History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and representative citizens, Part 31

Author: Hazlett, Charles A
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago : Richmond-Arnold
Number of Pages: 1390

USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and representative citizens > Part 31

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Derry Depot .- Before the construction of the Londonderry turnpike the business center of the town was on the hill in the East Parish. There were the leading hotels and stores, and there the postoffice. If any of the townspeople were unfortunate enough to need a physician, a lawyer, or a sheriff, all these were to be found within the limits of what is now East Derry Village. But the turnpike changed all this, and the lower village became the center. In like manner measurably has business been diverted to Derry Depot by the building of the Manchester and Lawrence Railroad, which opened November 13, 1849. The land occupied by the western part of the village was laid out in 1722 "to John McClurg, Elizabeth Wilson, and Mary, her daughter";

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other portions to William Ayres, James Alexander, and John Goffe. At the time the railroad went into operation there was but one house between the dwelling of Alfred Boyd, on the east, and that of Jonathan (now John) Holmes, on the west, near the brook.

In due time after the cars commenced running, Benjamin Eastman, a resi- dent of East Derry, and a man of remarkable capacity for business, erected a hotel and the large store of L. H. & W. S. Pillsbury, which were destroyed by fire, August 19, 1882. Mr. Eastman also built the extensive shoe manu- factory of Col. W. S. Pillsbury. August 19, 1882, a fire in the heart of the village destroyed property to the amount of about seventy-five thousand dollars. The buildings burned were the hotel of A. B. Smith, in which the fire began, the store owned by A. P. Hardy and W. S. Pillsbury, the store of Smith & Rollins, the depot of the Manchester and Lawrence Railroad, and several other places of business. Several houses were burned, and fourteen families made homeless.

The Milk Business .- This is carried on by H. P. Hood & Sons, is extensive, and is the source of much prosperity to Derry, Londonderry, and Windham.

MILITARY

Mexican War .- There were two Derry men in this war: John G. Bond and Hiram Rowell. The former, whose health was broken down in the service, died at Concord, N. H., in 1876.

Derry in the Rebellion, 1861-65 .- This town, like most New Hampshire towns, promptly responded to the call of the United States Government for troops, and all through the unhappy contest contributed its full share of means and men. The first year of the war about thirty men volunteered in the service of the United States. In August, 1862, the town sent ten men, paying each $200 bounty. Under the draft of August 11, 1863, Derry paid each of the drafted men $300. October 17, 1863, twenty-two men were enlisted, costing the town $13,276. February, 1864, thirteen volunteers were paid $2,502, and three were drafted, who received $900. July 18, 1864, nineteen three years' men were "put in," at the cost of $11,400, one two years' man, $600, and thirteen one year men, at an expense of $6,000. December 19, 1864, the town paid $7,350 for seventeen enlisted men, making in all 114 men, at the aggre- gate cost of $48,828.

Roll of men who enlisted : In the First Regiment New Hampshire Volun- teer Infantry, three months' men, Colonel Tappan, were Melvin Chase and Frank A. Flint, who were mustered in May 2, 1861, and mustered out August 9, 1861 ; Marlan P. Clark and William J. Bassett, mustered in May 3, 1861, and out August 9, 1861.

Fourth Regiment, Col. Louis Bell: Nathaniel H. Brown, captain, com- missioned September 20, 1861; resigned October 6, 1862. John Christie, George W. Carr, Albion K. Goodwin, George S. Greenough, Joseph Johnson, Louis Londean, Horace Tilton, Horace F. Abbott, Joseph Anderson, Patrick Colbert, Thomas Grimes, James Kane, John G. Oates, Robert Wellington, John S. Lovering, Charles M. Ordway, and George E. Fitch, captured at Drury's Bluff, May 16, 1864; A. D. W. Emerson.

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Fifth Regiment, Colonel Cross: William W. Cook, major, commissioned September 24, 1861 ; resigned July 17, 1862. Edwin Brickett, died of disease June 2, 1864. Isaac L. Gardner, wounded June 17, 1864. John Otto. Nehe- miah Robinson, wounded June 3, 1864.

