History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire, Part 101

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia [Pa.] J. W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1520

USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire > Part 101
USA > New Hampshire > Belknap County > History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire > Part 101

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A list of his life-long friends and associates will best convey a proper idea of the appreciation and es- timation in which he was held by those intimate with him. In addition to the distinguished men already mentioned, the late Theodore H. Sweetser may be in- stanced, who, in his day, had no superior at the Massa- chusetts bar. Mr. Sweetser's face was wont to be lighted up with a glow of pleasure whenever Captain George was a visitor at his office. He would listen

with delight while the captain indulged in his bril- liant arrow-flights of comment on current men and events, if he happened to be in one of his effervescent moods, which, indeed, constituted his normal mental state.

Richard S. Spofford, of Newburyport, himself also a man of brilliant intellect, and therefore well quali- fied to appreciate intellectual brilliancy in his associ- ates, cherishes the memory of his whilom friend, Cap- tain George, with peculiar tenacity and warmth of recollection and regard.

Among his intimate friends still living, whose youthful recollections of Captain George are cher- ished with special tenacity, the names of Charles Levi Woodbury, of Boston, Sidney Webster, of New York, and Daniel S. Richardson, of Lowell,-all representative men of marked capacity,-should not be omitted.

Among his friends and associates, who, like himself, have departed to that "still country whither all are bound," may be mentioned Charles H. Peaslee, mem- ber of Congress, and Ira Perley, chief justice, of New Hampshire ; James S. Whitney, remarkable for his political as well as business capacity ; the genial and witty Isaac O. Barnes, whose intimacy with Captain George left a doubt in the minds of their personal friends which excelled in brilliancy of conversational powers; Tappan Wentworth, prominent as a lawyer and member of Congress; and Fisher A. Hildreth, the cool, philosophic politician,-all of Massachu- setts.

Captain George's life covered a period of only fifty- seven years, but it was a most eventful one in the history of the country. He was born in the adminis- tration of Thomas Jefferson, and died during that of Abraham Lincoln. When he reached his majority John Quincy Adams was in the White House. Mean- time in his childhood had occurred the War of 1812 with Great Britain. He began to take personal in- terest in political affairs during the administrations of Jackson and Van Buren ; but during the administra- tion of John Tyler he was himself a power in federal politics. He lived to see the agitation of the slavery question culminate in a gigantic civil war, near the close of which he ended his career. The United States, as it was in the early part of his life, is now a tradition; for what may be called the better and purer as well as the younger days of the great repub- lic were over in 1845. We are as a nation unspeaka- bly greater, richer and more populous and powerful than we then were; but greatness of wealth and power is by no means synonymous with popular hap- piness and national honor.

HON. WALTER SCOTT DAVIS.1

Captain Francis (+) Davis, "The Pioneer," was born in Amesbury, Mass., October 26, 1723. He was

1 By Colonel L. W. Cogswell.

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the son of Francis (3) and Joanna Davis, who was the son of Francis (2), who was the son of Philip (1), who, when a lad of twelve years of age, sailed from Southampton, England, for New England, April 24, 1638, in the ship "Confidence," of London, Eng., John Jobson, master, as servant of John Binson, of Caversham, Oxfordshire, Eng., husbandman,

Francis (2) Davis took the oath of allegiance and fidelity at Amesbury December 20, 1677.

Captain Francis (4) Davis married Elizabeth, daughter of Jonathan and Sarah Ferrin, who was born February 20, 1724, and their children were Gertrude, born December 22, 1746; Zebulon, born June 2, 1748; Jeremiah, born October 22, 1751; Wells, born March 22, 1753; Ichabod, born February 21, 1755; Francis, born May 27, 1757; Elizabeth, born February 1, 1759; Aquila, June 27, 1760 ; Paine, born March 28, 1762; Nathan, born November 9, 1764; all born in Amesbury, Mass. Captain Francis (+) came to Warner amongst the earliest settlers, and loca- ted at what is now known as Davisville, and was the foremost man in that town from the time of his arrival to the time of his death. His name appears upon al- most every page of Warner's history from 1768 until 1785, being prominent in all town affairs, in church matters, and in all industrial, mechanical, milling and landed interests. He was the foremost military man of the town, his commission as captain of the militia being dated A.D. 1773, and signed by John Wentworth. He had three sons in the Revolution, two of whom were at Bunker Hill.

