USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Candia > History of the town of Candia, Rockingham County, N.H., from its first settlement to the present time > Part 19
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John Lane, Ezekiel Lane, Joshua Lane, Peter Eaton, Dr. Nathaniel Wheat, Nathan Carr, Dr. Isaiah Lane, Col. Sam- uel Cass, John Rowe, John Fitts, Alfred Colby, Abraham Emerson, Francis Patten.
Among the books which were first purchased for this li- brary, were Rollins' Ancient History, Plutarch's Lives, The Spectator, Gregory's Dictionary of Arts and Sciences, The American Encyclopedia, Morse's History of the American Revolution, Walter Scott's Waverly, History of the French Revolution, Marshall's Life of Washington, Irving's Life of Columbus.
Dea. Daniel Fitts, who then owned the house where the widow of the late Dr. Page now resides, was the first libra- rian. He was succeeded by Peter Eaton, Dr. Isaiah Lane, Nathan Carr, George R. Bean, Nathaniel B. Hall, and J. Pike Hubbard.
In 1837, the society admitted several new members. The following are their names :
Nathan Brown, Samuel Clough, Leonard Dearborn, Rich- ard Buswell, Thomas Emerson, Asa Fitts, John Moore, Benjamin Pillsbury, Samuel Martin, Freeman Parker, Jo- seph Hubbard, Stephen M. Baker, C. Edwin Eaton, Thom- as Lang.
About the year 1850, the society voted to close the libra- ry and distribute the books.
THE FARMERS' AND MECHANICS' LIBRAKY.
In 1858, the following named citizens of the town formed
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a stock company and established The Farmers' and Me- chanics' Library :
John Rowe, John Lane, George B. Brown, Moses F. Em- erson, George Emerson, Gilman C. Lang, Austin Cass, John P. French, Alvin D. Dudley, J. Frank Fitts, M. D., William S. Healey, Asa E. Buswell, Jesse R. Fitts, William Crane, A. Frank Patten, Samuel A. Buswell.
Austin Cass was the first librarian, and kept the library at his house. He held the position a few years, when the library was removed to the Depot Village, and John Rowe was librarian. He was succeeded by Gilman S. Lang, who was librarian several years. At length, George F. Cass was elected to fill the position, and the library was removed to his residence.
This library flourished for a few years ; but many of the members of the association moved out of town, and it be- came difficult to keep up the library to a proper standard of usefulness.
THE SMYTH PUBLIC LIBRARY.
In 1888, Gov. Frederick Smyth, of Manchester, and a na- tive of Candia, founded a public library in the town, nam- ing it The Smyth Public Library. The following are the names of the officers of the institution :
President, J Lane Fitts ; Directors, J. Lane Fitts, A. Frank Patten, George F. Cass, Woodbury J. Dudley, Al- bert E. Colcord, Frank P. Brown; Librarian, Frank E. Page.
The library was established at the residence of Frank E. Page, the librarian, and in the very place where, nearly seventy years before, the Candia Literary Society kept their library. The first installments of books were purchased and deposited with the librarian, and the library was opened to the public in 1889. Another large collection of books was added in 1891. The institution has given great pleas- ure and satisfaction to the people of the town, who grate- fully appreciate this valuable token of Governor Smyth's interest in their welfare.
STAGES.
Soon after the completion of the old Chester Turnpike in
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HISTORY OF CANDIA.
1805, a line of stages was established to run from Concord to Haverhill, passing through Pembroke, Allenstown, Can- dia, Auburn, Chester, Hampstead and Atkinson. At Hav- erhill the line connected with one which ran from that town to Boston. The stage at first made two trips a week, but when the line was better patronized, three trips a week were made The horses were changed at Anderson's tav- ern, and the stage arrived there from Concord about 9 o'clock, A. M. On its return from Haverhill, it reached Anderson's at about 4 o'clock, P. M. The fare from Can- dia to Boston was three dollars. Sometimes there was a lively competition between this line and another, which ran from Concord to Boston over the Londonderry Turn- pike.
