USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Northfield > History of Northfield, New Hampshire 1780-1905: In Two Parts with Many Biographical Sketches and. > Part 21
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HISTORY OF XORTHEFIELD.
greens. Among them are the European larch, the oriental spruce, Rocky Mountain spruce, mountain ash, dwarf pine and Nord- man's fir, of which one specimen is vivid green in color and another is a fine shade of blue. It is interesting to note the points of difference and of similarity between the home-grown and the foreign varieties of the same species, and a lover of trees finds much to study and enjoy in this pretty grove and through- out the grounds.
At one side of the lawn, near the coachman's pleasant cottage, is a grove of ancient oaks. Leading from this grove a road has been laid out, winding down the hill, which affords one the pleas- ure of a ride through the woods in the midst of woodsy sights and smells, where ferns grow among the moss-covered rocks; where majestic pines, a century old, wear their evergreen crowns far above the earth; where spreading shrub and creeping vine are permitted to grow in their own way and where the small wild denizens of the forest are unfrightened by the sound of gun or woodman's axe. Branching from this is a road leading to the river and this wildwood drive is one of the most attractive features of the estate.
The grounds and the drives of this fine place of Mr. Shedd's have been laid out, and are still carefully looked after, under the direction of the head farmer, who is also a landscape gardener of ability and experience.
A visit to this estate would not be complete without a call at the barn where the horses and cattle are luxuriously sheltered. On the way we pass the tall water tower with its screen of sil- very poplars and drooping willows, cross a mowing field and skirt the garden with its rows of berry bushes. The barn has been remodeled and made more capacious until it is a really sybaritic home for the four-footed members of the family. The horses have polished finishings of South Caroline pine in their quarters and enjoy roomy box-stalls, furnished with every equine convenience. Beyond is a light and airy section where the cows take their comfort, each with her individual drinking cup before her, filled through pipes from an inexhaustible reservoir. At one end of the long barn a window looks out on the clean yard, with its high stone-posted fence, where the cattle take the air and chew the cud of contentedness. Nearby a windmill, slowly turning on
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ATTRACTIONS AND FESTIVALS.
its tall framework, lends a picturesque touch to the landscape, and in the distance, with a background of misty hills, lies the village in its valley beside the river, with its church spires and pleasant homes clustering among the trees.
Mr. Shedd has added to his original purchase many of North- field's green acres, including the large adjoining farm, whose roomy, convenient dwelling house is the residence of the head farmer, while, on the opposite side of the road, are sunny pas- tures and dark woodlands and broad fields of waving grass or ripening grain and rustling corn, which belong to the estate. Trim fences and attractive roadsides add to the beauty of this fine estate, which, with its matchless environment, is an ornament to the town and a source of pride and pleasure to all citizens, scarcely less than to its fortunate owner and his family.
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CHAPTER XIII. THE STORY TELLER.
A town history to be exactly in order, it is said, must have an Indian legend, a witch episode, a haunted house, a bear, fish and snake story. One or two of these your historian has been cog- nizant of or proven beyond a doubt; for the rest she has relied on the customary authority in such matters.
Mrs. James Lindsey and Mrs. Josiah Miles, who lived on oppo- site sides of Skenduggody Meadow, were both owners of slaves. They were visited, in 1753, by the two Indians Plausaway and Sebattis. Mrs. Miles sold one of them a shirt and on his un- dressing in her presence to put it on she noticed some small cords, called "Indian lines," wound about his body. She questioned him about their use and obtained an evasive answer. It was evident next morning, however, as they had each tied up and led away a slave in the night-Peer from the Mileses and Tom from the Lindseys.
Peer returned after a few days to tell the story, but Tom was never seen. They came again the next year and being accused of the theft, told them boldly that slaves were lawful booty, as they had never made a treaty with the English. It is said Mrs. Miles used her tongue pretty freely, threats were made and toma- hawks flourished and they told Mr. Miles if they ever met his wife, Elisabeth, again they would have her scalp. Matters looked threatening and Parson Walker of Concord was sent for, who took the Indians home with him. A court was there held before Joseph Blanchard, May 21, 1754, in which Mrs. Miles made depo- sition that the slaves stolen were worth $500 (old tender).