He was a man of the strictest integrity, and pos- sessed the confidence of his fellow-townsmen in a re- markable degree. His was the first grist-mill in the township. He was one of the committee to secure the incorporation of the town, which was incorporated in September, 1774, and assisted in the division of the lots of the township, and was chairman of the Com- mittee of Safety in 1775. In Harriman's " History of Warner " is this paragraph : " In this first legislative body, chosen by the suffrages of a free people, Francis Davis appears the accredited representative of the town of Warner. It is a distinction and an honor to be remembered with pride by his numerous descend- ants."

Captain Davis was at this time in the vigor of his manhood, being fifty-three years of age. The Legis- lature was composed of men of rare ability, John Langdon being Speaker of the Assembly, and Me- shech Weare president of the Council. In 1781 he was chosen delegate to the Constitutional Convention which framed the Constitution which was in force, with slight amendments, until 1878, a period of nine- ty-four years. He was chosen representative the last time in 1784, and served in two sessions in that Leg- islature, one at Concord in June, the other at Ports- mouth the October following, and whilst on his way home from this session he lost his life, which date was November 26, 1784. A heavy rain-storm had swollen

Beaver Brook, in Derry, so much that the bridge, which was safe at nightfall, had been swept away when he arrived, later in the evening The horse which he rode plunged into the stream, and Mr. Davis was drowned. When the body was found, several days later, a mark on the temple showed that the horse had struck him with his foot while strug- gling in the water ; otherwise he would undoubtedly have swam ashore, as he was an expert swimmer. He was buried at Davisville, and just one hundred years after his death a monument was erected at his grave, bearing this inscription, "Captain Francis Davis, the Pioneer, and Warner's First Representative. Born Oct. 26, 1723; Died Nov. 26, 1784." This monument was erected by some of his great-grandchildren, prin- cipally by Walter Scott Davis and his uncle, Charles Davis, who, in the summer of 1883, agreed to erect it upon the one hundredth anniversary of his death. Charles died suddenly before the work was begun, but at his funeral his heirs agreed that the work should be done, which was finished agreeably to the original design.

Captain Francis Davis had five sons, amongst whom was Aquila (5), who was born in Amesbury, Mass., June 27, 1760, and came to Warner with his father. He enlisted as a soldier of the Revolution at the age of seventeen years, and saw much hard service, being present at the surrender of Burgoyne, and was honorably discharged May 10, 1780. After the Rev- olution he took au active part in the State militia, commanding the Thirtieth Regiment from 1799 to 1807, and was brigadier-general of the Fourth Brigade from 1807 to 1809, and in 1812 raised the first regiment of men for one year enlisted in the State, of which regi- ment he was chosen colonel. He was a man of sound judgment and of marked ability, and was often chosen a representative from his town. He resided in the homestead built by his father, his new brick residence not being completed at the time of his death, which occurred Feburary 27, 1835, while on a journey to Sharon, Me., where he had large landed interests. He was buried at Davisville with Masonic honors.

His wife was Abigail Stevens, daughter of Theodore and Abigail (Watts) Stevens, of Concord. Abigail Watts was a cousin of the celebrated Dr. Isaac Watts, and the general's wife possessed and exemplified the Christian virtues to a degree that would have done honor to her celebrated relative. Sally Watts, a sister of Abigail, lived many years and died at the general's. A brother, John Watts, was killed in the Revolution.

The general's children were Paine, born 1786, died 1822; Sarah A. (married a Virgin), born 1788, died 1822; Abigail W. (married a Davis), born 1790, died 1869; Theodore S., born 1792, died 1835; Nathaniel A., born 1794, died 1866 ; Persis H. (married a Cur- rier), born 1796, died 1841; Nathan, born 1799, died 1841; female child, born and died 1801; Charles, born 1803, died 1883; Aquila, born 1806, died 1866; James, born 1809, died 1842.

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Nathaniel (6) A., married Mary Clough, of Bos- cawen, and their children were Stephen C. and Lucretia A., born 1830; Walter (7) Scott, born 1834; Gilman, born 1836; Lucretia A., born 1842; Mary E., born 1844; Stillman C., born 1846; Henry C., born 1850. Lucretia, (1) died in 1840, and Gilman who was killed in California in 1883; the others survive.

