaster - Evening Star Lodge, Colebrook - Gorham Lodge, Gorham - White Mount- ain Lodge. Whitefield - Officers of Grand Lodge, Grand Chapter and Grand Commandery from Coös county.

ORTH Star Lodge, No. S .- Lancaster is the mother of Masonry in Northern New Hampshire and Vermont, these lodges owing filial allegiance to her: Evening Star, Colebrook; Kane, Lisbon; Burns, Littleton; Gorham, Gorhanı; White Mountain, Whitefield; Passumpsic, St. Johnsbury; Island Pond, Island Pond. It was instituted at Northum- berland under this ancient charter in 1797.

" To all the Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons to whom these presents shall come.

" The Grand Lodge of the Most Ancient and Honorable Society of Free and Accepted Masons for the State of New Hampshire, sends GREETING.

"[ L. S.] Whereas, a petition has been presented us by Brothers George Kimball, John J. Nath'I Adams, French, John Weeks, William Cargill, Mills De Forest, Nathaniel Wales, Thos.

Gr. Master. Burnside, Holloway Taylor, Edmund Heard, Josiah Sawyer, Jabez Parsons, James Chamberlain, Samuel Phelps, Azariah Webb and Warren Cook, all Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons, praying that they with such others as shall hereafter join them, may be erected and con- stituted a regular Lodge of Free and Accepted Maisons, which petition appearing to us as tending to the advancement of Masonry and good of the Craft.

"Know ye, therefore, that we, the Grand Lodge aforesaid, reposing special trust and confi- dence in the prudence and fidelity of our beloved brethren, above named, have constituted and ap- pointed, and by these presents do constitute and appoint them, the said George Kimball, John Weeks, Mills De Forest, Thomas Burnside, Edmund Heard, Jabez Parsons, Samuel Phelps, John J. French, William Cargill, Nathaniel Wales, Holloway Taylor, Josiah Sawyer, James Chamberlain, Azariah Webb and Warren Cook, a regular Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons under the title and desig- nation of the North Star Lodge, No. 8; and we do hereby appoint our said brother George Kimball, Master; our said brother John J. French, Senior, and our said brother Jolin Weeks, Junior Wardens of said Lodge, hereby giving and granting unto them and their successors full power and author- ity to covene as Masons, within the town of Northumberland, and County of Grafton and State aforesaid, to receive and enter Apprentices, pass Fellow Crafts, and raise Master Masons, upon the payment of such moderate compensations for the same as may be determined, by the said Lodge, also, hereby authorizing them in future to make choice of a Master, Wardens and other office bearers annually or otherwise as they shall see cause, to receive and collect funds for the relief of poor and distressed brethren, their widows or children, and in general to transact all mat- ters relating to Masonry, which may to them appear to be for the good of the Craft, according to the ancient usage and custom of Masons.

" And we do hereby require the said constituted brethren to attend the Grand Lodge at their Quarterly Communications and other meetings, by their Master and Wardens, or by proxies regu- larly appointed, also to keep a fair and regular record of all their proceedings, and to lay the same before the Grand Lodge when required.

" And we do enjoin upon the brethren of said Lodge, that they be punctual in their quarterly payments of such sums as may be assessed for the support of the Grand Lodge, that they behave

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themselves respectfully and obediently to their superiors in office, and in all other things conduct themselves as good Masons.

" And we do hereby declare the precedure of the said Lodge in the Grand Lodge and else- where, to commence from the eighteenth day of December, A. L., 5797.

"In testimony whereof, we, the Grand Master and the Grand Wardens, by virtue of the power and authority to us committed, have hereunto set our hands, and caused the seal of the Grand Lodge to be affixed, at Portsmouth, this eighteenth day of December, Anno Domini, 1797, and of Masonry, 5797.

" JOSEPHI CILLEY, Dept. G. M.

" MOSES WOODWARD, Sen'r

"SAMUEL SHERBURNE, Jun'r

G. W.

" JOSEPH HAVEN, Sen'r " JOHN ADAMS, Jun'r " Rec'd the fees for this Charter,

G. Deacons.

"SAMUEL ADAMS, Gr'd Treasurer.

" EDW'D. ST. LOE LIVERMORE,

Grand Secretary.

" Recorded from the original,

"EDW'D. ST. LOE LIVERMORE,

Grand Secretary."

