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 35
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42
438
HISTORY OF CANDIA.
the town to dine at his residence at the close of the ordina- tion exercises. "Tot," who played the role of a very pious . and devout believer to perfection, was given the place of honor at the table by the side of the deacon, who invoked the Divine blessing when all were seated. An ordination dinner those days was a very important affair, and that to which "Tot" was invited was more than ordinarily sumpt- uous, "Tot" stuffed himself full of the roast beef, turkey, plum pudding and other good things upon the table, not forgetting to take a liberal share of the brandy, West India rum and Maderia wine which was always provided on such occasions in those days. At the close of the feast, the good deacon in a very solemn and dignified manner, addressing "Tot," said: "Mr. Cass, we shall be much pleased to join you in returning thanks to the Giver of all Good." "Tot," who had got his dinner stored away under his waistcoat and there was no longer any reason for keeping up a show of piety, straightened himself up in his chair and replied to the deacon by saying: "Well, deacon, I never do sich a thing myself and I don't think it amounts to much nuther; but I've got a brother over in Candia who is a deacon who can speak to a pudd'n' as well as any man you ever heard in your life." If a bombshell had exploded upon the table, the deacon and his guests could not have been more astonished and shocked. Before they had time to recover their composure, "Tot" took his departure, in- wardly chuckling in view of the tumult he had raised.
Samuel Anderson was a very eccentric as well as a very active, sensible and worthy man. In 1804, when the Chester turnpike was about to be built, he was very en- thusiastic in his praises of the great enterprise. "Why" said he, "upon one occasion, "the road will be one of the best that was ever constructed. It will be almost in a straight line from Concord to Haverhill and all the way down hill. People can haul very heavy loads upon it with a small team." How will it be when the country teams are haul- ing their goods from Boston and Haverhill to Concord," said a bystander, "Well, really in fact, it will be pretty much the same," replied Mr. Anderson.
Mr. Anderson, in his early career as a landlord, visited
439
HISTORY OF CANDIA.
Haverhill, Mass. Uponhis return he had a good deal to say about a splendid residence, which was owned by a very wealthy citizen of that place. On a certain occasion he concluded a detailed description of the fine residence some- what as follows : "Speaking metaphorically and after the manner of men, I can say that I suppose you may search the records of architecture through and through and you will find that Solomon's temple and the pyramids of Egypt are no touch at all to it." His pronounciation of the word "pyramid" as though it were spelled pi-ram-ids was quite ludicrous as well as original.
At a certain town meeting there was an article in the war- rant to lay out and build a new road; Mr. Anderson, who was opposed to immediate action upon the matter, conclud- ed a speech as follows : "Mr. Moderator, I move you sir that a committee of three citizens be appointed to take the matter into consideration and ramshack the business from end to end."
The late Benjamin Cass lived for several years upon a " place in Roxbury, Mass., directly opposite to the residence of Theodore Parker. He was educated as a strict Calvin- ist and sincerely believed in orthodox doctrines. At that . time Mr. Parker severely criticised some of the features of the Orthodox creed on account of which he was denounced by the evangelical ministers all over the land. Mr. Parker always spoke of Mr. Cass as a very amiable and upright man. Mr. Cass, while he resided in Roxbury, tenaciously adhered to the religious theories in which he had been ed- ucated, but there was no bounds to his admiration for Mr. Parker. In speaking of him at the time of his residence in Roxbury, he said, he was the best man he ever saw and came the nearest to being a true Christian in his character and conduct, but, said he, "in spite of all that I suppose he will be eternally lost on account of his want of faith in the plan of salvation."
Mr. Cass returned to Candia more than thirty years ago and became a very devoted Spiritualist and before he died his views concerning the future destiny of Mr. Parker became greatly changed and he thought he was entitled to one of the highest seats in the kingdom of heaven.
440
HISTORY OF CANDIA.
All of the young men belonging to Candia, who have graduated at college, have pursued their preparatory studies at some of the best and most popular academies in the state; and a very large number of young men and wo- men, who wished to obtain a good English education only have been trained either at Pembroke, Hopkinton, Exeter, Derry, Meriden, New London or Reed's Ferry in Merri- mack. During a long term of years, by far the largest number of Candia students were educated at Pembroke academy. A complete list of their names would be a long one and consequently a few only can be mentioned here. It is probable that previous to 1820 a very few persons only attended any academy. Among the earliest of those who were educated at such institutions were David and J. Eaton Pillsbury, Moses H. Fitts, Jacob H. Quimby, Frederick. Parker, Ephraim Eaton and Richard E. Lane. Nearly all of them were students at Pembroke academy. Daniel Fitts, Jr., attended the academy at Bradford, Mass., several terms previous to 1820.
