History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire, Part 87

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 87
USA > New Hampshire > Belknap County > History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire > Part 87

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).

Abel Connor married, April 26, 1808, Hannah, danghter of Alexander and Lois Whitney, of Henni- ker, who died November 23, 1828, and he married, September 27, 1830, Martha Greeley, of Hopkinton, who died November 13, 1831, and he married, May 3, 1833, Mary L. Nichols, also of Hopkinton, who died July 11, 1881. His children were by his first wife, and were Hannah, born January 18, 1809, died February 9, 1809; John Thing, born December 9, 1809, died June 20, 1816; Liva, born June 26, 1811, married Solomon Heath, of Bow; Liza, born April 25, 1813, died September 18, 1838 ; Alexander W., born Feb- rnary 6, 1815, married Harriet Spofford, of Barre, Vt., died December 11, 1880; Alvira, born January 8, 1817, married J. G. M. Foss, of Hopkinton, died August 9, 1882; Eunice C., born November 25, 1818, married E. P. Leach, of Dunbarton ; John K., born June 6, 1820, married Mary J. Darling, of Henniker; Hannah C., born March 11, 1822, married P. M. Flan- ders, of Hopkinton ; and Abel De La Fayette, born April 16, 1824, married, first, Louisa Bacon, of Henni- ker, who died June 27, 1859, and, second, Lucy S. Goodell, of Hillsborough. Daniel Connor, of Exeter, once warden of New Hampshire State Prison, was a cousin of Abel Connor.

Abel Connor was no ordinary man. Future genera- tions have a right to know what manner of men pre- ceded them, who, by their genius, thrift, energy and enterprise, gave form and stability to the town in which they lived. Henniker has had many of these men, but, perhaps, among them all, no name is more closely identified with the prosperity of the town than that of Abel Connor, who, by his honesty, energy and upright Christian character has left a history which will continue far into the future. When all who knew him personally shall have passed to the other shore, his name will be fresh' in the minds of the generations left, for his life stamped its impress on the town itself.

The youngest son of the family, he remained with his father upon the homestead, caring for his parents while they lived, performing his share of the hard work required upon the farm in clearing the forests and turning the land into fruitful fields, and his chances for acquiring much of an education from books were very limited, a few weeks at the district school, during the winter term for a few winters, being his only opportunity ; but his innate force of character early developed his wonderful observation, and his aptness to benefit himself by what he saw and heard assisted him very much to form those habits and fix

within him those principles which were the guide of his life.

In his mature years, recognizing his individnal re- sponsibility to God, humbly and cheerfully consecra- ting himself and all that he had to Christ, he, Novem- ber 13, 1831, publicly confessed his faith and united with the Congregational Church in Henniker. For several years preceding this event he had been a strong support of the society connected with this church, holding many responsible positions. From the time of his union with the church till the day of his death he was an earnest Christian worker, attend- ing the meetings of the church punctually upon the Sabbath and upon week-days, giving words of encour- agement and admonition without stint, often presiding at the meetings of both church and society, serving as collector and treasurer (treasurer seventeen years, which position he held at the time of his death).

A man of strong and right convictions, he was prompted to corresponding actions. His question al -. ways was " What is my duty under existing circum- stances ?" So far as man can, he marked out his own course, seeking light from every possible source, and then, acting upon his best judgment, generally accom- plished his object. Without seeking to be popular, he was respected by all who knew him. He possessed the knowledge of human nature in a marked degree, and usually read the true character of those around him.

His biographer has said of him: "Mr. Connor was not an isolated man; he was a citizen. And a man of his promptness and precision in transacting his own private business would, almost as a matter of course, be called out from the retirement of private life to look after the interests of others. A very large pro- portion of the public moneys of the town for a third of a century passed through his hands. He transacted the business of the public with such perfect accuracy as to secure the utmost confidence of all."

Mr. Connor never sought preferment at the hands of his fellow-townsmen; but they knew him well, and, because of this knowledge and the confidence reposed in him, great responsibilities, requiring sound judg- ment, skill and great executive powers, were placed upon him, and he always handed back these trusts after their execution, accomplished in so faithful a manner that the only answer that could be given him by his fellow-citizens was,-" Well done, good and faithful servant."