In the pleasant days of summer, there was some enjoy- ment in riding upon the turnpike. over the hills and through the valleys, on the outside of the stage, high up in the seat above that of the driver; but in the coldest days of winter, when the mercury in the thermometer was ten degrees be- low zero, it was quite another matter, and it, was not strange that the shivering passengers were glad enough to hover for a few moments around the great blazing fire in Mr. Anderson's bar-room, while the horses were being changed, and were greatly cheered and comforted by the tumblers of hot rum sling furnished by the accommodating landlord.
The building of the Turnpike, and the running of a splen- did carriage, hung on thorough-braces and drawn by six horses, from Concord to Boston in twelve hours, was con- sidered a wonderful achievement in those days.
At one period, the stages of this line passed from Hook- sett to Chester over the old Chester road, and horses were changed at Clark's tavern in Chester, now Auburn. Thom- as Pearsons was the driver of the stage for many years. He was succeeded by a man by the name of Stevens.
In 1842, when the Concord Railroad was completed, the stages which passed over the Turnpike were withdrawn.
In 1834, Stephen Osgood, of Raymond, established a line of stages from Pittsfield to Lowell. The stages of this line passed through Deerfield and Candia. At Chester, this
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line intersected with another which ran from Dover through Raymond. This line carried the mail and arrived at Can_ dia Corner from Lowell at 4 o'clock, P. M. These stages were withdrawn about 1842.
A short time previous to 1843. a stage ran f om Manches- ter to Newmarket through Candia. This line also carried the mail and arrived in Candia from Manchester about noon. A Mr. Cate, brother of John Cate, a Mr. Mack and others, were employed as drivers. On the completion of the Candia branch of the Portsmouth' Railroad, in 1862, this line was withdrawn.
About 1855, some parties in Deerfield commenced run- ning a stage from the Candia railroad station to Decrfield Parade to carry the mail and passengers between those places. There have been various owners of this line, which has been fairly patronized from the time it was es- tablished to the present date.
CANDIA MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY.
The above named company was organized April 28, 1859. The following are the names of the first board of directors :
John Rowe, John Moore, Esq., John Smith, Rufus E. Pat- ten, Cyrus T. Lane, Benjamin P. Colby, Alfred D. Fitts : President, Plumer W. Sanborn.
Present board of directors :
Isaiah S. Lang, Isaac Fitts, Ira P. Godfrey, J. R. Batch- elder, Daniel S. Bean, A. Frank Patten, Moses F. French; President, Isaac Fitts ; Secretary and Treasurer, Moses F. Emerson.
The company has met with some losses, but is now in a very prosperous condition.
The total number of policies at the present time, is 129 ; total amount of insurance on said policies, $83, 570 ; amount of premium notes, $5, 184.
The following is a list of the losses which the company has sustained :
By the burning of the building at Depot Village, known as Ladd & Barker's store, in 1878, $1,690.98. The build- ing was insured for $1, 500. The company declined to pay
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the insurance, on account of some alleged irregularities of some of the parties interested in the case.
. The action was tried in the Supreme Court at . Manches. ter, and the verdict of the jury was against the company. The said company expended nearly $300 for costs and at- torneys' fees. Gen. A. F. Stevens and Capt. W. R. Patten appeared for the company, C. R. Morrison for the plaintiff.
A barn, which belonged to William H. Knowlton, was struck by lightning in 1881. The building and contents were insured in this company, and a small sum was paid. to the owner.
On February 27, 1860, a dwelling house on the Turnpike, which belonged to David B. Langley, was burned. The company paid the owner $164.68.
A small house, which was situated near Hall's mountain and owned by a Mr. Connor, was burned a few years ago. It was insured in this company, and the owner was paid $100.
The company has sustained no losses whatever since 1881.
LIST OF TAXPAYERS IN 1810.
Anderson-Samuel, Mary.
