History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire, Part 95

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 95
USA > New Hampshire > Belknap County > History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire > Part 95

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The well-known Buzzell murder case, which finally became one of the most celebrated in the criminal records of the world, had been tried twice when Gov- ernor Head took the executive chair. His Excellency gave a long and patient hearing to counsel for State as well as defense, and denied the prayers of the pe- titioners for a commutation of his sentence. Buzzell suffered the "extreme penalty of the law," and the conclusion in his case was sustained alike by legal and public opinion. The project of a new State prison, inaugurated by his predecessor, was suceessfully ear- ried forward to its completion. The commissioners selected to superintend the work consulted with the Governor at every step, and the building stands to-day, in thoroughness of structure and excellence of arrange- ments, second to none in the country. During his term of office Governor Head made many official trips, and wherever he traveled he received marked attentions, which he personally, and as chief executive of the State, merited. He was usually accompanied by his staff officers, of whom he was justly proud, as they were all gentlemen of high standing and of irreproachable character. Their names were Colonel W. N. Dow, of Exeter ; Colonel D. L. Jewell, Suncook ; Colonel Charles E. Balch, Manchester ; Colonel F. C. Church- ill, Lebanon ; General B. F. Rachley, Dover; Gen- eral J. W. Sturtevant, Keene; General C. H. Burns, Wilton ; General Cruft, of Bethlehem; and Generals A. D. Ayling and J. H. Gallinger, of Concord. Among other oeeasions, the Governor and staff were present at the inauguration of President Garfield, the two hundred and fiftieth aniversary of Boston, and military encampments in different States. It was also his pleasure to entertain Governors Tal' ot and Long, of Massachusetts, Governor Van Zandt, of Rhode Island, as well as many other distinguished persons, being invited to join in traveling, at ditfer- ent times, Generals Grant, Sherman and Sheridan, Admiral Farragut and others.

And so, although he seemed to have almost every

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HISTORY OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

office of any value in the State, the work which he had done as adjutant-general seemed to make him the happiest, so dearly did he love the soldiers. The many years of public life and close attention to business gradually impaired his health, and the last two years of his life were marked by weariness and inability to attend fully to business. Physicians of known ability were called to prescribe, kind friends and loving oues at home cared tenderly for him, but of no avail. He passed away November 12, 1883, at the age of fifty- five years. His funeral was largely attended by people from Concord, Manchester and adjoining towns, and many hundreds came to look for the last time upon the face of one " who had many friends."

The most distinguished citizens of the common- wealth were present and joined with neighbors and friends in expressions of sorrow for the departed. Dif- ferent Masonic bodies were present, and Sir George P. Cleaves, of Mt. Horeb Commandery, officiated as funeral director. At twelve o'clock the sad rites began. The remains rested in a rich casket of black, stationed in the lower hall-way. Upon the casket were the Tem- plar chapeau and sword of the deceased. Beautiful floral offerings were about the casket. Mrs. Head's tribute was a large wreath bearing the word "Hus- band" in the centre, while from the daughter Annie, was a handsome pillow with the inscription " Father."

Colonel and Mrs. Balch sent a crescent, General Sturtevant a bouquet, employes of Head & Doust an anchor bearing the word " Rest," and many others from friends.

Rev. Mr. Rollins, of Hooksett, performed the ser- vices, consisting of a touching prayer, and a male quartet furnished the music. The singers were J. J. Kimball, D. J. Hurlbert, J. F. Gordon, F.Y. E. Rich- ardsou. The selectious were of a Masonic character: " Our days on Earth are as a shadow," "Heavenly Father, wilt thou lead us?" Peace to the memory of the dead ! Many Masonic organizations were present and delegations from different parts of the State joined in the funeral procession to the cemetery, about a half-mile from the house. At the grave Trinity Commandery conducted the Masonic burial service, the office being performed by Sir B. G. Cumner, E. C., and Sir. L. F. Mckinney, Prelate. The pall- bearers were selected from Trinity Commandery, and were Sirs Daniel F. Straw, David O. Fernald, John Hosley, George S. Holmes, David B. Varney and James S. Briggs.

