USA > New Hampshire > Carroll County > Wolfeborough > History of Wolfeborough (New Hampshire) > Part 35
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Many other lawyers have at different times made Wolfeborough their home. The late Judge of Probate, David H. Hill resided here at the time of his death. He was succeeded as Judge by Sewall W. Abbott, who is now in active practice in the town. Oscar
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L. Young, recently admitted to the bar, and Edward E. Cate are also practising here. James A. Edgerly, a prominent lawyer of Somersworth, is a native of the place.
Sewall W. Abbott was born in Tuftonborough, Aug. 11, 1859. At the age of six years his family removed to Center Ossipee and here he remained until the death of his father in 1872, when with his mother and a brother he moved to Chicago. He stayed west about a year and returning, attended school at the Pamworth high school and Hebron (Me.) academy, graduating from the latter institution in '78. He entered Colby University the same year, but circumstances prevented his completing the course. In 1879 he entered the law office of Col. Samuel S. Quarles and took up telegraphy as a means of livelihood. For the three succeeding years he was employed on the northern division of the B. & M. railroad. In 1883 he graduated from the Union College Law School in Chicago and practiced law there about a year. He came to Wolfeborough in June, 1885, and soon opened an office here, where he has since had a successful practice. He was ap- pointed Judge of Probate in 1889, succeeding the late David H. Hill. Judge Abbott is prominent in Masonic circles, having been Master of Morning Star lodge, District Grand Lecturer and Dis- trict Deputy Grand Master. He is a life member of the N. H. grand lodge. He is also connected with numerous other fra- ternal bodies.
DOCTORS.
Wolfeborough has, as a rule, been fortunate in its medical men. Some of them have become famous in this and more distant fields.
Dr. A. R. Cutter, one of the proprietors, although residing in Portsmouth, was sometimes called professionally to the town. Mrs. Benjamin Blake (Molly Connor) possessed considerable medical skill, and became noted as an obstetrician, and practised
HON. SEWALL W. ABBOTT
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in Wolfeborough and neighboring towns for many years in the early times. She was very successful, and is said to have been present at nearly one thousand births. Asa Adams came to Wolfeborough in 1798 and resided on Martin's Hill for several years in the house known as the Eaton house. He removed to Gorham, Maine. Dr. Moses Hoyt practised here from 1810 for a few years. John McNorton was in practice here from 1813 to 1819. He resided in the north part of the town. He died about 1819. Jedidiah Chapman practised medicine about the same time in the southwest part of the town. He removed to Tuftonborough in 1819, where he died in 1850. Dr. Chapman was succeeded by Asa Perkins, whose residence was near the site of the Glendon Hotel. Dr. Perkins remained but a short time. David T. Livy, from New Durham, was his successor in 1820, and occupied the same house. Dr. Livy died in 1834, and was followed by Dr. Jeremiah F. Hall, who married his daughter Annette. Dr. Hall was here nearly thirty years, then removed to Portsmouth. About 1820 Thomas J. Tebbetts, from Brookfield, married a daughter of Rev. Ebenezer Allen, and commenced the business of physician at Dimon's Corner. Here he remained during his life, practising his profession, managing a farm, doing considerable public business, and was several times elected to the offices of selectman and representative. He had a large family. Several sons have been druggists ; one a physician. Joseph Edgerly, a native of New Durham, practised medicine in town for several years. He died in 1840. Dr. John L. Swiner- ton was here in 1831 ; remaining but a few years. John L. Sar- gent practised here several years. About 1840 Dr. Cyrus Blais- dell established himself in town. After some years he removed to Maine, but returned and located in the northeasterly part of the town, where he practised a short time. Charles Warren, a native of Brookfield and a noted teacher of vocal music, followed Blais- dell. He was in town several years, and erected the house now occupied by Joseph L. Avery. During his residence here Moses
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R. Warren removed from Middleton to Wolfeborough, remained some years. Luther Pattee came from Rockingham County about 1860, and while on the high tide of popular practice left for Manchester. In 1866 Dr. Abiel Eliot practised here but after- wards went to Philadelphia. Chase Moulton practised medicine from 1860 to 1870, perhaps longer. In 1865 Jeremiah R. Smith, from Vermont, settled here ; practised a few years.
