History of Rockingham and Strafford counties, New Hampshire : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 176

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 176
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 176


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at home till of age, having only the advantage of the common schools. He soon after going to Berwick became acquainted with and married Abigail Gowell, and settled on a farm inherited by her from her father. Edwin's father and mother were both quite large, each weighing about two hundred pounds, and a very evenly mated pair. The father was a very social, genial man, and very much liked in the community where he lived and moved. The mother was also very social, and regarded a leader in society. She died, when about twenty five years old, of typhus fever that raged in that vicinity at that time. She belonged to a driving family, a family successful and thrifty beyond the average of people in that sec- tion.


The district school was all the educational advan- tages that the children could have at home, but this was quite good, the winter schools being quite long, and Edwin made good use of these, getting so far advanced that he had to stay at home and study, the teachers employed not being able to help him in the studies he was pursuing, and he so well improved his time that he passed an examination right from his town school, and taught a school in a neighboring district, boarding at home, and several of the older scholars, boys considerably older than he was, went to his school from his district, and one from another district, who was over twenty-one years of age, walking more than four miles each way from his home.


Edwin remained at home till he was of age, except six months; when he was sixteen years old he went to work for a neighbor for seven dollars per month, for six months, and saved all his wages except enoughi to buy a suit of clothes, and bought some sheep, buying a few of the best out of two flocks. This laid the foundation of one of the best flocks in the town.


After his brother had served out the time of his apprenticeship, they together concluded to have a better education, and had a desire to go to Phillips' Exeter Academy. They took their father's horse and sleigh, starting early in the morning; they drove to South Newmarket, and put their horse up to be fed and cared for, while they walked from there to Exeter and return. They first called to see Dr. Soule at his house, and from him got permission to enter the school the next term ; then they saw Capt. Fernald, with the result given by E. G. After at- tending to the business at Exeter, they walked back to Newmarket and took their horse home, arriving home about ten o'clock in the evening in a blinding snow-storm.


'After getting through at Exeter, where they had gone through a course for college, Edwin remained at home in the summer, teaching school in winter. He taught in his own town, North Berwick, Mc., North Hampton and Rye, N. H. He received about thirty-five dollars per month, or about one dollar per


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HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.


day above expense of board, which was the highest price paid by these districts in those times.


While teaching school in Rye the gold discovery was made in California, and Edwin's brother, E. G., became very earnest to go, and came down to Rye to make some arrangement to sell out his effects in Rochester and elsewhere, so that he might go. Ed- win very reluctantly consented to enter into the plan, but did so with intention of closing up the business as quick as it could be done to advantage. Closing the school as soon as could be done consistent with his engagement, he went to Rochester to enter upon his new duties. Having taken an inventory of stock and effects, he raised what was found to be capital above liability and paid it over to E. G., and com- meneed the management of the affairs to close them up.


The property consisted of various kinds of leather, and in several places of tan-yards, some in Rochester, some in Great Falls, and also hides put out to tan in Union village. The hides that were put out to tan were badly managed, and most of the leather nearly spoiled, so that it had to be sold for damaged inner- soling, which is the cheapest kind of leather. The times came on hard for the leather business, and the stock had to be sold very low, so that when the prop- erty was all closed out Edwin found himself five hun- dred dollars behind, or worse than nothing. This would have discouraged many young men just start- ing, with no one to help them, but it did not him. Having become considerably acquainted with the leather business, he continued on, both finishing and selling and buying and selling rough stoek, so that in about one year and a half he had not only made up the amount he was behind, but had got worth three thousand dollars. He had been buying, giving his notes, and selling, and taking notes, doing busi- ness to considerable extent in this way, when by fail- ures in Haverhill he lost all he was worth. Three thousand one hundred dollars failed on him at once. At this time parties that held notes against him came to him and advised to not attempt to pay in full, but settle off, paying about fifty per cent. These parties were ready to do this, and thought all would readily do it, but he said, "No, every man should be paid in full," remarking that he did not think this was the end of him in business matters. He paid every demand in full, and, although he was put to great trouble and disadvantage at this time, he so managed · as not to have a note go to protest.


