USA > New Hampshire > Carroll County > Wolfeborough > History of Wolfeborough (New Hampshire) > Part 36
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A brick block was constructed for its occupancy near Picker- ing's Corner, and the strong vault built for it is still in use. Augustine D. Avery soon became cashier, and was succeeded by Thomas Rust. This bank went down in the financial reverses succeeding the panic of 1837.
The Lake Bank was incorporated as a state bank July 15, 1854, with a capital of fifty thousand dollars. The first board of directors was : John M. Brackett, Daniel Bassett, Jr., Jeremiah F. Hall, Eleazer D. Barker, George W. Hersey, George Rust, Thomas L. Whitton, J. M. Brackett, president; Abel Haley, cashier. The bank began business in November, 1854, in the Wolfeborough Bank building, and did business there till January 5, 1856, when a committee was appointed to purchase the four southerly rooms in the brick building near the steamboat land- ing. This was done and the bank removed there, where it was located until it closed its existence. There was no change in president or cashier from the first.
The Lake National Bank, successor to the Lake Bank, char- tered for twenty years, was organized May 6, 1865, with a capital of seventy-five thousand dollars. Directors: John M. Brackett, George Rust, Moses Thompson, George W. Hersey, Aaron Roberts, Blake Folsom, Otis Evans, J. M. Brackett, president ; Charles G. Tibbetts, cashier. In November, 1871, Charles F. Parker succeeded Mr. Tibbetts as cashier, and held the office continuously until the dissolution of the bank. This was brought about principally through the machinations of one W. E. Jewett,
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of Lawrence, Mass., who is now serving a sentence in states prison for illegal practices.
The Carroll County Five Cents Savings Bank started out under good auspices and was well patronized. It was, however, closed up after some years of business at a loss to depositors.
The Wolfeborough Savings Bank was organized July 12, 1871. First officers, October 29, 1872: President, Stephen Durgin ; vice-president, Elisha Goodwin, Jr .; treasurer, Joseph L. Avery ; trustees, Addison W. Banfield, Jethro R. Furber, John W. Sanborn, Joseph H. Bickford, Charles G. Cate, Jacob F. Brown, Alphonzo H. Rust, William C. Fox, George W. Furber, William H. Jones, James H. Neal, Joshua B. Haines, John M. Emerson, Enos G. Whitehouse, Charles B. Edgerly, Joseph L. Avery. October 30, 1877, Ira Banfield was chosen vice-president to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Elisha Goodwin, Jr. February 16, 1878, Joseph L. Avery resigned the office of treas- urer, and Ira Banfield was chosen treasurer, holding the office until the bank's liquidation a few years since.
The banking business of the town is now satisfactorily done by the Wolfeborough Loan and Banking Company, established in 1889. The bank carries on a general business, and has a capital stock of fifty thousand dollars. The present officers are John W. Sanborn, president ; John L. Peavey, vice-president ; Charles F. Piper, cashier ; directors, John W. Sanborn, John L. Peavey, Charles H. Willey, James E. French, John H. Beacham, Albert O. Robinson, Robert H. Pike, Simon Blake, and Mayhew C. Clark.
CHAPTER XXXI.
THE AVERY FAMILY-SAMUEL AVERY'S CONNECTION WITH THE OLD ACADEMY-INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF HENRY WILSON -THOMPSON FAMILY-HUGGINS FAMILY - STEVENSON FAMILY-DANIEL PICKERING, WOLFEBOROUGH'S LEADING CITIZEN-CHARLES ROLLINS-THOMAS L. WHITTON.
JOSHUA AVERY was born in Stratham, October 23, 1740.
His son Joshua came to Wolfeborough early in the century, went into trade in company with John L. Piper, and died here in 1805, aged twenty-nine years. In 1818 Samuel Avery, a son of the first Joshua, came to Wolfeborough. He purchased the lot now occupied by Augustine D. Avery. This land had pre- viously been owned by Samuel Leavitt, John L. Piper, Samuel Piper, and Joshua Avery in succession.
Mr. Avery at once opened a store and carried on several in- dustries. He continued in trade until his death, which occurred October 5, 1858. He served five terms as town clerk and four terms as selectman. After the establishment of the Wolfe- borough and Tuftonborough Academy Mr. Avery was accustomed to board teachers and pupils, and many a lad was assisted in this way who would otherwise have found it difficult to obtain an education. Vice-President Henry Wilson was a member of his family while a student at that institution. It may not be amiss to notice here some facts in Wilson's early history which have not before been made public.