The late Jeremiah Forrest Hall, M. D., who was for 26 years a prominent physician of Carroll County, was born at North- field, N. H., December 2, 1816. Graduating from Dartmouth Medical College in 1837, at the age of 21, he went at once to Wolfeborough, N. H., to practice medicine. He succeeded to the practice of Dr. David Thurstin Livy, then recently deceased, and whose daughter, Annette Augusta, he married on Dec. 14, 1837. For many years Dr. Hall resided at the Livy home, upon the site now occupied by Hobbs' Inn, and the fine old elms in front of that hostelry were set out by Dr. Hall. About 1856 he built the house now occupied by Charles F. Parker, and this was the family home until the death of his wife in 1865. In 1862 he was commissioned surgeon of the 15th N. H. Vols. and went with his Regt. to New Orleans. In 1863 he was appointed surgeon of the Board of Enrollment for the Ist. N. H. Cong. Dist. at Ports- mouth, N. H. At the close of the war he entered upon the practise of his profession at Portsmouth, and resided there until his death, on March 1, 1888, aged 71 years 3 months. He prac- tised medicine and surgery for nearly half a century, and was prominent in his profession and in political, business and banking circles. He was an astute financier, and was President of the Ports. Trust & Guar. Co. For twelve years he was a trustee of the New Hampshire State Insane Asylum. Was President of the New Hampshire State Med. Soc'y in 1872; served two years in the New Hampshire State Senate and held many other positions of honor and trust.
Dr. Hall was a man of fine presence and strong personality ;
DR. JEREMIAH F. HALL
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a man of great industry, strict integrity and business capacity, and was noted for his quick wit and sound philosophy. He was survived by his three children, all born at Wolfeborough : Susan Parsons Blount, who now resides at Wellesley, Mass. ; Henry For- rest Hall, M. D., who died at Coronado, Calif., in 1897; and Ed- ward Hayden Hall, who resides at Fort Collins, Colo.
He was married the second time on October 24, 1872, to Frances E. Laighton of Portsmouth, who also survives him, and now resides at Cambridge, Mass.
Dr. Henry Rust Parker, son of John T. and Sally (Seavey) Parker, was born in Wolfeborough, January 24, 1836. He studied medicine with Dr. Pattee; attended medical lectures at Dartmouth, graduated in 1865, commenced practice in his native town, and became a successful and popular physician. In 1881 he removed to Dover.
Dr. R. H. King, one of Wolfeborough's most widely known and respected men, was born in Wakefield, September 26, 1821. He took the classical course at Philips Academy, Andover, Mass., in 1840 and 1844. He read with Dr George B. Garland, of Lawrence, Mass., and Dr. J. F. Hall, of Wolfeborough, and attended the old Tremont Medical School of Boston at the sum- mer term of 1845, and was graduated with honor from Bowdoin Medical College, Brunswick, Maine. He commenced practice in Kittery, Maine, in 1847, and remained there about seven years, when he went to Newton, Mass., and subsequently to Newark, N. J. Dr. King located in Wolfeborough in 1860, where he soon obtained an extensive practice, and is known, both in and out of the profession, as a genial gentleman, a skilful physician and surgeon, eminently successful in practice. He is a member of the Carroll County Medical Society, has held the office of examining surgeon from 1868 to 1884, and has been reappointed in recent years. He is a republican in politics, Episcopalian in religious preference, but does not belong to any church, and is a member of the First Unitarian Society of Wolfeborough.
