History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire, Part 185

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 185
USA > New Hampshire > Belknap County > History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire > Part 185

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As the territory was first settled in the time of the Revolutionary War, so it was set off and incorporated into a township in the time of the War of 1812. Born and reborn amid the throes of civil strife, she would be expected to inherit a somewhat belligerent nature and develop into a championship. Into this war she, as the youngest municipality, sent her honorable quota. Nor were her sons wanting in courage when the conflict grew severe. There were three drafts made for the army and many watchers went to the Canada line to stand as sentinels and watchers on our borders. The men were Joseph York, Stephen Langley (who had settled near the Benjamin Libbey place, by Long Bay), Frank Bowman, who lived near the Weirs and who died in the army. He was an Indian doctor and said to be a Prussian. He was one while located at

the Stone-Dam Island, then previously at or near the Weirs; Daniel Foster, Joseph Libbey going to the line; Ira Seabury to go to Portsmouth ; and from Cap- tain Bradford's company,-Lieutenant Henry Mal- lard, who was a carpenter; and Mark Chase, who went as a substitute. Captain Mason led his company to the line. Lieutenant Samuel Leavitt was officer in Mason's company. The men of 1812 were mainly sent to Portsmouth. The spirit of resistance ran high, and yet there were opposers.

The matter of pension was not hotly handled in those days. Lieutenant Philbrick Rand was prominent in military affairs. So was also Lieutenant John Gilman. The distress was considerable, but not extreme, on account of the war.

The organization of the militia and its annual muster were continued till about 1855, when the old organization was abolished and muster was no longer required, and so this gala season was lost sight of, to a great relief.

Under the old régime, the Tenth Regiment was raised in the original towns of Gilmanton and Barn- stead, or, later, of Gilford, Gilmanton and Barnstead. The muster-field, in earlier years, was at Lower Gil- manton; but in later years it was by circuit, held, in turn, at Gilford and Barnstead also.

The law required a company parade and drill in the month of May annually, and for preparation for the regimental parade a company drill was practiced, at the option of the officers and company, in Septem- ber, a short time previous to the annual muster, and besides these three regular parades there were also occasionally other special drills. The officers in the regiment, the commissioned ones, also had a regi- mental drill before the muster, at which arrangements for muster-day were made between the regimental and the subordinate company officers and orders given accordingly.

The men of Gilford who held regimental and higher official rank were Peasley Hoit, Ebenezer Stevens, Benjamin F. Weeks and George W. Weeks, success- ively, colonels; and John M. Potter, J. Q. Merrill and Daniel K. Smith, majors; Nathan Weeks, regi- mental staff-officer ; J. J. Morrill, general ; Major Robie, drum-major; J. M. Potter, adjutant.

The independent companies, Riflemen and Light Infantry, received their arms and equipments from the State, and they were usually uniformed. The Rifle Company was of later organization and enlisted from the north part of the towu. The Light Infantry company was enlisted mainly from Meredith Bridge.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

HON. B. J. COLE.

Hon. Benjamin James Cole, son of Isaac and Han-

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nah (Atwood) Cole, was born in Franconia, N. H., September 28, 1814.

James Cole, the first of the name in America, came to the Plymouth Colony in 1633, and was granted lands on Leyden Street, Plymouth, in 1637. His de- scendants scattered to various parts of New England, and we find the name a prominent one in Rowley, Mass. The family is an old and honored one, and, in the early part of the eighteenth century, the great- grandfather of Benjamin James Cole was a man of solid worth and property in Rowley. Among his numerous children was Solomon, born in 1742. The family was strongly patriotic, and Solomon and his brothers performed twenty-seven years' service in the colonial army of the Revolution. Solomon was en- gaged throughout the war, participated in the battle of Bunker Hill and in numerous other engagements, and was wounded at Chippewa Plains. The house in which he was born is still standing in Rowley, and occupied by one of the name, Caleb Cole.

Solomon married a Barker, and had eight sons,- Timothy, John, Isaac, Benjamin, Solomon, Kimball, Samuel and Asa,-and was one of the stalwart men to whose patriotic principles, firmness of pur- pose and religious character so much of our modern prosperity is due. He was of medium size, pleasant and social manners and a tailor by trade. He lived in Row- ley and Methuen until 1796. From that time until his death, in 1835, at the age of ninety-three, he resided with his sons, Isaac and Rev. Samuel, in Landaff and Lisbon, N. H. (Samuel was a minister of the gospel for forty years, and his son, Rev. Moores Cole, has been in the Christian ministry forty-eight years.)

