History of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, Part 174

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 174

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The present board are George M. Russell, Francis G. Dresser and Mark Symonds.

The whole amount of money paid soldiers during the war of the Rebellion was $1613, as follows: John C. Knowlton, $100; Joseph C. Chapman, $100 ; George W. Carr (a nine months' man), $100; Charles A. Blanchard, $300; Charles A. Woods, 8300; Hiel Mc- Clintock, $300; Joseph Wright, $413. The last four sent substitutes.

The town paid up its whole war debt in two years.

The first mill in town was built at the foot of Black Pond, by Alexander McClintock, about 1790; was owned and operated by him for several years and then passed into the hands of Mr. Silas Gibson, who after-

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wards built a new one and also a flour-mill a few feet above. The part he built now stands, with an addi- tion at each end. Mr. Gideon Knowlton bought the mill from Mr. Gibson, and for several years large quan- tities of flour were made there up to about 1850.

Mr. Knowlton operated the mill until he died, in 1863. It was then bought by Mr. Daniel G. Dodge, who put in a Leffell water-wheel, which, under the full head of water, gives seventy-two horse-power. He also put in a board circular-mill, planing machine, etc., and did quite an extensive business until he died, in 1872. It then passed into the hands of the present owner, John G. Dodge, who, in 1876, leased it to New- man & Co., of Hillsborough. They put in a boiler and engines, in addition to machines and fittings for the manufacture of clothes-pins, and run it for about two years; but, being heavily in debt when they began, and failing to secure funds, they were obliged to assign their property for the benefit of their creditors. At the assignee's auction, John G. Dodge purchased the entire outfit, and, in 1880, began operations in the lumber business, after first having put in a cemented stone dam that water will never move nor time decay. He now employs a dozen hands on the lumber and clothes-pins, and to utilize the whole power would re- quire twenty-five men.

In 1883, Mr. Dodge refitted the grist-mill with one run of stones for coarse meal.

About the year 1819, Mr. Ezra Smith built a mill about one hundred rods below, on the same stream, for the purpose of dressing woolen cloth. A part of the old dam remains, but the mill has long since de- cayed. Mr. Samuel Chapman is the only man now living in town who was at the raising.

There are three other unoccupied water privileges between the present mill and where the woolen-mill stood, from which twenty to forty feet of fall might be had, with water sufficient to do quite a business, the year round, in the manufacture of wooden-ware, and there is an immense quantity of good lumber center- ing here, with no feasible outlet for it in the log.

In 1853 there was a steam-mill built at White Pond by Mr. Joseph Lund, and until it was burned, in June of 1858, he did quite an extensive lumber business. Mr. Otis Chamberlin was chief manager.

The mill was located on the southeast corner of the pond, and there were several houses built near by, giv- ing it the appearance of quite a thrifty business place. Nothing remains now to mark the spot, except part of the mill foundation.

Mr. Judkins built another steam-mill in the north part of the town, on the turnpike, about 1856. Mr. J. B. Emerson furnished logs for him, and he did quite a business for four or five years. The mill was burned and the watchman, Mr. Benjamin Case, was burned to death in it.

Mr. J. B. Emerson afterwards built a little shop beside the road, and for several years made bobbins by steam-power. The building was then converted

into a dwelling-house, where Mr. Silas Blanchard, the present owner and occupant, resided with his wife, a daughter of Mr. Nehemiah Jones, who has in her possession some of her father's old account-books. They are not dated, but were used when there were no J's used. Jones was spelled Gones, and Jacob, Gacob. She has his goose-quill pen and the inkstand he used to carry in his pocket, together with other ancient relics.

There was a brick church built by subscription in 1849, at an expense of one thousand dollars, under charter of the Union Religious Society, and dedicated April 24, 1850. Rev. Robinson, of Stoddard, Rev. Powers, of Washington, and Dudley, of Hillsborough, presided. The first board of trustees were Hy. B. Sweatt, Daniel Sweatt and Suel Preston. By virtue of his office, the chairman of the board of trustees was always made treasurer. The building was situated across the road, opposite the cemetery, near Black Pond, and was used for a church until purchased by Newman & Co., in 1877, who remodeled and fitted it up for a boarding-house, to accommodate the em- ployés in their clothes-pin manufactory.

The building was purchased by John G. Dodge, its present owner, at the assignee's sale, and is now used as a boarding-house for his employés.