A friendly Indian named Cohas occupied a little cabin in the olden time between the present home of John S. Winslow and the railroad. It was built between birch trees, one or either side, but nothing is said of family. He used to hunt and fish about Sondogardy Pond and its outlet was first named "Little Cohas Brook."
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Mother Blanchard was once surprised outside of Canterbury Fort. The Indians giving chase, she, a corpulent woman, showed such skill in running that they stopped to laugh while she es- caped, cheered on by their cries of "porchuc, purchuc," mean- ing woodchuck.
BEAR STORIES.
John Cilley, Jr., was once the victim of a serious encounter with a black bear on Bean Hill. Being told by his father one morning that Colonel Cofran's black dog was chasing their sheep in a pasture full in sight, he went to drive him away and, coming near them around a clump of bushes, found himself face to face with a bear. He lost no time in climbing a small tree near by, but not in time to evade the stroke of his paw as he ascended, which took off not only his stocking and shoe but nearly all the flesh from the knee down. It was years before the boy recovered from the fright.
A bear caught on the upper Merrimack intervale dragged the trap through fields and over stone walls and even over the "Loer" bridge spoken of elsewhere on the stringers. Hunters followed the trail and he was found near the Sanbornton moun- tains still dragging the trap.
A large hemlock tree in the gully at the foot of the Kezar hills on the Bean Hill Road was for years called the "Bear tree." On the level with the road was a row of branches form- ing a circle around it. Here a large black bear found a resting place and, being discovered, was promptly despatched. Mrs. Forrest Cross, whose father, Edmond Douglass, lived near, al- ways remembered her birthday as the day the bear was killed. The bear tree grew to be an immense one and a few years since was cut for lumber by J. E. Smith and boards and plank of more than ordinary width made from the limbs.
The following story has no historic value except as it recalls the exciting period in our town, as well as elsewhere, when the followers of William Miller were daily expecting the summary closing up of sublunary things :
One of the most familiar sights of my childhood was a big blue umbrella sailing across our pastures and fields. Under it was a little old woman called "Granny Byenton." She used to knit
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HISTORY OF NORTHFIELD.
sale footings and take them to the store (let us say Whittier's, to have the story in the town), to buy snuff. Sometimes, perhaps, her supply would be exhausted before she had a pair finished; one, however, was all right, for her constantly recurring need was sure to promptly bring the mate. She was greatly troubled about the Millerites, who were trying, she thought, to bring the world to an end. One day, out of breath and thoroughly fright- ened, she rushed into the house to say, "I hearn a gun go off, off in the woods, and I thought, I wished, I hoped gracious it killed every Millerite there was in the world. For, if they should bring the world to an end when I'm out alone, I should be scared almost to death."
WILDCATS.
Mother Wadleigh used, with a single female companion, to remain alone with her little ones, while her husband took his fre- quent trips for supplies to Portsmouth, and had some thrilling adventures with wild beasts. One night she utilized the winter fire to prepare meat for the needs of the morrow. A wildcat, attracted by the scent, was heard snarling about the log barn and, failing to find ingress there, was heard growling and climb- ing on the roof of the log cabin, the rock chimney of which hardly rose above the roof, the rod across which with the lug-pole and chain (they had no "cranes" then), were being pushed aside and birch bark fires were not equal to the occasion. In despera- tion the children were snatched from their bed, the straw tick dragged out and soon the roaring straw proved too much for the frenzied animal, who made his retreat and was heard, howling with pain, far into the night and found dead next day near by.
FISH STORY.
This story is but the conclusion of one begun by Professor Hunt in his centennial address on page 129. The shad and salmon that used to arrive at Franklin annually the last of May, where the former turned to the right and the latter to the left, was owing to the shad, being prompted by nature, desiring the warmer waters of the lake and the salmon the cooler mountain stream. After their progress was stopped by the building of the Sanborn and Eastman dams they laid for some days idle in the :
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THI STORY TELLER.
current and never again, after 1814, made their appearance. On the occasion of their last visit they were taken in large num- bers and their presence over Sunday was a matter of great con- . cern to the good old Puritanic fathers of the town. The fish warden was called on duty and the many devices to evade his watchfulness furnished many a table far and near with a luscious Sunday dinner, and also furnished laughable stories and jokes for years afterwards.
HAUNTED HOUSES.