Bean-Abraham, Benjamin, Reuben, Moses, Jonathan, jr., Daniel ; Bagley-Jonathan, Winthrop, William, Samuel, John, Nathan ; Brown-Caleb, Caleb, jr., David, Daniel, Aaron, Sewell, Nathan, Jonathan ; Batchelder -- Benjamin, Odlin ; Buswell-John, Moses, Samuel ; Burleigh-William; Burpee-Nathaniel, Nathaniel, jr.
Carr-John, Joseph ; Clark-Henry, Joseph, Joshua ; Cammet-John, John, jr,; Cass-Samuel, Benjamin ; Clay -John, Stephen, Stephen jr., Walter ; Clough-Samuel, Theophilus, Elijah, Samuel, jr .; Clifford-John, John, jr., Zachariah, William, Joseph; Colby-Moses, Seth, Nehe- miah ; Colcord-Samuel; Collins-Samuel, Jonathan , Cur- rier-Timothy, Jonathan, Benjamin, Theophilus; Critchet -James ; Cheney-Eleazer B .; Dearborn-Samuel, Moses, John; Samuel, jr.
Dolber-Israel. John ; Davis-Benjamin.
HENRY M. EATON.
Sketch, page 502.
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HISTORY OF CANDIA.
Eaton-Ephraim, Henry, Henry T., Paul, Jesse, David, Peter ; Emerson-Nathaniel, Nathaniel, jr., Samuel, Moses; Edgerly-Benjamin.
French-Nicholas, Nicholas, jr., Moses, Moses, jr., John, Josiah, Jonathan C .; Foster-Samuel, Joseph, James; Fitts-Daniel, Moses, Samuel, Abraham, Reuben, Nathan ; Fifield-Stephen, John, John, jr., Peter, William.
ยท George-Ephraim ; Griffin-David ; Gale-Reuben.
Hall-Obed, Sargent, Benjamin, Caleb ; Hardy-Samuel; Healey-Benjamin, Jonathan ; Hobbs-Thomas ; Hub- bard-Benjamin, Joshua, Joseph ; Huntoon-Elisha.
Knowles-Amos, Levi, Eleazer.
Lane-John, John, jr., Thomas B .; Lang-Benjamin, Benjamin, jr .; Libbee-Jacob, Isaac.
McClure-James ; Marden-John, Stephen; Martin-Jo- seph ; Morrill-Samuel, Samuel, jr., Adoniram; Moore- John, Andrew, Joshua, Andrew ; Mooers-Samuel.
Palmer-Joseph, Stephen, Moses, William ; Pillsbury- Abijah, Jonathan, Caleb, Benjamin; Phillips-William
Rowe-Isaiah, Jonathan, Nathaniel, Benjamin, Sher- burne, John P. L .; Robie-Walter, Walter, jr., John, Wil- liam, Levi.
Sargent-Samuel, Jonathan, Moses, Moses, jr., John, James, Josiah ; Smith-Oliver, J. Chase, Biley, Jonathan, Stephen, Henry, Biley, jr., Benjamin ; Stevens-Solomon ; Seavey-Benjamin.
Taylor-John ; Thorn-Nathan ; Towle-Elisha, Thom- as ; Thresher-Henry ; Turner-Moses.
Varnum-James.
Wiggin-Joseph ; Whittier-Daniel; Wheat-Nathaniel ; Ward-Simon; Wason-John ; Woodman --- Jonathan.
FIRES.
The first buildings burned in the town of which there is any account were the dwelling house and the saw and grist mills that were erected at the Island near Raymond line and owned by William Eastman. This fire took place in 1759.
I6
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HISTORY OF CANDIA.
A few years later David Bean's mills and residence which stood a few rods south of the site of Eastman's mills were burned. The fire caught from burning bushes near by. The exact date of this fire cannot now be obtained.
About the year 1808, a school house, which stood near the present Congregational meeting house, was burned.
In October, 1821, Samuel Anderson's tavern, situated on the turnpike, a stable, a barn and the outbuildings were to- tally destroyed.
In August, 1825, the dwelling house of John Lane, Esq., situated on the North Road, was burned. Mrs. Lane had been baking and the roof of the house was set on fire by sparks from the chimney.
