History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire, Part 211

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 211
USA > New Hampshire > Belknap County > History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire > Part 211

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There is reason to believe that this ancestor of the Tilton family was an upright and godly man, and a strict observer of the ordinances of the church ; that the nnwritten obligations imposed by his confession of faith were conscientiously regarded and discharged.

It is well authenticated that the earliest religious instruction received by his grandchildren in catechis- mal teaching and in sacred song came from the lips of this devout and honored old patriarch.

Those early precepts may not have matured in open acceptance of conventional forms, or in public ac- knowledgments of creeds, yet the inclination of mind then formed may have been the seed that has borne the fruit of generous liberality to every church enterprise and demand, or educational purpose ever manifested on the part of his descendants. His son Jeremiah was born in 1762, probably at Hampton or Kensington, and came into town when a lad of six or eight years with his father. He grew to be an energetic mnan of business, identifying himself to a remarkable degree with the improvements and fa- cilities required by a new country. He built the original Dexter House, engaged in blacksmithing

when utensils of iron were more often forged at home than purchased abroad. He put in operation a grist- mill, acted as justice of the peace, was a colonel in the militia and a soldier in the Revolutionary War. He was the father of eleven children,-six daughters and five sons,-all of them possessing strong points and sterling qualities of character. Samuel, the second child and son, was born in 1789.

He was a marked man, of fine presence, unusual sagacity, solid sense and self-reliance.

He possessed qualities which would have made him a foremost man in any position Providence might have assigned him. Runnels says, " As a friend he was honest, firm and unswerving, a liberal con- tributor " to religious and educational interests, and, in the broadest sense of the term, a public-spirited citizen.

He married Myra, daughter of Samuel Ames, of Canterbury, in 1815, a lady of unusual excellence. She was endowed with characteristics which, to a great extent, form the ideal of a noble woman, a model wife and devoted mother.

Charles Elliott Tilton was their youngest son of a family of five children, and was born within a stone's throw of his present premises, September 14, 1827. He received the benefit of a good common-school edu- cation, and at the age of fifteen was placed under the tuition of Professor Dyer H. Sanborn, and subse- quently entered a military school at Norwich, Vt., where he. remained three years. The training and discipline acquired here well fitted him for the intense activity required by the business enterprises he orig- inated and developed, or was engaged in, on the Pacific slope from 1850 to 1880,-a period of thirty years.

On the declaration of the war with Mexico he was offered a captain's commission by Colonel Ransom, which he was anxious to accept, but the honor was declined on account of paternal influence.

Young Tilton, with a limited outfit, repaired to New York, and was employed by his brother Alfred, a well-known and successful merchant.

Although most favorably situated with excellent prospects of promotion, New York failed to satisfy the ambition that had grown with his youth of twenty years. He cut loose from all present and prospective advantages held out in this great commercial mart, from friends and acquaintances, and visited nearly all of the inhabited West India Islands with a view to future business. He prospected the Amazon and Orinoco Rivers to the head-waters in canoes, aided by native Indians as guides, visiting localities seldom, if ever, seen by white men.

He then proceeded on land to Caracas and La Guayra, from thence to Maracaybo, St. Matha, Car- thagena, Chagres and Panama.

Having been absent from civilization for a long time, the knowledge of gold discoveries in California and the thousands on the isthmus on their way to

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HISTORY OF BELKNAP COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

gather it, representing every tongue and condition, were stubborn facts which changed his purposes ; causing a revolution in his plans which ended in the realization of his youthful dream of fortune.

His knowledge of the Spanish language was the means of attaching himself to a company of gold- hunters from Vermont, who made use of his services in the purchase of subsistence from the natives while waiting for transportation to San Francisco. For three months his party remained here; every arrival from the East added large numbers to the thousands already in Panama. A chance came at last to leave.

It was announced by the agent of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company that the steamer "Panama" would soon arrive from New York, and that in due time one hundred and fifty deck passages to San Francisco would be disposed of at one hundred and fifty dollars each.

The vast army of resolute adventurers (not less than fifteen thousand) swarming on the Isthmus demanded fair play in face of the fact that the chances were ninety-nine out of every hundred against any one individual securing the coveted ticket.

In deference to public opinion, the agent advertised that on a designated day, at nine o'clock A.M., one hun- dred and fifty tickets would be issued on the principle of " first come, first served."