In early life the future statesman had little oportunity for attending school, although he did have access to a good library owned by a gentleman in Farmington village, which was not very far distant from the farm on which he worked. After the severe labors of the day he was accustomed to spend his even-
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ings in general reading, and thereby became quite well versed in history and some other subjects, but in such knowledge as is usually obtained in the schools he was very deficient.
After closing the obligated term of service with the farmer with whom he had spent his youth, he went to Natick for the purpose of working at the brogan business. He remained there for some time, until he had earned a small sum of money. Hav- ing a desire to see the distinguished public men of the country, he visited the national capital and returned to New England fired with an ambition to be somebody himself. Soon after he came to Wolfeborough and spent some months at the Academy. The following winter he taught the district school at South Wolfeborough.
The next season he concluded to attend a school at Concord, N. H. Having a little money on hand, he loaned a portion of it with an expectation of receiving it in season to meet his school expenses. When he required it for this purpose, it was not forth- coming. He, however, managed to square his account at Con- cord, and started for Farmington with a cash capital of ten cents.
As he acquired knowledge he became the more impressed with the necessity of obtaining a more thorough education and determined to take a collegiate course, if he could obtain pecu- niary aid. For this purpose he visited several towns in Strafford County, but found no one willing to advance him money. He then came to Wolfeborough and presented his case to a few persons in the town, but received no encouragement. Finally he came to Samuel Avery. Mr. Avery asked him if he thought he would be able to earn money enough as he went through his course to purchase his clothes and books. Mr. Wilson gave an affirmative answer. "Then," said Mr. Avery, "go to my house and board until you are prepared to enter college, and I will see you through." This reply brought tears to the eyes of the grate- ful Wilson.
Having previously made arrangements to take charge of a
SAMUEL AVERY
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school for one term at Natick, he went to that place, expecting to return to Wolfeborough to enter upon a classical course of study. While there, however, a heated political campaign came on, and the speaking talents of the "Natick Cobbler" were brought into requisition. He was soon after elected a member of the Massachusetts legislature and continued to advance in pub- lic life until he died Vice-President of the United States.
Although circumstances prevented Mr. Wilson from availing himself of Mr. Avery's kind offer, he ever remembered it, and kept up a close intimacy with the family. It may not be improper to say that although politics ran high at that time, Mr. Wilson was a flaming Whig and Mr. Avery a confirmed Democrat.
Mr. Wilson was in great demand as a public speaker and when filling engagements within a reasonable distance of Wolfeborough always made his home with Mr. Avery. On one occasion, after he had been elected vice-president, he was visiting his old friend, and several prominent town's people took occasion to pay their respects to the then famous man. Sitting by the window, he looked out on the old Academy building, then standing just op- posite, and, overcome with a flood of reminiscence, exclaimed in a broken voice, "All that I am, I owe to Mr. Avery. His en- couragement sustained me when I knew not which way to turn." The very chair he sat in now occupies the place it then had in Mr. Augustine Avery's sitting-room.
To Samuel Avery more than any other man was due the estab- lishment of the old Academy. Two hundred shares of stock of ten dollars each were placed on sale. Only one hundred and fifty were sold, and after the building was erected and covered in, in- terest in the project flagged. Mr. Avery then purchased forty- three of the remaining fifty shares and proceeded to finish the hall and a schoolroom. New zeal was thereby aroused, and the Academy became at once a success.
Mr. Avery's children were: Augustine D., born Oct. 16, 1814; Joseph L., born Jan. 12, 1817; Ann Eliza, born Nov. 25, 1819;
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married Leander Thompson, who was for five years a missionary in Syria and has since held several pastorates in Massachusetts, died, Feb. 22, 1901.
Augustine D. Avery has been a merchant and farmer. He has served as town clerk twice, county commissioner two years, and representative three times. Children: Mary E., born Nov. 16, 1855, died young ; Dudley L., born Aug. II, 1857, drowned June 24, 1874; Samuel A., born March 5, 1860 died young ; Samuel, born March 14, 1862 ; Belle, born March 27, 1866.
Joseph L. Avery has been a merchant and farmer and has held the offices of town clerk and treasurer. He has also been treasurer of the Wolfeborough Savings Bank. Children: Joseph W., born Aug. 14, 1867, died young ; Joseph C., born June 1, 1874.
