History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire, Part 75

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 75
USA > New Hampshire > Belknap County > History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire > Part 75

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" From the effects of this habitual perseverance resulted, as is sup- posed, the immediate cause of his death. Ile had attended court at New Philadelphia on the 16th of August, and on the 17th, which was a very warm day, rode a hard-traveling horse from Dover to his residence -twenty-three miles-in three hours. On the following week he was

the soldiers of the New Hampshire line, his testimony secured pensions to all whose cases he represented at the War Department. Most of the veteran applicants who sought his assistance had some reminiscence of their military days to relate. One of them, Captain Dauiel Moore, spoke of the sinking of a flat-boat in the middle of the North River, in which himself, Major Stark, their horses and the oarsman were the only pat- sengers. " While I was considering," said the captain, "what excuse I should make to the general for losing his boy, the boy's presence of mind and activity effected arrangements which enabled us all, with the horses, to reach the shore in safety, although in a well-soaked condi- tion."

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HISTORY OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

attacked with a disease in the head and suspension of his faculties, which, with some intermissions, continued until his death, on Sunday evening last, at the age of seventy-eight years, eight months and twenty- three days."-Copied from an Ohio paper of August 31, 1838,

and purse were ever open for their relief. No appeal was ever made in vain to his benevolence; he was most emphatically what Pope calls "the noblest work of God,-an honest man."

Cabo Stark to S

Caleb Stark, Jr., son of Major Caleb Stark, was born in Dunbarton, N. H., November 24, 1804; died Feb- ruary 1, 1864. He was buried in the family cemetery, near the old Stark mansion, a most beautiful resting- place for the dead.

He was a graduate of Harvard College of the class of 1823. After completing his collegiate course he entered the Law School in Connecticut, where he remained about one year and then entered the law- office of Charles G. Haines, Esq., in New York City, where he finished his legal studies and was admitted as attorney-at-law. He soon after went to Ohio and opened an office in the city of Cincinnati. The Western climate did not agree with his constitution, and his health becoming impaired, he closed his business there and returned to his native State and opened au office in Concord. Finding the practice of law unsuited to his quiet, unobtrusive disposition and domestic habits, and being under no pecuniary necessity to continne the practice for a livelihood, he abandoned his profes- sion and returned to the old family homestead in Dunbarton, where he passed the remainder of his days in retirement.

Although not engaged in active business, he was in no sense an idle man ; he represented his township in the State Legislature from 1834 to 1837, and was al- ways an earnest and strenuous advocate of the Demo- cratic principles, which he had adopted at his first entrance into public life.

He was an extensive reader, a close observer of men and of the events of life and a deep thinker, and was one of the finest classical scholars of his class, a writer of great ability and a liberal contributor to the politi- cal and literary journals of his day. He is the author of several works of great historical valne; among them is the "History of Dunbarton," and a valuable memoir of his illustrious grandfather, General John Stark, whose victory over the British and their Hessian and Indian allies at Bennington, Vt., in 1777, made his ! "one of the few immortal names that were not born to die."

The subject of this sketch inherited from his an- cestors their patriotism and love of country.

In private life he was justly and highly esteemed for his genial and social qualities ; for the poor and distressed his sympathies were ever alive, and his heart

COLONEL JOHN STINSON.1

As early as 1751 we find the name of* Captain William Stinson, the first settler in the south westerly part of Dunbarton, associated with the earliest settlement and records of the town, and whose original estate, in part, is now in the possession of a grandson by lineal descent.

Captain Stinsou was born in Ireland March 15, 1725, his parents, with other families, having removed from Scotland to escape the persecutions there en- dured, and which following them, they took passage for the New World, where, on arrival, they went to. Londonderry, N. H., where others of their people had settled.

From this rugged ancestry came the subject of our sketch, Colonel John Stinson, who was the third son of James and Janette (Allison) Stinson, and born at Dunbarton November 13, 1789.

James Stinson, the father, was a cousin to the Cap- tain Stinson mentioned, a man connected with the town's early history, as the records indicate, and known for his well-grounded and industrious character and habits. He inherited many of the Scottish traits and characteristics, and particu- larly was it noted in speech, while the reputation of the people from the land of Wallace and Bruce for honesty, uprightness and integrity of character were prominently upheld in all his walks and associations. A farmer by profession and occupation, his estate was cleared, cultivated and improved, and the home which had been established by his industry and economy, and in which he delighted, witnessed his closing days and was handed down to his son John, of whom we write.

