History of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, Part 27

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

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mitted to the lodge on the night of its institution only one remains, John S. Kidder, a native of Manchester. The first Noble Grand of the lodge was Captain Walter French, a man of noble presence and generous im- pulses, who lost his life May 6, 1853, in a terrible rail- road accident at Norwalk, Conn., while returning from a business engagement in the South.

Popular from its organization, Hillsborough Lodge, like the county from which it derived its name, has ever occupied a proud position among the social and fraternal societies of the State. In all, there have been received to membership during the forty-two years of its existence nearly one thousand brothers, embracing representative men from all the honorable walks of life. Deaths, withdrawals and other causes have reduced the number, so that now the list shows less than four hundred in good standing,-the fourth lodge in membership in the jurisdiction. Its total re- ceipts aggregate sixty thousand dollars, while the dis- bursements in charity and relief alone have reached

twenty thousand dollars. Its present assets, exclu- sive of furniture, fixtures and other property, are $11,046.45. Since its organization it has never omitted its regular weekly session for the transaction of business, and the continuous meetings, without in- terruption, in round numbers, are two thousand two hundred,-a record, perhaps, which no social, religious or benevolent society in the State can claim. The num- ber of Past Grands falls a little below one hundred. For thirty-two years in succession the lodge has cele- brated its anniversary with appropriate services in the presence of brothers and their families and invited guests. This lodge is as permanently established as any church in the city, and enjoys a high reputation for works of charity and love.

Odd-Fellowship in Manchester grew up with the town and city. On the 21st day of November, 1845, on the petition of Horace Gordon and six other brothers holding withdrawal cards from Hillsborough lodge, our late brother, Samnel H. Parker, then Grand Master, in accordance with the laws of the order, issued a dispensation for Mechanics' Lodge, No. 13, and after the institution installed the officers.

It was an event of unusual interest. The new lodge started with the approbation, prayers and best wishes of the mother-lodge. Its growth was phenom- enal. Under the wise administration of its charter members and others attracted to its membership, it soon became a social and fraternal power, and as- sumed high rank among its sister organizations. Three of its members, viz., John C. Lyford, George W. Weeks and Charles H. Brown, were elected Grand Masters of the State, and subsequently occupied the distinguished position of representatives in the Sover- eign Grand Lodge at Baltimore. Many of its brothers have filled important places in the city government, and exerted a large influence in the social and civil affairs of the State. To-day, numerically, Mechanics' Lodge is the largest in the State, and financially it is

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on a solid basis, having a surplus above its present needs of twenty thousand dollars or more. Its mem- bership per last report was four hundred and twenty- four. Its prospects for the future are of the most cheering character.

From the returns in the office of the Grand Secre- tary, it appears that in 1852 there were thirty-nine subordinate lodges in the jurisdiction, with a total membership of two thousand five hundred and seventy. Through various adverse cirenmstances during a period of eight years, Odd-Fellowship in New Hamp- shire experienced a retrograde movement. In 1860 there were only twenty-three lodges, sixteen having become dormant or extinct, reporting only sixteen hundred and forty-one members. The outlook was discouraging, and many brothers dropped out of the order, with the general impression that it would soon collapse, and its mission prove a disastrous failure. In this hour of darkness to the fraternity, a few noble brothers, with unflinching faith in their hearts, and willing to make personal sacrifices in behalf of "Friendship, Love and Truth," re- doubled their diligence, in the full assurance that their labors would not be in vain. Brother George W. Weeks was Grand Master; and, conscious of the responsibility placed upon him by the Grand Lodge, with the encouragement and assistance of a few whose faith in the institution and its grand princi- ples never faltered, even in the darkest hour, he gave his best efforts in behalf of the trust committed to his charge. The outflow from the order was stopped. The doubting were confirmed; the feeble made strong. The clouds lifted, and again the sun shone on the enterprise so dear to faithful hearts. The year elosed with the loss of a single lodge, but with an increase of seventeen members in the State. The year 1860 was the pivot on which the order turned. It was under Brother Weeks' administration; and from that day forward, now a period of twenty-five years, there has been an annual increase in our num- bers, until to-day we report seventy lodges in good condition, with an honored membership of more than nine thousand in the Granite State alone. Fidelity to our principles and faithfulness to our brothers during the war with the South commanded universal respect, and brought hundreds knocking to the doors order but for the protection, assistance and comfort it brought to the soldier on the tented field, in the camp, the hospital and the prison-pen.

of the lodges, who would scarcely have known of the Sovereign Lodge. The order in the city is a great

