History of Rockingham and Strafford counties, New Hampshire : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 154

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 154
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 154

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).

" Voted to authorize the selectmen to hire twelve thousand dollars for that purpose."

Dec. 7, 1864, " Voted to pay a bounty to volunteers or persons furnishing substitutes, counting on the quota of Milton in anticipation of a future call for men."

" Voted to authorize the selectmen to hire twelve thousand dollars to pay said bounties."

March 14, 1865, " Voted to pay a bounty of two hundred dollars each to men who may be drafted from this town."

"Voted to pay each re-enlisted man a bounty of two hundred dollars and interest from time of re-en- listment until paid."

" Voted to authorize the selectmen to hire five thou- sand dollars to aid the families of volunteers and drafted men."

This making a total appropriation for war purposes of seventy-nine thousand five hundred dollars in four years, and showing a readiness to contribute freely to the support of the government in its time of peril. This, with the following roll of honor, makes up a war record to which the people of Milton may refer with commendable pride.

MILITARY RECORD, 1861-65.

SECOND NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.

Lient. Charles E. Jones, Co. D; com. June 1, 1861.

Lieut. Robert Miller, Co. D; com. June 1, 18Gl.

Sergt. Theron F. Varney, Co. D; enl. June 1, 1861.

Sergt. Moses L. F. Smith, Co. F; enl. June 1, 1861.

James II. Tibbetts, Co. D; enl. June 1, 18G1.

John S. Varney, Co. D; enl. June 1, 1861.

James M. Corson, Co. D ; enl. June 1, 1861.

James M. Venner, Co. D; ent. June 1, ISGI.

Christian L. Jones, Co. F; enl. June 1, 1861.

Robert Brown, Co. F; enl. June 1, 18GI.

THIRD NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.

Lient. Fred. H. Tuttle, Co. K ; com. Aug. 24, 18G1.

Julın Robinson, Co. K ; enl. Ang. 24, 1861.

Aaron F. Corson, Co. K ; eul. Aug. 24, 1861. Stephen F. Downs, Co. K .; enl. Ang. 24, 1861.

Samuel E. Dorr, Co. K ; enl. Aug. 24, 1861.

Stephen Hubbard, Co. K; enl. Aug. 24, 1861.

Hosea B. Knox, Co. K ; enl. Ang. 24, 18GI.

James L. Twombly, Co. K ; enl. Ang. 24, 1861.

Charles F. Wiggin, Co. K ; eul. Ang. 24, 1861.

Lewis C. Dearborn, Co. K ; enl. Ang. 19, 1862.

William W. Weutworth, Co. K ; enl. Ang. 24, 1861.

Joseph II. Allen, Co. G ; enl. Ang. 24, 1861. Lewis Ladd, Co. K ; eul. Ang. 24, 1861.

John L. Wing, Co. K ; cul. Aug. 24, 18G1.

Charles L. Lord, Co. K : enl. Ang. 24, 1861.

Martin L. Nnte, Co. K; enl. Aug. 24, 18GI.

Daniel S. Chamberlin, Co. K; enl. Aug. 24, 1868.

FOURTH NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.

S. Lowell Simons, Co. F.

Lafayette Colbath, Co. A; enl. Sept. 14, 1801.

Alonzo Knox, Co. A; enl. Sept. 18, 18GI.

Joseph: 11. Knowla, Co. A ; enl. Sept. 18, 1801.

656

HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

FIFTH NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.