Presiding officers of town-meetings often called upon him to assist in preserving order, and he was always obeyed promptly. He was an abiding law and order man ; indeed, his whole life was one system of order. He did what his hands found to do with a pre- cision almost remarkable, allowing nothing to swerve him from the line of duty marked out by him when any responsibility was placed upon him, and no obsta- cle was too great for him to overcome when once he saw the end desired.

He was collector of the taxes of the town for over

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twenty years, and though the collector's book was never correct when placed in his hands, it was always found correct when he returned it, and this position, at the time Mr. Conuor held it, was one of great re- sponsibility. He ever proved true in this, as in all other business intrusted to him.

Though many people sought his advice and as- sistance in the placing of money in safe and remun- erative investments, and his advice was ever freely given, yet it is remarkable that no loan he advised proved a poor or losing investment. To him, more than to any one else, were the poor and unfortunate of the town indebted for the comfort they enjoyed in their declining years, for it was largely through his efforts that, after years of discussion, it was finally voted to have a town farm, where all could be well provided for, instead of being sold to the lowest bid- der yearly, as had been the custom for so long a time. Mr. Connor was chosen one of the committee to purchase a farm. The one bought was objection- able to some, and in a few years it was thought wise to change it. Mr. Connor made no objection; but when it was suggested that the committee paid too much for the first farm, he offered to take it at what it had cost, in order that the poor could be better provided for, which offer the town accepted and re- ceived the money. He was, perhaps, more conver-

sant with the landed property of Henniker than any other man, having assisted in measuring and lining a large portion of the town, being especially fitted for this work by his well-known habits of accuracy. His life was full of little incidents that illustrate the marked characteristics of the man and the principles he had laid down for the government of his life.

Promptness and decision were two great traits of his daily action. While collector of taxes he met at one time, at a store, a strong, stalwart man, who de- fied his authority to execute the law then existing in regard to taking the body for taxes. After listening for a few moments to the talk and threats of the man, he asked all present to assist in placing him in his wagon, and in an almost incredibly short space of time the man found himself within the walls of the county jail. In 1833, when some of Mr. Connor's friends, earnest workers in the cause of temperance, were endeavoring to persuade some hard drinkers to give up the cup, they were met with the objection, " If we had Uncle Abel's cider orchard, we would give up drinking rum." When this was reported to Mr. Connor, he immediately said : " Does my cider orchard stand in the way ? It shall be cut down !" and, suiting the action to the word, he passed through his orchard, marking every tree whose fruit was fit only for cider, and felled them all to the ground, heavily laden with half-grown apples.

Another incident illustrates the generosity and jus- tice that governed him. He had many chestnut- trees, the nuts from which he always gathered him- self; but one season two needy young men applied

for the privilege of picking them on equal shares. It was granted, and when all (several bushels) were gath- ered, Mr. Connor was called upon to divide them, and did so, giving the young men two-thirds instead of one- half. When reminded that they expected only one- half, he said: "You have gathered these chestnuts and have requested me to divide them; I am satisfied with the division and I have done you no harm ; you have been faithful."

Mr. Connor became an early friend of the cause of temperance. In the earliest years of his life it was the custom of almost every one to indulge in the use of intoxicating drinks, and he was not an exception ; but having some conversation npon the matter with true and trusted friends, he resolved to do what lay in his power to stay the demon of intemperance, and was one of four men and eight women who organized the first temperance society in Henniker, July 6, 1829. When the Washingtonian movement swept over the land, in 1843, Mr. Connor was among its earliest and most ardent advocates, and, largely through his un- bounded zeal and great personal interest in the cause, Henniker was moved as never before in this work, and good effects were produced that have never been effaced. Besides all he did for the church and Sab- bath-school, with which he was connected, he was a warm advocate of, and dispenser of many gifts to dif- ferent charitable organizations engaged in missionary work, both in this,and foreign lands, and a certain portion of the products of his farm was set aside yearly for this generous purpose. One of these ob- jects was the Colonization Society, which assisted slaves who could obtain their freedom to establish homes in Liberia.

As early as 1824 his attention was called to the raising of grafted fruit, and in a few years his orchards were bending with their luscions burden, and Mr. Connor was known throughout this and the neighbor- ing States as one of the first to introduce grafted fruit into Central New Hampshire, and one of the most successful raisers of good fruits in New England at that time; and when it found its way to market, it was only necessary to say by whom it was raised to secure for it a ready sale.

