History of Rockingham and Strafford counties, New Hampshire : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 146

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis
Number of Pages: 1714

USA > New Hampshire > Strafford County > History of Rockingham and Strafford counties, New Hampshire : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 146
USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > History of Rockingham and Strafford counties, New Hampshire : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 146

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The first meeting-house was built on Robert's Hill, about two miles south of Farmington village. The first school-house was built at Merrill's Corners, in the southern part of the town, about the year 1791.

Early Merchants .- One of the first merchants in Farmington was Jonas C. March, who came here from Portsmouth in about the year 1780, and built a store in what is now the lower end of the village, on prem- ises now owned by G. N. Eastman. Mr. March sub- sequently removed to Rochester, and was succeeded as the " trader" of the town by John Googin, whose stock in trade consisted chiefly of molasses, tea, spice- berries, pepper-corns, tobacco, rum, etc.

Mr. Googin, however, soon had an energetic com- petitor in the person of Joseph Smith, of Dover, who erected a large two-story building on the site of the present brick church and engaged in trade, adding dry-goods' to the usual stock of groceries. He had a faithful old clerk named Joseph Sherburne, who had charge of the store here, while Smith remained at Dover.

Other early merchants were Jeremy Wingate and Gilbert Harney.

In 1830, Nehemiah Eastman was the lawyer here, and Joseph Hammond the doctor. Peter and Levi Pearl were at the head of the militia, and J. H. Ed- gerly called the roll of names, among whom were the Nutes, Burnham and Isaac, George R. Dame, Sam- uel Bunker, Hiram French, etc. At that time " Jerry" Wingate was postmaster.

Farmington "Dock."-The name of Farmington Dock is said to have originated as follows: Long years ago, when Farmington was a part of Rochester, the people living on what was called the "Plains" were in the habit of cutting logs in the winter and depositing them on a little hill on the banks of the Cocheco, near what was called Knight's Brook, ready to be rolled into the river when the spring freshets came and floated them to the "Plains." From the manner of depositing, or "docking," as it was called, came the name. Another theory, however, is that the name Farmington Dock (or the Dock) originated from a growth of large yellow dock growing on the border of Knight's Brook, about one-half mile south

of the village, where it crosses the road. People were in the habit of watering their horses at this place, and the growth of said plant was so thick that it became of public notoriety. The word first appears in the town records in 1792.

The village of Farmington is situated on what was formerly known as the "Old John Ilam farm." The first dwelling was a log house, occupied by one Berry. The first frame house was erected in 1781 or 1782 by John Roberts, and here he reared a numerous family. The second frame house was built by Jonas C. March previous to 1792.

The town of Farmington was incorporated Dec. 1, 1798, the notification for the first town-mecting being dated Feb. 23, 1799, and signed by Aaron Wingate.

The First Town-Meeting was held March 11, 1799, at the house of Simon Dame, "at ten of the Clock in the forenoon," when the following officers were chosen : Moderator, Aaron Wingate; Town Clerk, Jonas C. March ; Selectmen, Ichabod Hayes, Ephraim Kimball, and David Roberts; Auditors, Capt. Samuel Furbur and James Roberts ; Assessors, Thomas Canney and Paul Demeritt; Surveyors of Highways, James Roberts, James Leighton, Joseph Thompson, Jr., Paul Demerett, Benjamin Furbur, Joseph Emerson, Daniel Canney, Jonathan French, Edward Knight, Samuel Jonas, Jr., Thomas Davis, John Downs, and George Leighton; Surveyors of Lumber, Jonathan French and David French ; Hog- reeves, Richard Furbur, Joseph Holmes, Aaron Win- gate, Jonas C. March, Ephraim Perkins, John Murray, Ichabod Pearl, Ichabod Hayes, and Paul Demerit ; Tithingmen, Edward Varney, Anthony Peavey, James Nutter, Ezekiel Ricker, Samnel Var- ney, Alexander Berry, and Richard Rundlet; Fence- Viewers, John Walker, Ezekiel Ricker, Joseph Holmes, Elijah Meder, and David French ; Field- Drovers, James French, Benjamin Runnals, Joseph Thompson, Jr., Moses Whitehouse, Paul Twombly, Moses Varney, and Samuel Drowne.