Isaac Cole was horn in Rowley, Mass .; became first a cooper, then a carpenter; married Hannah At- wood when he was about twenty-three, and settled in Chester, N. H. (Mrs. Cole was a woman of deep re- ligious principle, who carried her belief into daily life. She was a native of Atkinson, N. H., and a cousin of Harriet Atwood, who married Rev. Mr. Newell, and was one of the first female missionaries who went to India from the United States.) Mr. Cole lived in Chester for a few years, when, purchas- ing new lands in Landaff, he removed thither and gave his name to " Cole's Hill." His nature did not incline to agriculture, and, about 1813, he went to Franconia to assume the superintendence of the wood-working department of the New Hampshire Iron Manufacturing Company, located there, and continued in this position eight years. In 1821 he changed his residence to Salisbury (now Franklin village), where he constructed one of the first foun- dries built in New Hampshire. This he conducted six years, when, in 1827, the very great advantage af- forded at " Batchelder's Mills" (now Lake village), in Gilford, induced his removal to that place. Here he established the small foundry which was the germ of the large works of the present Cole Manufacturing Company, and was carried on by him nine years. He | months in thirty years' time.

was an active man, of mechanical aptitude, of great industry and a worthy member of the Free Baptist Church for many years. He died aged eighty-five.

Benjamin James Cole was seven years old when his father removed to Salisbury, and had the advan- tages of education afforded by the public schools of that town and Noyes Academy until he was thirteen, afterwards attending Sanbornton Academy. When about nineteen he was, for nearly a year and a half, unable to attend either to study or business, by rea- son of ill health. In December, 1836, in connection with his older brothers, Isaac and John A., he pur- chased the foundry of his father at Lake village, and succeeded to his business, taking the firm-title of "Cole & Co." This firm continued operations, and, in 1846, it became "Cole, Davis & Co." This co- partnership had an existence of ten years, when, in 1857, Mr. Cole became sole proprietor, and conducted it until 1873 under the name of " B. J. Cole & Co." The various demands for his manufacture had steadily de- veloped, from the small iron foundry established by his father, a diversified and rapidly-increasing business, necessitating the erection of new and addi- tional buildings, the introduction of machinery and a large increase of the capital invested. In 1873 the plant was taken by a stock company, incorporated as the "Cole Manufacturing Company," with a capital of sixty thousand dollars, of which all the stock was owned by Mr. Cole and family, except about eight per cent. This company has carried on extensive operations. Their annual product has ranged as high as one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars, with one hundred and sixty employés, and during the present depressed times the product is about sixty thousand dollars, with sixty operatives. They con- struct machinery for the manufacture of various kinds of products, such as hosiery, woolen goods, lumber, paper-pulp and paper. During and after the Civil War they have made one hundred thousand dollars' worth of looms in one year. They also make a spe- cialty of manufacturing water-wheels. In their forge and foundry they manufacture car-axles, agricultural implements and stoves. The company has just com- pleted eight sets of machinery for manufacturing " excelsior," which will be placed in the first mill erected for that purpose in California. The man- agement of this corporation has been under the per- sonal supervision of Mr. Cole. He was the treasurer and superintendent of the company until 1883, when Colonel Henry B. Quimby was elected to the super- intendency on Mr. Cole's resignation. This estab- lishment has done all the castings for the B., C. and M. Railroad since the road was built, the business of this one production amounting from ten thousand dollars to thirty thousand dollars per annum. The power for this large manufactory is given mostly by water, of which they have two hundred horse-power. They have been necessitated to use steam but a few

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In 1848, Mr. Cole was an incorporator of the Win- nipesaukee Steamboat Company, and was elected its first president, which office he still retains, and, in 1849, with the late Captain William Walker, built the steamer "Lady of the Lake" for this company. He has built several mills and bridges on contract ; was one of the incorporators of Lake Village Savings- Bank, and for ten years its president ; also, one of the incorporators of the Laconia National Bank, of which he was a director ten years ; and an incorporator and the present president of the Wardwell Needle Com- pany, of Lake village. In connection with his manu- facturing Mr. Cole carried on merchandising for over thirty years, and for half a century he has been inti- mately connected with the growth and prosperity of Lake village, and one of the vital factors of its flour- ishing condition.

