USA > New Hampshire > Strafford County > History of Strafford County, New Hampshire and representative citizens > Part 40
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HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY
THIRTEENTH REGIMENT NEW HAMPSHIRE VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
Hubbard, W. Hall, capt .; com. March 1, 1865; must. out June 21, 1865. Woodman, Charles A., 2d lieut. ; com. June 15, 1865; not must. ; must. out as Ist sergt. June 21, 1865.
Hall, Charles C., musician; enl. April 28, 1864; died of dis. Jan. 22, 1865. Parshley, John D., sergt. Co. F; enl. Sept. 19, 1862; must. out June 21, 1865. Woodman, Charles, sergt. Co. F; enl. Sept. 19, 1862 ; pro. to Ist sergt. July 1,
1863; wounded slightly June 3, 1864; pro. to 2d lieut. June 15, 1865.
Evans, Alpheus D., corp. Co. F; enl. Sept. 19, 1862; died of dis. at Newport News, Va., March 8, 1863.
Prime, Joseph H., corp. Co. F ; enl. Sept. 19, 1862 ; disch. by Order No. 4, 1863. Parshley, Augustine S., corp. Co. F; enl. Sept. 19, 1862; trans. to V. R. C. Nov. 13, 1863 ; must. out June 20, 1865.
Foss, Albert H., Co. B; enl. Sept. 18, 1862 ; must. out June 21, 1865.
Roberts. Tobias, Co. B; enl. Sept. 18, 1862; must. out June 21, 1865.
Evans, Joseph S., Co. F; enl. Sept. 19, 1862; wounded severely June 1, 1864; must. out June 21, 1865.
Edgerly, Charles E., Co. F; enl. Sept. 19, 1862; died of dis. at Washington, D. C., March 8, 1863.
Foss, Azariah J., Co. F; enl. Sept. 19, 1862; wounded May 3, 1863; died of wounds at Suffolk, Va., May 7, 1863; interred at Suffolk, Va.
Berry, William F., Co. F; enl. Sept. 19, 1862; disch. for disability at Ports- mouth Grove, R. I., May 11, 1864.
Berry, Charles H., Co. F; enl. Sept. 19, 1862 ; must. out June 21, 1865.
Foss, Lemuel P., Co. F; enl. Sept. 19, 1862; must. out June 28, 1865.
Foss, George W., Co. F ; enl. Sept. 19, 1862 ; died of disease at Concord, N. H., Oct. 15, 1864.
Hanscom, George H., Co. F; enl. Sept. 19, 1862; pro. to corp .; wounded slightly June 15, 1864; must. out May 19, 1865.
Hubbard, John, Co. F; enl. Sept. 19, 1862; disch. for disability at Portsmouth Grove, R. I., May 29, 1863.
Hall, Daniel D., Co. F: enl. Sept. 19, 1862; pro. to corp. Aug. 1, 1863; pro. to sergt. May 6, 1864; wounded severely Sept. 29, 1864; must. out June 21, 1865.
Hall, A. C., Co. F; enl. Sept. 23, 1862; disch, for disability at Philadelphia, Pa., Jan. 15, 1863.
Peavey, E. B., Co. F; enl. Sept. 19, 1862 ; died of disease at Portsmouth, Va., March 19, 1864.
Seaward, Joel D., Co. F; enl. Sept. 19, 1862; disch. for disability at Ports- mouth, Va., Sept. 23, 1863.
Seaward, George A., Co. F; enl. Sept. 19, 1862; must. out June 21, 1865.
Thompson, David, Co. F; enl. Sept. 19, 1862; disch. for disability at Philadel- phia, Pa., April 13, 1863.
Tuttle, Darius, Co. F; enl. Sept. 19, 1862; wounded slightly June 3, 1864; wounded slightly Sept. 29; must. out June 21, 1865.
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Tuttle, Joseph A., Co. F; enl. Sept. 19, 1862 ; died of disease at Portsmouth, Va., June 27, 1863.
Thompson, Hiram S., Co. F; enl. Sept. 19. 1862 ; must. out June 21, 1865.
Wentworth, Charles F., Co. F; enl. Sept. 19, 1862; disch. for disability at Camp Casey, Va., Nov. 8, 1862.
