History of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, Part 62

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

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1 By Daniel F. Secomb.

250 1

HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

which, as was customary in those times, he was ever after known.

He served on the Board of Selectmen twenty years, was moderator of the annual town-meeting sixteen years, and represented the town in the General Court three years. He was also treasurer of the county of Hillsborough seven years, and held a comission as jus- tive of the peace twenty-five years.

Politically, he was a Republican of the school of Jefferson and Madison, but, with many others of like faith, supported John Quincy Adams for the Presi- deney in 182s, and thenceforth acted with the Na- tional Republican. Whig and Republican parties, in opposition to the Jackson or Democratic Republican party.

He was a C'alvinist in his religious belief, and at the time of his death was the oldest member of the Congregational Church in Amherst.

He was a man of few words, firm and decided in I's opinions, possessed a good share of perseverance in his undertakings and was a believer in honest work. His own work was well done, better, in many mises, than his pecuniary interests would warrant. Much of it still remains to bear witness to his faith- fulness and honesty.

A lover of reading, he delighted in collecting books and newspapers, and spent much of his leisure time in their peru-al, thereby becoming familiar with his- torival matters and the current events of the day.

RICHARD BOYLSTON.

Richard Boylston served a four years' apprentice- ship in the office of the Federal Spy. in Springfield, Mass,, and finished his trade in the office of the Boston Contine, where he was employed seven years under the direction of Major Ben. Russell.

Early in 1809 he came to Amherst, in answer to an advertisement for a journeyman printer, to take the place of Isaac Hill, who was about to graduate from Cabinet office.

After presenting his " credentials," he was engaged and assigned a place beside the future Governor, who left shortly after, and, on the 18th day of April, 1809, commenced his career as editor and publisher of the New Hampshire Patriot.

In the autumn of that year the proprietor of the Cabinet office became involved in the failure of the Hillsborough Bank, of which he was one of the di- rector-, and, to avoid doing worse, left town some- w hat suddenly and located himself in Baltimore, Md., where the remainder of his life was spent.

Previous to his leaving he called Mr. Boylston to him, and, after telling him frankly of his plans, of- fored him his printing establishment, with the book- store, at that time the only one in the county, on easy forms, assuring him that with proper care and man- gement there was every prospect of doing a success- Il business. To this offer he required an answer

early on the following morning, as circumstances would admit of no delay.

For some time the young journeyman knew not what to say. He was young, without capital or a proper education, his school-days having terminated when he was twelve years of age. What could he do ? After hours of anxious thought the time arrived. An affirmative answer was given, and Mr. Cushing de- parted to his new home.

The first number of the Cabinet under Mr. Boyls- ton's direction was issued October 10, 1809, and from that time his success was assured. For ten years the paper had no rival in the county. Being located at the county-seat, it had a large advertising patronage, beside which a large amount of job-work was done in the office. The proprietor also had nearly all the book trade in the county. Large invoices of school- books were bought and sold at a satisfactory profit, and before a long time had elapsed Mr. Cushing's claim was paid in full.

In 1810, Mr. Boylston married, and again he was fortunate. His wife, a niece of Paul Revere, of Revo- lutionary fame, proved to be a helpmeet indeed. Her husband, in his old age, said, "To her efficient help and wise management of all the family concerns I owe all my after-prosperity and success in life." Of her, also, a graduate of the Cabinet office, for some years an inmate of the family, said, when more than eighty years of age, " Mother Boylston was, emphati- cally, the editor s ' better half.' "

And so time passed away. Under his management the Cabinet maintained a respectable standing among the journals of its time and had quite an extensive circulation.

As his means increased, Mr. Boylston was ready to engage in enterprises that promised to benefit the place of his residence. He was one of the first to advocate the building of a railroad to Am- herst, the building of a steam mill and kindred en- terprises. He early took decided grounds in favor of the temperance movement and the improvement of the common schools. For many years he was a mem- ber of the Congregational Church and was repeatedly elected one of its officers, but invariably declined the acceptance of the charge. He served on the superin- tending school committee several years, and in 1844, 1845 and 1846 represented the town in the General Court.

DR. MATTHIAS SPALDING.

