History of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, Part 48

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

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W. L. Gaylord, installed December, 1867 ; dismissed October, 1870. Charles Wetherby, installed December, 1871 ; dismissed March, 1879.

Second Congregational (Pilgrim) Church .- In the spring of 1879 there were vacant pastorships in both the Olive Street and the Pearl Street Congrega- tional Societies. Both had congregations of respect- able size, but financial and prudential considera- tions suggested the union of the two, and it was consummated on June 2d of that year. On the last day of the year Rev. George W. Grover was in- stalled pastor, and the church is known as the Pilgrim Church. Mr. Grover is still the pastor in charge. The Pearl Street edifice was sold, and the wooden struc- ture on Olive Street taken down, and on its site was built a briek church with modern appointments, at a cost of thirty-five thousand dollars. It was dedicated on the last day of March, 1882. The church mem- bership is five hundred and twenty, and average attendance four hundred.

First Baptist Church .- As early as 1818 a small Baptist society was formed in Nashua, but for some years it had only occasional meetings. In 1832 it was fully organized, with Rev. Dura D. Pratt as pas- tor. A large and commodious meeting-house was built at the corner of Main aud Franklin Streets, which was dedicated in January, 1833, and burned in

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the great fire of October 12, 1848. The next year a new brick edifice was erected on the same site, at a cost of twenty thousand dollars. The present mem- bership of the church is about five hundred and twenty. The attendance averages about three hun- dred and fifty. The following is the list of the pas- tors of this church, and their length of pastorate :

Dura D. Pratt, installed January 23, 1833 ; died in charge, November, 1855.

William H. Eaton, installed June 26, 1856 ; dismissed January, 1870. 11. 11. Thees, installed July 13, 1870; dismissed January, 1873. G. W. Nicholson, installed May 1, 1873 ; dismissed December, 1880. James A. Johnston, installed June 1, 1881 ; now in charge.

Universalist Society and Church .- The Univer- salists as a religious denomination were unknown in Nashua until 1835. At that time a society was or- ganized under the pastoral charge of Rev. Woodbury M. Fernald. In 1839 a meeting-house was built on the west side of Main Street, which was occupied by the society till March, 1882, when the church edifice at the corner of Main and Pearl Streets was bought, and is now their place of worship. Two associations were organized in 1849,-one benevolent and sustained by the ladies, and the other social and literary (the Ballou) and sustained by the young people,-which have been productive of much good. The following is the list of the pastors of the society :

Woodbury M. Ferwald, installed 1835; dismissed 1837.

A. P. Cleverly, installed 1837 : dismissed 1839. Lewis C. Browne, installed 1839 ; dismissed 1845. William H. Ryder, installed 1845 ; dismissed 1847. Lewis C. Browne, installed 1847 ; dismissed 1851.

Cyrus H. Fay, installed 1851 ; dismissed 1855. O. D. Miller, installed 1855 ; dismissed 1859. J. O. Skinner, installed 1859; dismissed 1862. G. T. Flanders, installed 1863 ; dismissed 1867.

S. Il. MeCollister, installed 1868 ; dismissed 1872.

II. A. Philbrook, installed 1872; dismissed 1875. James Gorton, installed 1876 ; dismissed 1880.

Henry B. Smith, installed 1880 ; now in charge.

Protestant Episcopal Church .- The origin of the Episcopal Church in Nashua is somewhat recent. In 1857 a missionary parish was organized, with Rev. E. P. Wright as rector. He was succeeded by Rev. W. S. Perry and others, and a small wooden church was built at the junction of Pearl and Temple Streets. This was removed a few years later, and no services were held in the city.

In 1871, Rev. James B. Goodrich renewed the church services in Beasom's Block and continued as mission- ary rector till 1875. At that time he was succeeded by Rev. Jacob Leroy. The church and congregation gradually gained in numbers. In 1879 a church edi- fice, built entirely of granite, was erected on South Main Street, at a cost of twenty thousand dollars. It is a neat and enduring structure. It was consecrated in November, 1879, and the entire building was the gift of Mrs. Lucia A. Rand, a native of this State, but now a resident of Middletown, Conn. In 1882 the church ceased to be a missionary parish, and is recog- nized as the Church of the Good Shepherd. Rev. William I1. Moreland is the present rector.