About the year 1840, Mr. Kinsman, who had been the Preceptor of Pembroke academy several years, was dis- charged by a majority of the board of trustees to make room for another gentleman who wasa near relative of one of the most influential friends of the institution. Mr. Kins- man was almost universally esteemed by the citizens of Pembroke as a most excellent teacher and an honorable, courteous gentleman. When he was deposed, many of his warmest friends erected a new academy in the town and installed him preceptor. This new institution, which was called the Gymnasium, greatly flourished for about fifteen years. Rev. Mr. Burnham, who was pastor of the Con- gregational society in the place, was for many years in the habit of invoking a blessing on the academy in his morn- ing prayer at the church on Sunday; but when the Gymna- sium was established, he was very particular in stating just where he desired the Divine favor should be bestowed. It is said that one Sunday, while referring in his prayer to the educational interests of the town, he said "We beseech Thee, O Lord! to bless the academy in this place, the old academy, Lord. And we especially beseech Thee, O Lord!
441
HISTORY OF CANDIA.
to bless all the teachers of that academy and enable them to discharge their duties in a faithful and acceptable man- ner."
Forty years ago a very active Whig politician of the town let a small old house which stood on his farm a few rods from his spacious residence to a man who usually voted with the Democrats. The cellar of the house in which the tenant lived was unfit for keeping vegetables from freezing. The tenant one year raised a good crop of potatoes and he was obliged to ask the owner of the place to give him the privilege of storing his crop in the excellent cellar under his dwelling house. The landlord said he would accommo- date his tenant if he would'promise to vote the Whig ticket at the next election. The tenant promised, and at the town meeting which ensued the Whig saw his tenant at the polls. The latter had the Democratic vote in his hand and was about to deposit it in the ballot box, when his excited land- lord reminded him of his promise and said: "If you vote that ticket you must take your potatoes out of my cellar immediately." In reply the tenant valiantly exclaimed : "You may go to the devil with your old cellar, I shall vote this ticket taters or no taters," and, suiting the action to the word, he handed the ticket to the moderator of the meet- ing.
Ephraim K. Eaton, when he was a boy about fourteen years of age, played a funny joke upon Joseph Carr who lived near the Congregational meeting house. Mr. Carr had been much troubled by squirrels, which made ravages upon a field of corn situated on his farm near the school house in old District No. 2 and nearly opposite to a frog pond in Peter Eaton's pasture. To rid himself of the pests, Mr. Carr set a well-baited box trap upon a wall near his field of corn. In the course of a few hours, he discovered that the trap was sprung, and he had no doubt that a squir- rel had been captured. In order to secure his prize, he car- ried the trap and contents to his house and then called in some of his neighbors, Ephriam Eaton among the rest, to see the squirrel properly disposed of. The trap was taken to one of the rooms and set down upon the floor. A big tom cat was then placed at the end of the trap opposite to
442
HISTORY OF CANDIA.
the bait for the purpose of seizing the squirrel when the lid was opened. When everything was ready, Mr. Carr care- fully opened the trap, when outjumped a huge bull frog to the great amazement of Mr. Carr and others who had been invited to attend the exhibition. Mr. Carr, who knew that nobody but Ephraim could have played such a cunning trick, was quite angry and desired that his father should give him a sound thrashing as a proper punishment for his presumption. But Mr. Eaton was so much amused at the ingenuity displayed by his son in the affair that he could not think of yielding to the solicitation.
