History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire, Part 25

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 25
USA > New Hampshire > Belknap County > History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire > Part 25

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

After a few days the women were informed by the Indians that they would soon start for a distant settle- ment, and when they arrived there would be obliged to submit to Indian customs, of which one was to run the gauntlet, naked, between two files of Indians. On learning this, Mrs. Dustin formed her deadly plan. She told the boy Lannardson to ask his master where he would strike a man if he wished to kill him in- stantly, and how he would take off a scalp. The Indian laid his finger on his temple. "Strike 'em there," said he, and then instructed the boy how to scalp. Engaging the nurse and the boy in her plot, they waited the midnight hour for executing it. With tomahawks in hand, they struck the fatal blows on the heads of the Indians as they lay fast asleep. Ten were killed at once. Mrs. Dustin killed her master, and Samuel Lannardson dispatched the very Indian who told him where to strike and how to take off a scalp. A favorite Indian boy was spared, and one of the squaws whom they left for dead jumped up and ran into the thicket. Mrs. Dustin, gathering up what provisions there were in the wigwam, taking the gun of her dead master and the tomahawk with which she killed him, and, to prevent pursuit, scutt- ling the Indian canoes, except one, she embarked in that, with the nurse and boy Lannardson, on the waters of the Merrimack, to seek their way to Haver- hill. They had not proceeded far, however, when Mrs Dustin, perceiving that they had neglected to take the scalps, and fearing lest her neighbors --- should she ever arrive at her home-would not credit her story, hastened back with her companions to the scene of death, took off the scalps of the slain, put them "into a hag, and, with these bloody witnesses

Moses Humphrey

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CONCORD.

of their feat, hastened again on their downward course to Haverhill. There they safely arrived." On the 21st of April following, Mrs. Dustin and her two attendants went to Boston, carrying, as proofs of their exploit, the gun, tomahawk and ten scalps, and received, as a reward from the General Court, fifty ponnds, besides many valuable presents from others.

The Dustin Memorial .- On the island at the mouth of the Contoocook River stands the granite memorial erected to commemorate this achievement. The statue was erected mainly through the efforts of Robert B. Caverly, of Lowell, and E. S. Nntter, of Concord. The first step to that end was the convey- ance, by Messrs. John C. and Calvin (tage, to Rev. Nathaniel Bouton, E. S. Nntter and R. B. Caverly, in trust, all of the land lying east of the Northern Railroad, upon the island, for the purpose of establishing a memorial. Funds to the amount of six thousand dollars were raised by subscription. The statue and pedestal are of Concord granite, after a design by William Andrews, of Lowell. The sculptors were Andrew Orsolini, James Murray and Charles H. Andrews ; the builder, Porter E. Blanchard.

The monument was unveiled June 17, 1874, with appropriate ceremonies. There was a large gathering of people. Addresses were made by Rev. N. Bouton, of Concord; R. B. Caverly, Esq., of Lowell; Hon. G. W. Nesmith, of Franklin ; Major-General S. G. Griffin, of Keene ; D. O. Allen, of Lowell ; Hon. B. F. Pres- cott, of Epping ; Colonel J. H. George, of Concord ; Rev. Elias Nason, of Billerica ; Charles C. Coffin, of Boston ; Rev. W. T. Savage, of Franklin ; ex-Governor Onslow Stearns, of Concord, and others. Governor James A. Weston accepted the deed, in trust, for the State.

The Concord Horse Railroad .- This road was or- ganized in 1880, and was running in April, 1881. The road was started with five cars, and now has ten. In 1885 the company added to their stock two steam motors, which are designed to supersede the use of horses. The line extends from South Main Street, or the " South End," as this part of the town is called, through West Concord to Penacook. Hon. Moses IFumphrey is president and superintendent.

HON. MOSES HUMPHREY, ex-mayor and one of Con- cord's leading citizens, was born in Hingham, Mass., October 20, 1807; son of Moses Leavitt and Sarah (Lincoln) Humphrey, who were descendants of the first settlers of that ancient town. He attended the common schools of his native town until 1821, when he commenced following the sea, at that time a lead- ing branch of industry of Southeastern Massachusetts. He continued in this occupation twelve years, seven of which he was master of the schooners " Ann " and " Climax," of Hingham, and other vessels. Ile then, in company with his brother, engaged in commerce,- owning a number of vessels,-the mercantile business and cooperage on an extensive scale, and the practi- cal management of the business devolved upon Mr.

