History of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, Part 143

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

USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > History of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire > Part 143

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Mills .- The first mill or mills was built by the proprietors, as has been related ; the next by Andrew Walker about the year 1751. As appears by the records, the proprietors made an agreement or con- tract with said Walker, on condition of certain grants of land, to build a saw and grist-mill on the middle branch of the Piscataquog River, where Charles Tucker's mill now stands, with a right to flow, for the space of seven years, the low land farther up said stream, so as to furnish a supply of water for the dry season, the proprietors to provide the mill-irons.

The frequent complaint of the settlers to the pro- prietors would tend to show that he did not give satisfaction. What the difficulty was does not ap- pear,-whether he refused to saw boards for one-half, according to the custom of the time, and demanded payment in cash, or claimed more than a sixteenth part of the grain for grinding. But it is quite evident it was an infringement on the rights of the settlers, and an abuse of the privileges granted him, or was so con- sidered by the proprietors from the action taken at several of their meetings. At one it was voted to sue Walker and take the mill-irons if he was not more accommodating; at another time they authorized and empowered Thomas Cochran and John McAllister to take legal measures with Andrew Walker. At an early period Deacon Thomas Cochran built a corn- mill on a small stream known as the Cochran Brook, and prior to 1770, Hugh Gregg built a saw and grist- mill on the middle branch of the Piscataquog River, where Alvaro Hadley's now stands.

Deacon Jesse Christy built a saw and grist-mill on the spot now owned by the Paper-Mill Company. Saw-mills were built in different parts of the town to the number of thirty-three, nine of which were located on the south branch of the river, nine on the middle branch, four on the Marden Brook, one on Turkey Brook, near the north end of the Great Meadow, one on brook near Hiram Wilson's, two on Wood's Brook, besides two on the south branch of the Piscataqnog, which were connected with grist-mills.

Manufactures .- The first manufactory in town of

which there is any record was that of wire, and was carried on by Holmes, Kendall & Crombie in a build- ing near where the paper-mill now stands. Not proving remunerative, it was given up.

Axes and hoes were manufactured there about the same time.

A year or two later Moses Wood ereeted a building near the same place, and began the manufacture of guns and rifles, which he carried on successfully for a long period, until the breech-loader succeeded the old muzzle-loader.

Kendall & McLane began the manufacture of doors, sash and blinds in 1845, in a building where John Gregg's shop now stands, which was afterwards burned, and were succeeded the next year by N. & R. McLane, who continued the business there until 1852, when they erected a dam and building about one hundred rods northeast of the Lower village, and have continued the manufacture of doors there till the present time.

The same year Nathan Farley commenced the manufacture of piano-cases, which he has continued successfully.

Fuller & Wisewell made looking-glasses and pic- ture-frames in the same building formerly occupied by N. & R. McLane for two or three years.

They were succeeded by Mr. Smith, who put in machinery for knit hosiery. After operating a few months, he had the misfortune to have his stock and machinery destroyed by fire.

For twenty years or more David N. Butterfield has manufactured fancy boxes and toy furniture in what was known as the Gage Mill, and has machinery for turning and planing iron.

Mr. Brett for three or four years carried on the business of making bobbins.

Morgan & Andrews for a time manufactured bed- steads in the west part of the town. The premises are now occupied by E. D. Morgan as a table-factory.

In 1846, George D. Neville commenced and pur- sued the making of edge-tools in the shop built by David Smith.

John W. Andrews' knob and chair-factory is now owned and occupied by Mr. Alfred Wilder, who manufactures toy carriages to quite an extent.

Abram Wason erected a steam-shop for the making of barrel-heads in 1883, and is still in the business.

Soldiers of the French and Indian Wars .- There is no evidence, traditional or historical, that any resi- dent of the town served in these wars from 1755 to 1760.

Daniel Kelso enlisted from Derry in 1758, at the age of sixteen years, and served till the close of the war. He afterwards removed to this town.