Nathaniel A. was of a roving disposition in his earlier years, and having learned the trade of a silver- smith, he made a tour of the United States, working at his trade in the largest cities, making gold beads and silver spoons. Passing through Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama and Louisiana, as far as New Orleans, he retraced his steps to Mobile, and then turned northward and remained some time at Nash- ville, and whilst at work at the forge at this place he was attacked by a drunken half-breed Indian, and only saved his life by using in his defence a heated har of silver. He was at Louisville and Cincinnati several years, and then returned, in 1824, to his native town, and engaged in the lumbering business. After the death of his father the mills owned by him were distributed amongst his sons, and Nathaniel, with his brother James, became owners of the saw-mill.

Amongst the most interesting and important sub- jects which the historian in New Hampshire is called upon to investigate and chronicle is the early occu- pation, later development aud improvement of the numerous water-powers contained within the borders of the State.

Though not the greatest, yet, in some respects, as remarkable, perhaps, as any in the county, is the water-power at Davisville. The use, occupation and ownership of this power has been in the uninterrupted possession of the Davis family for one hundred and twenty years, although portions of the property have at times been in the hands of other parties; at the present time, and for several years past, the whole falls have been in the possession of this family. Among the earliest industries at these falls were the saw-mill erected by Francis Davis in 1763, a grist- mill built by him in 1768, a clothing-mill built by Moses Carleton in 1796, afterwards occupied by Nicholas Fowler, and carried away by the August freshet of 1826. An iron foundry was also carried away at the same time, and other property destroyed by that rise of water were the bridge and the black- smith-shop, and the lower dam, built by Charles and one other son of General Davis. There was also a mill for grinding lead, a plaster-mill, a brick-yard and a tannery near by. A woolen-mill was contem- plated at one time at the eddy ; a dam was built and a canal 'partly dug, but upon the death of the gene- ral the scheme was abandoned. The grist-mill was rebuilt, together with the old house erected by Cap- tain Francis before the Revolution, making it a tavern. James died before the work was completed, and Nathaniel took the whole and carried on the work to completion.

The grist-mill was a model for the times, and its reputation for making good flour was widespread.

The saw-mill was sold to Samuel H. Dow, who operated it extensively for several years, and sold it to Daniel Milton, who operated it several years as a custom mill, and finally disposed of it to the Messrs. Davis. The grist-mill was sold to Henry C. Carter for a paper-mill, who operated it as such until it was burned, in 1869.

Nathaniel A. Davis was of a judicial mind, and made the laws of the State a practical study, and no man ever enjoyed the confidence of a community for honesty and good judgment to a fuller extent than he. As an administrator of estates, a justice in petty trial cases, a conveyancer and drawer of legal documents, a guardian of minors and un- fortunates, and an adviser in legal proceedings, espe- cially of the estates of deceased persons, he was largely sought. His inherent love of justice, and belief in the equality of all men before the law, were so outraged by the barbarisms of slavery which he had observed in his travels through the South, that he became a pronounced Free-Soiler and consistent Abolitionist. His sympathy for the oppressed rendered more substantial aid than cold sentimentalism would offer, and to him the consummation of the age was the proclamation of Abraham Lincoln of January 1, 1863. He moved from the Fowler house to the old homestead of his ancestors in 1843, and died there October 24, 1866, from the effects of a fall from a pile of lumber, which dislocated his neck. His widow survives and lives on the old place.

The subject of this sketch, Walter Scott Davis, was born in Warner July 29, 1834. In his early boyhood days he was a lad of prominence amongst his associ- ates, full of life and good humor, and became a leader in all boyish sports,-roguish in the extreme, without any thought of malice, yet doing many things that subjected him to a free application of the birch from his ever-faithful parents; but the inbred generosity and honesty of his heart never suffered the punish- ment to rancor in his bosom for a moment, and the justice of his father's puuishment was never ques- tioned by him. Born and reared in close proximity to the river, it was natural that he should be in the water about as much as out of it, to the constant ter- ror of his mother's life, who often followed him with unremitting vigilance in his aquatic sports, securing his clothes at one time and marching him home with- out them, amidst the jeers of his comrades.

