USA > New Hampshire > Strafford County > History of Strafford County, New Hampshire and representative citizens > Part 49
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Luther Hayes was chosen clerk, and Theodore Lyman deacon. Rev.
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William H. Waldron was the first pastor, having charge of the church about one year, and was succeeded by Rev. Horace Stanton. Mr. Stanton's health failing he was soon obliged to resign the pastorate, and the Rev. Uriah Chase was called for a time. This church, having no meeting-house or suitable place for public worship, soon discontinued Sabbath meetings, but kept up prayer and conference meetings until May 1, 1850, at which time the organization became extinct. There were ten members added to the church after its organ- ization. Although for the lack of pecuniary ability to build a meeting-house and support the regular preaching of the gospel, this little church was obliged, for the time being, to give up its organization, many of its members continued to feel a lively interest in the cause, and in 1859 succeeded in building the present very neat and tasty meeting-house, which was dedicated on the 25th day of December of that year.
On the 17th day of May, 1860, a new church was organized under the supervision of Revs. Daniel P. Cilley, Ezra Tuttle, and E. P. Gerrish, with twelve members, viz .: Ezra Tuttle, Samuel Jones, N. B. Varney, Eli G. Downs, Eleanor Hubbard, Martha A. Varney, Luther Hayes, Benjamin Scates, Fred H. Tuttle, Mary H. Tuttle, Francis Jones, Mary A. Jones. Luther Hayes was chosen clerk, and has continued in that position to the present time. Samuel Jones was chosen deacon, and Rev. Ezra Tuttle was called to the pastorate, and remained in charge of the church nearly three years, resigning April 26, 1863. He was succeeded by Rev. J. M. Bedell, May, 1864, to May 4, 1865; Rev. N. C. Lathrop, Dec. 3, 1865, to Dec. 2, 1867; Rev. I. C. Guptill, May 2, 1868, to April 3, 1869; Rev. Ezra Tuttle, April 10, 1870, to Jan. 6, 1872 ; Rev. J. P. Jay, Aug. 31, 1872, to June 6, 1874; Rev. E. G. York, Sept. 28, 1878, to April 5, 1879; Rev. C. L. Plumer, Aug. 12, 1879, to July 2, 1881.
Rev. E. Owen, of Portsmouth, preached one-half the time from April I, 1876, to Dec. 30, 1877, but was not settled over the church. His labors resulted in much good, sixteen members being added to the church during his term of service.
The Methodist Church at Milton Mills was organized in June, 1869. The first officers were Asa A. Fox, clerk; John Brackett, treasurer ; Harris Brown, sexton; Alpheus Remick, collector. Stewards, A. B. Shaw, John Brackett, E. C. Abbott, S. F. Rines, W. Hapgood, J. N. Witham, B. S. Butler, H. L. Mitchell, A. A. Plumer; trustees, A. B. Shaw, B. S. Butler, J. B. Dow, J. Brackett, S. F. Rines, J. Lewis, J. N. Witham, G. E. Hart, W. Patten.
The pastors have been Revs. Ira J. Tibbetts, James Crowley, W. H. McDaniels, A. B. Carter, J. M. Bean, W. C. Bartlett, and J. P. Frye.
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This church has a very neat and tasty house of worship, pleasantly located near the Union House. It was erected in 1871.
The Union Congregational Church at Milton Mills was organized on the 26th day of September, 1871, with a membership of sixteen, viz .: Benjamin G. Adams, Sophia Adams, Dr. Reuben Buck, Mary Buck, Mary E. Brown, Margaret Brierly, Sarah E. Fox, Josiah Gerrish, Wm. McGibbon, Mary McGibbon, Betsey Hubbard, Helen Miller. Ebenezer Osgood, Ellen C. Osgood, Almira B. Osgood, Ann E. Simes. Among the first pastors were Revs. Almon T. Clark, D. B. Scott, George Muchael and C. F. Goldsmith.
CHAPTER LXVIII HISTORY OF MILTON (III)
MILTON SCHOOLS AND EDUCATIONAL MATTERS
Previous to the incorporation of the town the northeast parish of Roches- ter was divided into eight school districts, and each district had a summer and a winter school of a few weeks. Most of these schools were held in private houses, as the town could not afford to build schoolhouses so easily as they could establish school districts. On the first day of December, 1806, the town was re-districted and the number was reduced to five, which arrange- ment continued until 1828, when the territory was re-districted into ten divi- sions. In 1851 the number was increased to twelve. Subsequently other changes were made and so continued until the district system was abolished by the Legislature and the present town system was introduced. During the district period of more than a century the town, as a rule, provided good schoolhouses, and the teacher did good work for small pay. A few of the votes taken in the town touching school matters may be of interest in this connection.