And so passed away one who had many friends. Letters of sympathy and kindly expressions of the worth of the departed were received by Mrs. Head, but space allotted here will not allow their publication. The editorial of Colonel John B. Clarke, of the Mon- chester Mirror, is perhaps an expression of the people generally throughout the State, which we quote below, -" Other men may have been greater and stronger than he; may have lived longer and accomplished

more ; have died and been respectfully buried. Their death has been counted a loss to the State, to the profession in which they were leaders; but it caused no deep grief among those who were not bound to them by family ties. They are remembered as Gov- ernors, Senators, millionaires, not as men, and when once their places are filled and their estates distributed they have been well-nigh forgotten. The hold they had was upon the brain, uot upon the heart. It was not so with Natt Head. People who knew him loved him while he lived and mourn for him because he is dead."

Colonel Moore, editor of the Manchester Union, one of the leading Democratic organs of the State, in al- luding to his death, spoke of him as one "generous to a fault." His life was flavored with that quality in all those relations where he touched the concerns of oth- ers and in his attitude towards all public institutions that encompassed the betterment of society. He uever did anything by halves, and that cause which attracted his support received the benefit of his able and untiring efforts. As a public officer, he could say with Othello, " I have done the State some service and they know it." No man in New Hampshire knew so many people personally, and few, if any, had so strong a hold upon the popular good-will. His word needed no writing to make it good.

He is survived by a widow and one daughter, Annie S. Head.

WILLIAM FERNALD HEAD.

According to a tradition of the family, the Heads are descendants of Welsh ancestry. They originally settled in this country, in Bradford, Mass. Tradition also asserts that the pioneers were two brothers, John and Nathaniel Head. Certain it is that at least two families of the name had settled in Pembroke some years before the Revolution. On the northerly side of Pembroke Street, and to the west of a cross-road leading to the site of the old town-house, is a field ou the side hill in which stood the Head garrison-house, one of the four of the town, where the inhabitants sought protection from marauding bands of savages in the old French and Indian Wars. James Head was in command of the post and was of a military turn of mind; for, some years afterwards, we find him commissioned lieutenant-colonel in the forces under General John Stark. He was killed at the battle of Benuington while doing noble service for his country.

Nathaniel Head, son of Colonel James Head, was born in Bradford, Mass., March 6, 1754. On arriving at man's estate he married Anna Knox, and settled in what was theu a part of Chester, uow in Hooksett. Here he built a log house, cleared a farm and com- menced life's battle. At the breaking out of the Revolution his patriotic zeal was aroused, and the old muster-rolls of the State-House show that he was at

n. F. ) lead

Jesse Gault

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HOOKSETT.

Winter Hill, as second lientenant, during the siege of Boston ; as ensign in Captain Sias' company, Colonel Nichols' regiment, in the expedition to Rhode Island in 1778; and as captain in Colonel Reynolds' regiment in 1781.

With the return of peace his fondness for military pursuits led him to take a deep interest in the militia, and he rose in rank to the command of a regiment. His military ardor, however, did not interfere with his business. He soon became extensively engaged in lumbering, at the same time carrying on his large farm. He was a justice of the peace, which in those days was an office of high trust, responsibility and honor, and was held in the highest esteem by his neighbors and fellow-citizens.

John Head, seventh child of Colonel Nathaniel and Anna (Knox) Head, was born May 30, 1791; married Anna Brown, daughter of William Brown, a ship-master, famed for his early voyages. The mili- tary fever developed in John Head, and he, too, be- came colonel, having command of the Seventeenth Regiment. At the death of his father he bought out the other heirs, and carried on the home farm and the lumber business inaugurated by his father. He died in the prime of life, August 7, 1835, leaving his family and large property to the care of his widow. She accepted the responsibility, and with fidelity and conscientiousness attended to the duties until her death, April 3, 1849. She was a member of the Con- gregational Church of Pembroke, and took a deep interest in religious and educational affairs.

William F. Head, son of John and Anna (Brown) Head, a brother of Governor Natt. Head, was born in Hooksett, on the old Head homestead, September 25, 1832. In early childhood the boy lost his father, and was guided through the perils of boyhood by his mother's care. Well he repaid her, for he was a duti- ful son, eager to please her. He attended the district school in the little red school-house, and pursued his studies for a few months at the Pembroke Gymnasium ; but his education as a man has been acquired by con- tact with men and reading,-a fondness for books all through life being a trait. His mother died when he was seventeen; but the character which she had moulded was founded on good principles, and the

habits of industry, acquired in youth under her teaching, were well established. At the age of twenty years-in 1852-he went into business with his brother, Governor Natt. Head, and for over thirty years this business relation existed, or until the death of his brother and partner.