Living and dying upon the old homestead, Mr. Connor was a progressive, hard-working farmer, se- curing his bountiful harvests by earnest, faithful labor, and it was in the privacy of his own home that he, as a husband and father, was the best-known, setting an example to his family safe for them to fol- low. The first act of every day was to acknowledge his dependence upon the overruling power of God, and to seek His guidance. That he had faults need not be said ; for had he not, something more than hu- man must he have been ; but he knew them all, and, through the grace of God, sought to overcome them, teaching his children to shun them, and by so doing became the loved and honored head of the family making his home one of comfort, peace and happiness.

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HISTORY OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Mr. Connor died October 20, 1854. On the day preceding the night in which he was attacked with his last illness he was in his accustomed place in the church, and addressed the Sabbath-school in his usual earnest manner. The progress of his disease was rapid, and he passed peacefully away, surrounded by his loving family, to whom he gave faithful ad- monitions to be prepared to follow him.

And not only in his own sorrowing family, but throughout the town and community where he had been so long known and highly respected, there was great sadness and a feeling that a faithful, affectionate husband and father, a trusted, reliable, honorable citizen, had passed on to his reward.

JOHN GUTTERSON.

John Gutterson was born June 16, 1832, in Dun- barton, Merrimack County, N. H. He is the son of Nathan and Sarah (Atwood) Gutterson, and grandson of Josiah and Rachel (Sawyer) Gutterson. Josiah was born in Pelham, N. H., while his wife, Rachel, was a native of Dracut, Mass. He was by occupa- tion a blacksmith. When a young man, soon after his marriage, he went to Francestown, and remained there ten or twelve years, when he removed to Weare, N. H., where the remainder of his life was spent. He died aged fifty-seven. Mrs. Gutterson lived to be sixty-nine years of age.

Nathan Gutterson was born in Francestown March 8, 1796. He learned blacksmithing with his father, and remained with him till twenty-one years of age. His tastes did not incline him to follow blacksmith- ing as a pursuit, and for some years after attaining his majority he clerked in a store, and at intervals taught school. He also did a considerable business at potash-making, which in those days was quite an industry. He married, March 25, 1821, Sarah, daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Cross) Atwood, of Atkinson, N. H. In 1825 he removed from Weare (whither he had gone with his parents) to Dunbar- ton, N. H., where he engaged in farming and butch- ering till 1830, when he took charge of Stark's Mills, and continued in charge till 1856, and from 1844 to 1850 he also had charge of the Stark farm; he then removed to a farm of his own, but still re- tained charge of the mills. In 1863 he removed to Henniker, N. H., where he resided in the village, and spent his time-whenever he chose to be em- ployed-in tending his son John's grist-mill. In his younger days he was a captain of militia, and retained the title among his acquaintances as long as he lived. He was frequently chosen to town offices, and in 1841 and 1842 was representative to the State Legislature. He was a life-long Democrat, and in religious belief was a Universalist, although he never united with any church.

of Weare; had two children ; married, second, Otis Hanson, of Henniker; no issue; she died May 25, 1871. Maria L., married David S. Carr, of Goffstown; now resides in Henniker ; has three children. John whose portrait accompanies this sketch. Nathan Gutterson died December 2, 1872. Mrs. Gutterson died November 22, 1873.

John Gutterson received his education at the com- mon schools, supplemented by an attendance of three terms at a select school.

When a lad he assisted his father in the mill and on the farm. When in his nineteenth year he went to Lynn, Mass., to learn the carpenter's trade, and remained there most of the time for about three years. In the spring of his twenty-second year he went to Goffstown, and engaged in a sash and blind- factory. May 23d of this same year, 1854, he married S. Frances, daughter of Dr. Isaac Stearns, of Dun- barton. Her mother was Eunice P. Marshall, of Dun- barton. The following year Mr. Gutterson removed . to Duubarton and took charge of the Stark Mills, succeeding his father in their management. In 1860 he superintended the remodeling and rebuilding of the mills. October 1, 1862, he removed to Henniker, having purchased the property known as the old Howe Mill and privilege on Contoocook River. This place he has made his home to the present time. The year following his purchase of the property he rebuilt the mill and remodeled it throughout. In 1866 he built the pleasant and commodious dwelling in which he now resides. In 1868 he purchased a half-interest with John Gage in the manufacture of bent dry measures. This interest he retained seven or eight years, when he sold out. He has always con- tinued his grist and saw-mill, and does quite a con - siderable business purchasing grain, grinding it and selling the product.