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Dr. N. Harvey Scott, son of Nathaniel and Margaret (Har- riman) Scott was born in Dalton, March 16, 1851, fitted for college at Lancaster and Gorham, Maine ; entered the academical department of Dartmouth College in 1874; studied medicine with Dr. Albert Winch, of Whitefield, and Dr. J. L. Harriman, of Hudson, Mass. Attending medical lectures at Burlington, Vermont, and Brunswick, Maine, he was graduated at the latter school in 1874; then took a course of lectures at College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York; commenced practice at Sandwich in 1875, removed to Maynard, Mass., in 1877, and in 1880 located at Wolfeborough. He was appointed' United States examiner of pensions in President Arthur's administration. He married Lizzie, daughter of Daniel Moulton, of Sandwich, and has six children. Dr. Scott is an active member of various societies-Masons, Odd Fellows, etc., and is a deacon of the Congregationalist Church and a trustee of Brewster Free Academy.
Dr. Herman I. Berry, born in New Durham, December 7, 1855, studied with Dr. Parker, of Farmington, attended medical lectures at Dartmouth and Brunswick, and received his degree of M. D. at the Pulty Medical School, Cincinnati, Ohio, in the spring of 1875. He began practice in Farmington, removed to Lynn, then to Acton, Maine, and in 1884 came to Wolfeborough where he now is in active practice.
Dr. S. P. Getchell, a physician and surgeon of reputation, came to Wolfeborough from Malden, Mass., in 1897. He served as surgeon during the War of the Rebellion, enlisting in a Maine regiment from Portland, where he was then established. He is an authority on the history of the war, and is a gentleman of wide culture.
Dr. Curtis B. Cotton began the practice of medicine in Wolfe- borough some twelve years ago. He acquired his medical edu- cation at Johns Hopkins and other well-known schools and has a wide practice.
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HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
Dr. Edwin H. Thompson acquired his medical education at Dartmouth and Bowdoin Medical Schools, the New York Col- lege of Physicians and Surgeons and the New York Post Grad- uate School. He confines himself to office practice.
Dr. H. W. Bradford, a prominent eye specialist, has made his home here for the past two or three years, but has not been in active practice on account of poor health. Dr. G. H. Clough is also a practising oculist.
Dr. Oliver Dowling has practised dentistry here for many years and has had a somewhat active hand in the town's affairs. He is prominent in fraternal circles. Dr. Frederick E. Meader, a native of the town and a graduate of Harvard Dental School, divides his time between Wolfeborough and his Boston office.
CHAPTER XXX.
MILLS AND MANUFACTURING-THE OLD TAVERNS-THE NEWER SUMMER HOTELS-BANKS-EARLY STORES AND TRADERS.
A GRISTMILL was erected on Smith's River as early as the spring of 1771. This was done by A. R. Cutter and David Sewall. Probably George Meserve built a sawmill on the same stream in 1769. Cutter and Sewall no doubt improved the sawmill. They were sole or part owners of these mills for many years. The mills have been repeatedly remodeled or rebuilt. Among the owners have been William Kent, Joseph Kent, Na- thaniel Rogers, James Rogers, Stephenand Daniel Pickering, John M. Brackett, William Thompson, Moses Thompson, Blake Fol- som, George W. Hersey, Winthrop D. Hersey, Luther G. Cate, William C. Thompson, Frank E. Hersey, Fred E. Hersey, Mrs. E. G. Colby, Mrs. I. C. Thompson, and the O. P. Berry Company. The first person who had charge of the gristmill was Thomas Piper. John Lucas, Charles Stackpole, Elisha Goodwin, Isaac C. Thompson, John Patterson, and Roscoe M. Flanders have been millers. At the same falls are situated the piano-stool fac- tory of the late Lorenzo Horne.