March 14, 1803, voted to leave the amount of school money to be raised to the selectmen.
Nov. 5, 1804, voted to sell the timber on the school lot; and in accordance with this vote said timber was sold at public auction on the 13th day of the same month for the sum of $1,212.25.
There is no record showing that this money was ever appropriated to school purposes.
March 12, 1805, "Voted to leave the amount of school money to be raised discretionary with the selectmen."
March II, 1806, "Voted to raise half as much more money as the law requires for support of schools." But at a subsequent meeting, held in May following, "Voted to leave this matter to the selectmen."
March 10, 1807, "Voted to raise, in addition to what the law requires, half as much more money for the support of schools."
March 13, 1810, "Voted to lay out the interest due the town in schooling."
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March 12, 1811, "Voted to add $100 to what the law requires for schooling."
March 10, 1812, "Voted to add all the interest on notes due the town to what the law requires for the support of schools for the ensuing year."
March 14, 1815, a committee of five was chosen to separate the school property from other town property and at the next annual meeting this com- mittee reported $388 school property and $628 parish property.
March 10, 1818, a committee recommended that in their opinion $1.000 should be appropriated for the support of the gospel, and $500, together with the school lot, which they considered worth $500 more, for the support of schools.
March 10, 1829, "Voted that the principle of the literary fund be funded with the town, and that the town raise the interest annually for the benefit of schools."
March 14, 1837, "Voted that all literary money over and above $500 be expended the present year, and all that may hereafter be received be expended the same year it is received."
March 13, 1838, "Voted that the interest of the surplus revenue now accrued be expended for support of schools."
July 28, 1842, "Voted that the selectmen dispose of the notes in the hands of Levi Jones and appropriate the same towards the extinguishment of the debt due from the town to the several school districts by paying over to each district its proportion the present year." Accordingly, $186.46 was paid to the districts.
March 13, 1877, "Voted that the railroad money received from the state be appropriated for schools."
March 9, 1880, "Voted that the surplus dog tax be appropriated for the support of schools."
The schools at Three Ponds and Milton Mills were the first to be graded. about 1870. Also there was a classical institute opened at Three Ponds after the close of the Civil war.
THE NUTE HIGH SCHOOL
Milton has had good schools from the beginning, more than a century, but the best of its good fortune was when one of its loyal sons, Lewis Worster Nute, made provision in his will for a first class high schoolhouse and money enough to make a handsome annual income to support first class teachers to run it.
Mr. Nute was born in Milton, Feb. 17, 1820. He was son of Ezekiel and
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Dorcas ( Worster) Nute, natives of Milton, and grandson of Samuel Nute, a native of Back River, Dover, who settled in what is now Milton, soon after the close of the Revolution. His ancestors were among the early settlers in Dover. Ezekicl Nute was a good farmer and for many years a deacon in the Congregational Church at Milton. His wife was one of the best of women. They had four sons, the second of whom was named Lewis Worster. He worked on the farm with his father until he was nineteen years old. When he was a small boy he went to school summer and winter, six weeks each; when he was a big boy he went to the winter school only; all big boys attended the winter school. Those who think the "six weeks" schools were not of much account are greatly mistaken. The best of them, like that in Mr. Nute's dis- trict, were kept by college boys and the work done was first class and thor- ough. The boys went to these schools until they were eighteen or twenty years old. Mr. Nute made good use of the time and easily mastered all the text-books then available for school use. When he was nineteen years old he com- menced teaching winter schools in the back districts, and the committee said he did good work.
When he was twenty years old he left the farm and went to work in Boston as clerk in Mr. Simmons' ship-chandler store. When he was twenty- one he commenced work in the boot and shoe business with Elmer Townsend. Later he worked with the firm of T. P. and O. Reit & Company, remaining with them until 1848; then with Allen, Harris & Potter, with whom he remained until May 1, 1853, when he purchased an interest in the business, and the new firm became Potter, Elder & Nute. In 1857 the firm changed to Potter, Nute, White & Bayley. In 1863 Mr. Nute took the entire business and held it as long as he lived. His specialty for a long time was the manu- facture of brogans and plow-shoes. For a long time his wholesale store was at 27 High street, Boston. He had an extensive manufactory at Natick, Mass. His career was a remarkable one; strict in his business methods, honest in his dealings with his employees, and a large-minded citizen who loved and did not forget his old home in Milton. His wife, to whom he was married Aug. I, 1845, was Priscilla Farrow of Cohasset, Mass. They had no children.