Maj. John S. Ricker, Co. D; com. Oct. 12, 1861. Lient. Stephen E. Twombly, Co. A ; com. Oct. 12, 1861. Lieut. George L. Hersom, Co. A ; com. Oct. 12, 1861. Stephen B. Eaton, Co. A; enl. Oct. 12, 1861. lleury P. Gerrish, Co. A ; en]. Oct. 12, 1861. Alonzo Carson, Co. A ; enl. Oct. 12, 186I. Henry Downs, Co. A; enl. Oct. 12, 1861. John H. Duntley, Co. A ; enl. Oct. 12, 1861. Alfred W. Iluit, Co. A; enl. Oct. 12, 1861. George R. Jones, Co. A ; enl. Oct. 12, 1861. John D. Staples, Co. A ; enl. Oct. 12, 1861. Alonzo M. Varney, Co. A ; enl. Oct. 12, 1861. S. Augustus i imball, Co. D; enl. Oct. 23, 1861. Israel M. Nute, Co. Il; enl. Oct. 19, 1861. Williaor E. Moore, Co. C; enl. Ang. 14, 1863. John E. Marsh, Co. F; enl. Dec. 25, 1863. James F. Place, Co. F; cul. Ang. 14, 1863. John W. Page, Co. I; eul. Dec. 25, 1863. IJanson Downs, Co. E; enl. Sept. 29, 1863. Franklin Lord, Co. C; enl. Ang. 14, 1863. Amirew F. Reynolds, Co. D; enl. Aug. 14, 1863. John C. Dow, Co. A; enl. Ang. 14, 1863. Israel H. Carson, Co. A ; enl. Oct. 12, 1861. John E. Hodgman, Co. A ; enl. Oct. 12, 1861. Williaor S. Kimball, Co. A; enl. Oct. 12, 1861. Thomas HI. Nutter, Co. A ; enl. Oct. 12, 1861. John P. Pinkham, Co. A ; enl. Oct. 12, 1861. Luman S Nutter, Co. A; enl. Oct. 12, 1861. Alphonzo E. Downs, Co. A ; enl. Oct. 12, 1861. John I. Downs, Co. F; enl. Ang. 14, 1563. Benjamin P. Witham, Co. A ; ent Sept. 18, 1861. Alvah Wentworth, Co. A ; enl. Sept. 18, 1861. David A. Witham, Co. A ; enl. Sept. 14, 1861. Joseph H. Duntley, Co. A ; enl. Sept. 14, 1861. James Hubbard, Co. A ; enl. Sept. 14, 1861. William HI B. Hayes, Co. A ; eul. Sept. 14, 1861.

SIXTHI NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.

Quartermaster Eli Wentworth, com. Nov. 28, 18G1. Commissary John 11. Varney, com. Nov. 28, 1861. Alonzo Downing, Co. D; enl. Nov. 28, 1861. Stephen Downing, Co D; enl. Nov. 28, 1861. Stephen Downs, Co. H ; enl. Nov. 28, 1861. Oriin P. Giles, Co. G; en). Nov. 28, 1861. Timothy HI. Emery, Co. G; ent. Ang. 19, 1862. Benjamin Fuss, Co. G; enl. Ang. 19, 1862. Hiram W. Ricker, Co. H; enl. Nov. 28, 1861. Julin C. Went worth, Co. G; ent. Aug. 19, 1862. Jeremiah B. Cook, Co. G; en3. Aug. 19, 1862. William H Wentworth, Co. G; eul. Ang. 19, 1862. Orrin Varney, Co. G; enl. Ang. 19, 1862. Edwin C. Varney, Co. G ; enl. Aug. 19, 1862. David P'. Conk, Co. G; enl. Dec. 29, 1863. Charles H French.

George Note.

EIGHTH NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.

Henry C. Amazeen, Co. 1; enl. Dec. 20, 18G1. Waren P. Litskey, Co. I; en). Dec. 20, 1861. Alexander Merrow, Co. I; enl. Dre. 20, 1861. Lemuel F. Nute, Co. 1; enl. Dec. 20, 18G1. Simion F. Ilutchins, Co. I; enl. Dec. 20, 1861. Juliu P. Hill, Co. I; enl. Dec. 20, 1861.

NINTH NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.

