USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Northfield > History of Northfield, New Hampshire 1780-1905: In Two Parts with Many Biographical Sketches and. > Part 22
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63
Owing to the departure of nearly all the local industries from the Center to the "Bridge" (as it was called), the store opposite, built by Capt. Isaac Glines, was never occupied and some years later was sold and removed to become a dwelling house at the village. Later, a small store on the opposite corner was.kept by Andrew Nudd with a small stock of groceries and tobacco.
John Moloney had a small store in the side hill opposite Josiah Dearborn's, where some business and much political wire pulling was done. Votes for future delivery were legal tender, as he always had some coveted office in sight. Squire Glidden was his political rival and often Moloney's purchased votes went to elect his rival. Smarting under defeat, he once charged Mr. Glidden with a whole barrel of rum as the price of the stolen votes.
NORTHFIELD DEPOT.
A store was opened at this place about the time of the coming of the railroad. Amos C. Cogswell, Charles and Augustine
280
HISTORY OF NORTHFIELD.
Ayers were some of the early traders. About 1850 Merrill Moore became manager of a large business here, making a specialty of palm leaf hats and berry picking in their season. This store flourished for many years until its destruction by fire. Oliver L., Cross, William Keniston, Frank Moore, Samuel Emery and Charles Sanborn have in later times conducted a varying business here. The store has, since Mr. Sanborn's death, been discontin- ued. William C. French and Sumner A. Dow carried on a con- siderable meat business until 1881, the latter sending 50 lambs and 200 chickens weekly to St. Paul's School, Concord, 500 lambs coming in a single season from Grafton County.
Isaac Whittier, about 1840, traded where the Northfield Gro- cery Store stands, in a long unpainted store with wooden shut- ters. His stock was the usual variety found in country stores. It was a slow business place until the coming of the post office there. He was town clerk some years and much town business was trans- acted there, taxes made and juries drawn. Noah Peabody and James Palmer traded there later and the store was reconstructed and refitted by Warren L. Hill, Esq. It was rented by J. F. Taylor and Eastman as a grocery store and, later, burned. The site was then occupied by a carriage and blacksmith shop until its present restoration as a grocery store.
A drug store with offices above occupied the right hand entrance to the bridge, where James Brown kept the Seminary bookstore. Above was a dressmaking and millinery establish- ment, kept by Alice and Sarah Haines, and occupied later by Miss Proctor as the art studio of the seminary.
Close by, William Follansby kept a dry goods and grocery store. He built the low one-story block, extending half the length of the "beach," called the "seven nations."
Just east of this was the dwelling house and basement hard- ware and tin store of Charles Joseph Wadleigh. This place alone remains unchanged.
BUTTERFIELD'S STORE.
The first store at Factory Village was built and managed by the Smith brothers, who conducted and owned the "Yellow Mill." On their departure for St. Louis, William Butterfield of Andover succeeded to the business. It passed in time to Welch of Boston, who, with his wife, conducted an extensive
.
281
STORES AND MERCHANTS.
tailoring business in the Tontine, occupying the whole of it. The store was burned in 1843 and rebuilt by John Sweatt, a good Democrat and business man, who looked well after Northfield's interest in that part of the town. (See Sweatt gen.) This store was standing when the boom came to the little village about 1865 immediately after the war.
Across the way was the one-story store of Jonathan Elkins, which, as his real estate business increased, passed to Nathaniel Rowe and still later to Charles Chase and Benjamin Gale, who kept a stock of general merchandise until the coming of the new industries and the removal of their store to make way for new buildings.
RUSSELL BROTHERS.
Willis and Orimal Russell were for a while in business at Fac- tory Village. They were the first promoters of the business of making palm leaf hats. They shipped the leaf in the rough had it split and bleached, as recorded elsewhere, and doubtless were proprietors of the mill, where the hats were pressed and finished. They eventually removed their business to Sanbornton Bridge and finally one or more of the several brothers became merchants in Canada.
GREENWOOD & CROCKETT.
Edward Caskin came to Northfield from Franklin Falls and erected the store on the river bank and purchased the adjoin- ing residence. He established a hardware and house-furnishing business, which he sold to Frank H. Merrill in 1884. After Mr. Merrill's death it became the property of Joseph Greenwood, who had been connected with the business six years. The firm of Greenwood & Crockett was established in 1899. (See Crockett gen.)