John Livingston, born in the year 1729, in the parish of Learcastle, County of Argyle, Scotland, had a more varied experience than any other citizen of his day. The year 1756 was, on the whole, more fav- orable to the French arms in North America than the

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HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

British, and great efforts were made on the part of the latter to put a sufficient force into the field, so as to successfully contend with the former ; and to do that it was necessary to raise a large number of men by enlistment to make up the quota of the standing regiments and form new ones, and if the young men would not enlist, they were conscripted.

In September of the above-named year, on Living- ston's return from the grist-mill, he was met by the recruiting sergeant and a file of soldiers, and was forced to accompany them to the place of rendez- vous, leaving the horse and bag of meal in the highway, and at his home a wife and child. He afterwards enlisted and sent his wife the bounty money. The Highland Regiment, of which he was a soldier, landed in Boston in the early part of the year 1757, and was in service on the frontier that year and the next, and in 1759 took part in the ex- pedition under General Wolfe to take Quebec. He

was in the battle of Abraham's Plains and all the other conflicts in which that division was engaged, in every one of which he performed his duty faith- fully. After seven years' service he obtained his discharge, of which the following is a copy :

COPY OF JOHN LIVINGSTON'S DISCHARGE.

" His Majesty's 48th Regiment of foot Whereof Simon Frazer is Col. " These are to Certifie that the Bearer hereof John Livingston soldier in Mayor Campbell's Company of the aforesaid Regiment. Born in the parish of Learcastle and in the County of Argile, aged thirty-six years and hy trade a farmer.

" Ilath served honestly and Faithfully in the said Regiment for the space of seven years. But by reason that the Regiment is to be reduced is here by discharged, he having first received all just Demands of pay Clothing ete. from his entry into the said Regiment to the Day of this Discharge as appears by his Recept on the Back hereof

"Given under my hand and the seal of the Regiment at Quebec in Canada this Tenth day of September 1763.

"JAMES ABERCROMBIE, " Maj. of 48th Regiment."

After his discharge, in company with other High- landers, he came to Montreal, and from thence up the Missisqui River to Lake Champlain, along the shore of this lake to the mouth of the Winooski, up the last-named to Montpelier, where there was but one log house. There were but few settlements in Vermont then, except on the Connecticut River and Lake Champlain.

He then went from Montpelier to Windsor, and from there to Boston, where he worked in the sum- mer season in a West India goods store and a steve- dore's gang for the small sum of fifty cents per day, and in the winter came to Bedford (or New Boston) and worked for his board. After three or four years he had saved enough to purchase a lot of land in the northwest part of the town, and clearing it, he built a log house and frame barn, and in 1773 sent for his wife and daughter, whom he had not seen for seven- teen years. They arrived in November of the same year. By industry and economy he acquired a large landed estate in this town and Francestown. He

was a very successful farmer, raising a large number of horses, cattle and sheep. He died July 16, 1818.

Soldiers of the Revolution .- Abner Hogg, son of Robert Hogg. was born in Londonderry in the year 1759. He enlisted in June, 1776, under Captain Barnes, of Lyndeborough, and went with him to Ticonderoga, in General Gates' division, and in December returned home. He re-enlisted the next spring under Captain Livermore, in Colonel Scammel's regiment, the Third New Hampshire, and was in frequent skirmishes in the vicinity of Ticonderoga. He was in the battle of Stillwater, and, later, witnessed Burgoyne's surrender. He then joined Washington's army and was in several conflicts; he came home in May, 1780. During his term of service he was in ten battles, held a sergeant's warrant for two years of the time and drew a ser- geant's pay from government from 1831 to the time of his death.

James, an elder brother, was in the battle of Bunker Hill.

William Beard was also in this battle, and after- ward received an ensign's commission. He was in General Stark's army at the battle of Bennington, in 1777.

