History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire, Part 189

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 189
USA > New Hampshire > Belknap County > History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire > Part 189

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Soon the districts employed and paid their own teachers, and their transactions ceased to be matters of town record.

There were now many leading citizens who desired the establishment of an institution of higher order and broader reach than the common schools. After due consultation, a petition was presented, and Gil- manton Academy was incorporated by the Legislature in 1794.

A commodious building was rapidly pushed for- ward, and the school opened under the instruction of Peter L. Folsom, A.B., a graduate from Dartmouth College, who continued as principal during the fol- lowing six years. At the opening of the school a

sermon was preached by Rev. Mr. Smith. From that date to the present the school has lived, while many kindred institutions have passed away. It has never lost a term in the ninety-one years. What is ou record of its early history must be gathered from the careful chronicles of Rev. Mr. Lancaster; for in an unfortunate fire on the night of September 25, 1872, all the records, with the miscellaneous papers, were burned. The records had been carefully kept by Stephen L. Greeley, Esq., who held the office of secretary of the board of trustees for fifty successive years.

In 1796 a fund had been raised of five thousand five hundred dollars. On October 1, 1799, Ste- phen Moody, Esq., was elected to the board and to the office of treasurer, which office he held for thirty- five years.

Matters went on very pleasantly and prosperously till, in 1808, a sad trial came, through the entire de- struction of the academy building by fire, on the night of the 22d of January, and through the care- less deposit of ashes in a barrel. But the fathers were men of might and indomitable purpose. On the 24th of February, just four weeks and four days after the fire, the frame of the present building was erected. The town voted to contribute two hundred and fifty dollars toward completing the building, and the trustees granted the future right to hold in the hall its meetings for town business.

As Gilmanton Academy is one of the three acade- mies first founded in the State, so it has maintained its integrity through all vicissitudes. Its children are a multitude, widely scattered abroad, and it is here suggested that many of them, who have attained not only to fame but to fortune, would remember their Alma Mater with some generous donations. She is now venerable for age and good works. Her "bow abides in strength," but she greatly needs pecuniary aid, in order to enlarge her usefulness.

Through the opportune publication of the town history by Rev. Mr. Lancaster, the names are pre- served of all who had care of this institution from the beginning,-men who were zealous for popular education, and, so far as citizens of Gilmanton, men who did much for the prosperity and honor of the town. The reading of the roll awakens emotions of gratitude and of sadness. Not one of these men is to-day among the living.

" Man being in honor continueth not,"

but, departing late or early,

" The good man cannot die before his time,

The Lord's appointment is the servant's hour."

Beginning with names of the first curators, ap- pointed at the issuing of the charter, in 1794, they stand as follows: Hon. Joseph Badger, Rev. Isaac Smith, A.M., Rev. Joseph Woodman, A.M., Rev. Jedediah Tucker, A.M., Rev. Simon Finley Williams, A.M., Hon. Joseph Badger, Jr., Samuel Greeley, Esq., Hon. Ebenezer Smith, Hon. Thomas Cogswell, Joseph

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HISTORY OF BELKNAP COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Parsons, Esq., Stephen Moody, Esq., Enoch Wood, Esq., His Excellency William Badger, John Ham, A.M., Thomas Burns, Esq., Daniel Smith, Esq., Peter L. Folsom, A.M., Rev. Abraham Bodwell, A.M., Rev. William Patrick, A.M., Rev. Luke Ainsworth Spof- ford, A.M., Rey. Enoch Corser, A.M., Stephen Leavitt Greeley, Esq., Francis Cogswell, Esq., A.M., Jeremiah Wilson, Esq., Rev. Heman Rood, A.M., Rev. Daniel Lancaster, A.M., Andrew Mack, A.M., Rev. Nathaniel Bouton, D.D., Rev. Nathan Lord, D.D., Stephen C. Lyford, A.M., Rev. Jonathan Clement, A.M., Hon. Thomas Cogswell, Jonathau Clarke, Esq., Rev. William Cogswell, D.D., Nahum White, M.D., Hon. Ira A. Eastman, A.M., Rev. John K. Young, A.M., Hon. William C. Clarke, A.M., Asa McFar- land, A.M., Rev. Joseph Blake, D.D. With the one exception of Rev. Joseph Blake, all the foregoing have passed away.