William HI. Applebec. Juhn L. Moulton, Co. B; enl. Aug. 16, 18G2. Renben J. Wentworth, Co. B; enl. Ang 16, 1862. Millet W. Roberts, Co. C; enl. Ang. 16, 1862. . Wentworth Butler, Co. C; enl. Ang. 16, 1862. Shadrach S. Simes, Co. C; enl. Ang. 16, 1862. Isaac P'. Cook, Co. D; enI. May 18, 1864.

ELEVENTH NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.

Ivory Hayes, Co. K; enl Sept. 3, 1862. Ira M. Corson, Co. K ; enl. Sept. 3, 1862.

TWELFTH NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.

David Wentworth.

THIRTEENTH NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.

John I. Cook, Co. C; enl. Sept. 19, 1862. Jumes HI. Wakeham, Co. C; en). Sept. 19, 1862. Dudley P. Corson, Co. C; enl. Sept. 19, 1862. Joha F. Davis, Co. C; enl. Sept. 19, 1862.

EIGHTEENTH NEW HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT.

Thomas D. Marsh, Co. I; enl. March 16, 1865.

Josiah F Prescott, Co. I; enl. March 16, 1865.

Richard R. Cotton, Co. I; enl. March 18, 1865.

Isaac F. Robinson, Co. F; enl. March 18, 1865. Charles H. Downs, Co. I; enl. April 3, 1865.

FINST REGIMENT CAVALRY.

Moses D. Brackett, Co. K ; enl. Oct. 14, 1862.

Eli Corson, Co. K ; enl. Oct. 14, 1862.

Ichbod W. Dixon, Co. K ; eul. June 21, 1862.

Jesse W. Knox, Co. K ; enl. June 21, 1862.

Andrew R. Hayes, Co. K ; enl. Oct. 14, 1862. Charles J. Berry, Co. G ; enl. Oct. 14, 1862. Edward Eastuian, Co. F : en). Oct. 14, 1862. Hazen Duutley, Co. F; enl. Oct. 14, 1862. Ira W. Duntley, Co. F; enl. Oct. 14, 1862. Daniel F. Roach, Co. F; enl. Oct. 14, 1862. Cyrne Brackett, Co. F ; enl. Oct. 14, 1862.

FIRST REGIMENT HEAVY ARTILLERY.

Christie L. Lord, Co. M ; enl. Sept. 5, 1864. Brackett F. Avery, Co. D; enl. Sept. 5, 1864. Julin S. Corson, Co. D ; enl. Sept. 5, 1864. Albert F. Downs, Co. D; eol. Sept. 5, 1864.

Edwin A. Emery, Co. D; enl. Sept 5, 1864. William Randell, Co. D; enl. Sept. 5, 1864. Jacob F. Staples, Co. D; enl. Sept 5, 1864. Seth W. Vainey, Co. D; enl. Sept. 5, 1864. Hiram Wentworth, Co. D; enl. Sept. 5, 1864. John H. Witham, Co. D; enl. Sept. 5, 1864. John O. Hayes, Co. D; en). Sept. 5, 1864. Robert Brown, Co. D ; enl. Sept. 5, 1864. Commissary Eli Fernald, Co. L ; epl. Sept. 5, 1864.

BATTERY.

Asa B. Drew, Co. M. John B. Varney, Co. M. llenry Hoyt, Co. M. Henry LeBosquet, Co. M.

OTHER REGIMENTS.

George E. Wentworth, 20th Mass. Charles Giles, regular army. Jolın R Palmer, regular army.

Lieut. Thomas M. Chisholm, regular army.

Sergt. Daniel E. Palmer, M.D., regular army.

Alfred W. Fox, 8th Maine.

Alonzo L. Wiggin, unknown. Robert M. Palmer, unknown. William Jenness, unknown. Marshall P. Wentworth, unknown.

William Berry, unknown. Jolin W. Roberts, unknown. Mark F. Cook, unknown.

This making a total of one hundred and fifty men from this little town.