Nearly all the merchants of Tilton have been or are now residents of Northfield, among whom are both members of the firm of Philbrick & IIill, Charles P. Herrick, the late Frank- lin J. Eastman (whose biography by Hon. John M. Mitchell is subjoined), also W. A. Gardner, the late Joseph Hill, Fi- field Brothers, the late George F. Weeks, Batchelder Brothers, the late Cutting Follansby, Elmer R. Gale and Edwin J. Young, George H. Brown, the miller and grain merchant, Herbert Dolley
ยท
282
HISTORY OF NORTHFIELD.
.
of the firm of Phelps & Dolley, while the former is of Northfield parentage; one of the firm of Smith & Smith; Muzzey Brothers; Lord Brothers; Bayley & Rogers; Morrison Brothers, and the Bryants. In fact, it is hard to find a firm whose interests and business lives are not a part of Northfield history.
JOSEPH HILL. (See residence.)
Joseph Hill (see gen., page 182) deserves a place of honor among our merchants, not only that his term of service in that capacity cov- ered his whole life, but for the extent and variety of merchandise handled. He began as a grocer, to which was added from time to time hardware, dry goods, furniture and draperies, wood, coal, ice, wooden ware, farming tools, paints and oils, lime and cement; in fact, nearly every nameable article of barter or sale, and while some of these lines were dropped as opportunity offered or conditions made expedient, he kept a strong hold on his first ambition to be a first-class dealer in high grade groceries.
His association with his brother, William P., in real estate and other holdings was long and mutually satisfactory and profitable and lasted 40 years.
FRANK HILLS. (See Hills gen. and portrait.)
Mr. Hills, a native and for much of his life a resident of Northfield, has also been for more than thirty-four years a merchant. He began as clerk for Enoch G. Philbrick. After four years he purchased, with him, the interest of Joseph Hill in the grocery business. They con- tinued the same line of goods in the same place until 1882, when they purchased the store and stock of the late Franklin J. Eastman and have ever since conducted a first-class grocery store in their prosent quarters, with one or two side lines. Mr. Philbrick's term of service covers an equal, if not longer, term. (See Philbrick gen.)
CHARLES P. HERRICK.
Mr. Herrick's term of service as druggist covers nearly thirty years, first as partner with Franklin J. Eastman, then clerk and, later, owner of the business of G. F. Stevens since 1883. (See Herrick gen.)
FRANKLIN J. EASTMAN. Hon. John M. Mitchell.
Among the men whose personality and influence were dominant in the life of the town for a number of years, during the period of its later development, was Franklin Jonathan Eastman, who came to Northfield from Littleton in 1867, purchasing an estate on Park Street, where he made his home with his family for a time, but disposed of the
1
288
STORES AND MERCHANTS.
same, later, to occupy the fine residence which he erected near the site of the present library building.
Mr. Eastman was a native of Vermont, a representative of that sturdy type of New England character, whose impress has been felt for good in developing and directing the business and public life of our most prosperous and progressive communities. Born in Danville, Vt., June 10, 1818, a son of Jonathan and Sarah (Heath) Eastman, he was educated in the public schools and at Peacham Academy, Peacham, Vt .; and, after attaining his majority, he went to Littleton, where his older . brothers, Ebenezer and Cyrus, were engaged in business as partners in an extensive general store, and entered the employ of the firm as a clerk, where he remained three or four years, then removing to Barnet, Vt., where he formed a partnership in trade with Robert Harvey, the leading merchant of the town, which continued about eight years, when he sold out and returned to Littleton and became a partner in the firm with his brothers, whose business had become one of the most extensive in northern New Hampshire.
Although a thorough business man and earnestly devoted to the inter- ests of his firm, Mr. Eastman took an active part in public affairs, and entered into the political life of the community as an earnest and. aggressive member of the Democratic party, with which he had been allied from youth. Even in the earlier period of his residence in Lit- tleton, he was found actively participating in the caucuses and conven- tions of his party, it being noted that he was a member of the Littleton delegation in the senatorial convention of 1841 at Franconia, when, for the first time, the nomination for senator from old District No. 12, the northern district of the state, which then embraced Coos, the northern half of Grafton and the upper part of Carroll counties, was secured for a resident of Littleton, in the person of Simeon B. Johnson. The year of his return to the town, 1852, was characterized by a particularly exciting political campaign, it being a presidential year and the Demo- cratic candidate for the chief magistracy of the nation being that favor- ite son of New Hampshire-Gen. Franklin Pierce. The first campaign club ever organized by the Democrats in the town was formed at that time and was known as the "Granite Club," Mr. Eastman being its president. So rapidly did he gain the confidence of his party, that in March following, 1853, he was its nominee for moderator and was elected.