Existing debris shows that there was once a sawmill on the Wentworth farm. A few years after the settlement, Jonathan Lary built a sawmill on the largest tributary of Lake Went- worth. It was first known as Lary's, then Triggs', and now as Willey's mill. In 1818 nineteen farmers jointly built a saw- mill higher up on the same stream, called at first the Tebbetts' and afterwards the Isaac Willey mill. At the same place Dudley Hardy had a small gristmill. On this same stream, which is the outlet of Batson's Pond, there was also at one time a tannery, owned by Hezekiah Willand, and a shop with machinery, owned 468
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by Nathaniel Frost. Now Willey's mill alone utilizes its water- power.
On the Rye-Field Brook Dudley Chamberlin once had a corn- mill. William Kent and James Hersey erected a sawmill on the stream which is the outlet of Sargeant's Pond, now known as the Hersey Brook. This mill was afterwards rebuilt by George W. Hersey. On the same stream John Lucas had a small grist- mill. It was located near the present site of the farmhouse oc- cupied by George Tyler. William Kent built a sawmill on the Harvey Brook, which was subsequently removed to Smith's River upper falls by Paul H. Varney, who erected in 1816 a woolen factory. This was burned in 1841. On its site Charles and Moses R. Warren erected a starch factory, which continued in operation but a few years. There was also a tannery here.
The fall of water on Mink Brook, the outlet of Rust's Pond at South Wolfeborough, exceeds sixty feet, and at different times there has been considerable machinery on the stream : a gristmill, a sawmill, a shingle-mill, a chair factory, a pipe factory, a wool- carding and cloth-dressing establishment, a tannery, a foundry, and a woolen factory. A large portion of this property has been destroyed by fire. The whole of this water-power is not now used. The South Wolfeborough Blanket and Flannel Manufac- turing Company was incorporated in 1861. The name of the corporation was afterwards changed to the Wolfeborough Woolen Mills. The factory building is leased by Charles W. Springfield, successor to I. W. Springfield, who employs seventy-five help, and makes forty thousand blankets annually. Mr. I. W. Spring- field ran this mill from 1854 to January, 1900. Several small establishments are located on other streams, and there have also been small tanneries and brick-yards in various localities.
The Steam Mill Company, established in 1851 by Moses and Augustus Varney, Alpheus Swett, and Benjamin Morrison, be- came in 1865 the property of Libbey, Varney & Co. (Alvah S. Libbey, Augustus J. Varney, and Alonzo Thompson). Some
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ten years ago Mr. Thompson retired from the firm, and upon the death of Mr. Libbey in 1896, the business was purchased by his two sons, Frederick S. and Edward J. Libbey. Two years ago the property came into the possession of Messrs. Stephen W. Clow and Charles F. Piper. The firm manufactures sawed lumber and box shook, and employs thirty men.
Hersey Bros., whose names appear as former owners of the mills at the falls, upon disposing of their plant to the O. P. Berry Company, built a well-equipped mill a short distance away. Here they manufacture finish and building material, and have recently erected many summer cottages by contract. They em- ploy about twelve men.
The O. P. Berry Company operate an extensive excelsior plant and manufacture large quantities of oak handles of various discrip- tions. The firm consists of Oliver P., George W., Hosea G., and Albert O. Berry. The firm employs some fifteen men.
Frank Hutchins has for the past fifteen years done a large excelsior business and has more recently added a leather board mill to his plant. The leather board mill is at the lower falls, and a newly constructed dam farther up stream furnishes power for a well-equipped excelsior plant. Mr. Hutchins employs fifteen men.
The Lake Boot and Shoe Manufacturing Company was in- corporated in 1873. Its capital was limited to one hundred thou- sand dollars by the charter and fixed at forty thousand dollars. This concern did a large business for several years. The incor- porators were John M. Brackett, Moses Thompson, C. W. Thurston, C. H. Hersey, C. P. Hasty, Isaiah Wiggin, Charles S. Paris, Charles H. Parker, William B. Rendall, Alex. H. Dur- gin, Joshua B. Haines, I. B. Manning, Moses T. Cate, and John G. Cate.
