History of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, Part 100

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis
Number of Pages: 1168

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HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

and in strength. The present pastor is Rev. F. H. Corson, who has started on his second year's labor under favorable auspices.

Baptist Society and Church .- Another church building stands between the two villages, in which worship, at longer or shorter intervals, is held, some- times for several months at a time. It is a conven- ient building for the purpose designed, and has been kept by private liberality in good repair. The sheds for horses have disappeared. It was built in May, 1813, and a Baptist society supported preaching here several years. Quite a number of different persons acted as preachers to the society. A church, at first of sixteen members, was organized. Among the prominent and familiar names is Rev. John Atwood, of New Boston, who became its acting pastor in 1837 and stayed three years. In the same year an Inde- pendent Baptist Church was organized, and Rev. John Atwood became its pastor and held the office some years.

Independents .- In addition to the churches already named, other classes of worshipers have occupied Odd- Fellows' Block more or less on the Lord's Day. The Catholics have meetings at stated times. Since the erection and starting of "The New Mill " a large number of Catholic worshipers have moved into the place. The Universalists also hold meetings in the hall. Spiritualists also are addressed from the same platform. Hillsborough tolerates the broadest freedom in religious matters. Brethren of different religions live and labor side by side in the greatest amity. The masses of the people have but little choice between religions. The golden rule is very widely professed.

CHAPTER V.

HILLSBOROUGH-(Continued).

Social Organizations and Lodges -- Physicians-Dental Surgery-Educa- tional-College Graduates-The Fuller Public Library-Valley Bank- The Press-Stage-Roules and Stage-Drivers-Stores and Shops-Town Officers-Closing Remarks.

Secret Organizations .- I can only briefly refer to the various lodges in Hillsborough.

HARMONY LODGE, NO. 38, OF FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS .- Is a flourishing society. Its place of meet- ing monthly is in Newman's Block. W. H. Story, at the present time, Worshipful Master ; C. H. Quinn, Senior Warden; R. C. Diekey, Junior Warden ; C. i orable in his profession, and was accidentally killed Cooledge, Treasurer ; D. W. C. Newman, Secretary.

VALLEY LODGE, NO. 43, INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD-FELLOWS,-Meets Friday evenings. Officers,- Noble Grand, H. Proctor ; Vice-Grand, G. H. Travis; Secretary, P. H. Rumrill ; Treasurer, I. Putney.

HILLSBOROUGH LODGE, No. 17, KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS .- Weekly meeting on Monday, at Castle Hall. Officers,-E. C. Black, Chancellor Comman-

der ; C. M. Glawson, Vice-Chancellor; J. H. T. Newell, Keeper of Records and Seals ; G. W. Lincoln, Master of Exchequer.

SENATOR GRIMES POST, NO. 25, GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC .- Meetings fortnightly, second and fourth Wednesdays in each month. Officers,-H. P. Whitaker, Commander; John Buswell, Senior Vice- Commander; C. C. French, Junior Vice-Commander; J. F. Grimes, Quartermaster ; J. H. George, Adjutant.

BEACON LODGE, No. 34, INDEPENDENT ORDER OF GOOD TEMPLARS .- Meetings in Knights of Pythias Hall every Thursday evening. I cannot give the officers.

VALLEY GRANGE, NO. 63, PATRONS OF HUS- BANDRY .- Meetings monthly, on the Tuesday before the full moon, in Congregational vestry. Officers,- M. M. Hadley, Master; W. E. Gay, Secretary ; O. B. Huntley, Treasurer.

NORTH STAR ENCAMPMENT, INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD-FELLOWS .- Meets second and fourth Tues- days in each month. Officers,-L. G. Pike, Chief Patriarch; C. H. Quinn, Scribe; W. B. Pritchard, Treasurer.