From this time forward there were close and exciting contests in Littleton politics and Franklin J. Eastman, his brother, the late Col. Cyrus Eastman, and Harry and George A. Bingham, who subsequently became noted throughout the state, were the active leaders on the Democratic side. In 1863, and again in 1864, Mr. Eastman was elected to represent the town in the Legislature as the colleague of Harry Bingham and it is safe to say that no town in the state was more ably or faithfully represented during these exciting times of our legislative history, in the midst of the war period when party spirit ran high. It
284
HISTORY OF NORTHFIELD.
.
.
.
was in 1863 that an extra session of the Legislature was held, in August, and many "war measures" were passed, including the soldiers voting law, allowing the soldiers of the state to vote in the field or wherever stationed and return to be made to the towns of their resi- dence, which measure the Democrats generally opposed as unconstitu- tional. Mr. Eastman and his colleague were, naturally, found opposing. this measure. In both years of his legislative service Mr. Eastman was assigned to duty by the speaker, Hon. William E. Chandler, upon the important committee on railroads and his judgment and sagacity were found of constant value in the work of the committee.
Mr. Eastman, who, in 1858, had withdrawn from the old firm and established himself independently in business on Main Street, not only continued active in the mercantile and political life of the town, but also kept up the interest he had taken from the first, in all matters pertaining to its material development and progress, and the general welfare of the community. He was an active member of the fire com- pany, organized for the protection of the village property and largely composed of the business men of the place; was for a time a director in the White Mountains Railroad and was instrumental in the estab- lishment of a telegraph line, the first telegraph omce being located in his store.
He was also active in educational matters. He participated conspic- nously in the movement which resulted in the consolidation of the village school districts into a union district under the "Somersworth Act", and upon the organization of the district he was chosen a mem- ber of both the prudential and superintending committees.
Soon after this Mr. Eastman disposed of his business and real estate interests in Littleton and in the following year took up his residence in Northfield, establishing himself in business in general trade on the Tilton side of the river, where he continued for many years, until final retirement sometime before his death, April 27, 1893.
The measure of confidence and respect which he won for himself at once in the town of his adoption and the interest which he evinced in its public affairs, is shown by the fact that at the next annual election, in March, 1868, he was chosen to represent Northfield in the Legislature, his assignment that year being to the committee on elections. For 16 successive years, from 1873 to 1888, inclusive, he held the responsible position of town treasurer and, while he was a model of promptness and accuracy in the discharge of his ordinary official duty, it is also safe to say that to his judgment and sagacity, as evinced by the sound practical suggestions in his annual reports, in his advice often sought by the selectmen in the management of town affairs and frankly given whenever occasion demanded at the annual town meetings, is due, in no small measure, the economical administration and financial pros- perity which the town enjoyed during this period.
.
Here, as in Littleton, Mr. Eastman took an interest in all matters of public concern and it is noted that here he was an earnest supporter and, indeed, a prime mover of the project for the establishment of a
285
STORES AND MERCHANTS.
union school district, including the village portions of the towns of Northfield and Tilton, giving the land for the site of the first school- house, which also constitutes a part of the present lot. He also con- tributed the site for the Hall Memorial Library, giving the same in the name of his daughter, Mrs. Charles E. Tilton. He was prominent in the movement for the formal celebration of the one hundredth anni- versary of the settlement of the town, in 1883, being a member and treasurer of the committee of arrangements having the matter in charge.
Mr. Eastman was a man of positive convictions and uncompromising fidelity thereto. He always had a reason for his position and was earnest and even aggressive in presenting the same whenever occasion required. He was an interesting conversationalist, a forcible speaker and a vigorous and graceful writer, as was shown by his interesting chapter of Littleton history, contributed on the occasion of the centen- nial of that town in 1884, his subject being, "The Relations of Littleton and Vermont." As a correspondent of The Laconia Democrat for a long series of years he not only presented the news from the vicinity in a lucid and comprehensive manner, but often discussed public questions with a clearness and cogency seldom surpassed by the professional jour- nalist. Conspicuous in his correspondence is found a description of the new town hall of Tilton, on its completion in 1880, published in The Democrat and reproduced in the Sanbornton town history.