About the year 1838, Moses, Aaron and Benjamin Cass. citizens of Candia, and sons of Capt. Benjamin Cass, one of the first settlers of the town removed to Roxbury, Mass., and settled in that part of the town where Theodore Parker, the famous Unitarian preacher resided. All three of them were members of the Congregational church in Candia. Moses Cass bought a tract of land situated upon one side of that owned by Mr. Parker, and Aaron bought a small farm next to Mr. Parker's on the other side. A brook flowed from Moses' farm across Mr. Parker's to that belong- ing to Aaron Cass. At one time, Aaron and Moses got into a serious dispute about some business affairs. At length Moses became so irritated with Aaron that he put a dam across the brook to annoy him, and, in doing so, discom- moded Mr. Parker. In this state of affairs, instead of deal- ing directly with his brother, Aaron asked Mr. Parker to prosecute him and punish him for damming up the brook. Mr. Parker plainly told him he would do no such thing and reminded him that it did not become him as a professed follower of Christ and a member of a church to bring his brother before the courts. He then kindly advised him to deal righteously with Moses and forgive his tresspasses. Through theinfluence of Mr. Parker, the brothers soon after- wards became reconciled to each other.
CAMP MEETINGS.
In 1830, a four day's camp-meeting was held in a grove at Allenstown. Many of the people of Candia were pres-
443
-
HISTORY OF CANDIA.
ent. In 1841, the Methodists of West Chester (now Au- burn) and other towns in the vicinity held a camp-meeting in a grove near John Clark's tavern. A large number of tents were erected on the grounds. Rev. Abraham Merrill and other distinguished Methodist ministers preached on the occasion. Under the influence of the passionate ap- peals made by the preachers and exhorters, many persons were greatly excited and a few swooned and became in- sensible. It was said that a large number of persons be- lieved they were converted on the occasion. A large num- ber of the people of Candia were present at the meetings. Two or three years later another camp-meeting was held in the same grove.
1
LAKE MASSABESIC.
Although no part of Lake Massabesic is situated within the present limits of Candia, the people of the town were joint proprietors of that beautiful sheet of water, with those of Chester, Manchester, Hooksett and Raymond, prior to 1763, when Candia became an independent township. The lake is only about a mile and a half distant from the southwest part of the boundary line between Candia and Auburn, and the stream which flows from Candia through Tower Hill pond furnishes its chief supply of water. Under these circumstances the people of our town feel that they have a sort of hereditary right to the enjoyment of its majestic beauty and to take some degree of pride in the glory it confers upon the territory of Old Chester, in which it is situated. From "the Hill" in Candia, where the Con- gregational meeting house is situated, and from Tower Hill, the people have the most charming views of the lake and many of the young and middle-aged men of the town during the past century, have fished in its waters and brought home big strings of pickerel, perch, trout and other varieties of fish.
Lake Massabesic consists of two bays united by a nar- row strait called Deer Neck, contains nearly 2400 acres and is situated in Manchester and Auburn, the lower, or southern bay being in Manchester and the upper, or north-
444
HISTORY OF CANDIA.
ern bay, being in Auburn. The lake has a circumference of twenty miles on its shore line. The water which is remarkably pure, has supplied the city of Manchester since the water works were completed, in 1874.
The lake has become a very popular resort in summer within a few years and the lands adjacent are dotted over with many fine cottages belonging to the people of Man- chester and three or four steamboats ply between various points upon the shore. Mine Hill, an eminence about four hundred feet in height, is situated near the east shore of the northern bay of the lake in plain view of the people of Candia. It consists of a great mass of granite rock which by some convulsion long ago was split asunder, the two sections near the top being a dozen feet or more apart and at the bottom from a foot and a half to four feet; the two great, high walls are generally covered with moisture. With a torch or lantern a person can penetrate through the great, dark, damp fissure to a distance of about sixty feet without difficulty. It may be mentioned here that Mr. S. S. Griffin of Auburn Village has made a valuable collection of Indian relics which was found in the vicinity, consisting of stone gouges, axes, hoes, pestles, sling shots, chisels, arrow and spear heads, gavels, etc. He has also a calumet or pipe of peace, which was sometimes smoked by the In- dians in token of their friendship for one another. This calumet consists of an iron hatchet or tomahawk, with a round aperture for the handle, on the top of which is a small iron cup or bowl for the tobacco to be smoked; near the bottom of the bowl is an aperture for the pipe stem, which extended outwards under the handle. The iron hatchet was probably made in England or France more than two hundred years ago and sold to some of their In- dian allies. The instrument was found in Candia on the farm now owned by Augustine Buswell. Mr. Griffin has also a good collection of woolen and linen wheels, looms, plows, axes and many other agricultural implements which were in use a hundred years ago and a considerable num- ber of old flint lock muskets and powder horns, which were in use in Revolutionary times.