There have been two stores and two hotels kept in town. Joseph Chapman kept a hotel and store about 1800, for several years, near the Chapman corner. A colored lady, Miss Hannah Hackett, carried on a store a little above the corner, on the Washington road. Mr. John Averill conducted a hotel on the turnpike, (which was built in 1801,) for several years, about 1827.

There have been two blacksmith-shops in town, where quite a business was once done. One of them, near the Hackette store, was conducted by Iram Woods, and the other, near Black Pond, owned and carried on by Mr. Mark Symonds for fifteen years, from December 4, 1837, during which time Mr. Symonds saved fifteen hundred dollars.

Among the most noted justices we have had may be mentioned Solomon Andrews, from about 1800 to 1810; Joseph Chapman, from 1810 to 1820; Nehemiah Jones, from 1820 to 1830 (Mr. Jones was custom-house officer at Hillsborough before he moved here) ; John G. Flint, from 1830 to 1835; and Mr. David Curtis from 1835 for about ten years. Mr. Curtis was also road commissioner at one time. Several others have held commissions as justices, but have never done much business.

We have now only two school districts in town, with about one hundred dollars of school money. District No. 1 has about seventy dollars and District No. 2 about thirty dollars. District No. 2 has no com- fortable school-house. District No. 1 built a house in 1884 which is very creditable to those who favored the enterprise.

Among the most noted men and farmers who have

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lived here and are here now, beginning at the south- west part of the town, were David Curtis, a good far- mer, active in business and highly respected ; Lemuel Curtis' house stood in Windsor and his barn across the road in Antrim.

Mr. Simeon Buck was a good farmer, and on his and the Lemuel Curtis place were founded the first settlements in town.

The settlers selected this place on account of the high land, from which they could overlook the valleys and see the Indians' camp-fires at night and watch their movements. They took their grain upon their shoulders and went, by marked trees, to Litchfield and Bedford, a distance of some forty miles, to have it ground.

On the Mountain road, from Windsor to Antrim, were the places of John Sweatt and his son Oliver, also that of Samuel Curtis (who went to Contoocook), who, with his son, Grosvenor, is now doing an exten- sive mercantile business. They used to keep good stock, and were good farmers. On the road leading east to Hillsborough was the place of James Perkins, a good farmer and the owner of a rich farm. Down at the foot of the hill was the farin of Reuben Preston, extending to Black Pond. Of all the farms mentioned in this part of the town, and several others not men- tioned, there is but one farm at present occupied, which is that of David Curtis, now in the possession of his daughter.

Mr. Asa Goodell now owns what was formerly eight good farms and two large pastures adjoining, lying south of Black Pond, making one solid body of land, where, thirty years ago, one hundred head of cattle were sheltered from the cold blasts of winter; not a single creature received shelter last winter. This is not all, for, on the road that formerly led from Wind- sor to Stoddard, he owns what was four farmis in Windsor and hundreds of acres on the edge of Stod- dard, adjoining. His son-in-law, Melvin Temple, also on this road, occupies the farm of Daniel Sweatt, which he has greatly improved.

John G. Dodge has a farm connected with his mill, to which he yearly makes improvements. Mark Sy- monds has a good farm, which received his careful attention for several years after he abandoned black- smithing; but for some years past, as infirmities came upon him, he converted considerable of it into pasture.

Harrison E. Russell has owned his place but a few

years, and has greatly improved the farm and build- ings. The farm produces nearly three times as much hay, and of a better quality.

On the road leading to Washington, Joseph C. Chap- man has a good farm, and cares well for it. At the Chapman corner is the farm owned by Samuel and Mark Chapman ; the soil is naturally good, but they have never made any great improvements on the land. Mr. Samuel Chapman has done more town business than any other man that ever lived in town. He is now the oldest man living in the town, and can remember when fifty-two families lived in a place where not a soul is living now, and over one hundred and fifty families that have lived in town that are not living here now. One-fourth of a mile to the north off the road leading to Hillsborough, is the birth-place of the writer, whose father, Daniel G. Dodge, came from Goffstown in 1845. The farm was stony, but of excellent soil, and he far surpassed any other man that has lived in town in the way of improving his farm and buildings. He was a model farmer. In 1868, four years before he died, he built one of the best barns in the county, upon a stone foundation, which he often said (and very truly) would show his foot- prints for many years to come. He would never ac- cept a town office, but attended strictly to his own business. This place has an extensive landscape view. The youngest son, Perley H. Dodge, now owns the farm and takes excellent care of it.

Next (and last) to the Hillsborough line is Nelson St. Severn. He has a good farm and cares for it well.

