USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Manchester > History of Manchester, formerly Derryfield, in New-Hampshire : including that of ancient Amoskeag, or the middle Merrimack Valley, together with the address, poem, and other proceedings of the centennial celebration of the incorporation of Derryfield at Manchester, October 22, 1851 > Part 59
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552
THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
capital of $1,600,000. The first meeting of the grantees was holden, July, 13, 1831, when Oliver Dean was chosen Presi- dent, and Ira Gay, clerk.
The act of incorporation was accepted ; the stock of the old company became merged in the new one, at an appraised value, and the remainder of the stock was taken up in a short time At the annual meeting, July,, 12, 1832, Doctor Dean was chosen Agent of the Company. They soon determined to enlarge their operations and to take means to have their water.power occupied.
The plan of this Company was to furnish other companies disposed to locate here, with sites for their mills, and boarding houses ; power to propel their mills; to erect mills and run them upon their own account ; and at the same time to put their lands into market in lots for houses, shops and stores, and thus build up a manufacturing town, at the same time that they greatly enhanced the value of their own property.
A reconnoisance by competent engineers developed the fact, that the east bank of the Merrimack was the most feasible for their operations, both as a track for their canals, and a site for their mills ; and in 1835 they succeeded in securing the most of the lands upon the east side of the Merrimack, that by any possible contingency might be necessary for them.
WILLARD SAYLES, ESQ.
Willard Sayles was born in the town of Franklin, County of Norfolk, Mass., in April, 1792. While yet a child his father moved to Wrentham, Mass. In 1821, Mr. Sayles moved to Boston, and entered upon commercial pursuits in company with Lyman Tiffany, Esq. They soon became extensively engag- ed in manufacturing. His first investments in manufacturing, were in Medway and Walpole, Mass. At length as his busi- ness extended, he became connected with other establishments, and among them, with the mills at Amoskeag and at Hooksett. In the latter he became the largest owner, having at the time of its being merged with the Amoskeag Manufacturing Com- pany in 1835, 24 out of 72 shares in that corporation. From this time until the time of his death, Mr. Sayles became large- ly identified with the operations of the companies in this place. He was a director in the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company and one of the committee to purchase the lands belonging to that company in this neighborhood. Shrewd in management, and of great tact in driving a bargain, it is probable that few persons could have done the business to better advantage for the Amoskeag Manufacturing company, than he. Many anec-
553
UNION OF COMPANIES.
dotes are told of his negotiating for the lands, that show his shrewdness in bargaining, if they do not add to his reputation as a man. His operations as manufacturer added to his busi- ness as a merchant, and few houses in Boston did a more ex- tensive business in domestics, than that of Sayles & Merriam, or to greater advantage. Mr. Sayles died in 1847, at the age of 55, leaving a large property, gained by a life of energy and enterprise.
To prevent competition, negotiations were entered into to control the water power here, at Hookset, and at Garven's falls in Concord. At the meeting July, 8, 1835, Harvey Hartshorn was chosen Agent, and the project was consummated of merging the stock of the Hooksett company with that of the Amos- keag. The stock of the Hooksett company was thus owned ;
John Nesmith, 18 shares ; Willard Sayles, 24 ; Isaac Hill, 10 ; R. H. Aver, 10 ; Foster Towns, 4; Samuel Bell, 4 ; and Thomas Nesmith, 2.
These 72 shares were appraised at $400, per share and each holder had an equal number of shares in the Amoskeag Manu- facturing Company, at $1000 per share, paying for the differ- ence, in cash or notes bearing interest. In October and De- cember of the same year, they purchased a controlling interest in the locks and canals, both at Manchester and Hooksett, and in April 1836 completed the negotiation with the Concord Manu- facturing Company, at Garven's Falls, whereby the stock of that company became merged with this,-the stock of the Concord company, appraised at $100,000 and the owners tak- ing stock in the Amoskeag Company at $1000 per share.
Thus rid of competition, the Company now commenced oper- ations in earnest. In 1837, a wing dam and guard lock were constructed at the head of the Falls, of substantial masonry, the latter, a little below the entrance of "the Blodget Canal," and through which the water passes into an extensive Basin, also constructed that year, the west side of which, is of solid mason work, and which Basin occupies very nearly the site of the old Blodget basin, or mill pond. From this Basin a canal was constructed 10 feet in depth, and 75 feet wide at the Basin but narrowing to 45 feet, which canal carries water to the mills on the "Upper Level." This canal is walled with stone, laid in the most substantial manner, and now extends a distance of 5000 feet, from the Basin to the weir, where the water passes into the lower canal.