He married, June 17, 1838, Mehitable A., daughter of Nathan and Peace (Clifford) Batchelder, of Lake village. She is a descendant, on the one side, from the celebrated colonial minister, Rev. Stephen Bach- ilor; on the other, from the honorable old English family of Clifford. Their children are Ellen A. and Octavia M., who married Colonel Henry B. Quimby, and has two children, Harry Cole and Candace E.

Mr. Cole was a Democrat until the breaking out of the Rebellion, in 1861 ; since then he has been a Re- publican. He represented Gilford in the State Legisla- ture of 1849 and 1850. In 1862, 1863 and 1864 he was a candidate of the Republican party for State Senator in the Sixth Senatorial District; but as he represented a minority party, he was not elected. He was nom- inated and elected a member of the Governor's Coun- cil for the Second Councilor District, and served as such in the years 1866 and 1867. He was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1868. He was a delegate to the National Republican Convention which renominated Lincoln at Baltimore, in 1864. He is a member of the Free-Will Baptist Church and a trustee of New Hampton Institution.

Mr. Cole is a man of influence in his town and church, and throughout a large business acquain- tance. He has a kind, social and affectionate na- ture, and cherishes home and friends. He has a winning personal magnetism, which makes for him many friends. To these he is loyal, and he enjoys, to an unusual degree, the marked confidence of the betier portion of society and leading business men. He is generous in the highest degree in contributing to religious and charitable objects, and no case of deserv- ing need or suffering ever appealed unsuccessfully to him. He is not only a prominent and leading busi- ness man, an active temperance worker, but, higher yet, a consistent Christian, whose active zeal has done much for the church and society of his locality.

CAPTAIN WINBORN A. SANBORN.

In the "History of Belknap County" it is fitting that there should be a record of Captain Sanborn,

who was so widely and pleasantly known, and so intimately identified with steamboat navigation on Lake Winnipesaukee, and to whose energy and en- terprise the development of that beautiful summer resort, Weirs, is largely due.

WINBORN ADAMS SANBORN, whose life commenced December 13, 1810, in Gilford, N. H., was the eldest of the four sons of Samuel Gilman and Sally (Mason) Sanborn. The Sanborn family is of English origin, the name being derived from the parish bearing the name Sanborn. The emigrant, John (son of John, who married, in England, the daughter of Rev. Stephen Bachilor), came to America in 1632, and to Hampton, N. H., in 1640. He was a man of note, with the title of lieutenant. One of his de- scendants in the seventh generation was Samuel Gil- man Sanborn, a man of marked ability, who was born March 20, 1787, on the Sanborn homestead, in Gilford, which was the first land cleared in the Weirs district, and the home of his ancestors from the first settlement. When a mere lad, his ardent desire was for an education, and, in response to his earnest request, he was permitted to attend the acad- emy at Sanbornton Square for a few terms. The sacrifices his parents made in order to pay his ex- penses were amply rewarded by his progress. He was, for many years, a successful teacher. He was a man of intelligence in public affairs, served his town many years as selectman and representative, held a commission as justice of the peace for a long period, and was universally known as "'Squire" Sanborn. After a useful, honored and respected life, he died at the age of eighty-two, upon the farm where he and his wife had lived for nearly sixty years. Sally (Mason) Sanborn, his wife, was the daughter of Cap- tain Lemuel B. and Molly (Chamberlain) Mason, of Durham, N. H. Captain Mason was among the early settlers of Gilford. He was a Revolutionary soldier, having joined the Continental army at Portsmouth when only sixteen years of age, and remained in con- stant service till the close of the war. He also en- listed and took part in the War of 1812. When the division of Gilmanton took place, according to the family tradition, corroborated by the testimony of the old inhabitants, he was invited to name the new town, which he called Guilford, from the battle of Guilford Court-House, S. C., in which he was an active participant.