At the age of twenty-nine years John Stinson was married to his cousin, Betsey Stinson, the ceremony being performed February 18, 1819, by Rev. Walter Harris, D.D. From this union of hearts three chil- dren were born,-two daughters and one son. Mary Jane, the eldest daughter, married David Story, a representative farmer of the town. At her decease, and in the course of time, Mr. Story married the re- maining daughter, Nancy Chase, who died August 12, 1865. The son, John Chase, completed his education at the High School in town, and subsequently went to Gloucester City, N. J., where he found employment in the wood, lumber, hardware and coal business, and afterwards was admitted to the firm, where he still continues in business.

1 By William H. Stinson.

You of tinson

Che Stinson Themsen

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DUNBARTON.

On May 2, 1867, he married Alice B. Cogill, of Gloucester City.

Colonel Stinson was a thrifty farmer, active in local affairs, a true Democrat and a town officer for many years ; was selectman in 1846-47, and town clerk in 1824, serving continuously in the latter office from 1833 to 1845; and was commissioned colonel of the Ninth Regiment New Hampshire Militia, which po- sition he filled with much acceptance. The stirring times incident to old State musters and trainings had much interest to him. His truly hospitable home was ever free and inviting, and his fund of wit, humor and good-cheer rendered it a tempting place to call or visit; while his wife was a most excellent lady, and noted for those endearing traits of character which place woman high in our reverence and de- votion.

Colonel Stinson survived his wife several years, and died at the old homestead where his life had been spent, and where his son had provided for his every want, on August 13, 1874, in his eighty-fifth year, respected and beloved by all who knew him.

CAPTAIN CHARLES STINSON.

The subject of this sketch was born April 18, 1800, in Dunbarton, N. H. He was grandson of William (1) Stinson, one of the early settlers of this town under the Masonian grant of 1751 ; was born of Scottish parents in Ireland, March 15, 1725. From that country, while young, he emigrated with his father to Londonderry, N. H. In the year 1751-52 he com- menced a settlement in Starkstown (afterward Dun- barton), where for a time he lived alone in a log cabin, in which, on one occasion, he received as a visitor the Rev. David McGregore. " Not having a table," says the historian of Londonderry, "nor anything that would answer as a better substitute, he was obliged to make use of a basket, turned up." The Rev. Mr. McGregore, in asking a blessing, pertinently implored that his host might be "blessed in his basket and in his store." This blessing was literally fulfilled, as Mr. Stinson became one of the most wealthy persons in the vicinity.

He was prominent in the settlement of the town- ship, and filled with credit many offices of trust and importance, and by industry and economy became one of the most substantial freeholders within twenty miles of his residence.

William Stinson was married to Agnes Caldwell, March 26, 1754, and died August 21, 1803. She was born June 17, 1734, and died July 23, 1818. By this union there were twelve children.

William (2) Stinson, Jr., second son of William Stin- sou, Sr., born March 4, 1762, married Jane Cochran, of New Boston, N. H , who was born in 1776. He was an excellent farmer and intelligent man. He was often employed in town affairs, was liberal and hospitable, especially to the poor. In him they found a friend.

His wife was a superior woman, who looked well to the ways of her household, and their house was one of the most agreeable visiting-places in town. From this nnion there were five children. William Stinson, Jr., died April 8, 1822. Jane C. Stinson died April 28, 1820.

Captain Charles (3) Stinson was the oldest son of William Stinson, Jr. At an early age he displayed a love for farming, and made progress in the district school. At Bradford Academy, Massachusetts, he ultimately acquired what education it was his privilege to obtain. When eighteen years of age he was appointed commander of Dow's Troop. He was an active officer during the celebrated Goffstown muster, where he obtained the title that followed him through life. He was well known in this section of the State for his good judgment and his sound integrity.

As a farmer he was active, and naturally of a strong constitution, he was able to carry on a great amount of work, and as a reward of his industry, he added to his original inheritance a good property.

As a resident of Dunbarton, N. H., he was active and prominent in its affairs. He was county com- missioner, selectman, treasurer and twice elected to the Legislature. In 1867 he sold his large estate and moved to Goffstown, where he spent the remainder of his days in quietness and attending to his business affairs.