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He finally made settlements with the failed parties, so that he realized about fifteen hundred dollars from the three thousand one hundred that failed.


He continued on in a small way buying and sell- ing leather, and also employing one or two men fin- ishing stock, till his brother returned from California. He was always closely devoted to his business, never seeking to be engaged in anything but business, nor much inclined to political life or political aspirations.


He was elected to the Legislature in 1870, and the next year to the Senate, being appointed on quite important committees, on several of which he was chairman.


His family consists of wife (daughter of Seneca Lander, of Woodstock, Me.), one son, and son's wife, and two daughters, having lost one daughter by his first wife, Susan R. Whitehouse, daughter of William Whitehouse, of Rochester, N. H. This daughter was married to H. D. Jacobs, and lived in Brooklyn, N. Y. The son is in the office of the shoe shop.


Soon after E. G. returned home from California they formed the partnership of E. G. & E. Wallace. At first they bought leather in the rough in Boston, and finished it, selling to the shoe manufacturers, working themselves and hiring one or two men to work for them. After a while Warren & Richards, who had been carrying on business in the tannery now occupied by E. G. & E. Wallace, proposed to sell out the concern, and a trade was soon made with them for it. The establishment was quite small then, employing about six or eight men in all. The old shop they have had moved off out on the lot, and used for coarse storage. It is held in esteem by them to show what the beginning was at that time. It was not very encouraging to them to buy out a tannery and enter upon the business in this place, as nearly all that had engaged in the business in this section had failed or given up, not only at Rochester, but all down through Great Falls, Berwick, South Berwick, Salmon Falls, and Dover, only two out of a score or more remaining, and those since have fallen by the wayside. Of all that entered into the tanning busi- ness in and about this part of New Hampshire and Maine, only three concerns lived and made money. Those three were of the old type, and did business in the earlier oklen times. These were Moses Hale, of Rochester ; Nicholas Hanson, of South Berwick ; and Nathaniel and Jeremiah Young, of Dover. So that the prospect was not flattering to buy out and run a tannery in this part of the country, and they contemplated going to Western New York or Penn- sylvania to engage in the tanning business, but by dint of circumstances and the fact that Warren & Richards wished to sell out, and offered the tannery quite low, they settled down in the business here.


When they began, one worked in the curry-shop, taking charge of that, with two or three hired men ; the other in the tannery, with about the same number of hands. From this time the business commenced to increase, and the old curry-shop became too small, and they were about to build a new one, when they heard of the okdl meeting-house for sale, which had been the old Farmington town-house. This they bought of Simon L. Hayes for one hundred and twenty-five dollars. This was taken down and put up as a currying-shop and shoe-shop, one-half being parted off into rooms for the manufacture of shoes, but never used for that purpose, and in a year or two


Rev Ezekiel Fine


753


ROCHESTER.


more room was needed for finishing leather, and the ; six or eight men, now have in all departments nearly partitions were taken out, and all put into leather- seven hundred employés, paying out as wages twenty thousand dollars per month, or from two hundred and twenty-five to two hundred and fifty thousand dollars per year. finishing room. Since that time the shop has had three quite large additions, and at this time is too small, and seems to require still another addition. Instead of six to eight hands, as were at first employed in the leather department, there are now about one hundred.


Besides their business in Rochester, they have large associated interests in other places. Besides the New York house of Wallace, Elliott & Co., of which they are senior partners, they have large interests with four leather houses in Boston, and besides investments in corporations in various parts of the country.


REV. EZEKIEL TRUE.


Rev. Ezekiel True traces his ancestry back seven generations, to Henry True, the first settler of Trues in America, whose wife was Israel Pike, daughter of Capt. Robert Pike, of Salem, Mass. He came from England in what year is not known. He died in Salem. They had two sons,-Henry and Joseph.


Capt. Henry was born in Salem, March 18, 1644-45. He married Jane Bradbury in 1667-68. He died Sept. 8, 1735. They had four children,-William True, Ensign Henry True, Deacon Jolin True, and Deacon Jabez True. Deacon John was born Feb. 23, 1678, was married to Martha Morrell, Jan. 16, 1702. They had five children,- Jacob, Ezekiel, Daniel, Moses, and Thomas.