At this present time (July, 1885), the official board is as follows : Trustees,-Colonel Thomas Cogswell, A.M., president and treasurer ; Rev. S. S. N. Greeley, secretary ; Colonel Joseph Badger, A.M., Rev. Moses T. Runnels, A.M., William Pitt Eastman, Esq., John B. B. Batchelder, Esq., Stephen H. Dearborn, Daniel S. Ayer, Stephen G. Clarke, Esq. Instructors,- Samuel W. Robertson, A.B., teacher of Latin, Greek and natural science; Mrs. Grace K. Robertson, teacher of mathematics and English ; Mrs. Emma P. Dearborn, teacher of music (instrumental and vocal); James W. McMurphy, librariau; William M. Dear- born, librarian in long summer vacation.

Some notice may be proper here of trustees of the academy who, living for years in the town, and having more immediate care of the institution, have deceased since the issue of any town history.

Ex-GOVERNOR WILLIAM BADGER. (See Belmont.) JEREMIAH WILSON, EsQ .- Thomas Wilson came to this country from Scotland in 1633. He was admitted a freeman in Massachusetts in 1634. He soon removed beyond the limits of Massachusetts, and was one of a party that left Boston on account of the Arminian controversy, and began a plantation at Squamset Falls, which they called Exeter. In 1638 they combined into a separate body politic, which has been known as the "Wheelright Com- pact," so called from John Wheelright, a preacher at Braintree (then a part of Boston), a man of piety, learning and zeal. This combination lasted three years. Their laws were made in a popular Assembly, and formally assented to hy the rulers, who were Isaac Grosse, Nicholas Needham and Thomas Wilson.

He had a son, Humphrey Wilson, who had a son, Thomas Wilson, born May 30, 1677, and married Mary Light, October 16, 1698. He was one of the original proprietors of Gilmanton. They also had a son Humphrey, who was born December 9, 1699 ; married Mary Leavitt. He was an original pro- prietor. Captain Nathaniel Wilson was their son, born June 24, 1739; married Elizabeth Barber,

March 15, 1762. He came to Gilmanton from Epping in March, 1769, and settled on what has since been well known as " Wilson Hill." He was one of the original five members organized into the " First Con- gregational Church," November 30, 1774, that wor- shiped so many years in the "Old Smith Meeting- House," under the pastor they settled, the Rev. Isaac Smith. He was one of the selectmen in 1770, and one of a " Committee of Safety " chosen by the town in 1777. He was commander of a company of thir- ty-five men called into military service from Gilman- ton and vicinity. They joined Colonel Thomas Stickney's regiment of General John Stark's brigade, in defense of the western frontier from the ravages of Burgoyne's army. They fell in with the enemy August 15th, at Benuington, and occupied the right wing in that well-fought battle, which turned the fortunes of the British commander, and led the way to the speedy surrender of his whole army to the American forces. This service won great honor for the town. They were out two months and one day. Captain Wilson was a good farmer and mechanic, an energetic and industrious man, a very worthy citizen and an exemplary Christian.

Jeremiah Wilson, son of Captain Nathaniel Wil- son and Elizabeth Barber, was the youngest of nine sons. He was born October 14, 1781 ; married Abi- gail Prescott Sanborn, daughter of Deacon Abraham Sanborn, May 23, 1803. He succeeded his father in possession of the Wilson farm, which he much im- proved and enlarged by purchase. He obtained, mostly by his own exertions, a good common school edu- cation; engaged early in trade, which he pursued about thirty years, at the same time conducting agricultural operations rather extensively. In the later years of his life he turned his attention to the mountain lands in the north part of Gilmanton and adjoining towns, of which he purchased several thousand acres, cleared up extensively from the original forests, and valuable for grazing.

He was for several years one of the selectmen ; five sessions he was a member of the Legislature, and for many years the candidate of his party for councilor. He was a leading citizen, watchful of the public interests, much engaged in business for others, active and energetic to accomplish whatever he undertook. He was a zealous supporter of public worship and a promoter of reforms. He was esteemed for integrity of character and a sound judgment. At the aunual meeting in 1827 he was elected to the board of trustees of Gilmanton Academy. He was an earnest friend of education for the people and desirous that facilities for broader culture than he had himself enjoyed should be zealously maintained and perpet- uated. After the lapse of ten years, with pressing cares upon him, he tendered his resignation, in 1837. He died suddenly and alone in his pasture at the mountains, supposed of apoplexy, August 15, 1846. His wife died June 12, 1854. They left no children.

Thomas Cogswell.

