History of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, Part 73

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

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HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Yet they seem to have foreseen from the first that the union was only temporary, as they voted ( Derem- ber 29, 1763) that the " New Addition Shall have their pairt of preaching amongst themselves During their Stay with the old town as a pearish." Hence, the fol. lowing year they built their meeting-house near the centre of the old town, and quietly waited till the pop- ulation might be large enough for a division. Accord- ingly, a petition was presented to the Legislature, under date of July 22, 1771, and signed by thirty- nine men, asking that the " New Boston Addition" and a part of Society Land adjoining might be incor- porated into a town.

This petition was successful after the due formali- ties, and this tract was incorporated as the town of The population of the town was, in 1775, two hun- dred; in 1783 selectmen returned "65 male Poles; " in 1850 the population was eleven hundred and four- teen ; 1870, nine hundred and thirty-two; in 1880, nine hundred and thirty-seven. In this town the water-power is small, and the people are chiefly en- gaged in agricultural pursuits. It is a good farming town, and, with good, neat buildings and well-culti- vated land, has a general appearance of thrift and success. There is much attractive scenery, and the town furnishes a large variety of views from moun- tain to intervale. The centre of the town (its only village) is a beautiful country village of about one hundred families. Its principal street is broad, well- shaded and about half a mile long, having on either Francestown June 8, 1772. It received its name from Frances, the wife of Governor Wentworth, and was written " Frances' Town" in the old records. They held their first town-meeting (John Quigley be- ing empowered to call the same) at the house of William Starret, July 2, 1772, and chose John Quig- lev. John Dickey and William Starret their first Board of Selectmen. At this meeting they chose a cm - mittee to " Senter the town," and went on with the usual votes and measures required in this new undertaking. The population slowly but constantly increased, im- provements went on, roads were made and the little town was every way hopeful and prosperous. Then came the long, hard struggle of the Revolutionary War, which greatly hindered the growth of the , side many substantial residences, and some venerable town.

But those hardy men and noble women bravely did their part for liberty. A year before the war they were disposed to be loyal to the King, but the cruelty and injustice of the mother-country gradually brought them all over to the popular side. Even as early as June 10, 1775, they showed their determination by choosing a committee of seven, with John Diekey chairman, "to examine and try aney person or per- sons that are or Shall be Suspected of being Enemies to the Country." That surely was pretty decided and pretty vigorous loyalty ! A large proportion of the men of the town were constantly in the army, ex- changing places from time to time, as appears by the following record : " Voted to chouse 5 of a Committee to receive the accoumpts and prize the turns of the men that Has ben into the Searvice With out aney town bounty." From time to time they paid largely from the town treasury to fill quotas and to increase the pay of those already in the field. And they showed no disposition to give up. Seven years after the bat- the of Lexington they voted to raise men to " Serve in the Continentle Armey for the term of three years or during the War."

When war with France was probable ( 1795) Frances- town voted to make up " ten dollars per month to every soldier, and fifty cents additional per day for any 'ex- traordinary service at home.'"

In the War of 1812 a large delegation from Fran-

cestown were in the field. Captain Hugh Moore, of this town, commanded a company.

In the War of the Rebellion-as always before- Francestown was intensely loyal. The town voted that the "Selectmen fill the quota on the best terms possible, but not limiting the cost," and to "pay the highest sum allowed by our State laws to fill all quotas this year," and so on till the close of the war. At the March meeting immediately preceding the surrender of Lee they voted to fill all quotas at whatever cost or effort, showing their zeal and de- termination to the last. The full proportion of the sons of Francestown laid down their lives for the Union.

with time, though in neat repair. This village contains a hotel, library building, school-house, two churches, academy, twostores, two banks, carpenter's shop, black- smith-shop, harness-shop, milliner's apartment, two physicans, etc. Near the main street is a cabinet- factory of considerable business. Also below, and on a branch street, is Mill village, so called, which is $0 near as to be conveniently reckoned as a part of the chief village. It has a blacksmith shop, saw-mill and about fifteen families. Francestown village is high and conspicuous from afar, and is justly an occasion of pride to the people of the town.