At this meeting it was voted "that the privilege of being a constable in said town of Farmington the present year shall be sold at vendue to the highest bidder, and the purchaser to give bonds to the satis- faction of the selectmen for the faithful performance of his duty."

The " constable birth," as it was called, was bid off by Ensign Samuel Knowles for twenty-one dollars and twenty-five cents. At this meeting John Taylor Gilman received one hundred and thirty-three votes for Governor. Richard Furbur was the town's first representative to the General Court.

In 1799 licenses to retail "foreign distilled spirit- uous liquors" were granted to the following persons : Joseph Holmes, Lakeman & Marsh, Benjamin Run- dels, and Elezear Pearl.

The following tavern licenses were granted : Joseph Holmes, Col. Richard Furbur, Samuel Knowles, Ed- ward Knight, and Ephraim Perkins.

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HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Ear-Marks .- The following are specimens of ear- marks used in the early days to distinguish eattle and sheep': Daniel Ilayes, Jr's., mark was a " hole pounded through the right ear, and a piece out of the left ear ;" and Simon Dame's mark was the "top cut off the right ear and the left ear split, and the underside cut off, or what is called a half take."

First Congregational Church .- The First Con- gregatioral Church of Farmington was organized Sept. 15, 1819, with the following members : Benjamin Furber, Peter Akerman, Noah Ham, Mary Furber, Mehitable Hayes, Mary Furber, Mehitable Furber, Elizabeth Roberts.

It was organized by Rev. James Walker, under the auspices of the New Hampshire Missionary Society.

The following is the list of pastors from the organ- ization to the present time :

James Walker, 1819-26; Clement Parker, 1827-29; Timothy Morgan, 1840-42; Joseph Lane, 1844-46; Benjamin G. Willey, 1847-50; Roger M. Sargent, 1851-52; D. D. Tappan, 1852-58; Roger M. Sargent, 1860-69; W. S. Kimball, 1869-71; Eugene II. Titus, 1872-74; Paul H. Pitkin, 1875-77; Walter E. Dar- ling, 1877, present pastor.

Between 1829 and 1840 the church was usually sup- plied by students from Andover Theological Seminary, also by Elders Nutter, Simeon Swett, Iliram Stephens, Enos George, and Dr. Blake, now of Gilmanton, N. H. One of the Andover students, Rev. Mr. Fiske, was instrumental during the year 1833 in obtaining the first Sunday-school library.

The present house of worship is a neat and sub- stantial briek edifice.

The First Free-Will Baptist Church .- The soei- ety known as the First Free-Will Baptist Society of Farmington, N. H., was organized Oct. 21, 1854. The church existing in connection with the society was organized November 8th of the same year, with a membership of thirteen, five men and eight women. One of this number was the Rev. Dexter Waterman, who became the first pastor of the church, The meetings at this time were held in the old Peavey meeting-house, situated about three-quarters of a mile from the village. Under Mr. Waterman's labors the membership of the little church grew from thir- teen to thirty-two. In the month of July, 1856, Mr. Waterman resigned, and was succeeded the following November by the Rev. J. M. L. Babcock. At a meet- ing of the society held March 2, 1857, a new plan for building a meeting-house was adopted, and four trus- tees were elected to superintend the undertaking. These trustees were Jacob P. Buzzell, John C. White, Reuben Il. Copp, and Thomas C. Scruton. At the same time the pastor, Mr. Babcock, was chosen solic- iting and building agent for the society. Among other things he was instructed to take a deed, in the name of the society, of the lot which was selected to be the site of the new house. This second effort for a church within the village was successful. Ou the