FIFTEENTH REGIMENT NEW HAMPSHIRE VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
Foss, John S., Co. G .; enl. Oct. 18, 1862; must. out Aug. 13, 1863; sick at Strafford, N. H.
Avery, John W., Co. G; enl. Oct. 15, 1862 ; must. out Aug. 13, 1863 ; sick at Strafford, N. H. Winkley, Mark H., Co. G; enl Oct. 15, 1862; must. out Aug. 13, 1863; sick at Strafford, N. H. Wingate, Albert G., Co. G; enl. Oct. 15, 1862 ; died of disease at Port Hudson, July 12, 1863.
Howard, Martin V., Co. B; wounded.
EIGHTEENTH REGIMENT NEW HAMPSHIRE VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
Caswell, Samuel S., adjt .; com. May 19, 1865; must. out July 29, 1865. Caverly, Alonzo H., Co. C; enl. Sept. 14, 1864; re-enl. in the Ist Mass. Cav. Eaton, Samuel P., Co. C; enl. Sept. 14, 1864; must. out June 10, 1865. Evans, Enoch, Co. C; enl. Sept. 14, 1864 ; must. out June 10, 1865. Hill, William E., Co. C; enl. Sept. 17, 1864; must. out June 10, 1865. Tuttle, Daniel D., Co. C; enl. Aug. 14, 1864; must. out June 10, 1865. Herriman, Jeremiah P., Co. D; enl. Sept. 20, 1864; must. out June 10, 1865. Willis, John, Co. H; enl. March 30, 1865.
NEW HAMPSHIRE BATTALION, FIRST REGIMENT, NEW ENGLAND CAVALRY
Glidden, William H., enl. Oct. 24, 1861 ; pro. to corp. June 1, 1862; re-enl. Jan. 5, 1864.
FIRST REGIMENT NEW HAMPSHIRE VOLUNTEER CAVALRY
Glidden, William H., corp., enl. Jan. 5, 1864; trans. from Troop H Jan. I, 1865; pro. to Ist sergt. Jan. 1, 1865 ; pro. to 2d lieut. June 10, 1865. Hall, Asa A., Troop H; enl. Jan. 2, 1864; wounded June 13, 1864; pro. to corp. July 1, 1864; missing at Lacy Springs, Va., Dec. 21, 1864; pro. to sergt. April 1, 1865; disch. for disability, Baltimore, Md., June 25, 1865.
FIRST REGIMENT NEW HAMPSHIRE HEAVY ARTILLERY
Howard, George W., Co. D: enl. Sept. 4, 1864; trans. to Co. B June 10, 1865. Howard, Herbert E., Co. D .; enl. Sept. 4. 1864; died of disease at Fort Rey- nolds, Va., Nov. 2, 1864.
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Scruton, Clark, Co. D; enl. Sept. 4, 1864.
Dyke, Lyman, Co. I; enl. Sept. 7, 1864; must. out June 15, 1865.
Balk, John Q., Co. I; enl. Sept. 7, 1864; pro. to corp. June 8, 1865 ; must. out June 30, 1867.
Brown, Samuel F., Co. L; enl. Sept. 26, 1864: must. out June 15, 1865.
Clough, Moses B., Co. L; enl. Sept. 26, 1864; must. out June 15, 1865.
Kelley, Paul, Co. L; enl. Sept. 26, 1864; must. out June 15. 1865.
Caverly, Robert B., Co. M ; enl. Dec. 18, 1863 ; must. out June 9. 1865.
VOLUNTEER BAND TENTH ARMY CORPS
Boody, George W., enl. Sept. 23, 1864; must. out July 4, 1865.
ENLISTMENT IN VETERAN RESERVE CORPS
Brown, Andrew H., enl. Dec. 29, 1863.
Caverly, William B., enl. Dec. 22, 1863.
SOLDIERS NOT FOUND IN ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S REPORT OF 1866.
Caswell, Joseph F., 18th Regt., Co. D; must. Sept. 20, 1864.
Bruster, Gilman T., ist Regt. H. Art., Co. K ; must. Sept. 17, 1864.
Davis, Luther W., 9th Regt., Co. C; must. July 17, 1862 ; killed May 12, 1864. Abbot, Orris S., must. Aug. 7, 1862 ; missing at Fredericksburg, Dec. 18, 1862. Burk, Michael, 9th Regt., Co. A; must. Dec. 10, 1863 ; killed in action May 31, 1864.