Franeestown is located a little northwest of the cen- tre of Hillsborough County ; is bounded on the north by Deering and Weare, on the east by Weare and New Boston, on the south by Lyndeborough and Green- field, and on the west by Greenfield and Bennington. It is four miles from the railroad, the nearest depot being that of Greenfield. The north part of the town reaches Antrim depot at a distance of four or five miles. The Manchester and Keene Railroad was chartered and surveyed through Francestown.

The soil of this town is, for the most part, strong and good and somewhat rocky. The southeast part inclines to a sandy loam, easy to cultivate and very productive. The northeast part, with broad ridges and smooth, high fields, sloping southward, presents the comeliest farms.

The two south branches of the Piscataquog River

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rise in this town, being the only streams of much in- portance within its borders. The largest of these is- sues from Pleasant Pond ; the other from Scoby's or Haunted Pond. These two ponds form the chief col- lections of water in the town, Pleasant Pond is in the north part, is narrow and nearly a mile long, and is a placid and beautiful sheet of water. The Haunted Pond is large, circular in form, and situated in the east of the town, near New Boston line.

There is but one elevation of land in Francestown to be dignified by the name of mountain, and that is Crotchet Mountain, having an altitude of six hundred feet above the common in the village. It has two principal summits, one covered with growing wood, the other almost a naked, solid ledge of rocks, from which the prospect is very extensive and charming.

In the east part of Francestown, not far from the point of the first settlement, there is a soapstone quarry that has given the town some note. It is considered the most valuable quarry of its kind in the United States. It has been extensively worked for a long series of years, vast quantities of the stone having been trans- ported to Nashua and there manufactured. The work of the quarry is chiefly done by steam, and is vigor- ously prosecuted at the present time, the stone being removed in large bulk, and at the factory it is made into an untold variety of articles, chiefly stoves, man- tels and fire-places. This quarry has added consid- erably to the wealth of the town.

Francestown has a national bank with a capital of one hundred thousand dollars. President, M. L. Mor- rison ; Cashier, Hon. G. W. Cummings. And also a savings-bank, incorporated 1868. President, Hiram Patch; Cashier, Samuel D. Downes.

The first settled minister in Francestown, as shown by the town records, was Rev. Moses Bradford, or- dained and installed September 8, 1790. A church had been organized as early as 1773, and various calls had been given from time to time, hut none accepted before the above-named date.

Many of the early settlers were Presbyterians, and the town " voted to Settel a minister a Cording to the Presbyterans' rules ;" but they agreed eventually to become a Congregational Church, and this was the only church in town until a very recent date.

Mr. Bradford remained pastor of the church thirty- seven years. His successors were as follows:

Austin Richards, 1827-36; Nathaniel S. Folsom, 1836-38; James R. Davenport, 1839-42; Jonathan McGee, 1843-50; Lothrop Taylor, 1851-57; Charles Cutler, 1857-66; Austin Richards, 1866-70; Charles Seccombe, 1871-73; Henry F. Campbell ; Henry M. Kellog ; and the present pastor, Rev. John A. Rowell, who began service December 17, 1882.

This church recently erected a new and most con- venient house of worship, which was dedicated July 1, 1884, free of debt.

About the time of the close of the pastorate of Rev. Henry F. Campbell, named above, a new church was

organized in town, called "The Independent Congre- gational Church," its members coming partly from the old body and partly from without. This new or- ganization retains the old church edifice, which they have extensively repaired and improved, making a very desirable house of worship. They are now in fellowship with the Unitarian denomination, have a good parsonage and are united and flourishing under the pastoral care of Rev. Joseph Wassall.

Francestown Academy has been for more than eighty years an occasion of pride and honor to the town. The first term was taught in 1801 by Alexander Dustin, a graduate of Dartmouth College in the class of 1799. The town voted, August 25, 1800, to give " permission to School Class No. 3 to maintain their school-house on the common," in which school-house, it is supposed, the academy, then called the High School, had its beginning. It was a low, unpainted, small structure, with only one room and exceedingly rude accommodations, and the thirty pupils that at- tended must have crowded it full.

Among the number this first term was Hon. Levi Woodbury, LL.D., then a boy of eleven years. The school was open only one or two terms each year for a long time, and under various teachers, and with no great success.

The academy was not incorporated till June 24, 1819. About this time the corporation, by gift of in- dividuals in the town, came into possession of the upper story of the "Old Brick Academy," still stand- ing on the east side of the common, and here many prosperous terms of school were kept. Here Dr. Bard, Isaac O. Barnes and others taught, and here Presi- dent Pierce and other distinguished men fitted for col- lege.