Moses Thompson, who bore the same name as his father, came from Deerfield to Wolfeborough in 1800. His father had pre- viously taught school in town. He settled in what is now known as Pleasant Valley, then and for many years afterward called Raccoon-borough, possibly from Raccoon Hill in the old town of Deerfield. The settler Moses married Sally Fox and had seven children : Benjamin F., married Mary Brewster and Han- nah Wiggin (widow) ; William, married Nancy Rogers ; Samuel, married Phoebe Rogers; Hannah; Moses, married Hannah Marble Rust; Jane, married George Y. Furber; Sarah, married John M. Brackett.
Benjamin F. was one of the leading men of his time. He farmed somewhat extensively, was representative twice and selectman eight terms. His children, all by his first wife, were: Mark F., died in Dover ; Mary J., married Ivory Keniston ; Sarah E., married William Adams; Benjamin B., resides in Phila- delphia ; John M., was a soldier in the Civil War and died at Har- wood hospital.
William was a farmer and tanner. He also preached and prac- tised medicine. He possessed great energy and a powerful physique. His children were : Moses, died in the West ; Nathaniel
MOSES THOMPSON
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T., died in Minneapolis ; William C., has been a hotel-keeper in Lynn and manager of the Glendon Hotel; Mary, died at Helena, Montana ; Henry, lives West ; Samuel, died young.
Samuel, son of Moses, was a farmer and mechanic. His chil- dren were Sarah, married John Tabor; Samuel, lives in Boston ; Isaac, married Nellie Colby, Susan, married Charles H. Guptill ; William; Gertie, married John McGrath, of Boston, Mass.
Moses Thompson 3rd was born March 4, 1811. He remained with his father on the farm until twenty-one years of age. His education was gained at the district school, with a few terms at the Wolfeborough and Tuftonborough Academy.
When he was of age he received five hundred dollars from his father, who earned and laid by that amount for each son. This money he invested in hides, which he tanned in a small tannery erected by himself and brother Benjamin on the farm. A portion of the leather he carried to Boston and sold, receiving his pay in money and hides. A portion of the hides he cut into shoes and hired made. These were perhaps the first shoes manufactured in Wolfeborough. Later he carried on a tannery at Wolfe- borough Falls for Daniel Pickering. In 1847 he moved to Wolfe- borough village and lived in a house standing on the lot now occu- pied by the residence of Mr. Blake Folsom. He entered the employ of Daniel Pickering as shoe cutter, and later a partnership was formed of Pickering, Brackett & Thompson for the manufacture of shoes. In connection with the shoe business they carried on a country store at Pickering's Corner. This partnership con- tinued until the death of Mr. Pickering.
In 1856 Mr. Thompson, Capt. Augustus Walker, of Concord, and J. M. Brackett built the brick block known as the Bank Building. In this building, Thompson & Brackett manufactured brogan shoes for the Southern trade, and Mr. Thompson and George Rust carried on the grocery business. In this building was also located the State Bank and the Carroll County Five Cent Savings Bank, Mr. Thompson being trustee of each, also
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later the president. He was treasurer of the Lake Boot and Shoe Co. For several years he was engaged in the marble business, and later in the mill and lumber business. All through life he was successful in buying and selling real estate. Several of the most desirable lots on Main Street have passed through his hands. Later in life he laid out Pine Street.
He was a representative and twice elected to the office of select- man. He was also connected with the commissary department in the late war. He was ever interested in the prosperity of his native town and especially that it should have good roads and excellent schools. For many years he was trustee of the Wolfe- borough and Tuftonborough Academy, also trustee of the Chris- tian Institute, and gave liberally towards its support. He became a Mason in 1856. He was baptized by Elder Mark Fernald in 1839 and joined the Christian Church.
May 7, 1840, Mr. Thompson married Hannah M. Rust, daughter of William Rust. Their children are: William Rust, born March 4, 1841, died May 24, 1865; Moses F., born May 20, 1846, married Abbie H. Hersey, Dec. 28, 1870, died in Min- neapolis Jan. 23, 1890, left two sons, Lester H. and Dana M., now residing in Minneapolis; Ella M., born March 20, 1847, married Henry R. Parker, they have two daughters and one son, deceased ; Ada F., born Dec. 28, 1852, resides in Wolfeborough ; Alberta A., born July 13, 1854, died Dec. 20, 1860 ; Fred A., born Aug. 20, 1857, resides in Denver, Colorado. Mr. Thompson died Dec. II, 1897.
Moses Thompson, the son of William, married Ruth Ann, the daughter of John Tappan Parker. He died in the West some three years since. His children were: Rolan P., born Jan. 6, 1855, married Ellen M. Brown; Charles C., born May 12, 1858, married Alice M. Parker; Reta B., born July 13, 1861, died young ; Nellie N., born Dec. 13, 1867, married Fred R. Graves.