Robinson, Charles A., 13th Regt., Co. D; must. Sept. 18, 1862.
Pease, Thomas S., 13th Regt., Co. B; must. Sept. 18, 1862.
Peary, Samuel, 15th Regt., Co. G; must. Oct. 18, 1862 ; disch.
Clark, George D, 15th Regt., Co. G; must. Oct. 18, 1862 ; disch. Aug. 13, 1863. Abbot, Orrin, 7th Regt., Co. H ; must. Dec. 17, 1861 ; died July 20, 1864.
Drew, Cyrus G., 13th Regt., Co. B; must. Sept. 22, 1862.
Pitman, Thomas, 15th Regt., Co. G; must. Oct. 18, 1862; nine months' man. Miller, Levi, 7th Regt., Co. A ; must. Oct. 29. 1861 ; badly wounded in battle. Scruton, George H., 2d Regt., Co. D; must. June 1, 1861 ; disabled, and disch. June 17, 1863.
States, Tobias, 7th Regt .. Co. A ; disabled, and disch. July 28, 1863. Colbath, Charles A., 7th Regt., Co. \ ; must. Nov. 29, 1861 ; Inft.
Brown, John W., 3d Regt., Co. H; must. Aug. 24, 1861 ; Inft.
Brown, Jared P., 3d Regt. Co. H ; must. Aug. 24, 1861 ; Inft. Foss, Richard T., 7th Regt., Co. H ; must. Dec. 17, 1861 ; Inft.
Ricks, George S., 129th N. Y. Regt., Co. A; must. July 21, 1862.
Hayes, Joseph H., 7th Regt., Co. A ; must. Nov. 29, 1861.
Critchet, Luther C., 15th Regt., Co. G: must. Nov. 6, 1862; must. out Aug. 13, 1863. Emerson, Samuel M., 18th Regt., Co. C; must. Sept. 14, 1864
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Young, George W., 13th Regt., Co. F; must. Sept. 19, 1862; trans. to Vet. Corps July 1, 1863.
Dufey, John, 14th Regt., Co. K; must. Aug. 5, 1861 ; recruit.
Foss, Ira, 13th Regt., Co. F; must. Sept. 8, 1862 ; trans. to cavalry corps.
All the men have a good record and some of the officers and subordinates have specially fine records for bravery under the severe trials and exposures of war.
CHAPTER XLVIII HISTORY OF STRAFFORD (IV)
BUSINESS AND LOCALITIES
Like all of the old towns, Strafford has its peculiar local names for differ- ent parts of the territory ; here are some of them: The Pond; The Ridge; Crown Point; Above the Hills; Snackerty; Canaan; Sodom; Johnsonbor- ough Pig Lane. There is a history connected with each one. Many of the men who were pioneers in settling that part of old Barrington were soldiers in the Revolutionary army in which they had many experiences which impressed their memories so strongly that their war stories were repeated at the hearth- stones and every fireside for years afterwards. Some of the old soldiers served in the army at Crown Point in the hardest conflicts around Lake Champlain. After their war service was over they came up to what is Strafford Corner, then an area of the primeval forest. They had to cut their way through the forests and underbrush and found it very rough work, and as they cut down the trees and brush, and wiped the sweat from their foreheads, they said, one to another, "This is as hard as it was in getting up to Crown Point with the army." It was a happy hit at the truth of the situation, and ever after they called the locality about Strafford Corner "Crown Point."
