History of Rockingham and Strafford counties, New Hampshire : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 201

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 201
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 201

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In politics Dr. Martin was a Democrat of the Jef- fersonian and Jacksonian school. With but little am- bition for political preferment he was not always able to resist the importunities of political and personal friends, and was often brought forward for political office. 11e was elected to the New Hampshire Honse of Representatives in 1830, 1832, and 1837; to the New Hampshire Senate in 1835 and 1836; and in 1852 and 1853 he was elected Governor of the State.

Dr. Martin was elected a member of the Strafford District Medical Society in 1835, and was chosen its president in 1841 and 1842; of the State Medical Society in 1836, and president in 1858; and member of the American Medical Association in 1849. He was one of the founders of the Dover Medical Asso- ciation, and was chosen its first president in 1849, and also filled that office in 1850. He was elected a member of the New Hampshire Historical Society in 1853, the New England Historic Genealogieal Society in 1853, and vice-president of the same for New Hampshire in 1855. He was one of the corpo- rators of the State Agricultural Society, and was elected vice-president of the same in 1851. He was chosen president of the Savings-Bank for the County

In early life Noah evinced an untiring love for books and a desire, as he advanced in life, to study for the medical profession as his future calling. He persevered through many difficulties until he had of Strafford in 1844, holding the office until 1852, acquired a thorough classical and professional edu- when he declined a re-election; was a leading director of the Dover Bank from 1847 to 1855, when he re- cation. Ilis medical studies were commenced under the instruction of Dr. Pillsbury, of Pembroke, N. H., I signed; also a director of the Strafford Bank from

Finnegan, Peter.

A. Martin

Mulant

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DOVER.

1860 to the time of his death. He also held various other offices of trust. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity and also that of the order of Odd-Fellows.

IJe died suddenly on the morning of May 28, 1863. flight of the spirit that the exact moment of its de- parture was hardly perceptible. Ile was a kind and affectionate husband and father, a wise counselor, and a true patriot.

In 1825, Dr. Martin married Mary Jane, daughter of Dr. Robert Woodbury, of Barrington, and their family consisted of two children,-Elizabeth A. and Caroline M., both of whom survive.

MOSES PAUL.

Moses Paul, only son of Edmund and Delia Paul, was born in Waterborough, near Alfred,1 Me., March 28, 1797. Ten years later, in 1807, he came with his father's family to Dover. Here the youthful Moses received at the town school the elements of an edu- cation which was subsequently fostered and enlarged under the tuition of Mr. Willard Thayer, a successful teacher of a locally celebrated private school. Here he succeeded in securing an education that well qual- ified him for his subsequent successful business career.

He commenced his business education in the store of his maternal uncle, John Williams, Esq., who dur- ing that year associated himself with several gentle- men of wealth for the purpose of commencing the | manufacture of cotton cloth in Dover. Mills were erected on the Cochecho River, abont two miles from Dover Centre, and the business which has since grown to such gigantic proportions was commenced, with Mr. Williams as agent and Moses Paul, clerk.

In 1822 the same association of gentlemen, with others added, under the name of the Dover Mannfac- turing Company, commenced the erection of the first cotton-mill at the lower falls, Dover Centre.

In the year 1824, this mill having been completed, Mr. Williams became the agent of both establishments, while Mr. Paul was appointed superintendent of what was then called the " upper factory," where he resided until 1828.

In 1828, Mr. Williams was succeeded as agent by James F. Curtis, and at the same time Capt. Paul re- moved to the lower factory to assume the duties of superintendent of the manufacturing department here, in which position he continued until December, 1834, when he succeeded Mr. Curtis as agent of the corpora- tion. Thus, step by step, he rose from clerk to agent of the Cocheco Manufacturing Company, and it is but justice to add that very much of the prosperity of the corporation from 1834 to 1860 was due to the skillful and prudent management of Moses Paul. He lived

to see the small manufactory of 1812 developed into the giant corporation of 1860.

In all the delicate relations existing between a large manufacturing establishment and the town or city in which it may be located, Capt. Paul ever pursued a disarm prejudice and to secure mutual co-operation.

Capt. Paul manifested a lively interest in all mat- ters tending to advance the welfare of his adopted city. He was president of the first City Council, was a director in the old Dover Bank, and upon the incor- poration of the Strafford Bank became a director, which position he held until his death.