The guard lock was built by Messrs. David A. Bunton ,and Levi Sargent of this city. The weir, wall of the Basin, and
554
THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
canal, was built by Messrs. Lobson and Russel, under the super- intendence of Capt. Hiram Brown. The part of the canal built at this time, extended down as far as a point just below the Counting room of the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company. The surplus water from it then passed into a section of the lower canal, then built from the point west of where the upper canal stopped, to a point just below Bridge street, and near to the black- smiths shop connected with the machine shop, where the water passed into the river, by a substantial stone weir. This weir was closed when the lower canal was extended as at present. In 1845 the upper canal was extended to its present terminus, a distance of 5000 feet from the Basin. At the same time the lower canal was extended south to its present terminus, the weir below Granite street, and north over the track of the Blodget canal to the Basin, its whole length being 7250.
The upper section of this canal connects with the Merri- mack near the site of the old "Amoskeag" or "McGregor Bridge" by a set of substantial Locks, for the passing of boats or rafts round Amoskeag Falls, the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company, having been under obligation to keep these locks and canals open for public use, in like manner as when they were owned by the Amoskeag Falls, Lock, and Canal Com- pany ; but at the June session of 1855, permission was given to discontinue these locks, and they are to be closed. The water in passing from the upper, to the lower canal, falls 20 feet and in passing from the Lower Canal, into the Merrimack at the weir, falls a distance of 34 feet,
In April, 1837, William Amory, Esq., of Boston was elect- ed Treasurer, in place of Mr. Lowell, and at once in con- junction with Mr. Robert Read, who had been appointed Agent at the commencement of the year, in place of Mr. Hartshorn, proceeded to carry out the plan of improvements decided upon by the directors.
WILLIAM AMORY, ESQ.
William Amory, was born April 15, 1804, in Boston. His father, Thomas C. Amory, Esq., an eminent merchant of that city, died in 1812, much lamented. William his son, entered Harvard University, in 1819, at the early age of 15 years, and left at the end of three years to finish his education in Europe. He was a student at the University at Gottingen, in Germany, for a year and a half, and at the University of Berlin, for nine months, pursuing the study of the civil law, and of general literature. He then spent some two years and a half in travel,
555
WILLIAM ARMORY, ESQ.
returning to Boston May, 30th, 1828, after an absence of five years. In 1831, he entered the Bar of Suffolk County, with- out however any intention of practicing the profession of the law. The same year he was chosen Treasurer of the Jackson Manufacturing Company, at Nashua, and entered upon the bus- iness of a manufacturer. Young and inexperienced in the bus- iness, yet he brought to the performance of his duties a mind matured by study, and a knowledge of men and things, togeth- er with an energy and enterprise not often found in young men nurtured in ease and affluence. With such qualifications, he was destined to succeed, and the Jackson Mills, for the eleven years they were under the control of Mr. Amory, were eminent- ly successful, and did not fail to make certain and large divi- dends. In January, 1833, he married Miss Anna P. G. Sears, daughter of David Sears, Esq., an eminent merchant of Bos- ton. In 1837, when the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company had decided upon building up the manufacturing city of Man- chester, they looked about for an efficient man, to take the re- sponsible office of Treasurer, and of course of general mana- ger of the affairs of the company. Mr. Amory's success in the management of the affairs of the Jackson Company, very nat- urally directed their attention to him, and fortunately for them, and our city, he was elected to that office and accepted it. He entered upon his duties at once, and for nineteen years has been the controlling and directing spirit, that has fashioned the destinies of our city. Of just and enlarged views, he has suf- fered no niggardly policy to mingle itself with the manage- ment of the affairs of the company. And the directors have had the good judgment to leave his action unrestricted. And to day, our citizens, who take pride in our public Library, in our beautiful cemetery, in our spacious streets, in our numerous and splendid public squares, so justly considered as ornaments, and a source of health to our city, may attribute them in a great measure to the enlightened policy of William Amory, Esq ; while the corporation whose business affairs he controls, cannot but appreciate a policy, that is fast building up a manu- facturing city, unsurpassed in beauty, at the same time that it is creating a stock, that in dividends and surplus, is the most de- sirable in the market.