Winborn Adams Sanborn (8) received his name in remembrance of the gallant Lieutenant-Colonel Win- born Adams, who bravely fought and lost his life during the Revolution, at Stillwater. His early life was passed upon the farm aiding his father in his labors. His opportunities for learning were extremely limited, and his only chance for an education, beyond a few weeks at the district school each year, was one term at "Master" Leavitt's select school at Mere- dith, and two terms at Gilford Academy. Books and newspapers were scarce; but the few that fell into

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HISTORY OF BELKNAP COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

his hands were eagerly perused, and their contents carefully stored in his memory. By improving his leisure moments he became a man of rare intelli- gence. To the last of his days he never allowed a newspaper to be carelessly destroyed. When only seventeen, he began teaching, and for several win- ters taught in Gilford and adjoining towns. His life was uneventful, and his active and energetic nature was not content with quietude, and, at the age of twenty, he left home to carve out his future alone and unaided. With his love of adventure, he went to Massachusetts and engaged as a common sailor for a twelve months' voyage on an East India trading- vessel, bound from Salem to Bombay, India. To a country boy, who had never been beyond the capital of his own State, a sea-faring life was particularly attractive; but, to gratify his parents, he relinquished his plan of following the sea as a vocation, after this voyage. His neatly-written log-book is still pre- served. In 1833 he became the first commander of the " Belknap," the first steamboat on Lake Winnipe- saukee. At the end of two seasons he gave up his position, and, with his love of adventure still una- bated, started west. He first stopped at Wheeling, Va., where he at once secured a situation as assistant teacher in Wheeling Academy; then, allured by the letters of a friend, he journeyed to St. Louis. He readily found employment, but was soon compelled to return home on account of ill health. The entire journey-going and returning-from New Hamp- shire to St. Louis was by stage over the Allegheny Mountains. (Postage between the two places was twenty-five cents a letter.)

On arriving in New Hampshire, he resumed the command of the "Belknap." After a few seasons, he left this position to establish himself as a " country trader" at Alton Bay. In this undertaking, he was financially unsuccessful; but, with unfaltering cour- age, he tried again,-this time as book-keeper for "Isaac & Seth Adams," iron founders, of South Bos- ton, Mass. Here, by a faithful discharge of his duties, he won the confidence of his employers, and the strong friendship thus formed continued to the end of their lives. All his leisure moments were now given to the study of machinery, and, in a short time, he became au engineer of one of the harbor steamers. He soon procured a better situation as engineer of the steamer "Decatur," running between Boston and Newburyport, and retained this position till he was offered and accepted a more lucrative one as engineer of the steamer "Ohio," on the same route. While here, a long and distressing illness began, and he once more returned to his home in Gilford, where, for two years, he was unable to attend ta any business.

mainly passed upon his farm, in Gilford. In the fall of 1852 his friends and old employers, Isaac & Seth Adams, needed a man of trust, and secured him to superintend the erection of machinery in Cienfuegos, Cuba, where he passed several months. In 1863, he became a large stockholder in, and the captain of, the "Lady of the Lake." In the fall of 1869, Cap- tain Sanborn, with his brother, went on a pleasure trip to Florida, and, while there, found a good open- ing for the lumber business; and the next spring, 1870, he formed a partnership with Charles L. Hoyt, a fellow-townsman, purchased a saw-mill and com- menced the manufacture of lumber in Fernandina. When he relinquished navigation, in 1869, he fully expected to exclusively devote himself to his Florida interests; but his natural liking for a seaman's life and the power of habit were too strong for this, and, in 1878, he again became captain of the "Lady," which position he occupied until the time of his death. As captain, he came in contact with people from all parts of the United States, and his courtesy, combined with his extended knowledge gained by travel, reading and discriminating powers of observa- tion, speedily won their friendship. During this time, however, he continued the southern business, which had now become extensive, embracing the manufacture and wholesaling of lumber, merchan- dising, etc. In 1880, in addition to his many other cares, he conceived the idea of building a hotel at Weirs. With him to think was to act, and in six weeks from the time the sills were laid, "Hotel Weirs" was ready for occupancy. Of all his enter- prises, this interested and pleased him the most.

In 1835, Captain Sanborn married Lavinia Peaslee Hoyt, a very fine-looking and intelligent woman, only daughter of James Hoyt, Jr., and his wife, Ruth (Ayer) Gordon. Mrs. Sanborn was born in Gilford, and died on the home farm, April 20, 1877. Of their two children, the son died in infancy; the daughter, Ellen E., married Captain John S. Wadleigh, the present commander of the "Lady."

While in the full possession of all his faculties, after a brief illness, Captain Sanborn met death as bravely as he had life, at Fernandina, Fla., February 21, 1882. His remains were brought to Gilford, and deposited, with Masonic rites, in the family burial- place, March 3, 1882.

