History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire, Part 209

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 209
USA > New Hampshire > Belknap County > History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire > Part 209

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Visible at all points of the compass are villages or well-tilled farms nestling on hill-top or slope, teem- ing with industry and life, while the puff of the locomotive, the shriek of the whistle and the pealing of bells are sounds that come and go with every breeze. Forests that never echoed with the woodman's stroke add completeness to the scene, as if of some genius had designed the broad expense and filled it with gems of beauty. An extensive traveler, who de- lights in the beauties of American scenery, says that in extent and diversity it exceeds anything he ever saw. This opinion is confirmed by many others who have visited the site.

A polished device in Scotch granite, on which a Numidian lion is reclining, the whole weighing fifty tons, rests between the two columns of the arch, bearing this inscription,-

"TILTON, 1883."

Each end of the keystone, in raised letters, reads "Memorial Arch of Tilton, 1882." Ten or twelve acres of land are inclosed in the tract on which this memorial has been erected.

Four elegant cut-glass lamps, supplied with gas, are lighted each dark night, making the locality a land-mark for many surrounding miles.

A concrete walk and drive-way for carriages lead to the summit from two different directions. Large numbers of visitors in good weather daily travel over them and avail themselves of the enchanting prospect and a nearer inspection of the arch. It counts one among the many attractions to our thrifty town con- tributed by Mr. Charles E. Tilton, of the fourth generation from Nathaniel Tilton, the original pioneer of the family, of about one hundred and fifteen years ago.

The old ancestor, at the signal of danger, visible to his clearing on the range above, may sometime have sped his way to the old fort that once occupied the hill. Be that as it may, with all his remembered virtues, there is no sign that, with a prophet's ken, his vision caught sight of the benefactions that were to emanate from his descendant.

It is enough that we possess them, and that the present generation is not insensible to their value or unmindful of the enlarged liberality that gave them form.

Village Advantages .- Tilton village is situated on the old Boston, Concord and Montreal Railroad, now known as the White Mountain Division of the Bos- ton and Lowell Railroad, eighteen miles north of Con . cord, ten miles south of Laconia, the shire-town of the county, and in close proximity to Franklin, at which place the Northern Division of the Boston and

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TILTON.

Lowell Railroad passes, passenger facilities between these roads being conducted by J. L. Lawrin's twelve- passenger four-horse coach route, which makes two round trips a day, connecting with the important trains over both roads, viz.,-passengers coming down over the White Mountain road and wishing to go up over the Northern, instead of going to Concord, take this stage and save over thirty-six miles travel. Quick time and sure connections are made as they carry the United States mail. Daily stage leaves here for San- bornton and New Hampton and semi-daily stage for Belmont and Gilmanton.

The railroad facilities are very good, the track laid with steel rails and a ride of but two hours and forty minutes from Boston ; while passengers taking the two P. M. train arrive in New York at half-past ten the same day. The past summer twelve passen- ger trains have stopped here daily ; the passenger Pull- man and Mann boudoir coaches were of the best, and the road earned the reputation of being the best equipped of any in New England. The passenger station is a model for size, comfort and convenience, modern in in its construction, the inside finished in hard woods, heated by steam, lighted by gas and con- tains all conveniences for passenger and railroad facil- ties.

A charter has been granted to build and operate a railroad from this place to Belmont. Application has been made to the Grand Court for right to construct a railroad from here to Franklin, and there is a bright prospect of seeing the road in operation within three years.

The location of the town offers unusual water-power facilities, which, by its proximity to the leading lines of transportation, should place it foremost in the ranks for manufacturing industries. The quantity, quality, purity from sediment cannot be excelled in the United States. It contains no lime, iron or other injurious material held in solution to deaden the colors used in dyeing ; no sawdust or vegetable mate- rial to prevent the proper washing of wool. It drains no territory containing tanneries and filthy material, and is as pure drinking water as can be found in flow- ing streams.

With Lake Winnipiseogee back of us, a dam across its outlet into Winnipiseogee River, retaining her waters to such an extent that the water-power com- pany can prevent its overflow to not less than two hundred and fifty cubic feet per second (the dam being five hundred and two feet above mean tide), with an unobstructed flow of water from Great Bay, or Winnesquam Lake, containing 2,003,729,124 square feet to Middle Bay, of two miles in length and three- fourthis of a mile in width, thence to Little Bay and to the falls at East Tilton. There is not an ohstruc- tion on this great body of water. At East Tilton is a large, strong dam affording an immense power, which at present is only utilized hy Byron W. Brown at his mill, and he has built a short canal.