The first tanner was Moses Varney. He began business near the site of the present bank building, but afterwards removed to the place where the Varney tannery now stands, not far from
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Friend Street. This Moses was succeeded in turn by his son, Joseph, his grandson, Moses, and his great-grandson, William. The property is now used for storage purposes. Another of the original Moses' grandsons, Joseph, has been a leather manufac- turer for many years. For several years he had as a partner his son-in-law, George F. Symonds. The plant was located on the lake shore and has been recently purchased by the Boston Excelsior Company.
The Wolfeborough Steam Power Company was incorporated August 4, 1883, to build a shoe factory. A building was erected in 1884 at an expense of thirty thousand dollars. It was intended for two establishments, and was four stories high, with a length of two hundred feet and a width of thirty-six, having two L's thirty-six by seventy-five feet. J. M. Cropley & Bro. and F. W. and I. M. Monroe, shoe manufacturers of Marblehead, Mass., became occupants. After the fire which destroyed it in 1887, the property of the Steam Power Company was transferred to the Wolfeborough Construction Company. This company put up a similar building on the same site, which is now occupied by Spalding & Swett, who came from Haverhill, Mass.
About 1781 William Cotton opened a store at the present residence of Albert Cotton. The old storeroom is now a part of the family kitchen. Samuel Dimon, previous to 1800, com- menced trade at Dimon's Corner (now North Wolfeborough). Dimon also kept tavern. A few years afterward he was succeeded by Aaron Roberts, who remained in business as a merchant and tailor a long time. Pierce L. and Brackett Wiggin, brothers, and Augustine D. Avery also had stores there. Roberts was succeeded by Hersey & Coleman, and they by George J. Burke. Hezekiah Willand and son, Arthur J. Willand, have been en- gaged in merchandising there for several years. There have been small stores at Wolfeborough Centre at different times.
The first store at Wolfeborough Falls was opened by Nathaniel Rogers. He may have been succeeded by William Thompson.
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In 1848 Parker & Wiggin commenced trade, and with their suc- cessor, H. B. Parker, continued the business more than thirty years. Hodge & Heath and Joseph P. Heath sold goods for a score of years or more. Colonel Jonathan Copp had a store in early time at Rendall's Corner. John W. Horne traded there for a time. In later years, one Langley was the local merchant. Bradstreet Doe came to town in 1810, purchased a small farm near Rendall's Corner, where he manufactured hats until the business became unprofitable.
The first trader at South Wolfeborough was one of the Rust family, Henry B. Henry Rust Parker was in trade there quite early. Henry B. Rust continued the longest time in mercantile business. John W. Avery and several others have dealt in mer- chandise there.
The first store at Smith's bridge was built by Andrew Jewett. William Rogers came soon after. John L. Piper commenced trade early, followed by Piper & Avery. Richard Rust was an early trader here; he was succeeded by his son Thomas, and he by Rust & Farrar. Smith & Crosby were also merchants, as was James Pike, and later, John Barker, Gilman Cooper, and many more. The persons who continued in trade the longest were Daniel Pickering and Samuel Avery. Mr. Pickering com- menced business in the building since known as the Manning House. About 1830 he built a large store at Pickering's Corner. He was the largest dealer in town. Mr. Avery erected the store until recently occupied by Almon Eaton, about 1824.
Taverns were quite common, but rather small affairs in the early settlement. John Sinclair is said to have had the first. On the main road at different times taverns were kept by James Connor, Widow Evans, and others. In 1795 Andrew Jewett built an inn at the Bridge village ; this was a one-story building, forty feet in length. After Jewett's death, Richard Rust took his widow and the tavern ; he added one story to the house, and at his demise was succeeded by his son Thomas, and he in turn
RESIDENCE OF MRS. CHARLES ROLLINS. PICKERING HOMESTEAD
--
. . 14.
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by several others. It was once called "Jewett's" then "Rust's Tavern," was for several years the Lake Hotel, and is now the Sheridan House, W. E. Wiggin, proprietor. This was for some years the principal tavern in that part of the town. John Picker- ing for some years kept a public house, occupying the premises now owned by his niece, Mrs. Charles Rollins.