Dr. Matthias Spalding began his studies in West- ford Academy, under the instruction of Professor lledge; graduated at Harvard College in 1798, in the class with Stephen Longfellow, William Ellery Chan- ning and Joseph Story, and although he was the old- est member of his class, he survived all but two of them.

He studied his profession with Dr. Benjamin Waterhouse, of Cambridge, and Dr. E. A. Holyoke,

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of Salem. In 1801 he went to London, where he at- tended medieal lectures and devoted himself to ae- quiring the knowledge afforded by its medical schools and hospitals. He attended the lectures of Sir Astley Cooper and the younger Cline, and received from them many marks of personal attention. With Dr. Jenner he had a special acquaintance, and received ; formed to promote. from him much information relating to vaccination,- a subject in which he was much interested. Dr. Batchelder, of New York, one of his pupils, says, "Perhaps it would not be too much to say that, with the exception of Dr. Waterhouse, he did more than any other man to introduce that im- portant practice into this country."

On his return home, in 1802, he was the bearer of a letter from Dr. Jenner to Dr. Waterhouse, with the celebrated silver suuff-box, containing vaccine, and having on it the inscription, "From the Jenner of the Old World to the Jenner of the New."

Soon after his return Dr. Spalding commenced practice in his native town, where he remained four years, and secured a large business and a high repu- tation as a surgeon.

In 1806 he removed to Amherst, where the re- mainder of his life was spent.

Although his constitution was originally feeble, by regularity of life and a careful abstinence from all in- jurious indulgences, he was enabled to perform a vast amount of professional labor.

Sensible of the advantages that would accrue to the profession and the public from a more intimate acquaintance of physicians with one another, he ex- erted himself to bring the regular physicians of his neighborhood together for mutual improvement and professional culture, and to him, more than to any other one, is due the establishment of the Southern District New Hampshire Medical Society, of which he was for many years the president and librarian.

In 1809 he was elected a member of the New Hampshire Medical Society, of which he was vice- president from 1815 to 1821, inclusive, and president in 1822 and 1823. In 1817 he received the honorary degree of Doctor of Medicine from Dartmouth College, and he was elected an honorary member of the New York Academy of Medicine June 1, 1860.

Favored with an education which was superior to that of most of his medical brethren around him, he was also gifted by nature with many qualities which admirably fitted him for the profession of his choice. He was a gentleman in heart and manners, and his integrity and purity of character were never questioned. His equanimity and cheerfulness rarely forsook him ; calm and self-reliant. he impressed his patients with the feeling that he comprehended their situation, and would do all that an intelligent, faithful and cautious physician could do. He had great faith in true science, and genuine contempt for all quackery in medicine or practice.

In the early part of his professional life his office was the resort of students, many of whom attained distinction in other States as physicians and surgeons and professors in medical institutions.

Beside his labors in his profession, he was deeply in- terested in agricultural matters, in which he was an enthusiast to the last years of his life. He was one of the first members of the Hillsborough County Agri- cultural Society, and contributed, by his example and pen, to the advancement of the objects which it was

Political office he never sought, but was always re- lied upon as the friend and supporter of such measures as tended to promote education, good morals and the general welfare.

He was a member of the Congregational Church, to which he was warmly attached, and in which he held the office of deacon for nearly half a century.

After a long and useful life he went to his rest May 22, 1865.

DR. EDWARD SPALDING.

Dr. Edward Spalding graduated at Dartmouth Col- lege in 1833; studied medicine with his father and at Harvard Medical School, graduating M.D. in 1837; began practice immediately at Nashua, and there continues ; has often been a member of the municipal government, and was mayor of the city in 1864.

He became a trustee of Dartmouth College in 1866, and in 1877 and -1878 was a member of the executive council.

DR. ALFRED SPALDING.

Dr. Alfred Spalding spent two years in Dartmouth College and some time in Yale. He studied medi- cine with his father and Dr. Reuben D. Mussey, and received the degree of M.D. from Dartmouth in 1843.

He commenced the practice of his profession at Greenup, Ky., soon after receiving his degree.

He had a natural aptitude for his profession, in which he greatly resembled his father. With the genial, quiet manners of the courteous gentleman he united the discriminating and cautious judgment of a superior mind.