In 1841 an old building was moved on to the spot occupied by the present edifice, and fitted up for the better accommodation of the school. Here, under Rev. Horace Herrick and Rev. Harry Brickett, the academy flourished and gained an excellent reputa- tion. The old building, just repaired and occupied to the full, was burned March 27, 1847, and the pres- ent desirable building was built the same year. The academy celebrated its semi-centennial May 6, 1851, at which Hon. Levi Woodbury, a pupil of its first term in 1801, gave the oration, and President Pierce and others made addresses. The old institution is still in a prosperous condition. It has done a great deal for the community. Many of its pupils have come to honor. One President of the United States, two United States Senators, several Congressmen, one major-general and many judges, lawyers, minis- ters, doctors and inventors began their course of study here. The instructors since 1841 have been Rev. Horace Herrick, Rev. Harry Brickett, Professor Henry E. Sawyer, Rev. Sylvanus Hayward, Dr. Martin N. Root, Rev. Charles E. Milliken, Rev. Samuel B. Stewart, Rev. Frank G. Clark, Professor Samuel B. Prescott, Thomas O. Knowlton, Esq., Professor James

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HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

IS. Voce, Professor H. S. Cowell and Professor B. S.] Hard, the present successful incumbent.

Francestown may fairly be credited with a people of greater education and intelligence than most New Hampshire towns, Nearly all its citizens have been, more or less, students, and many graduates of the academy. Hardly a man can be found living here, having been born and brought up in the town, who is not capable of doing any and all town business. The women also are well educated. The long-continued existence of the academy here has tended to elevate the people, and to lead them into superior lines of reading and thinking. Young hearts have been fired with high ambitions all these years. As a con- sequence, a host have gone from this town to fill places of trust all over the land. In oven thousands of places of honor and importance the sons and daugh- lors of Francestown may be found. They have learned to work their way. They can be trusted. Many of more recent years are now silently building up for- tunes and reputations. They will be heard from. They will make their mark on society. They will mould future opinions and characters. But only a few names among these worthy sons of Francestown can be given in this brief sketch of the town,-a sketch made all the more brief because a full and careful history of Francestown is expected to follow at no distant day. Some leading names are these:

Hon. Levi Woodbury, LL.D., born December 22, 1789; graduate of Dartmouth College 1809 ; admitted to the bar 1812 ; first offices held by him, town clerk and chairman of selectmen, Francestown, 1815 ; jurize of Superior Court 1816, at early age of twenty-seven years ; Gov- ernor of the State 1823; Speaker of the House 1825 ; twice United States Senator ; Secretary of The Navy ; Secretary of The Treasury ; and Julgo of the United States Supreme Court, which last position he held at his death, September 7, 1851.

Hon. Samuel D. Bell, LL. D., born in Francestown, October 9, 1798 ; graduate of Harvard 1816; chief justice of New Hampshire ; called " che of the most eminent and profound jurists of New England ; " died in Manchester, July 31, 1868.

Hon James Bell, born in Francestown, November 13, 1804; graduate of Bowdoin College 1822; United States Senator from New Hampshire ; shred at Gilford, N. H., May 26, 1:57.

Boy Inmes T. Woodbury, long settled in Aclon, Mass.

Hon. Titus Brown, member of Congress.

Hon. Judge William Parker.

Dr P. P. Woodbury.

De George II. Bixby and others.

Before the day of railroads Francestown was a place of large business. Other towns came here to trade. From three to five ample stores were in operation. The County Courts were largely held here. The " Second New Hampshire Turnpike" was built through Francestown, and for years a " through stage to Boston," and heavy teams transporting produce, and a great amount of private travel poured through the town.

All this, with the academy, made a lively and pros- perous place. And still, both for situation and char- acter, this is one of the most attractive towns in the State, and all her many scattered sons and daughters look back with just pride on their early home.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

MARK BALCII.

Mark Balch was the son of William and Abigail (Johnson) Balch. William Balch was a native of Fran- cestown, and was by trade a tanner and currier. He spent the first few years of his married life in New Boston, N. H., and then returned to his native town, where he prosecuted his calling and spent the princi- pal part of his business life. He was successful in business, and about thirty years prior to his death he removed to Redding, Mass., where he fitted up a pleasant, comfortable home, and the residue of his days were spent there. He was a much respected citizen and held various offices in church and town.