Northfield, so prolific in almost everything, has been unable to furnish a ghost story well authenticated. So, rather than be found wanting, we will drop into sentiment and say with Long- fellow that
"All houses wherein men have lived and died Are haunted houses. Through the open doors The harmless phantoms on their errands glide With- feet that make no sound upon the floor."
Some two houses especially claim the designation. The present home of Deacon Abbott (though but few of its many occupants died there) has been the abode of so many families that it must enjoy a perpetual picnic. . The Josiah Dearborn place has been the site of three or four houses and a large number of tenants and owners. I will quote further, not, however, with the view of disquieting any one's titles.
. "We have no title deeds to house or lands, Owners and occupants of earlier dates, From graves forgotten, stretch their dusty hands And hold in mortmain still their old estates."
It is this very thought that gives such a charm to Old Home Day, home comings and the daydreams of young and old.
WITCHES.
Mrs. Cooper Clark, who lived near the Bean Hill schoolhouse, was believed by the many pupils there to be possessed by evil spirits. She may have encouraged this belief 'to be free from their too frequent visits.
Enoch Rogers, who performed the duty of chore-boy at Colonel Cofran's, once, when left alone to do the churning, fancied the
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HISTORY OF NORTHFIELD.
churn contained a combination of willing cream and the unwill- ing spirit of the suspected neighbor; and the witch must be burned to death, according to an old-time superstition. He hur- ried to the barn, secured the "cops pin," and after making it red hot made repeated attempts to land it in the churn, scarring it here and there in the process. He succeeded to his own dis- comfort, but Mother Clark suffered no inconvenience. There was no gilt-edged butter made at the Cofran farm that day.
A family, which shall be nameless, living not far from Sken- dugoddy Meadow, had several insane members and in the olden time were said to have been bewitched. An older member who had the mania of drawing a wheelbarrow after him up and down the town, was once frightened by its touching his heels, ran amuck through the streets until the barrow was completely demolished.
SNAKES.
The vicinity of the Hodgdon schoolhouse has the reputation of being a good place for snakes, not of the kind, however,
"That lie in the grass so prettily curled, Waiting to snake you out of the world."
Some two years since, Mr. Edward Cross captured about twenty black ones in an old well on his premises. A newspaper adver- tisement offered a good sum for some "varmints" for a snake charmer. Mr. Cross shut them up in the ITodgdon schoolhouse and notified the would-be purchaser. No answer came and after some delay they were all killed the day before the man arrived with the purchase money.
OSGOODITES.
The following was inadvertently omitted from the ecclesias- tical history of the town :
We will not envy the sister town of Warner the honor of having given birth to Jacob Osgood, the originator and leader of a sect bearing his name, since Northfield claims the honor of being not only the birthplace, but death-place as well, of the last member of the clan. The membership in Northfield consisted of several of the Dolloffs, Asa Bean and the Grover family on the Wind- fall. Nancy Glidden, wife of Philip Clough, who lived near the
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site of the Elm Mills Woolen Co., was one of the sisters and meet- ings were often held at her house. The greater part of them, however, resided in Canterbury Borough and near the Emery schoolhouse.
They gained few members after the first. The fathers, Oagood, Ordway and Colby, used to make yearly visits and the Pond and Emery schoolhouses used to howl with their unseemly exhorta-
· tions. They were wont to expend the whole of their ragged and often vulgar vocabulary on the hireling ministers, doctors, law- yers, abolitionists and black republicans. They thanked the Lord for apples and hard cider and advocated drinking rum. They . healed the sick by the laying on of hands, refused to vote or pay taxes. They did not approve of a fighting religion and so re- fused to "appear armed and equipped as the law directs with gun, knapsack, priming wire and brush" on training days, conse- quently they were arrested and their crops and cattle sold by the sheriff to pay the fines and taxes.
They were honest and correct in their lives and some excellent people got entangled in their strange semi-savage worship and still maintained their purity of life, but their nocturnal gather- ings were the resort of .the shabby crowd and of many whose tastes were vulgar. Many of their numbers, for lack of medical attendance, died prematurely and the Grover family on the Windfall remained alone for many years. No services were held for a long time previous to the death of Sally Grover, the last of the sect, September 5, 1897. They dressed in Quaker gray and strove in all possible ways to be unlike others. Peace to their ashes.