In Masonie circles he was a bright member, and from early life evinced the deepest interest in and cherished love for this ancient and honorable institu- tion. He passed through all its degrees and honors, from the humble "Entered Apprentice" to Master of his lodge and Grand Master of all the lodges in the State of New Hampshire, and at the time of his death was Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter of New Hampshire, and Eminent Commander of St. Paul's Commandery, of Dover.

The military also had a charm for Capt. Paul, and he became commander of the organization known as the "Stratford Guards" in the old militia days, thus conferring the title by which he was familiarly and commonly known. The company, like everything with which he was connected, felt the energy and en- terpise of his spirit, and under his command was sec- ond to no similar organization in New Hampshire.

In religious matters he was a consistent Christian of the Calvinistic school, and was a member of the First Congregational Church in this city.

Of the cause of education Capt. Paul was a present and efficient friend, and all measures tending to ad- vance that interest found in hin an earnest advocate.

After a life of unusual activity and usefulness, death at last laid its hand upon the strong man, and July 9, 1860, he passed peacefully away,

" Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch

About him and lies down to pleasant dreams."

Nov. 29, 1821, he married Susan M. Hodgdon, daughter of Shadrack and Elizabeth Hodgdon, of Dover, who survives him at the advanced age of eighty-four years, and retains in a wonderful degree the vigor and elasticity of youthi.

Of their family three children are living, two daughters and a son,-Susan E., wife of John A. Bickford, of Malden, Mass .; Emily J., wife of Russel B. Wiggin, also of Malden; and Moses A. Paul, of this city.

GEN. ALFRED HOITT.

A man who entirely by his own efforts has risen to affluence and social position, and through all the changing events of an active business life has pre- served his integrity unimpeached, well deserves the

1 It was indeed " near" Alfred, as the house in which he was boru was located directly on the line between the two towns.

He expired as in a gentle slumber, so tranquil the , course so gentle, so conservative, and so liberal as to

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HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

pen of the historian. Such an one is Gen. Alfred Hoitt, the subject of this sketch. Without the ad- vantages of inherited aid he worked the problem of his own fortune, and lives to enjoy the fruition of a successful business career. He was born in North- wood, N. H., Jan. 11, 1806, and when two years of age his parents removed to Portsmouth, later to Mad- bury, and finally to Lee. His father died soon after their removal to Lee, leaving Alfred, then but thirteen years of age, the main support of his widowed mother. At seventeen years of age he went out for himself and engaged as a farm-hand in the town of Stratham for seven months at nine dollars per month. lle saved every dollar of the money thus earned, which formed the nucleus of a small fund with which he subse- quently purchased a piece of woodland, the first real estate owned by him, and which is still in his pos- session. This small purchase has increased from time to time until it now reaches nine hundred acres . of excellent farming land, located within six miles of Durham depot.

In 1838 he erected a building in Lee and com- menced keeping a public-house, which soon became famous as one of the best hostelries in New Hamp- shire. This was in the halcyon days of turnpikes and stage-coaches, when the blast of the horn and the merry crack of the drivers' whips were heard throughout the land.

Soon after the building of the Boston and Maine Railroad, which enterprise he assisted with his usual energy, he removed to Durham depot, where he erected a fine residence. At this time he was con- ducting a large and successful business in the ship- ping of produce to Boston, and for a number of years made the trip over the road daily to that city and return. He has paid in freights alone to the Boston and Maine Railroad between $600,000 and $700,000. While residing in Durham occurred an event, the result of which, through his great tenac- ity and his determination that right should prevail, has been of incalculable benefit to the inhabitants along the line traversed by this road. Soon after the erection of his residence and other buildings at Dur- ham, the entire property was destroyed by fire from the cars. He applied to the president of the road for reasonable compensation for the damage sustained, but was met with the reply that not a dollar should be paid, as the corporation was in no way liable for damage sustained in that manner. The general promptly notified the officers of tlie road that unless the damages claimed were paid at once he should bring an action against the company to enforce his claim. Notwithstanding the act incorporating the road explicitly declared the corporation liable for such damage (the general himself was also one of the framers of this act) the demand was refused. The result may be stated in a few words. An action was immediately commenced, and after a four years' litigation with this wealthy corporation the court de-

cided the company liable for the damage, and the claim was paid. Thus to the invincible determina- tion of Gen. Hoitt is due the construction of a law which has been invaluable to the citizens along this line. He demonstrated that the people had rights which the corporation was bound to respect, and long after the general shall have passed from the activity of this life that decree will remain upon the statute- book of this State as a monument to his character- istic determination for the right.