445
HISTORY OF CANDIA.
WELLS.
Many of the early settlers obtained their supply of water from the nearest spring or brook. The first wells, some of which were very deep, were furnished with the old-fash- ioned well sweep and pole, to one end of which "the old oaken bucket" was attached by a rope or chain. A very few of these old devices for drawing water may still be seen in various sections of the town. The windlass and chain with a large box filled with small boulders to balance the bucket was next introduced. Forty years ago the revolving chain pump came into use to some extent. These were followed by substantial suction pumps. In some of the residences water is conveyed direct to the kitchen by aqueducts.
THE INVENTORY.
The following is a statement of the valuation of the town as shown by the invoice taken by the Selectmen, April I, 1891.
300 polls,
$ 30,000
Resident real estate,
249, 208
Non-resident real estate,
27,347
254 horses
15,042
73 oxen,
2,557
465 cows,
7,468
17I neat stock,
2,433
41 sheep,
120
5 hogs,
20
II carriages,
550
Stock in banks,
2 00
Money on hand,
2, 925
Stock in trade,
6,600
Mills and machinery,
650
Stock in public funds,
500
$345,620
94 dogs.
The rate was $1.46 on a hundred dollars of valuation
446
HISTORY OF CANDIA ..
FASHIONS.
At the beginning of the present century, the every day clothing of the people made oflinen or wool was spun and woven by the women of the household. For Sunday wear, many of the men wore woolen or velvet coats with long broad skirts and large buttons, knee breeches and long stockings. The breeches were fastened at the knee with silver or silver plated buckles. The vests, which were sin- gle breasted, were quite long. Sometimes they were of a white or buff color. Many wore linen collars and plain black cravats. Between the years 1818 and 1830 many men in good circumstances wore high crown, black or white bell top beaver hats, the extreme tops of which were much wider than at the rim. The best of these typical Yan- kee or Brother Jonathan hats cost about six dollars. When the fashion suddenly changed, William Duncan, the trader, had fifty or seventy-five left on his hands. In 1830, the crown of fashionable hats was as much narrower at the top or crown as the bell top hat was wider and made a very marked change in the appearance of the wearer. From 1820 to 1835 swallow tail, or dress coats with large gold- gilt brass buttons were the prevailing fashion with young and middle aged men. This coat was worn with a white or buff vest and dark pantaloons. For many years a blue coat, buff vest and dark pantaloons was the favorite style of dress of Daniel Webster. He was dressed in this style when he made his famous speech in the U. S. Senate in re- ply to Hayne.
It was only a minority of the men in the town who deemed themselves able to dress in fine broadcloth. Others were content to wear homespun cloth fulled and dressed at the clothiers. When Wm. H. Duncan was a student at Dartmouth College, he was by far, the best dressed man in Candia. In 1836, dress coats were made of broadcloth of various shades of color, such as bottle green, dark olive, snuff or claret or wine color. At that time, black satin or figured satin vests and frock coats came into fashion. Pre- vious to 1830, many of the men wore thick drab-colored overcoats with a girdle and buckle around the waist. The
447
HISTORY OF CANDIA.
overcoat sometimes had one cape and sometimes three or four overlapping each other.
In 1826, plaid woolen cloaks with capes were quite com- mon. Dr. Nathaniel Wheat, wore a reddish plaid cloak and Col. Samuel Cass appeared at church in a dark green and blue plaid cloak. Two or three years later, camlet cloaks of a dark brown color for men's wear became the fashion. These cloaks had standing corded collars. The material for this garment was mostly spun and woven by the women and dressed by Freeman Parker, the clothier. The cloaks and the drab overcoats with capes were furnished with large gaudy brass gilded clasps with a small chain attached for fastening the sides of the garment together at the neck. A few citizens in good circumstances wore very fine dark blue broadcloth cloaks of ample folds lined with highly finished red flannel. Rev. Mr. Wheeler wore one of this sort to church and often in very cold weather kept it on throughout the service. For cravats a black silk or cotton handkerchief was worn until about 1840, when stocks made partly of hogs bristles woven with linen and covered with black silk or cashmere became fashionable. Some- times these stocks which were well fitted to the neck were three inches or more in width. The standing dickies which were worn with stocks often came close up to the ears.