Population, Inventory, etc .- The population of Milton in 1880 was 1516, with 94 between sixty and seventy years, 63 between seventy and eighty, 10 be- tween eighty and ninety, and 2 over ninety years old. The town is divided into two hundred and four farms, and has one slaughter-house, two soap manu- factories, two hotels, ten blacksmith-shops, and four- teen stores, besides its milling and manufacturing interests.

Leuro HT Muito

Joseph Plumer

657

MILTON.

Three Ponds village had a population of 299, and Milton Mills of 399, showing an increase in the latter village of 136 in ten years.

The present number of ratable polls in town is 398.

Value of lands

$348,215

Number of houses, 253: value ...

14,571

Number of neat stock, 744 ; value ....

21.098

Number of shrep, 406; value ........

1,263

Value of carriages

1.80 6

Amount of bank stock

5,400

Money on hand and at interest

13,403

Stock in trude ...

21,703

Value of mills.

12,500

Amount of money appropriated for schools for 1882, $1485. Number of scholars, about 300. There has been a small decrease in population during the last twenty years, many leaving town for the cities and larger manufacturing towns for the purpose of engaging in other business than farming.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

LEWIS WORSTER NUTE.

Lewis Worster Nute, the subject of this sketch, was born in Milton, N. 1I., Feb. 17, 1820. His grand- father, Samuel Nute, who was a native of Dover, and the head of a large family, was an active and influ- ential citizen, living in Milton during his entire mar- ried life, and dying at an advanced age. His father, Ezekiel Nute, was born in Milton, Nov. 30, 1794, and was a farmer. Ezekiel Nute married Dorcas Wors- ter, Sept. 19, 1815, and had four children, as follows : Cyrus W., Lewis W., Isaac F., and Samuel F. Two of these, Cyrus and Isaac, are dead ; Lewis W. is re- siding in Boston, Mass., and Samuel F. lives at Union, N. H. In politics Ezekiel Nute was a Whig. He was for many years a deacon in the Congregational Church. He died April 14, 1859, when about sixty- five years of age, his wife surviving him till Dec. 11, 1869.

Lewis W. Nute was not highly favored as regards educational privileges, being permitted to attend school only about six weeks each winter. He was so studious, however, and made such use of the limited opportunities offered that at the age of nineteen he engaged in teaching, continuing that occupation dur- ing two terms. He lived at home until twenty years of age, when he went to Boston, where, for six months, he was employed as clerk in the ship-chandler store of Mr. Simmons. He was next employed in the boot and shoe business with Elmer Townsend. When the latter failed, he engaged with the firm of T. P. and O. Rich & Co., remaining with them until the spring of 1848 ; then with Allen, Harris & Potter, until May 1, 1853, when he purchased an interest in the business, the new firm taking the name of Potter, Elder & Nute, and the business being conducted by the junior mem- ber of the firm. Three years later the firm changed to Potter, Nute, White & Bayley, and Dec. 1, 1863,

Mr. Nute succeeded to the entire business, which is now (1882) conducted on High Street, where he does the largest brogans and plow-shoe business in the State, making more goods in this line than any one else in the boot and shoe business, producing (4000) four thousand pairs each day, and is regarded one of the stanchest houses in that great city. He also has an extensive manufactory at Natick, Mass., and a large wholesale store at 27 High Street, Boston. His career has been a remarkable one. in this, that from a poor boy he has come to be a very wealthy and suc- cessful man, and all without the loss of manhood or of friends. Indeed, he is justly one of the most highly esteemed and universally loved men in the East. He is an honorable citizen, with character well rounded and symmetrical, and his influence on the community in which he lives is always on the side of right.

In politics Mr. Nute was formerly a Whig, and of late ycars a Republican. His wife was Priscilla Far- row, whom he married Aug. 1, 1845. She was born in Cohasset, Dec. 6, 1819, and is a member of the Congregational Church.

JOSEPII PLUMER.