On November 25, 1841, Mr. Eastman was united in marriage with Lima H., daughter of Socrates and Mary (Bullock) Tuttle, of Barnet, Vt., born September 7, 1820, who died June 26, 1901. Her father was an uncle of the distinguished New Jersey lawyer of the same name, whose daughter became the wife of the late Garret A. Hobart, subse- quently vice-president of the United States. They had children as follows:
1. Frank Tuttle, born in Littleton, September, 1842; died in Barnet, Vt., October 24, 1848.
2. Alice Murray, born in Barnet, Vt., in 1845; died in Littleton, Feb- ruary 17, 1856.
3. Lima J., born in Barnet, Vt., in 1846; married George H. Ellis of. Newton, Mass.
4. Edward Dana, born in Barnet, Vt., May, 1849; died in Barnet, Sep- tember 20, 1850.
5. Edward F., born in Barnet, Vt., in 1851; died in Littleton, May 9, 1863. -
6. Mary Adelia, born in Littleton, April 16, 1853; married Joshua P. Dennis of Tilton.
7. Kate, born in Littleton in 1856; married Harvey Weeks; died in: New Jersey in 1886.
8. Elma Genieve, born in Littleton in 1859; married Charles E. Til- ton of Tilton, December 29, 1881.
9. George W., born in Littleton, February 22, 1861; died April 27, 1893.
.
CHAPTER XVI. MILLS AND MANUFACTURERS.
Stephen Chase was among the first to utilize water power in Northfield. Bradstreet Moody owned a dam across the Winnipiseogee on the north end of which he had a variety of business. Mr. Chase brought down some of his flowage water and established a carding and fulling mill in 1798 which he conducted until his death. (See Chase gen.) He also kept tavern in the old house still standing at the entrance to Bay Street. (See cut.) He was engaged in much business and was a man of wealth. His daugh- ter, the wife of Archibald Clark, inherited the mill and water power and after occupying it a few years sold, in 1826, to Jere- miah Tilton.
It may seem to us a queer custom, but the blankets in which the "rolls" were returned were invariably fastened with thorns. Mr. Chase, with an eye to future needs, planted thorn bushes on the waste land by the river bank. Mill, manufacturer, cards and rolls long since disappeared, but the thorn hedge, like "the evil that men do," lives after him to the discomfort and damage of the dwellers in the vicinity of Emery Street and Howard Avenue.
CARDING AND FULLING MILL-BENJAMIN CHASE.
After the sale of the mill by the upper dam and the death of Stephen Chase, his son, Benjamin, who had been associated with him, erected a carding and fulling mill where the optical works now stand. It was two stories in height and the carding was done in the upper story. Mr. Chase built and occupied the home of the late Hon. Asa P. Cate and was a man of inherited wealth and large business. He was a good story teller and great humor- ist. He was active in church work and a Sunday School teacher for years.
1
CHARLES G. CHASE.
287
MILLS AND MANUFACTURERS.
This business declined after factories were established and cloth could be bought cheaper than manufactured at home. He sold to Moses Morrill and removed to Lowell, Mass., where he spent the remainder of his life. The old building remained many years and finally burned.
A sketch and portrait of his son, Charles G. Chase, may not be out of place here as he, in memory of his father, was the gen- erous giver of the Chase Free Library to Union Church at North- field Depot in 1883. (See page 51.)
CHARLES GREENOUGH CHASE. (See portrait.)
Charles Greenough, son of Benjamin and Hannah (Hall) Chase, was born at Northfield, July 5, 1827. He removed with his father to Lowell, Mass., when 14 years of age. He graduated from the Lowell High School and afterwards continued his education in Dracut, Mass.
His Arst business relations were with the firm of Shapleigh & Kelsey of Boston, remaining with them until 1849, when the wholesale grocery firm of Peters, Chase & Co. was established. In 1860 this firm built a store at 22 Central Street and made a specialty of importing tea. In 1879 the firm was dissolved and Mr. Chase retired from active business.
Mr. Chase was connected with the Mercantile Library Association and was one of its most prominent members. He was for several years a trustee of Wheaton Seminary, also of the. Homeopathic Hospital in Boston. He was at one time president of the Mason Regulator Com- pany. It was he who arranged with Hon. Edward Everett and some others for the special celebration of Washington's birthday and pre- sented the petition to the Legislature which made it a legal holiday. He was the devoted superintendent of the Sunday School of Harvard Church, Brookline, Mass., for 15 years.