28th of October, 1857, the new meeting-house was dedicated with appropriate services, the dedicatory sermon being preached by the Rev. Ransom Dunn. Mr. Babcock's pastorate closed early in May, 1858. He was immediately succeeded by the Rev. Daniel P. Cilley. After a service extending through nearly three .and a half years, during which period the country was plunged into the strife of the great Re- bellion, Mr. Cilley, in the fall of 1861, having ac- cepted an appointment as chaplain in the Eighth Regiment of New Hampshire Volunteers, terminated his pastoral relations with the church. During this pastorate twenty-three were added to the church, eleven of them by baptism. The Rev. Ezekiel True was the next pastor. His service extended from No- vember. 1861, to the Ist of March, 1866. At a meet- ing occurring the 17th of March following, Mr. True having aeecpted a call to another field, it was voted to invite the Rev. D. P. Cilley, who had returned to Farmington, to assume charge of the church. A more formal eall was subsequently given him, which he ac. eepted. Such was his state of health, however, that the ensuing fall he was obliged to discontinue preach- ing, and the Rev. S. N. Tufts was engaged by the society to fill the pulpit. May 2, 1867, Mr. Cilley re- quested and obtained dismission as pastor of the church, and Mr. Tufts at once succeeded him in the pastorate. Mr. Tufts' labors ended Oct. 1, 1870. His successor was the Rev. George M. Park, whose pastor- ate began Nov. 1, 1870 .. During the ensuing fall and winter the religious interest deepened rapidly, and the congregations became so crowded that the society was led to take measures for enlarging the meeting- house.

After some necessary preliminary steps at a meet- ing of the society held June 5, 1871, a building com- mittee was chosen, consisting of J. A. Roberts, S. B. Flanders, and Levi Pearl. On the 26th of the next December this committee reported the addition com- pleted according to the plan, and their report was accepted. The following year, 1872, the church edi- fice was further enlarged and adorned by the construc- tion of a new bell-tower and spire. Mr. Park's pas- torate continued until Nov. 1, 1874, at which time the society was nearly if not quite out of debt. He re- ceived ninety-two persons to the church, seventy-four by baptism. The Rev. David H. Adams having ac- eepted a call to the church, began his labors at onee. During the first year of his stay the enlarged church vestry was finished, and apparatus put into the church for heating the whole building by steam. The next year the parsonage was built. The pastorate of Mr. Adams terminated Oet. 31, 1878. He was immedi- ately succeeded by Rev. C. A. Bickford.

The society is in prosperous circumstances. Since its organization in 1854 the church has had a total membership of two hundred and fifty-three.

The church was without a pastor from Oct. 31, 1880, till Jau. 1, 1881, when Rev. David H. Adams,

A€

RESIDENCE OF J. F. CLOUTMAN, FARMINGTON, N. H.

623

FARMINGTON.

who had been preaching in Newmarket, N. H., for the last two years, was recalled to the church. Going back to his old field of labor, he has been pastor of the church since. Soon after his return, Jan. 1, 1881, a glorious work of grace broke out in the church and continued for a year. During 1881 Rev. Mr. Adams received forty-five into the church, thirty-four by baptism.

Farmington Village is a station on the Dover and Winnipiseogee Railroad, a branch of the Boston and Maine, and is one of the most enterprising villages in the State. The principal industry is the manufacture of shoes, which is extensively carried on. In addi- tion to the extensive factories are numerous mercan- tile establishments. The village also has two banks, national and savings; a newspaper, the Farmington News; an excellent hotel, the Wilson House; and one of the best town halls and opera-houses in the State. The latter was erected at a cost 'of about twenty thousand dollars, and is complete in all its appointments.

The present lawyers are George N. Eastman, George E. Cochran, and Frank Emerson.

The Farmington News, the pioneer newspaper published in this town, was established March 14, 1879, by J. E. Fernald, & Son. It was originally a six-column sheet, but has since been enlarged to seven columns. It is an excellent local journal, and justly merits its present prosperity.