Sixth Regiment, Colonel Griffin: Isaiah A. Dustin, honorably discharged May 17, 1864. George E. Upton, first lieutenant, killed near Petersburg, Va., July 30, 1864. Charles Bodwell. Benjamin D. Foster, killed at Bull Run, Va., August 29, 1862. Issachar O. Foster, wounded June 24, 1864. Dwight E. Hale, Charles Black, Daniel Drew, John W. Law, Charles Miller, and James Flanders.

Seventh Regiment, Colonel Abbott : William A. Hill, first lieutenant, wounded June 18, 1864. Thomas Simington.

Eighth Regiment, Colonel Fearing: Thomas S. Dustin, died at Baton Rouge, La., January 19, 1863. Stephen Mills, Warren P. Horne, George McKenny. James W. Novell, died at Baton Rouge, La., April 14, 1863. George F. Boyd, Matthew Senter, J. D. Morse.

Ninth Regiment, Colonel Fellows: George W. Randall, Charles Laroni, Alexander Morrison, Lafayette Deeker, John H. McGibbon, Nelson Foster.

Tenth Regiment, Colonel Donohoe: J. T. G. Dinsmore, Jr. David H. Adams, died at Falmouth, Va., January 18, 1863. Decatur McCarter. Eleventh Regiment, Colonel Harriman : J. Charles Currier, captain; Henry G. Dillenback, Charles L. Reynolds, Charles R. Rogers, Edward Armond, James Blake, J. C. Barron, Thomas McGuire, J. McGovern, James Parker, Michael Sorhew.

Twelfth Regiment, Colonel Potter : Robert W. McMurphy, Adam Debas, F. Markhoff, Andrew J. Goodwin.

Thirteenth Regiment, Colonel Stevens: Col. Aaron F. Stevens was born in Derry. He was commissioned colonel August 26, 1862, having served as major in the first N. H. Regiment. He was wounded June 1, 1864, and again, severely, September 29, 1864. Marcellus C. Shattuck, Tenny Major, John H. Parker.

Seventeenth Regiment, Colonel Kent: George O. Everett.

Eighteenth Regiment : John Bowley, George E. Merill, William Marshall, George Reed, Edgar H. Shepard. The last named was son of Hon. W. H. Shepard, of Derry. He died at Concord, N. H., March 6, 1865.

New Hampshire Battalion, First Regiment New England Cavalry, Major Nelson: William A. McMurphy, Charles B. Radcliff, E. L. Currier.

First Regiment New Hampshire Cavalry, Colonel Thompson: N. H. Brown, captain of Troop F; Henry Forger, Samuel Harvey, John Smith, Thomas Tyrie, Warren E. Clark, Alfred Clifton, Frederick Davis, James Evans, Frank A. Lincoln, John H. Low, Henry M. Moulton, John R. Moulton, Daniel Shattuck, George B. Tuttle, C. F. Whidden, and John E. Webster.

First Regiment New Hampshire Volunteer Heavy Artillery, Colonel Long : Daniel Owens, Francis Owens, George Major, Jeremiah Garvin, Charles Aldrich, James E. Morrill, Nathan Morse, George R. Barker, Theodore Dins- moore, W. K. Hayes, Charles A. Nowell, H. A. G. Storer, Kimball J. Wilson, Charles T. Wheeler.

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There were several men from Derry who served in the war, but their names are unknown to the writer.

Enrollment of Derry, April 30, 1865, 155; total of quota under all calls for men from July, 1863, 95; total credits by enrollment and draft, 102; sur- plus, 7.

Mr. Daniel G. George, a resident of Derry, enjoys the honor of being the man who pulled the lanyard of the torpedo that destroyed the rebel boat "Albemarle" during the late war. He has received $10,000 from the United States Government as a reward for his bravery. He has also a beautiful medal, the gift of Government, in acknowledgment of his services.