The Huggins family is of early Saxon origin, coming down through centuries in England, and members of it are frequently
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SAMUEL HUGGINS
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mentioned in connection with civic honors and positions of re- sponsibility. The progenitor of the family in New Hampshire was Jolın Huggins, who came to Hampton in 1640.
Samuel Huggins was of the third generation in this country. His ancestors lived in Greenland, N. H., near what was called "The Parade," and what is still called "Huggins's Lane" was doubtless a part of the original farm. His father, John Huggins, moved from Greenland to Wakefield, and located near Huggins Brook as early as 1790. Here he made a home, having married Anna Mordough, of Wakefield. In early manhood Samuel went to Wenham, Mass., to superintend farm work. In 1817 he mar- ried Sally L. Wyatt, and they came to Wolfeborough to live, having bought what was known as the Deacon Wormwood farm in the east part of the town. He paid down one thousand dollars in silver that he had saved for the purpose. On this homestead their ten children were born, and here the parents lived, died, and were buried, the father reaching the age of nearly ninety-two years.
Samuel Huggins was a man of good physique, more than six feet tall and well proportioned. He was conservative by nature ; in politics he was a Whig in earlier life, voting that ticket when but nineteen Whig votes were cast in town. In later years he was a Republican. In religion he was a Methodist, and his home was always open to the circuit-rider as on horseback he went through the towns of Wolfeborough and Tuftonborough. One of the strongest characteristics of Mr. Huggins was his tenderness of heart. Not only the children but every animal on the farm knew this. Always careful and exact in his dealings, he was a thor- oughly honest man.
Three of the sons, Nathaniel, John P., and Samuel J., have been successful hotel-keepers. The Cosmopolitan Hotel in New York City is owned by them. Elizabeth G. Huggins, their eldest daughter, married Charles Remick. Of their five children but one survives, Lydia F., wife of Joseph W. Chadwick, of Malden,
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Mass. The two sons of Nathaniel Huggins were educated at Lafayette College. Of the grandchildren of Samuel Huggins but one other survives, Almon W. Eaton, of Wolfeborough. There are only three great-grandchildren, Grace E. Douglas of Ames- bury, Mass., and the two children of George L. Huggins of New York City.
Of the ten children of Samuel Huggins there are now living, John P., of New York City, Samuel J., of New York City, Mrs. Sally A. Eaton, of Wolfeborough, and Mrs. Mary R. Martin, wife of James H. Martin, of Wolfeborough.
John P. Huggins is a worthy example of the self-made man. He was born at Wolfeborough, May 2, 1826. He came to in- dustrious ancestors, and was a worker from very early years, as- sisting his father on the farm. He attended the district school winters, and had the advantage of Wolfeborough and Tufton- borough Academy for several terms. The common school of a few months in each year for the practical business life of New England in that period did its work well. At the age of eighteen Mr. Huggins went to Boston, where he remained one year as clerk at the Bromfield House, and returning to Wolfeborough was a pupil of the academy for six months. He was then at Dartmouth Hotel, Hanover, as clerk for one year. From there he went to Lowell, Mass., where he was with Henry Emory at the Merrimac House for two years as bookkeeper. In 1852 Mr. Hug- gins removed to New York City, where he has since been a resident and prominent man in many directions. He was at first employed as clerk in Lovejoy's Hotel on Park Row, but the following year he purchased the interest of the proprietors, Libbey & Whitney, and continued the hotel business there for twenty years satis- factorily and successfully. He then, with his brothers, Nathaniel and Samuel J., bought the property of the Cosmopolitan Hotel, corner of Chambers Street and West Broadway, and they have conducted it since that time.
Mr. Huggins, however, has had other outlets for the exercise
JOHN P. HUGGINS
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of his business acumen and financial ability, and many enterprises and undertakings have been promoted by his interest in them. He was at one time president of the Metropolitan Gas Light Com- pany, and for many years a director; is now a director of the Consolidated Gas Light Company, also of several banks and savings institutions of New York City ; of the Citizens' Gas Light Company of Rochester, N. Y., and a director of the Lake National Bank of Wolfeborough, and at one time its vice-president. He has been on the board of education of New York City for more than thirty years. In all these manifold activities Mr. Huggins has shown a thorough adaptability and a remarkable discernment, and has proved himself a natural financier. Politically he has al- ways been a Republican.
