USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Plymouth > History of Plymouth, New Hampshire; vol. I. Narrative--vol. II. Genealogies, Volume I > Part 32
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event was celebrated by a salute from a cannon and the cheers of an enthusiastic populace. About the same time a special train of passenger cars arrived, and the New Hampshire Statesman of Jan. 25, 1850, gives the following account of the celebration of the event: -
On the 18th inst. the Boston, Concord, and Montreal Railroad was opened from Fogg's Farm in New Hampton to Plymouth, and a fine entertainment was given to all present by that energetic, well known, and highly approved landlord, D. R. Burnham, Esq., of the Pemigewasset hotel, free to all at the landlord's expense. It was a time of rejoicing to the people of Plymouth, and the friends of the road generally, and story- telling, speechifying briefly, and toast-drinking (with pure, cold water) occupied an hour or two very agreeably. The train had at least 100 tons of merchandise on board, which, with the well filled cars, taxed heavily the iron horses, the " Josiah Quincy" and the " John Mc Duffee," the former bearing the name of the president of the road, and the latter that of the old veteran surveyor, whose honest old visage is still fresh in the mind's eye to most who have been members of the legislature of this state from 1817 to 1846, who have listened patiently to his pleadings for a canal up the Pemigewasset valley, and for remuneration of his services for sundry explorations made by him on that route in other days.
This historic corporation has met and surmounted many finan- cial difficulties, but at all times it has been of great benefit to Plymouth, and a constant factor in the development of business in many places. It is now a part of a system of railroads, and its name and its individuality are lost. The Boston, Concord, and Montreal was leased to the Boston and Lowell, June 1, 1884, for the term of ninety-nine years, and was operated by the Boston and Maine until the lease was vacated by legal process. In Sep- tember, 1889, the corporation was united with the Concord under name of Concord and Montreal Railroad. The new corporation was leased to the Boston and Maine, June 29, 1895.
The first president of the corporation was Josiah Quincy of Rumney. He was an early and an able promoter of the road, and at all times a wise counsellor and a sagacious manager. IIe was continued in office until 1860, when he was succeeded by John E. Lyon of Boston, Mass., a man of remarkable energy, courage, and
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sagacity. He realized that the Boston, Concord, and Montreal was a natural avenue to the mountains of New Hampshire, and that a vast amount of lumber and other freight would be transported to a waiting market. He believed that the future of the road was secure, and he encouraged industries and extended the road into new fields. He built the Pemigewasset House, and encouraged the building of many summer resorts. Mr. Lyon was succeeded by J. Thomas Vose, his associate many years in business.
John Emery Lyon, son of Capt. John and Sally (Crooker) Lyon, was born in Lancaster, Mass., March 1, 1809, and died in Ply- mouth, April 11, 1878. In the record of his birth he was called Amory Ward Lyon, but the name was changed to John Emery Lyon. He attended the public schools of his native town, and subsequently was a clerk in the store of Gage and Moody, dealers in dry goods, Liberty Square, Boston, Mass. His promotion was rapid. He was soon admitted to the firm which in 1835 became Lyon and Vose. The new firm surrendered the dry goods trade, and conducted with unusual success a general commission business, and engaged in the development of railroads and navigation. Sev- eral of the finest ships sailing from Boston were owned by the firm. Mr. Lyon never married. His only sister died in infancy. His estate by the terms of his will was divided among his personal friends.
The first board of directors called to their assistance Peter Clark, who was the building agent from May, 1846, until near the close of the following year. He was a son of Peter and Elizabeth (Punchard) Clark, and was born in Lyndeborough, Aug. 13, 1784. He was an active merchant in Francestown, and a director of the Boston and Lowell Railroad. About 1845 he removed to Nashua. He died Dec. 25, 1853.
Mr. Clark was succeeded by James N. Elkins, who became the first superintendent of the corporation. Previously he had been a conductor on the Concord railroad. He was an efficient man- ager, and was continued in office until his death. He died in Plymouth, June 20, 1853.
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James M. Whiton, the second superintendent, continued the offices of the road in Plymouth. IIe resided across the river in Holderness.
Fifty years ago the number of the men who were familiar with the management of railroads was limited. Until he was called to the supervision of the Boston, Concord, and Montreal, Mr. Whiton had been a merchant of Boston, Mass. He was a man of unusual ability, experienced in business, and a cultured gentleman. He died March 22, 1857. (See Volume II.)