Lodges .- There are nine lodges in the village, viz. : Fraternal Lodge, No. 71, FF. and A. M .; Columbian Chapter, No. 18, R. A. M .; Woodbine Lodge, No. 41, 1. O. O. F .; Mad River Encampment, No. 22, I. O. O. F .; Minnehaha Lodge, No. II, Daughters of Re- bekah ; Harmony Lodge, No. 11, K. of P .; Security Lodge, No. 264, K. of HI .; Subordinate Association, No. 17, Providence Mutual Relief; Eureka Council, No. 2, Royal Templars of Temperance.

The fire department is organized as follows :

Engineers, Eugene P. Nute, E. T. Willson, J. G. L. Smith. llercules Fire Association, Sewell H. Parker, foreman, C. H. Pitman, clerk. Ilook-and-Ladder Company, Jonathan R. Hayes, foreman, E. N. Dame, clerk.

Physicians .- David T. Parker, M.D., commenced practice here in 1837. He is a native of Bradford, Vt., and graduated from Bowdoin Medical School. IIe has remained in Farmington since his first settle- ment, and has enjoyed an extensive and lucrative practice. He has been president of the Strafford District and State Medical Societies.

David W. Edgerly, D.D.S., was in practice in Do- ver, N. H., and Bangor, Me., previous to coming to Farmington. He had an army experience as hos- pital steward of the Second Regiment Maine Volun- teers for nearly two years. He located in Farming- ton in 1863. He is a graduate of the Boston Dental College, and has been president of the New Hamp- shire Dental Society.

Rufus B. Foss, M.D., came to Farmington in 1867 from Laconia, N. H. He had an army experience as acting assistant surgeon, and graduated at Bowdoin Medical School.

Orrin B. Hanson, M.D., commenced practice in Farmington in 1879, and is a graduate of Bellevue College Medical Hospital, New York.

Jere S. Elkins, M.D., came to Farmington in 1881, and is a graduate of Bowdoin Medical School.

H. P. Wheatly, M.D., came to Farmington in 1882, and is a graduate of Burlington, Vt., Medical School.

Dr. Albert Garland, dentist, came from Rochester, N. 11., to Farmington in 1880; is a member of the New Hampshire Dental Society. (Firm : Emerson & Garland, apothecaries.)

Farmington Shoe Interest.1-In 1836, Elijah H. Badger came to Farmington and commenced the manufacture of shoes known at that time as Natick sale work, Natick at this time being the banner town in the country for the manufacture of this peculiar grade of goods, brogans. He continued in business about one year, when he became financially embarrassed, and left town not to return again. Abont this time Martin L. Hayes commenced in a small way the manufacture of shoes. He continued increasing his business until he was regarded the largest manu- facturer of shoes in the State, and from the time he commenced business he continued it almost without interruption through life. Mr. Hayes was a native of Farmington, and he always manifested a lively in- terest in the welfare of his town. To Mr. Hayes more than to any one else we are indebted for the beautiful shade-trees in our village. He set the example by setting fruit- and shade-trees on his own grounds, and the example was followed so generally that the vil- lage was very soon ornamented with beautiful shade- trees. Mr. Hayes always encouraged others to settle in Farmington, and instead of being selfish he did all possible to aid others to establish themselves in business in our town. About 1838 or 1840, George M. Hening came and settled in our town. He came from Natick, Mass. He immediately commenced manufacturing shoes, and continued in the business through his life. He took a lively interest in public affairs, both religious and political, and contributed much to advance what he thought beneficial to the community in which he lived. Much credit is due Mr. Hening for the enterprise and energy which characterized him through life. It soon became apparent to business men that Farmington was a good locality for manufacturing shoes, and Boston merchants did not long hesitate to invest their capital in the new enterprise in our town. Mr. J. F. Rob- erts soon came to the front, and having interested a house in Boston who had plenty of means, he soon came alongside his neighbors in the shoe business.