Gen. Hoitt was also fond of "ye military," and figured conspicuously in the old militia days. He rose from captain of an artillery company through the different grades to major-general, and was con- sidered the best disciplinarian in the service. In political matters he has been from the first a worthy representative of the Jeffersonian type of Democracy. During his residence in the town of Lee he was chosen selectman by a unanimous vote of the town, and in 1881, although not having resided in Dover a year, he was nominated for mayor by the Democratic party, and came within one hundred and seven votes of defeating his opponent in a city of over one thou- sand Republican majority.

In referring to Gen. Hoitt's business career one fact stands out with bardly a parallel in history, that in all his business transactions, which have been and still are large, he never gave a note, except for the first piece of land purchased.

On Oct. 26, 1828, Gen. Hoitt united in marriage with Susan Demeritt, a native of Northwood, and their family consisted of thirteen children, twelve of whom survive. Mrs. Hoitt died in April, 1877. Jan. 6, 1879, he married Mrs. Mary A. Smart, a native of Boston, Mass.

Gen. Hoitt is essentially a self-made man. Early in life he learned that the way to success was by no royal road, but was open to stout hands and willing hearts. Energy and integrity, coupled with an in- domitable will, have rendered his career a success, and the once poor boy is now one of the substantial and highly honored citizens of Strafford County.

JONATHAN SAWYER.I

I. John Sawyer, a farmer in Lincolnshire, Eng- land, had three sons, William, Edward, and Thomas, who emigrated to this country in 1636, being passen- gers in a ship commanded by Capt. Parker .. They probably settled in Rowley, Mass.

2. Thomas Sawyer went to Lancaster, Mass., as early as 1647, when he was twenty-four years of age. This section of the Nashaway Valley, comprising eighty square miles in extent, had been purchased, in 1643, by Thomas King, of Watertown, Mass., of Scholan, sachem of the Nashaway Indians. Thomas Sawyer was one of the first six settlers. His name

1 By Rev. George B. Spalding, D.D.

Alfred Hait

RESIDENCE OF JONATHAN SAWYER, "SAWYER'S MILLS," DOVER, N. H.

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appears in the petition made to the General Court in 1653 for the incorporation of the town of Lancaster. In 1647, the year of his arrival, he married Mary Prescott. She was the daughter of John Prescott, to whom belongs the honor of being the first permanent inhabitant of Lancaster. The eminent historian, William H. Prescott, traces his ancestral line to this John Prescott. There were born to Thomas Sawyer and Mary Prescott eleven children. This family fig- ures largely in that most tragic page of the history of Lancaster which tells of the massacres and captivities of its inhabitants, and the entire destruction of the town itself hy the Indians. On the land of Thomas Sawyer stood the Sawyer garrison, into which were gathered the survivors of that most murderous attack made upon the town in the winter of 1675-76. At this time his second son, Ephraim, who was at the Prescott garrison, was killed by the Indians. Thirty- two years later, 1708, the oldest son, Thomas, and his son Elias were captured by the Indians and taken to Canada. When the party reached Montreal, the father offered to put up a mill on the river Chambly, on condition that the French governor would obtain the release of all the captives. Thus the first mill in Canada was built by Thomas Sawyer. He was lib- erated, but his son Elias was detained for a time to teach the Canadians "the art of sawing and keeping the mill in order, and then was dismissed with rich presents."

3. Caleb Sawyer, the sixth child of Thomas, was born in 1659, in Lancaster, Mass. He married Sarah Iloughton, thus effecting an alliance between two of the most prominent families who organized the town of Lancaster. Caleb Sawyer died in 1755, leaving two sons and two daughters.

4. Seth Sawyer, the oldest son of Caleb, was born in 1705; married Miss Hepsabeth Whitney ; died in 1768.

5. Caleb Sawyer, the second son of Seth, was born 1737, at Harvard, Mass., a part of Lancaster, which, in 1732, had been incorporated as a town by itself. He married Miss Sarah Patch, in 1766. They had two sons, Phineas and Jonathan. Jonathan remained on the home farm at Harvard, which is still occupied by his descendants.