In his practice his industry and painstaking fidel- ity soon win the confidence of all classes.

During the Rebellion his house was a hospital for the wounded soldiers, and his services were songht by those who did not sympathize with his loyalty to the old flag.

His enthusiasm in the study of medicine never abated. The latest reports and the most improved surgical instruments and apparatus-everything pos- sessingany advantage to his profession-was examined, even though it deprived him of needed rest and sleep.

He was a good horseman, and when he came into possession of lands suited to the purpose, devoted some time to the raising of his favorite animals.

His interest in all local enterprises and improve- ments was constant and practical, and he made many and fast friends.

His health failing, he relinquished his practice, and, the summer before his death, revisited his birth- place, for a time with some benefit ; but it proved not to be permanent, and in November he returned, by slow stages, to his home, where he died Dec. 20, 1878.

For Biography of Isaac Spalding, see History of Nashua.

HISTORY OF ANTRIM.

BY REV. W. R. COCHRANE.

CHAPTER I.

The town of Antrim is situated in the north- Western part of Hillsborough County, and contains a little over thirty-three square miles (twenty-one thou- sand one hundred and seventy-five acres), of which something more than half is classified as "improved land." The Contoocook River forms the eastern boundary of Antrim, with Bennington and Hancock on the south, Nelson and Stoddard on the west and Hillsborough on the north. The soil of Antrim is for the most part fertile and strong as compared with New England land in general. Some parts are of light loam, productive and easy to cultivate; but the greater part is rocky and uneven. It is a soil that retain- its enrichment for a long time. There are pastures in Antrim that have been fed for fifty or sixty year- and are still good. Along the streams are beautiful and valuable meadows. The intervales on the Contoocook are of surpassing fertility and loveli- ness. There are many fine farms in town, and hardly a miserable, starvation farm within its borders. Farm buildings are mostly neat and thrifty in appearance, villages are attractive, and the whole face of the town is smart and good-looking. The western part of Antrim is peculiarly rich in pasturage. Few towns in the State can boast of fatter cattle or finer teams.

The mountains of Antrim are numerous, but not high or remarkable. In the northeast part of the town, near the junction of the Contoocook and North Branch Rivers is Riley's Mountain, about fifteen hun- dred feet high, named from Philip Riley, the first settler of the town. Wind-or Mountains form a chain on the northern boundary of the town, the town-line being about on the summit, and the broad southward slope giving warm pastures and valuable forests and farm- to Antrim. On the western side of the town is a range of mountains, as a sort of protection against cold and tempest, extending from North Branch River on the north to Hancock on the south. This range has many summits, among them Bald Moun- tain, Robb Mountain and Tuttle Mountain, the last named being the highest, -about fifteen hundred and fifty feet above tide-water. Bald Mountain

was so called by the fathers because it was bare and naked when first discovered. It seems that the Indians burned it over occasionally, not suffering the flames to spread elsewhere, and used it as a point of observation and a place of council. On its broad and excellent pastures moose once abounded, and it was a superior "hunting-ground."

The streams of Antrim of any considerable size are few. By far the largest is the Contoocook. Its source is almost on Massachusetts line in Rindge, and it flows a little east of north till it sweeps the whole eastern boundary of this town, then turns eastward and flows into the Merrimack above Concord, having a length of about one hundred miles, and a fall of over eight hundred feet. It is crossed from Antrim by three bridges. In passing this town (more than six miles) its fall is very trifling. The Peterborough and Hillsborough Railroad is along its bank. A lovelier river can hardly be found in New England.

North Branch River is the next in size. It rises in Washington, flows southward through Long Pond, Stoddard, then turns eastward and runs about six miles in Antrim, nearly across the town, and nearly parallel with the north line, at a distance of about a half-mile from said line. Its length is about twenty- five miles, and its fall about the same as that of the Contoocook in a hundred miles. It falls more than three hundred and fifty feet in this town. Hence it is a wild, impetuous, noisy stream, and when swollen by rains, its roar can be heard for a long distance. The water-power on this river is immense; it has capacities for great reservoirs, is never exhausted, and affords unsurpassed advantages to manufacturers.