The first meeting of which we have record was held in the hall over the Cargill store, September 18. 1798. There were present James Chamber- lain, W. M .; John J. French, S. W .; Nathaniel Wales, Sect .; Benoni Cutler, Charles Cutler and Edwards Bucknam. The first complete list of officers preserved is of those elected January 21, 1800: Samuel Phelps, W. M .; Daniel Dana, S. W .; Stephen Wilson, J. W .; Artemas Wilder, Treas .; R. C. Everett, Sect. ; Warren Cook, S. D .; Joseph Dyer, J. D. Special com- munications were then frequent, and much work was done. Between January 21, 1800, the date of the last meeting in Northumberland, and February 11, 1800, the lodge was moved to Lancaster and held its meet- ings in a Masonic hall owned by the lodge which stood nearly on the site of the present residence of Hon. Jacob Benton. [This building was later moved down town, contained the postoffice under the administration of Charles E. Allen, and is now used for business purposes. Masonic emblems are now to be seen on the attic ceiling. ]

St. John's Day was celebrated for the first time in 1801, with fitting, although private ceremonies. In 1815 occurred the first public observance of the day, the brethren marching to the meeting-house, listening to an address by Rev. Dyer Burge, then repairing for refreshments to "Bro." Benjamin Hunking's hall.

Stephen Wilson was elected Worshipful Master, January 19, 1802. He held the office over eight years. In 1807, August 4, it was voted to "return the charter; " but the lodge was subsequently revived, by vote of the Grand Lodge.

In 1814, Jeremy L. Cross had become a resident of the place, and was employed at his trade-a hatter. He had taken the degrees of the York Rite in St. John's Lodge, at Portsmouth; E .. A. '. September 2, 1807, F. ;.

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C .. April 6, 1808, M. . M .. July 6, 1808, and in 1813 was Junior Deacon of that lodge. It may be presumed that he was instrumental in the reor- ganization, which occurred in 1814. He became Senior Deacon in that year, but took a demit October 25, 1814. It was just previous to this time (in 1810) that he had entered upon the broader field of Masonic labor as a lecturer, organizer and writer, which largely occupied the remainder of his life. The extent of his influence on the work of the York Rite may be partially indicated by the fact that his Hieroglyphic Monitor passed through at least sixteen editions, between the years 1819 and 1860, the date of his death.

The custom of wearing white aprons in the lodge was adopted April 1, 1817, when it was voted that a number be procured for the use of the members.

The communication of February 11, 1826, is the last recorded in the "First Book of Records," the report being signed by Asahel Going, Sec- retary.

The Masters to 1826 were George Kimball; James Chamberlain, two years; James Phelps, two years; Stephen Wilson, eight years: Abel Moore, two years; William Lovejoy, five years; Richard Eastman, one year; James Batchelder, one year.

This lodge continued its work through the most venomous period of the anti-Masonic crusade, but surrendered its charter in June, 1844. The ogan- ization did not long remain dormant. While there were yet a large nun- ber of survivors of the troublous times for freemasonry, the charter was returned to the revived lodge. This occurred in 1853. The lodge " organ- ized with the former officers." Eliphalet Lyman, W. M .: Ephraim Cross, S. W .: Charles Baker, J. W. ; Jacob E. Stickney, Sect. ; Benjamin Hunking, Treas .; George Ingerson, S. D .; Allen Smith, J. D .; John Savage, Tyler. In 1854 Ephraim Cross was elected Master, J. W. Barney, Sect. The lodge was moved to rooms over R. P. Kent & Son's store, September 6, 1854, in July, 1855, to the hall over Burnside's store, and in April, 1856, to its present loca- tion in the Town Hall building, which, in 1884, in connection with the other Masonic bodies of the place, the lodge purchased for a permanent home. In June, 1855, the treasurer was authorized to "procure for the lodge twenty-nine working aprons, with appropriate insignia upon them for the officers, also a square and compass of solid silver." The seal of the char- ter having been lost, the Grand Lodge was asked, in May, 1856, to affix a new one, which was done.

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History of Coos County, New Hampshire, Part 16

Author: Merrill, Georgia Drew Publication date: 1888 Publisher: Syracuse [N.Y.] : W. A. Fergusson Number of Pages: 1194

Author: Merrill, Georgia Drew
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Syracuse [N.Y.] : W. A. Fergusson
Number of Pages: 1194