In politics he has until recently affiliated with the Democratic party ; but, being an earnest advocate of temperance, he has cast his vote and influence with the Prohibition party, and been somewhat prominent as a temperance worker in connection with the Re- form Club and, more recently, the Sons of Temper- ance.

In the summer of 1862 he received the Blue Lodge degrees in Masonry in Blazing Star Lodge, No. 11, of Concord, N. H., and that fall he became a member of Aurora Lodge, No. 43, of Henniker. A few years later he took the Chapter degrees in Woods Chapter, No. 14, of Henniker. He has held various offices in both, and was Master of Aurora Lodge, 1883-84.

He united with the Congregational Church in 1870, and in 1872 was chosen superintendent of the Sunday- school, which position he still holds.

Mr. and Mrs. Gutterson have four children : Kate M., married Richard L. Childs, of Henniker; has three children,-Anna L., Emily F. and Francis L. Clara C., unmarried, a teacher in the Francestown

He had four children : William W., resides in Henniker. Sarah J., married, first, Alfred L. Boynton, | Academy. Alice M., resides with her parents.

John Gutterson

Eng by AH Mar like

Horace Childs

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Sarah B., who has been alternately attending and teaching school.

Mr. Gutterson is one of the substantial, respectable and influential citizens of Henniker, industrious, earnest and persevering, of genial nature, with a pleasant word for all. He is of the type of man who will win and retain a friendship, let his lot be cast where it may.

HORACE CHILDS.

Horace Childs, son of Solomon Childs, Jr., and Mary (Long) Child, was born August 10, 1807, in Henniker, N. H., and is a descendant of an old English family of honor, entitled to bear a coat-of-arms. The first date we have of the appearance of the family in America is in 1630, when Ephraim Child and his brother William emigrated to Watertown, Mass. They were men earnest in character, distinguished for piety, methodical and exact in their habits, and the American family bearing the name of Child or Childs has always taken a prominent part in the progressive movements of the day. William (1) was made a freeman in 1634; was a man of note, and possessed of much landed estate. John (2), son of William, was born in Watertown, Mass. He married, for his second wife, May 29, 1668, Mary Warren, born November 29, 1651, grand-daughter of John Warren, who came to America in the " Arabella" with Governor Winthrop, in 1630 (Mr. Warren was a selectman of Watertown, a man independent and eccentric in character). Mr. John Child, although dying at the age of forty, had been representative to the General Court, and was con- spicuous in town affairs. John (3), born in Water- town April 25, 1669, married Hannah, daughter of Captain William French. He was an intelligent and representative man. Jonathan (4), born in Water- town April 26, 1696, married Abigail Parker, October 2, 1729; they settled in Grafton, Worcester County, Mass., where Mr. Child died September 8, 1787, in his ninety-second year. Josiah (5) married Ruth -. Solomon (6) was born in Grafton January 3, 1743. He married, April 16, 1767, Martha, daughter of Elijah Rice, of Westborough, Mass., and sister of Elijah and Deacon Daniel Rice. Animated by the restless spirit and tireless energy which marks the pioneer, soon after his marriage, Solomon left Massachusetts, came to New Hampshire and settled in Henniker, when the whole northwestern portion of the town was a wilderness. Mrs. Martha (Rice) Childs was a woman of sterling worth, and well fitted to be a helpmeet for this sturdy pioneer. She died August 26, 1804, leav- ing children. Mr. Childs married, second, Mrs. Sarah (Goodell) Ward. He lived to see the town reach its maximum population. He was a farmer all his days, and his original farm is now occupied by his grandson, Carlos Childs. He died February 27, 1827, leaving a large family to honor his memory and emulate his virtues, which gave him a high place in