Ezekiel, whose wife was Mary Morrell, settled at Salisbury Plain, Mass. They had ten children,- Sarah, Jacob, Lydia, Martha, Ezekiel and Mary (twins), Jabez, Dr. John, William, and Paul. Jacob was born April 6, 1748, was married to Lydia Dow March 20, 1773, died Sept. 2, 1826. He settled at Salisbury, N. H. They had six children,-Daniel, Polly, Jacob, Ezekiel, Lydia, and Dr. John.


Ezekiel, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born at Salisbury, N. H., Feb. 6, 1780. Married Nancy Nutting, of Corinth, Vt., and settled in that town, her father being one of its first settlers. They had eight children, - Hiram, Jacob, John, Lydia Ann, Ezekiel, Emily B., Polly, and Annette W. Ezekiel was born June 5, 1814, in Corinth, Vt. (Henry True1, Capt. Henry2, Deacon John3, Ezekiel4, Jacob5, Ezekiel6, Ezekiel, the subject of this note, the 7th). His parents were pious, respectable people, but were in moderate circumstances, yet always provided a comfortable living for their family. His father owned a farm, and by trade was a house-carpenter. After his boys became large enough to work, they carried on the farm chiefly, while he worked at his trade. He died in August, 1838. Ezekiel and Au- nette W. (Mrs. Glidden, of Manchester, N. H.) are the only members of the family now living.


Ezekiel did not take to farming with great enthu- siasm. The implements then in use being very heavy and clumsy, he often became very tired, and in the afternoon it often seemed to him that the sun went very slowly down.


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The shoe business had its beginning with them at a later period, and was entered into by them from force of circumstances. When the Rebellion broke out in 1861 they were largely tanning calf-skins, which they finished and sold to parties in the boot and shoe business. Sending the stock to Boston, they would meet their customers Wednesdays and Satur- days, and in this way sold from week to week their prodnet, but the Rebellion failed nearly all their trade, so that they were not able to continue or so discouraged they did not care to do more, and thus they were left without buyers with a large stock of calf-skins on hand. They now had to turn their atten- tion to find a market, and concluded they would have to manage to work up their stock. They went to see one who had been about the largest buyer of their goods, and proposed to him to go in company with them to use up their leather and share together the profit and loss. But he said he had had enough of the business, and did not wish to risk anything more, but said if they would run him steady for six months, he would lay aside what little stock he had and go to work for them, and a trade was made with the under- standing that he should be furnished steady work for six months, but instead of six months he manufac- tured for them steadily for fifteen years, never being idle during the whole time, and is manufacturing now for Wallace, Elliott & Co., of New York, a house closely connected with their New Hampshire shoe business. The manufacturer of boots often had to store quite largely, and one time hired a small barn in his town and filled it with goods.


Soon after beginning the boot business they con- cluded to make a few shoes in their own town. A shop was standing idle, built by two men intending to use it themselves for the shoe business, but they did not conclude to venture in, and after it stood a year or two it was hired by them and the shoe business started. It was not expected to make over twenty or . twenty-five cases of shoes per week, to use up a class of stock that was not so ready sale with them as other kinds. At the commencement of this shoe business in Rochester they engaged the services of Lafayette Wiggin, known as "Gen. Wiggin," he having had quite an extensive experience in the manufacture of shoes, and this same Gen. Wiggin is with them to- day, as well and rugged as he was the day he com- menced. He ships the goods and handles about all the money that goes through the whole business,-a valuable man for the place.


This establishment in all its parts, beginning with


1


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HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.


Ile had a strong liking for books and study, and not infrequently played truant from the workfield, and would be found one mile away in the school- room, or hid away in his father's attic, studying his arithmetic, grammar, and geography with the view of becoming a teacher. From the time he was twelve years old it was his intense purpose to obtain an edu- cation sufficient to teach a common school, and al- though his school privileges were limited to but little more than two months in a year, yet by dint of appli- cation, when seventeen years of age, he passed an examination before the superintending school com- mittee of his town, and received a certificate of his qualifications to teach the branches of education usu- ally taught in common schools. He engaged to teach a school for two months, at eight dollars per month and boarding. He went through with his school with commendable success.