Unitarian Church .- The Unitarian Society of |

Nashua, like most of the early societies of the de- nomination, was largely made up of seceders from the Congregationalists. As a religious organization, it occupies the more advanced liberal grounds. The society in Nashua, in the published statement of their views, believe in the right of private judgment in re- ligion as in all other matters; in a progressive revela- tion; that no book or creed contains the whole of re ligion, but that God is speaking to-day more clearly than in any past age, unfolding his truth to every man, no matter to what race he belongs or what part of the globe he inhabits; that every word of truth is the word of God, whether found in the Bible or out of the Bible or contradicting the Bible; that there is one God, the Creator and Father, and no more, and none other is to be worshiped.

The church edifice now occupied by the society was built in 1827. The following is the list of pastors:

Nathaniel Gage, installed 1827 ; dismissed 1834. Henry Emmons, installed 1835; dismissed 1838. Samuel Osgood, installed 1838 ; dismissed 1×42. S. G. Bulfinch, installed 1845 ; dismissed 1852. M. W. Willis, installed 1853 ; dismissed 1862.

S. B. Stewart, installed 1863 ; dismissed 1865.

Minot G. Gage, installed 1866 ; dismissed 1870.

Clarence Fowler, installed 1871 ; dismissed 1873. Thomas L. Gorman, installed 1873 ; dismissed 1878. Henry C. Parker, installed 1878 ; now in charge.

Connected with the society is the Channing Literary Association, composed of young persons of both sexes, who hold their meetings in Channing Hall. Their object is moral, mental and social improvement. There is also an association of ladies for affording aid to the needy and the sick, who hold semi-monthly meetings.

Methodist Episcopal Church .- The Methodist Church, founded by John Wesley in the last century, was hardly known in this State in 1820. When Nashua became a manufacturing village it was visited by several itinerant preachers, and in 1833, Rev. James G. Smith was stationed here for the year. During the year the church on Lowell Street was built. It was dedicated November 12, 1833. This building was occupied till 1868, when the society removed to their new brick edifice, on Main Street. Owing to the itinerant system the number of ministers who occu- pied the Lowell Street pulpit is large. The list and time of service are as follows:

James G. Smith, 1833; A. P. Brigham, 183; W. D. Cass, 1835; W. HI. Hatch, 1836-37; Jared Perkins, 1838-39; Samuel Kelly, 1840; J. W. Mowry, 1841-42 ; L. D. Barrows, 1843-11; James Pike, 1845-46; Henry Drew, 1847-48; D M. Rogers, 1849; Elijah Mason, 1850-51 ; Franklin Furber, 1852-53 ; Elihu Scott, 1851; D. P. Leavitt, 1855-56 ; Henry Hill, 1857; C. R. Ilarding, 1858-59; Lewis Iloward, 1860; Charles Young, 1861-62; G. W. Il. Clark, 1863-64 ; E. A. Smith, 1865-67.

After the division of the town into Nashua and Nashville, a Methodist Society was organized on the south side of Nashua River, and a church on Chestnut Street was bought of the Baptists in 1844, which con- tinued to be occupied by them till 1880, when the church united with the First Methodist Church, on Main Street. The following is the list of pastors and

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HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

time of service at the Chestnut Street Church during its existence :

Rev. C. C Burr, 181 ; Jacob Boyce, 186-46; T. H. Pond, 1847 ; (an interim of three years) ; J. Mclaughlin, 1850-51 ; Lewis Howard, 1852- 53; Jared Perkins, Is64 ; G. S. Dearborn, 1855-56; H. H. Hartwell, 1857-58; S. Holman, 1859-60; L. J. Hall, 1861-62; W. II. Jones, 1863- 01; R. S. Stubbe, 1865-66; E. R. Wilkins, 1867-69; D. C. Babcock, 1870; T. Carler, 1871-72; H. L. Kelsey, 1873-74; L. P. Cushman, 1875-77; O. JI. Jasper, 1878-80.

The church on Main Street was dedicated in 1868. It is a large and handsome edifice and cost sixty thou- sand dollars. The list of ministers in charge since then is as follows: Rev. George Bowler, 1868; Angelo Carroll, 1869-70; V. A. Cooper, 1871-73; Charles Shelling, 1874-75; Charles E. Hall, 1876-78; James R. Day, 1879-80; B. P. Raymond, 1881-82; P. M. Frost, 1883-84; J. Il. Haines, 1885, who is now in charge.

The Roman Catholic Church .- Of the Catholic Church organized in this city by Rev. John O'Donnell in 1855 and the building of the church in 1857 we have already written. Father O'Donnell died in January, 1882, and was succeeded by Rev. Patrick Houlihan and by Rev. William F. Higgins, as assist- ant. The Irish population of the city is two thousand three hundred. The Sunday attendance at the Church of the Immaculate Conception is fifteen hundred, There are three distinct sessions,-two for adults and one for children. The church has purchased the real estate known hitherto as the "Indian Head House," and has reconstructed it for a school building. It is proposed to establish a parochial school, to be taught by the Sisters of Mercy. The house will accommodate five hundred pupils. The cemetery of this church is in Hudson, two miles from the city.