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CHAPTER XIV. NORTHFIELD FACTORY VILLAGE.
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Northfield Factory Village, later known as Smithville, was 80 distinct a part of the town, I have recorded it entirely separate from the other portion. It had great natural advantages and was early settled. Before 1800 a dam had been erected above the Sanborn Bridge, which was located somewhat farther up the stream. This dam was probably built by Mr. Folsom, of whom I can obtain no data save that he had a sawmill on the north end of it, which was carried down the river by an ice freshet. Jeremiah Sanborn, who had come from Hampton in 1778, rebuilt on the Northfield side. There was a road by the river bank ex- . tending quite a distance. A canal was cut through this road, later, from this dam to the Daniell's Bridge, on which several industries were located. This Sanborn sawmill was afterward removed to the site of the Folsom mill.
Dam No. 2 .- In 1821 Boston John Clark, who has been called an "unlettered genius," who was, however, a born mechanic, built for Kendall O. Peabody the next dam below, long known as the Aiken dam. He also erected a mill where Mr. Peabody soon be- gan the manufacture of paper. Mr. Peabody had come from Peterborough a few years previous and established a bakery in the west village. He used to send out carts with his ginger- bread, crackers and cakes and among other things rags were legal tender. A large accumulation of these, first suggested a new business. Robert Crane, a professional paper maker, became as- sociated with him in the enterprise.
A paper mill, the first in the country, had just been established at Exeter and Daniel Herrick, a born inventor, mechanic and skillful machinist, was sent there, clad in the garb of a Quaker, to study the machinery. He returned and built the machines for the new mill. The work prospered and the mill was greatly en- larged. After five years, it is said, Mr. Peabody, with his brother James L., and Isaac, the brother of Mr. Crane, bought seven
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acres of land and the water privilege attached to dam No. 3 (of which we shall speak hereafter) and with the addition of Jere- miah F. Daniel, removed the business to the Peabody village, .
where it has ever since been the leading industry of the town. The old paper mill became a gristmill, owned and run by Mr. Darling for many years. This site is now occupied by Stevens' mill.
SMITHVILLE FACTORY OR YELLOW MILL.
For many years a long stretch of waste land extended from the Sanborn Bridge down the river bank to the old stable and tavern kept long ago by a Mr. Hoyt and later by John H. Durgin. Next in line stood the Batting Mill and beyond, in the midst of a broad common was erected a cotton mill about 1821 by three Smith brothers and John Cavender, all of Peterborough. A store ex- tending out into the street was built and a row of four double boarding houses erected on the river bank which are still there. The canal lay in front of them, on which the new mill was built for the manufacture of cotton cloth.
They were all painted yellow and in later years were known as the "Yaller Mill" and "Yaller Row." The grounds about were kept in fine condition, shade trees planted and a library established for the free use of their operatives and others for a nominal sum. This has ever since been in existence and was the precursor of the present Smith Library. A family named Annan, also of Peterborough, were engaged in the enterprise, all of whom were a power for good in the business, social and religious life of the little village. William Smith died at Smith- ville; Robert, who had studied law previous to coming to North- field, removed to St. Louis, Mo., and James, who married Persis Garland of Salisbury, also removed there and afterwards was honored by a seat in the United States Senate.
The Peabody brothers afterwards owned this mill, which was used for various purposes until its destruction by fire in 1853.
. BATTING.
Peter Goodnow was the proprietor of a mill in connection with the cotton cloth manufacture for the making of batting, of which Mr. John Lewis had charge. It continued after the mill ceased to be used for cloth.
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HISTORY OF NORTHFIELD.
STRAW BOARD.
Hiram Hodgdon and John Gould made straw board in the counting room of the old cotton mill for a time. Mr. Hodgdon sold to Mr. Gould, who, in turn, sold to J. F. and W. F. Daniell, who continued the business until the burning of the mill.
STRAW PAPER.
A. L. Fisher manufactured wrapping paper from straw in the old batting mill. This business eventually passed to Peabody & Daniells.
The history of the sawmill on the canal has been given else- where (see page 98), so we will pass on to Dam No. 3.
The site now occupied by Sulloway's Mill was early used for manufacturing purposes. Dearborn Sanborn built a dam here in 1818 and established his shingle mill. Thomas Elkins had a large sawmill on the Northfield end of it, where an immense busi- ness was done and large rafts taken down the river to better markets.