Mr. Amory is a stockholder and director in most of the oth- er corporations of the city, and has had much to do with their success. In fact, few men of his age can look back upon such a record of success in manufacturing, as the Treasurer of the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company. At the same time that
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556
THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
he has been so successful in his manufacturing operations, his urbane manner, and quiet, and unostentatious courtesy, has not failed to secure to him, the respect and regard of a host of friends in the cities where his arduous duties have been per- formed.
COL. ROBERT READ.
Robert Read was born at Amherst, in October 1786. His grandfather, Robert Read, moved to Amherst from Litchfield at an early date. His father William Read, was a well known and influential citizen of Amherst. Robert was apprenticed as clerk, with Messrs. Haller and Read, merchants of Chelmsford. He afterwards went into trade with his father, at Amherst, un- der the well known firm of William Read and Son. Subsequent- ly, he formed a connection in business with Isaac Spaulding, Esq., which continued until a dissolution precedent to the com- mencement of manufacturing in Nashua,-where Mr. Spauld- ing removed and went into business. Few firms were more enterprising or better known in our state, than that of Read and Spaulding, of Amherst, and very few were more suc- cessful. Mr. Read, active and enterprising, soon became a leading man in the town. He was elected town clerk in 1815, and was re-elected to the same office, the twelve following years. He was also representative of the town for three years, viz ; in 1826, 1827, and 1828. Prior to this time he had been in command of the West Company of Infantry, in Amherst, one of the most efficient companies in the state, he having served in all the intermediate grades from private to commander. In 1828, Capt. Read, was appointed Aid-de-camp, by Govern- or John Bell, with the rank of Colonel. In 1835, Col. Read, moved to Nashua. In 1837, he was appointed Agent of the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company, and entered immediately upon his duties, succeeding Mr. Hartshorn in that office. He continued to perform the arduous and responsible duties of his office for fourteen years, until Januury, 1, 1852, when he re- signed and removed to Nashua, where he has since resided. During the period of his agency, and under his general super- vision, a large portion of the operations of the Amoskeag Man- ufacturing Company, in the way of buildings and real estate generally, were completed.
He performed his duties faithfully to the company by which he was employed, as every one will testify who had business
557
SALE OF LAND.
to transact with him. Strictly a business man, he mingled very little with other than business men, and hence was very little identified with interests disconnected with the corporations ; yet no measure connected with the progress of our city, escap- ed his attention, and he most heartily coincided in all that lib- eral course of policy on the part of the Treasurer, and Direc- tors, that has added so much of beauty and value to our city. Col. Read took very little part in the politics of the day, after he came to Manchester, still, in 1851, he was a member of the Convention for the revision of the Constitution. His first wife was Miss Rebecca French, daughter of Frederick French, Esq. of Amherst. He married for his second wife, Miss Jane Le- land of Saco, Me. His intercourse with his fellow citizens, was marked with that courtesy of manner, that ever com- mands respect. Since his residence in Nashua, probably from want of his usual active exercise, his general health has be- come somewhat impaired, yet he still lives to take an interest in all the stirring events of our growing city.
In 1838, a new Company was incorporated for the manufac- ture of cotton, under the name and style of the "The Stark Mills" with a capital of $1,000,000.
The same year the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company erected for them the mill of 8000 spindles, upon the upper canal, it being the south wing of what is known as "Stark Mills, No. 1." They also erected for them the same season, six blocks of boarding houses, for the accommodation of their operatives.
Meantime, they laid out the site of a town, consisting of a main street running about north and south, and parallel with the river, called Elm street ; and various other streets, running parallel and at right angles to the same, together with Concord and Merrimack squares reserved for public promenades. After Elm street had been graded from Central street to Lowell street ; Chestnut and Pine streets from Manchester street to Lowell street, the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company held their first public land sale. This sale took place October, 24, 1838.
There were 147 lots sold, situated between Elm street on the west, and Union street (not graded) on the east ; Lowell :street on the north, and Hanover street on the south. The lots were numbered from the corner lot at the intersection of Lowell and Union streets, and there were 56 lots between Lowell and 40
558
THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
Concord streets. The lots numbered from 57 to 96 inclusive, located between Concord and Amherst streets, and those from 97 to 147 inclusive, were located between Amherst and Hano- ver streets.
Soon after the "Company's Sale," building commenced in earnest and has continued with a rapidity seldom known in this country, noted for the rapid growth of its towns and cities. Mrs Anna Heyes, of Londonderry, in January, 1839, erected the first house that was built on private account, upon lands sold by the Company in what is called the city proper, being the the house at the west corner of Chestnut and Concord streets, opposite Concord square.
