USA > New Hampshire > Sullivan County > Washington > History of Washington, New Hampshire, from the first settlement to the present time, 1768-1886 > Part 7
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.
Fiske in 1858. Soon after Samuel Andrews became the owner of this property. The mill was burned several years after, and was rebuilt by Mr. Andrews and then sold to Andrew J. Cutting in 1872, who used it as a bob- bin shop. It was burned again in 1881 and never rebuilt.
CRANE AND ANDREWS' MILL.
This mill was built by Volney H. Johnson, on the stream running from Island pond, in 1847, for a saw-mill and tub factory. It was sold to Isaac Proctor in 1857. Mr. Proctor put in machinery for the manufacture of rakes in 1864. It was purchased by Montgomery Craig in 1869. Samuel Andrews became the owner of this . property in 1879. Since 1880 it has been in the posses- sion of Crane & Andrews.
ZIBA CRANE'S MILL.
Ziba Crane built a saw-mill, at the outlet of Island pond, in 1852. Business was carried on in it a few years, and it then went to decay.
POWERS' SHOP.
Levi W. Powers built a shop, for the manufacture of bobbins and card boards, a short distance above Crane & Andrews' mill, in 1852. Wakeman J. and Joseph A. Powers purchased it in 1860, and carried on business for several years in it; but at the present time there is no business done in it.
THE JONES MILL.
The foundations and dam for this mill were built by Howard M. Graves and sold to Herrick S. Fifield, who built the mill in 1849. It was used for a grist-mill, and for the manufacture of card-boards, bobbins, planing boards, etc. It was occupied by Jones & Putney in 1856 and 1857. It was owned, and used for the same purposes, by Nathaniel G. Jones from 1858 until 1883, when it was
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.
purchased by Gilman G. Spaulding, who took down the old mill, repaired the dam and built a new grist-mill. He opened a store in one portion of the building. Afterward the store and mill were purchased by Charles Wellman, who owns it at the present time.
On the stream running from Island pond, a carding machine was built and business carried on by a Mr. Hoyt. After standing some years it was burned and not rebuilt. Ziba Crane built a shop on the opposite side of the stream from the carding machine. This building was also burned and never rebuilt. Tandy and Fifield built a blacksmith shop, where that business was carried on by them for sev- eral years, and then purchased by Ezekiel Hadley, who worked at the same business. Benton & Cutting then worked at the wheel rim business and blacksmithing in the same building. Albert Gage was the next occupant of this shop. Isaac Proctor and son then purchased this property about 1870, repairing and improving the shop, and commenced manufacturing rakes. Israel D. Proctor became the next owner, still continuing the rake business. The property was sold to McIlvin & Fletcher, who carry on the same business at the present time.
CHAPTER XIII.
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INDUSTRIES.
Stores. Hotels. Mechanics, etc.
STORES. HE first store in town was opened by Thomas Lord Brown, who lived here in 1788 and 1789. He was succeeded in business by Azariah Faxon, who is best remembered as the first storc-keeper. Dorr & Willard kept a store here from 1802 until 1805. Isaac Shattuck commenced business in a store, and traded some years on the opposite side of the road, near Jabez Fisher's Griswold house. He afterward commenced a building near the location of the soldiers' monument, but it was moved from there to a site between James Tubbs' and Joseph F. Eaton's dwelling houses. After remaining there some time, and being used for a store, it was taken down and carried to East Lempster. Reuben Farnsworth kept store in the house now occupied as a dwelling house by Elizabeth Perkins. He afterward built and occupied the store now owned by N. A. Lull and Sons. It was next kept by Luther Mellen, who built an L, extending west, and used it as a hat shop, he being a hatter by trade. Brown & Dodge were the next occupants of this building, as merchants. Messrs. Brainerd & Boutelle were the next in business here. Afterward Clark C. Boutelle carried on business here for several years, when he was succeeded by Laws & Healy. Herbert Vose commenced business
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.
here in 1841, and was in 1844 succeeded by Charles G. Pressey, who remained in business here two years, when Alexander W. Dickey came into trade in the same build- ing. He afterward removed his goods from here, to the opposite side of the street, to the brick store. It was then occupied by Warren W. Hill, who had previously kept a store in the house now owned by Mrs. Mary Farns- worth. After Mr. Hill left the business, David Cooper was the next to continue the store keeping. Mr. Cooper, giving up trade there, was succeeded by Hiram Thissell. John Nelson was the next one to occupy this store. When he quitted the business, Onslow Gilmore was the next occupant. He was succeeded by N. A. Lull & Sons, by whom the store is still owned and occupied.