Physicians .- The number of those who commenced "the healing art divine" in Hillsborough may almost be called legion. Previous to 1840 there had been eleven, as follows: William Little, Joseph Munroe, Benjamin Stearns, Joshna Crain, Luther Smith, Reu- ben Hatch, Mason Hatch, Thomas Preston, Simeon Ingersoll Bard, Nahum Parker Foster, Abraham Hazen Robinson. Some of these were men of ability and success in their profession. Dr. Luther Smith has been highly commended as a fair, honorable and lib- eral man in the profession. He commenced practice at the Bridge in 1809, and died in 1824, at the age of thirty-seven. Dr. Reuben Hatch practiced in Hills- borough twenty-four years, and removed to Griggs- ville, Ills. Dr. Thomas Preston was a native son of Hillsborough. His father was one of the decided free-thinkers in town, having caught the spirit from the French, who were here to help us during the War of the American Revolution. The doctor imbibed his principles and defended them. He was a fair- minded, honorable man in all his dealings. Dr. Simeon I. Bard was one of the most learned in his profession, but was fond of change. He practiced in town five years and removed. Dr. Elisha Hatch, a native of Alstead, was born July 17, 1796; studied with Drs. Twitchell and Adams, of Keene; graduated at Dartmonth Medical College; was skillful and hon- by a fall from the high beams of his barn in 1863, aged sixty-six. In 1841, Abel Conant Burnham opened his office in town, beginning at the Centre in February of that year, and removing to the Bridge in October of the same. For forty-four years the doctor has remained faithful at his post, and seems now to have, if not all the vigor and endurance, yet all the enthusiasm, love of his profession and fidelity to his

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trust of a young man, and certainly the ability to inspire greater confidence than he could himself have believed at the start. He had the best of advantages for fitting himself for his profession. Having obtained a good academic education at the academies of Fran- cestown, Pembroke and Hillsborough, he commenced the study of medicine with the late Dr. Elisha Hatch, of Hillsborough, with whom he remained two years. The third year he was with Dr. Amos Twitchell, of Keene, one of the most eminent surgeons of his age. He attended three regular courses of medical lec- tures,-one at Woodstock, Vt., and two at Hanover, at the Dartmouth Medical College. He took his last course and degree in the fall of 1839; public notice thereof was given by the president of the college on Commencement Day, 1840. The year following he studied in connection with city hospitals, and after- wards spent a season at the University of New York, attending medical and clinical lectures in the city hospitals, the Eye and Ear Infirmary, and spending his evenings and other spare hours in the dissecting- rooms. Dr. Burnham came into the profession fully "armed and equipped as the law directs," prepared to stay, and he has stayed at the Bridge while the tide of medical practitioners has flowed and sometimes rushed by in an almost constant stream. In 1841 only Drs. Hatch, Preston-then an old man-and himself were practicing in the town. He has and has had honorable competitors,-some noble men in the profession, some for a longer, some for a shorter time,- yet he has held a firm seat. Dr. John Goodell suc- ceeded Dr. Hatch in 1859, Dr. Hatch leaving his practice and beautiful home at his place between the two villages, near the Baptist Church, which Dr. Goodell at once occupied. It was an unfortunate move for Dr. Hatch. While at the Bridge he bought the Esquire Steel place, into which he moved, and where himself and family were beginning to enjoy themselves when he met with a sudden death, as above mentioned. He lived after he came to the Bridge village four years. Dr. Goodell has somewhat impaired health, arising from injuries received from being thrown from a carriage. He has all the prac- tice he cares for, and is respected and trusted. Dr. J. Q. A. French came into town soon after Dr. Goodell, and settled at the Upper village. He has a large circle of patronage, extending especially into Wash- ington. Dr. B. H. Phillips came to the Centre in December, 1841, and left in October, 1842. He was succeeded by Dr. Swett, who died in the course of a year or two. Dr. Wilkins came, and in a few months died. Dr. B. Lyford came in about 1848 and stayed a few years and went away, and has since died. Dr. Skinner came, went, and in a short time he also died. Dr. George Priest, a native of the Centre, son of Ben- jamin Priest, once a pupil of the writer at the acad- emy, remained for a time after his graduation, and is now at Manchester-by-the-sea in successful practice, living all these years in single blessedness. Dr. Charles

Hartwell, a native of the town, practiced a few years and died.

Dr. Charles Gould, a native of the town, practiced a couple of years at the Centre and three or four more at the Bridge village, and removed from town. Dr. Joseph Parsons came about 1855, remained four or five years and died. Dr. Edward P. Cummings, son of Rev. Jacob Cummings, at one time pastor of the Con- gregational Church at the Bridge, came about 1855, remained two or three years in practice, and removed to Francestown and stayed two or three years. At the breaking out of the Civil War he enlisted as sur- geon in the navy, returned to Newburyport, his home, siekened and died. He was a true-hearted man. Dr. Constantine C. Badger succeeded Parsons, and re- mained for a few years, left, and died. Dr. J. P. Whittle, practiced a short time in Hillsborough, where he married, and then moved to Weare, where he has had an extensive practice for the last quarter of a century. Dr. Israel P. Chase, homeopathie, has been in town about thirty years, and has a fair share of practice, more than he sometimes feels able to do. He once published and edited The Hillsborough Messenger with great acceptance to the public. Dr. George W. Cook was in practice in town two or three years. He was followed by Dr. Marcellus H. Felt, who came in about 1876 and has remained to the present time. Dr. Felt is a popular man in town, and has gained quite an extensive practice. I ought to mention the name of Harvey Munroe, a pupil of the writer, who graduated from Dartmouth College in 1858, from the Medical Department of the same in 1860, practiced some in town, but even- tually settled in East Washington, and after suc- cessful work for about two years, died in 1863, aged thirty-one. After his death his widow, Mrs. Munroe, studied the science of medicine, attended medical lectures and entered upon a successful practice. The present practitioners of medicine in town live together in entire harmony. Drs. Burnham. Chase, Felt, Goodell and French have each a medical parish of his own, and there is no attempt to get practice away from one another. Their homes are but starting-points from which they ride long distances to their patients in town and out.