Great Brook, so named by the fathers, comes third in size. Its actual source is in the mountains in the west part of the town. From Gregg's Pond, through which it flows, to the Contoocook River, into which it empties, the distance is about three miles, and the fall about four hundred and sixty-five feet. The pond is fed by springs discharging below the water- mark, and hence this stream does not fail in a dry time to the same extent as other streams. Mill men here say they can run when the wheels on the Merrimack have to stop for lack of water. Hence, the supply

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being so regular and the fall so great, this little stream affords some of the best water privileges in the State. Fourteen dams cross it inside of three miles, and some excellent opportunities are still un- improved. It may safely be said that no stream in New England of the same length affords so many and so good privileges as Great Brook. Meadow Brook, Cochran's Brook and Salmon Brook are the other leading streams in the town.

The collections of water in Antrim are neither many nor great. The largest is Gregg's Pond, named from Samuel Gregg, who built the mill at its outlet. This is a beautiful sheet of water about a mile long and half a mile wide. It has mostly a hard, rocky shore, is surrounded by high hills, and is a favorite summer resort for boating, fishing, camping-parties and pienies. Antrim has also Campbell's Pond, Steel's Pond, Rye Pond, Willard's Pond and other smaller bodies of water. From this show of moun- tains, streams, lakes and valleys, it will be evident that this is a town of variable and delightful scenery. It abounds with beautiful and romantic drives, and is attractive and popular as a place for summer tourists and boarders from the city.

The first settlement in Antrim was made by Philip Riley, a Scotchman, in 1744. At that time, and for years previous, it was a matter of great peril, on account of Indians, to venture far from the strong settle- ments of the lower towns. The valley of the Con- toocook was known to explorers, and was looked upon as valuable ground, but it was prudently avoided by settlers for many years. It was a place very dear to the Indians. Near the river they had residences within the limits of Antrim. They had a burial- place here, and here they had fields to raise corn for the tribe. The first settlers found constant evidences of the previous abode of the savages in this place. Hence, it was a perilous undertaking when Riley and three or four neighbors near him in Hillsborough began in this valley, 1744. Riley located in the northi- east corner of the town, near Hillsborough Bridge, fifteen miles from any help. The surrounding towns, Deering, Francestown, Greenfield, Bennington, Han- cock, Stoddard and Henniker, were all a pathless and unbroken forest. The nearest neighbors, in Hopkin- ton, Peterborough and New Boston, were themselves so few and weak as to need assistance instead of being able to impart it. The only strong settlement in New Hampshire west of the Merrimack was Dun- stable (now Nashua), and this was in no condition to render assistance to others. And when we take into account the fact that for many years there had been almost constant warfare between the French and In- dians on one hand, and the English settlers on the other, and that the cruel savages were scouring the forests most of the time with murderous intent, the undertaking of a half-dozen men in the unbroken forest, and beyond the possibility of help, seems haz- ardous in the extreme. Other and stronger places

petitioned the Governor for soldiers to aid in their defense. In 1744 and 1745 Indians swarmed along the frontier. The settlers in some places abandoned their settlements and returned to the lower towns in 1745. But Riley and his few neighbors remained. Nothing but their connection with the Scotch-Irish, to whom the Indians seem to have had no enmity, can account for the attacking of Hopkinton, Charles- town and other places, and leaving this little com- pany safe. The Indians were accustomed to murder- ing the scattered and weak ones.

April 22, 1746, the savages made an attack on the settlers in Hopkinton, and carried off eight captives. The report of this event carried new alarm to the few settlers of Hillsborough and Antrim. They had no gar- rison-house. They had seen Indians lurking and hiding along the Contoocook, and supposed they would be the next object of attack. They determined to abandon their humble yet happy dwellings at once. Hurriedly burying some tools, and hiding others in hollow logs and under flat rocks, and driving their few cattle, they started over the hills of Deering for New Boston and Londonderry.