Humphrey. He was the originator of the manufac- ture of "kits" by machinery, and upon his removal to Croydon, N. H., in 1843, commenced their manufac- ture, which was continued there until 1851, when he removed the business to Concord, where he has con- ducted it to the present time, and from that time to the present has been prominently identified with the progress of the city. He was a member of the first City Council in 1853, and in 1854 was elected presi- dent of the Council; in 1855 was elected to the Board of Allerman, and during Mayor Clement's sickness for several months, Mr. Humphrey was chairman of the board and acting-mayor. He was re-elected in 1856. In 1857 was a member of the House of Representatives, and chairman of the com- mittee on towns and parishes. In 1860 was elected president of the Merrimack County Agricultural Society, and held the position several years. He was chosen a director in the First National Bank in 1864.

In March, 1861, Mr. Humphrey was elected mayor, and, in March following, upon the eve of the break- ing out of the Rebellion, was sworn into office. Presi- dent Lincoln's first call for troops occurred soon after, and Mayor Humphrey at once suggested to Captain Sturdevant, a prominent police officer, that he recruit a company for immediate service, which was done, and mustered into the United States ser- vice as Company A of the First Regiment of New Hampshire Volunteers. Concord subsequently be- came the headquarters of the army for the State, and was also the general recruiting station. Here were rendezvoused the First, Third, Fifth, Ninth, Elev- enth, Twelfth, Thirteenth, Fourteenth, Fifteenth and Sixteenth Regiments. This brought together different elements of society, and devolved great responsibility upon the head of the city government. The June session of the Legislature in 1861 passed 'an act authorizing cities and towns to pay State aid to vol- unteers. The cities generally appointed agents to disburse this fund, but in this city the duties were assumed by Mayor Humphrey, who paid out the sum of $23,330.29. He discharged the duties of this trying period with courage and to the welfare and honor of his adopted city. In addition to the duties which the war devolved npon him, he was also overseer of the poor, superintendent of highways and bridges, etc. He was, also, the city's authorized agent for filling the quotas in 1861, '62 and '65, and, at the close of his administration in 1862, he had eighty- two men credited to the city above the quotas. He was also chairman, in 1863, of the High School building committee. He was re-elected mayor in 1865.

He was foremost in the movement which resulted in the rebuilding of the State-House in 1865, and in the following year he was appointed by Governor Smyth one of a committee to build the State-House fence, beautify the grounds, etc. The labor of this

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HISTORY OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

committee, however, chiefly devolved upon Mayor Humphrey. He was a member of Governor Stearns' Council in 1869, and was an earnest advocate of the movement for building the new State Prison, and also for changing the method of appointment of the warden, transferring the power from the Legislature to the Governor and Council. He has also repre- sented Ward Five in the Legislature, aud has been chairman of the Board of Agriculture since 1870. Mayor Humphrey is the present president and super- intendent of the Concord Horse Railroad, and the success of this enterprise is largely due to his untir- ing efforts. Although beyond the scriptural age of three-score and ten, he still retains the vigor and elasticity of youth. He is a Republican in politics, and a member of the Universalist Church.

In 1831, Mayor Humphrey united in marriage with Lydia Humphrey, and they had one daughter, who died in 1850. Mayor and Mrs. Humphrey cele- brated their "golden wedding" in 1881.

Centenarians.1-The following is a list of centen- arians who have died in Concord :

Elizabeth (Abbott) Hazeltine, died February 25, 1834; daughter of Nathaniel Abbott, one of the original proprietors of Concord (then Penacook), where she was born July I, 1733.

Mrs. Willey died in Concord April 14, 1847, aged one hundred years, three months and seventeen days.

Theodosia Smith died in Concord, 1839, aged one hundred and one years.

Lydia (Goodwin) Elliott died June 24, 1856, aged one hundred and three years, four months and twenty- five days ; born in Newton, Mass., January 30, 1753. One of her brothers died at the age of ninety-seven ; one sister at ninety-nine years and eight months, and one at ninety-seven; another was living in Janu- ary, 1853, at the age of ninety-six ; four of her chil- dren, seventy grandchildren, one hundred great- grandchildren, and at least eight great-great-grand- children were living at her centennial.

Margaret (Sargent) Evans died March 28, 1877, aged one hundred and one years, eight months and twenty-one days. She was born in Chester July 7, 1775 ; of her eight children, four survived her, two of the number heing over seventy years of age. She had been a resident of Concord nearly eighty years.