In medicine, as in theology, there are distinct schools. The historian, as a man, may have his preferences, but not as a historian. The twoschools-allopathic and homeopathie-have lived and practiced side by side in Hillsborough without the local disturbance which is felt in some adjoining towns. In one town, within ten or twelve miles' ride of Hillsborough, a practitioner of one school wanted to hire some one by the month to help him hate a certain other person, who, he thought, interfered with his business, to get his prac- tice for the other side, whether the patient should die or get well. No such wrangling in Hillsborough. Dr. Israel P. Chase came to Hillsborough Bridge from Henniker, where he had been in practice, and had

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HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

at one time an extensive practice both in Hillsbor- ough and in Henniker, from which place he had just come. Dr. Chase is a genial man, especially in the sick-room, though bluff enough outside.

Dental Surgery .- Hillsborough has been distin- guished for practitioners in the art of dental surgery. A quarter of a century ago the forceps, drill and burr were skillfully handled by Dr. S. Ball, naturally a perfect gentleman, and of great skill in his profession. Dr. Frank P. Carey once had an office and an exten- sive practice in town. Dr. Frank P. Newman also worked here for a time, and Dr. Whittle. Dr. S. O. Bowers has, however, held the ground against all comers, and is a most successful practitioner in his art. Others come and go, but he-like Dr. Burnham -comes and stays. Dental surgery has greatly im- proved as an art within the last ten or fifteen years. The use of anæsthetics has been of great service in preventing suffering in the extraction of teeth.

Educational-DISTRICT SCHOOLS .- Hillsborough, from the commencement of its permanent settlement, has paid commendable attention to the education of its children. At the first settlements were made on the hills in preference to the low lands, as the soil was drier and the timber more easily cleared. It was owing chiefly to these facts that the remote parts of the town, for the most part made of high hills, were settled so early in its history. Fifty years ago the outlying districts were very large, not only in territory, but in the number of pupils of age to at- tend school. Some then contained sixty pupils, where now are less than one-fourth of that number; and others then contained from forty to fifty, where now not over a half-dozen are living. One district, once quite large, became reduced to one scholar belong- ing to the district ; another, called the Sulphur Hill District, bad for several years not a single scholar in it, but rallied at last with one scholar of its own and a borrowed one. While the schools in the out- districts have grown smaller and still smaller, the schools in the Upper and Lower Village Districts and at the Bridge have greatly increased in numbers.

COLLEGE GRADUATES,-Hillsborough has sent out, during its existence as a town, a goodly number of young men to receive a liberal education at colleges and higher seminaries. Not a few also of her young women have gone abroad for a higher education. Her first graduate from college was Abraham An- drews, who prepared for college under his uncle, Rev. Ephraim P. Bradford, of New Boston, graduated at Dartmouth College in 1811, and became an eminent teacher.

Colonel Benjamin Kendrick Pierce, eldest son of Governor Benjamin Pierce, entered Dartmouth Col- lege in 1807, a classmate of Andrews and at the end of his third year left college and commenced the study of law, which also he left, at the breaking out of the War of 1812, for the army, which he entered with the rank of lieutenant, in the Third Regiment of artillery.

He was promoted to the rank of colonel in the Third Artillery in the regular army, and remained until his death. He was distinguished for bravery in the field.

Rev. Francis Danforth graduated at Dartmouth College in 1819. Studied theology at Andover Theo- logical Seminary, and became an efficient Congrega- tional minister.

Rev. Aaron Foster graduated at Dartmouth Col- lege in 1822, and at the Andover Theological Semi- nary in 1825, became a home missionary, and died November 15, 1832, aged thirty-seven years.

Amasa Symonds entered Dartmouth College in 1821, and died at his father's house the next year.