In the northern part of the town, on the turnpike, the soil is quite good, but a little more frosty. Here may be found Mr. Charles C. Jones, Albert J. Grey, Jason D. Wheeler, Francis G. Dresser and Mr. Silas Blanchard, all of whom have good farms and are thrifty farmers.

We now have no church, no minister, no lawyer, no trouble, no doctor, no hotel, no drunkards, no post- office (only in connection with Hillsborough, Upper village), no store, no voice in legislation, no paupers, and no prospect of having any. Taxes are very light, being this year a little above the average, but still bring only $6.30 on one thousand dollars. The roads are kept in good repair, and the bridges are few and inexpensive.

There has never been a settled minister, a post- office or town library in town.

HISTORY OF MONT VERNON.

BY CHARLES J. SMITH.

CHAPTER I.

Descriptive .- Mont Vernon is situated geograph- ically a little southward from the territorial eentre o. Hillsborough County, being third in the tier of towns northward from the Massachusetts line. It is twenty-eight miles south by southwest from Concord, fifteen miles southwest from Manchester, and fourteen northwest from Nashua, and four and one-half miles north from the line of the Nashua and Wilton Rail- road, at Milford village. The towns which bound it are New Boston on the north, Amherst on the east, Amherst and Milford on the south and Lyndeborough on the west. It is irregular in shape, averaging four miles in length and three and one-half in width. The surface is hilly, the larger part of the town being a lofty ridge lying between the valley of the south branch of the Piscataquog River on the north and that of the Souhegan on the south. It is emphati- cally an upland town. The soil is rocky, but gener- ally deep and fertile, well repaying careful cultivation. It seems specially adapted to the apple, several thou- sand barrels of this fruit being the annual product of its orchards, and the winter apples grown here have long been noted as not excelled by any for their keep- ing qualities.

Its water-courses are limited to five brooks, four of which flow southerly to the Souhegan and one northerly to the Piscataquog. The largest of these streams has its rise in the northeasterly part of the town, flows sontherly some four miles-furnish- ing, in the easterly part of the town, two mill-sites- to Holt's Meadow, in Amherst, where it unites with Caesar Brook, which rises in Mont Vernon village, two miles above, and unitedly form Beaver Brook. which courses southward, and, after furnishing the water-power to Amherst village, makes its confluence with the Souhegan three miles below. A third brook, known as Harwood's, rises in the meadow northwest from Mont Vernon village, and after a journey southward, from three to four miles, empties into the Souhegan, one and a half miles above Mil- ford. On this stream are situated Trow's mill, in the southerly part of Mont Vernon, and Harts Norris' extensive lumber-mill, in Milford, one-fourth mile below the southern boundary of Mount Vernon. Black or Purgatory Brook issues from Smith's Pond, one and one-half miles northerly from the village, has a course

of some five miles, and, after receiving a large tributary from Lyndeborough, known as Curtis' Brook, empties into the Souhegan about three miles above Milford village. A fifth stream rises in the northwest part of the town, and, after a course of two miles north- ward, discharges itself into the Piscataquog at Paper- Mill village, in New Boston. Smith's Pond, a body of water located one and one-half miles north from the village, covers an area of twenty-five acres. Joe English Pond is divided between Mont Vernon, New Boston and Amherst, the larger part being in Amherst.

Roby's Hill, rising at the northeast part of the town, near Joe's Pond, forms the highest eleva- tion. Other conspicuous prominences are McCollom Hill, on the northerly line of the town, Beach Hill, in the northwesterly section, Carlton Hill, in the south- westerly part of the town, and near the village, easterly and southeasterly, are Campbell's Hill and Prospect Hill. From the summit of the latter, which is a broad plateau, elevated some one hundred feet above the village, is obtained a prospect most varied and extensive. An expanse of country, forty miles in every direction, is seen with the naked eye. Hundreds of visitors are attracted here every sum- mer to admire and enjoy the landscape which this noble hill presents to view.