In 1866 several young men, members of Hillsbor- ough and Mechanics' Lodges, petitioned Grand Mas- ter Doe for a new lodge to be located at Manchester. The movement was approved by the old lodges and some of the influential brothers. On the 8th day of August, Wildey Lodge, No. 45, was instituted, with imposing ceremonies. Henry A. Farrington, since Grand Master and Grand Representative, for his zeal and activity in the movement, was elected the first

Noble Grand; and he performed the arduous duties with much credit. Like its predecessors, Wildey Lodge has made for itself a history of which the order may well be proud. Probably no lodge in the State has upon its rolls so many professional men, including lawyers, doctors. ministers and teachers, as Wildey Lodge. In point of ability, character and efficiency, it is the peer of any in the State, and will ever do its part to bear aloft the banner on whose folds are inscribed the beautiful emblems of our order. Its present membership is nearly three hun- dred. Bearing the honored name of the father of American Odd-Fellowship, may the members ever emulate the zeal and persistency of the founder of the order, who gave his long and useful life to the dissemination of our principles. So shall Wildey Lodge be a pillar of cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night, to lead many weary feet into the paths of virtue, plenty and peace.

Beside the three subordinate lodges here mentioned, there are other branches of the order in Manchester of which we would speak. Wonolanset Encampment, No. 2, has a membership of two hundred and twenty- five; and Mount Washington, two hundred and eight. Ridgely Camp, No. 2, of Uniformed Patriarchs, num- bers about one hundred, composed mostly of young men who have a taste for military movements and military display. The rich uniforms and the fine martial bearing of the Patriarchs constitute a feature of much attraction when the members are on parade. During the summer they usually make an excursion or two out of the State for recreation and amuse- nient.

Social Rebekah Degree Lodge, No. 10, is said to be the largest and best organization of the kind in the world. It numbers nearly five hundred members, about equally divided between the sexes. It has been organized more than ten years. With the ex- ception of Noble Grand, the officers are mostly ladies. Between the several bodies here named the most friendly relations have ever existed, and they work in the utmost harmony to promote the best interests of the fraternity. They jointly occupy apartments in Odd-Fellows' Block, a building owned by the order, and worth fifty thousand dollars. Residing in the city are seven Past Grand Representatives to the power for good, and is so regarded by the people.

In Hillsborough County there are twelve lodges, equal to one-sixth of the seventy in the State. They are located as follows, viz .: Granite, No. 1, and Pen- nichuck, No. 44, Nashua; Hillsborough, No. 2, Me- chanies', No. 13, and Wildey, No. 45, Manchester ; Peterborough, No. 15, Peterborough ; Webster, No. 24, Goffstown; Mount William, No. 37, North Weare; Valley, No. 43, Hillsborough Bridge; Aurora, No. 49, Hollis; Waverly, No. 59, Antrim ; Custos Morum, No. 42, Milford. These twelve lodges embrace a member- ship of two thousand two hundred, or very nearly

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one-quarter part of all the Odd-Fellows in the State. From this meagre sketch something may be learned of the hold the order has on the people of the county, and the mighty, salutary influence it may exert on all the institutions within her borders. With seventy thousand dollars of surplus means, every dollar of which is sacredly pledged to the reliet of its mem- bers, with the intellectual and moral force represented by the brotherhood, together with the friendship and love begotten of the order, there is reason to believe the institution is permanently located in our midst, and will prosper for an indefinite period.

Other Societies .- Among other societies, etc., are the following:

Knights of Honor .- Alpha Lodge, No. 245, instituted March 11, 1876 ; Temple Lodge, No. 2065, instituted February 27, 1880; Golden Rule Lodge, No. 2445, in- stituted April 29, 1881; Alpine Lodge, No. 2886, or- ganized December 28, 1882.

Knights and Ladies of Honor .- Harmony Lodge, No. 423, instituted April 13, 1881; Unity Lodge, No. 642, instituted March 30, 1883.

Knights of Pythias .- Granite Lodge, No. 3, instituted April 8, 1870; Merrimack Lodge, No. 4, instituted May 6, 1870; Endowment Rank, Section 26, instituted December 18, 1877 ; Knights of Pythias Mutual Aid Association, instituted May 23, 1872; Knights of Py- thias Uniformed Battalion, instituted May, 1882.

United Order Golden Cross .- Grand Commandery, instituted May 1, 1879; Manchester Commandery, No. 89, instituted December 8, 1879; Mizpah Com- mandery, No. 181, instituted February 1, 1882.