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HON. THOMAS COGSWELL, SR .- In the artistic, interesting and instructive volume issued by Colonel John B. Clarke (Manchester, 1882), "Sketches of Successful New Hampshire Men," there is a finely- drawn portraiture of the subject of this notice,-so truthful, just and worthy of a good and honored man, that nothing better can be done than to crave per- mission to transfer that article largely to this new volume.

The town of Gilmanton, says this anonymous writer, has always been distinguished for its strong and able men, who have exercised a powerful infin- ence in the affairs of their town and State. It has furnished men to fill nearly every position of trust and honor within the gift of the people of our State; and it has ever been proud of its illustrions sons. Among the very strong men of this old town stood Hon. Thomas Cogswell, who, in the year 1820, at the age of twenty-one, moved hither from Atkinson, N. H., where he was born December 7, 1798. He was one of a family of nine children of William and Judith (Badger) Cogswell, eight of whom lived to years of maturity. He settled on the farm formerly occupied by his grandfather, the Hon. Joseph Bad- ger, and, with strong hands and indomitable courage, commenced gaining a livelihood for himself and young wife, Mary Noyes, whom he married just before moving here.

Among the older settlers he soon became a leading man of the town, and ever afterward took an active part in all its local affairs, and for the whole period of his life was honored and respected by his neighbors and townsmen, and received at their hands every office in their gift. There is no position that more truly shows the strength and power of a man than that of moderator of a New Hampshire town-meeting; but for many successive years he was chosen to preside over the deliberations of the annual and other meetings of this then large town ; and always did so with great dignity, and to the perfect satisfaction of all. He was also chosen one of the Board of Select- men, and represented the town in the Legislature, and while a member of that body introduced and sup- ported a bill to repeal the law authorizing imprison- ment for debt. For ten years he was a deputy sheriff of the old county of Strafford, and during all this time was actively engaged in the duties of the office. For years he was county treasurer. In 1841 he was appointed one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the new county of Belknap, and held that position till the change in the judiciary system of the State, in 1855. In 1856 he was elected a member of the Governor's Council from District Number Three. For over forty years he was a justice of the peace. He was an officer in the New Hampshire militia, and attained the rank of captain. He was of Revolutionary stock, his father and seven uncles having served in that war, and performed, in the aggregate, thirty-eight years of service.

For seven years in succession he taught the winter school of his district, and attended to all the affairs of his farm in their season. During his whole life he was in- terested in and a promoter of education. Gilmanton Academy, established by the efforts of his grandfather, General Joseph Badger, and his uncle, Hon. Thos Cogs- well, with the assistance of other strong and good men, early received his aid and co-operation, and he was one of its board of trustees twenty-eight years (1840-68).

Notwithstanding the burdens of almost continuons public service for so many years, Mr. Cogswell was a large and successful farmer, adding year after year by his own exertions to his original farm, so that at his death he owned in one tract nearly one thousand acres of valuable land,-" Does farming pay ?" Mr. Cogswell loved the soil, studied its cultivation by the best methods, loved agriculture as a science and a great art, to be prosecuted not only diligently, but intelligently, -- the foundation of the wealth and pros- perity of the whole country,-and so with him, "Farm- ing paid !"

In early life he became a member of the Congrega- tional Church at Gilmanton Iron-Works, and was deacon of the same from March 1, 1839, through many years of active service and usefulness. He always gave freely of his means for the advancement of the cause of the Christian religion.

He possessed to an uncommon degree strong natural powers of mind, and was capable of grasping difficult questions and giving a good legal opinion. His mind was essentially judicial, and, had he devoted himself to the study and practice of law, would undoubtedly have been a leading mind in that profession. For many years he was consulted by his neighbors and townsmen upon the troubles that frequently rose between them, and, to his credit, by his clear and practical judgment saved, frequently, long and expen- sive litigation. He was true to every trust committed to him, and was sernpnlously honest and exact in all his dealings.

In politics, Thomas Cogswell was a Democrat to the end of his life. During the War of the Rebellion he was a strong supporter of the government, and a friend and well-wisher of every soldier in the field.

He saw clearly and plainly that his duty as an American citizen was to render all the aid in his power to help carry on and bring to a successful close the terrible struggle then going on. He was a lover of his country, and delighted in its free institutions, and, though strong in his political convictions, was never a partisan.

Mr. Cogswell was noted for his energy and force of character, and when he once made up his mind as to a certain course to pursue, he never changed it until he was thoroughly satisfied that he was wrong. He was a natural leader among men, and possessed the characteristics of a great general.