The subject of this sketch was the solitary exception in the vast throng who alone lacked ready funds, in that uo-credit period, wherewith to pay his passage.

He visited the agent, but could obtain no con- cession in his own behalf, and the inevitable fact confronted him that he had now reached the tightest spot in his career.

The parting words of the agent, " Boy, if you get here I'll take your draft on your brother," lifted the hurden and inspired courage for the terrific struggle which began at midnight on that memorable occasion.

At twelve o'clock preceding the morning of the sale the streets of Panama were filled with a turbulent mob, each one desperate and determined on securing a passage.

For nine long hours the crazed and maddened crowd hooted and yelled, struggled and pushed, swayed and surged in front of the ticket-office. Hats, coats, vests and shirts were torn from their owners, and in many cases men denuded of all clothing were seen in this raging sea of humanity.

In ten minutes after the time appointed for sale the one hundred and fifty passages were secured .. Young Tilton, stripped to his pautaloons, was recognized by the agent, and his profane salutation had a flavor of admiration in it as he passed him ticket No. 102, with " I'll take your draft, my boy."

He had intuitively recognized the unflinching pluck and innate honesty of his new acquaintance. Tickets changed hands freely at from twelve to fifteen hundred dollars each.

A young man by the name of Newhall purchased one

at twelve hundred dollars, and chance or Providence (let the sequel decide) brought him and Tilton to- gether as messmates. They pre-empted a section of the deek, and at no time during their passage did both leave it at the same time. Tilton from his limited funds hought a bag of crackers and a few pounds of cheese, which for twenty-two days made the daily fare of the two adventurers on their way to the land of gold. Six feet square of oaken plank made their domicile and dormitory, and the skies of the Pacific their only roof.

Youth and young blood were proof against such accommodations, and when San Francisco, with its piles of sand and scattered red cedar shanties, first met their view, it gave faint promise of its future opulence and magnificence.

Newhall went to the mines and shortly returned home-sick, dejected and without funds, and there were thousands similarly situated. No chance existed for working a passage to the East, and all attempts to obtain one proved failures.

There is a divinity which shapes our ends, and the divinity in Newhall's affairs was a little red flag. He was a ready talker, witty and quick at repartee. Til- ton's fertile perception had grasped the possibilities as he entered the auction-room and solicited employ- ment for an auctioneer.

An arrangement was made in less time than it takes to record it, and young Newhall was engaged for the night to sell jack-knives, needles, combs, &c., on trial.

He suited, was retained at good rates, was prudent and saved his money and soon started a similar ven- ture for himself, which developed into an immense business, from which he retired with a fortune of two millions of dollars. His sons became his successors, and their warehouse is still found adjoining the Bank of California, on Sansome Street, the leading auction and commission house on the Pacific Coast.

Newhall never forgot the friendship that stood hy him in the days of his need, or the prompting that was instrumental in his success. Identified as Mr. Tilton became with the development of the resources of our Western coast and its ever-receding frontier for thirty years, his diversified operations required the assistance of many men.

Through such agency others became successful who can trace their fortune to a beginning apparently as remote and improbable as could Newhall.

In Clarke's "Sketches of Successful New Hampshire men," it is stated that "In all this period Mr. Tilton was interested in many enterprises on the coast and frontier. Among them may be mentioned the navi- gation of the Columbia and Willamette Rivers.

"He was one of five who controlled what has de- veloped into the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company, with a capital of twenty-four million dol- lars.

" As early as 1851 he interested himself with a friend

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of his boyhood, W. S. Ladd, who started in business in Portland, Oregon.

"In 1860 they organized the first banking-house in that territory, under the style of Ladd & Tilton, which soon acquired a national reputation. For over twenty years it occupied a high rank among the financial institutions of the country. Under their control, whatever stress affected the world of finance, the credit of this house remained unquestioned and unimpaired. Mr. Tilton retired in 1881. Since then Mr. Ladd and his sons have fully maintained its honestly-earned repute.

" Soon afterwards the banking-house of Ladd & Bush was founded at Salem, Oregon, also the First National Bank of Portland and the First National Bank of Walla-Walla, Washington Territory, in all of which Mr. Tilton was interested.

" At the same time he was largely engaged in trans- portation across the plains. He fully understood the requirements of merchandise in Utah, Montana, Wyoming and Colorado. He furnished and dis- patched large trains from San Francisco, Cal., to Utah, and from St. Joseph, Mo., to Colorado, and from thence to Montana, giving his personal attention to them all.