Immediately succeeding the sudden death of Mr. Whiton, and until a permanent superintendent was appointed, the road was under the control of the directors, who were represented by John T. Coffin of Laconia. Joseph A. Dodge, who had been station agent at Tilton, Laconia, Meredith, and Plymouth, at this time was living in Plymouth, and was general freight agent. He was appointed superintendent by one record in 1860, and by another, Aug. 9, 1858. Mr. Dodge was superintendent about twenty years, and after the death of Mr. Lyon he was general manager until his death in 1883. He was an able manager and a valued citizen of Plymouth.
Since the date of the lease, by which the Boston, Concord, and Montreal surrendered its integral character, the business offices have been removed from Plymouth. The division superintendents have been William A. Stowell of Montpelier, Vt., Edward F. Mann, a popular and efficient manager, who died Aug. 19, 1892, and George E. Cummings of Woodsville, the present and competent official.
While Joseph A. Dodge was the station agent at Plymouth, he was more actively employed as general freight agent of the Boston, Concord, and Montreal. In the supervision of the station he was assisted by James Robie, who subsequently was an express agent many years. The second station agent was Mark L. Lawrence, whose term of service extended from about 1855 to 1864. Mr. Lawrence was succeeded by John C. Chase, who was killed in a railroad accident Oct. 3, 1883. George H. Colby was appointed
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station agent Nov. 24, 1883. He was a popular and an efficient official nearly twenty years. He died, by accident, Feb. 5, 1903. Leon L. Adams, the present agent, was transferred from the station at West Rumney.
The Pemigewasset Valley Railroad was chartered in 1874 and completed - from Plymouth to North Woodstock, a distance of twenty miles - in 1883. In 1896 the track was extended about three miles to a point in Lincoln. From the beginning the road has been operated under a lease to the Boston, Concord, and Montreal, and is now a part of the system controlled by the Boston and Maine. Nathan H. Weeks and Charles H. Bowles have been directors, and George H. Adams, clerk of the corporation.
The sad and accidental death of George Henry Colby, who died in the faithful discharge of duty, is a part of the annals of the railroad in Plymouth. He was an efficient and an energetic station agent, having completed over twenty years of service in this town. About eleven o'clock on the evening of Wednesday, Feb. 4, 1903, two men wearing masks entered the office of the station agent, and with a display of arms " held up " Thomas H. McGough, a telegraph operator, who was in charge, and the sole occupant of the office. They emptied the money drawer, containing only a small amount, and made a precipitate flight, following the railroad track towards Livermore Falls. Captain Colby was immediately informed of the event, and with habitual energy and promptness he summoned aid and prepared a locomotive for pur- suit. Upon the locomotive were Captain Colby and Fred R. Smith, engineer, George Keniston, fireman, and Arthur A. Ferrin. Meanwhile Lewis C. Mills, a policeman, and Andrew J. Pike were driving in a sleigh towards Livermore Falls. At the bridge Mr. Mills, thinking he must be near the fugitives, left the sleigh and followed the railroad track towards Campton, expecting every moment to overtake them. In the uncertain light of midnight, and in a moment of extreme excitement, Mr. Mills and Captain Colby met. Each mistook the other for the object of the search. Pointing a shotgun, Captain Colby commanded " hands up," and
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fired, and instantly Mr. Mills fired upon him. The mistake was quickly discovered, and Captain Colby was hastily borne to Ply- mouth. He died before his home was reached.
Soon after, Sheriff Brown and James N. McCoy, with others, followed the footprints of the fugitives to Campton Village, and there arrested them. They were Kenneth MeMurray of Worcester, Mass., and Reginald Harris of Providence, R. I. Both were youths of eighteen years. At the May term of the Superior Court at Plymouth, both were sentenced to the State prison for a term not exceeding two years and six months. The robbery of the rail- road office was an event of little moment, but the death of Captain Colby, an esteemed citizen and a faithful official, cast the shadows of sorrow over the community, and the color of mourning upon every reference to the event.
THE PLYMOUTH AND CAMPTON TELEPHONE EXCHANGE COM- PANY. - This prosperous and enterprising company was incorpo- rated in 1881, and the first meeting of the stockholders was held at the Black Mountain House in Campton, June 18, 1881. The subsequent meetings, with few exceptions, have been held in Ply- mouth. The original capital stock, subject to subscription, was three thousand dollars, or three hundred shares of ten dollars each. The enterprise was firmly supported by the public, and over one hundred persons were subscribers to the original issue of stoek. There was one subscription for fifteen shares, one for ten, one for six, fifteen for five shares, and the remainder in smaller amounts. In 1897 the capital stock was increased to six thousand, and three years later. to twelve thousand dollars. The par value of the shares was increased to twenty-five dollars. At the present time the capital stock is owned mainly by a few residents of Plymouth.