The French Catholic Church is of more recent origin. Worshiping at first with the Irish, their num- ber increased so that, in June, 1871, Rev. Louis Girard was appointed to organize a church. He resigned in 1871, and Rey. J. B. H. V. Milette was appointed to succeed him. The building of the church on Hollis Street was commenced in 1872, and dedicated on the 8th of June, 1873. It is a fine edifice, having cost forty thousand dollars. The average attendance on Sunday services is two thousand, three sessions being hell. The French Canadian Cemetery is on Hollis Street, two miles from the city. In 1883 a three-story brick building was erected for a parochial school, which has at this time five hundred and eleven schol- ars, and is taught by nine Sisters of the Holy Cross. The French Canadian population of this city is three thousand seven hundred. It is proposed to build another French Catholic Church next year on the north side of Nashua River.

The Catholics are now (1885) far the most numerous religious sect in the city, numbering six thousand, equal to two-fifths of the entire population.

CHAPTER XVI. NASHUA -- (Continued).

MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES OF NASHUA.

Cotton Manufacturing Companies-Iron Industries-Foundries and Machine-Shops-Wood Manufacturing Industries-Card, Boot and Shoe, Box and Freezer Companies-Miscellaneous Industries-Farm- ing Statistics-Lawyers and Doctors-Municipal Officers-Public School Teachers-Conclusion.

IF Nashua had remained what it was in 1820, an agricultural town, its present population would not exceed eight hundred. It was early predicted that the Merrimack River would furnish an extensive power for manufacturing purposes, but the Nashua River was nnthought of until some of the residents of the village discovered and appreciated its importance, and chiefly contributed the first capital used to de- velop it. We have already recorded the early his- tory of the two largest manufacturing companies in the city. Since that early period they have largely increased their capacity. A concise and accurate statement of their present extent and condition will be of value for future reference.

The Cotton Manufacturing Industry-NASHUA COTTON MANUFACTURING COMPANY .- This corpora- tion, chartered in 1823, began the manufacture of cotton cloth in 1826. The first agents were Asher Benjamin and Ira Gay, who were soon succeeded by Thomas W. Gillis, who filled the position eighteen years, until 1853. He was followed by Daniel Hussey, who introduced the turbine instead of the breast wheel, adding greatly to the water-power. He re- mained till 1869, and was followed by D. D. Crombie, who left at the end of two years. Oliver P. Hussey became agent in 1871 and remained till his death, in 1875. The present agent, Rufus A. Maxfield, en- tered upon his duties ten years ago. Since then the capacity of the company has increased twenty per cent. The plant in 1844 consisted of four separate mills. All these mills have, from time to time, been greatly improved by additions and alterations, so that the company now has in a single continuons tier of buildings a floorage of more than twelve acres. In addition to the mill buildings proper, the company has a range of buildings on Basin Street, which is utilized as cloth-room and machine-shop, six large store-houses, a store-house for the raw cotton, an im- mense boiler-house, with minor buildings, together with a spacious counting-room, built in 1879, and eighty-two tenement houses, the last-named mostly in blocks.

The total capacity of the water-power of these mills is eighteen hundred and twelve horse-power. The company has sixteen steam-boilers of seventy- five horse-power each-steam being required for heat as well as power-and a total engine-power of sixteen hundred horse-power, which, added to the fourteen hundred water-power, gives a total of three thousand horse-power. This power is now so reserved and

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economically employed that in the future these mills cannot be short of power. The use of steam-power becomes a necessity in recent times on account of the evaporation during the severe droughts which of late years are apt to occur in summer. The mills of the Nashua Company have a capacity of eighty-five thou- sand spindles, and make twenty-four million yards of fine sheeting, shirting and cotton flannels yearly, the market being mostly in the United States. The annual consumption is twenty-four thousand bales. The company employs over fifteen hundred operatives, of whom twelve hundred are females and three hun- dred men and boys. More than three-fourths of the help are either foreigners or the children of foreigners. They are about equally divided between the Canadian French and the Irish. Wages are now (June, 1885) fully as high as in 1879. The pay-roll is about twenty-two thousand dollars monthly. Webster P. Hussey is paymaster, succeeding John A. Baldwin, who filled the position forty years. The location and surroundings of the mills of this company are un- usually favorable. The inclosed grounds are spacious and finely shaded, and the arrangement of the buildings such as to favor health and comfort. Fred- erick Amory, of Boston, is the treasurer.