Daniel Greenleaf commenced business in keeping store in a building standing between the present brick store and the hotel. He built the brick store in 1820. Oliver P. Greenleaf next traded there, and was succeeded by his brother, William P. Greenleaf. After continuing in trade a number of years, he gave up the business, and Alexander W. Dickey was his successor. William B. and David F. French then commenced business in this building. Wil- liam B. then purchased his brother's interest in the busi- ness, continuing in trade alone for some time. James M. Newman then entered into partnership with him. After continuing in the business together a few years, W. B. French again purchased the whole business, and remained alone in the business for some years after, when he sold to Benjamin B. Blood. Muzzey & Gilmore were the next to open a store in the building. In 1870, Mr. Muzzey bought Mr. Gilmore's interest, and has carried on the business since, and is the occupant at the present time.
STORES AT EAST WASHINGTON.
William P. Greenleaf built the Friend store in East Washington in 1834, and occupied it until 1835. Cool-
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.
edge & Graves. then carried on the business from 1836 until 1843. They were succeeded in the business bo Sol- omon E. Jones & Co. The business was continued by this firm from 1844 until 1849. A new partnership was then entered into under the name of Jones & Smith. This continued from 1850 to 1856. S. E. Jones then be- came sole owner, continuing the business from 1857 to ' 1866. Mr. Jones then sold to Gage & Carr, who were in trade from 1867 until 1868. Then Carr & Hadley during the year 1869. Mark M. Hadley carried on the business alone from 1870 to 1873. J. K. P. Friend purchased the ยท property and continued in the business from 1874 to 1875. Joel Sevrance was the next owner, and kept store from 1876 to 1879, when Andrew J. Cutting became owner, and is the present occupant.
Hiram J. Gage commenced business in keeping store at East Washington, in a building near the Methodist church, which was formerly used as a shoe shop. He has enlarged and improved the building and continues in the business at the present time.
A. J. Cutting built a store nearly opposite to H. J. Gage, in 1868, and later, moved the building to a site nearly opposite his residence, and traded there until 1872.
In 1849, Thomas Graves built a store on the west side of the Bradford road, between the dwelling houses now owned by Edward Woodard and Arthur Sevrance, where he continued in business a few years.
HOTELS.
The first public house was opened by Abner Sampson, who lived where John L. Safford now lives, and he ap- pears to have kept it until 1796, when his son, Ward Sampson, obtained a license for keeping a "public house," for one year. James and Azariah Faxon kept a tavern where Dexter Ball now lives in 1792 and 1793. At that time James Faxon left the business and Azariah continued
I
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Store and Residence of N. A. Lull and Sons,
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.
to keep tavern from 1794 to 1802. Nathaniel Draper obtained license for the same purpose in 1793. Isaac French commenced keeping public house in 1798, and remained in the business until 1800. Joseph Newman also had a house of public entertainment from 1798 until 1800. Jonathan Brockway opened a public house in 1799, and continued in the business two years. Jonathan Bailey engaged in the occupation of tavern keeping at the same time, in 1799, and closed his house in 1801. This house was located opposite Carr's mill at East Washington. At the foot of Fisher hill a public house was kept by William Lawrence, commencing in 1799. He also kept a tavern, in the house afterward occupied by Dr. McQuesten as a dwelling house, until 1806. In the house, now occupied by Charles Trow there was a tavern kept by Samuel Jones, from 1800 until 1803. Joseph Robbins was licensed to engage in the same business in 1801, and continued until 1804. Manasseh Farnsworth opened a tavern in 1803. John Merrill entered the same business in 1803 and con- tinued until 1805. Samuel Smith also entertained people in the year 1800. William Bell kept a public house on the turnpike, at the place now occupied by Wallace W. Dole, in the year 1800. Jonathan Philbrick, in 1801, built the house now standing on this site, and opened a tavern, which he kept until 1806.
David Farnsworth was licensed to keep public house in 1802, which is supposed to be at the present Lovell House, which was built by Reuben Farnsworth, and oc- cupied by his brother, David Farnsworth. His suc- cessors have been Luther Mellen, Joseph Healy, Uzziel Hurd, Caulkins & Greenleaf, May & Wilson, William Adams, McKean, William B. French, Benjamin Jefts, Charles Train, Harvey M. Bowman, Harvey Barney, Jud- son Wilkins, Frank Baker, and Henry Train. It was then purchased by Mrs. Luretta Jackson of Fitchburg, and has been kept by Benjamin F. Upton, Moses H.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.