Deacon Archibald McMillen was wounded in the Bunker Hill conflict, but it does not appear that he enlisted for a term of service, for he was elected representative of New Boston and Francestown to the General Court at Exeter in 1777.

Robert Campbell, Josiah Warren and James Cald- well were taken prisoners by the Indians in the vicin- ity of Ticonderoga, and left there some months. The exchange or liberation occurred on the last Wednesday of May, the day on which the Legislature of Mas- sachusetts met, and they afterwards annually cel- ebrated the event by a festival, called the feast of Purim or deliverance, at which times they met alternately at each other's houses.

Caleb Howe served long enough to draw full pen- sion.

About the beginning of the Revolutionary War there was a large addition to the population of the town from Beverly, Windham, Hamilton and other coast towns.

They were a people of purely English origin and ancestry, having different manners, customs and usages from the earlier settlers, and a different pronun- ciation from the broad Scotch. As a body, thrifty, frugal and industrious. As a rule, they came with sufficient means to purchase many improvements over the earlier settlers. This influx continued until about the beginning of the present century, and added materially to the wealth and prosperity of the town.

There were families of Dodges, besides the Andrews, Obers, Danes, Morgans, Langdells, Bennetts and Whipples.

From the beginning of the second immigration the population increased rapidly, and reached the highest in the second decade of this century, it being about

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NEW BOSTON.

1700, and since that time there has been a steady decrease. In 1870 it was 1241, in 1880, 1144,-an ac- tual decrease of over 550 in sixty years, due mainly to the same causes that have diminished the wealth, population and production of the farming towns, more particularly those that have no railroad facilities.

War of 1812 .- There is not much known of this town in connection with the War of 1812. Nathan Hall and Jonathan Brown are the only ones known to have been engaged in it.

NAMES OF VOLUNTEERS FROM NEW BOSTON IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.

FOR THREE MONTHS.

James B. Whipple, Paul Whipple, Page Fox, Joseph K. Whipple, W. B. Dodge, Alfred Eaton, W. E. Taggart.

FOR NINE MONTHS.

Perley Dodge,* M. Colburn, Abner Lull,* Jacob Towns, George An- drews,* C. H. Dickey,* II. Peabody,* J. Peabody,* L. Peabody,* J. Lang- dell, William Kelso,* Page Fox, H. Fairfield, Horace Langdell, Edward Cudworth,* Calvin Andrews, C. H. Murphy, E. P. Dodge, George . Mar- den, Lewis Towns,* Moses Crombie, Benjamin Wilson,* Frederick Lam- son .*

FOR THREE YEARS OR THE WAR.

Emerson Johonnett, Edward Reynolds,* Samnel Putnam,* William C. Kelso,* Jacob Carson, * W. Cornelius Beard,* Julian Dodge, * S. Dodge, Jr., William B. Dodge, Robert Clark, George H. Chandler, Caleb Dodge,* Paul Whipple, Henry Gage,* A. Carson, Everett Ober, John Corvan,* George Davis, George How, Edwin Barnard,* Levi W. Sargent, Charles Brooks, * - Richardson, Frank Warden, John Buxton, Washington Follansbee, Henry Shelby, Addison Meade, Charles E. Daggett,* HI. Frank Warren, Elbridge Mansfield, J. H. Johonnett, A. J. Bennett, Austin Morgan,* George Lawrence, John G. Rowell, William Dustan, George E. Cochrane, Daniel Heald, John H. Eaton,* Alfred Eaton, Frank Carson, R. Bartlett, William N. Dunklee, A. P. Brigham, - Ilope, J. Whip- ple, Jr.,* George Moulton, James Leet, Duncan Campbell, Edgar Rich- ards, Joseph Richards,* Oscar Richards,* Daniel F. Shedd, James Col- burn, John Dickey, William J. Perkins, John H. Boynton, Robert Richards.

NOTE. - Died in service.