Later some of the old soldiers who had served with Gen. John Sullivan in that historic campaign of 1779, when he subdued the Indians and routed the Tories in Western New York, came up and settled in North Strafford soon after that campaign was over. The incidents were fresh in their memory, and they told war stories to the end of their lives. One place they particularly remembered was Schenectady, but in common parlance, one with another they pronounced it "Snackerty" and for some fancied reason, which passed out of memory of their descendants, they applied the name to their new home, and it has remained to this day. In local phrase The Pond always means Bow Pond, which is in the center of the western side of the town and partly in Northwood. Its name is derived from its shape, lying among the hills. It covers 1,625 acres of land when at high water. Its outlet is Isinglass river, which empties into the Cochecho river at Blind Will's Neck in Rochester, a
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short distance above the line between Dover and Rochester. Bow Pond vil- lage is at the outlet, where a dam was built by John Foss at an early period in the settlement of this part of old Barrington. The excellent water-power soon made the locality a village center, which it has always remained for this part of the town. The pond was purchased by the Cocheco Manufacturing Company at Dover about 1830, and a higher dam was built to increase the storage capacity for water which the company used in turning its wheels in the cotton mills at Dover. The first dam broke away in 1832 and the water rushed out, flooding the Isinglass river valley for two-thirds of the way to Dover. It was feared trouble might be caused when the water reached the pond in Dover; but it did not, as the marshes all along the river held it in check, so that it amounted to not much more than a big spring freshet.
In the southwest corner of Strafford and the northwest corner of Barring- ton is a neighborhood of good citizens and prosperous farmers which is called Canaan. It has been so called since the settlement of that section of old Barrington was commenced. Who named it no one knows, but was some one well versed in Bible history who very happily bestowed on it one of the best farming sections of the old town. It is the birthplace of several distinguished persons.
In the valley between Center Strafford Ridge and Caverly Hill, below Bow Pond, where the Isinglass river forms an island and during a great many years following the beginning of the settlement there were two sawmills. The road passing through there is called Pig Lane road. The road was built at a very early period and has always been so called. Who gave it the name, or for what reason, is a mystery. The hills on the road leading down to the valley are very steep, which test the strength of the strongest muscles in a horse when conveying a load, either up or down, but the valley itself is a beautiful spot, when you get to it. In later years the so-called "Range road" was built, which gave an easy approach and exit to the Province road which passes over Caverly Hill.
In the valley between Center Strafford and Crown Point ridges is a district called Johnsonborough, which took its name from several families living there by the name of Johnson. On the road south of it is a locality called Sodom. This name seems the most mysterious of all, for the good families who have lived there from time immemorial were complete contrasts with the historic Sodomites. Probably in the earliest days of lumbermen some rough-minded wood chopper gave it the name, and there it has remained.
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HISTORY OF STRAFFORD COUNTY
BUSINESS ENTERPRISES
Strafford has many good waterfalls on the rivers which are outlets from the ponds within its boundary, and at a very early period and for many years following, before the introduction of steam mills, there were numerous saw- mills and some gristmills, which did a thriving business. So late as 1870 there were seven sawmills (water-power) where lumber was manufactured, four gristmills, one cotton and woolen carding mill, one barrel and shook manu- factory, and two carriage manufactories. The Isinglass river from Bow Pond has three mill sites. Spruce ponds in the southwest part of the town afford power for mills. Willey's ponds in the northwest part of the town, above Blue Hill, afford considerable mill power. Also at North Strafford. And the river in the valley between the ridge and the pond there used to be several sawmills. In these later years more attention has been given to farm- ing, orcharding and milk producing. For many years preceding the Civil war considerable attention was given to stock raising and furnishing droves of cattle and sheep for the markets about Boston. Also large amounts of poultry was raised for the markets in Boston. Strafford has always been a great producer of huckleberries and since it became fashionable to furnish them for market large quantities have been picked every year and sent regularly to Boston markets, as well as local markets, during the berry season.
CHAPTER XLIX HISTORY OF STRAFFORD (V)
NOTED PERSONS OF STRAFFORD
Judge Benning W. Jenness. Beyond question the most distinguished citi- zen of Strafford since its incorporation in 1820 was the Hon. Benning Went- worth Jenness, familiarly known as Judge Jenness ; born in Deerfield in 1805; died in Cleveland, Ohio, 1879. He was a son of Thomas and grandson of Judge Richard Jenness. He was the fifth son in a family of six sons and five daughters. His brothers all won distinction outside of Deerfield. He was educated in the common schools of his native town, and more especially as clerk in his father's "Old Red Store," on the so-called South road, where he worked until he was seventeen years old. That store was a first-class com- mercial school. In his eighteenth year, 1823, two years after the new town was organized, he came to Bow Pond and opened a store, on the model of his father's Deerfield establishment. It was a success from the beginning and he continued it forty years, besides doing a great many other things. When he was twenty-one years old he married Miss Nancy W. Shackford, daugh- ter of Samuel Shackford, Esq., of that town, one of its prominent citizens. Soon after his marriage he was elected Representative to the Legislature and served two years, thus beginning an active political as well as business career at an early age, and made him one of the boss politicians of the town, county and state, up to 1862, when he removed to Cleveland, Ohio, to attend to the management of his financial interests, already large in that locality. He there engaged in the lumber business, superintending the Cleveland branch, under the firm name of B. W. Jenness & Co., while his partners attended to the manu- facturing at the mills in Michigan. They did an extensive and profitable business. Judge Jenness remained in that city until his decease, Nov. 16, 1879. His remains were brought to Strafford and interred in the Shackford burial ground by the side of his wife, who had died May 25, 1868. His sec- ond wife was Miss Mira J. Woodman of Strafford, who survived him many years.