He was a ready and fluent public speaker, and few

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HISTORY OF BELKNAP COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

men could better entertain an audience. He excelled in strong common-sense, and could state exactly his position on any subject that interested him. He was always well informed, particularly on the history of his country and its many political changes. He was of commanding appearance and was a noticeable per- son in an assembly. He was of an affectionate disposition and sympathized in the afflictions of others. He died August 8, 1868, and was buried in the old historic burying-ground in Gilmanton, near the dust of his illustrious ancestors; and in his death the town lost a wise counselor, the poor a generous friend and the community at large an honest and up- right man.

There are four surviving children,-Mary C. Bur- gess, wife of the late Dr. Burgess, now living in Bos- ton, Mass. ; Martha B. Batchelder, wife of the late Dr. Batchelder, also residing in Boston; James W. Cogs- well, sheriff of Belknap County; and Thomas Cogs- well, a lawyer, residing on the old homestead at Gilmanton.

STEPHEN L. GREELEY, EsQ., was born in Gilman- ton, and passed most of his life of nearly eighty-seven years in his native town. He was son of Colonel Samuel Greeley, who came to Gilmanton from Brent- wood, and commenced working on his land in 1771, and erected his buildings and a saw-mill when his nearest neighbor on the west was six miles distant, and when no road was laid out within two miles of his farm. He married, June 12, 1773, Mary Leavitt, of Brentwood, then in her sixteenth year, and came immediately to Gilmanton. Colonel Greeley had early a prominent part in the affairs of the town, and became a man of property and wide influence. He was a magistrate for many years; was on the Board of Selectmen at the age of thirty-two ; was repeatedly representative ; was from the beginning a trustee of the academy, and one of the original actors in secur- ing the grant of its charter by the Legislature. There has recently died at Gilmanton Iron-Works an esteemed citizen, Moses P. Page, Esq., nearly ninety years of age, who said to me in a familiar chat, not long ago : "I voted representative ticket for Colonel Samuel Greeley, your grandfather, and we sent him. I voted for Stephen L. Greeley, your father, and we sent him. I voted for Stephen S. N. Greeley, and we sent him,"-three generations in one family.

While in the Legislature, in 1809, Colonel Greeley procured a donation of land for the academy in the township of Bethlehem, which was afterwards sold for four thousand five hundred dollars,-a sad mistake, and which some of the trustees earnestly opposed. Mr. Beecher once said : "Men's hindsight is vastly better than their foresight!" Colonel Greeley pro- cured also five hundred dollars towards finishing the court-room, after the destruction of the first building by fire. He died June 14, 1824, in his seventy-seventh year. His wife died August 25, 1835, aged seventy- eight. They left nine children.

Stephen Leavitt, the eighth of these children, was horn September 30, 1788; married Nancy Norton, May 17, 1810, who was born August 17, 1786. She died April 3, 1813, at the age of twenty-seven. She was daughter of Dr. Bishop Norton, of Newbury- port, a widely-known and extensive druggist in the palmy days of that ancient town. It was in his for- mer pleasant home on School Street that George Whitefield died. Mrs. Greeley left two children,- Anne Maria, who married Hon. William C. Clarke, formerly Attorney-General of New Hampshire, and Stephen Sewall Norton. After the death of his wife, though a young man, with two young children on his hands, Mr. Greeley did not marry a second time. Two head-stones in the cemetery he gave the village read rather singularly : "A husband-died at the age of 86 years and six months; the wife by his side, aged 23,-all those long years between, with their varied histories!" Mr. Greeley engaged early in mercantile pursuits, and was a merchant in Gilmanton Centre village, and almost on the same spot, for more than sixty years, and at his death was reported the oldest merchant in the State. As a matter of course, he formed a wide and ever-widening acquaintance with business men. He stood in the highest esteem and confidence of a multitude of the old prominent mer- chants of Boston and their sons after them. He was a man of courtly and refined manners, scrupulonsly neat in dress, wearing black broad-cloth suit, with snowy white cravat, so that when they traveled to- gether, strangers very naturally supposed that he was the minister, and the son the merchant ! Four times a year he went, by the old stage-coach, to make his purchases in Boston, taking two days to go and two to return, and the almost endless variety of the stock in trade his wide custom required him to carry and to handle was a curiosity. Gilmanton, in the long years of the stage-coach, had four and five stores, and was alive with industries in quite varied departments. His business moved steadily on, whatever the spirit of the times, and was always conducted with honesty and strict integrity towards all men.