Mr. Head is a quiet, unostentatious business man,- a man who plans great business enterprises and suc- cessfully executes his undertakings. He has men at work in his brick-yards, in his mills, in his fields, in his woods and on extensive contracts ; each carry out the ideas of their employer, who directs them for the common good ; yet, to meet him on the cars, in his office, on the street or in his library, one would sup-

pose he was retired from active business, so little do his cares wear upon him.

In 1859, Mr. Head was chosen selectman, and was re-elected the following year. He was chosen to represent the town in the State Legislature in the years 1869-70, and in 1876 was a member of the Con- stitutional Convention. He is a director of the Sun- cook Valley Railroad Company, and a trustee of the Merrimack River Savings-Bank, of Manchester; also trustee of the New England Agricultural Society.

Mr. Head has been for many years prominently identified with the Masonic fraternity. He joined the Eagle Lodge, of Manchester, in 1863, and was a charter member of the Jewell Lodge, of Suncook. He is also a member of the Council, Chapter and En- campment, at Manchester.

The mansion where Mr. Head resides occupies the site of the log cabin where his grandfather settled with his bonnie Scotch-Irish bride. The home-farm, of some two hundred and fifty acres, extends along the banks of the Merrimack River for about half a mile, and includes rich intervale land and fertile bill- side fields. The chief crop is hay, of which two hundred and fifty tons are cut annually. There are kept on the farm seventy-five head of neat stock and twenty horses.

The lumber business, commenced many years ago by the grandfather, Colonel Nathaniel Head, has grown to large proportions, under the firm-name of Head & Doust. Mr. Head has been engaged in many large building contracts. In times past he has bought many hundred acres of forest-land, from which he has cleared the timber and cord-wood, and still owns the land, utilized for pasturage or for pro- ducing a second growth of trees.

On the home-farm are the celebrated Head clay- banks, from which six million bricks are made annu- ally.

Mr. Head was married, November 4, 1858, to Mary H. Sargent, of Allenstowu, daughter of Major Ster- ling Sargent. Their children are Eugene S. Hcad, now actively engaged in business with his father, and Sallie Head, who is being educated at Lasell Semi- nary in Auburndale, Mass.

HON. JESSE GAULT.1

Hon. Jesse Gault was born in Hooksett, N. H., Sep- tember 20, 1823, and is a direct descendant, in the fifth generation, of Samuel Gault, who was born in Scot- land, and emigrated to the northern part of Chester, now included in Hooksett, and settled on the "Sun- cook Grant," so called. Matthew Gault, who was born in 1755, on the old Gault homestead in Chester, and who married Elizabeth Bunton, was the grand- father of the subject of this sketch. They had twelve children, nine living to be married, of whom

1 Written by J. E. Pocker.

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HISTORY OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Jesse, the second son, who was born October 22, 1790, while the family was temporarily residing in Springfield, N. H., and who died in Hooksett Sep- tember 25, 1855, aged sixty-five, was the father of Hon. Jesse Ganlt. He was a successful farmer and a man of property, and his homestead was one of the finest in his town or county. He married Dolly Clement, who was born in Pembroke April 21, 1794, and died March 30, 1873, her father being Joshua Clement, who was born in Goshen June 12, 1764, and died in Concord December 26, 1840. Mr. Clement was a clothier, and was many years in business in what is now Suncook, where he was a large owner of real estate, including considerable water-power. He married Abbie Head, daughter of General Nathaniel Head, of Pembroke, September 26, 1790, and on the maternal side was of English descent.

Jesse Gault, Sr., had four children, two sons and two daughters. Matthew, the older son, was born September 23, 1817, and died December 2, 1846. Of the daughters, Almira C., born December 2, 1819, and died February 20, 1853, married Harlan P. Ger- rish, of Boscawen. She left a son, John C. Gerrish, now living in Missouri. The remaining sister, Martha H., was born July 3, 1828, and died April 23, 1853.