Lawyers .- There existed for a long time a decided aversion to the legal profession among no small part of the community, but that soon disappeared; never- theless New Boston has never been an inviting field for this profession. Its location is not sufficiently cen- tral to attract business from surrounding towns, nor has New Boston raised many of her sons to this calling ; but of those she has given, there is no occasion for shame.

William Wilson became the leader and rose to emi- nence. He was the son of Alexander Wilson, gradu- ated at Dartmouth College in 1797, settled in Ohio and became judge of the Supreme Court in 1823; he was subsequently elected a member of Congress and died in 1827, aged fifty-five years.

Josiah Fairfield, the son of John Fairfield, was born August, 1803, fitted for college at Andover, Mass., and graduated from Dartmouth in 1825. In 1827 he went to Hudson, N. Y., and became principal of the academy which position he held five years, studying law in the mean time, and in 1832 began to practice.

Mr. Fairfield was always a firm friend of education and an advocate of all righteous reforms. He died in Hudson, N. Y., respected by all.

Clark B. Cochrane was born in 1813, and was the son of John Cochrane. He commenced fitting for

college at Atkinson Academy in 1832, under John Kelly, Esq., and completed his preparation at Fran- cestown Academy and at Nashua.

Ile entered Union College in 1835, and graduated in 1839, commenced practicing law at Amsterdam, N. Y., and in 1851 removed to Schenectady, thence to Albany in 1855. In 1856 he was elected to represent in the United States Congress the counties of Sche- nectady, Schoharie, Montgomery and Fulton, and was re-elected in 1858.

Mr. Cochrane gained a high position among his competitors by his legal knowledge. He died at Albany.

James Crombie was born in 1811, the third son of William Crombie, Esq., removed from New Boston to Otsego, N. Y., when only five years of age. Ill health forbade a college course, but in 1834 he began the study of law, and was admitted to the bar at Albany in October, 1837.

Lorenzo Fairbanks is the son of Joel Fairbanks, and was born March 16, 1825. He fitted for college at Black River Academy, Ludlow, Vt., graduated at Dartmouth College in 1852, and immediately com- menced the study of law in New York ; was admitted to the bar in 1853. He subsequently established him- self in business in Philadelphia, but has since removed to Boston, where he now resides.

Christopher C. Langdell is the son of the late John Langdell. He fitted for college at Exeter Academy, graduated at Harvard and afterwards practiced law in New York City. He is now professor in the Law School at Harvard College.

Perley Dodge was the youngest son of William Dodge, who settled here in 1787. His ancestors are believed to have come from the north of Wales, and were among the early settlers in Massachusetts Bay. He fitted for college at Pinkerton, Salisbury and Fran- cestown Academies, entered Dartmouth in 1820, sub- sequently went to Union College, from which he graduated in 1824. In 1828 he was admitted to the bar, practicing first at Francestown, then in New Boston, but afterwards removed to Amherst, where he now lives.

John Gove, son of Dr. Jonathan Gove, was born in New Boston, February 17, 1771, graduated at Dart- mouth College in 1793, commenced the practicing of law in Goffstown in 1797 and removed to Chillicothe, Ohio, in 1802. He died the same year, aged thirty-one.

Charles Frederick Gove was also the son of Dr. Jonathan Gove. He was born May 13, 1793, gradu- ated at Dartmouth College in 1817, read law with J. Forsaith and commenced its practice in Goffstown in 1820, where he remained till 1839, when he removed to Nashville (now Nashua), and represented it in the State Legislature in 1830,'31,'32,'33,'34. He was presi- dent of the State Senate in 1835, was solicitor from 1834 to 1837, Attorney-General from 1837 to 1842, and appointed circuit judge of Court of Common Pleas in 1842.

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HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Robert Clark Cochran is the son of the late John D. Cochran. He was born Novenber 4, 1813, and resided in Gallatin, Miss., up to the time of his death.

Jesse McCurdy, the son of the late James McCurdy, graduated at Dartmouth in the class of 1852. He is now practicing law in Quitman, Miss.