Such is the water-power here that, before efforts were made to start water-power manufacturing at Manchester, it was determined to use the power at this place, and, with that object in view, the water- power party closed negotiations for the land there- about. It is a fact that, but for the stubbornness of one man, the great industries of Manchester would have been located here. Below this first dam is another fall of water unutilized. This power lies idle and with a small expense could be utilized, and is par- ticularly valuable on account of its nearness to the railroad.

The first dam across the river at Tilton allows the present fall of eight feet, and Ballantyne & Fletcher have the right to flow back to East Tilton, a distance of two miles. The power is only utilized by Messrs. Ballantyne & Fletcher, proprietors of the Granite Mill, manufacturers of ladies' woolen dress-goods. They employ seventy hands, with a pay-roll of two thousand dollars per month, and at present make fifteen thousand yards of six-fourth cloth a month. On their side of the river are two good privileges. At the other end of the dam is an equally good unoccupied mill-site. The next dam below is occupied by Copp's grist-mill, Dodge's hosiery-mill, and the other end by Richard Firth, proprietor of the Elm Mill, who man- ufactures about the same quality of goods as Ballan- tyne & Fletcher, running three looms.

Continuing down-stream is the coffer-dam, with a water-fall of eleven feet. George E. Buel & Co.'s large hosiery-mill occupy one end of the dam ; they employ ninety operatives and do an annual business amount- ing to from one hundred and thirty thousand to one hundred and fifty thousand dollars.

The cottou-mill at the other end is being converted into a shoe manufactory hy the Pillsbury Brothers. They will employ not less than three hundred people with a monthly pay-roll of ten thousand dollars. Here are certainly two splendid privileges. Next in order is the Tilton Mills, who only occupy one end of the dam with a twelve-foot fall of water. The other end is unoccupied and the land and power can be bought remarkably cheap. From the above we find there are nine water privileges, all dammed, aud free use of the power is guaranteed. This is exclusive of the power at East Tilton.

Forty-four rods below the Tilton Mill is a fifteen-foot fall ; forty-four rods below the last is a fall of twenty- three feet; these falls are undeveloped. Adjoining land to all these privileges will be disposed of at a very reasonable figure to persons who will erect mills and run them. When one thinks of the manufactur- ing industries conducted at Manchester, Lawrence and Lowell, and that their power comes from here, it seems surprising that so much steam-power is utilized, when water-power can he obtained under such favor- able circumstances, and all within half a mile of the railroad. The fall of Winuipiscogee River, from Great Bay through this town, is some one hundred

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HISTORY OF BELKNAP COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

and forty feet, and the whole fall of the river two hundred feet.

Statistical .- The census of the town in 1870 was 1147; in 1880, 1282, and by reference to the Governor and other votes the voting population will be found. The selectmen's valuation in 1876 was $635,008.

Following is the selectmen's inventory made in the spring of 1885 :

Number of polls, 330, $33,000; horses, 197, $13,000; land and buildings (6585 acres), $394,930; oxen, 56, $2795; cows, 277, $7421; other meat stock, 140, $2259; sheep, 220, $657 ; hogs taxable, 16, $102; carriages, 61, $4455; stock in public funds, $6200; money, $290.80; stock in trade, $48,005; mills, $48,790; total valua- tion, $608,004 ; total taxes, including highway, $9158.39; rate per cent. on all, $1.50; on each, $1.00; poll-tax, $1.13.

The assets of the town March 1, 1885, $6886.88, leaving a net indebtedness of $12,324.11.

Water .- At the northeast portion of the town is a small portion of Lake Winnisquam, or, as it was called in old times, Great Bay. Continuing south is the Sanbornton or Middle Bay, some two miles in length and three-fourths of a mile in width, whose waters flow into Little Bay, constituting the third of these bays, which are most picturesque and beautiful bodies of water, affording boating and fishing, and many are the pleasures enjoyed on their cool, clear waters in the summer, while in the winter they are famous resorts for the fishermen, who, fishing through the ice, generally meet with good success. The southern shores of the town are washed by. the Winnipesaugee River, whose falls afford water-power for many and varied industries.

Bamford, Gulf, Hunt, Packer and Meadow Brooks are the principal small streams of water.

The surface is generally uneven, being diversified with hills and valleys. Some of the hills are quite elevations, but most of them can be cultivated to their summits. The soil throughout the town is very good, and produces all the crops cultivated in this climate.