Francis Plumer came from the British Isles to America in 1633 or 1634,-some say Wales, others say England,-and settled in Newburyport, Mass. His descendants have settled in different parts of the State of New Hampshire ; one branch of the family in Epping, to which belonged William Plumer, who was Governor of the State for many years, and his son, Hon. William, and many others now living in Epping.

Another branch of Francis Plumer settled in Roch- ester, among whom was John Plumer, who was a judge for many years. He had two sons, Joseph and Bard, who settled in the northerly part of Rochester in 1780, then known as the third parish, now known as Phi- mer's Ridge, which was incorporated in the town of Milton in 1802.

Joseph died in 1821. He has no descendants now living (1882).

Hon. Bard Plumer was born in 1754; married a Miss Ham. Their children were Jonathan, Enoch, Joseph, Betsey, who married Joshua G. Hall, of Wakefield, and Susan, wife of Adam Brown, of Wolfborough.

Hon. Bard Plumer can truthfully be said to have been a leading spirit in his locality. By occupation a farmer and large land-owner. In politics a Demo- crat, and held the offices of his town ; was a member of the State Senate, being the first honorable from the town of Milton. His wife died in 1803, and sub- sequently he married a Miss Page, of Dunbarton, who survived him many years. He died in 1816.

Joseph Plumer, son of Hon. Bard, was born in Rochester, now Milton, in 1786, was a farmer on a ! part of the original Plumer homestead, and in his

658

HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

avocation was eminently successful. In polities a Demoerat. Held the various offices of the town. He married Sally Brown, of Hampton Falls,1 daughter of Nathan Brown. She was born March 26, 1785. Their children were Jonathan, who died young; Car- oline, who died at fifty, and was the wife of David P. Wentworth, of Ossipee; Enoch W., Bard, Joseph, and Sarah, wife of George A. Neal, of Wakefield.

Mr. Plumer died Jan. 3, 1826, having lived a con- stant Congregationalist. His wife Sally died in July, 1877.

Joseph Plumer, son of Joseph and Sally (Brown) Plumer, was born in Milton on the old homestead March 11, 1820; received a good academic education at Phillips' Exeter Academy, making mathematics a specialty, in which he was very apt. He and his brother, Enoch W., bought out the other heirs, di- vided the property, and Joseph built the fine house and surroundings known as the Pine-Grove Cottage, and is now his residence (1882). As a farmer and business man he has been eminently successful, own- ing at first some three hundred acres of land. He has enlarged his farm at different times till now he has over one thousand acres of land. He also has dealt quite largely in the wood and lumber business, cutting as high as seven thousand cords of wood in a winter.

He was one of the original corporators of the Nor- way Plains Savings-Bank. He has been twice mar- ried, first to Adaline F. Baker, daughter of Hon. Moses Baker, of Somersworth, N. H., in 1844, who was born May, 1820, and died June, 1858, leaving as children Moses B., now in the mines of Colorado, and Joseph, Jr., a farmer near the old Plumer homestead ; he married Carrie Fall.

Mr. Plumer's second marriage occurred Oct. 1, 1863, to Hannah D. Clark, of Framingham, Mass., who was born in Sanbornton, N. H., Dec. 18, 1830, and was the daughter of John N. Clark.

Mr. Plumer is ever among the foremost to encourage and support what he considers to be for the good of his community, attends and supports the Congrega- tional Church ; has held the several town offices many times ; has been a member of the Legislature, and a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1876 ; in polities a Republican.

Enoch W. was born in Milton April 4, 1815; re- ceived a common-sebool education ; he married Orinda Ayers, of Wakefield, N. H., June, 1840, who was born 1817. Their children were John T., who died June, 1868 ; Joseph E. ; Mary B., who married Samuel W. Wallingford ; and Bard B., who married Miss Eliza D. Wentworth, and lives with his father in the old Plumer homestead. Their children are Lutia C., Fanny W., and Bard B., making the fifth generation by the name of Bard Plumer who have lived in the honse built by the Hon. Bard.