Seth Fairfield is the son of Benjamin Fairfield, Esq., and a graduate of Waterville College, Me. He went into Mississippi to teach school, and is now in the practice of the legal profession in that State.

Ninian Clark Betton was born in 1788. He studied at Atkinson Academy, entered Dartmouth College and graduated with the reputation of high scholarship. He practiced in Boston up to the time of his death, which occurred November 19, 1856.

George E. Cochrane, son of Alfred Cochrane, was born March 30, 1845. He studied law with Judge Cross, of Manchester, afterwards settling in Farming- ton, and from thence he removed to Rochester, where he now resides.

Charles S. MeLane, the son of Rodney McLane, was born November, 1854. He received his educa- tion at Mont Vernon, Derry and Tilton schools, stud- ied law with Wadleigh & Wallace, of Milford, and subsequently practiced in Dover, from which place he has now removed to Wichita, Kan.

Doctors .- The first doctor in town was Matthew Thornton, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. When he came here and how long he stayed is not known. He afterwards removed to a place in Merrimack known as Thornton's Ferry, where he died.

The next was Dr. Jonathan Gove, who came here in the year 1770. He was evidently a polished and cultivated man, as well as a skillful physician. He held many town offices, more particularly that of town clerk, for a long period. After he had passed middle age he removed to Goffstown and died there.

Contemporary with Dr. Gove was Dr. Hugh Mc- Millen, a self-educated physician and a good practical chemist. By study and experiment he was enabled to compound and prepare medicines that were valua- ble in diseases of the blood, and it is said he discov- ered a cure for hydrophobia. if taken in season. The secret he left to his son, Dr. Abraham McMillen, and it died with him.

The next in order was Dr. Eastman.

He was succeeded by Dr. Lincoln, a man of some enterprise. He built mills on the premises now owned and occupied by Elbridge C. Colby ; but hav- ing met with some reverses, he left town, and he, in turn, was succeeded by Dr. Cutter, who remained a short time, and returned to Jaffrey, his former home.

Next in order was Dr. John Whipple, who began practice in the year 1800. He was a good practitioner and a man of enterprise.

Dr. Brown, of Maine, came here in 1813, and stayed four years.

Dr. Dalton succeeded him in 1819, and remained till his death.

Dr. Dalton was followed by Dr. Perkins. After a few years' practice he abandoned this profession to study for the ministry. Next came Dr. Bradford, who, after some three years, removed to Montague, Mass.

His successor was Dr. Fitch, of Greenfield, N. H. Dr. Danforth, of Weare, followed Dr. Fitch. He retired after a practice of more than twenty years.

In the year 1848, Dr. Moses Atwood came here from Concord. He began the practice of medicine in North Lyndeborough in 1827 ; thence removed to Deering, and from Deering to Francestown, where he had a very extended practice, probably equal to that of any physician in the county. In 1841 he changed from allopathy to homeopathy, and such was the confidence of his patrons in his skill and judgment that, almost without exception, they continued their patronage. He was the first homopathic physician in New Hampshire. He died in New Boston April 28, 1850.

About 1858, Dr. N. P. Clark eame here from An- dover, N. H., and was a successful practitioner for more than twenty years. He died in 1881.

In 1865, Dr. Terhune came here from Hackensack, N. J., and remained a few years.

Dr. Sturtevant was contemporary with Dr. Clark from 1875, and built up quite a lucrative business.

He was succeeded by Dr. Myshrall, and he, in turn, by Drs. Gould and Weaver, who are now the resident physicians.

The following are the physicians who have gone out from here:

Dr. James Crombie began practice in Temple, N. H., in 1798. He removed from Temple to Fran- cestown, and from thence to Waterford, Me.

Dr. William Ferson praetieed in Gloucester, Mass., and died there.

Dr. Alexander McCollom practiced in Pittston, Me., where he died in 1884.