Villages .- The business portion of the town is at Tilton, formerly known as Sanbornton Bridge, situ- ated on the Winnipesaugee River, where it forms the boundary line between this town and Northfield, the business portion of Northfield being situated on the southern side of the river, in Merrimack County. Their manufacturing interests, post-office, Fire Pre- cinet and village improvement societies being in common, both villages are known as Tilton; the post-office of Northfield proper being at the depot, four miles from Tilton. The villages are connected by two elegant iron bridges, completed in the spring of 1882, at a cost to both towns of $5500, the upper one costing $3250, of which Mr. Charles E. Tilton paid $500, the sum being equally divided between the towns. The upper bridge is much more elabo- rate and ornamental, with high arching truss.

In addition to the manufacturing industries there are twenty-two stores, seven halls, three churches, one hotel, two hay stables, one steam laundry, an elegant brick building containing the post-office, town-hall, town offices and one store and bank.

The villages are united in what is known as the

Fire Precinct, which was formed in 1867, the fire apparatus consisting of two hand-engines ; the large one having eight-inch cylinder, and requiring fifty men to properly operate, aud throwing a stream one hundred and sixty feet. The small is the most efficient. Both tubs are kept in good condition. They have fifteen hundred feet of hose, and with the mill- pumps answer all ordinary requirements.

The village has extensively suffered from fires, --- first, when it was part of Sanbornton in 1838; again, the 7th of November, 1863; and the most destructive fire which has occurred in the town took place on the 27th of May, 1875, involving a loss of sixty thousand dollars, for an account of which the reader is referred to the Laconia Democrat, June 3, 1875.

Village Improvement Association was formed at the time Rev. Lucius Waterman was pastor of the Episcopal Church (1879-81), he being the prime mover in forming the association which has done much towards beautifying the place; principally through their efforts, some two miles of concrete walk has been laid, street-lamps added and other improve- ments made.

East Tilton Village, situated four miles east of Tilton, on the railroad, is a thriving hamlet, contain- ing two stores, owned respectively by Chase Rollins and William C. Mudgett ; the former is postmaster ; both keep good stock of such goods as are usually found in country stores. Here are two churches, school-house and twenty-five or thirty dwellings. Byron W. Brown has a large saw-mill, with a capacity of getting out twelve thousand feet of lumber a day, in addition he has a shingle-mill ; also a grist- mill with three run of stones,one set of which is used for flour, and employs twelve men.

Tin Corner, once a thriving hamlet, containing a hotel, store, blacksmith, shoe-making, house-joiner and cabinet-maker shops and a large tin-ware estab- lishment. All have succumbed to the inevitable and nothing but farming is left.

Religious Societies .- THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF NORTHFIELD AND TILTON is the oldest and contains the largest number of communicants. The church was formed on the Northfield side of the river in 1806, where it continued till the 4th of Feb- ruary, 1857, at which time the present church, on this side of the river, was dedicated. The house con- tains a large vestry and committee-rooms with modern improvement. In 1880 the building was thoroughly repaired, the old tower was taken down and the present one erected. At the completion of Rev. Nathan P. Philbrook's pastorate there were two hun- dred and fifteen members and thirty-nine on probation.

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TILTON.

The following have been the pastors since the in- corporation of the town : Rev. Charles W. Millen, 1870-71; Rev. William H. Jones, 1872-73; Rev. Lewis P. Cushman, 1874; Rev. John W. Adams, 1875-76; Rev. Silas E. Quimby, 1877-78 ; Rev. Nelson M. Bailey, 1879-80; Rev. Nathan P. Philbrook, 1881-83; Rev. Charles S. Nutter, to present time.

THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF NORTHFIELD AND TILTON was organized in the former town July 18, 1822, and has continued an active and successful church. The present building was erected (in this town) in 1837. In 1869-70 the house was elevated, a vestry and pastor's rooms placed underneath the church and the whole building thoroughly repaired. In 1881 the old pews were removed, modern ones added, the floor leveled, an addition built at the rear for the organ, which was built over, and gas added, the whole expense amounting to six thousand dollars.

Rev. Corban Curtice was pastor at the time of incorporating the town, continuing until the follow- ing year; succeeded by Rev. Theodore C. Pratt, 1870-75; Rev. Frederick T. Perkins, 1875-83; Rev. C. B. Strong, July 1, 1884, to May 3, 1885 ; Rev. C. C. Sampson, May 11, 1885.