woven into cloth. Phineas Sawyer was a man of great independence of character, self-reliant and full of courage. These qualities, so conspicuous in his business affairs, shone out with undiminished power in his religious life. He lived at a time in Massachu- ' setts when Methodism was regarded with special dis- favor. But Mr. Sawyer, believing that the Methodists were right, believed so with all his heart, and the petty persecutions to which his faith was subjected only intensified his zeal and loyalty. His house was the home for all, traveling Methodists, and the place where they gathered for religious worship. He was well versed in the best Methodist literature of his times. He stands forth in the annals of his church as one of the foremost men, for sagacity, boldness, and piety, in the Needham Circuit. He had for his wife a worthy helpmeet, Hannah Whitney, of Har- vard. She was as ardently attached to Methodism as was her husband, and bore her full share of service and sacrifice for it in its days of weakness and perse- cution. The sudden death of her husband, which took place in 1820, left Mrs. Sawyer to provide for the support of twelve children, the youngest, Jona- than, being then two years old. This truly noble woman, with but little means, faced the difficulties before her with an unflinching spirit of faith and hopefulness. It required superlative fortitude, finest sagacity, and sternest self-sacrifice to have enabled this mother to successfully rear these twelve children, give to them a good education, and establish. all of them in respectable positions in the world. She con- tinued to live in Marlborough some nine years, leas- ing the mill property. In 1829 she went to Lowell, where she lived twenty years, dying there in 1849, greatly respected by all who knew her, and held in honor and affection by her many children.

7. Jonathan Sawyer, the subject of this sketch, was the youngest child of Phineas. He was born at Marl- borough, Mass., in 1817. He went with his mother and other members of the family when he was twelve years old to Lowell, where for the next few years he attended school. He was a member of the first class that entered the high school of that city, having among his mates Hon. Benjamin F. Butler, Governor E. A. Straw, and G. V. Fox, assistant Secretary of the Navy during the civil war. Bishop Thomas M. Clark was the principal of this school. On account of a severe sickness, young Sawyer at sixteen years of age left school, and while recruiting his health made a visit to his brother, Alfred Ira Sawyer, who, after some experience as a dyer at Amesbury and Great Falls, had come in 1824 to Dover, N. H., where he was operating a grist-mill, a custom carding, and cloth-dressing mill, converting this last into a flannel- mill. Jonathan remained in Dover two years, going to school and working for his brother. In the fall of 1835 he returned to Lowell. His mother, for the pur- pose of conferring upon her son a more complete

6. Phineas Sawyer was born at Harvard, Mass., in 1768. He went to Marlborough, Mass., now Hudson, in 1800. He bought a mill property there, consisting of a saw-, grist-, and wire-drawing-mill. In 1806 he built a cotton-mill, and operated it until the close of the war in 1815. It required in those days immense enterprise and energy to project and carry on such a work as a cotton-factory. The machinery was pro- cured from Rhode Island. The ginning-machine had not yet come into general use. The cotton, when re- ceived, was distributed among the farmers, to have the seeds picked out one by one by their families. It was carded and spun by water-power at the mill. It was then sent out again among the farmers to be education, sent him to the great Methodist school at

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HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Wilbraham, which at that time was a most flourishing preparatory school for the Wesleyan University at Middletown, Conn. Here he remained two terms, when, at nineteen years of age, returning to Lowell, he went into a woolen establishment as a dyer. After- wards he went into this business on his own account, and continued in it until 1839.

During the latter part of this time he was not so engrossed in his business but that he found time to make frequent visits to New Ipswich, where Miss Martha Perkins, of Barnard, Vt:, was attending school. In 1839 they were married, and went to Watertown, N. Y., where Mr. Sawyer became the , books, and his conversation shows an unusual breath superintendent of the IIamilton Woolen Company. of reading in science, history, and politics. He is possessed of a strong, clear intellect, a calm, dispas- sionate judgment, and sympathies which always bring him to the side of the wronged and the suffering. At a time when anti-slavery sentiments were unpopular Mr. Sawyer was free in their utterance, and was among the first to form the Free-Soil party. Since the or- ganization of the Republican party Mr. Sawyer has been among its strongest supporters. He has per- sistently declined the many offices of honor and profit which those acquainted with his large intelligence and sagacity and stainless honesty have sought to confer upon him. He is abundantly content to exer- cise his business powers in developing still more the great manufactory, and his affections upon his large household and his chosen friends, and his public spirit in helping every worthy cause and person in the community. After two and a half years Mr. Sawyer went into business for the manufacture of satinets. In 1850, his brother Alfred having died at Dover, N. H., the year before, and the children being too young to carry on the business, Mr. Jonathan Sawyer assumed its con- trol in connection with his brother Zenas. Two years later Zenas retired, and Francis A. Sawyer, who had been a prominent builder in Boston, became a partner with Jonathan, the object being to continue the manu- facture of woolen flannels. In 1858 the property below, known as the " Moses Mill," another flannel manufactory, was purchased. This mill was enlarged in 1860 to four sets of machinery, again in 1863 to eight, and in 1880 and 1882 to sixteen sets. The old machinery is now completely replaced by new. The old mill, started in 1832, was in 1872 replaced by the present substantial structure, which contains fourteen sets of machinery, with preparing and finishing ma- chinery for thirty sets in both mills,