Ancient Order of United Workmen .- Pioneer Lodge, No. 1, instituted August 9, 1878; Security Lodge, No. 8, instituted April 20, 1883.

Royal Arcanum .- Delta Council, a mutual benefit association, instituted May 8, 1878.

Ancient Order of Foresters .- Court Granite State, No. 6790, instituted April 4, 1881.

United Order of Pilgrim Fathers .- Webster Colony, instituted July 5, 1881.

Improved Order of Red Men of New Hampshire .- Passaconnaway Tribe, No. 5, instituted April, 1881.

Provident Mutual Relief Association .- Sub-Associa- tion No. 38, instituted May 1, 1879.

Order of the Iron Hall .- Instituted July 20, 1883.

American Legion of Honor .- Rock Rimmon Council, No. 40, instituted October 14, 1879.

Patrons of Husbandry .- New Hampshire State Grange; Amoskeag Grange, No. 3, instituted August 26, 1873.

Grand Army of the Republic .- Encampment Louis Bell Post, No. 3, organized 1868; Mutual Aid Associ- ation, instituted March 3, 1876.

Manchester War Veterans .- Organized in 1866.

Sons of Veterans .- Camp W. W. Brown, No. 1, or- ganized October, 1882.

Sons of St. George .- Heart of Oak Lodge, No. 91. German Societies .- Turnverein, organized 1870;

Order of the Harugari, Barbarossa Lodge, No. 329, in- stituted February 4, 1874.

Boat Clubs .- Cygnet, instituted June 21, 1882; Emerald, organized August 19, 1881; Emmet; Leo; Longwood; Northern Star, organized August 23, 1879; Shamrock; Star ; Trident.

Military .- First Regiment New Hampshire Volun- teer Militia ; Head Guards, organized July 24, 1865 ; Manchester City Guards, organized March 17, 1873; Sheridan Guards, organized August 1865; First New Hampshire Battery, Platoon A, organized August 31, 1868; Amoskeag Veterans, organized in 1854; Man- chester Cadets, organized in 1873; Amoskeag Zouaves, organized June 13, 1883.

Independent Order of Good Templars .- Grand Lodge of New Hampshire, organized October 11, 1865; Union Degree Temple, No. 20, instituted February 21, 1876 ; Stark Lodge, No. 4, instituted May 31, 1865; Merrimack Lodge, No. 4, instituted December 6, 1866 ; Harris Lodge, No. 45, instituted May 22, 1878.

Royal Templars of Temperance .- Granite State Council, No. 1, instituted November 28, 1878.

Hanover Street Temperance Society.

Sons of Temperance .- Instituted March 12, 1883.

Catholic Temperance Societies .- St. Paul's Total Ab- stinence Mutual Benefit Society ; St. John's Total Abstinence and Mutual Benefit Society, instituted February 18, 1875.

Woman's Christian Temperance Union .- Instituted November, 1874.

Reform Club-Instituted May, 1874.

The Old Ladies' Home, located on Hanover, corner of Pine Street. A benevolent enterprise, which owes its existence to the thoughtfulness of Rev. William MeDonald, is this institution which adjoins the Or- phans' Asylum. It was established in 1880, and its ob- ject is to provide a home for aged and indigent women. The Home is in charge of several Sisters of Mercy.

St. Patrick's Orphan Asylum .- It was instituted in 1870, and was first located on Laurel Street, and in the same year, upon the purchase by the Roman Catholics of the Harris estate, at the corner of Han- over and Pine Streets, for which fifty-five thousand dollars was paid, it was moved to that place. The asylum is designed to supply a home for orphans and siek and needy women, and is under the direction of Sister Mary Ligouria, assisted by a number of Sisters of Mercy. Instruction is given in the elementary branches of education, and the children are also trained in housework. This worthy benevolent in- stitution was founded by Rev. William MeDonald, and the funds for its maintenance are contributed by St. Ann's Church.

Women's Aid and Relief Hospital .- This institution, located in Bakersville, was established by the Man- chester Women's Aid and Relief Society in 1878, the free use of the building, owned by the Amoskeag corporation, having been tendered for this purpose by the late ex-Governor E. A. Straw. The building

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has been put in thorough repair, enlarged by the ad- dition of another story and otherwise adapted to its purpose. It is supported and controlled by the Women's Aid and Relief Society, and its main pur- pose is to provide a home and nursing for the indigent sick, but patients who are able to pay are received when desired, if there are beds unfilled.