the esteem of the community. Solomon (7), Jr., was born in Henniker July 30, 1781. He acquired the trades of carpenter and cabinet-maker, and was prominent as a builder, and when the large factories in Dover, N. H., were being erected his services were in requisition, and he passed five years there. He married, first, September 21, 1806, Miss Mary Long, of Hopkinton, N. H. She died in 1823, having been the mother of eleven children. Mr. Childs married, second, Lucinda, daughter of William and Mary (Heaton) Child. She died January 20, 1852. Mr. Childs was also a farmer, having inherited a part of his father's farm, and carried it on in connection with his other business. He was a Whig in politics, a member of the Congregational Church and a very in- dustrious and worthy citizen. Affable and courteous, with a smile and good word for all, he will be long re- membered with pleasure by those who knew him. He was a very vigorous man, and after he was eighty years old walked from Concord to Henniker, a distance of fifteen miles. He died October 19, 1865. Horace Childs (7) passed his childhood, and until he was eighteen years old, attending school and assisting his father on the farm. He then accompanied his parent to Dover, N. H., and engaged in the carpenter- ing business, remaining there a few years. At the age of twenty-two he returned to Henniker, and spent two years in house-building, when, on account of a severe illness, he was compelled to relinquish active labor for a time, and in the interim, a year or more, attended school and fitted himself for future work. At this time his cousin, Colonel S. H. Long, who had invented a new design for bridges, prevailed upon him to go to Boston, where he engaged in building bridges on the Boston and Worcester and Boston and Providence Railroads. After he had acquired suffi- cient knowledge of the business he engaged as a master-builder to superintend the building of a bridge across the Connecticut River at Haverhill, N. H. This bridge, after half a century of constant usage, stands to-day a testimony of the fidelity with which the work was done. He built three other bridges at vari- ous places on the Connecticut River; also three over White River. All the bridges on the line of the Hartford and New Haven Railroad were originally built under his supervision and contract, he paying Col- onel Long a royalty for the use of his patent. The plan of Colonel Long was found to be deficient in strength for heavy railroad bridges, and Mr. Childs studied to devise one that would be satisfactory. His labor was successful, and he patented his improvement, which was followed in nearly all of his subsequent work, which comprised most of the bridges on the Northern Railroad from Concord to White River Junction, many on the Providence and Worcester Railroad, a large one on the Erie Railroad at Port Jervis, N. Y., and some smaller ones on the same road. The bridges on the New Hampshire Central Railroad also were of his construction. While building one across the

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HISTORY OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Merrimack at Manchester he had a limb broken by a falling timber, which disabled him for some time, but he entirely recovered its use. During this period of inactivity his brothers, Enoch and Warren, took charge of his business, and were engaged in the work in Maine, on the Kennebeck and other roads.

In 1851 a train from Boston to Concord, having on board President-elect Franklin Pierce and family, was wrecked, and the only child of Mr. Pierce was killed and many passengers injured, among them Mr. Childs. He was badly hurt about the head and rendered insensible for some time. For several years the effects of this accident were seriously felt, and he has never fully recovered from it. During all these years of active labor Mr. Childs has made Henniker his home, aud after he gave np bridge-building he purchased a small farm on which to occupy himself, and he has continued until the present time to over- look its cultivation. The house in which he now re- sides in the village has been the home of himself and wife for nearly fifty years.

Mr. Childs married, January 11, 1837, Matilda R., daughter of John and Sally (Jones) Taylor, of Lemp- ster. Mrs. Childs is descended, paternally, from William Taylor, who came to America in 1642. The line is William (1), Abraham (2), Deacon Samnel (3), Thaddeus (4), John (5), Matilda R. (6). Her uncle, Rev. Oliver Swaine Taylor, M. D., died in February, 1875, at Auburn, N. Y., at the remarkable age of over one hundred years and four months. He was born December 17, 1784; graduated at Dart- mouth, in 1809; was appointed missionary physician to Ceylon in 1815, but circumstances prevented his going ; he assisted in editing the Panoplist, and was ordained as an evangelist at the age of sixty-three. Mrs. Childs' father lived to be nearly ninety-two, and one of his brothers reached the age of ninety-six.

Maternally, she is descended from the Lockes, the first American ancestor being Deacon William Locke, who came from Stepney Parish, London, England, in ship "Planter," and settled at Woburn, Mass., in which place and Winchester there are many of his descendants, who, at present, are good and prosperous citizens.

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History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire, Part 87

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