" A country largely held by hostile Indians had to be traversed, and few trains reached their destination unmolested. Desperate encounters occurred fre- quently, resulting in more or less loss of life and property, and once ending in the capture of the entire train.

"Other obstacles had to be met, incident to such undertakings,-like storms, swollen rivers and break- downs, which would have seemed insuperable to any one of less force of character. He purchased lands in all the Territories, which investments have proved ad- vantageous.

"He engaged in many other transactions which his keen perceptions led him to believe would be re- munerative, so that, in fact, there were but few enter- prises of importance connected with the growth of the Pacific slope, whether pertaining to its finance, in- ternal improvement, its foreign and domestic com- merce, in which the cool and sagacious subject of this sketch was not a participator. To organize and direct successfully such varied and extended operations, out- lined only in part, required a mind strong in per- ception and purpose. A union of these qualities with that adventurous spirit which led the youth of eighteen to the sources of the Orinoco and Amazon in pursuit of wealth constituted a mental plant which could well measure the possibilities of a new country and turn to advantage pecuniarily its development.

" In all this time Mr. Tilton enjoyed excellent health and immunity from serious accident.

" After living amidst the malaria of tropical lagoons, sleeping by the side of his mustang on the plains, blockaded by storms among the Sierras and assailed by hostile Apaches, he returns to his native hills un-

scathed, with a sound constitution and his youthful purpose fully accomplished."

Since 1881 more of his time has been spent in Tilton than for many years previously, and has been occupied to a considerable extent in superintending the various improvements he has planned.

There are two conditions apparent at all times in whatever he does,-thoroughness and general utility.

He has constructed an artificial island, and on it au elegant summer-house surrounded with statuary enduring as marble and bronze, and refreshing shade, easily accessible by a solid bridge of granite and iron, all of which is the common property and of any who choose to avail themselves of its enjoyment.

Fountains as classic and permanent as ever adorned the streets of Rome are kindly tributes to the needs of man and beast.

The grateful coolness of a shady park, with easy drives and rural seats, for many summers to come will invite the visitors' presence and return.

A town hall of brick and granite, with its recurring income, will remind posterity for generations of the large liberality which gave it form.

Generous outlays for cemetery improvements and for a driving park unexcelled in all that makes one perfect are substantialities which will remain evi- dences of a broad humanity which recognized the enjoyments as well as the necessities of mankind.

His liberal contributions for church and school interests are influences which may be felt "to time's remotest bound."

There are many other attractions in our village which can be traced to his direct agency.

The elegant passenger depot and its appointments the iron bridges, and, in fact, all the public improve- ments of the town are indebted more or less to him for their construction.

His bounty has recognized the field of our needs, our comfort and our pleasure.

As a natural sequence, a business career as extensive and diversified as his has been requires occupation now. His various enterprises in Tilton, which are giving more than a local reputation to the town, afford rest as well as employment to a mind by nature and habit inclined to vigorous activity.

His thirty years of participation in those renewing instrumentalities which have wrested a territory as large as the original thirteen States from Indian and half-breed supremacy, and which now teems with an enlightened population possessing all the adjuncts of civilization, would furnish ample incident and ad- venture to fill a volume.

He quietly takes his place as one of the people among his former neighbors, asking no consideration except what inures to every well-meaning citizen.

The golden dream of his boyhood's days has come to pass, yet the memories of youth and early associ- ations remain the most sensitive chords in his nature. Herein lies the inspiration for that munificence

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HISTORY OF BELKNAP COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

which has given the town bearing his family name prominence and fame abroad, and himself esteem and consideration as well.

His cordial and unpretentious bearing at all times indicate his true character. His sympathies are of and with the people. Possessing marked elements of personal popularity, thus far his record leaves no sign of the politician.

Public positions which would have tempted tbe ambition of almost any man have been proffered him, but declined, in obedience to a resolution formed in early life to hold no office. He has well-defined political convictions, yet his suffrage is influenced by higher motives than control the mere partisan. The character of the candidate, his record as affecting the business interests of the country, are more potent than party discipline or platforms in directing his vote.

At his elegant residence, overlooking the beautiful village which bears his name, the warmest welcome is extended and the largest hospitality dispensed to all his life-long friends and acquaintances.

What was the personal appearance of the subject of this sketch ? may be asked an hundred years hence. In height, five feet ten ; well and compactly formed and without surplus flesh ; of erect carriage, regular features; clear blue eyes, and when young must have given promise of the fine presence and noble manhood he now possesses.