Slavery in Concord .- In the early days slavery was not unknown in this section, as the following docu- ments show :

" CONCORD, March 4, 1767.

"Received of Andrew McMillan the sum of forty-seven pounds ten ahillings, lawful money, in full consideration for my Negro Boy slave named Cæsar, aged about eleven years, which Negro Boy I have this day sold to said McMillan, and promise to warrant and defend the property of said Negro Boy to him, the said McMillan, and his heirs or assigns forever, against the claims of any other person or persons whatsoever.

" In witness whereof I have hereunto aet my hand and seal, the day and date above mentioned.

S PAUL BURBEEN,

" Witness : \ JAMES OSGOOD."

1 Contributed by D. F. Secomb.

" Know all Men by these Presents,

"That I, Patrick Gault, of Chester, in Ilis Majesty's Province of New-Hampshire, in New-England, husbandman, for and in consider- ation of the sum of twenty pounds, lawful money, to me in hand before the delivery hereof, well and truly paid by Andrew McMillan, of Concord, in the Province aforesaid, Esq., the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge, have bargained and sold, and by these presents do bargain and sell unto him, the said Andrew McMillan, my Negro Garl, named Dinah, aged about eight years, to have and to hold the said Negro Garl Dinah, by these presents, to him, the said Andrew McMillan, his heirs, administrators and assigns ; and 1, the said Pat- rick Gault, for myself, my heirs and administrators, shall and will warrant, and forever defend her, the said Negro Garl, uuto him, the said Andrew McMillan, his heirs, administrators and assigns, against all the claims and demands of any person or persons whomsoever ; and have put her, the said Negro Garl, 'into his, the said Andrew McMillan's, possession, hy delivering her unto him, the said MeMil- lan, Rt the time of sealing hereof. In witness whereof I have bere unto set my hand and seal, this 24th day of May, and in the eighth year of His Majesty's reign, A.D. one thousand seven hundred and sixty-eight.

His " PATRICK X GAULT.

mark. [ HANNAH MCMILLAN,

"In presente of us :

. SAM'L NOYES."

" BILLERICA, May 2, 1761.

" Know all Men by these Presents, That I, Hannah Bowers, of Bil- lerica, widow, have sold unto Lot Colby, of Rumford, in the Province of New-Hampshire, a mulatto Negro Boy, named Salem, and have received forty-five shillings sterling, in full consideration for the said boy, as witness my hand.

"HANNAH BOWERS.

" Test. : S JOSEPH WALKER,

JOSIAH BOWERS."

The "Negro Garl Dinah" lived to an advanced age, and was known as "Mother Osgood."

The "Boy Cæsar" died in 1847 or 1848, in the ninety-second year of his age.

Aaron Stevens had a negro man who was the town "dog-whipper," it being his office to scourge dogs out of the meeting-house on the Sabbath, for which he received a few pennies from such as were disposed to pay him. The faithful discharge of his office afforded fine amusement for the children during Sab- bath hours.

Captain John Roach also owned a negro woman.

Deacon Joseph Hall, Sr., had a slave woman who had two children, one named Lois and the other John Brown. John was given to Deacon Jonathan Wil- kins, who married a granddaughter of Deacon Hall. John was non compos, aud gave the deacon so much trouble that at last he threw him on the town for support.

At one time John was put to hoeing potatoes alone; but it was found he skipped over every other hill. Being asked what he did it for, he said, "So as to keep up." He was once sent to turn out calves from the stall, but, not succeeding in unfastening their yokes, the deacon's hired man turned the calves out and yoked John up.

Of other slaves in Concord about this time, tradi- tion has preserved some interesting reminiscences. Ephraim Farnum, grandfather of Moses H. Farnum, and living on the same spot, owned a black boy named Cæsar.

"BENJAMIN OSGOon.

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CONCORD.

Abraham Bradley had a negro slave named Pompey -commonly called "Pomp "-for whom he paid thirty bushels of corn. "Pomp" was quite a favorite in the family. He was the attendant and sort of life- guard of John Bradley in his boyhood. In his last will Mr. Bradley gave Pomp to his grandson, John, and ordered his executor " to take especial care that my said negro be not wronged by my aforesaid grand- son in any ways, and if he should wrong him, I give him power to do him justice." Mr. Bradley also gave Pomp " the use and improvement of one-half acre of land," near his dwelling-house, during his natural life.