Since 1866 the attention of these noted manufac- turers has been entirely devoted to the manufacture of fine fancy cassimere cloths and suitings. Already they have established for these goods a foremost place in their class. At the Centennial Exhibition, at Philadelphia, a medal and diploma were awarded the Sawyer goods for their " high intrinsic merit." The business has since 1873 been carried on as a corpora- tion, having a capital of six hundred thousand dol- lars. The corporation consists of the old firm of F. A.1 and J. Sawyer and Charles II. Sawyer, the pres- ent agent of the establishment. In 1866 this com- pany made a bold innovation on the method that was so long in vogue among manufacturers of consigning their goods to commission houses, The undertaking upon which this company entered, of selling their own goods, was met with great opposition, but their boldness and foresight have already been justified by the success which they have made, and the adoption of their methods by other manufacturers. This es- tablishment can now look back upon a half-century of remarkable history. The unmarred reputation for strictest integrity which these managers have won, their far-reaching enterprise, and the unsurpassed ex-

cellences of their fabrics have enabled them to pros- perously pass through all the financial depressions and panics which so many times have swept over the country during this long period.

Mr. Jonathan Sawyer, with his vigor of mind and body still unimpaired, lives in his elegant mansion, which looks out upon a magnificent picture of wood and vale and mountain range, and down upon the busy scene of his many years of tireless in- dustry. Ile loves his home, in the adornment of | which his fine taste finds full play. When free from business he is always there. He loves his

The children of Mr. Sawyer, all of whom have grown up to maturity, are Charles Henry, Mary Eliz- abeth, Francis Asbury, Roswell Douglas, Martha Frances, Alice May, Frederic Jonathan.

COL. CHARLES H. SAWYER.2

Charles Henry is the eldest son of Jonathan Saw- yer, the sketch of whose life precedes this. He was born March 30, 1840, at Watertown, N. Y. At ten years of age, on the removal of his father to Dover, N. H., Charles, who had already become quite ad- vanced in his studies, was sent to the district school in that place. The district school, although it has been supplanted by what is regarded as an improved system of education, had its own distinctive merits. The six years' training in it, under competent teachers, was sufficient to give young Sawyer a thor- oughly practical education in those branches which are found to be essential to success in business life. Books can do little more than this. Experience must complete the training process. At sixteen years of age. it being determined that Charles was to enter into the business of his father, he was placed as an apprentice in the Sawyers' woolen-mills. The busi- ness to which a young man is to devote his life affords

2 By Rev. George B. Spalding, D.D.

1 Francis A. Sawyer died June 16, 1881.

, ".

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DOVER.

the very best means for his education in it. It proved to be so in this instance. The young apprentice, as he progressed from one stage to another, had the finest of opportunities for acquiring a full knowledge of all the diversified interests and sciences which be- long to such a great industry. There is scarcely a branch in natural philosophy, physics, or the me- chanical arts that is not intimately connected with the manufacture of woolens. But the manufacturing processes embrace only a part of the activities and requirements of such a business as the Sawyers'. They are their own buyers and sellers in all the great markets of our own and other lands. Superadded to mechanical knowledge and skill, there must be the large intelligence, the clear foresight, the quick, un- erring judgment which belong to the accomplished financier. In this manufactory, based upon so varied knowledge, and calling into activity so many of the strong mental powers, Charles found a grand school, and such proficiency did he make in it that when he came to his manhood he was abundantly qualified to take upon himself the duties and responsibilities of superintendent. He was appointed to this position in 1866. No small share of the distinguished success which has come to this establishment may be fairly attributable to the fidelity and perseverance in ser- vice, the keen sagacity and the great enterprise which Charles H. Sawyer has brought to its every interest. In 1873, when the company became incorporated, he was admitted to the firm, and at the same time was appointed its agent and one of the directors. Since then he has been elected its president.

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History of Rockingham and Strafford counties, New Hampshire : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 201

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