Dr. Samuel Gregg studied medicine with Dr. Dal- ton, of this town; went first to Medford, Mass .; afterwards became homeopathic, and went to Boston, where he died.

Dr. Jeremiah Cochran studied with Dr. Dalton ; removed to Sandusky, Ohio, where he died after sev- eral years' practice.

Dr. Charles Cochran is a practicing physician at Toledo, Ohio.

Dr. Horace Wason began the practice of medieine at Manchester, Mass., and died there.

Dr. Thomas Cochran took his degree at Harvard in 1840. He went to New Ipswich the same year, where he remained until 1853, when he went to West Rutland, Vt. In 1862 he received the appointment of assistant surgeon in the United States army.

Dr. Daniel Marden studied with Dr. Danforth ; began practice at Goshen, N. H., and went from there to Peru, Vt.

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NEW BOSTON.

Dr. Nathaniel Peabody studied at Hanover, and died in New Jersey.

Dr. E. G. Kelly studied medicine with Dr. Muzzy, of Hanover, and graduated at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pa., and now lives in New- buryport.

Dr. J. K. Warren graduated at the Homeopathic Medical College, New York City ; began practice in Palmer, Mass., and is now a physician in Worces- ter.

Dr. George Adams graduated from the same college, and commenced practice in Webster, where he died young.

Dr. Arthur Todd graduated at the Homeopathic Medical School, Boston, and is now located in Fran- cestown.

Dr. Eugene Wason graduated at Dartmouth Medi- cal School, and practiced at Londonderry, and from there removed to Nashua.

Traders .- The first store in town was opened by John MeLaughlin, on the hill south of the Upper vil- lage ; after he retired there were several traders in the Upper village, viz.,-Dr. Lincoln, Messrs. Whitney, Bixby, McCollom, Warren.

In the year 1824, Micah Lawrence and Waterman Burr began trade in the Upper village, and continued there until 1828, when they erected a store in what is now the Lower village, and remained in company until 1834, when Mr. Lawrence retired. Mr. Burr contin- ued in business some eighteen years longer. Bothı were largely identified with the interests of the town, -Mr. Lawrence as auctioneer, selectman, overseer of the poor and two years representative ; Mr. Burr as justice of the peace for fifty years and doing a large amount of writing in drawing wills, deeds, bonds, etc., and as executor and administrator, having settled nearly or quite one hundred estates.

About the year 1825, Amos W. Tewksbury suc- ceeded Samuel Trull in the Upper village, where he was in trade till 1830, when he removed to the Lower and built a house and store ; here he remained twenty years or more, when he sold to James M. Gregg and removed to West .Randolph, Vt., engaging in the same business under the firm-name of A. W. Tewksbury & Sons, doing an extensive business, said to be the largest retail store in Vermont.

During the same period Stephen Whipple, David G. Fuller aud Alexander Dickey were in trade a short time each.

Mr. Burr was succeeded by J. M. & D. D. Smith.

Joseph K. Whipple and S. D. Atwood commenced trade in the old brick store, and continued some five or six years. Whipple retired and was succeeded by Henry Kelso. Kelso withdrawing, the business was continued under the name of S. D. Atwood & Co.

The Smiths were succeeded by Samuel M. Worthley who was in business two years, when his house and store were burned.

A short time prior to the destruction of Worthley's

buildings, Charles and Clarence Dodge opened a store on the premises formerly occupied by A. W. Tewks- bury ; the senior partner, on retiring, was succeeded by George Warren ; since his withdrawal C. H. Dodge has carried on business alone.

REV. JOHN ATWOOD was born in Hudson (then Not- tingham West), October 3, 1795, where he united with the Baptist Church at the age of twenty-one.

Soon after he began to study, with the ministry in view, under the instruction of Rev. Daniel Merrill. In May, 1817, he entered the Literary and Theological Department of Waterville College, in which he re- mained five years, under the instruction of Rev. Dr. Chaplin.

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History of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, Part 143

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