When four years of age a circumstance happened that came near proving the fallacy of the adage "that a Davis could not be drowned." The saw-mill had been rebuilt, and a plank was laid to pass from it to the shingle-mill, directly over the flume. Making an excuse to get some oven-wood for his mother, he passed his Uncle Nathan, who was at work on the front of the mill, and crossing the plank, was unseen by him. Shortly after, the uncle hearing a splash in

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the water, went below to see what produced it. Seeing nothing, he returned to his work ; but, feeling uneasy, went down again, and was just in time to see the boy fast sinking out of sight, and was undoubtedly sink- ing for the last time when rescued; and when taken to his home, his mother, to show that her word must be obeyed, as he had already been in the river once that morning, and was promised a whipping if he ven- tured in again, kept her promise, though it seemed quite hard on the lad who had come so near drowning; but he never laid it away in his little heart, but loved his mother all the more for her watchful care over him.

His inventive genius began to develop at a very early age, mending his mother's dust-pan with a piece sawed from the handle of the barn shovel, for which act another punishment was his. He was strong, robust and healthy, though tall and slim, and was proof against the usnal epidemics so prevalent amongst children, never having them at all; or, if at all, in so slight degree as never to be noticed. In his youth he was a good scholar; not studious, be- cause his mind readily retained the lessons set before him, so that he did not require so much study, but was always ready to do his part, mindful of the dis- cipline, assisted in this to a large degree, perhaps, by the admonition of his father as to what would take place at home if he was punished at school ; for he knew exactly what his father meant, for with "Squire Nat" his word was sufficient, as all knew who knew him. His father being extensively en- gaged in milling and lumber business, his sons were not kept steadily at work, but were brought up under as perfect an example of honesty, fidelity and justice as was ever set by a father to a family of children, and not the least prevarication or dishonesty was al- lowed, and although no ceremonial forins of religion were inculcated, yet the cardinal virtues of Christi- anity were rigidly adhered to, as in the home of the most pharisaical, devout professor. From the age of three to thirteen the summer and winter terms of the district school were attended by Walter, supplemented by several terms in the High School at Contoocook, after ten years of age.

The summer he was fourteen years of age he worked on a farm at seven dollars per month, and earned money enough to pay the expense of a term at Gilmanton Academy the same fall of 1848. Teach- ing school in winter after he was sixteen years of age, working at haying iu the summer and tending the grist-mill the balance of the year, he was enabled to attend school one term at Washington Academy, in 1850, a term at Thetford, Vt., in 1852, and three terms at New London in 1853 and 1854.

This finished his schooling, but not his education. He has been a constant student, as his Cyclopedia, Dictionary, Geography and mathematical books show the marks of every-day usage. He has a remarkble faculty for mathematics, every rule and formula be-

ing as fresh in his mind as though he had the books before him ; and yet, he cannot repeat a single rule of arithmetic, and never wishes a child of his to learn one, his policy being to establish the principles of analysis, fixing in the mind the proportions which certain things bear to each other, storing the mind permanently with as many stubborn facts and figures as can readily be recalled, as, for instance, the weight of a cubic foot of water, the specific gravity of the more common metals, the pressure of the atmos- phere, etc., and let the rules be manufactured as they are needed.

Mr. Davis had excellent success as a teacher, but discontinued teaching at the age of twenty to enter business for himself, forming a partnership, in the winter of 1854-55, with Samuel H. Dow, under the firm-name of Dow & Davis, for the purpose of carry- ing on the bark, lumber and wood business, and they were in partnership ten years, their business being large and successful, with the exception of 1860, which proved disastrous. The general depression in business, and loss incurred from investing in a large tannery in Lowell, Mass., resulting in a law-suit, in which B. F. Butler and William E. Chandler were counsel, swept away all the savings for the five years previous, leaving him penniless, with a wife and young child to care for; but without a murmur, and no one but himself knowing the extent of his loss, he kept steadily at work, and when the partnership ended had recovered what had been lost. In 1865 he formed a partnership with Paine Davis, under the firm-name of W. S. Davis & Co., for the purpose of carrying on the same business, with farming added. In 1866 the old mills at Davisville were taken down, and a large circular saw mill was erected, with na- chines for sawing clapboards, shingles, laths, etc. This mill was burned in 1869, and a new one was im- mediately erected. This firm was dissolved in 1872, W. S. Davis retaining the mills and Paine Davis the farm. In 1871, Mr. Davis formed a partnership with George W. Dow, of Bristol, under the name of Dow & Davis, purchased the ruins of the burned paper- mill at Davisville, and erected a straw-board mill capable of making two thousand five hundred pounds of board per day in the summer-time, drying it in the fields by sunshine. This business, so depend- ent upon the season and the weather, and requir- ing so much help at certain times and so little at others, proved very unsatisfactory, and the mill was changed to a steam-dried mill. A Fourdrinier ma- chine and three large driers were added in the fall of 1872; the machine was run through the day, the driers during the twenty-four hours. This was an improvement on the air-dried process, but it was slow and tedious work, only about one ton being manufactured daily. In 1873, Henry C. Davis and Leston Rollins were admitted to the firm, and improve- meuts made in the machinery, by which nearly double the amount of board was made daily than