Mr. Nute died in 1888 and in his will gave to the town $125,000 to estab- lish a high school, and an additional $25,000 left in trust to a relative as long as she lived. She died a few years ago and the school now has it. From the fund a first class schoolhouse was constructed and the remainder invested, the income used for support of the school. The investments now amount to
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about $100,000. The trustees have managed to keep first class teachers and for years past it has ranked among the best educational institutions in New Hampshire. It goes without saying that Lewis W. Nute ranks among Mil- ton's foremost and most highly esteemed sons.
CHAPTER LXIX HISTORY OF MILTON (IV)
VARIOUS BUSINESS ENTERPRISES
On the 14th day of March, 1837, the town voted to receive its proportion of the surplus revenue, and at a meeting held June 4, 1838, a vote was passed authorizing the town agent to expend that money in the purchase of a farm to be used for a home and the support of the poor.
. Although there was a large majority in favor of this action, the minority felt very much aggrieved thereat, being of the opinion that this money should be divided per capita.
These malcontents immediately took measures intended to frustrate the action of the majority. They at once asked for a meeting to be called to reconsider the vote for the purchase of a farm, and being again defeated at this meeting, and the farm being soon purchased, they at once petitioned for a meeting to sell the farm and divide the money. They were again defeated, but with a persistency worthy of a better cause they continued to ask for meetings for the same purpose as often as they could legally be called, until at last the selectmen refused to notice them further. They then applied to a jus- tice of the peace to call a meeting, and on the 31st day of May, 1842, a meeting was held at which a vote was passed to sell the farm and stock, and divide the proceeds equally between all the inhabitants of the town, and a committee chosen to carry this vote into effect.
This committee at once advertised the farm and stock to be sold at public auction on the 4th day of July following, at which time all was struck off to the highest bidders.
At a meeting held on the 28th of the same month a resolution was passed declaring the former meeting and the action of the committee illegal and void, and instructing the selectmen to demand of said committee all the prop- erty. both real and personal, taken into their possession.
In accordance with these instructions, the selectmen commenced a suit against the committee for the recovery of said property. This suit was prose-
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cuted to final judgment and execution. The farm continued to be used as an alms farm until a county home was prepared for the poor.
MILLS, MANUFACTORIES, ETC.
The first saw-mill was built by Samuel Palmer at the Three Ponds village. and near where the present dam is located. This was very early, probably about 1775 to 1780. Mr. Palmer subsequently built another saw-mill and a grist-mill farther down stream, where the Varney mill was afterwards located. This part of the town was known for many years as "Palmner's Mills." Very soon after this a saw-mill was built at Milton Mills by a Mr. Nock. This mill soon went into the hands of Paul Jewett, and was subsequently known as the Jewett mill. This place was known for a long time as Shapleigh Mills. Mills rapidly increased, so that in 1813 there were no less than twelve mils of vari- ous kinds in town, viz. : Lyman's saw- and grist-mills, owned by Theodore C. Lyman and others, Thomas Layton's wool-carding mill, Ira Fish's fulling-mill, Isaac Wooster's grist-mill, owned by Isaac Wooster and others, Paul Jewett's saw- and grist-mills, Nathaniel Jewett's saw-mill, owned by Nathaniel Jewett and others, Stephen Watson's saw-mill, owned by Stephen Watson and others, the lower saw-mill, with various owners, Horn's saw- and grist-mills, owned by Benjamin Horn. The last-named mills were situated at the upper end of the town, on a narrow point of land which has since been annexed to Wake- field. This number was soon increased by the erection of Berry's mill. Hayes' mill, and others. Thomas Layton's factory was erected in 1816, and was used as a woolen-mill until 1837, after which Francis Looney used it for the manu- facture of cotton for fourteen years. It was subsequently burned.
The Milton Mills Manufacturing Company was organized in 1837, and in that and the following year built their mill, and after running it a few years transferred the business to Durgin & Co. In 1845-46 the whole property was bought by John Townsend, and was run successfully by him for several years. The mill was burned, and rebuilt by Mr. Townsend, being considerably enlarged. It was soon after sold to Mudge, Sawyer & Co., and subsequently to the Waumbeck Company, and has continued to do a very successful busi- ness. This company has a capital stock of $100,000, and the mill has ten sets of woolen machinery. They employ 175 operatives, with a monthly pay- roll of $3,200. They use about 240,000 pounds of wool and 160,000 pounds of cotton, 725 cords of wood and 500 tons of coal annually, and produce 396,- 000 yards of cloth and 27.550 pairs of blankets.