He was three years town clerk, three years repre- sentative in the State Legislature, for many years a magistrate, three times was moderator in meetings of the town, and, in 1824, was elected a trustee of Gil- manton Academy, and, November 3, 1825, was made secretary of the board, which office he held continu- ously for fifty years.

Though holding no membership in any church, he honored every Christian institution, believed in pub- lic worship and the preaching of the gospel as the very palladium of popular liberty and the prosperity and safety of every community. So at church his attendance was constant, and to her support and to every good enterprise he gave with a liberal hand.

He had an exalted idea of the true Christian char- acter, and through a deep conviction of personal unworthiness, could never feel willing personally to

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profess it. But, in the waning years of life, the great things of the hereafter seemed more and more to stir his thought, and to become themes of ready conversa- tion, and when at last, as a lone pilgrim, his young wife so many years gone before, and his children out in the battle of life, he came gently down to "the inevi- table hour," there was no fear in death, nor darkness in the valley of shadows. He died in the home he had occupied for seventy years, June 1, 1875.

ANDREW MACK, EsQ .- Among Gilmanton's prom- inent and useful citizens through many years must be mentioned Andrew Mack. He was born in Lon- donderry, N. H., January 19, 1786. His grand- father, John Mack, married Isabella Brown, daughter of the Lord of Londonderry, came to this country and settled in Londonderry, N. H. They had eight children. Of these, Andrew married Elizabeth Clark, daughter of Robert Clark of Londonderry, N. H., and they also, had eight children, the seventh of whom was Andrew, of Gilmanton. He fitted for col- lege at the Pinkerton Academy, and graduated at Dartmouth College in 1808. He taught in Gilman- ton Academy two years, was tutor at Dartmouth College one year, taught one year at Hampton Acad- emy, and, returning to Gilmanton, was preceptor of the academy nine years more,-making in all eleven years. In the autumn of 1821 he removed to Haver- hill, took charge of the academy, and in the autumn of 1831 returned to Gilmanton for a permanent home.

He was soon made a magistrate and treasurer of the town. In 1833 he was elected a trustee of Gil- manton Academy, which office he held to June, 1875, forty-two years. August 19, 1834, he was elected treasurer of the board and held that office thirty-six years. Scholarly, cultured in taste, keeping himself informed of the march of science and improvements in the methods of education, he was just the man out of his quiet and retired life to exert a quicken- ing and healthful influence upon the school and all that pertained to it. He was methodical, accurate, prompt, conscientious in all business details, and while treasurer and manager of the academy's funds for thirty-six years, would accept no compensation.

On the 4th of January 1835, he united by profes- sion with the Centre Congregational Church, and December 16, 1836, was elected to the office of deacon, which office he held till his death,-nearly thirty-nine years. He was, as a church officer, and as a man, as nearly up to the apostolic requisition as can ordina- rily be found, "holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, grave (yet always cheerful), the husband of one wife," who was in every sense a help-meet for him.

Deacon Mack was married, January 13, 1824, to Maria L. Burns, daughter of Thomas Burns, Esq. They had four children. One son, a promising and beloved young man, sickened and died while pursuing his studies in Dartmouth College. Two daughters

were married and died young, leaving only one sur- viving son, Dr. William Andrew Mack, of Pittsfield. The care and caution of Deacon Mack, which was conspicuous in his business life, was also evident in relation to the higher spiritual concerns, more impor- tant than all. As he was coming very near to the deep shadow of death, I was sitting on the side of the bed with him, when he said : "I have been recently very carefully examining the evidences of my hope and faith, and my preparedness for 'the better country,' and I think they are more and more clear, abiding and sure." A happy consciousness! And in that strong confidence he soon passed away ;- heaven's gain, but a sad loss to a little church, in which he was as a pillar of strength.

Deacon Mack died at his home in Gilmanton, June 16, 1875.

REV. DANIEL LANCASTER was born in Acworth, N. H., November 30, 1796; graduated from Dart- mouth in 1821, aud from Andover Theological Semi- nary in 1824; licensed to preach in the latter year by the Haverhill (Mass.) Congregational Association ; and he was ordained pastor of the First Congregational Church in Gilmanton, N. H., in 1825. Seven years later he was called by the Centre Church in Gilman- ton, with which he retained his connection until 1852, making a continuous ministry in the town of twenty- seven years.

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History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire, Part 189

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