Miscellaneous .- New Hampshire Agricultural So- ciety ; New Hampshire Poultry Society, organized 1867; New Hampshire Fish and Game League; New Hampshire Press Association, organized July 25, 1868; Manchester Women's Aid and Relief Association, in- stituted January 21, 1875; Manchester Board of Trade-President, Daniel Clark; Manchester Grocers' Association, instituted May 16, 1862; Manchester Teachers' Association, organized February 16, 1883 ; Manchester Scientific Association ; Chautauqua Lit- erary and Scientific Circle, organized October 1, 1880 ; the Grattan Literary and Dramatic Association ; Dartmouth Alumni Association ; High School Ly- ceum ; trustees of the Elliot Hospital, incorporated in 1881; Electric Light Company, chartered by the Legislature of 1881, and organized with a capital of twenty-five thousand dollars; New Hampshire Tele- gragh Company, chartered July 10, 1876; Northern Telegraph Company, organized in 1866; The Granite State Telephone Company (Bell patents); Opera- House Company ; Uncanoonuck Road Company, chartered June 26, 1877 ; Amoskeag Honorary Asso- ciation, instituted December, 1881; Young People's Working Association, organized November, 1882; Philharmonic Society, organized October 16, 1883 ; Ancient Order of Hibernians, No. 1; Ancient Order of Hibernians, No. 2, instituted November 20, 1880; Ancient Order of Hibernians, No. 3, instituted June, 1882; St. Patrick's Mutual Benefit and Protective Society, organized March, 1868 ; St. Augustine Society, organized June 16, 1878, incorporated March 7, 1882; St. Jean Baptiste Society, instituted April, 1871; Ladies' National League, instituted December, 1880; Irish National League, organized April 13, 1883 ; Sodality of the Blessed Virgin Mary, organized April, 1860; Young Republicans' League, organized October 4, 1882; Young Men's Democratic Club, organized December, 1882; Franco-Canadien Naturalization Club, instituted August 11, 1882; Derryfield Club, organized April 13, 1875; Jackson Literary Club, instituted December, 1880; Manchester Bicycle Club, organized March 22, 1882; Manchester Rifle Club, instituted May 7, 1883; Manchester Shooting Club, organized April 2, 1879; Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, organized June, 1880; Manches- ter Horse Railroad, incorporated 1876; Mendelssohn Choral Society, organized October 16, 1883; Thalia Club, organized August 1, 1883 ; Harmonic Society, instituted October 22, 1883; Gazaille Transmitter Company, chartered by the New Hampshire Legisla- ture in 1883.

The Blodget Canal .- The first projector of inter-

nal improvements in this section of the State was the Hon. Samuel Blodget, who was born in Woburn, Mass., April 1, 1724. He was an active and persever- ing man. He had been a sutler in the colonial wars and also in the War of the Revolution, a judge of the Court of Common Pleas, and a merchant with exten- sive business connections. He located at Amoskeag in 1793, and soon conceived the idea of building around the latter a canal, through which might be carried to market vast quantities of lumber from the forests which grew on the banks of the river. He be- gan work upon it May 2, 1794. He lost time and money in a vain attempt to make practicable a lock of his own invention, and it was not until May 1, 1807, having spent all his own fortune and what money he could raise by lotteries, that he saw his work done. Ile died on the 1st day of September of the same year, and his canal, passing into the hands of the proprietors of the Middlesex Canal, was of great benefit till the railroad destroyed its usefulness and it went to decay.

Judge Blodget was a far-sighted man. He invited Boston capitalists to build in Derryfield the mills which others erected thirty years after, and, in antici- pation of their construction, he bought the clay lands where the well-known Hooksett brick are made to- day. It is well written on his monument in the Val- ley Cemetery that he was " the pioneer of internal improvements in New Hampshire."

The following is a copy of Blodget's charter for the canal :

" To the honorable the Senate & House of Representatives of the State of New Hampshire, the Petition of Samuel Blodget most respectfully sheweth- "That a spirit of enterprise and exertion has of late been wonderfully and successfully displayed by the citizens of a neighbouring State in the erection of bridges and forming of canals, even in places which, not many years since, were esteemed impracticable-that a canal round Patucket falls is nearly compleated-that another leading from said falls to Boston, by a rout not exceeding twenty miles, will be commenced next spring-that a third carried round the falls at Amoskeag would, in conjunction with these, open a direct water communication with Boston & Newburyport to the inhabitants of an extensive country on the banks of the Merrimac above said falls, the wood and timber of whose forests are now of inconsiderable value, occasioned principally by the loss of immense quantities of lumber of the most valuable kind in passing over the falls ; a melancholy proof of which they at all times exhibit-that your petitioner is fully convinced that the whole of this loss may be pre" vented by a canal-that under this conviction he has purchased the only piece of ground over which one is practicable-& has actually entered upon the enterprize, with an intention to risque his fortune in accom- plishing a work of so much public utility .- Your petitioner, therefore, relying on the public spirit of the honorable Court, requests that your honors will take the premises into consideration, and grant him a Char- ter, by which he may be secured in the peaceable enjoyment of the valn- able property, which he is about to invest in the proposed canal-& assign him a reasonable toll to compensate him for his services ; & give him leave to bring in a bill accordingly.