Colonel Benjamin Rolfe owned a negro, who, in 1772, when the inventory of Colonel Rolfe's property was taken, was valued at fifty-five pounds, lawful money.

William Coffin, the grandfather of Samuel Coffin, Esq., owned a negro woman named "Lucy." "Samp- son," a negro belonging to Archelans Moore, of Canterbury, wanted her for his wife, and there was an agreement that Sampson should work one year for Mr. Coffin to pay for her. A man's wages at that time were about forty dollars a year, or the price of a yoke of oxen. Sampson was a famous fiddler, and for many years afforded fine fun for frolicsome fellows in Concord with his fiddle on election days.

Rev. Timothy Walker had three slaves,-a mati called Prince and two women, Luce and Violet.

Lieutenant Richard Herbert had a slave named Nancy, who was said to have been born in Boston about 1766, and when nine days old was given to a man resident in Bow, who, wishing to remove from the vicinity, brought her to Rumford, and, in 1768, sold her to Lieutenant Herbert for about five dollars.

Manufacturing Interests .- THE PAGE BELTING COMPANY is a representative establishment. The goods manufactured by this company have taken high rank in the commercial world, and branches for the sale of the goods are now established in Boston, St. Lonis, New York and Chicago. This company was incorporated in 1872, and has a capital of two hundred thousand dollars. The offi- cers are as follows: George F. Page, president ; Charles T. Page, treasurer; George F. Page, Charles T. Page, Theodore H. Ford, Lyman D. Stevens, John Abbott, Benjamin A. Kimball, E. G. Wallace, direc- tors; Daniel Barnard, clerk of corporation; L. D. Stevens, clerk of the directors.

PORTER BLANCHARD'S SONS make the celebrated " Blanchard Chuck," which has been manufactured since about the year 1855. The business of chuck- making, however, has been carried on by the Blan- chards, father and sons, since 1818.

JAMES R. HILL, a man who, entirely by his own ef- forts, rose from. the humbler rank of an apprentice to affluence and social position, and through all the changing events of an active business life preserved his integrity unimpeached, well deserves the pen of

the biographer. The life of the late James R. Hill is a well-rounded example of such a career. Without the advantages of inherited aid, he worked the problem of his own fortune and lived to enjoy the fruition of a successful business career.

Mr. Hill was born in Stratham, N. H., December 17, 1821. He remained in his native town until 1836, when he came with his parents to Concord. He soon after entered the employ of Abbot & Downing, and later served an apprenticeship with Greeley & Morrill, harness-makers. In 1842, in company with Oliver Greeley, he commenced the harness busi- ness under the firm-name of Greeley & Hill. A few years later he purchased Mr. Greeley's interest, and continued the business as sole proprietor until 1865. Several times during this period his establishment was destroyed by fire, but with characteristic energy the buildings were immediately rebuilt. In the mean time Mr. Hill had become interested in various enterprises in the city, which necessarily demanded a large share of his time, and he was forced to relin- quish the active management of the harness business, whereupon the firm of James R. Hill & Co. was organized, in 1865, consisting of Mr. Hill, George H. Emery and Josiah E. Dwight ; and the fame of the " Concord harness," through Mr. Hill's wise foresight and characteristic energy, became almost a household word throughout the civilized world, Mr. Hill spend- ing a large portion of his time daily in the mannfac- tory, giving his personal attention to the business un- til his decease.

In 1849 he made the first shipment of harness to California from the East, and in 1853 he made a ship- ment to Chili.

But it was not solely as a manufacturer that Mr. Hill made his influence so largely felt in this eity. He amassed a fortune, which was expended almost en- tirely in the building up of the city, thereby adding largely to its past, present and prospective growth and advancement. To him, more than to any other man, the city is probably indebted for its substantial busi- ness blocks. Among the blocks erected by him were the State, Columbian and Centennial Blocks, etc., and he purchased the Phoenix Hotel property in 1866, and at the time of his death owned more real estate in this city than any other person who has ever lived in Con- cord. For several years previons to his death Mr. Hill was proprietor of the Phoenix Hotel, and the present reputation for excellence of this popular hos- telry is largely due to his judicious management. Although a Democrat in politics and actively inter- ested in the success of his party, he was not a politician and never sought official recognition at the hands of his fellow-citizens. He was emphatically a business man, and his life was one of steady and active devotion to business, and his success was the natural result of his ability to examine and readily comprehend any subject presented to him, power to decide promptly and courage to act with vigor and persistency in ac-

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HISTORY OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

cordance with his convictions. At the time of his death he was a member of the Board of Water Com- missioners and of Blazing Star Lodge of Masons.