After serving as Representative he was appointed postmaster under Presi- 25
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dent Jackson and held the office fifteen years ; he was State Senator two years ; sheriff of old Strafford county five years ; judge of probate five years; United States Senator to fill the unexpired term of Levi Woodbury who had been appointed United States judge; in 1850 he was member of the constitutional convention. At the democratic national convention of 1852 the choice of a candidate for President of the United States was left, by common consent, to the New Hampshire delegation and a caucus of delegates was called to choose the coming man. The only names presented were Franklin Pierce and Benning Wentworth Jenness. A ballot was taken by the nine delegates. Four voted for Pierce and four for Jenness. The chairman then cast his ballot in favor of Pierce, and the convention gave him the nomination and the people confirmed his election. Had the chairman voted for Judge Jenness he would undoubtedly have been elected President of the United States.
He was nominated for Governor in 1861, but declined in favor of Gen. George Stark. That was the close of Judge Jenness' political career. Following that he had eighteen years of business career, as great and success- ful as had been his career in Strafford, where, aside from his public duties he had done an immense amount of work as a merchant and in the lumber business. His duties, public and private, were multifarious, but being a man of excellent judgment and superior business ability, quick to decide and act, he managed all with ease and success over a wide scale of activity. As a speechmaker Judge Jenness was not a "spell binder" orator, but he could say what he wanted to say, and say what ought to be said for an occasion. When the Judge "fired up" for the occasion the orators and politicians had no diffi- culty in deciding what to do and which way to vote. A correct summary of the moral character of Judge Jenness can be brief-no man ever learned of him a vice of word or conduct.
Hon. Job Otis was born in Barrington, Aug. 23, 1770. He resided in that part of Barrington which became Strafford. He was in active political life when Judge Jenness was born, in 1807, and was the equal of the Judge in many ways, especially as a political manager. He was a son of Elder Micajah Otis, one of the first Free Will Baptist ministers, and who for many years was minister of the Crown Point Church. Elder Otis was a son of Joshua Otis, the first of the name who settled in Barrington. And Joshua was great-grand- son of Richard Otis, the first of the name who settled in Dover. He had the garrison which was burned in June, 1689, when they killed him and his son, Stephen, and an infant child, and carried several members of the family away, prisoners, to Canada.
When the F. W. B. Yearly Meeting organized the New Hampshire Chari- table Society in 1813, Elder Otis held the office of treasurer until his death in
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1821. His son Job was then elected treasurer and held the office thirty years, when he was past four score years of age. He was always a staunch supporter of the Free Will Baptist church. Job Otis owned a large farm at Crown Point and had a store in the village there. He was a powerful man physically and mentally, and a tireless worker. On the farm and especially in the hay field the "hired man" had to be pretty smart to keep up with him. He never asked his employees to do more work in a day than he did himself; and they shared his fare with him at dinner time, sitting at the same table and drinking from the same mug of cider he did. The cider pitcher was the communion cup for the farmer and his hired men. All the farmers had it in Mr. Otis's life-time.
Hon. Job Otis was chosen selectman of Barrington for the first time in 1808 and held the office four years in succession. He was chosen Representa- tive from Barrington in 1819 and 1820, and in the Legislature of the latter year he was instrumental in getting the town divided and in having his half of it incorporated as Strafford. He was Representative from Strafford in 1822, 1823, 1828 and 1833. In the Legislature he was among the leaders in shap- ing business and was a shrewd manager in getting enacted laws as he desired. In 1834 and 1835 he was one of the Governor's Council. This was the close of Mr. Otis's public career, but not of his political career, for he remained a power among the political managers a decade of years following the close of his councillorship. Judge Jenness and Job Otis were the leaders in their respective sides of the town, Bow Pond and Crown Point. They were both stanch democrats; when they combined forces and gave the word of command their plans never failed of success.