Wood, George M. Wright, Thomas H. Holland, and Horace P. Snow, who is the present occupant in 1886.
There was a tavern kept by Jabez Brainerd, in a house near the location of the parsonage. This was burned in 1830, with a number of other buildings in the village.
The tavern keepers, in the early days of town settle- ment, were obliged to obtain a license for that purpose ; and one was also required for the sale of spirituous liq- uors, as the following copy of the town records will show :
WASHINGTON, Sept. 10, 1792.
This may certify that Mr. Abner Sampson having made application to us for a license to keep a public tavern in said Washington, we therefore hereby approve of the same, he being of a regular life and conversation, and living in a convenient part of the town for that purpose.
Signed THOMAS PENNIMAN, THOMAS FAREWELL, JOHN SAFFORD,
Selectmen.
Jan. 25, 1799.
This may certify that we, the Selectmen of Washing- ton, do approbate Isaac French to mix all liquors on pub- lic days, such as Trainings, Town Meetings, &c., for the present year.
DAVID DANFORTII, ) Select- JONATHAN CLARK, S men.
Joseph Healy, having made application to us for license to sell mixed liquors, we hereby grant them the same, he living in a convenient place.
JEREMIAH BACON, AZARIAH FAXON, Selectmen. EPHRAIM FAREWELL,
Jan. 5, 1797. WASHIINGTON, N. H.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.
BLACKSMITHS.
Among the first, blacksmiths, was Daniel Sevrance, who lived in what is known as the Burns pasture, between the farms of Cyrus K. Farnsworth and James S. Farns- worth. Asahel Ingalls built a shop on the brook, south- west of the David Ingalls homestead, and operated his bellows by water power, making shaves, chisels etc. Some of his tools are still used. The remains of the dam and foundations of the shop, are now plainly to be seen. John Merrill had a shop near the card-board shop, and after- ward, one between Joseph F. Eaton's residence and the Heald house. There was a shop at the corner of the turn- pike and South Stoddard road, but no one recollects the name of the person who occupied it. Samuel Crane built a shop, a little east of Mrs. Campbell's house, on the south side of the road. Afterwards, he built a new shop, on the same side that the house stands on. The next occupants were Smith and Dodge. James Tubbs carried on business here a few years, then built another shop, on the Goshen road, a short distance from the turnpike. Harry Lowell worked in the Crane shop for a time, and later Hiram Eaton used it as a wheelwright shop.
Ziba Crane built a shop which stood opposite Orlando F. Crane's shop. He afterward moved to the east part of the town, building another shop on his farm, now Sullivan G. Spauldings'. David S. Perkins bought the Ziba Crane shop, about the year 1822. He worked in this shop for a few years, and then built a shop on the opposite side of the road, where O. T. Crane's shop now stands. He occupied this shop until his death, which occurred in 1852. Afterward Fred A. Farwell worked here for a year or two. Abial P. Hutchinson was the next occupant. George W. Farnsworth carried on business in this shop. Elijah Peaslee also worked at blacksmithing here for a few years. Sherman Stone then occupied it for three or four years. It was then purchased by Hiram C. Young, who took down
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.
the old shop and put up a new one in its placc. Mr. Young sold to O. T. Crane in 1870.
Smith Brockway built a shop, which stood near Dexter Ball's home farm, at the foot of Millen's pond. Worces- ter H. Ball built and occupied a shop on his farm, giving his attention to the manufacture of axes.
EAST WASHINGTON.
A blacksmith shop was built at East Washington by subscription, which was purchased by Mason H. Carr. It was occupied by Ezekiel Hadley, James Sargent, Andrew J. Cutting and William West. At the present time it is owned and occupied by Charles W. Jones. Messrs. Tandy and Fifield built a shop at East Washington, which they occupied for several years, doing an extensive business. Afterward, Mr. Tandy carried on the business alone. The shop was sold to Ezekiel Hadley, who, after occupying it for a time, sold it to Andrew J. Cutting. Albert Gage bought the shop of Mr. Cutting. Proctor and Son pur- chased the shop of Mr. Gage, and commenced the manu- facture of rakes.
SHOEMAKING.
Reuben Wright, Harvey Spaulding, Samuel Cheney, Sherman Stone and a Mr. Nichols worked at shoemaking in the Fall and Winter months, going from house to house, and making shoes for the different families. The shoes first made were sewed by hand. When pegged shoes came to be worn, a stick of wood was taken from the wood pile, and a last made to fit the largest foot in the family ; then making the last smaller for the different sizes, until the youngest of the family was reached. They also made the pegs they used, taking a stick of wood, sawing it off the right length, splitting with a knife into cards, sharpen- ing them, then splitting again, and seasoning them by the fire, after which, they were ready for use. Whether the
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HISTORY OF WASHIINGTON.
following verse, from an old and then popular song, was more applicable to them, than later members of the craft, others can judge.