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formerly. In 1875, Mr. Davis became the owner of the entire mill, and formed a partnership with his brother, Henry C. Davis, under the name of Davis Brothers.

The entire mill was rebuilt, making of it a first- class mill, capable of making six tons of lined straw- board per day. The rebuilding was began in 1879 and completed in 1883, though the mill was kept running the larger part of these years, and so perfectly has it been changed that scarcely a vestige of the old mill is to be seen save the foundation. The power at the mill has been doubled by using the water at a distance of three hundred and fifty feet below the mill and connecting it with a line of shafting. The gate of the water-wheel is operated in the mill by wires as easily as though it was situated there. The mill at the present time is capable of making six tons of lined board per day, consuming ten tons of straw and employing fifteen hands. The lumber business carried on by Davis Brothers is quite large, having sawed half a million feet this year for their own use for boxes, which is a new enterprise they are about engaging in, hoping to make employment for a large number of hands in the near future.

In Mr. Davis we find the sterling characteristics of his ancestors fully perpetuated and maintained. He has the absolute confidence of the entire community as a gentleman in every respect, and has not a known enemy in the world, and his business correspondents all bear high testimony to his integrity as a business man, and are unbounded in their expressions of pleasure in associating with him as a genial, whole- souled, upright man. He has unbounded generosity and kindness of heart; his patience is proverbial ; no unkind word or look ever escapes from him. No matter how great the provocation, he has a good word for all; is strictly temperate in all things, not a glass of liquor, ale or beer even, or the use of tobacco in any form ever polluting his breath. He is a consistent member of the Swedenborgian denomination of Chris- tians, and carries his religion into every transaction of life.

Amidst all the cares and burdens of his busy life he has not been allowed to sit idly by in the field of politics, but has been sought out by his fellow-towns- men and friends for political promotion.

Descended from Free-Soil, Whig, Republican stock, and from one of the most patriotic families in New Hampshire, he has always been a stanch Republi- can from principle. Whilst residing in his native town of Warner he was often voted for for prominent and responsible positions, and, although the majority of the opposite party was large, yet, because of his great popularity, he at one election came near being elected a representative from the town. He held many minor offices,-was one of the committee to locate and build the Kearsarge Mountain road; was one of the committee to locate the High School build- ing, and was one of the first prudential committees

in the High School District, and organized and started the Symonds High School.

He was Worshipful Master of Harris Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, in 1882-3 ; E. King in Wood's Chapter, No. 14, of which he has been a worthy mem- ber for many years, and is also a member of Horace Chase Council at Concord. In all of these Masonic bodies Mr. Davis is held in the highest esteem for his exemplary life and his daily practice of the great tenets of Masonry. Mr. Davis took up his residence in Contoocook in 1874, and since his residence there he has been for many years president of Contoocook Academy and one of the property trustecs; has been curator of the New Hampshire Antiquarian Society and is now its honored president; has been the pre- siding officer in the town-meetings of Hopkinton many years, always being elected without opposition, and is an admirable presiding officer, prompt in his decisions and rapid in the discharge of business. He was chosen a representative from Hopkinton in 1878 and took an active part in the Legislature in revis- ing and preparing the General Laws; was chosen county auditor and was one of the building com- mittee to rebuild the buildings at the County Farm, and opposed the extravagant plans for the present buildings, because the expense was unauthorized by the convention, but was overruled by a majority of the committee.

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History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire, Part 101

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Philadelphia [Pa.] J. W. Lewis & co. Number of Pages: 1520

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Philadelphia [Pa.] J. W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1520