In April, 1831, the dwelling house of John French, fa- ther of Col. C. M. French, situated on the road which ex- tends from Candia to Chester, with all the furniture, was burned. A quantity of flax, which some of the members of the family were combing in the kitchen, was set on fire by a spark from the fire-place and the house was soon in flames.
A school-house on the Chester road, in District No. Four, was burned about the year 1826.
About the year 1835, a blacksmith shop belonging to Ich- abod Cass was burned. The shop stood near the present. parsonage which belongs to the Congregational Society.
The old Congregational meeting-house was burned, Jan- uary 25, 1838.
A school-house on the South road, in District No. Three, was burned about the year 1839.
Franklin Clay's steam saw mill, situated on the New Bos- ton road near the house of Isaiah Lang, was burned, 1846. Aaron Rowe's cooper's shop was burned in June, 1850.
About the year 1850, the old John Prescott house on the New Boston road nearly opposite to the junction of that highway and the cross road leading to the Congregational meeting-house, was burned.
In 1853, a portable steam saw mill and a large quantity of sawed lumber, which belonged to Dr. Moses Hill of Manchester, were burned at a spot a short distance from the residence of Edmund Smith.
In August, 1856, the dwelling house and outbuildings
1
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HISTORY OF CANDIA,
belonging to Gilman Richardson, and situated on the Deer- field road about half a mile north of the village, were to- tally destroyed.
In the summer of 1858, the Ordway house, which was situated on High Street a short distance west of the Congre- gational meeting house, was burned. The building be- longed to Dudley Lang. Insured.
Amos Polly's house, situated at the extreme west end of High Street, was burned, in 1859, Insured.
Levi Flint's barn, situated near the residence of Ed- mund Smith, was struck by lightning and burned in 1840. Insured.
A few years later William Anderson's barn in the same neighborhood was struck by lightning and consumed.
About the year 1860, Barney Gannon's house, situated on the New Boston road, was burned . The place was long owned and occupied by John Worthen.
In 1860, David B. Langley's house on the Turnpike was totally destroyed by fire. Insured.
In 1860, a dwelling house in the Village belonging to Joel B. Smith, was burned. Insured.
In 1865, the old Morrill house on High Street, the next dwelling above Samuel Morrill's residence, was struck by lightning and slightly damaged. Insured.
In 1874, a new saw mill, which had been erected on the site of the old Clay mill on the stream flowing through . the New Boston district, was destroyed. The mill was owned by Franklin Clay and occupied by J. E. Fitts. Insured.
In 1880, George H. Hartford's dwelling house, situated near the Deerfield line on the cross road leading from Can- dia North road to Deerfield, was destroyed Insured.
Charles C. Conner's dwelling house, standing near Hook- sett line at the foot of Hall's mountain, was destroyed, 1878.
James Varnum's dwelling, about a quarter of a mile south of the Congregational meeting- house, was burned in 1877. Insured.
The dwelling house of Samuel A. Davis on High Street was burned in 1875. Insured.
The Eder Evan's house on the Knowlton road near Pol- ly's corner, owned by John Clark, was burned in 1877.
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HISTORY OF CANDIA
The old Caleb Brown house and barn on the Baker road, owned by George Brown, was burned in 1876. Insured.
A school-house in the Langford District was burned in 1873.
The old Burleigh place on the North Road, owned by Ir- ving Bean, was burned about the year 1878.
A barn which belonged to Tristram Brown, and sit- uated near the Langford road, was burned in 1875.
Ladd and Barker's store at the Depot Village was burned in 1878.
A barn which was owned by Jeremiah Crowley, situated in the southeast part of the town, was burned about the year 1880.
A dwelling house on the turnpike and owned by Frank Neal was burned in 1884.
The old John Taylor place, on the Colcord road, was de- stroyed in 1882. At the time of the fire the place was own- ed by John H. Moore.
In 1881, a dwelling house, situated at the south part of the Depot Village and owned by Jesse Sargent, was burn- ed. Insured.