Mont Vernon village is situated on an eminence seven hundred and seventy feet above mean tide- water, with its church, academy and a number of its elegant residences resting on the brow of the hill, looking southward upon a landscape stretching forty miles away in beauty and grandeur. It is built mainly upon one street, one-third of a mile in length, and consists of a church, a spacious academy building, church vestry, school-house and twostores. Here is the Bellevue House, an elegant four-story structure, used as the village hotel and accommodating forty summer guests. Four other large and elegant boarding-houses are fitted for the reception of summer visitors, having accommodations for one hundred and thirty guests. These are known as " Conant Hall," "Prospect House," " Hillsboro' House ".and the " Deanery." Aside from these, there are forty-two dwellings. The village, though small, is one of the most beautiful in New Hampshire, the elements of which are its well-kept, shady streets, its air of thrift and neatness (not one of its dwellings being unpainted or in other than a creditable condition),-characteristics which it has

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well maintained for half a century-and, finally, the grandly beautiful prospect which it commands in all directions.

Thirty years since, its basis of support and growth was its mechanical industries, then of considerable importance. There was a tannery employing ten or fifteen hands, two large fancy-box shops, a small steam mill for dressing lumber and a small organ-shop. The superior railroad facilities and available water-power of neighboring towns have caused the gradual removal of these industries. The mechanical business of the town is now of no account. The box-factories, tannery and steam mill were burnt, and the owners cither retired from business or located elsewhere. Fifty years since, the village was a centre of considerable trade. Located on the second New Hampshire turnpike, a leading thoroughfare from Boston to Vermont and Canada, the tide of travel and transportation gave it life and stir, and supported four taverns, three (and sometimes four) stores, one lawyer and two physicians. Railway service has made the stage-coach and six-horse merchandise wagon a tradi- tion. The glory of the hill towns as centres of busi- ness has departed. In 1830 the population of Mont Vernon was 763, and in 1880, 516,-a decrease of one- third. In 1855, F. O. Kittridge, Esq., an active and enterprising citizen, noting the advantage which the scenie beauty and pure, dry, bracing air of the place would give it as a summer resort, purchased the old Ray tavern, in the centre of the village, remodeled and enlarged it, and fitting and furnishing it in an elegant and tasteful manner, opened it for summer company. For thirteen years it was thronged in the hot season, and was in all respects a signal success. In 1848 the proprietor enlarged and extended it to more than three times its former size, giving it a height of four stories and a length of one hundred and forty- five feet, surmounted by a cupola in the centre. As completed, it was a symmetrical, stately and beautiful structure, the largest and best-appointed publie-house in New Hampshire. April 20, 1872, it was burned to the ground by a fire which commenced in the attic. It being then closed, the origin of the fire is an unex- plored mystery. Not being rebuilt, its loss has been a severe blow to the prosperity and growth of the vil- lage. Other establishments, which had grown up around it, have since been extensively patronized. The average number of boarders for the last thirteen years has exceeded two hundred. It is known to thousands as a most delightful resort to the seekers for health and rest.

The time is probably not distant when many of the beautiful sites for summer residences in Mont Vernon will be improved. Three Boston gentlemen have led the way, by purchasing and beautifying es- tates, which they thus occupy. The most elegant of these is, perhaps, the beautiful place of Rev. Dr. R. R. Meredith, which, with its surroundings, greatly ornaments the south part of the village.

About two miles from the village, near the westerly edge of the town, is "Purgatory," a natural curiosity which is much frequented by visitors and excursion- ists from all the neighboring towns. It is a deep ravine, more than half a mile in length, through which Black Brook makes its way. At the " Upper Fall," the brook plunges perpendicularly more than fifty feet into a deep chasm or pit, from which the view upward, of solid wall of rock on either side and dense, overhanging forest, is one of singular wildness and grandeur. One hundred rods down this deep gorge the stream makes several further leaps, known as "Lower Falls." There is a fine grove near the Upper Falls, which is fitted up for picnic-parties. The annual " Purgatory Picnic," in August, has be- come an institution. The last gathering, in August, 1885, numbered eight hundred persons.

Municipal and Ecclesiastical .- Most of the ter- ritory now Mont Vernon was included in Souhegan West, which, in 1760, was incorporated as Amherst. In 1781 Mont Vernon was ecclesiastically severed from the parent town by being made a distinct par- ish. The separation was made complete by its incor- poration as a town, in December, 1803. Its early civil and religious history are so inseparably blended that they must be traced together.

The first English settlement in what is now Mont Vernon is believed to have been made by Samuel Lamson about the year 1740. He came from Read- ing, Mass., and first settled a mile south of Amherst Plain. He lived here about twenty-five years, re- moved to Billerica, Mass., and died there in 1779. Tradition says that Lieutenant Joseph Prince, an orig- inal grantee of Souhegan West, once owning a belt of land extending from Bedford line westward to Mont Vernon village, first located, about 1740, on the farm, about one mile southeast from Mont Vernon village, known as the Jones farm, for many years owned by Samuel Campbell. He removed thence to the east- erly part of Amherst.