By new construction and by the purchase of connecting lines, the company has established wires and instruments in Plymouth, Campton, Ashland, Holderness, New Hampton, Centre Harbor, Bridgewater, Quincy, Rumney, West Rumney, Wentworth, War- ren, Thornton, Waterville, Woodstock, Lincoln, Franconia, Easton, Sugar Hill, Lisbon, Littleton, and Bethlehem. There are five
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central offices located in Plymouth, Ashland, North Woodstock, Warren, and Franconia.
The company has established, and maintains one hundred and thirty miles of pole line and five hundred miles of wire. In 1905 there are over five hundred telephones in use, and the greatest advance in improvements made and in the number of new sub- scribers has occurred the present year. Since 1884 the company has earned and paid an annual dividend of six per cent.
One of the trunk lines of the New England Telephone and Tele- graph Company, from Boston to northern New Hampshire, passes through Plymouth. To the south the line follows the Boston and Maine Railroad, and to the north it follows the valley of Baker's River. Connection is made with the local company for toll busi- ness. The New England Company has five circuits running into the Plymouth office of the Plymouth and Campton Company, and the local company is connected at Littleton with the New England Company by two circuits. Both companies are licensees of the American Bell Telephone Company, and they do not compete for business in the same territory.
Since 1888 the Plymouth and Campton Company has prospered under the able and progressive management of Walter I. Lee of Plymouth, who has held every office in the gift of the corporation. He is a son of Joseph and Jane French (Kimball) Lee and was born in Belmont, Sept. 18, 1864. He was connected with the Win- nepesaukee Telephone Company several years immediately pre- ceding his removal to this town. He has been supported by an efficient board of directors, and every year has made its record of prosperity and extension.
Officers of the corporation have been chosen annually, and the list includes the principal owners of the stock : -
Presidents : Alvin Burleigh, 1881-1884; George H. Adams, 1885; Plummer Fox, 1886-1899 ; Davis B. Keniston, 1900-1904; Walter I. Lee, 1905.
Treasurers : Erastus Dole, 1881-1883 ; Joseph M. Howe, 1884, 1885; Henry S. George, 1886, 1887; Plummer Fox, 1888-1896 ;
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Frederick P. Weeks, 1897-1899 ; Plummer Fox, 1900-1904; Davis B. Keniston, 1905.
Directors : Joseph Cook, 1881-1886 ; Orrin F. James, 1881-1885 ; Edward H. Sanborn, 1881-1885; Frank W. Russell, 1881, 1882, 1888 ; Joseph C. Blair, 1881-1883; Frank L. Hughes, 1883-1887; Erastus Dole, 1884, 1885 ; Plummer Fox, 1886-1904 ; Davis B. Keniston, 1886- 1905 ; Moody C. Dole, 1886-1896 ; Henry S. George, 1887; James F. Huckins, 1888-1891; Lucius M. Howe, 1889; Carlos M. Morse, 1890, 1905 ; George H. Adams, 1891-1905 ; Scott N. Weeks, 1897; Frederick P. Weeks, 1897-1905; Walter I. Lee, 1892-1905.
THE PLYMOUTH ELECTRIC LIGHT COMPANY. - This company was organized July 29, 1891, under the provisions of the voluntary corporation laws of New Hampshire. The capital stock is $10,000, and the incorporators were Alvin Burleigh, Frank C. Calley, Plummer Fox, Warren G. Chase, George H. Adams, Charles J. Gould, Frank W. Russell, John Keniston, Davis B. Keniston, Hazen D. Smith, Erastus B. Dearborn, John H. Mudgett, Perley S. Currier, and others. The Edison system was adopted, and the plant is of sufficient capacity to furnish a suitable number of arc and incandescent lights for present use. The directors are James N. McCoy, president; Frank C. Calley, treasurer and general manager; George H. Adams, clerk; Frederick P. Weeks and Warren G. Chase.
PLYMOUTHI PARK. - In accordance with a vote of the town, passed March 8, 1892, the selectmen, in the name of the town, purchased the tract of land bounded by the highways and situated east of the store of Webster, Russell Company and of the bank building. The land is held by the town as a public park. In this manner it is preserved from trespass, and is dedicated to the pleasure of the present and future generations.
THIE BAPTISTS. - A majority of the early settlers of Plymouth were Congregationalists. They organized a church before they removed from Hollis, and the families from other towns generally were of the same faith. How many, if any, of the earliest families were Baptists, or at what time any of the Congregationalists em-
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braced the Baptist faith cannot be fully stated. The recorded evi- dence of a small number of Baptists in this town first appears in the records of 1777. At this time eight citizens and taxpayers entered a formal protest against the vote raising money for the salary of Rev. Nathan Ward. In 1778 and 1779 there were seven dissenters each year. The tax for the salary of Mr. Ward was assessed upon the polls and estates of all. The dissenters refused to pay the tax, and suits were instituted. The conditions invited a contest, but a superior wisdom prevailed and a satisfactory settle- ment was made.