For seven years Mr. Chase resided at McLean Street and four years on Hancock Street, Boston. In November, 1870, he purchased a home in Brookline, which he occupied until his death.
On the completion of Union Church, Northfield, Mr. Chase gave a library of 180 choice books, which has been a means of much pleasure as well as profit to its many patrons: From time to time he sent humane and temperance literature to the library and to the Northfield schools. He was the author of a sweet little idyl, "That Old Man and His Dream," written during a summer spent at the White Mountains.
Mr. Chase was a man of sterling qualities. He was benevolent in disposition, unostentatious in his charities, and schools, hospitals and churches received his benefits when most needed, with rare discrimin- ation.
He married Relief Judith McQuesten of Plymouth. He died very sud- denly on the train between Boston and his home in Brookline, Novem- ber 8, 1894. Mrs. Chase died May 6, 1901. .
238
HISTORY OF NORTHFIELD.
Children: Mary, born at Boston, Mass., December 7, 1855; died at Brookline, Mass., July 15, 1891. Charles Percy, born at Boston, March 30, 1858; died at Boston, March 15, 1864. Walter Greenough, born at Boston May 30, 1859; graduate of Harvard University and Harvard Medical College.
JEREMIAH TILTON. (See residence.)
In 1826 Jeremiah Tilton, or as he was called, "Squire Jerry," bought the site and privilege where now stands the George H. Tilton hosiery mills of Mrs. Archibald Clark for $400. It was inherited from her father's estate, the late Stephen Chase's. There was a little mill on it, one story in height, one half of which served as a dwelling house. The work was carding wool into rolls and fulling and naping cloth that had been woven by hand in the homes around ..
Mr. Tilton soon put in a brick basement, added a few jacks and looms and put on the market his own style of goods, called satinets. He Bold, later, to the Lake Company for $5,000 a part of his right, but reserved enough to always operate a certain amount of machinery. He removed his family, in 1830, to his newly-erected brick house. (See cut.) He married,. December 9, 1816, Nancy Carter of Concord.
His first start in business was made at Chase's Brook in Franklin, where he had a carding and fulling mill. In 1820 a freshet swept his mill down into the Pemigewasset, whereupon he sold the privilege and returned to Sanbornton Bridge and bought as stated above. Mr. Tilton was twice burned out and twice rebuilt, enlarging each time, and was associated for many years with his son, Jeremiah C. (see portrait), in the same business. In 1860 they sold to James Bailey of Lawrence and retired from business.
He was an honest, upright man and a respected citizen. In politics he was a Whig and, later, a Republican and though living in a Demo- cratic town was often elected to office. Socially Mr. and Mrs. Tilton were large hearted, sincere and true. He represented the town in the Legislature of. 1858. He died suddenly at the Bromfield House, Boston, January 23, 1863, aged 69. She survived 19 years, a woman of remark- able vigor and intelligence.
COPP'S GRISTMILL.
The old Morrill fulling mill was some years later replaced by a gristmill, where William Norton of Factory Village (now Franklin Falls) had charge of a prosperous business. The mill was the property of Mr. Copp. James Earnshaw had a shoddy mill in the second story and, later, added a few looms and con- tinued in business until the burning of the mill in 1867. Mr. Copp replaced this mill for Richard Firth. (See Elm Mills.)
289
MILLS AND MANUFACTURERS.
MR. JAMES BAILEY.
Mr. Bailey came to Northfield from Lawrence in 1860 and purchased the mill known as Jere Tilton's satinet mill and put out the same line of goods for one year. He then made army blue for the soldiers during the war. He then put in broad looms and began the manufacture of all-wool goods in variety and also made yarn. Black and white checked goods were his specialty, when he sold out, in 1865, to Messrs. Fletcher, Firth and Ballantyne.
GRANITE MILLS.
In 1865 John and William Fletcher, with Richard Firth and Adam S. Ballantyne of Methuen, bought the Bailey Mill and continued the manufacture of many lines of woolen goods. Their business increased and soon after the mill was enlarged, another story added, improved motive power installed, more and broader looms added and the capacity of the plant doubled and many varieties of dress goods, blankets, etc., were made for 25 years.
In 1871 Mr. Firth sold his interest to the other partners and took the newly-erected factory of Mr. Hazen Copp and gave it the name of Elm Mills.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.