The next building was erected on lots 50 and 51 upon Elm street, by J. T. P. Hunt, and Wm. P. Farmer, Esqrs. It was two stories in height, and is the block now owned by R. H. A. Barnes.
This building was first occupied as a restaurant as early as March 26, 1839, by E. W. Harrington, Esq., the cashier of the City Bank,-who first occupied, for the same purpose, the first building built on the west side of Elm street, that of Messrs. Ayer, Leach, and others, at the corner of Elm and Market streets.
Thomas Hoyt, Isaac Riddle and J. G. Cilley, Esqrs., next built on lots 53, 54 and 55, and J. W. Mayo, upon lot 52. All are still standing.
These were all wooden buildings of two stories,-and were intended for stores upon the first floors, and tenements upon the second floors.
Messrs. Plummer and Goodwin purchased a meeting house in Goffstown, took it down and erected it upon lots 95 and 96. This was a wooden building of three stories in height, and is now known as the "Ark." George Porter, Esq., pur- chased a store at Hooksett and erected it upon lot 94. This was known as the "Porter store," and is now owned by John H. Maynard, Esq. Samuel D. Bell, Esq., then erected the block upon lots 48 and 49 upon the same street, the same now owned by S. N. Bell, Esq.
Farther down Elm street, E. P. Offutt, Esq. erected upon lots 88 and 89, the large wooden building, now known as "Offutt's Building," and the Messrs. Duncklees erected the brick build- ing known as "Duncklee's Building," and is still owned by them. Still farther down Elm street, Foster Towne, Esq ..
559
PRIVATE BUILDINGS IN 1829.
built the "Towne Block," upon lots 137 and 138, and Mrs. Shepherd, and Mr. Durgin built a block on lots 139 and 140- both of wood and two stories in height. Next below, J. R. Page built the brick store of two stories, now owned by W. G. Means, Esq. Then on lots 143 and 144, Messrs. Munsey & Mahaffey, built a wooden block of two stories, and Ira Ballou, & Hoyt & Congdon, built a brick block at the corner of Elm and Hanover streets, a part of which is now standing, and a part where "Riddle's Block" now stands, was burned.
Upon Concord street, Dr. Colburn erected a block upon lots 42, 43 and 44, and Dana Sargent, and Jonas L. Parker built a carpenter's shop upon lot No. 40 ; Foster Towne, Esq. built another large house upon lots 22 and 23. These were two stories and built of wood ; east of Pine on lot No. 5, there was also a wooden house of one story. These were on the north side of Concord street. On the south side, Messrs. Patten and Wallace, erected the wooden block of three stories, still owned by Mr. Wallace. Upon Vine street the Wallace Block occupied lots 73 and 74; a Mr. McCoy built a story and a half wooden house on lot 76 ; Mr. Asa Reed built a two stor ; house on lot 79 ; a Mr. Wallace built another on lot 80, and at the corner of Vin. and Amherst street, on lot 84, Dea. Daniel Gooden built the two story brick block still standing. Upon Pine street Messrs. Moor, and Davis, of Chester, built a two story dwelling house of wood on lots 71 and 72 at the corner of Pine and Amherst streets, and on the east end of lot 71, they built a small one story house, both still standing, and owned by Cilley & Clark. Next north on lot No. 70, Mr. John Wheeler built a a two story house, still standing.
Upon Amherst street, Messrs. Woodbury and Gould of Goffs- town built the two story wooden block on lots 100, and 101, at the corner of Pine and Amherst streets On lot 102, Mr. Saunders built the one now owned by Mr. Hibbard Stevens ; on 106, Mr. Joseph Prescott buil the house stil owned by him ; on 108 a Mr. James built a two story house, and upon 109, J N. Brown built a one story building and a painter's shop. Farther down Amherst street, and at the corner of Chestnut, on lots 115 and 116, Dr. Swift built the two story house now owned by Judge Bell; on 117 Michael Connelly built a small house since enlarged and owned by Mr. William Craig ; on 119 was built Franklin Hall by T. J. Carter ; on 120, was a small one story building ; on 122 Mr. J. L. Bradford built the two story house still owned by him; on 126 and 127, on the south end of the lots, upon the old road leading to Amoskeag Bridge,
560
THE HISTORY OF MANCHESTER.