A dwelling house on North Road, owned by John Batch- elder, was burned about the year 1882. The house was formerly owned by Stephen Brown, senior.
In 1881, a barn on the Knowlton place on the cross road leading from High Street to Hooksett was struck by light- ning and totally consumed.
In 1887, a building at the Depot Village, which was built for a creamery by Charles H. French, A. Frank Patten and others, was burned.
In 1885, the dwelling house owned by James Brown, was totally destroyed by fire. The house stood on the site of John Lane's residence, which was burned in 1825.
In 1890, a building which had been fitted up for a hosiery mill, at Depot Village and rented by Wm. Clow, was entire- ly destroyed by fire. The machinery was well insured.
THE RAILROAD.
The Concord and Portsmouth Railroad was incorporated
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HISTORY OF CANDIA.
in 1845. The route, which extended from Concord through Pembroke, Allenstown, Hooksett, Candia, Raymond, Ep- ping, Newmarket and Greenland to Portsmouth, was sur- veyed by Samuel Nott, the chief engineer of the corpora- tion. The road was laid out the entire length of Candia, a distance of about six miles and one-fourth, and about a quarter of a mile south of the centre of the town. The fol- lowing are the names of the owners of the land in Candia which was taken for the road beginning at the Raymond line: Joseph C. Langford, Samuel Dearborn, George W. Griffin, John Abbott, Silden Moore, Willis Patten, Jesse Towle, Jonathan Brown, Moses Emerson, Nathaniel Em- erson, Freeman Parker, Samuel Cass, Austin Cass, Asbury Buswell, Henry'S. Eaton, John Webster, Caleb Brown, William Duncan, John C. Fifield, the heirs of Peter Fifield, Aaron Brown, Joseph Hubbard, Nehemiah Brown, John Sullivan Brown and Moses French.
A large proportion of the above named citizens took stock of the railroad corporation in payment for the land which they surrendered.
The road through the town was constructed by various contractors and a large number of laborers were employed for several months. Shanties were erected on the route at East Candia and at a place about half a mile below the present Depot village, and at several other places on the line of the road, for the accomodation of large numbers of laborers who were employed.
The work was difficult and expensive on account of several long and deep ledges which stood in the way. In two or three cases the contractors, who had taken the jobs, lost money ard were obliged to fail; and one, after having re- ceived from the corporation the money due him, ran away without paying either his workmen or his creditors in the town who had furnished him with large quantities of provis- ions and other supplies. Stephen B. Fitts, the trader, was one of the parties who lost a considerable sum of money in this way. After various vexatious delays and great ex- penditure of labor a passage was cut through the great ledges and the rails were speedily laid.
While the section of the road in Candia was in process of
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construction, several serious accidents occurred. At one time as the workmen were laying rails upon the track near the summit about a mile above Cass's Crossing two cars loaded with rails broke away from the engine and ran rap- idly down the track towards Raymond, a distance of three miles, and came in collision with an engine which stood on the track. The engine was completely ruined.
At another time a brakeman, while walking on the top of a construction car near Emerson's Crossing, his head com- ing in contact with the bridge, he was instantly killed. A man was also killed by falling from a derrick at Emerson's ledge.
The road was completed in sections, from time to time, and was opened first from Portsmouth to Newmarket, af- terwards to Epping, then to Raymond and finally, in 1852, to Candia, Hooksett, and Pembroke to Concord.
At first two stations or depots were established on the line of the road in Candia, one at the point at the present Depot Village and the other at Cass's Crossing on the South Road. The passenger station at the Depot Village was then located on the north side of the railroad track a few feet east of the present station. In 1884, the old station was torn down and the present one, which is considerably larger, more commodious and expensive, was erected.
Stephen B. Fitts was the first station agent at the Depot Village. He was succeeded by Robie Smith, who held the position only a short time. In 1858, J. Harvey Philbrick was appointed. Mr. Philbrick held the position a short time to be succeeded by William D. Ladd, who served three months, when Mr. Philbrick was re-appointed to hold the position until May, 1891, when he resigned af- ter a continuous service of 35 years. He was succeeded by H. Hutchins for three months, and he by L. P. Brown, the present agent.