Londonderry Celebration .- June 10, 1869, 150 years from the settlement of the town, a vast concourse of people from all parts of the country assembled on the plains a few rods east of Derry Depot, and celebrated the occasion with feasting, speech and song. Many thousands of the citizens of Old London- derry and other towns in the vicinity assembled in a large tent, raised for the purpose, and listened to speeches from some of the eminent men of the day. Hon. George W. Patterson, of Westfield, N. Y., a native of the town, presided, and Hon. Charles H. Bell, of Exeter, N. H., made the leading address. He was followed by Hon. James W. Patterson, of Hanover, N. H., Horace Greeley, Dr. S. H. Taylor, Hon. E. H. Derby, Gen. Aaron F. Stevens, Rev. C. M. Dinsmore, and Hon. A. H. Cragin.

A little after noon the vast assembly was provided with a generous enter- tainment by the ladies of Derry, Londonderry, and Windham.

It was an occasion of rare enjoyment to all who participated in the serv- ices of the day.

A compilation of the exercises was made by R. C. Mack in a volume of 124 pages.

Newspapers and Printing .- A printing office was "set up" many years ago by Isaiah Thomas or his brother on Doak's Plains, now Boyd's Plains, a little east of Derry Depot. How long he was there or just where his office was situated is not known. In the summer of 1876, Charles Bartlett opened a printing office in Derry village, and uniting with this the sale of books and stationery, he has carried on a successful business since. In connection with N. C. Bartlett, in 1880, he commenced the publishment of the Derry News. At the end of the year Mr. N. C. Bartlett retired, leaving the control of the paper to Mr. Charles Bartlett, who in April, 1882, enlarged it to a twenty-four- column folio. The paper is a success, and is much appreciated by the citizens of Derry and Londonderry and former residents of both towns. E. P. Trow- bridge is the present publisher of the Derry News and of the Enterprise, the weekly edition.

First Library .- A few of the leading people in town a little before 1800 established a library of several hundred volumes. It was kept at first at the house of Capt. James Aiken, otherwise known as Deacon Aiken, in the Aiken's Range, Derry. When the village began to assume importance the books were removed to the Thornton House, and Maj. Peter Patterson served as librarian. They were mostly of an historical and religious character, were well read, and were kept together till the division of the town in 1827, when they were divided among the stockholders. John Porter, Esq., for those who lived in the

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new town, and Robert Mack, for Londonderry, made the division. The rule they adopted was to give the interested parties each a pile of books of about equal size. A few volumes of that old library are yet to be found in various families in both towns.

The Library .- Upon the death of Miss Harriet Taylor the town secured from her estate $1,000 to found a library. It went into operation February 23, 1878, with about one thousand volumes. The library now contains 6,986 volumes. C. Louise Bachelder is the librarian. At a recent town meeting it was voted to rebuild the Adams Memorial buildings, which formerly housed it. This building of brick and stone was given to the town years ago, and this winter burned down. It will be reconstructed in 1914 fully as beautiful as it was before and suitable quarters will be arranged in it for the library, the court, the town offices and an auditorium.

Masonry .- St. Mark's Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, No. 44. This lodge was chartered June 14, 1826.

Odd-Fellowship .- Echo Lodge. April 17, 1879, a lodge of Odd-Fellows by the above name was instituted in Derry. The initial meeting numbered nineteen persons, eight being charter members and eleven by admission. The first officers were Henry S. Warner, noble grand; R. R. Merrick, vice grand; F. A. Cross, secretary ; Charles L. Cutler, treasurer.

Grand Army .- George E. Upton Post, No. 45. This post is named after Lieut. George E. Upton, who enlisted as a private November 28, 1861, in Com- pany G, Sixth New Hampshire Volunteers, and was promoted to first lieu- tenant October 30, 1863, and was killed near Petersburg, Va., July 30, 1864. The post was chartered September 4, 1879. Following are the names of the charter members : David S. Clark, James H. Crombie, Charles H. Cum- mings, Isaiah A. Dustin, James Evans, Charles F. Fields, Isaac N. Hunt, Francis Owens, A. A. Pressey, George Richards, C. M. Tilton, George B. Tuttle, Henry C. Vining, Caleb F. Whidden, and Amos M. Young.