Lieutenant Amos B. Foster, born July 15, 1804, was educated at West Point, from which he graduated in 1827. He entered service in the regular army and was brutally murdered by a private whom he repri- manded for disorderly conduct at Fort Howard, Green Bay, February 7, 1832, at the early age of twenty- seven years and six months. It was a sad and tragic event, which is circumstantially related in Smith's an - nals.

The next graduate in point of time was ex-Presi- dent Franklin Pierce, the fourth son of Governor Benjamin Pierce, born November 23, 1804, and grad- uated at Bowdoin College, in Brunswick, Me., in 1824. He obtained from the college not only a good liberal | education and the president's name to his diploma, but something which he regarded of vastly greater value, the hand and heart of the president's youngest daughter, Miss Jane M. Appleton, who proved to be both the ornament and honor of his home, whether in his unostentatious one at Hillsborough or in the more conspicuous one at the White House, at Washington.

Rev. Henry Jones graduated at Dartmouth College in 1835, and married, the next year, Miss Betsey, daughter of Eliphalet Symonds, of Hillsborough, and became a teacher.

His brother, Rev. Willard Jones, graduated at the same time and place, and also from the Theological Seminary at Andover. He was ordained as missionary of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, July 4, 1839, and was married at the same time to Miss Miriam Pratt.

Edward R. Johnson entered Dartmouth College in 1880, and remained two years.

John Appleton Burnham graduated at Amherst College in 1833, and went into the manufacturing business at Manchester.

Joel Buchanan Stow, son of Deacon Joel Stow, of Stow Mountain fame, graduated at the Teachers' Sem- inary, Andover, Mass., and became himself a teacher in the West.

Rev. Levi Smith graduated at New Hampton and studied theology there.

Clark Coolidge, son of Lemuel Coolidge, entered the Wesleyan University, at Middletown, Conn., and died during his college course, July, 1840.

George Harvey Munroe, son of Colonel Hiram

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Munroe, who was one of the leading men of the town for many years and a man of strong qualities of char- acter, graduated at Dartmouth College in 1858, and in the Medical Department of the same college in 1860, and practicing a short time in his own town and in East Washington, died in the last-named place. He was a young man of superior scholarship and his prospects of success in life were very fair.

Alfred B. Dascomb, son of George and Mary Das- comb, graduated at Dartmouth College in 1858. He engaged successfully in teaching a few years, took a private course in theology and entered the Congrega- tional ministry, of which he continues an ornament and strong helper. His services in Vermont and Massachusetts have been and are acceptable to the people to whom he ministers and to all who are per- sonally acquainted with him.

John B. Smith fitted for college at Francestown Academy, and for a time wavered between a collegiate and professional life and a mercantile one ; the latter carried the day.

Warren MeClintock, son of Luke MeClintock, grad- uated at Dartmouth College in 1864, and entered at once upon the work of teaching as a profession. He was a young man of great promise, the oldest son in the family. He fell by consumption in 1871, aged thirty-three years.

A brother, Charles, was fitting to enter college, but on the breaking ont of the Civil War enlisted with other Hillsborough young men and did good service in the field. Just as they were mustered out of ser- vice, and were about to start for home, he sickened and died from malaria, and his remains lie among the swamps of Louisiana.

James Henry, a third brother, entered Dartmouth College and graduated in the same year that Warren died, in 1871, and he also died of consumption the same year, aged twenty-six.

A younger brother, John C., a faithful and enter- prising fireman and engineer, avoided the classics and followed railroading, so as to be out in the open air; he, too, fell in early life a victim to the same fell disease, consumption.

They had five sisters by the same mother, and all but one have gone in the same way.

One sister, Abbie Sawyer Mcclintock, graduated at the Appleton Academy, New Ipswich.

Frank H. Pierce graduated at Princetou College, and was early admitted to the bar. He has been engaged in the practice of law since that time, at Concord and in his native town.

His brother, Kirk D. Pierce, studied law and is in successful practice at the Lower village. The Pierce brothers, both young men from the best stock, are bonnd to succeed. Hosts of friends are wishing them long, onward strides in a high and noble career. Age and experience develop new and higher qualities. They are aiming high, and will not be hindered from climbing to a high position.

Samuel T. Dutton, son of Deacon and Mrs. Jere- miah Dutton, graduated at Yale College. Since his graduation he has been a successful teacher, and is now superintendent of schools in New Haven, Conn. He married Miss Nellie North, daughter of John North, Esq., of New Haven.

His brother Silas entered Yale College a few years later, and stood high in his class as a scholar ; but in his third year he succumbed to the power of disease and fell by the way, mourned by friends, both in and out of college. Their sister Mary has received the excellent advantages of the New Haven schools.