Mark Balch was born in New Boston, March 30, 1820, and was brought up to his father's trade. Most of his boyhood and youth, however, was spent at school. He fitted for college at the Francestown Academy, an excellent school, and although he never carried into execution his design of attending college, yet the advantages he enjoyed for study were very fair and had been well improved, and he became a very fair scholar, and even after his school-days were ended he continued his studies, and through life was a reading, thoughtful, studious man. After quitting school he engaged in the tanning business with his father for a time, but feeling an inclination for com- mercial pursuits, he went to Manchester in 1860 and engaged in the hardware trade with Mr. John B. Varick. After several years spent in this place he returned to Francestown, and succeded Mr. Paul H. Bixby as cashier in the First National Bank of Francestown. He filled this station up to the year preceding his death, when he retired. During part of this period he was also town-clerk and treasurer.

Ile was married, May 2, 1850, to Laurilla H., daughter of Peter F. and Lucy H. Farnham, of Francestown. Mrs. Balch's ancestors were among the carly colonists of Massachusetts. Her paternal ancestors were from Andover, in that State, and in the maternal line the Deans played an important part in the history of Dedham, Raynham and adjacent towns.

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Balch was not blessed with issue.

Mr. Balch's lungs were never strong, and about two years preceding his demise consumption was devel- oped, which resulted in his death, December 16, 1879.

GEORGE KINGSBURY.

George Kingsbury was the son of Joseph and Silence (Richards) Kingsbury, and grandson of Joseph Kingsbury, who was a native of Dedham, Mass. His ancestors of both the paternal and maternal lines were among the pioneers of that part of Eastern Mas- sachusetts, and played an important part in the de- velopment of that colony. The "Richards Geneal-

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FRANCESTOWN.

ogy " gives a very complete account of the origin and | be it said he gave his children all the advantages he history of that family. Of the Kingsburys we have conld, and was anxious that his sons should attend college. Their tastes, however, did not so incline them. One of his daughters, Harriette Newell, gradu- ated at Mount Holyoke Seminary. not been able to find anthentie data concerning any member earlier than Joseph, thegrandfather of George, except that two brothers of that name came from the north of England to America in the latter part of the seventeenth century, and "joined the Plymonth coloni ,ts." The records are incomplete, but evidently one of these brothers was the ancestor of the Dedham Kingsbury. Joseph Kingsbury, the father of George, cameto Francestown, N. H., when the virgin forest was almost unbroken, and he and his young wife suffered all the privations and hardships incident to pioneer life.

They went resolutely to work, however, to make for themselves a home in the wilderness, and both being industrious, frugal and hopeful, they gradually over- came the difficulties under which they labored, and succeeded in amassing quite a comfortable property for that day, and both lived to see the forest covered hills, among which they had pitched their early abode, converted into fruitful farms and dotted with cheerful homes. Mr. Kingsbury became one of the most successful and substan- tial farmers of his town, and one of its most useful and respected citizens. He built, in after-years, on the site of his early homestead, a substantial brick residence, which is now owned by Mr. Oliver Pettee. They had nine children, six of whom grew up to ma- tnrity, and all but one of whom married. Their names were George, Leonard, Hannah, Joseph, Julitta and John Langdon. Hannah married Stephen Whipple (deceased), of New Boston, and died leaving one son, Joseph K., who is in business in Boston, Mass. Joseph (deceased) married Betsey Everett (deceased) ; they had four children, only two of whom grew up to maturity. Julitta (deceased) married Rev. Almon Benson (de- ceased), of Centre Harbor, N. H .; she died without issue. John 1 .. (deceased) married Abigail Hyde (de- ceased) ; they had six children.