The passenger station at Cass's Crossing was erected on the west side of South Road and on the south side of the railroad track. Samuel Robie was appointed station agent.
On account of a lack of business the Concord and Ports- mouth Railroad, after having been operated for a period of eight years, proved to be a financial failure. No dividends
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HISTORY OF CANDIA.
could be paid to the owners and the stock on the corpora- tion fell to a very low figure. The citizens of Candia who took the stock of the corporation in payment for the land which was taken for the road never realized anything from their investments.
In 1860, the Concord and Portsmouth Railroad was leased to the Concord Railroad corporation. At about the same time the Candia Branch Railroad extending from Manches- ter was chartered by the legislature and that part of the Concord and Portsmouth Railroad which extended from the station at the Depot Village in Candia to Suncook was dis- continued, and the rails were taken up.
The Candia Branch Railroad was built in 1860. The following are the names of the owners of land which was purchased for the new thoroughfare to Manchester and the sums paid to each: John Robie, $+31 66; Jeremiah Lane, $57 83 ; Benjamin Cass, $301 33 ; Henry M. Eaton, $62 85 ; Mrs. John D. Patterson, $10 48. Francis Patten, $92 50; Abraham Emerson, $109 16 ; Freeman Parker, $63 33 ; E. P. Prescott, $42 50.
The road was opened to Manchester, in 1861. In 1888, a passenger station was erected at East Candia and George W. Griffin was appointed agent.
PERAMBULATING THE LINES.
A law was enacted by the legislature many years ago which provided that the boundary lines between the sever- al towns of the state should be perambulated or walked ov- er once in seven years for the purpose of ascertaining as to whether the monuments, which had been set at the time when the towns were incorporated, were in their proper places and in a good state of preservation. This duty was performed by a joint committee of Selectmen from the towns which bordered upon each other. Thus a commit- tee of the Selectmen of Candia and Chester upon a day ap- pointed would meet together and walk carefully over the line dividing the towns through swamps and valleys and over rough crags and hills, and if they found any of the monuments which marked the lines decayed or displaced
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they forthwith repaired or restored them to their proper po- sitions. When the time came that the line between Can- dia and Deerfield was to be perambulated another joint committee consisting of the Selectmen of these towns per- formed the same duty as was done in the case of Candia and Chester, and so on until the boundary lines between all of the towns had been examined. After each perambu- lation of the lines had been made, a certificate to that ef- fect was made and inscribed in the records of the several towns and signed by the members of the joint committees of the Selectmen who performed the service.
CHAPTER XXIV.
INDUSTRIES.
HISTORY OF MILLS.
MILLS AT THE VILLAGE.
William Turner, who settled on Lot No. 35, 3d. Division, built a saw mill on the stream at the village a short time previous to 1756, at the spot where the present grist and saw mills are located. This was the first mill built in the town.
Joseph Bean built a grist mill near by a few years after- wards and, from that time, a grist mill has been in oper- ation at this spot.
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There have been many owners of these mills during the past hundred and forty years, among whom were the late Judge Butler of Deerfield. At the present time there is a grist and shingle mill at this place, which is owned by Charles H. French and Oscar Hall.
Thomas and Moses Critchett carried on the business of carriage making many years in a building adjoining the grist mill, and were furnished with water power from the same pond.
Elder Bean had a small mill for grinding bark for his tannery at this place.
About the year 1806, a saw mill was erected on the stream at the village a short distance above the grist mill just de- scribed and a few rods from the present F. W. Baptist church.
Asa Ordway soon afterwards erected a building near this saw mill and put in a carding machine. Mr. Ordway died in 1812 and Elihu B. Cheney, who came from Deer- field, bought the carding machine and operated it many years. Mr. Cheney also bought the saw mill and operated
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it in connection with his carding machine. He finally sold the property to Enoch Brown of Deerfield. These mills were demolished more than thirty years ago.
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