His weight is about two hundred pounds, and at fifty-seven he is a well-preserved model of a self-made man with all his mental faculties in mature perfection.

It is needless to say that he holds the undivided regard of all his neighbors and townsmen.

That he may long live to enjoy the fruits of a re- markable business career, as bold and original as it proved successful, is the ardent wish and silent prayer of all who know him.

ALEXANDER HAMILTON TILTON.

The first ancestor of Mr. Tilton of whom there is definite information was Nathaniel (1), who settled in Sanbornton, N. H., prior to 1771. He was one of the signers of the original "Church Covenant," and was a deacon of the old church for nearly forty years. He lived a devoted Christian life and died February 11, 1814. He married Abigail Gilman (a relative of Governor Gilman), who bore him seven children, one of whom, Jeremiah (2), was born in 1762, and was in the Revolutionary War at the age of sixteen as a teamster; was later a colonel in the State militia ; also was a justice of the peace and an energetic business man, who did much to build up the village which later was given the name of Tilton. He built the original hotel on the site of the present Dexter House, and was proprietor of a grist-mill and a trip-hammer shop. He suffered much during the later years of his life from rheumatism. He died April 10, 1822. February 21, 1786, he married

Mehitable Hayes, who bore him eleven children,- John (3), born July 16, 1787 ; married Eunice Jaques, died August 29, 1863. Samuel (3), born August 20, 1789; married, first, Myra Ames, January 31, 1815, and, second, Mrs. Elizabeth Haven, March 6, 1858; died November 12, 1861. Sally (3), born in 1791 ; single ; died January 31, 1818. Jeremiah, Jr. (3), born Sep- tember 10, 1793 ; married Nancy Carter, December 9, 1816 ; died January 23, 1863. James P. (3), born No- vember, 1796; married Mary G. Cross, July 16, 1820 ; died April 1, 1872 ; he was a soldier in the War of 1812. Abigail (3), born in 1798; single; died Oc- tober 29, 1819. Mahala (3), born in August, 1800; married Hon. D. C. Atkinson (first wife), October 12, 1818 ; died June 12, 1820. Mary P. (3), born December 13, 1802; married Parson Whidden, January 31, 1832; died October 5, 1875. Alexander Hamilton (3), born December 25, 1804. Mehitable (3), born August 26, 1807; married Hon. D. C. At- kinson (second wife), September 3, 1828; died No- vember 12, 1844. Sophronia (3), born in 1810; sin- gle; died March 12, 1845.

Alexander Hamilton, the subject of this sketch, passed his boyhood on the old Tilton place, in San- bornton, and at " the Bridge," where his father re- moved. His educational advantages were such as were afforded in the common schools. Although his parents had planned that he should take a collegiate course, his own inclinations were for trade or man- ufacture, and at the age of sixteen he entered the woolen-mill of his brother and learned the trade of a clothier. He was an energetic young man, ready to see, and soon mastered the details of the business so readily that he was taken into partnership and so continued for several years.

After dissolving partnership with his brother he started on his own account the clothing business at Meredith village, but after several years of fair suc- cess he returned to Sanbornton Bridge and engaged in general merchandising with William Follansbee, and continued in partnership with him several years ; then dissolved with him and went into partnership with Mr. Colby, in another store on the Northfield side of the river, and continued with him until the fall of 1837, when he formed a partnership with George S. Baker, and commenced the manufacture of cassimeres. He also built a woolen-mill on the site of the old Darling mill, but sold the privilege to the " Lake Company " (an association of Boston capital- ists, who were buying up the control of the stream), although he continued to run the mill on a lease. He was successful here for several years. In 1855 this mill was burned. After the fire he took the old Holmes cotton-mill, changed it into a woolen-mill, and, in 1859, doubled the size of it to meet the re- quirements of a large business. He carried on the manufacture of woolen goods here until near the time of his death, employing part of the time as many as sixty hands. Mr. Tilton was the inventor, and

Alexander H.Y. Utón

Filum B. Parney

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for years the proprietor, of an ingeniously-woven goods, to which was given the name of "Tilton tweeds." These goods were soon in great demand, and to this day are celebrated.