Messrs J. T. P. Hunt, and Wm. P. Farmer, built a one story dwelling house now owned by Mrs. Brown, and standing upon Amherst street ; on 130 which crossed the old road, Isaac Rid- dle, Esq., built two one story buildings, one on either side of the old road ; and on 131, Mace Moulton, Esq., built another one story building upon the same old road.
On the opposite corner, was Washington Hall, built by J. B. Goodwin, two stories, extending from the back street to the brick block. A third story was added to the western part and the whole finished into tenements.
Upon Hanover street, Major Hiram Brown, built his present house upon lot 97; on 98 Governor Samuel Bell built the dwelling house now known as the "Gov. Bell House ;" on 99 the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company built the house for the Agent of the Stark Mills, now occupied by Phinehas Adams ; on 112 was a story and a half wooden shop; on 113, D. A. Bunton, built the two story house owned by E. W. Harrington ; on 134, the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company built the house now owned by Charles Richardson, Esq. ; and on Lot 135, the First Congregational Society built the Hanover Street Church.
These buildings thus particularly described were built in 1839 ; and at the close of that year, there were no other build- ings upon the lands sold by the company, save those west of Elm street connected with the corporations, and certain old houses belonging to the farms or lots purchased by the com- pany. Of these there were standing in the present thick settled and business parts of the city but six houses ; one known as the "Philip Stevens house," nearly upon the site up- on which is now the Company's house, between Mechanic and Water streets, occupied by Cyrus W. Baldwin and A. M. Cha- .pin, Esqrs. ; which house was moved upon Bridge street opposite Tremont Square, and a second story added to it by Mr. Charles Clough, by whom it is now owned ; a second house known as the "Gamble House" which atood near the east end of the old Amoskeag Bridge, upon the old river road, just south of its junction with the Derry road, and which was moved upon North Chestnut street, and now belongs to the heirs of the late J. B. Congdon ; two small houses near the Gamble house one north and the other south of it, and both upon the old river road, the one north of the Gamble house having been burned a few years since, and the one south of it having been moved upon the corner of Lowell and Chestnut streets, and owned by Mr. Jacob Peavy ; a fifth house, situated upon what is now called Orange street, a little west of north Chestnut street, be-
RESIDENCE OF PHINEHAS ADAMS, ESQ.
RESIDENCE OF MAJ. H. BROWN.
561
IMPROVEMENTS IN 1839 AND 1840.
longing to the heirs of the late Samuel P. Kidder, and torn down when Orange street was graded ; and a sixth house known as the "Barrett House" which stood on Granite street, just op- posite the Freight Depot of the Concord Railroad, and which now stands at the corner of Granite and Union streets.
In 1839, the Amoskeag Manufacturing company built for the Stark Mills a second Mill of 8000 spindles, a short distance north of their first Mill, known as the north wing of "Stark Mills No. 1." The machinery for the first Mill was built in Lowell, and for the second one in Springfield.
The Amoskeag Manufacturing Company still continued their improvements upon an extensive scale, according to their origi- nal plan, and to meet the demand for machinery, in 1840, they erected their Machine Shop, upon a section of the lower Canal.
The Machine Shop was put in operation with the intention of furnishing the machinery for the mills, to be erected in this place, as well as to answer orders from abroad. In 1841, the Amoskeag Company built two mills known as "Nos. 1 and 2 Amoskeag New Mills." These mills were each 5 stories, 166 feet in length, by 50 feet in width. No. 1, contains 8,960 spindles, and 234 looms ; and No. 2, contains 8832 spindles, and 250 looms.
In 1842, they built a Foundry, and in 1848, built the "New Foundry," larger and upon improved principles. 'The same year they built a Grist and Saw Mill upon a privilege opposite the "Fishing Islands," a few rods below the site of the Whit- taker Saw-Mill.
In 1843, the Stark Mills having determined to enlarge their establishment, the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company put in for them a centre piece, connecting their two former mills, con- sisting of a front of 100 feet, of four stories, with a pedi- ment end, surmounted with a cupola ; forming with the two former mills, one entire building in the form of a cross ; and in 1848, another large class mill was added, known as "No. 2, Stark Mills."
In 1843 and 4, the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company built another new mill, known as "No. 3, Amoskeag New Mill" ca- pable of containing 20,475 spindles and 545 looms ; 5 stories in height, and 444 feet in length, by 65 feet in width. This is operated on their own account.
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