Mr. Hill was twice married, his second marriage being to Miss Sophia L. Pickering, in 1854, who survives him. Also five children survived him,-Mrs. Josiah E. Dwight, by his first wife, and the following by his sec- ond wife, viz. : Edson J., manager of the Phoenix Hotel, Solon P., Joseph C. and Cora,-all residents of this city. The death of Mr. Hill was a peculiarly sad one. September 2, 1884, he was thrown from a carriage in Main Street, Concord, receiving injuries which, ten weeks later (November 10th), resulted in death.

The business men of Concord subsequently held a meeting, to express their respect for the memory of Mr. Hill, and Mayor Woodman was chosen to pre- side. Upon taking the chair he spoke as follows :

"Fellow-Citizens,-The occasion which draws us together is one of extreme sadness. Our city mourns the loss of one of her foremost citi- zens, and one whose place canuot well be filled. It is fitting that at such a time we should withdraw from the ordinary routine of business, and give a few words in perpetuation of the memory of one to whom our city and our citizens are so much indebtedl, and whose death is a common los8.

"The comparative suddenness of the death of James R. Hill makes it impossible for us fully to realize the importance of the position which he occupied in this community. It is only a few days since he was with us, attending to his customary avocations with that energy and earnest- ness for which he was particularly noted ; to-day he sleeps the sleep that knows no waking.

" His life was no exception to the rule that nothing comes without effort, and to his persistent labor and indomitable will we may largely accredit his business prosperity. He was, in truth, a self-made mau, and his success has added materially to the growth and adornment of our city. The various business blocks which have been erected through bis instrumentality upon our principal streets form enduring monu- ments to his public spirit, and will canse his memory to be long cher- ished by all who take an interest in our city.

" When we consider how few of our residents are likely to continue so largely a local investment of their capital, in the direction followed by our lamented townsman, we sce that our loss is almost irreparable. But it is not alone for his actual relations to the public that he is mourned by those who knew him as a citizen, a neighbor and a friend. They appreciate his many virtues and recognize his worth as a man of strong convictions, earnest purposes and excellent judgment. He was quiet and undemonstrative in manners, and as his extensive private interests demanded his full attention, he did not seek office, but he had the quali- ties which would have made him a valuable assistant in the administra- tion of public affairs. His keen perceptions, unyielding courage, busi- ness sagacity and untiring energy fitted him for any duty which he could be induced to assume.

"It is in the fullest and sincerest sympathy that 1 join in the expres- sions of sorrow and tender tribute to the memory of so good a citizen as James R. Hill."

John M. Hill, Esq., offered the following resolu- tions :

" Resolved, That we are deeply sensible of the loss to this community of our late associate, Mr. James R. Hill, whose connection with the busi- ness interests of Concord for a period of more than forty years, has been marked with great industry, ability and enterprise ; and who, struggling unaided through the adversities of early life, by force and energy of character, initiated and developed a large manufacturing business of widespread reputation, bringing to himself a fortune which he ex- pended almost entirely in the building up of our city, thereby adding largely to its past, present and prospective growth and advancement.

"Resolved, That the chairman and secretary of this meeting be di- rected to communicate its action to the family of the deceased with the expression of our warm sympathy and regard."

The resolutions were seconded by several gentle- men, the first of whom was Hon. J. E. Sargent, who spoke as follows:

"Mr. Chairman, -I received an invitation from your committee to be present this evening, and have gladly accepted the invitation. We meet for the purpose of expressing our respect for the memory of the late James R. Ilill, who died on the 10th day of November instant, at his home in this city. With the circumstances of peculiar sadness to his family and to the public, which attended his death, we are all familiar. We have seen and read a brief biography of him in the daily papers, which I am informed is substantially correct, except that when he was a small boy, his father aud family moved to Exeter, N. H., where they lived come dozen years or more, and moved from there to Concord in 1836 or 1837, when he was about sixteen years old. He has lived in Concord ever since, and all his business has been done here. He learned his trade here, and commenced business for himself in 1842, when twenty-one years of age. I am also informed that since the formation of the firm, in 1865, of which he was last a member, while giving up somewhat the management of details, he has, however, had the general management and the particular supervision of his business down to the time of his injury. Seldom was there a day when he was ahout home that he was not at the shop, looking after the business and making bim- self useful.

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History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire, Part 25

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