Sarah, who married Rev. Frank Haley ; Fanny W., who married Dr. J. H. Twombly ; and Susan, the wife of John Roberts, who died October, 1878, were daugh- ters of E. W. Plumer.

Mr. Plnmer has been twice a member of the Legis- lature; deacon of the first Congregational Church for many years, in which he has been a leading spirit for the past forty years.

CHAPTER XCIX.

NEW DURHAM.

THE town of New Durham lies in the northern part of the county, and is bounded as follows: on the north by Belknap County, on the east by Carroll County and the town of Middleton, on the south by Farmington, and on the west by Belknap County. The surface is billy, and the soil well adapted to grazing.

New Durham originally, with the towns of Middle- ton, New Durham Gore, with portions of Gilmanton, Wakefield, and Wolfborough, comprised the town of Kingswood, chartered Oct. 20, 1737. It was incor- porated as a separate town under its present name Dee. 7, 1762. The town was granted as early as 1749 to Ebenezer Smith and others.

Documentary History .- At a public meeting of the Proprietors of New Durham in the Province of New Hampshire legally notified, holden at the meet- ing house at Durham falls in sd province on monday the 30th day of Decembr 1765 at 2 o'clock P. M. then & there the sd proprietors made choice of Maj' Thomas Tash and Capt. Thomas Chesle as a Committee to ap- ply to the general Court of sd Province to see if >ª Court will pass an aet to Impower the sa Proprietors to sell so much of the land of the delinquent proprie- tors as shall pay their proportion of the charges to be defrayed by sd propriety.

Thos Tash prop's Clark

A true Coppy

To his Excelleney John Wentworth Esq' Governor and Commander in Chief in and over his Majestys Province of New Hampshire. the Honourable Councel and Representatives of Said Province.

The Humble Petition of Thomas Tash and Thoma- Cheslee, In Behalf of the Proprietors of New Dur- ham Sheweth

That Whereas a Great Number of the Proprietors of said New Durham have been Delinquent in paying their proportion of the Necessary Charges that have already arisin on account of the Settlement of Said Town, and it is highly probable sª Delinquents will be as unwilling to pay any Necessary Charge that may hereafter arise ; Therefore the Burden must Con- sequently Lay on such of said propriety as are most willing to promote said Town and the Settlement thereof.

1 See Brown history of Hampton Falls.

659

NEW DURIIAM.

We therefore most Humbly Shewe, That at a Legal Meeting of Said proprietors held on the 30th Day of December A. D. 1765 it was Voted that we the said Thomas Tash & Thomas' Chesley should be a Com- mittee to apply to your Excellency and your honours, in order to obtain an act to Impower the said pro- prietors or their Collectors to Sell the Rights of Said Delinquent proprietors or Such a Part thereof as shall be Sufficient to pay their Respective proportion of Such Necessary Charges.

Your Petitioners Earnestly hope your Excellency and Honours will Take our prayer into your wise Consideration and procure Such a Remedy as your Excellency and Honours in your Great wisdomi Shall think proper, and your petitioners as in Duty bound Shall ever pray.

THOMS TASH THOMS CHESLE

New Durham September 10th 1767

Col. Thomas Tash was a prominent pioneer of New Durham, and erected the first grist- and saw-mill in the town. Ile served in the French and Indian war as captain and major, and as colonel in the war of the Revolution. He died aged eighty-seven.

Ecclesiastical History .- Rev. Nathaniel Porter, a Congregationalist, was ordained in New Durham in 1775, and dismissed in 1777. He was succeeded by Elder Benjamin Randall, the patriarch of the Free- Will Baptist denomination. He organized the first Free- Will Baptist Church in America, in the house of Elder Joseph Boodey ; the house is now standing. Elder Randall continued preaching, and traveled more or less, until at last he died of consumption, in 1808, aged sixty years. A plain marble shaft marks his resting-place in the family burying-ground of New Durham Ridge. Elder Joseph Boodey, a co- temporary and co-worker with Elder Randall, lived and died in this town. He was born in 1773, com- menced preaching in 1797, was ordained by Randall and others in 1799. He traveled and preached ex- tensively throughout the New England and Middle States. He died May 12, 1867, at the advanced age of ninety-four years, beloved and revered by all that knew him. He was an honored member of the Ma- sonic fraternity about sixty years.