Captain Moses Brown opened a tavern near the close of the last century, on Brown's Ridge. It being situated on one of the principal thoroughfares in the easterly part of New Hampshire, he did a flourishing business, and at his death he left to each of his several sons three thousand dollars. The business and thrift of the establishment continued under the management of his widow, who was an energetic woman. One son, Adam, ac- cumulated a large fortune. The old homestead is in the posses- sion of Mrs. F. P. Adams, daughter of Adam Brown.
James Pike had a tavern near the present site of the Bank Building. Colonel Jonathan Copp kept tavern for many years in the large house at Rendall's Corner, now occupied by Mr. Rendall. A hotel was kept for some years at South Wolfe- borough, several different proprietors have had charge of it. The mill-house at Wolfeborough Falls was for years an "inn." In 1781 William Cotton set up a small tavern where his great- grandson, Albert Cotton, now resides. About the same time, William Glynn established one near where Harry Smith lives. Afterwards William Triggs had one at the David Chamberlain place. Thomas furnished "entertainment" near Dimon's Cor- ner, as did likewise some others. In 1807 Samuel Wiggin was an innkeeper.
The Pavilion at Wolfeborough village was erected by a com- pany of citizens in 1849 or 1850. It was originated by Daniel Pickering, and built and furnished largely by him and his son- in-law, Charles Rollins. Daniel Chamberlain was the first pro- prietor, and gave it a valuable reputation as a summer hotel. Large additions were made to it later, and it accommodated two
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hundred and fifty guests. This building and lot finally came into the possession of Brewster Free Academy. The house was razed and the land graded and grassed. The only tangible evi- dence of the famous old hotel now in existence is the dilapidated porte cochere, now reposing near the corner of Lake Street. The name of the hotel was in recent years changed to Kings- wood Inn.
The Glendon was built by John I .. Peavey and C. W. Thurs- ton in 1874. It is one of the finest constructed hotels in the lake region, cost twenty-nine thousand dollars to build, and was opened for guests in 1874. In 1881 it passed into the ownership of the Carroll County Savings Bank. Afterwards it passed through the hands of several parties, and is now success- fully conducted as an all-the-year house by Frank P. Hobbs, under the name of Hobb's Inn.
The Belvue House is the former dwelling-house of Gilman Cooper. Daniel Horn, son of James Horn, from Yarmouth, Maine, commenced hotel life in the Pavilion in 1855, took charge of the Winnipesaukee House at Alton for three years during the Civil War, purchased this house of W. H. Jones in October, 1868, and opened it as a hotel. A lady boarder conversant with European life, named it the "Belvue." The house was enlarged in 1872 to accommodate seventy-five guests, was popularly known as "Horn's on the Lake," and commands a delightful view. Mr. Horn at the time of his death, was the oldest landlord, in point of service, in town.
Summer Boarding-houses .- Glen Cottage, Levi Horn; Lake . View House, C. W. Gilman; Hersey House, Mrs. W. D. Her- sey ; in the village. Meader Retreat, S. A. Meader ; Maple Cot- tage, J. L. Wiggin; Piper's Farmhouse, J. W. Piper; Stewart House, H B. Stewart ; Pebble Cottage, W. B. Fullerton ; on the main road to Tuftonborough. Fair View House, S. N. Furber ; in Pine Hill district. Highland Cottage, J. L. Goldsmith ; at the Highlands.
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Wolfeborough Bank was organized under an act of incorpor- ation approved July 5, 1834, with a capital of one hundred thou- sand dollars. The stock was mostly owned by New York parties, although people of Dover were interested. The directors were Nathaniel Rogers, Samuel Avery, Joseph Hanson, John P. Hale, Daniel Pickering, John Williams, Thomas E. Sawyer. Daniel Pickering, was president; Thomas E. Sawyer, cashier.
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