After this, till he was twenty-one years old, he spent his springs and summers at home on the farm, attend- ing the academy at Bradford, Vt., in the autumns, teaching in the winters.


One of the most severe trials of his life occurred when he was about nine years of age. He being passionately fond of books, his friends had made him presents of quite a number suited to children, which he very highly prized. One day a little sister two years old found them and tore them all in pieces, not one survived the wreck. He wept many bitter tears, but they were gone forever, and to this day he thinks of the event with sadness of heart, and although since that time has met with losses of much greater value, but all put together did not produce such real grief as the destruction of those precious little books.


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When very young his mind was very much exer- cised upon the subject of religion ; the thoughts of dying often awakened inexpressible anxieties in his young mind, and gave him many sleepless hours in the silent watches of the night. In April, 1828, he publicly expressed his desire to become a Christian, and soon afterwards experienced emancipating grace. On the 20th of March, 1830, he was baptized by the late Rev. Nathaniel Bowles, and united with the first Free-Will Baptist Church in Corinth.


He soon felt that the work of the gospel ministry must be his life-work; but a sense of unworthiness and unfitness seemed impassable barriers, which could not be possibly overcome. But at the age of twenty- one years, feeling that, necessity was lain upon him and that woe was unto him if he refused, he resolved to use the ability given him in endeavoring to per- suade men to become reconciled to God. Accordingly, on the 5th day of July, 1835, he made his first effort, taking for his text, "For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul, or life," or, " what shall a mau give in exchange for his soul, or life," Matt. xvi. 26.


The congregation was large, and he being very diffident was much embarrassed, but having put his


hand to the plow, he felt that there must be no look- ing back, he resolved to go forward, and was surprised to find his efforts so well appreciated. During the summer and autumn he received frequent invitations to supply the pulpit in his native town and also in several adjoining towns. He continued to work on the farm during the week and improve his gift on the Sabbath until the 20th of December, when he gave himself more fully to the work, and decided to spend the win- ter in the northern part of Vermont and in Conacty, but how to accomplish it was with him a serious ques- tion, he having neither horse, sleigh or harness, and no means to purchase; but this difficulty was soon overcome. Ile went to a saw-mill and purchased a pair of sled-runners of bird's-eye maple, well seasoned and very hard wood, for which he paid fifty cents. With these he and his brother John manufactured a sleigh of a very unique pattern, minus of nearly all iron work. For a harness, he repaired one, which his father had lain by as useless many years before, but he fitted it up with very little expense, so that it an- swered his purpose very well indeed. His brother John furnished him with a horse, saying to him, " Take my horse ; use him well; wear him out, and I will give you another, for you will never be worth a horse ;"' but as he had abandoned the idea of ever possessing much of this world's goods it did not very much depress or discourage him.


With this outfit he left his home, and traveled and held meetings during the winter with no very marked success. He returned home in the spring. Feeling very much the need of a better education to fit him for his work, he decided to spend some time in going to school. He chose to go to "North Parsonfield Seminary," Maine, the first and only academy then existing in his denomination.


His father gave him twenty dollars to assist him, all he could afford to at that time. With this aid, and by teaching, he succeeded in obtaining a common academical education. When he left school he went to Cornish, Me., and commenced holding meetings, which were attended with very precious results. There were between sixty or seventy conversions in this and the adjoining town of Limington. It was during this revival that it was thought that the in- terest of the cause demanded his ordination. He chose to return to his native town in Vermont, and receive ordination there. Accordingly, on the 22d . of June, 1837, he, with two other young brethren, Rev. A. D. Smith, now living at Canterbury, N. H., and Rev. Gilman Sanborn, now deeeased, all mem- bers of the same church, and nearly of the same age, were publicly set apart to the work of the gospel min- istry. He then returned to Cornish, and baptized most of the converts.


In January, 1838, he accepted a call to become the pastor of the Free-Will Baptist Church in Ports- mouth, N. H. This relation continued about three years. These were years of prosperity, there being


1


Charles W. Chase


735


ROCHESTER.


about one hundred persons added by baptism to the church. In connection with his labors with his own church, he was employed as a city missionary for nearly two years of the time of his residence there.