At the annual meeting in March, 1780, the dissenting Baptists agreed to pay all the taxes that had been assessed, and the town agreed in the future to excuse from the ministerial tax " All per- sons who give in their names as being of the Baptist principles." This was forty years before the passage of the Toleration Act. There is no event in the history of Plymouth that reflects the superior wisdom and tolerance of the town in a better light. To- gether these men in founding a town had endured the hardships of the frontiers, and together they had shared the burdens and the perils of the Revolution, and when one chanced to differ from his brother in religious belief, both were solicitous that fraternal rela- tions be continued. In these early proceedings the names of eighteen Baptists are entered in the records. They were Samuel Ambrose, Zebadiah Richardson, Jacob Draper, Henry Eastman, Simeon Hovey, Ephraim Keyes, Thomas Lucas, Jonathan Rob- bins, Stephen Webster, Stephen Webster, Jr., Abel Webster, Amos Webster, Nathaniel Webster, Daniel Clough Webster, Paul Wells, Stephen Wells, Joseph Wheeler, Dr. Abijah Wright. Of these Samuel Ambrose and Zebadiah Richardson lived in this town only two or three years after the adjustment of the contention. Both, subsequently, were Baptist ministers. (See Volume II.) Abel Webster and Stephen Webster, Sr., in 1765 were members of a committee of five, representing the proprietors acting as a parish, at the ordination of Mr. Ward. Their election by a parish at this time is not evidence concerning their church relations. Elisha
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Bean of Plymouth, who was a deacon of the Baptist Church in Rumney, always paid a minister tax in this town; and while the town constituted a parish he was one of a committee to build the second meeting-house, and was prominent in parish affairs. Abel Webster was a prominent factor among the Baptists for many years, but was frequently chosen by the town to act in parish affairs. Stephen Webster, Sr., in the records is styled Elder Stephen Webster, a title frequently given to Baptist preachers. At the meeting in March, 1780, following the vote to excuse the Baptists from future taxes for the support of a minister, the town chose four Baptists and two Congregationalists to agree with Mr. Ward concerning the arrears of salary due him. The committee were Francis Worcester, Elisha Bean, Benjamin Goold, Thomas Lucas, Stephen Webster, and Abel Webster.
In 1783 the persons who were excused at their request from the payment of a ministerial tax were Zebadiah Richardson, Elder Stephen Webster, Daniel Clough Webster, Abijah Wright, Abel Webster, Nathaniel Webster, Stephen Webster, Jr., Stephen Wells, Jacob Draper, and Henry Eastman. At this date Samuel Am- brose, Simeon Hovey, Thomas Lucas, and Joseph Wheeler had removed from the town.
In 1780 a Calvinistic Baptist church was embodied in Rumney, of which Rev. Cotton Haines was the pastor nearly twenty years. Several Plymouth families were regular attendants at this church for many years. The Baptists enjoyed preaching occasionally in schoolhouses and sometimes in the meeting-house, but there was no church organization in this town. In the autobiography of Rev. John Colby, a zealous Baptist preacher, he records: "Next morning, Nov. 12, 1810, I went to Plymouth, where I met with a number of loving brothers and sisters." The same preacher was again in Plymouth June 22 and 23, 1812.
About thirty years ago stated preaching was maintained a short time in a hall upon the site of Tufts Block. There are many who remember these meetings of devout worshippers.
At the present time several families of the Calvinistic Baptist
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faith, joining with others in Campton and Holderness, are stated worshippers in a chapel recently erected near Plymouth village, in Holderness.