Hon. Jesse Gault was brought up on his father's farm, and his opportunities for obtaining an educa- tion were the public school and Pembroke Academy. At the age of sixteen he began teaching in his own district, where he taught the winter school for four consecutive years, working on the farm in summer. Subsequently he was an instructor in Suncook and Hooksett village. On reaching twenty-two he left home to commence life's work for himself, and went to Baltimore, Md., where he engaged as a book- keeper and surveyor for the Messrs. Abbott & Jones, ship lumber merchants. His health becoming im- paired, he was forced, in less than a year, to relin- quish his situation, which had already become a most promising one, and returned home. After regaining his strength he, upon the solicitation of his aged parents, consented to remain in Hooksett. April 23, 1846, he married Miss Martha A., daughter of Isaac C. Otterson, of Hooksett, whose wife was Margaret Head, an aunt of ex-Governor Nathaniel Head. The same year Mr. Gault opened a brick-yard in Hooksett on a small scale, which he has developed until its production is about six millions yearly, affording employment to sixty men. This extensive business necessitates the purchase of large tracts of

woodland for obtaining fuel, while the lumber is sold in the market. In this way he has bought some three thousand acres of forest domain. In addition, he owns several farms, the one upon which he lives cutting seventy-five tons of hay annually, and producing largely of other crops. His residence on the old stage-road from Concord to Haverhill, Mass., was built some five years ago, and is one of the most expensive in that section.

Mr. Gault was early active in civil affairs. After filling various local positions, including chairman of the Board of Selectmen for many years, he was chosen delegate from Hooksett to the Constitutional Convention of 1851, being the youngest member of that body. Mr. Gault was then a Whig, and Hook- sett was at that time Democratic by more than two to one. In 1857 and 1858 he represented his town in the lower branch of the Legislature, and in 1867 was elected a railroad commissioner for a triennial term, being chairman of the board the last year. In 1876 he was a delegate to the Republican National Con- vention at Cincinnati, and has, for many years, been a member of the Republican State Committee. He was chosen from the Londonderry District to the State Senate in 1885, and was chairmau of the com- mittee on claims, and a member of those on the revision of the statutes and the asylum for the insane. Mr. Gault, by great industry and persever- ance, has accumulated a large property, and is exten- sively interested in ownership and officially in rail- way, banking and other corporations. He is a regu- lar attendant at the Union Church in Hooksett, is universally respected in private life for the purity and uprightness of his character, and is a member of the Masonic fraternity. Of the five children, (two sons and three daughters) born to Mr. and Mrs. Gault, four have died, the oldest, a son, reaching sixteen. The surviving child is the wife of Frank C. Towle, a young business man of Suncook. Senator Gault is a gentleman of commanding personal presence, is a fine speaker, and often presides over public assemblages. Possessing executive abilities of the highest order and excellent judgment, his opin- ion upon important matters, both private and public, is often songht. Although, as will be seen above, he has already filled many responsible civil offices, yet his host of friends are confident that higher po- litical honors will hereafter be bestowed upon him. His home, presided over by his refined and accom- plished wife, is widely known, no less for its ele- gance than for its generous hospitality, and attracts many visitors.

HISTORY OF HOPKINTON.

BY C. C. LORD,

CHAPTER I.

Geography of the Town .- The town of Hopkin- ton is located in the southern portion of Merrimack County, touching its southern border in a middle posi- tion. Hopkinton is bounded on the north by Warner and Webster, on the east by Concord, on the south by Bow, Dunbarton and Weare, and on the west by Henniker. The area of Hopkinton is said to be 26,967 acres. The town lies nearly square. Its sur- face is irregular, but undulating rather than rugged. Its scenery partakes more of the picturesque than of the sublime and grand. Near the geographical centre of the town is an elevated ridge of land, about three miles in length, running somewhat northeasterly and southwesterly, and having a slight depression in the middle, making two brows, the southerly of which is known as Putney's Hill, the northerly being called Gould's Hill. In the eastern part of the town, and partly included in Concord, is another ridge, some- what parallel to the first, and which is known as Beech Hill. These two ridges afford the highest elevations of land in the town. The scenery from many points of these elevations is very attractive and beautiful. The view from Putney's Hill, ou a clear day, showing land in every county of the State, is extensively known to and admired by tourists. There are numerous minor elevations in the township.