THE JACKSON MANUFACTURING COMPANY .- The grounds of this company are pleasantly located on the Nashua River, in the eastern part of the city. In a previous chapter we have given its early history. The following is a list of the agents of the company and the time they held the position : B. F. French, seven years ; Edmund Parker, eleven years ; M. A. Herriek, four years; H. T. Robbins, ten months; Walter Wright, one year; P. Lawton, two years; B. Saunders, eleven years ; O. P. Hussey, four years ; William D. Caldwell, the present agent, since January, 1871, fourteen and a half years. The plant consists of three large mills which have been enlarged within a few years, and have twelve hundred and twelve looms and thirty-five thousand seven hundred and twenty spindles. The water-power is eighteen feet fall, equal to one thousand horse-power, which is strengthened by eight hundred horse-power of steam. The productive capacity has increased one hundred per cent. under the present agent. The mills have a floorage of four acres, with large store-houses and a large block which is used for counting-room, cloth- room and machine-shop. There are forty-two tene- ments, mostly in handsome brick blocks. The capital of the company is six hundred thousand dollars. The number of operatives is eight hundred, nearly three- fourths of whom are foreigners or the children of foreigners. They are equally divided between the Irish and Canadian French. The former are regarded as the more reliable and permanent. The pay is six per cent. higher than in 1879, and believed to be the highest paid by any cotton mannfactory in the country. The products are fine sheetings and shirt- ings, which find a market in China, South America

and Mexico. The annual consumption of cotton is fifteen thousand bales, and the production seventeen million yards of cloth. The monthly pay-roll is fifteen thousand dollars. E. M. Temple is paymaster. In these mills the system of keeping accounts is such that the raw cotton is traced by the pound from the picker till it is ready for the market, every process showing so much addition in actual cost. Frederick Amory, of Boston, is treasurer of the company.

THE VALE MILLS MANUFACTURING COMPANY erected a cotton-mill on Salmon Brook, at the Harbor, in 1845. This was followed, in 1853, by the building of a second mill, having altogether a capacity of twenty thousand spindles and weaving one million two hundred thousand yards per annum of forty- inch fine sheetings for home consumption. The com- pany has a capital of eighty thousand dollars, and gives employment to eighty operatives. All the looms are new and improved and the machinery has been renewed within fifteen years. The mills, aside from other buildings, have a floorage of nine thou- sand six hundred square feet. The fall at the dam is twenty-six feet, and one hundred and fifty horse- power. In addition to this, the company has one hundred horse-power of steam. These mills are do- ing a prosperous business, and contemplate an in- crease of production in the future. Benjamin Sann- ders is the agent and treasurer.

Iron Manufacturing Industries .- The iron manu- factories of Nashua are second only to the cotton industry in extent and importance.

THE NASHUA IRON AND STEEL COMPANY, in- corporated in 1847 with a capital of thirty thousand dollars, had a rapid and unusual growth. From three small hammers and one small shop the company developed to ten large hammers and seven large shops, requiring a capital of four hundred thousand dollars. The plant covers twelve acres. It manufac- tures steel and iron forgings of any size, steel locomo- tive tires and general railroad work. The steel-plate made at these works has an unequaled reputation, and is recognized as the best made in the country. Unfortunately, the plate and bar-mill was burned in February last, so that its condition at this time is not such as to indicate its capacity or product. It gives, when in full operation, employment to two hundred and eighty men, many of whom are skillful and ex- perienced workmen. John A. Burnham is president ; Aretas Blood, treasurer and superintendent.

THE NASHUA LOCK COMPANY has for many years done a large business. We have already given its early history. It makes locks, door-knobs and bells, hinges, bolts and builders' hardware of every style and pattern. The works cover a plant of four hundred by three hundred feet, in an inclo- sure of two and a quarter acres, and consist of seven shops. Its capital stock is one hundred and twenty thousand dollars. It give employment to one hundred and eighty men, and makes two hundred and

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HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. NEW HAMPSHIRE.

fifty thousand dollars' worth of goods annually. A. C. Barstow is president; H. G. Bixby, treasurer; Emery Parker, superintendent.

THE UNDERHILL EDGE-TOOL COMPANY, located at the mouth of Salmon Brook, has a capital stock of one hundred and twelve thousand dollars, and em- ploys one hundred men. It manufactures axes, hatch- ets, adzes and edge-tools of every pattern, and sends products to every part of the western continent. Its annual sales are one hundred thousand dollars. It has a seventy-five horse water-power and a Corliss steam-engine of one hundred and fifty horse-power. John G. Kimball is president ; C. V. Dearborn, treas- urer; Nestor Haines, superintendent.