Mr. Roberts was a man much respected both for his

1 By Hon. J. F. Cloniman.

621

IIISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

energy and honesty. He continued but a short time, for his health failed him, and he, too, was soon num- bered among those whose business history was short and honorable. Mr. Roberts was succeeded by his two brothers, George E. and Henry L. Roberts, who re- mained together a few years, when they dissolved, and each continued by himself. Henry L. is still doing business in town, while George E. has for the last eight or ten years been retired. About the same time that Mr. J. F. Roberts commenced manufactur- ing, Messrs. Alonzo and J. O. Nute commenced and continued together a few years, when J. O. withdrew. Alonzo remained in business, and has been continually engaged since, except a brief period in which he was in the army of the Union. Mr. Nute is one of those enterprising men who may always be found at the front in any enterprise he believes to be for the in- terests of his town. He still continues uuder the name and firm of A. Nute & Sons. They are among the largest, if not the largest, manufacturers in town. Among others who were early identified in the busi- ness of our town were Luther Wentworth, H. B. Edgerley, and Israel Hays. Mr. Wentworth con- tinued a short time, but failing health compelled him to retire from active business, and disease soon took him from our midst. H. B. Edgerly still continues, and has been continually identified with the business | for the past thirty years. Mr. James B. Edgerly, the present very efficient cashier of the Farmington Na- tional Bank, was associated with Mr. H. B. Edgerly for a few years. The name of the firm under which Mr. Edgerly does business at present is H. B. Edgerly & Son. Mr. Israel Hays is still in the manufacture, and his firm is I. Hays & Son. Mr. William Johnson was one of the carly comers to our town to engage in manufacturing. IIe has since moved to the West, where he is engaged in shoe business, but not manu- facturing.

Mr. N. T. Kimball and John L. Platts were also among those who were early identified with the shoe interest here. Mr. Platts removed to Dover, N. H., where he still resides, but he is not now doing shoe business. Mr. Kimball moved to Rochester, N. H., where he continued in business until his decease. Mr. John H. Hurd, now of Dover, N. H., is a native of Farmington. Mr. Hurd commenced and continued manufacturing in Farmington for many years, when he moved to Dover, N. II. Mr. Hurd is still doing business, and the name of his firm is John HI. Hurd & Son. C. W. Thurston, of Dover, formerly did business in Farmington, and continued here until the great fire of 1875, which consumed his factory, together with a great deal of other property in our town. Mr. E. F. Jones manufactured shoes a number of years in town, at first in company with George A. Jones, who still continues. George. A. Jones does a nice business, and has been actively engaged since he began. Mr. Daniel W. Kimball and John M. Berry were the active manufacturers for C. W. Thurston

before his factory was destroyed. Since then Mr. Kimball has been manufacturing for a Boston house, and is doing a nice business. Mr. Berry has been actively engaged in business since he commenced some twelve years ago, and his factory now is one of the largest in town. Mr. Berry is the only manufac- turer in town who makes long leg, crimped, and treed boots. Ile manufactures shoes in the winter and boots in the summer. Mr. E. C. Kinnear was one of the largest manufacturers in town for a number of years. He continued here for some ten or twelve years, when he moved to Dover, and continued the manufacture until recently, when he moved to Rock- land, Mass. Mr. A. E. Putnam commenced manufac- turing in our town some four years ago, and is still actively at work. He manufactures for a Boston house. J. F. Cloutman commenced in 1854, and has continued actively engaged in business ever since. Ile commenced the manufacturing of brogans, and continued in that branch of manufacture for nine years. Since that time he has made a different class of goods, and for the last eleven years has manufac- tured women's, misses', and children's light sewed goods, made of grains, glove, kid, calf, goat, and kid, lastings, etc. The value of the product of J. F. Cloutman's factory in 1882 will no doubt reach nearly one-half million dollars.