THE VILLAGE FIRE PRECINCT. - The purpose of the precinct is twofold. It assumes control of fire and water, but refuses the responsibility of floods and freshets. Such subsidiary corporations exist in many towns. They are founded on the principles of equity. The precinct enjoys the right of raising money by taxation for local and special purposes, and for the sole benefit of the people within the precinct. The remainder of the town not participating in these special privileges is exempted from taxation in the premises. Many of the public utilities are the product of a slow and at times an almost imperceptible growth. While the precinct is founded in the growth and vigor of a village, the origin of such an organi- zation is often found in the distant past. If there had been no fire company in Plymouth many years ago, there would have been a precinct when the conditions demanded one; but the public spirit which suggested a fire-engine company in the progress of years demanded an early organization of a precinct and the privi- leges which it controls. The old fire-engine company is the corner- stone of the present structure. It was organized in 1831, and, like the birth of a child, its organization is recorded in the town records : ---
Notice. - Horace Bugbee, Oliver S. McQuesten, Alvah MeQuesten, Pelatiah Russell, Samuel Dearborn, George Farnum, Jonathan Eaton, Frederick W. A. Robie, Thomas Hinds, Leonard George, Caleb East- man, Greenleaf Malone, Jabez Merrill, Milton Willoughby, John Rogers, William Greenleaf, Hiram Farnum, Charles Hazelton, Enos Shattuck, William W. Russell, William Green, David C. Webster, have associated themselves together as a fire engine company with the name and style of THE FIRST FIRE ENGINE COMPANY IN PLYMOUTH, and have by that name become a corporation with the privileges incident to the same, according to the provisions of the statute of July 1, 1831.
Evidently the existence of an organized fire company invited the town to further action in regard to a protection from fire. VOL. I .- 25
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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH.
From 1831 to 1843 the town annually chose from two to five fire wardens. Among the citizens of Plymouth who served the public in this capacity were John Rogers, Nathaniel Peabody Rogers, David Moor Russell, William Wallace Russell, Alvah McQuesten, Oliver S. McQuesten, Benjamin Edmonds, Stevens Merrill, Isaac Ward, Austin George, Timothy Eastman, Frederick W. A. Robic, and William Green.
THE PLYMOUTH VILLAGE FIRE DISTRICT. - The village pre- cinet was organized under the laws of New Hampshire April 24, 1888. It is a limited town within a town, and is bounded as follows : -
Commencing at the Pemigewasset River where the brook that runs the C. W. Calley tannery empties into said river and following up said brook to south west corner of John Boynton's lot : thenee following said Boyn- ton's westerly line to Langdon St. : thence northerly on Langdon St. to Morris Condon's south line : thence westerly on said Condon's line to his west line : thence northerly on said Condon's west line to Mrs. Owen Sullivan's south line : thence westerly on P. Fox's north line to Sylvester Swett's east line : thence northerly on said Swett's east line to Pleasant St. : thence westerly on Pleasant St. to Avery St. : thence northerly on said Avery St. to Range line and south line of land owned by A. W. Avery : thence westerly on said range line to west line of land owned by Ella MeQueston : thence northerly on said MeQueston's west line to Highland St. : thence westerly on Highland St. to west line of A. J. McClure : thence on said McClure's west line to Bakers River : thence following down Bakers River to Boston, Concord & Montreal R. R. thence sontherly on said railroad to crossing at Five Points so-called ; thence to Pemigewasset River: thence following down said river to bound begun at.
The stated officers of the precinct are a moderator, clerk, a board of three fire commissioners, and a board of three water commis- sioners. The annual reports of the commissioners are printed. The precinct, through the board of water commissioners, purchased, 1899, the properties of the Plymouth Aqueduct and Water Com- pany for the sum of $35,000, and enlarged the supply of water by the addition of a system of driven wells near the peg mill of
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Jacob R. Foster, obtaining power for the pumps at Foster's Mill. The debt of the precinct Dec. 31, 1904, was $38,600. The water system at cost and supplies on hand were valued at $47,756.77. The fire department is under the immediate control of the fire commissioners.
The following is a list of the officers of the district from date of organization to the present time : -
Moderators : John Keniston, 1889-1892 ; Rodney E. Smythe, 1893- 1896, 1902-1905; Frank H. Rollins, 1898-1900; Frank W. Russell, 1901.
Clerks : Fred N. George, 1889; Louis I. Moulton, 1890-1893 ; William J. Randolph, 1894-1896 ; Hume B. Heath, 1897-1899 ; Albert S. Robie, 1900; Jolin E. Smith, 1901-1905.
Treasurers : Hume B. Heath, 1895-1899; Albert S. Robie, 1900; John E. Smith, 1901-1905.
Fire Commissioners : George W. Little, 1889, 1890; Joseph P. Huckins, 1889, 1890, 1892-1900 ; Frank C. Calley, 1889 ; Henry Rogers, 1890; John Keniston, 1891, 1892; Eri C. George, 1891, 1893-1900 ; Frank Chick, 1891, 1892; A. George Amsden, 1892, 1893 ; J. Frank Gould, 1894, 1895 ; Charles E. Barker, 1896, 1897 ; George W. Gore, 1898-1900 ; Hume B. Heath, 1901-1903 ; George R. Foster, 1901-1905 ; Alvah C. Cousins, 1901-1905 ; Moody P. Gore, 1904, 1905.
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