In 1760 there were certainly fourteen of the tax- payers of Amherst resident in what is now Mont Vernon. These original settlers bore the names of Carlton, Cole, Curtice, Gould, Harwood, Mills, Lam- son, Bradford, Averill, Smith, Steel, Wilkins.

From this date the growth of this section of Am- herst was rapid. Four soldiers who lived in what is now Mont Vernon served in the French and Indian War, closing in 1763. In the Revolution the town of Amherst furnished over three hundred soldiers, and between fifty and sixty of this number are identified as belonging to this section, and there were probably more of those enlisting from Mont Vernon. Two were officers,-Joseph Farnum, lieutenant of Captain Bradford's company at Bennington, and Stephen Peabody, an adjutant at Bunker Hill, aid to General Stark at Bennington, and lieutenant-colonel, com- manding a battalion sent to Rhode Island. The pio- necr settlers of Mont Vernon were a rough, hardy,

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HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

worthy people. In many of them the religious ele- ment was strong. Their attendance at church was regular, though the route was long and circuitous. They early looked forward to the time when this sec- tion should become a separate parish. In 1777, Rev. Daniel Wilkins, the first minister of Amherst, had become so enfeebled by age as to be incapable of performing his duties acceptably ; the town sought to obtain a colleague pastor. The people of the north- west part of the town made this an occasion for a strong and persistent effort for separation into a sec- ond parish. In the winter of 1777-78 the church and town extended a call to Mr. John Blydenburg to become associated with Mr. Wilkins as colleague

pastor. Against this action seventeen citizens of what is now Mont Vernon made a written protest, demanding that it be placed upon the town records. Mr. Blydenburg declined the call. In the spring of 1779 petitions were presented to the General Court by sundry persons belonging to the north westerly part of the town to be set off as a parish. The town chose a committee to treat with these petitioners in March, 1779, and at a subsequent meeting, on the 31st of same month, after hearing the report of the committee, voted not to set them off.

In Angust, 1779, the town appointed an agent to prepare and enforce reasons why this petition should not be granted before the General Court.

December 6, 1779, sundry inhabitants of the northwest part of the town asked to be voted off as a parish, on condition that the inhabitants of that part of the town should pay their full proportion toward the support of Rev. Mr. Wilkins and every charge of the town, except the settlement of a minister, until they could supply themselves with preaching in the parish, but the town refused to grant their request.

In December, 1779, the church and town united in inviting Mr. Jeremiah Barnard to become their min- ister, whereupon thirty-two residents of the north- west part of the town filed a protest, setting forth " That, having repeatedly petitioned to be set off as a distinct parish, and their petitions having been re- jected, they enter their protest against Mr. Barnard's being settled, or any other minister while they re- mained in conjunction with the town and their re- quest not granted." It would seem that their oppo- sition to these ministerial candidates was almost wholly based upon their desire to be made a distinct parish. Mr. Barnard, having accepted his call, was ordained March 3, 1780, prior to which a lengthy and earnest protest was addressed to the ordaining coun- cil by thirty-seven residents of what is now Mont Vernon and a few others.

Another committee was appointed by the town, September 11, 1780, to show canse before the General Court why the prayer of a number of the inhabitants of the town residing in the northwesterly part of the same, asking to be set off' as a separate parish, should not be granted.

But the people of this part of the town insisted upon having a ministry of their own selection, and, in September, 1780, called a council which organized here what was called the Second Church in Amherst. No records of these transactions, or of the church, for the first thirteen years exist; but it is known that the first deacons were Oliver Carlton, Nathaniel Heywood and Richard Ward, all men of sound or- thodoxy and fervid piety. Immediately after the or- ganization of the church Rev. Mr. Coggin, of Chelms- ford, Mass., preached to a large congregation, in Major Cole's barn, upon the importance of immedi- ately erecting a house of worship. This, in the poverty of those Revolutionary times, was no slight undertak- ing, but in the month of April following, each farm in the community had contributed its free-will offer- ing of timber for the frame and covering of the edifice, which still stands on the summit of the hill, a monument to those brave Christian men,-the only church there is, or ever has been, within the limits of the town. It is related that the heaviest timber was drawn upon the snow-crust the last of April without obstruction from walls or fences. Lieutenant James Woodbury gave the land where the church stands, and also another lot one-fourth of a mile above for the burial-ground.

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History of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, Part 174

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