But there are other phases of Mr. Huggins' character worthy of record. The unostentatious manner in which he has used his wealth; the warm interest he has ever manifested in his birth- place ; the patient industry that characterized his early manhood ; the persevering energy which he evinced when he entered upon active business life ; his kindness and affection in all his family relations, and the genial spirit of his social life have made him warm friends in the city of his adoption and the town of his nativity. One of the leading citizens of Wolfeborough says of him: "By honesty, industry, sobriety, and ability, backed by perseverance, he won his way step by step. He always mani- fested a great interest in adding to the comforts of the family, making large additions to the old homestead farm in the life- time of his parents, and never counting dollars or cents in im- proving and caring for the welfare of his sisters. He has marked financial ability and honesty, always despising trickery and fraud ; is a social, genial friend, plain and honest spoken, and an honor ot his native town."
Joseph, the grandfather of Thomas Stevenson, came from Yorkshire, England, and settled on the Isles of Shoals. His son Joseph settled in Durham, where he married a wife who bore him
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two sons and two daughters. Upon her decease he married a widow who had two sons and two daughters by a former husband. The only symmetrical result of such a union (and one that actually came about) was that two sons and two daughters should be born. Thomas, the Wolfeborough settler, was one of this third crop of sons. When a young man, he came to Brookfield, where he taught school. He afterwards pursued the same vocation in Wolfeborough. He married, about 1800, Sarah Johnson, of Brookfield and settled on the farm now occupied by his grandson, Albert J. Stevenson. He served as selectman and town clerk for several terms and was a useful citizen in various lines.
His son Samuel, now the oldest man in town (aged nearly ninety-one years), has served as selectman, and his son James has held various town offices.
Joseph, another son of Thomas, was a mason and farmer as is his son Albert J. Henry J., son of Joseph, is a prominent citizen of East Boston, following the business of contractor. He has represented his district in the Massachusetts Legislature. His family have a summer home on the old farm.
William Goldsmith came from Salem, Mass., to work on the governor's farm. He settled on the Frost road. His son, Joshua H., had fifty acres of a nearby lot and here reared two children, John L., born October 24, 1826, who now occupies the farm now known as Goldsmith Heights, and Mary E., born January 18, 1826, who married Ellis Upton, of Washington, D. C. Leavitt C., the only son of John L., lives with his father.
Daniel Pickering, son of William and Abigail (Fabyan) Pick- ering, was born in Greenland, N. H., November 22, 1795, where his early life was passed. He acquired a good education at Brackett Academy in Greenland and Philips Exeter Academy. On arriving at maturity he came to Wolfeborough and im- mediately engaged in merchandising. He was very successful and soon erected the store at Pickering's Corner, continuing in business as a merchant for thirty-five years. At one time he had
DANIEL PICKERING
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three stores in active operation, that at Wolfeborough village, one at Goose Corner, and another at Tuftonborough. About 1840 he formed a co-partnership with John M. Brackett, Ira P. Nudd, and Moses Thompson to manufacture shoes for Boston parties in connection with merchandising. The amount of business trans- acted by Mr. Pickering as a merchant was unusually large for the times, and he was also connected with every branch of com- mercial activity in Wolfeborough. He carried on the manufac- ture of brick on a large scale. He founded and was a large owner of the stock of the Pickering. Manufacturing Co., whose woolen and satinet mills were located at Wolfeborough Falls. He pur- chased large tracts of timber and carried on extensive lumbering operations, was one of the incorporators of the Wolfeborough Bank, and its president, and one of the stock company that built the steamer "Lady of the Lake." He, with his son-in-law, Charles Rollins, were the prime movers in the erection of the Pavilion Hotel.
In 1820 Mr. Pickering was one of the three persons mentioned in the act of incorporation of the Wolfeborough and Tufton- borough Academy. The council that organized the Congrega- tional Church met at his house, and he and his wife were among the twelve first members. He also gave the lot on which the church stands to the Congregational Society, to be held as long as it should be used for church purposes. Mr. Pickering married, June 20, 1822, Sarah C., daughter of Joseph Farrar, of Wolfe- borough.
In person Mr. Pickering was somewhat above medium size, with dark hair and eyes, and while quiet and a man of few words in business, was very pleasant and social in society. An "old line" Whig in politics, he was postmaster for many years through various administrations. He died very suddenly February 14, 1856. Mr. Pickering was the foremost citizen of his time in Wolfeborough. That his memory lasts is shown by the designa- tions, "Pickering's Corner" and "Pickering School."
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