George Kingsbury was born in Francestown, N. H., February 1, 1795. He was brought up on his father's farm, and, like most farmers' sons of that early day, had but limited advantages for an education. His father, while aman of strong, practical common-sense, was an uneducated man, and his life's work had been spent among scenes where brawn and muscle were more requisite than "book-learning;" consequently he was disposed to regard a day spent in study as a day lost. He undervalued the advantages of education, and, as a result, did not afford his children the oppor- tunities he might in that direction. This lack of schooling in his youth was a source of life-long regret to Mr. Kingsbury. His was that cast and calibre of mind that would have utilized and applied to a wor- thy purpose the power which knowledge gives, and while in youth the opportunity for study was denied him, yet throughout the long years of his after-life he was always a reading, studious man, and to his honor

Mr. Kingsbury remained on the home farm till his marriage, which was in his twenty-eighth year. He married, May 7, 1822, Sally, daughter of Eleazer and Lucy (Battelle) Everett, of Francestown. Her parents were also from Dedham, Mass., and were from a sone- what noted family, of which Edward Everett was, perhaps, the most famous member. Her grandparents on the maternal side were Ebenezer and Prudence (Draper) Battelle. On the paternal side she is descended from Richard Everett, who was one of the original founders of Dedham, in 1636. The family have al- ways been, and are yet, a prominent one in the town, and particularly in that part of Dedham now Nor- wood. Mrs. Kingsbury's father was an industrions and prosperous farmer, and did considerable at lum- ber business. When George Kingsbury was married his father purchased a farm near the old homestead, and George took charge of it and resided there about seven years. The old gentleman then sold this place, and George went on another farm belonging to his father, where he remained three years, when he pur- chased a farm of his own near the soapstone quarries, and on this place he remained twenty-six years and reared his family until his youngest child had be- come of age. He then sold his farm to one of his neighbors, and, purchasing a pleasant building site in the village of Francestown, with eleven acres of land attached, he creeted thereon a comfortable and com- modious dwelling, and here his declining years were spent.

He was by nature and habit an energetic and in- dustrious man, and even after the necessity was passed with him for hard labor he could not lay aside the habits of a lifetime, but was continually active in beautifying and improving his home and surroundings up to the time of his death. He was a man who attended strictly to his private business affairs, and had no ambi- tion to hold office or mingle in public affairs. He was, theoretically and practically, an earnest friend of the cause of education. His own children he kept in con- stant attendance at the academy in their native town, and when money was needed for any purpose pertain- ing to the educational interests of the community he was always among the first to respond. For many years, during more than half the latter part of his life, he was an earnest member of the Congregational Church.

He had six children,-

Harriette N., married Sylvanus Jewett, a Presby- terian clergyman, and had one daughter, Hattie Newell, who only lived to be four years old.

George, married Betsey A. Hyde, of Francestown ; resides about two miles from the village, and is a prosperous farmer. They have three children,-George

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HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Albert, married Sadie M. Heald, and is now manu- facturing ice in De Land, Fla .; Warren, married Ella A. Wagner (they have one child living; they re- side in Duquoin, Ill., where he is in trade); Henry 1 .. , a building contractor, married Nellie H. Stevenson (they have one child, and reside in De Land, Fla).

Sarah E., resides at home with her widowed mother. Hannah F., died in infancy.

Caroline HI., now the widow of H. F. Blakeslee, of Illinois; he was a machinist, and his son George has followed in the same occupation. She has four chil- dren, -three sons and one daughter. Their children were George, married Mary R. Holt (has three children and resides in Duquoin, 111.); Mary E., their daughter, married John L. Holmes (he is in trade in Chicago, and hasone son) ; Frank A., another son, is in school ; and Willie Everett, the youngest, lives at present with his mother in Duquoin, III.

Mark Justin, the youngest of the children, enlisted in the Fourth Illinois Cavalry, United States Volun- trers, September 5, 1861, and served through the war,

participating in numerous engagements, among others, Shiloh, Fort Donelson and Fort Henry. He was mustered out in 1864, and afterwards became pur- ser on the United States transport steamer " Colonel Cowles," and died while in this employ, April 12, 1865. He was an heroic soldier, a true and devoted son and an intelligent, cultivated man. When in the service he always refused a furlough, on the principle that married men who had wives and children to look after should receive whatever favors of that kind there were to be granted. His early death was a severe blow to his aged parents. His remains rest on Dauphin Is- land, Mobile Bay. George, the elder brother, was also a soldier in the War of the Rebellion. He enlisted in the Eighteenth New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry, September 27, 1864, was in the siege of Petersburg, etc., and served until mustered out at the close of the war.

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History of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, Part 73

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