TRINITY PARISH (EPISCOPAL) CHURCH OF TIL- TON was organized by Dr. James H. Eames, of Concord, in the fall of 1860, securing the temporary services of Rev. B. Colburn, who officiated some three or four months. The society purchased the brick edifice formerly occupied by the Methodist Episcopal Church, on the Northfield side of the river, put the same in thorough repair at a total expense of some three thousand dollars, which was duly consecrated on the 1st of October, 1861, by the Rt. Rev. Carlton C. Chase, bishop of the diocese.

The Rev. Marcellus A. Herrick, D.D., however, is regarded as the founder of the church, he removing to Northfield, and for fifteen years was most effective and unwearied in promoting the interests of his parish.

Dr. Herrick took charge of the parish as rector on the 15th of February, 1861, and continued until his death, October 31, 1875. When he settled here the church had but a single communicant within the limits of the parish. April 1, 1861, the first regular parish-meeting was held and church officers elected. In 1872 the foundation of their new house of worship was laid in Tilton, It was tastefully and substan- tially built of brick, and on Easter Sunday, April 13, 1873, services were held in it for the first time. The house was consecrated May 25, 1875, by Rt. Rev. William W. Niles, bishop of the diocese of New Hampshire. The whole cost of the lot, building, organ and other furniture was about fifteen thousand dollars. Mrs. Dr. Eames, of Concord, presented the chancel window. On the left is a large painting from Richelieu done at Rome, representing Christ delivering the keys to Saint Peter with the injunction : " Feed my Sheep."

The building is forty-two by sixty-two, with a large tower at the northwest corner, and is a most beau- tiful structure.

After the death of Dr. Herrick, Rev. Frank S. Har- raden was rector for one year from the spring of 1876; Rev. Henry H. Haynes rector for one and a half years (1777-79); Rev. Lucius Waterman (1879-81), Rev. Frederick C. Cowper acting as assistant during the time Mr. Waterman was in Europe (1881). Rev. Isaac Peck rector over a year closing his services in October 1885.

FREE-WILL BAPTIST CHURCH AT EAST TILTON was organized March 27, 1827. In June, 1834, they built a house of worship, forty-eight by forty, thir- teen feet post, costing $835.73. In 1861 the building was turned round and remodeled at an expense of nine hundred dollars. In 1876 the building was again repaired and put in good condition.

The following had been the pastors since incorpo- ration :

Rev. Gilman Sanborn, September 1, 1869, till June, 1870; Rev. Otis F. Russell, June, 1870, to May, 1871; Rev. E. Preston Moulton, May, 1871, to May 4, 1872; Rev. Mr. Walker resided at Laconia and occupied the pulpit nearly one year ; Rev. John G. Munsey, May, 1873, till February 20, 1878; Rev. J. Herbert Yeo- man, from June 1, 1878, two years ; Rev. William H. Yeoman, 1880 till March, 1884; Rev. John G. Mun- sey, the present incumbent.

METHODIST CHURCH AT EAST TILTON was built previous to 1835 and thoroughly repaired in 1879, and since the incorporation of the town nine pastors have most acceptable filled the ministerial positions with their people.

Educational-NEW HAMPSHIRE CONFERENCE SEMINARY AND FEMALE COLLEGE .- Situated on Academy Hill, just north of the village and facing the south, overlooking the village, the valley of the Winnipiseogee River and a panorama of mountains and quiet valleys, is situated the above seminary, composed of three buildings; the central is sur- mounted by a cupola. It contains the president's office, chapel, reading-room and well-furnished reci- tation-rooms on the two lower stories, and a spacious hall in the upper story. Three rods from either ex- tremity of this main building are two other three- story buildings, that on the west being the ladies' boarding-house, that on the east being devoted to male teachers and students. These buildings are of brick, and during the summer of 1886 extensive alterations will be made, which will unite the three buildings in one, and the central will have a large clock placed in the tower.

During the year 1845 the first seminary building was crected on the Northfield side of the river, on the site now occupied by Miss Hannah Houghton.

The building was of brick and was unpretending in appearance. In 1857 the building was found inadaquate, and in August of that year a commodious

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HISTORY OF BELKNAP COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

and substantial edifice was dedicated, where, under one roof, the faculty and students found a pleasant home.