Mr. Tilton built a fine residence on the bluff over- looking his mills . (the house now owned by J. F. Taylor), but when taking the Holmes mill he removed to the Holmes mansion and lived there the remainder of his life. In politics Mr. Tilton was a Democrat- active and influential in advancing the interests and policy of his party-he became a power widely felt. He was for many years a director of the Boston, Concord and Montreal Railroad, was jus- tice of the peace, and while he never made a public profession of religion, he was a liberal man and made frequent donations to the support of public worship, both in his native town, and at "the Bridge." One of his public donations was an elaborate receiving-tomb, which stands in the Park Cemetery. Mr. Tilton suffered severely in the last years of his life from chronic troubles, and died at his home August 16, 1878, respected and beloved, and as one of those whose thrift and enterprise had done so much to build up the community in which he lived, his loss is severely felt. July 27, 1837, Mr. Tilton married Abigail B. Baker, eldest daughter of Mark and Abigail Ambrose Baker, who, since his death, has carried on the business of manufacturing the "Tilton tweeds" in a highly successful man- ner, having associated with her Mr. Selwin B. Pea- body as partner.

Mr. Tilton had three children,-Albert Baker (4), born June 9, 1845; married Abbie Gardner Day, of Boxford, Mass., August 15, 1866, and died August 25, 1870; his widow married William J. Durgin, No- vember 27, 1873. Alfred Edwin (4), born October 17, 1846; died November 2, 1846. A. Evelyn (4), born March 2, 1854; died July 20, 1876. She was a lovely character, but early was taken to Him who gave, " While the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them."

SELWIN BANCROFT PEABODY.

The great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch was Samuel (1), who was born September 1, 1741, and lived in Andover, Mass., where most of his children were born.

He married Elizabeth Wilkins, of Amherst, and died August 6, 1814. His wife dicd July 18, 1836. His son, John (2), was born August 15, 1775. Hc was a millwright, carpenter and cabinet-maker, and lived in New Boston. He married Mary Holt, and died May 1, 1832. Of his children, John, Samuel and Sargon were farmers, Jacob a brick-maker, James and William were blacksmiths, Ezekiel and Noah hatters, and Joseph a merchant. Noah (3) was born September 4, 1810. He married Isabella Walker

Richards, December 9, 1834, and removed from Sut- ton, N. H., to Sanbornton Bridge in 1842, and opened a hatter's shop. He afterwards went into the mer- cantile business, in which he continued eighteen years, with fair success only. Desiring a change, he closed out and entered the counting-room of Alex- ander H. Tilton, and becoming familiar with the manufacture of goods, he took the position of fin- isher. Here he remained many years, and had finally the principal care of the large business of the Tilton Mills. He was a prominent member of the Congre- gational Church aud a man of excellent standing as a citizen and a Christian. He died September 11, 1876. His children were Selwin Bancroft (4), born January 13, 1839; James Van Ness, born October 13, 1841; and Georglana Isabel, born November 15, 1843, married David F. Cheney, formerly of Frank- lin, N. H., and now of Lawrence, Mass. The subject of this sketch, at the age of three years, moved to the " Bridge," and here his boyhood was passed. In addition to the advantages of the commou schools of the town, he attended the Tilton Institute, where he took the full preparatory course for Dartmouth Col- lege. It was during this preparatory course that he began to look upon the medical profession as the one of his choice, and at its close he entered the office of Dr. Lyford, at the Bridge, where he remained a short time and then went to Lawrence, Mass., to study under the direction of Dr. Sayforth. To obtain the necessary means to go on with his studies, he taught school at Sanbornton Bridge, also in Northfield and at Bellaire, Ohio. At the breaking out of the Civil War he enlisted in the Fortieth Massachusetts Vol- unteers, and served until the close of the war, being in nearly all the engagements of his regiment, nota- bly the siege of Suffolk, Va .; Baltimore Cross-Roads, Va .; siege of Fort Wagner, S. C .; Ten-Mile Run and Barber's Ford, Fla .; Drury's Bluff, Petersburg Heights and the siege of Petersburg, Va .; Bermuda Hun- dred ; Fair Oaks and capture of Richmond. From his knowledge of medicine he became very efficient in the medical department of the army, and was on detached duty a portion of the time. He was in the dispensary of Jarvis General Hospital, Baltimore, in the office of provost marshal at Governor's Island, and was wounded before Petersburg. At the close of the war he entered the drug store of Burleigh Bros., in Boston, Mass., at which place he received a serious injury by falling through an open hatchway, from which injury he was a long time in recovering.

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History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire, Part 211

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