Nutfield Grange, No. 37 .- The Patrons of Husbandry organized Sep- tember 23, 1874, a grange, to which the appropriate name of "Nutfield" was given. The first Master was W. O. Noyes.

Societies : Derryfield Lodge, A. O. U. W. Beaver Colony Pilgrim Fathers ; Rockingham Lodge, K. of P .; Rathbone Division, U. R. K. of P .; Mystic Encampment, I. O. O. F .; Mizpah Rebekah Lodge; Wesley B. Knight Post ; Geo. E Upton Post, G. A. R .; W. B. Knight and G. E. Upton Relief Corps ; Ivanhoe Temple, No. 1 ; Molly Reid Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution ; Bell Chapter, A. F. & A. M .; Ransford Chapter, O. E. S .; Derry W. C. T. U .; Honesty Lodge, N. E. O. P .; Court Nutfield, F. of A. ; Golden Cross, Woman's Club; Nutfield Dramatic Co .; Red Men; West Derry Grange, P. of H. ; Eagles ; Knight's of Malta; Knight's of America; Noeskateta Coun- cil, Daughters of Pocahontas; Owls.

The physicians are: G. H. Berkley, C. E. Newell, T. B. Perkins, S. T. Cogswell and L. G. Dearborn.

Lawyers: G. K. & B. T. Bartlett, J. G. Crawford, E. B. Weston, H. L. Grinnell, Jr. See Bench and Bar chapter.

Public Requests in Derry .- This town has enjoyed a larger share of public bequests than falls to the lot of most towns. As early as 1722 the hard-

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pressed settlers were generously aided by gentlemen of Portsmouth in the building of their church. In 1815, Maj. John Pinkerton endowed the Pinker- ton Academy with a fund of $12,000, and his brother, Deacon James Pinker- ton, added $1,500 to this amount. Mr. Jacob Adams, who died in 1823, by his will devised about four thousand dollars to the Adams Female Academy. Mr. Adams also donated $800 to the East Church in Derry, to aid in pur- chasing a bell for that meeting house. The late Mrs. Abby C. McGregor left the sum of $1,000 to the Adams Female Academy. In 1870, Richard Melvin gave the First Congregational Society a fund of $1,000. Dr. Sylvanus Brown bequeathed about seven thousand dollars to the town, the yearly income of which is to be expended in the purchase of flannel for the destitute people of the town as the selectmen for the time being shall designate. Doctor Brown also left $500, the annual interest to be used in "picking the small stones from the public highways." He devised likewise a small sum to remain at interest until 1919, at which time the whole shall be used in payment for "nuts and cider" for all persons present at the celebration of the two hundreth anni- versary of the town's settlement. Hon. E. H. Derby, of Boston, an eloquent and sincere friend of the town, gave to Pinkerton Academy $1,000 for a library. The academy also received about five hundred dollars from various persons at its semi-centennial in 1878. Miss Harriet Taylor, daughter of Deacon James Taylor, formerly an honored citizen of Derry, bequeathed in 1876 $1,000 to found a public library in town. The elegant clock in the steeple of the East Derry Church, whose two broad faces may be seen far and wide, was placed there by her generous bounty. Mrs. Philip Nowell left $2,000 to the town, to be expended in the erection of a town hall. She also gave $500 to the Cemetery Association, and the same sum for the benefit of the old part of the cemetery, and also $1,000 to the Adams Female Academy. The late David Bassett left $3,000 to repair the East Derry Church. But the most munificent bequest is that of $200,000 to the Pinkerton Academy by the late John M. Pinkerton.