In 1844 a cotton factory was built at Three Ponds, and after running a few months was burned in September, 1845, the watchman, Mr. Caleb Varney,
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perishing in the flames. This mill was soon rebuilt, but was never put in operation, it being subsequently taken down and carried away.
William Sargent succeeded Ira Fish in the fulling-mill business in 1820, and carried on the business until 1825, when he was succeeded by John H. Varney, who, after some twenty-two years of successful business, sold out to Joshua Holland in 1847.
Mr. Holland went into the manufacture of woolen goods, which business he carried on with success for some ten or twelve years. The mill was subse- quently burned.
Edward Brierly established a block printing business at Milton Mills in 1850, and after a few years of successful business purchased a saw-mill and privilege on the site of the present Brierly mill, where he soon began the manufacture of felt goods. The rapid increase of his business soon compelled him to make extensive additions and in a short time he had extensive mills on both sides of the river, doing a very remunerative business.
In the summer of 1873 these mills were entirely destroyed by fire, thus sweeping away in an hour the accumulations of years of hard labor. Mr. Brierly soon began the erection of a new mill, but losing largely by the insolvency of insurance companies, he became somewhat embarrassed and was obliged to compromise with his creditors. His health soon after failing, he was unable to recover his former financial position and at his death the prop- erty went into other hands and has since been operated by other parties.
In 1873 Henry H. Townsend & Company erected a mill in the village for the manufacture of felt goods, which has been continued to the present time. In 1880 they erected a new and much larger mill at the Three Ponds. There was at one time quite an extensive shoe manufacturing business in Milton, but as the methods of shoemaking changed the business was given up. D. & S. Washburn, L. Berry and J. Layward have each at times done quite an exten- sive manufacturing business at Three Ponds. Murray Brothers, after the close of the Civil war, did quite an extensive business for several years in the manufacture of tin goods at Milton Mills. Lewis Plumer & Son for many years after the war did an extensive lumber business at the Hayes mills. Luther and C. H. Hayes did a prosperous business in the manufacture of boxes at their mills at South Milton. Since 1898 new industries have been introduced and Milton has had much prosperity in various ways.
MILTON'S MILITARY RECORD
During the Revolution there were not inhabitants enough in the northeast parish of Rochester to furnish soldiers to fight King George's "Hessians," but
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in the War of 1812-15 Milton furnished a company which was raised in the fall of 1814 and did duty at Portsmouth in response to the urgent call and command of Governor Gilman. The muster roll of that company shows the following names, under date Sept. 11, 1814:
Capt. William Courson, Lieut. Jeremy Nute, Sergt. John Museron, Sergt. Jacob Nute, Sergt. David M. Courson, Corp. Thomas Wentworth; Musician Benjamin Dare; Musician Lewis Hayes. Private soldiers: Ephraim Went- worth, Thomas Baker, Samuel Nute, Daniel Wentworth, John C. Varney, Ichabod Dodge, James Bragdon, Ezekiel Nute, George Dow, Daniel Hayes, Jr., James Twombly, Henry Miller, James Goodwin, William Downs, John Foss, Hapley Varney, Thomas Chapman, Amos Gerrish, Webster Miller, James Varney, Jr., Ebenezer Adams, John L. Varney, William Gerrish, Wil- liam Foss, William Burroughs, John Remick, Norton Scates, James Hayes, Dowar Dow, Richard Plumer, Ambrose Tuttle, Nathaniel Pinkham, Isaac Hayes, Aaron Twombly, John Mills, William Drew, James Merrow, Jr., Phineas Wentworth, Beard Plumer, Andrew Dow, Dodivah Plumer, John Boise, Sergt. Patrick Hanscomb, Corp. Joshua Jones, Charles Recker and Lieut. Hanson Hayes.
IN THE CIVIL WAR
From the time when the report of the first gun fired by the rebels in South Carolina was in Milton till the surrender of General Lee at Appomattox Court House, the town furnished 150 men, who served in various regiments of New Hampshire volunteers. Following are excerpts from the town records of votes passed from time to time which show the spirit and patriotic senti- ment which prevailed among the voters as well as in the men who went to the front on fields of battle :
May 16, 1861, "Voted to raise on notes of the town one thousand dollars for procuring such articles as may be needed for the personal safety and comfort of those who may enlist as volunteers from Milton, and for the sup- port of their families while absent."