Captain Charles Stinson married Susan, daughter of Robert and Prudence Cochran, of Sharon, Vt., May 15, 1831. Susan was born October 27, 1803, and died March 23, 1838. He married, second, Mary Ann, daughter of Moses and Sally Poore, of Goffstown, N. H., May 29, 1839, born August 28, 1811.

Captain Charles Stinson died August 8, 1878. There were three children by the first union, and one by the second.

Children .- Jane Stinson, born October 5, 1833, married Wallace Caldwell, Byfield, Mass., July 15, 1858.

Letitia C. Stinson, born March 9, 1835, married John M. Parker, of Goffstown, November 30, 1854.

Susan C. Stinson, born October 22, 1837, married George Byron Moore, November 29, 1860. Mr. Moore died of pneumonia April 11, 1872. On May 17, 1877, she married Judge Edwin S. Jones, of Minneapolis, Minn., where she now resides.

Mary A. Stinson, born August 1, 1841, married Charles A. Pillsbury, September 13, 1866, of Minne- apolis, Minn., where she now resides.

OLIVER BAILEY.

Oliver Bailey was one of the independent farmers and substantial men who constitute the chief glory of a State.

He was born in 1797, in Dunbarton, N. H., and died in 1880, eighty-three years old.

His father, Captain Oliver Bailey, a man of great

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HISTORY OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

vigor and thrift, was descended from the Scotch who migrated to the north of Ireland to better their for- tunes, and thence to Londonderry, N. H., in the New World. His mother, Mary Thompson, was of ster- ling English blood and worth, from Charlestown, Mass. She was eight years old when the battle of Bunker Hill was fought, and saw, from their house-top, and remembered well, that famous struggle.

Born of this thrifty and hardy stock, young Oliver inherited a vigorous constitution, a fearless, active spirit, good brains to see and plan for himself, and the best muscle and nerve to execute his resolute will.

Brought up on wholesome farmer's fare, he seemed to thrive best on the hard work and rough sports which added skill and self-reliance to his growing strength, till, at opening manhood, he yielded to none in the field or the wrestling-ring, with the scythe or the drumsticks.

He had little schooling, but learned to read the al- manac and the Bible, and had an apt use, always, of the wise sayings of " Poor Richard " and of Solomon ; learned to write a note, to keep his accounts and to figure in his head better than most can with pen or pencil, depending mainly, through life, on

" A spark o' Nalure's fire,"

which the poet Burns prized above all learning.

In person, he was of medium stature and weight, with a large head, broad, high forehead, sandy hair and grey-blue eyes, with broad shoulders, a stout, straight back, strong, lithe limbs and a hand-grip from which nothing could escape,-a body, indeed, which seemed modeled to give him the utmost strength and staying power, consistent with his natural quickness and ease of action.

Thus favored by nature and home discipline, he set out at twenty-one for himself, with no capital but a few acres of tough, rocky land, but partly paid for, · and an irrepressible ambition to earn his own inde- pendence in the world.

By his untiring toil he soon cleared new fields, dug some of the rocks out of the old ones, built huge stone-walls, a small house and big barns, and was ready for a home of his own. Much of his pros- perity and happiness he made sure of by marrying wisely. In 1821, at the age of twenty-four, he mar- ried Jane Mills, but seventeen, daughter of James and Jane Fulton Mills, of his native town.

She was a wise and winning helpmate, comely in person, even-tempered and amiable, blessed with equal good sense and good nature, and, though so young, well trained in houschold duties, apt at work and willing beyond her strength. Of this union four children were born,-a daughter, who died in infancy, and three sons, yet living, to bear grateful witness to ner uever-failing love and worth. In her unselfish devotion to her family she sacrificed, ere many years, her health, and life itself at the age of forty-five. Yet, in sickness and in health, she was ever the good angel of the home and the neighborhood.

In 1850, Oliver Bailey married Mary D. Ryder, daughter of Ezekiel and Betsey Ryder, of Dunbarton. She had been trained in the best school for her new duties,-in that of an enlightened farmer's home. She was unusually well educated in the schools, too ; had been a teacher and enriched her house with good books, pictures and flowers, and to the essential vir- tues of a good wife she added the rarer grace of a good stepmother.