RELIGIOUS

First Meeting House .- From the town records the initial steps towards the erection of a house of worship appear to have been in a vote taken in gen- eral town meeting, June 3, 1720: "The Town voated that there shall be a small house built that may be convenient for the inhabitants to meet in for the worship of God, & that it shall be built as sune as it can with con- veniency; allso that the house shall be built as near the center of the one hundred & five lots as can be with convenience." A few days later a location was agreed upon. It was "voated that the meeting-house shall be built within . seven rods of a black stake set up either upon or near unto Mr. McGregor's lott." The matter rested till the January following, when the town "voated that a meeting-house shall be built as speedily as may be, & that the said house shall be 50 feet in length, forty-five feet broad, and so high as may be conveneant for one set of galeryes." The galleries of this house were reached by steps or stairs built on the outside, at the side or end. 1728, "Voted that the stairs to go up to our galleries for the meeting-house shall be brought to the

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inside, & that there shall be windows struke out in the north side, one on each side of the pulpit." It appears from this that steps to reach the galleries were on the north side of the house, and that the pulpit faced the south. The difficulty arising from inability to procure the necessary materials delayed the work, and two years elapsed before the house was finished and ready for occupancy. Its location was between the present church in East Derry and the leading highway through the village, a little nearer the church than the road. This house answered the purpose of the parish till 1769, when a new one, the present edifice, sixty-five by forty-five feet, was built. The high and massive steeple, with its immense timbers used at that time, made the erection of churches an affair of great importance, especially the raising. To accom- plish this ropes and machinery were brought from afar, the most resolute and energetic men were summoned to the task, and often several days were needed to get the building ready for the boards. It is no wonder that "four 100 weight of cheas, 2000 Bisket, 3 barl of Rhum, & 5 barl of Syder" were used at the raising of the first church. Matthew Thornton, Moses Barnet, and James Wallace were the building committee.

This house was enlarged in 1824, by cutting it through the middle, moving the eastern end twenty-four feet, and finishing between the parts. "In 1845 it was thoroughly remodeled as to internal construction, and so arranged as to afford not only a large and spacious church, but also a Town Hall, a vestry, a room for the session, a room for the Parish Library, and other uses."

Ministers of the East Parish .- Rev. James McGregor. The character of most of our early New England towns was largely due to the influence of the clergy. With rare exceptions this influence was on the side of everything conducive to the spiritual and material interests of the people. In the long and arduous labors of the settlers in subduing the wilderness, and establishing their communities on a basis of order and good government; in their resolute and heroic conflicts with "principalities and powers, with things present and things to come," the clergy of New England were always at the front doing battle for the right. Pre-eminently may this be said of the McGregors, father and son, of Londonderry, the former the Rev. James McGregor, first minister of the East Parish, and Rev. David McGregor, first pastor of the West Parish. No people ever enjoyed wiser or better counselors. The former assumed charge of his society, as there was no Presbytery in New England to formally install him in office. He continued in charge till his death, March 5, 1729. Doctor Belknap gives him the character of a "wise, affectionate, and faithful guide to his people both in civil and religious matters.'

Rev. Mr. Parker says, "From traditional remarks, as well as from some few manuscripts of his which have been preserved, we are led to consider him a man of distinguished talents both natural and acquired. He evidently possessed a vigorous mind, and was strictly evangelical in his doctrinal views."

Rev. Matthew Clark succeeded to the pastoral office in the First Church immediately after the death of Mr. McGregor. Although never installed over the people, he is usually enrolled among the ministers of that parish. He died January 25, 1735, aged seventy-six years, having had charge of the church about six years. Notwithstanding his brief term of service, more is known of him at the present day than is known of his predecessor and his first and

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second successors, although their united pastorates amount to about sixty-five years. Scarcely a word of their sayings or a line of their writings have come down to us, but those of Matthew Clark still live in the memories of the people, and are common in the literature of the day. This is due partly to his wit and the eccentricity of his character, and partly to the military renown that attaches to his name as an officer in the famous siege of Londonderry 1688-9. So many anecdotes are credited to him that it is difficult to find a new one. Preaching one day he read the words of Peter with the subjoined commentary : "Master, we have forsaken all and followed thee." "Poor boasting Peter ! ye left a' did ye? and what had ye to leave but a crazy auld boat and a wheen of rotten nets ?"