"The shoemaker, he whistles and hammers and sweats, And promises work to pay off his old debts,
Next week you shall have it, if existence is spared,
But when the time comes, he is never prepared, In these hard times !"
Col. Harry Train established a shoe shop in connection with his tannery. His son, Charles, succeeded him in the business. Afterwards, another son, Henry Train, carried on the business in the same shop. Subsequently he bought a shop, built by Andrew J. Cutting, which stood near Miss Sabrina French's home, and moved it near the old shop. This he used for several years, then sold to Lucius C. Young, who moved it beyond and west of Mr. Train's house, and fitted it up for a dwelling house.
Martin Chase came to this town, and opened a shop for shoemaking in 1830. At this time there was but little competition in the business. The large shops where boots and shoes were made and sent out, all over the country, were something unheard of, Shoemaking was then quite a lucrative business, compared with what it is at the present time, when most of the new work, in both boots and shoes, is bought at the country stores. Mending is now the greater part of the work done in the shoemakers' shops. Mr. Chase worked at the shoe business about twenty years, when he closed his shop and retired from business.
Joseph A. Simonds commenced the shoemaking busi- ness, in the house now owned by Hiram C. Young. After- wards he worked in the house once owned and occupied by Patty Smith. Later, he built a shop on the upper road, where he worked for several years.
Shubael W. Hurd commenced work in the shoc busi- ness, in the basement of the brick store, in 1866, doing business there until 1870, when he purchased the Sarah
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.
Shedd house, which he used for a shop until 1875. He now occupies a shop at his home.
EAST WASHINGTON.
Henry Bixby built the building now occupied by Hiram J. Gage as a store, for a shoe shop, carrying on the busi- ness in it himself. He was succeeded in business by Thomas Peaslee. Later Andrew J. Cutting worked at the same business here. It was occupied, for about two years, by Joshua L. Jaquith as a harness shop. It was then purchased by Hiram J. Gage, who repaired and en- larged it for a store.
HARNESS SHOPS.
William Farwell commenced the saddle and harness business in the building now occupied by Mrs. James Tubbs, as a dwelling house. After working at this busi- ness a few years, he went to Massachusetts, but returning here again, he resumed business at the same place. Se- wall Jones was the next one to carry on the business in this place. His shop was in the building now owned and occupied by Mrs. Jaquith. He was succeeded in business by Joshua L. Jaquith, who carried on the business for many years at the same place. Arthur H. Jaquith was his successor, and has the business now, at the same place.
HATTERS.
Luther Mellen was the first individual to establish, the hatting business in this town, building and using the west L of the Lull store for that purpose. He was succeeded in this trade by John F. Longdo. In later years, Ira Millen built a hatter's shop, on the North Stoddard road, in what is now J. A. Simonds' pasture, carrying on the business but a few years.
MARBLE WORK AND OTHER INDUSTRIES.
Among the industries not usually carried on in like small towns, is the marble working business. It was es-
-
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.
tablished by William and Ebenezer Davis, in a shop which joined the Brainard tavern, and was burned with the tavern in 1830. David Farnsworth, 2nd, succeeded them, build- ing a new shop, which is the house now occupied by O. T. Crane. Luther A. Mellen next took the business, contin- uing it at the same place, but after a time removed it to his present residence.
Sullivan W. Healy had a shop in what is now called the Thayer house, where he made stoves, buying the castings at the foundry near the mills. Isaac Needham worked at the wheelwright business, in a shop a little west of the brick store. Hiram Eaton worked at the same business in the Samuel Crane shop.
Elbridge Bradford fitted up a shop, opposite to the Ward Sampson house, where he did wood repairing, in its vari- ous branches, in connection with the undertaker's business. John L. Safford purchased the business in 1867, and still continues to carry it on.
Hiram C. Young built a shop, near O. T. Crane's black- smith shop, where he did wheelwright and other wood repairing.
Joseph L. Newman kept a small tin shop in the L " of the brick store. Afterward James Newman worked at the same business, at the same place for a year, or two.
Warren W. Hill carried on the cabinet business, for a number of years, at the place now owned by George W. Gage.
James B. Tubbs has had, for some years, a jeweller's shop at the house of his mother, Mrs. James Tubbs.