The soil of Hopkinton is granitic, and for the most part fertile. In the northern portion of the town is some sandy, plain land of inferior quality. The soil is well watered. The Contoocook River enters the town of Hopkinton near the middle of its western boundary, traversing it in a tortuous course and passing into Concord near the northi- eastern corner of Hopkinton. On its way, this river receives numerous tributaries, the most important of which are the Warner and Blackwater Rivers on the north, and Paul and Dolloff's Brooks on the south. Numerous acres of valuable intervale land lie on the Contoocook River in Hopkinton. There are several natural ponds in this town, as Smith's Pond, near the centre, and Clement's and Clough's Ponds, in the northwest. Most of the natural drainage of Hopkin- ton finds its way into the Contoocook River, which, with its tributaries, affords a large supply of water power. Most of the surface of this town is under-

laid with a hard, clayey subsoil, and in various por- tions there is a small distribution of granular iron. There is much less solid rock in Hopkinton than in many other New Hampshire towns.

Hopkinton is to-day pre-eminently a rural town, aud its surface is principally devoted to agricultural purposes, being divided mainly into field, pasture and forest land. All the staple crops of New Hampshire are raised here. We shall speak further of the in- dustrial and popular situation of the town hereafter.

Primitive Facts .- Previously to the occupation of the territory of Hopkinton by white settlers, there was little primitive life that was locally distinctive. There were heavy forests of mixed growth, in which oak, ash, beech, birch, chestnut, maple, pine, hem- lock, spruce, etc.,-trees everywhere indigenous to New Hampshire,-were in various degrees of admix- ture intermingled. Upon the lower, plain lands there was a greater predominance of the softer woods. There was also more or less wild grasses of inferior quality. The streams and ponds abounded with fish. The streams were also in some instances larger than now. All the wild beasts and birds indigenous to our State probably roamed more or less over this local wilderness. The same may be said of reptiles, among which the rattlesnake was the only venomous one.1

The wild red man was also here before the advent of civilization. The regular Indian inhabitants of this locality appear to have belonged to the tribe of Penacooks, or Pawtuckets. They had their favorite local haunts. On the intervale land of the Warner River, near its entrance into the Contoocook, was a famous resort. Numerous Indian relics have been recovered from this locality. On the northern bank of the natural outlet of Smith's Pond (now known as Chase's Brook), at a point near the present main village of the town, was formerly a huge rock, cleft in such a manner that an additional rude contrivance afforded considerable shelter from the weather. It is said that here was a somewhat favorite winter re-

1 In the year 1740, the town of Hopkintown " Voted that there be eight shillings pr. Day allowed to those that have spent their time in killing Rattlesnakes in sd Town." In 1782 it "Voted that every Person that is an inhabitant of this town that shall kill a wolf shall have five Silver Dollars for every Such wolf Head that he Shall Kill Paid By this Town."

391

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HISTORY OF MERRIMACK COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

sort of some of the Indians of this vicinity. Seat- tering Indian relics have been picked up in various parts of the town, but, upon the whole, the local traces of the past uncivilized human life are meagre.

White Settlement of the Town .- The town of Hopkinton was settled by virtue of an act of the "Great and General Court or Assembly for His Majesty's Province of Massachusetts Bay, in New England." On Thursday, January 15, 1736, Edmund Quincy, for a committee of both Houses, rendered a report "on the Petitions for Townships." Among others, the " Petition of Hopkinton " is mentioned in this report. The climax of this matter, so far as it relates to the township now known as Hopkinton, N. H., is expressed in an act of which the following is a record :

" AT A GREAT AND GENERAL COURT, Held in Boston, the Twenty- fourth Day of November, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Thirty- six, the following Vote Passed the Two Houses, and was consented to by the Governor, -viz. : 'Voted, That John Jones, of Hopkinton, Esqr., be and hereby is fully authorized and Impowered to Assemble aud Con- vene the Grantees, or Proprietors, of the Township Number Five, lying in the Line of Towns between the Rivers of Connecticut and Merri- mack, in such Place as they Shall be Notified and Warned to Convene and Assemble at, in Order to Chuse a Moderator and Clerk, and Con- mittee to Allot and Divide their Land, and to Dispose of the same, and to Pass such Votes and Orders as by them may be thoughit Conducive for the Speedy fulfillment of the Conditions of the Grant, and also to Agree upon Methode for calling of Meetings for the fnt. nse ; Provided, none of their votes Concerning the Dividing or Disposing of their Lands that shall be Passed while they are under the Direction of the Committee of this Court Shall be of force before they are Allowed of by said Committee."

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History of Merrimack and Belknap counties, New Hampshire, Part 95

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