After this flight Antrim had no white inhabitant for fifteen years. But when Canada was captured from the French (1759-60), and peace after so long a time had been restored, the settlers all along the frontier began to creep back to their deserted cabins. Riley was the first to return to this section, coming back in the spring of 1761. A thick growth of young wood lad spread over his clearing, and it was difficult to find the cabin he had left. His cabin alone remained standing. The savages had burned every other build- ing in the vicinity. Riley found his tools where he had concealed them, and soon prepared to bring his family, and they were here in the wilderness a whole year alone. In the spring of 1762 he received a neighbor in the person of Daniel McMurphy, who be- gan a second settlement of Hillsborough, a mile or two off. But there was no other inhabitant in Antrim till the spring of 1766, when seven young men came, axe in hand, and made beginnings in the east and south part of the town. One of them, James Aiken, moved his family here August 12, 1767, making the second family in Antrim. For two years Aiken and his family had a hard time. Often they felt the pinch of hunger. Bears and wolves prowled around them by day and by night. In October, 1767, his pigs running loose were killed and torn in pieces by bears. Very little could be raised from the soil the first year. The nearest neighbor was Riley, six miles off, in the north- east part of the town. The winter following was long and severe. Aiken and his good wife (Molly McFar- land) lost a young child in February, 1768, the first death in Antrim. There were no minister, no group of assembled mourners, no coffin, no burial ground. no road, nor even a path ! The sorrowing father split out some rude boards from a log, and pinned them together with wood for a casket, and then the parents

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HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

covered the little dead form in it and fastened down the heavy lid, and Aiken carried away and buried his own child! Two months later, April 15, 1768, Mrs. Aiken gave birth to a daughter,-the first American child born in Antrim. They named her Polly, and she died December 14, 1862. She was a strong and noble woman, worthy to be the leader in the long and honorable line of Antrim's sons and daughters. The first male child born in Antrim was James Aiken, Jr., spring of 1772.

Aiken carried corn to New Boston (sixteen miles) or to Peterborough (twelve miles) on his back, to be ground, and used to speak of this in after-years as the severest of all the hardships he endured. He lived to see the town have a population of thirteen hun- dred, with plenty of mills, and stores, and roads, and school-houses, and commodious, comfortable dwell- ings. He died July 27, 1817, aged eighty-six years.

The third family locating in Antrim was that of Wil- liam Smith, who came in 1771, having purchased his land the previous year for nine cents per acre. He located near Aiken, and they lived in great confidence and love together till death. After they got rich enough to have oxen, Aiken bought a pair of Smith, and, not having ready money, wrote a note for the same. Smith said to Aiken: "I haven't any desk to keep it in, so you keep it till I call for it." Conse- quently Aiken kept the note till he was ready to pay it, and then gave it to Smith, at the same time paying it in full. And thus Smith could remember that the note was paid.

The fourth family in Antrim was that of Randall Alexander, who came in the spring of 1772.

The fifth was that of John Gordon, who made a be- ginning in the north part of the town, and struck the first blows in North Branch village.

The sixth was that of Maurice Lynch.

The seventh family was that of John Duncan, af- terwards "Captain John," "Esquire John," " Deacon John " and " Honorable John ;" was a man of some rep- utation ; brought his goods in a cart-the first wheels ever driven into Antrim ; drove forty miles in this way, and arrived at the door of his log house, with wife and five children, September 20, 1773. He lived till February 14, 1823, dying at the age of eighty-nine. Was long time representative from the district of An- trim, Hancock, Deering and Windsor; was a member of the New Hampshire Senate, and was a stirring, earnest, cheery, wide-awake and honest man.

In 1774 eight settlers and their families arrived in Antrim. This made fifteen families and about sixty- two persons in the town. All summer long the forests echoed the strokes of the woodman's axe and the crash of falling trees. Paths were ent out for roads. The ground- about the dwellings began to look like fields, and the new settlement was full of hope.

But, in the spring of 1775, the breaking out of the Revolutionary War greatly hindered the progress of the work. This was a frontier settlement. A terrible

uncertainty pervaded everything. Every man in Antrim capable of bearing arms was in the service more or less ; but, in spite of all discouragements, sev- cral families moved here during the first year of the war.

1776 was a dark year for Antrim. Its population was about eighty, and of its men (about twenty in all), two, James Dickey and George Bemaine, were lost at the battle of White Plains, October 28, 1776.

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History of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, Part 62

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