Elder Nathaniel Berry, a very worthy man, had charge of the Free-Will Baptist Church in this town nearly forty years. He died Oet. 19, 1865, aged seventy-seven years.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.

F. W. COBURN.

The history of the career of Mr. Coburn is one pe- culiar to the self-made men of our times. He was seventeen years old when he moved in 1851 with his father from Pelham, N. H., to the place at present

occupied by him, at that time a wilderness. Soon after arriving at New Durham he apprenticed himself to his brother-in-law, James H. Fletcher, who was a manufacturer in a very small way of edge tools. He served three years as an apprentice, when his time expired ; he continued to work, however, in the same shop for one year. The pay he received was very small compared to the prices paid mechanics to- day. One year after completing his apprenticeship he was married to Susan, daughter of Alfred S. Willey, of New Durham.

Immediately after his marriage he commenced business for himself in the shop in which he learned his trade. His business was on a small scale, but by close application and undaunted energy it improved and extended, necessitating the enlargement of his facilities for manufacturing. His shop burned two years after he commenced operations, whereupon he moved down the stream and built a factory on the site he now occupies. He commenced the manufac- ture of shoe-knives in a very humble way, the ex- tent of his factory being but three dozen knives per day. He adopted the brand, "F. W. C.," the three initial letters of his name. The excellence of his knives soon gave them an enviable reputation, and orders came in from distant parts of the country, ne- cessitating the introduction of the most modern im- provements in machinery for manufacturing his par- ticular line. Ilis factory now has a capacity of one hundred and fifty dozen knives per day, besides a large quantity of shaves and other tools used in the manufacture of boots and shoes. The F. W. C. knife has a world-wide reputation. A few years ago the sale of his wares was confined to Rochester, Dover, Farmington, and Haverhill, Mass., that being the outside limit. To-day he ships his goods to every State in the Union, the Canadas, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward's Island, Great Britain, Germany, and Aus- tralia.

The factory is located on a good water-power, but Mr. Coburn put in a steam engine, which gives him safe motive-power for every working-day in the year. The wilderness that he moved into in 1858 has been converted, through his successful management, into a thriving village. It contains a post-office, store, edge tool factories, and several fine dwellings, all the property of Mr. Coburn. Prominent among the resi- dents are his two married sons, who are engaged in the business with him, and who have in a remarkable degree inherited their father's business proclivities,- a fact that affords gratification to Mr. Coburn, as his great desire is to have the business he has so success- fully worked up perpetuated in his family. Ile em- ploys a large number of men, who find residences in the buildings he has erected for their comfort. The name of the post-office is Coburnville.

Mr. Coburn has been married twice. Three chil- dren were born to his first wife,-Charles, Frank W., Jr., and Alonzo G. Charles died at the age of twenty-

660

HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

three, leaving a widow and one child,-Willie U. Frank W., Jr., married Leona Smith, of Rochester, N. II., and Alonzo G. married Annie Adams, of New Durham.

Mrs. Coburn died Nov. 28, 1858, and one year after he married her sister, Mary J., by whom he has two children living, -Alma J. and Susan M.

In politics Mr. Coburn is a Republican, being a firm advocate of the principles of that party. He was a Democrat prior to the campaign of 1880, when he left that party on the tariff question. He has always commanded the respect and esteem of the citizens of the town for which he has done so much, and has officiated as justice of the peace, which position he now occupies. He represented his district in the Legislature in 1878 and 1880.

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History of Rockingham and Strafford counties, New Hampshire : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 154

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