Rev. Mr. Parker sums up his character as follows: "He was sound in the faith, decided and independent in his sentiments, and fearless in defense of what he judged to be correct in doctrine and practice."

Rev. Thomas Thompson .- The freeholders and inhabitants of London- derry "Voted, November 3, 1732, that the Rev. Mr. McBride, of Bellemory, Ireland, and Mr. Robert Boyer, of Londonderry, are chosen commissioners to prefer our call for a minister in Ireland," and the same day "Voted to pur- chase Hugh Craige's half lot for said minister, and to bestow 100 acres of land upon him." Robert Boyer, Esq., went to Ireland, and returned in October, 1733, bringing with him Rev. Thomas Thompson, who was cheerfully received and accepted by the people. He died September 22, 1738, after a short but successful ministry of five years, leaving a widow and one son, for whose education the town voted a gratuity of seventy pounds.

Rev. William Davidson .- He was installed in 1739. Rev. Mr. Parker briefly sketches his life: "He was a man of very amiable character, possessing a peculiarly mild, friendly, and benevolent disposition. He did not excel as a theologian or as a public speaker. He was supposed to be inclined to Armin- ianism, yet as a pastor he was diligent and affectionate." He left two sons and two daughters. John, the eldest son, became a loyalist, and was pro- scribed and banished by the act of the New Hampshire Legislature, November 19, 1778. Both sons removed to Nova Scotia at the commencement of the Revolution. Mr. Davidson's daugheer Ann married Rev. Solomon Moor, of New Boston, N. H.

Rev. Jonathan Brown .- After a vacancy of four years, Mr. Brown, in 1795, was installed by the London Presbytery over the East Parish. This action of the Presbytery proved unwise, as it led to dissention in the parish, which resulted in the formation of a Congregational society two or three years after. The seceding part maintained a feeble existence about twelve years, worshiping in the lower hall of Dr. Isaac Thorn's tavern. In 1809 it came back to the Presbyterian fold. Mr. Brown was dismissed in 1804, and died in February, 1808, aged eighty years.

Rev. Edward Lutwyche Parker was named for the loyalist, Edward Gold- stone Lutwyche, of Merrimac, N. H., whose estate was confiscated and sold to Hon. Matthew Thornton. He was ordained September 12, 1810, and died suddenly while pastor of the church, July 14, 1850. Mr. Parker was the author of the valuable history of the town, published in 1851 by his son, Edward P. Parker. He was succeeded June 18, 1851, by Revs. J. W. Wellman,

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E. N. Hidden, L. S. Parker, David Bremmer, E. S. Huntress, John G. Harris, and Frederick I. Kelley, the present pastor.

The Meeting House of the First Congregational Church was erected in 1837, on a fine eminence overlooking Derry village. It cost about thirty-five hundred dollars. In 1872 $3,700 were expended in repairs. The society has a parsonage purchased in 1881 at a cost of $2,300.

Ministers of the Central Congregational Church .- This church was con- stituted August 3, 1837, and consisted of forty members from the Presbyterian society in Derry and twenty-three from the Presbyterian Church in London- derry.

Their first pastor was Rev. Pliny B. Day, a graduate of Amherst and Andover. He was ordained October 4, 1837, and dismissed June 9, 1851. His successors are as follows: Rev. Ebenezer G. Parsons, who graduated at Bowdoin and Bangor, was installed October 1, 1851, and dismissed October 7, 1869; Rev. Robert W. Haskins, a graduate of the New York University and Andover, ordained November 19, 1872, and dismissed October 15, 1878; Rev. Daniel W. Richardson, 1880-5; Rev. Hiram B. Putnam, 1885-1901; Rev. Charles L. Merriam, 1902-10; Rev. Charles F. Robinson, 1911-13.

During Rev. Mr. Merriam's pastorate new social rooms were acquired at an expense of $4,000.

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History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire and representative citizens, Part 31

Author: Hazlett, Charles A Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Chicago : Richmond-Arnold Number of Pages: 1390

Author: Hazlett, Charles A
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago : Richmond-Arnold
Number of Pages: 1390