WOOLEN MILL.
It is said that Ebenezer Blanchard and Ebenezer Eastman had a woolen mill here, but no facts can be obtained. It probably antedated the Elkins sawmill.
A double house stood next and then the open space to Rowe's store. The Carlton house is the only remaining dwelling and the blacksmith shop, long since modestly retired to the rear, and the cooper shop became the Marsh shoe store. The long building called the Tontine, with basement on the north side, was considered a fine house 75 years ago. Robert Crane built it when he came with his brother, Isaac, and others to begin the manufacture of paper. He occupied a part of it and James Lewis (see Mills), the other. After the departure of the Cranes it was used by the Welches as an extensive tailor's shop. It was removed when the Franklin and Tilton Railroad was built. None of the fine churches were built in 1858 and the dwellers there sought church and extended school privileges at Frank- lin Village. All south of Main Street was an open pasture, ex- tending to the south and east. On the south side of Central Street one has found nothing for many years but the little red schoolhouse, where a school was established in 1827, formed from
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several other districts. IIere all the children from the Leigh- ton, Cross, Gerrish, Heath, Hancock and Kezar families used to congregate and your historian, in 1851, and again in 1858, tried with varying success to urge some forty or fifty "tardy loiterers" up the rugged hill of science. This school was united with the one across Sanborn Bridge in 1858 and together occu- pied Lyceum Hall building. The old schoolhouse now does duty as a laundry and grain store.
The Brockway and Carlton houses still exist in a changed con- dition, but the old-timer looking for familiar scenes would find but little in and around the railroad station and side hill to re- mind him of the old-time cow pasture and marsh land. A copy of the school register for 1851 is in existence, when Angeline T. Sweatt was teacher and every other name on the list was Kezar. (See gen.)
PRINTING OFFICES.
There was a job printing office established long ago on the site of the Sulloway Mills. The style of the firm was Peabody, Dan- iells & Co. and the Co. was Eliphalet Ayer. They had quite a business in printing Bibles, testaments and Worcester spelling books. It is known that three of the Bibles are now in existence. The office was in a yellow shop on the left, a little below the entrance to the Daniell's Bridge.
Charles F. Hill had a job printing office for many years, until his death in 1888, on Bay Street. He had a reputation for extra fine work. After his death the business was transferred to Tilton and became the property of H. A. Morse.
Another office established by George W. Baker was in the upper story of the remodelled Whittier store, opposite the optical works. A shaft was extended underground from the dam across the street and thus power was obtained. It was destroyed by fire and never restored.
TELEPHONES.
The board of selectmen, March 11, 1903, voted the privilege to erect poles in the streets and highways of Northfield to the New England Telegraph and Telephone Company. Conditions were made and duly recorded on page 266 of the town records for that year. There are no country line exchanges in Northfield, except one on High Street.
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HISTORY OF NORTHFIELD.
CITIZENS' TELEPHONE COMPANY.
This line came from Laconia and Henry Davis was first man- ager for Tilton and Northfield. Permission to erect poles has been, granted from time to time, until all the farming. districts have been covered. The first machine was installed during the autumn of 1895 or 1896 and they now number 115. The present manager is Harry W. Muzzey.
CHAPTER XV. STORES AND MERCHANTS.
The first store in Northfield was kept by Benjamin Blanchard at the Wadleigh place on Bay Hill. This his son, Ebenezar, moved later to where the Northfield Grocery Company's storehouse now stands and the brown house opposite was the home of his family. It is now the oldest dwelling in town. He opened a branch store soon after at Salisbury, now Franklin, and his business there increasing rapidly, sold out here to his clerk and removed to Salisbury, where he conducted much business till his death.
Squire Charles Glidden and his son, Charles, perhaps the latter alone, erected a large store at the Center, opposite the old meet- ing-house, where a large business was conducted many years. (See page 139, part 2.) He sold out to John Mack Gilman, who was succeeded by Greenough McQuesten and John Kimball Wood- man, who remained but two years. Milton Gerrish and Jacob Moore purchased the house and business and removed both to Sanbornton Bridge. It was the first building occupying the cor- ner where the present town hall stands.
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