On the night of November 7, 1862, the structure was destroyed by fire and the school left homeless. " The old >ite was abandoned and the present and more desirable location adopted. During the darkest days of the Rebellion the buildings were completed and consecrated (August 24, 1864) 10 their noble work -the education of the young. Although under control of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the school is by no means sectarian. It has ever enjoyed a liberal patronage from Christian parents of every denomina- tion." 1 Among its graduates are found ten eminent lawyers, two members of Congress and one New Hampshire State officer, a number of successful business men, at least ten prominent clergymen, one distinguished theological author, four physicians and ten professors. All branches of education are taught, including music, art, language and scientific course. The institution was under the management of Rev. Silas E. Quimby, A.M., until 1885, to whom much credit is due for the successful and able man- ner iu which the institution is conducted. Rev. D. C. Knowles, A.M., became president succeeding Rev. Mr. Quimby, and is bringing the school to a higher grade.

UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT, No. 1, was formed out of Districts Nos. 2 and 28 (old districts in Sanborn- ton), in Tilton, and District No. 10, in Northfield; the first officers being appointed by the selectmen April 16, 1872, consisting of W. Balcom, of North- field, Adam S. Ballantyne, Charles B. Garmon and Samuel J. Tilton, prudential committee. There be- ing a question of the legality of this union, a special act of the General Court was granted. Pending the granting of this act, a meeting was held, May 28, 1872, at the school-house in No. 28 (which stood on what is now the Park, owned by Mrs. A. H. Tilton, at the west part of the village,-the school-house being subsequently sold, mnoved west of its old location aud fitted for a dwelling-house), and Charles T. Hill elected clerk pro tem. The action of this meeting was that Messrs. W. S. Clark, Charles C. Rogers and Franklin J. Eastman were chosen a building com- mittee to select the site, put in the foundation and superintend the erection of the school-house. The plan of Mr. Arthur Smyth for a building costing four thousand four hundred dollars was accepted, and a sum of money not exceeding five thousand dol- lars was voted to purchase land and erect the build- ings, three thousand dollars being raised by taxation and the balance being borrowed at a low rate of in- terest. One-half acre of land was given by Mr. Franklin J. Eastman on the Northfield side of the river, and the present building erected. In March, 1873, the building committee reported the cost of the

building, $4947.35, and the entire cost, including wells, pumps, etc., at $5130.73.

After the act of incorporation was granted, the citizens met, September 4, 1872, and chose a Board of Education, as follows: Rev. Marcellus A. Herrick, Rev. Theodore C. Pratt and Rev. John B. Robinson.

The check-list was first used at the annual meeting in 1883. Three schools are kept in the hnilding, consisting of primary, intermediate and grammar departments, and the schools are fully up to the standard. The district schools consist of five in num- ber, situated as follows: No. 1, at Tin Corner (it was the first school district in the old town of Sanborn- ton); No. 2, on the Sanborn road ; No. 3, at East Til- ton village ; No. 4, above Tilton village; No. 5, above East Tilton, and known as the Rollins District. With the exception of the graded school, no new buildings have been erected, but all are in thorough repair and conveniently situated. The average length of the . school term is not far from thirty-six weeks a year.

Mills .- TILTON MILLS .- In 1828, Nathaniel Holmes removed here from Meredith, and built the first cot- ton-mill for making yarn and warp on the site of the present Tilton Mills. The mill was forty by fifty feet, and did much towards giving Tilton its prosperity.

" In 1859, Colonel A. H. Tilton put two sets of wool- en machinery into this mill and started on cassimeres ; he invented and made the all-wool goods known as Tweeds. The mill property, embracing seventy-five acres, and extending one-third of a mile down the river, controls an immense water-power, with twelve feet fall at the mills, fifteen feet fall forty-four rods farther down and twenty-three feet fall forty-four rods below the last."2 Colonel Tilton was soon obliged to en- large the mill, and in 1865 doubled its capacity.

The mill property consists of the main building, dye-house, picker-house, sorting, dye, finishing and waste-houses as separate buildings. "The Tilton tweeds" have attained a wide celebrity, and for years were manufactured exclusively, but as times changed and the market required, meltons have been gradually added, and up to the present time the mills have made fifty-five styles of goods. All the narrow looms have given place to the broad looms, of which there are twenty. The mill is equipped with four sets of woolen machinery. There has recently been added one new set of cards, a hydro-extractor, Brammel's self-feeders and a rotary fulling-mill, a Bigelow steam boiler of sixty-four horse-power, a new Rodney & Hunt tur- bine water-wheel, a new dye-house, and the capacity of the finishing-room has been doubled. They give employment to seventy-five hands, with a monthly pay-roll of two thousand dollars, and manufacture three thousand six hundred yards of cloth per month.

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History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire, Part 209

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