THE NASHUA IRON FOUNDRY, Charles Williams, proprietor, has for many years been in operation. It manufactures heavy castings for cotton-mills and ma- chinists' tools. The plant covers several aeres. It has five large buildings, fifty horse steam-power, and gives employment to an average of one hundred and twenty men. The business averages more than one hundred and fifty thousand dollars annually. Charles A. Williams is agent.

THE NASHUA CO-OPERATIVE IRON FOUNDRY is the successor of the Otterson Iron Foundry. The present company began business in 1881. As a co- operative enterprise it was an experiment. It has proved eminently successful. Its capital is twenty thousand dollars. Fifty-five men are employed. Small castings are its specialty, in which it ex- cels, and New England is its chief market. Its busi- ness averages more than sixty thousand dollars an- nually. Patrick Barry is president; T. W. Keely, foreman ; T. B. Crowley, manager and treasurer.

FLATHER & Co., manufacturers of machinists' tools, engine and hand-lathes and special machinery, are located at the Concord Railroad Junction. They employ thirty-six men, and the value of their annual production is fifty thousand dollars. This firm com- menced business in 1866, and have won the reputa- tion of making perfect machines, which they are now sending to every part of the country.

THE NASHUA PRESS AND BOILER-WORKS, owned by J. J. Crawford, are located at the Concord Rail- road Junction, employ eighteen to twenty men, and manufacture steam-boilers, steaming eylinders, water and oil-tanks and plate-iron work of every kind. The specialty of these works is the hydraulie power-press, with the hollow steam-plates and connections, which is used by woolen manufacturers in pressing woolen cloths and knit-goods. The value of the annual sales is forty-five thousand dollars. These works were burned last January, but are being rebuilt on the same site.

GEORGE A. ROLLINS & Co., on Mason Street, manufacture steam-engines of the most improved action and power, and employ fourteen hands. The shop and tools are new.

THE WARNER & WHITNEY MACHINE-SHOP is un-

der the management of George H. Whitney. It employs forty men, and makes Swaine's turbine water-wheels and machinists' lathes. The value of its production is fifty thousand dollars annually.

THE AMERICAN SHEARER MANUFACTURING COM- PANY makes horse and barber clippers and sheep- shearing machines. They employ twenty-four men. Its market is the world. J. K. Priest is manager and treasurer.

GEORGE W. DAVIS & Co. make stationary and portable steam-engines, boring-machines, and do the general repairing of machinery. They are located near the corner of Foundry and Mason Streets.

Wood Manufacturing Industries .- THE NASHUA BOBBIN AND SPOOL COMPANY is a long-established industry. Of its origin and progress in earlier times we have already written. It has supplied mills in every part of the country. Within a few months it has been reorganized, with Frank H. Ayer, president and treasurer ; G. H. Hatch, clerk ; and Ira Cross, superintendent. It makes bobbins, spools and shuttles for all kinds of textile fabrics, -cotton, woolen, silk, linen, hemp and jute; also rollers for skates and other kinds of wood-work. The works are located on Water Street. The floorage of the shops is nearly three acres, and its business this year one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, and in good times twice that amount. White birch and maple are material for spools and bobbins. Formerly apple-tree wood was used for shuttles, but of late dog-wood and persimmon are shipped from North Carolina.

GREGG & So, located at the Concord Railroad Junction, manufacture doors, window-sash, blinds, mouldings and machine findings for builders. This industry was established in 1870, and occupies two large four-story buildings. They procure their lum- ber from the West and Canada, use one hundred horse-power of steam and employ one hundred and thirty men. New England is their largest customer, but orders are filled from California, Australia and the West Indies.

HOWARD & Co., furniture manufacturers, make ash and black walnut chamber sets a specialty. They occupy three buildings on Merrimack Street for ma- chine-work, with thirty-five horse-power of steam, and have a large three-story building for finishing and storage, on Amherst Street, besides a large retail store on Main Street. Their entire floorage is two acres. They employ ninety men, and do a business annually of more than one hundred and fifty thou- sand dollars.

CROSS & TOLLES, manufacturers of window and door-frames, boxes and builders' findings, have three large buildings on Quincy Street. They employ forty hands, and do a large business in custom planing, matching, turning, scroll and gig-sawing and pattern- work. Their lumber and manufactured sales are one hundred thousand dollars annually.

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History of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, Part 48

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