There was a potash where L. A. Mellen's house now stands. It was used for that purpose for many years. Another nearly opposite the Hiram Eaton house. Still another near the brook in Mrs. Abigail E. Jaquith's field. They all have long since disappeared.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.
1
TANNERIES.
About the year 1800, Dea. Jonathan Clark built a tan- nery on the brook, a few rods west of the present home of Henry Train. It was subsequently purchased by Col. Harry Train, who carried on an extensive business of tanning and shoemaking. Charles Train succeeded his father in the business of both tanning and shoemaking. Henry Train was the next occupant. The tannery and shoemaking have both long since disappeared.
William Murdough built a small tannery where L. A. Mellen's house stands. Afterward it was used as a potash, for a long time. It was then purchased by Mr. Mellen, who built a house on the spot.
BRICK YARDS.
There was a brick yard near Charles Lowell's house, a little north of it, where bricks were made, as early as 1792, and perhaps a little earlier. Another was made, on the farm where Ellis Copeland lives, by Reuben Wright. Another was built by John Spring, near James S. Farns- worth's. Jesse and Daniel Smith built another below the village on the MeQuestion meadow, owned at present by Hartwell Wright. The last one in which any business was carried on, was located at the head of Millen's pond. It was owned, and brick manufactured in it for a long term of years, by Ammi Millen. This one is supposed to have been the first one built in town, but the fact cannot be definitely ascertained. This industry, like many others, belongs to the past.
George L. Mellen invented, and has made during the last twenty years, a turbine water wheel that has gained a wide reputation.
MASONS.
The trade of a mason has been followed by Mark Saf- ford, Jonathan Clark, Jr., Joseph Safford, Frederick Mil-
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.
len, Worcester H. Ball, Horace Wood, John Wood and Gardner Millen.
CARPENTERS.
The first record we find of carpenters is in the year 1787, when the following were chosen to work upon the meeting house : Church Tabor, Joseph Tabor, John Hcaly, Joseph Millen, Joseph Rounsevel, Esq., Capt. Jonathan Brockway, Capt. Israel Proctor, William Guild, Dea. Eben- ezer Jaquith, Ebenezer Spaulding, Jacob Burbank, Simeon Farnsworth, Robert Steel, Lieut. Ebenezer Wood, John Safford, David Farnsworth. This comprises the names of those who worked on the meeting house.
Since then we find a list of carpenters as follows : Reu- ben Farnsworth, John Shedd, Stephen Melvin, Samuel Flanders, Benjamin Clark, Rodney Gove, Gilman Bailey, Cyrus Barnes, Tristam Collins, Henry Collins, Joseph O. Morrill, Elbridge Bradford, John Smith, Hiram Eaton, Horatio Eaton, George W. Newman, William J. Eaton, John L. Safford, Edward W. Brooks. There were not a great number of these carpenters, who made that trade exclusively their business; but the larger part of them owned farms and worked at their trade at different parts of the year as they had opportunity.
FARMS.
The farms of the town comprise the real industry by which the mills and shops are kept busy. The occupied farms are many less in number than fifty years ago ; but numbering at the present time, more than one hundred ; and deserted building sites can be counted, that will reach nearly three-fourths of that number.
There are still many fine and productive farms, which yield a good income to their owners. The land, after having been cultivated for more than a hundred years, of course, requires different treatment from what it did when it was new ; and, although the number of cultivated acres
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON.
are so much less, our farmers are conducting the tillage of their lands in a more scientific manner, and thereby reaping the fruits of the soil, by intelligent cultivation. The sugar crop can be reckoned one of the chief sources of income, there being nearly one hundred sugar houses for the manufacture of that product. The sugar crop has reached the amount of fifty-three tons in a year.
There is a large amount of nice fruit raised, and the grain crop will compare very favorably with surrounding towns. The decrease in the number of horses and cattle is in proportion to the less number of occupied farms, while the quality of the stock has been much improved.
CHAPTER XIV.
Early Ministers-how chosen-characteristics. First Ministers in Washington. Mr. Leslie. Cold Winter. Dark Day. Mr. Leslie's Congregation prior to 1800. Mr. Leslie's death.
HE first ministers in New Hampshire were chosen by vote of the town, and a tax was levied for their support. This custom did not meet with approval as new sects sprang into existence, and, in 1818, the toleration act was passed which contained this import- ant provision. "Provided that no person shall be com- pelled to join or support, or to be classed with any congre- gation, church, or religious society, without his consent had been obtained." The Congregational denomination was the "standing order" until this time, although, for some years, other churches had been gaining ground, and had been recognized in Washington as early as 1800.
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