J. F. Cloutman brought the first wax-thread sew- ing-machine ever used for shoe work in the State into Farmington, about 1855. He is the senior part- ner of the firm of Cloutman & Bingham, 147 Sum- mer Street, Boston, Mass. When manufacturing shoes commenced in our town there was no machinery used at all. Soles were cut from the sides of leather by hand, using a straight edge and pattern to mark the size of the sole. The heel lifts were cut out with knife and pattern. The inner soles were pegged on to the last, and made to fit the last by hand and the use of a knife. Upper patterns were made of pine wood generally, and bound with flat zinc about three- eighths of an inch wide. The uppers, after being cut, were sent into the country to be closed and made ready for the bottomer. The closing was done on the old-fashioned clamp, and the thread was prepared in the old-fashioned way, putting two or three threads together and waxing with the old-fashioned ball of wax by hand. The bottomer did all of his work by hand, and in fact from the beginning the shoe was made entirely by hand, without the aid of machinery. To-day the methods are entirely changed. Machinery is used to cut the soles; it is used to prepare the heels; it is used to mould the soles that they may the better fit the shape of the last; it is used by many to last the shoe ; it is used to tack the outer sole on the shoe after lasting it ; it is used in pegging, sewing, or nailing; it is used in leveling the bottom ; it is used in putting the heel on; it is used in smoothing or shaving the heel ; it is used in trim- ming the front edge of the shoe; it is used to set

FARMINGTON.

or burnish the front edge and heel; it is used to buff or scour the bottom preparatory to finishing it; and in fitting or stitching the upper it is used from the beginning to the finish. Even the button-holes are worked in silk by machinery, and one operator can make from two thousand five hundred to four thousand button-holes per day. Machinery has made it possible to produce a much nicer boot or shoe, for a much less price, and in many cases one-half the cost, than under the old methods. Thirty years ago it was considered a fair business for one manufacturer to manufacture ten cases per week, or six hundred pairs per week, and twenty cases, twelve hundred pairs per week, was considered a great business. To- clay there are a great many factories that produce from two to three thousand pairs each per day. The manufacturers of our town manufactured in 1881 about fifty thousand cases, or about one million five hundred thousand pairs, the value of which is proba- bly about two million dollars. Farmington has al- ways been the largest shoe manufacturing town in the State, and continues so to-day. This short sketch, although so incomplete, will enable the reader to realize the changes the business has undergone the past thirty years. The shoe manufacturers of Farm- ington probably pay out annually in cash for labor five hundred thousand dollars, and furnish employ- ment for from one thousand to twelve hundred people.

The Farmington Savings-Bank was chartered in June, 1868, and organized the same year by the choice of George M. Herring, president; Thomas F. Cooke, treasurer ; G. M. Herring, A. Nute, Hiram Barker, George N. Eastman, David T. Parker, H. B. Edgerly, John Barker, John G. Johnson, Daniel Pearl, C. W. Wingate, John H. Stevens, Levi Pearl, and Elijah Jenkins, trustees.

Mr. Herring held the office of president until his death, in 1875. Jan. 14, 1876, Hon. John F. Clout- man was elected president, and held the office until May, 1881, when he was succeeded by C. W. Wingate, Esq.

Mr. Cooke held the office of treasurer until his death, Nov. 11, 1880, and was succeeded in office by William Yeaton.

The present organization of the bank is as follows: C. W. Wingate, Esq., president ; George N. Eastman, Esq., vice-president; William Yeaton, treasurer ; Charles W. Wingate, George N. Eastman, Levi Pearl, H. B. Edgerly, William W. Hayes, John F. Clout- man, Hiram Barker, Jonathan R. Hayes, David S. Parker, A. Nute, Josiah B. Edgerly, John Tuttle, John H. Barker, D. W. Edgerly, G. E. Cochrane, E. P. Nute, trustees.

May 1, 1882, it had deposits, $212,552.83; guaranty fund, $6000; surplus, $10,863.46.

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History of Rockingham and Strafford counties, New Hampshire : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 146

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis Number of Pages: 1714

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis
Number of Pages: 1714