In politics, Captain Sanborn was one of the "Old Guard " Abolitionists. He represented his native town two years in the Legislature. He was, for many years, an active member of Mount Horeb Commandery of Knights Templar, F. and A. M. He was decided in his views, yet charitable to all; in religion a "Liberal;" sincere in his friendships ; gen- erous to the needy, yet unostentatious in his manner of giving. He was courageous, self-reliant, strong in his convictions, and his keen observation and well- balanced mind enabled him to decide promptly and

In the winter and spring of 1851 he superintended the construction of the "Dover" at Alton Bay, and, on its completion, became its captain, and continued in that office for several summers, his winters being | justly in matters of importance. He possessed the

yours truly, B. S. Hall

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soundest common sense and that practical view of matters that made him competent to guide bis own affairs with discretion and give helpful advice and counsel to others. The humane side of his being was quickly and energetically responsive. All the ties of nature and of friendship rooted deeply in his sonl, and whoever won his confidence found in him a rare and valued friend.

REV. K. S. HALL.1

Rightly to estimate achievement in any depart- ment, account must be taken alike of the impelling and repelling forces, the aids and hindrances, the en- couragements and rebuffs, which have combined to make it what it is. Heredity, social position, wealth, poverty, dictate most careers. Social aptitude, wise training and family influence send countless numbers of men triumphantly to their goal; while the want of these often makes every step wearisome and suc- cess well-nigh impossible. The thoughts of one man move to the music of rhyme and rhythm, and he cannot but choose to be a poet. Those of another clothe themselves in the sonorous language, the felicitous expressions of an orator; the imagination of a third is an exhaustless foun- tain, overflowing in pen-pictures which delight the world. We admire the result ; yet we remember that the genius of each was given, not won. An illustrious name, an attractive physique, a graceful address, smooth the way for merit, commend it to notice, make it conspicuous to the common eye, and this we perceive. It is the battle which is fought without adventitious aid, but against the odds of hostile circumstances, which excites our deepest sympathy and our most hearty praise. These ideas apply with striking force to Rev. King Solomon Hall, of Lake village, N. H. He was born in Groton, N. H., October 22, 1819, the offspring of Josiah and Sarah White Hall. His father died when he was three years old, leaving a family of six children in circumstances of indigence, mainly dependent for support on their widowed mother. At the age of seven he went to reside in a farmer's family, where he remained about seven years. The facilities of- fered him in childhood for acquiring an education were extremely limited. From the age of six to fourteen he attended the district school about six weeks each year in winter, none being held in sum- mer. These were kept in private houses, no school- house having been built until after he left the dis- trict. The seats and desks were of the rudest pat- tern, the former being made of slabs, with legs fitted into the oval sides. In very cold weather it was necessary for comfort to draw the seats around the open fire. The childhood of Mr. Hall was overcast with many shadows. While kindly cared for, as the

world goes, his sources of pleasure were meagre; no mother's companionship cheered him in his daily tasks, and his father's voice was silent in the grave. The elasticities of youth were checked and left a deep impression on his future character. The stern battle of life was begun. At the age of fifteen he found employment in a factory in Lowell, where he re- mained about four years. In the spring of 1839 he attended a select school, taught by Miss Spaulding, at Rumney, where, at the age of nineteen, he com- menced the study of English grammar. The writer, a member of the same school, well remembers how keenly he felt the loss of early training, and how deeply he deplored the fact that he was so far behind many so much younger than himself. But a new revelation inspired him with fresh zeal. He clearly saw the necessity of educational acquisition. A new life opened before him, which was filled with promise, though many discouragements darkened his daily life. He had no advantages of early study ; conse- quently his abilities for acquisition were not rapid. But he was thoroughly in earnest, and he here de- veloped the carefnl and patient investigation which were marked characteristics of his after-career. In the autumn of the same year he entered the Academi- cal Department of the New Hampton Institution and graduated from the theological department of the same school in 1845. The writer, a room-mate for two years, clearly recalls his heroic struggles during this critical period of his life. He was entirely de- pendent on his own earnings for support. Not the gift of a dollar did he ever receive from a relative after he was seven years of age. But some friends in Rumney and New Hampton, touched by his manly efforts to secure an education, rendered him some as- sistance, which, although small in amount, was most gratefully received. He taught school during the winters, together with evening schools in singing, writing and geography ; and during the latter part of his connection with the institution, besides occasion- ally preaching elsewhere, he regularly supplied, for several terms, the pulpit of the Baptist Church in Danbury, frequently walking fifteen miles to reach an appointment.

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History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire, Part 185

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