The Kossuth or soft felt hat, which was one of the best and most comfortable which was ever manufactured, was introduced about the year 1853, when Kossuth, the famous Hungarian patriot, visited the United States. He wore a kind of hat which was called by his name. The stiff, round top Derby hat became the fashion about the year 1865 and soon after that time the white, high crown cassi- mere hat came into use for summer wear. Paper collars closely resembling those made of linen came into general use about the year 1870, but in 1892 but few of this sort were worn.
Sixty years ago, the bottoms of the legs of gentlemen's trowsers were fitted with leather or cloth straps which passed under the soles of their boots to keep the garment in place; that fashion was given up long ago. In early t [mes, the hair of men was cut in what was called pumpkin
448
HISTORY OF CANDIA.
shape. At a later date the hair was shingled and some- times the foretop was left longer than the rest of the hair and brushed up into a point two or three inches above the head.
During the past sixty years the style of men's dress has been modified slightly from year to year, but not essen- tially changed. The skirts of a dress coat is made three or four inches shorter and then in a year or two it is length- ened out again. The legs of pantaloons have been made quite large and even baggy and in a few years afterwards they are made to fit close to the skin, which is no great advantage for displaying the beauty of a man with spindle shanks and crooked legs.
In 1860, some person discovered that a mixture of nitrate of silver, lat sulphur and water when applied to the hair would change it to a very dark color. Men and women with gray or white locks who used the mixture all at once assumed a very youthful appearance. It soon became ap- parent that those persons who dyed their hair in this way were considerably injured in their health. Very little of the preparation is now used.
Previous to 1850, no man in the town wore a full beard. Soon after that time a few young men appeared with side whiskers. Side whiskers were followed by chin whiskers; then mustaches became quite common. In a few years the large majority of men appeared with more or less beard and a few had full beards. Sometimes the full beard was suffered to grow to its full length, and in other cases it was cut or trimmed occasionally. At the preseat time few gen- tlemen wear full beards.
The fashions of women's apparel during the past hun- dred years have changed much more frequently than those of men. For many years their dresses were qnite short- waisted. Sometimes the sleeves were short and close, and at other times they were large and of full length. These were called mutton leg sleeves. The best dresses were made of imported worsted goods, such as thibet or cash- mere. Nice dresses were also made of a kind of goods called bombazine. A few of the women who were well off had at least one silk dress. Near the beginning of the pres -
JACOB S. HOLT.
Sketch, page 515.
449
HISTORY OF CANDIA.
ent century, very wide hoop skirts were worn for a few years. The dresses of most of the women of moderate means were of home manufacture, until after the year 1826. In the winter, muffs and tippets made of mink, muskrat or cat skins were carried by many women to church. The muffs for many years were five or six times larger than those of modern dates. Soon after, cotton and woolen manufacturing was introduced into the country on a large scale, the dresses of women became much improved in quality. In summer, calico, gingham and white lawn dresses were worn by young women on Sundays and other public occasions. When President Jackson, with the mem- bers of his cabinet, visited Lowell, Mass., on a bright June day in 1833, two or three thousand female operatives em- ployed in the mills at that place, including thirty-five or forty who belonged in Candia, joined the great procession which escorted him through the streets of the town. All of these young women appeared in white lawn dresses with blue, red or green silk belts and bright green parasols. The old hero was highly pleased with the attentions of the ladies.
About that time, many young women were foolish enough to believe that a very slender waist was an essential ele- ment of beauty, and so the habit of tight lacing became prevalent, and the health of many was ruined in conse- quence.
Between 1810 and 1835, bonnets which were made of straw, silk or worsted, were extremely high in the crown and front. The Leghorn bonnets or hats made of imported straw were quite costly. In 1828, the Naverino bonnet, which was made of a kind of straw-colored pasteboard, . stamped in imitation of braided straw, came into fashion. At the same time a peculiar sort of head gear called a. calash was worn by many women. It was made of silk,. which was taken up into welts an inch or an inch and a .: half apart into which pieces of rattan, shorter than the silk,. were inserted and brought round over the head in the shape: of a bonnet. This bonnet was finished with a narrow cape at the neck. When it was worn the top was elevated two or three inches above the head. This bonnet much re-
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.