Hon. Samuel P. Montgomery was a man small of stature but lithe of foot and quick of action, wiry, and the wire steel. He was born at the old Mont- gomery farm on the summit of "The Ridge," an excellent farm and a delight- ful location. His brother David was one of the last of the family who lived there. Samuel was well educated and acquired a wide general knowledge after his school days were over. He was never married. He was a delightful and instructive conversationalist. He was a better schoolmaster than he was farmer. His gifts as a political manager were vigorous. He was popular with his townsmen and they willingly bestowed on him every office that was theirs to give from time to time in the annual town meetings. About 1850 he was State Senator and in the General Court was chairman of the judiciary com- mittee. His appointment to that position was criticised by the lawyers, who claimed that a lawyer should be at the head of the committee, and Mr. Mont- gomery was not a lawyer. Nevertheless he proved to be equal to the demands
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of the position and before the close of the session won the praise of all of his brother Senators.
Mr. Montgomery engaged considerably in the lumber business for several years. Later he engaged in school teaching in one of the Southern States and closed his life's work there. He was a good schoolmaster, as he liad been a good citizen and an agreeable companion on all occasions.
He was a great-grandson of John Montgomery, one of the earliest settlers in Strafford. He was born June 9, 1806, on the farm which his ancestor settled on and cleared off the primeval forest. From him it passed to his son Jonathan, whose son John inherited it, father Samuel P. and David K. The latter was an excellent farmer. His brother was not gifted that way, but his talents were active in other useful occupations. He was no idler; he was a good school-teacher and held all the offices of trust and responsibility in town several times over. His great-grandfather, John Montgomery, was one of the first settlers in Strafford Ridge.
The Caverno families in Strafford have always occupied a prominent posi- tion socially, politically and financially in the community. The first of the name who settled in old Barrington, in that part which is now Strafford, was John Caverno, son of Arthur, of Scotch-Irish nationality, who came to this country soon after 1735, and in 1742 commenced clearing a farm from the primeval forest on what is known as the Canaan road, about a mile south of Bow Pond village. He married Sarah Tibbetts of Barrington in 1746 and they commenced housekeeping in a log house he had built on his clearing. They prospered and before many years a good, old-fashioned, two-story New England dwelling house took the place of the primitive habitation. Their son, Jeremiah, inherited the homestead and married Margaret Brewster. They prospered; an important part of their prosperity was a family of ten children : John, Sarah, Lydia, Jeremiah, Polly, Arthur, George W., Marga- ret, Sullivan and David B. They all made good and Jeremiah succeeded his father on the old homestead. John and George bought farms in the immediate neighborhood of the old homestead, upon which they lived and died. These farms remain in possession of their descendants.
Sullivan Caverno, who was born in 1807, was graduated from Dart- mouth College in 1831, being the first Strafford boy who acquired that honor. He taught school at Rockport, N. Y., two years; studied law and opened an office at Lewiston in October, 1835, where he resided until his death about 1890. He was one of the eminent lawyers of that part of New York. He was master and examiner in chancery four years, 1836-1840; Police Justice for Niagara county from 1844 to 1848. Later Gov. Horatio Seymour appointed him one of three commissioners to revise the statutes of the State
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of New York, a very high compliment to his ability as a lawyer. Judge Caverno kept fresh in mind his literary work as well as his law practice, reading frequently in his Latin and his Greek. In the later years of his life he took up the study of the natural sciences and became proficient therein. He was one of the first to see the advantages of consolidation and grading of schools and secured the adoption of a union system in Lockport, when the states in general had little or no provision for such system by general stat- ute. He was a man of sound brain and his life was a stage whereon was exhibited irreproachable conduct. His son, Daniel Henry Caverno, graduated from Dartmouth College in 1860, studied law and was in practice with his father a while. He died suddenly in 1867 as he was about to settle in practice of his profession at Nashville, Tenn. He was a young man of fine abilities.
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