Dec. 21, 1861, "Voted to raise on notes of the town fifteen hundred dol- lars in addition to the one thousand for the same purpose."
March II, 1862, "Voted to hire four thouand dollars to be applied to the aid of the families of volunteers."
Aug. II, 1862, "Voted to authorize the selectmen to pay a bounty of two hundred dollars to all resident volunteers on or before August; 15th int."
"Voted to authorize the selectmen to hire two thousand dollars for that purpose."
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March 10, 1863, "Voted to authorize the selectmen to hire five thousand dollars to aid families of volunteers now in service of the United States."
July 11, 1863, "Voted to pay each man who may be drafted from the town into the service of the United States three hundred dollars."
"Voted to authorize the selectmen to hire on notes of the town such a sum as may be necessary for that purpose."
Sept. 7, 1863, "Voted to authorize the selectmen to pay each drafted man the sum of three hundred dollars within ten days after he, or his substitute, shall have been mustered into the U. S. service."
"Voted to authorize the selectmen to hire six thousand dollars for that purpose."
"Voted to authorize the selectmen to hire one thousand dollars to aid the families of drafted men."
Dec. 5, 1863, "Voted to authorize the selectmen to procure volunteers to fill the quota of the town, paying each man a bounty of five hundred dollars."
"Voted to authorize the selectmen to hire eleven thousand dollars for that purpose."
Dec. 8, 1863, "Voted to authorize the selectmen to procure volunteers to fill said quota, and to pay such sums in addition to the five hundred dollars as may be necessary."
"Voted to authorize the selectmen to hire four thousand dollars for that purpose."
March 8, 1864, "Voted to authorize the selectmen to hire five thousand dollars to aid families of soldiers in the U. S. service."
July 18, 1864, "Voted to fill the quota of this town for the next call of the President for soldiers, and pay a sum agreeably to an act passed June session, 1864."
"Voted to authorize the selectmen to hire ten thousand dollars for that purpose."
Aug. 6, 1864, "Voted to pay each man who may enlist under the call of July 18, 1864, who has been a resident of this town three months next preced- ing said enlistment, the sum of two hundred dollars for twelve-months' men, two hundred and fifty dollars for two-years' men, and three hundred dollars for three-years' men, in addition to the bounties already voted."
"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."
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"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-enlistment until paid."
"Voted to authorize the selectmen to hire five thousand dollars to aid the families of volunteers and drafted men."
This making a total appropriation for war purposes of seventy-nine thou- sand five hundred dollars in four years, and showing a readiness to contribute freely to the support of the government in its time of peril.
CHAPTER LXX HISTORY OF MILTON (V)
INTERESTING TRADITIONS
The Indians had made a permanent treaty of peace with New Hampshire white men before many settlements were made by white men in the northwest parish of Rochester. So far as Milton is concerned, they are all good Indians ; they say dead Indians are always "good." There is a tradition, however, that some time before a settlement was made here a small party of hunters were encamped near where the upper end of the Three Ponds village now is, and that while tending their traps in the vicinity of Northeast Pond they one day dis- covered unmistakable signs of the presence of Indians. This discovery put them upon the alert, and a watch was set for their stealthy foes. Very soon two of the red rascals were seen prowling about the camp with evident hostile intent, but believing their presence unsuspected they failed to use their usual caution, and before they had a chance to carry out their nefarious purpose two well-directed leaden messengers summoned them to the happy hunting- grounds. Their bodies were buried upon the bank of the river, and the hunters were molested no more.
But although the Indian trail was no more seen in the forest, or his moc- casin-track upon the sand, and the blooming maiden could meet her bashful lover upon the mountain-side or by the rippling stream without fear of moles- tation, yet these early settlers were not entirely free from the trials incident to forest life. Bears were for a time somewhat plenty and troublesome, often feasting upon the succulent corn, and occasionally upon a tender lamb, pig, or calf. Not a few amusing stories have been told of them. Mrs. David Walling- ford used laughingly to tell of a fright she once received from one of these prowlers. She was berrying some distance from her home, and being anxious to fill her basket and return home in good season for her afternoon duties, she had briskly plied her fingers without taking any note of her surroundings. After stripping the shadowy side of a fine bunch of bushes of their delicious treasures she stepped softly around to the other side, and there in the bright sunshine lay Bruin quietly taking his afternoon siesta, having evidently gorged
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