Mrs. Mary Isabel Towle, nee Ward, daughter of George B. Ward, after attendance at other schools, graduated in a select school in Boston.

Jacob B. Whittemore, son of the late William B. Whittemore, graduated at Phillips Exeter Academy, and for a time was a student at Yale College.

His sister, Miss Mary Elleu Whittemore, graduated at Bradford Academy, Mass., and has since been a successful teacher at Hillsborough Bridge, and also in Bradford, N. H.

Others, at about the same time, received the ad- vantages of a high academical education, but the data are not at hand to make a correct record.

Among those who were pupils of the writer, long ago, in the Francestown Academy, who have been an honor to their native town by their useful lives, he remembers the Misses Munroe, of several families, Miss Print, Miss Towne, Drs. Munroe and Priest, Miss Eliza Smith, Miss Butler, the Marcy brothers and others whose names it would be a pleasure now to write. Not a few of these are among the honored dead.

Harry L. Brickett, son of Rev. Harry and Eliza C. Brickett, graduated at Oberlin College in 1875. He taught from 1875 to 1876 in Schroon Lake, N. Y. From 1876 to 1879 he was principal of Valley Acad- emy and the Union School, at Hillsborough Bridge. In 1879 he entered Andover Theological Seminary, graduating in 1882. While in his senior year in the seminary he was called to his present pastorate at Lynnfield Centre, Mass., where he is now entering upon his fourth year of active service.

Ellen J. Brickett, daughter of Rev. Harry and Eliza C. Brickett, graduated from the Ladies' Literary De- partment of Oberlin College in 1875. She taught with her brother in Valley Academy and the Union School, at Hillsborough Bridge, from 1876 to 1879; in Deering Academy from 1879 to 1880; in Hooksett, N. H., in the grammar school, from 1880 to the present time, this being her fifth consecutive year in that school.

Julia E. Brickett, daughter of Rev. Harry and Eliza C. Brickett, graduated at East Lake George Academy, N. Y., in 1875; died at Hillsborough Bridge in 1876, aged seventeen.

Mary I. Brickett, youngest in the family, graduated at Abbot Academy, Andover, Mass., in 1884, and resided with her parents in Thetford, Vt.

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Ada Buxton, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Buxton, graduated at Tilton Seminary in 1884. She has had a large and successful experience in teaching for one so young.

Reuben W. Lovering, son of Reuben and Martha A. Lovering, entered Harvard University in 1880. He stood among the highest in scholarship and in manly exercises, earned large sums of money in tutoring and had the fairest prospects of achieving the greatest success. Alas! who can read a single page in advance in the great book of human life? Within a few weeks of the time of graduation he sickened and died, "the only son of his mother, and she a widow." Frank Wyman, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. S. D. Wyman, entered Harvard University in 1882, and has taken high rank as a scholar. Livy Whittle, son of Mr. and Mrs. David Whittle, is also at Harvard, taking a special course. Clara F. Potter, only child of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph H. Potter, took a special course in a select school in Manchester. Since then she has been constantly engaged in teaching in her own town, with marked snecess. Angie I. Marcy graduated at Cushing Academy, in Massachusetts, and has since had full employment, at remunerative wages, in teaching. Colonel J. F. Grimes has several sons away in institutions of learning. Of these, James W. is fitting for college at Phillips Andover Academy in Massachusetts. Marion A. Moore is at Framing- ham Normal Institute; Amy L. Story and her brother, Frederick G. Story, Cora Peaslee and her sister and Cora M. Kimball are at different institu- tions of learning ; Hammond J. Dutton and George Eben Wyman are graduates of the English Depart- ment of Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass. ; William Dow, son of S. Dow and Ursula Rosette Wyman, is a graduate of Colby Academy, of New London. He is now in the insurance business in Chicago, IlI.

The Fuller Town Library .- Mark Fuller, at his death, left in his will to the town of Hillsborough the sum of two thousand dollars for the use of a town free library, on condition of keeping in repair, from year to year, perpetually, the family burial-plot in the cemetery between the Lower and Upper villages. The trustees were to be as follows : The three select- men of the town, er-officio, and two others, the first one to be elected for two years and the other for one-one going out and a new one elected each suc- ceeding year. The town accepted the gift on its con- ditions, and chose Charles W. Conn for two years and Rev. Harry Briekett for one year. The trustees organized and chose S. D. Wyman secretary and established the library ; JJacob B. Whittemore donated twenty-five dollars in the rent of a room for the first year.

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History of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, Part 100

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis Number of Pages: 1168

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis
Number of Pages: 1168