Of this union one gifted son was born,-George, who died at eighteen, in the full spring and blossom of a promising manhood.

By the hardest work and the most careful saving on the smaller farm, Oliver Bailey was able to buy the large, old homestead when his father, Captain Oliver Bailey, had outlived his three-score years and ten.

This larger place, with its many hay-fields, natural runs, great meadows, large pastures and wood-lots, gave him a better chance to prove his superior man- agement and to keep a large stock.

His judgment, at sight, of the weight and worth of cattle was extraordinarily accurate. This gift, with a persuasive tongue in his head, enabled him to buy and sell to advantage. With plenty of hay and barn- room for the winter, and mountain-pastures for sum- mer, he was able to hold his stock over, and so to take advantage of the changing market, buying at the low- est and selling at higher prices. No very small part of his gains at this time came from the growth and exchange of cattle. His wise policy was to en- rich the farm also by selling less hay and grain and more fatted cattle.

He had a sleight-of-hand at all kinds of work, and could get more out of his boys and hired help than most farmers; for he led them himself, giving them more than enough to do to keep up, and his restless forethought kept ahead of any execution in plans for the morrow, so that no odd hour or stormy day caught him without some bit of side-work to fill the time.

But it was not driving work and shrewd bargains alone which made him comparatively rich ; it was the continual saving and wise investing of his small earnings for so many years. He bought only what he could not get on well without, and could pay down for. He put his name to no man's paper. He took no stock in wild land speculations or railroad prom- ises, however tempting. He invested his money in growing property, or loaned it on good mortgages, or put it into the soundest banks, rather than into those paying the most interest.

Hence he lost none of the principal, and as he rarely disturbed the interest, his small sums naturally cumulated in the long years to a goodly amount for a Dunbarton farmer. But he was thus saving only to be liberal in a larger way. To his second son, Mark, when sixteen years old, he gave the choice of a farm at twenty-one or a college education, and he gladly took his chances in the schools. In 1859,

Oliver Bailey

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when only sixty-two, he divided the great farm be- tween his oldest son, Oliver (who inherits with his father's name much of his stirring ambition and talent to get on in the world), and his youngest son, James M. (who has a happy genius for living easier), and bought a small farm at Bow Mills, near Concord, built a nice house on it and deeded this place to his wife ; here he spent the rest of his days, "merely playing farmer," as he used to say.

At his home he was hospitable to all comers. A good liver, though a light eater himself and temper- ate in all things save only in hard work.

He never had a doctor for himself till late in life, when he suffered greatly with the asthma. Though a private citizen, always devoted to "minding his own business," he was in his own way public-spirited and patriotic, interested in town, State and national affairs.

In politics he was a staunch Webster Whig and Lincoln Republican. In religion he held fast to the teachings of his early church, the Congrega- tionalist.

So marked a mau had his faults, of course, but they were mostly the excesses of his robust virtues.

Some will ask, Was such a life a success? Was so much toil and so little pleasure worth the while ? Doubless there is a golden mean between work and play, but of the two extremes his, surely, was the nobler one. And the simple truth is, he took more pleasure in earning than in spending; and solid en- joyment in seeing his well-tilled lands, his full barns and wood-sheds, his sleek, fat cattle, and his comfort- able home. He enjoyed the manly sense of inde- pendence his honestly-earned dollars gave him while living ; and the gencrous satisfaction at last of leav- ing them to his widow and sons to help " keep the wolf from their doors." At the ripe old age of eighty- three, with his mind clear apparently as in manhood's prime, he died as he had long lived, in the assured hope of a happier hereafter.

His body rests in his family burial lot in Dunbar- ton, where he had erected a plain granite monument, -a fit symbol of his solid and lasting work and character.

HISTORY OF FRANKLIN.

CHAPTER I.

Geographical-The First Settlements-Names of Pioneers-Indian Dep- redations-Manufacturing Interests-The First Saw-Mill-Erected in 1764-The First Grist-Mill-The Morrison Mills-The Granite Mill- The Winnipiseogee Paper Company-A. W. Sulloway -Mills, &c.

1 THE town of Franklin, lies in the northeastern part of the county, and is bounded as follows :

On the North and East, by Hill, Belknap Co. and Northfield; on the South, by Boscawen; and on the West by Salisbury and Andover.