"And as in duty bound shall ever pray

"SAM" BLODGET."

Post-Offices .- The first post-office in this town was established at the "Center " in 1831, with Samuel Jackson postmaster, appointed by President Andrew Jackson. Mr. Jackson held the office until it was dis- continued in 1840.

The first post-office in what is now the city proper, then known as " Amoskeag New Village," was estab-

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lished in February, 1840, with Jesse Duncklee as post- master. The following is a list of the postmasters from that time to the present : Jesse Duncklee, from February, 1840, to March, 1840 (deceased); Paul Cra- gin, 1840-45 ; Warren L. Lane, 1845-49 ; James Her- sey, 1849-53; Colonel Thomas P. Pierce, 1853-61; David J. Clark, 1861-65 (deceased) ; Colonel Bradford B. Cilley, 1865-70; Joseph L. Stevens, 1870, present incumbent.

The Amoskeag post-office was established in 1828, with Samuel Kimball as postmaster.

The post-office at Goffe's Falls was established in 1872, with Isaac W. Darrah, postmaster.

The Piscataquog post-office was established in 1816, with James Parker postmaster. He was followed by Jonas B. Bowman, James McKeen Wilkins, Colonel John S. Kidder and Leonard Rundlett. The office was discontinued about 1840.

The Water-Works.1-So rapid was the early growth of Manchester that a pressing need for a public water supply came early in her municipal ex- istence, and carlier than public opinion was prepared to indorse the undertaking of an enterprise of such magnitude. Some bitter experience must needs first come as an educator, and it did come from time to time, as in several fires among the mills, the burning of the town-house, the destruction of the public library and museum, of several newspaper offices, of the State Reform School building, of important com- mercial buildings, and finally of an extended confla- gration, destroying a whole square in the heart of the city in 1870.

The construction of a public water supply is, with rare exceptions, the most important matter which any municipal organization is forced to consider, inaugu- rate and push on to completion, or, on the other hand, to hinder and defer, while the necessity and devastation continue. After the burning of the town-house, in 1844, a committee of citizens was chosen to consider the question of a water supply, but the citizens were not yet ready for united action. An aqueduct company was chartered by the Legislature in 1845, and the city, although invited, declined to take stock to aid the private enterprise. Other charters were obtained from the Legislature in 1852, 1857 and 1865, but the city still declined to foster the enterprise or to agree to pay for publie fire hydrants, but constructed some fire-cisterns in the streets. In the mean time there was a thirty thou- sand dollar fire in the Stark Mills, a sixty-five thon- sand dollar fire in the Print-Works, and the library was destroyed.

In 1860, Hon. James A. Weston, Jacob F. James and Rev. William Richardson made an extended re- connoisance, covering all the sources available to the city, and presented the information gathered to the City Councils. Mr. J. B. Sawyer prepared a report in

1869. Early in 1881 the City Councils appointed a committee to consider anew the question of a public water supply. This committee employed Wil- liam J. McAlpine, an eminent engineer, to advise them, and embodied his report with their own for presentation to the City Councils.

The report of this last committee, following as it did soon after a disastrous conflagration, led to a peti- tion to the Legislature for the passage of a water act.

An "Act to cuable the City of Manchester to establish Water-Works " was passed on the 30th of June, 1871, and " An Ordinance in relation to Water- Works " was passed by the City Councils on the 1st day of August in the same year.

This ordinance vested the management of the water- works in the mayor ex-officio and six other persons, to be elected by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen, and styled the Board of Water Commissioners.

Immediately after the passage of the ordinance, Messrs. E. A. Shaw, E. W. Harrington, William P. Newell, Aretas Blood, Alpheus Jay and A. C. Wallace were elected water commissioners, and Hon. James A. Weston, being mayor, became a member of the board ex-officio.

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History of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, Part 27

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