In November, 1839, he was married to Miss Sylvia M. Hobbs, of Wells, Me., a very estimable lady, whose natural abilities, educational attainments, and whose rare gifts of exhortation, prayer, and song well fitted her to be an efficient helper to him in the gos- pel, she often visiting the sick and praying with them, and speaking words of comfort and encouragement to all, and her sallies of pleasantry and conversa- tional ability made her presence more than welcome in all social gatherings. By her prudent management in her household affairs she greatly aided him in laying by some means to meet their future necessities. She died in Rochester, N. II., April 30, 188I, after a very painful sickness of more than seven years, which she very patiently endured.


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From the commencement of his first pastorate in Portsmouth, in 1838, to 1873 he was not without an engagement a single Sabbath.


Hle labored as pastor with the following churches : Portsmouth, N. H., Wells, Me., Ashland, N. HI., South Berwick. Me., Pittsfield, N. II., Lake village, N. H., Alton, N. H., Gilford, N. H., Farmington, N. H., Saco, Me., and Rochester, N. H.


All these churches enjoyed some prosperity during his pastorate, and several of them were favored with precious revivals and many additions made to their numbers.


He founded the Rochester Village Free- Will Bap- tist Church. He engaged a hall, and commenced holding meetings on the 2d day of April, 1871, and on the 3Ist of October following the church was or- ganized and he chosen its pastor, which relation existed some more than four years.


The church increased in numbers and influence under his ministry.


He is now (1882) pastor of a small church about three miles from Rochester village, and is expected to preach to them every Sabbath. His genial, social disposition has won for him many friends wherever he has resided. He has served as one of the superin- tending school committee in most of the towns in which he has lived.


He has preached not less than four thousand five hundred sermons, attended about five hundred fu- nerals, solemnized three hundred and fifty marriages, and baptized about three hundred persons.


He owns a residence in the pleasant village of Rochester, N. H., where he now resides in the enjoy- ment of good health and the fair prospect of a verdant old age, highly esteemed as a citizen and respected by all classes in the community.


CHIARLES K. CHASE.


Charles K. Chase, youngest son of Simon Chase, was born in Rochester, N. H., May 17, 1830. Rev. John Chase, grandfather of Simon, was a settled min- ister at Spruce Creek, Kittery, Me., and had four sons, -Josiah, John, Thomas, and Bradstreet. Josiah set- tled at York, Me., Thomas and Bradstreet remained on the old homestead, and John married Harriet Dennett, of Kittery, and moved to Berwick, Me., which at that time was a wilderness. He had six sons and two daughters, namely : Sally, Betsey, Thomas, John, Josiah, Simon, Mark, and Abraham.


Thomas and John remained at home, Josiah settled at Limington, Mark at Newfield, Me., and Simon at the age of thirteen was bound out to Reuben Tabor, a hatter, and remained with him four years. He then went to Portsmouth and worked with a Mr. Kelly as a journeyman hatter. He then went to Berwick Academy in the winter of 1805, and in the spring of 1806 went to Rochester, recommended to Joseph Hanson by Joshua Meader, and entered Hanson's store as clerk, receiving ninety-six dollars the first year. He remained with him four years and then went to Milton, N. H., in ISI0, and went into busi- ness for himself.


Simon Chase was born Sept. 30, 1786, and married Sarah Wingate, daughter of Enoch Wingate, of Milton, Oct. 28, 1813. He moved to Rochester in 1822, and went into business in company with Jonathan Torr. In 1825 he bought out Torr's interest in the business, and built a new brick store. The same year he bought the house on Central Square which was his home till his death, which occurred Jan. 31, 1877. His wife died June 14, 1870. Together with Charles Dennett and James Cole, he was instrumental in building the first Methodist Church in Rochester, of which he was an active member. He had ten children,-Betsey, E. Wingate, George W., John D., Mary Y., IFarriet L., Charles K., Sarah F., Maria Josephine, and one who died in infancy. Charles at the age of seventeen lett Warren Academy, at Woburn, Mass., and en- tered his father's store as clerk. At the end of four years he bought the store and business of his father.




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