The territory embraced within the bounds of the present town of Franklin originally comprised a portion of the towns of Sanbornton, Salisbury, An- dover and Northfield.

The first settlement of the town was made in 1748, near the Webster place, where a fort was built and occupied for several months. To Philip Call and his son Stephen is ascribed the honor of having been the first permanent settlers within the bounds of the present town, at that time a portion of Salisbury. Nathaniel Malven and Sinkler Bean were pioneers in the western part of the town. In 1749 Malven, with his wife and three children, were captured by the Indiaus and taken to Canada, where they remained several years. The few pioneers were in constant dread of the Indians who roamed through this section, spar- ing neither women nor children from their murderous assaults. The wife of Philip Call was killed by the Indians in August, 1754, her husband witnessing the deed while secreted unarmed near by. It is said that her daughter-in-law, with her grandchild, escaped from the savages by concealment in the chimney. Peter and John Bowen settled on the "Burleigh place " in about 1748.

Johu and Ezekiel Webster, cousins, settled in the town in 1759 or '60. The latter was the father of Ezekiel and Daniel Webster. Ephraim Collins was also one of the pioneers. He settled in about 1752, and his grave-stone is the earliest in the lower grave- yard, near the Webster place. Jacob Morrill, Tris-

tan Quimby and Benjamin Sanborn were among the early settlers at the Lower village. "In 1767 there came from Epping, James Cate, Sr., whose wife had been saving seeds from their best apples all the win- ter before, for the orchard they would plant in their new home! They settled on the late Edward Wyatt place, in Franklin. Some of the apple-trees from those seeds were still remaining a few years since." (Runnels.)

The settlement at what is now known as the Upper village consisted of only one house and a grist-mill until after the Revolution.

Ebenezer Eastman, of honored memory, was the founder of the village. He came here when only twenty-seven years of age; was a man of property, ability and great energy. He built a saw-mill, kept the village tavern, conducted a farm and was exten- sively engaged in lumbering. His homestead was the "Webster Home." He died in 1833. A few years later the village received an enterprising spirit in the person of Captain Ebenezer Blanchard, who came from Northfield. He was a man of great energy and contributed largely in advancing the material in- terests of the town. He was the father of Mrs. Ste- phen Kenrick.

Among other settlers were James and Isaac Proc- tor and James Garland.

The Manufacturing Interests .- The first mill in this town was the old "town-mill," of the original town of Sanbornton. By the provisions of the first Masonian charter, "twenty acres (says Mr. Runnels) were to be assigned in some suitable place for a saw- mill, and whoever should build the first mill within three years might own the land and have the privilege of sawing the 'loggs of share-owners and other in- habitants thare, to the halves for the teerm of ten years next after the said mill first starts.' If none should appear to build thus within three years, the owners of shares were to undertake to build the mill at their expense, and put it under such regulations that all the inhabitants might be 'seasonably and reasonably served with bords and other timber sawed ' for building purposes."

The town-mill site was established on Salmon

1 For much of the early history of this town, early record history, Revolutionary history, etc., the reader is referred to the histories of San- bornton, Northfield, Salisbury end Andover (elsewhere in this volume), of which this town formed a portion until 1828.

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Brook. First action of the grantees was April 21, 1763,-meeting held at Joseph Hoit's, in Stratham, -- when it was voted that a saw-mill be built and main- tained on that first established site, "agreaibel to Charter ;" that it be completed by October 10th ; that " whoever builds it shall have £1000, old tenner, and the mill priviledg." At a meeting, June 6th, the privileges of mill-builder were accorded to Daniel Sanborn, under the oversight of the selectmen. Time extended to November 20th ; but even then the mill had not been built, as February 6, 1764, “ Voted not to release Daniel Sanborn, Jun., from his obliga- tion to build a mill," which, accordingly, had been completed that spring, and was soon after carried away by a freshet. Hence the proprietors voted, July 9, 1764, to give Daniel Sanborn, Jr., five hun- dred pounds, old tenor, "to build a saw-mill in the rome of that which he lost ; " also that a grist-mill be built by the proprietors within fifteen months. But afterwards, October 8th, at a meeting in Exeter, per- mission was given Mr. Sanborn "to build his saw- mill in Sanbornton, on Winepisocke River, ner the brige [thus changing the location], provided he build a grist-mill, with or near the saw-mill, within the specified time."

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History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire, Part 75

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