USA > New Hampshire > Sullivan County > Cornish > History of the town of Cornish, New Hampshire, with genealogical record, 1763-1910, Vol. I > Part 16
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Liquors in those days were purer and contained less alcohol than at the present time; else such free use would have wrought more direful results. Delirium tremens was then unknown, yet the drink habit had baneful results. Then, as now, its use begat idleness and deprived a man of his reason, and led him to spend his time and money with convivial friends at taverns or elsewhere. In this way many a man lost his farm because his earnings largely went for strong drink.
In process of time adulteration of liquors began to be prac- ticed, producing a cheaper but more poisonous drink, the use of which produced effects more dreadful than formerly. Delirium tremens then began to appear and the mad-house opened its doors more frequently as the result of its use. During the entire period previous to about 1825, temperance societies and temper- ance advocates were unknown. It is true, however, that germs of temperance principles were apparent from time to time, as shown on the records of the town, by certain votes passed, exclud- ing the sale of liquors in the vicinity of the house on town meeting days and other such occasions.
About the time of the date above named, the effects and ex- tent of the use of ardent spirits, as then manufactured, were becoming fearful and alarming. Their use was increasing, with
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a corresponding increase of drunkenness and erime. These con- ditions received the attention of thoughtful and considerate men, who began to devise ways and means to check the growth of the evil.
No legislation of importance, as yet, had interposed to ward it off. The voice and arguments of eloquent public speakers were now called into requisition. In this way a healthy sentiment was created in opposition to the general use of intoxicating beverages. Minor and local organizations were formed and pledges were passed through the community, receiving many sig- natures of men, women and children. In this way the minds of the people were prepared to embrace the Washingtonian move- ment which swept over the North in the early forties. This was a total abstinence society, organized at Washington, D. C.,- hence its name. It was formed solely in the interests of temper- ance and good order. It is said that a branch of this organiza- tion was formed in Cornish, but the records of it have not been found. It was during this period that the lines became definitely drawn between the temperance forces and those who still favored a free manufacture and sale of liquors, and these lines have been maintained ever since.
In 1855-58 and 1877 laws were passed by the state pro- hibiting the manufacture and sale of spirituous liquors except for medicinal and mechanical purposes. These laws were not allowed to lie still, but have been modified more or less by nearly every Legislature since. The distinctive feature of prohibition, however, has been retained.
In 1903 a local option amendment was attached to the law. This was a system of "high license" granting certain individuals the right to sell under certain restrictions, the rates being reg- ulated by a commission, according to the circumstances in each case. In order to render the amendment operative, it required a majority vote of the town to render it so. The supporters of high license won each year until November 3, 1908, when, by a bare majority, the promoters of temperance won the day, and, at this writing (1910), the town still remains "dry."
Diversity of opinion has ever existed among the so-called temperance people in regard to the manner of suppressing the evil. Some advocate absolute prohibition by stringent legis- ation. Others would allow a limited manufacture and sale,
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having it strictly limited by law to medicinal and mechanical purposes, meanwhile endeavoring to educate the public mind against its excessive use.
The only temperance organization in Cornish, of which any record can be found, was a branch of the "Sons of Temperance" that was organized on Cornish Flat, November 20, 1866. The distinctive features of this order were secrecy and absolute prohibition. It was instituted by the deputy of the "State Grand Division," aided by a large delegation from the Claremont Division. About thirty members were initiated at the first meeting, and the new division started off under very favorable auspices. Its membership subsequently increased until about eighty members were enrolled.
They fitted up a hall for their use in the basement of the Bap- tist Church at an expense of nearly two hundred dollars. Meet- ings were regularly held. Literary exercises bearing on the subject of temperance constituted a prominent feature of each meeting which doubtless contributed in establishing a healthier one in favor of the cause of temperance.
This organization, however, had but a brief term of existence- only about two years. The by-laws of the order requiring total abstinence applied as rigidły to the use of new cider as to the fermented article. This was an unforeseen temptation, and several members, unwittingly or otherwise, were found to have violated their pledge and were thereby amenable to the laws and were subjects for discipline. This proved a bombshell to the division, causing discipline and disaffection, and led to a decline of interest from which it never rallied.
Its furniture and fittings, together with a small debt, were all surrendered to the Baptist Society, since which time the hall has been used as a church vestry.
Patrons of Husbandry-The Grange.
This is a secret association devoted to the promotion of agri- cultural interests. It was first organized in Washington, D. C., December 4, 1867. A sentiment was beginning to be enter- tained by the agricultural masses that their rights and privileges and voice in legislation were somewhat restricted as compared with those of other vocations. They began to realize, too, that they fed the world, and that they were entitled to reason-
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able consideration in governmental affairs. No organization had heretofore existed among them having any such end in view. Its purpose, therefore, was to arouse the farmers to a sense of their privileges and to restore dignity to their occupation by placing it at once on a level with the other callings and professions. So jealous were its first promoters that none were admitted to the privileges of the order but farmers and their families. Pro- fessedly it was non-partisan, yet it has exerted great political influence on many important questions of the day.
With such an end in view, the order became quite popular, so that in 1875 it numbered 1,500,000 members. Local organiza- tions of the order were formed in nearly every section of the country.
Unlike some other secret societies, the Grange bids the female sex welcome to all its meetings, and confers equal rights and honors upon them in all its deliberations.
On March 25, 1874, the Cornish Grange was organized at the Methodist vestry by Dudley T. Chase, then master of the New Hampshire State Grange. There were twenty-five charter members. A large number of the farmers and their wives joined them in the seasons following. They continued to hold their meetings in the vestry until the following summer when the Grange took possession of the commodious quarters then used by the Methodist Church.
The charter members of the Grange were: Samuel Putnam, Nettie L. Putnam, Dana N. Morgan, Julia A. Morgan, Henry A. Weld, Eliza A. Weld, Albert Weld, Lucy C. Weld, Lemuel Martindale, Rebecca W. Martindale, George D. Kenyon, Lizzie Q. Kenyon, Charles E. Jackson, Judith C. Jackson, Amos Richardson, Jane S. Richardson, Philander W. Smith, Almina S. Smith, Charles B. Comings, Lucretia B. Comings, James M. Davidson, E. D. Austin, Charles Williams, Charles D' Nevens, Curtis H. Blake.
The first officers of the Cornish Grange were: Samuel Putnam, master; Lemuel Martindale, overseer; Dana N. Morgan, lec- turer; Charles D. Nevens, steward; Charles E. Jackson, assistant steward; George D. Kenyon, chaplain; Henry A. Weld, treasurer; Charles B. Comings, secretary; Philander W. Smith, gatekeeper; Nettie L. Putnam, Ceres; Eliza A. Weld,
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Pomona; Julia A. Morgan, Flora; Lucy C. Weld, lady assistant steward.
July 6, 1874, the National Grange granted its charter, which was received and recorded by the New Hampshire State Grange July 15 following.
DUDLEY T. CHASE, Master. CHRISTOPHER C. SHAW, Secretary.
During the first few years of Cornish Grange the interest in the order was sustained, and its membership increased. This was largely due to the financial and social advantages it offered. As in other Granges it voted to purchase and make sale of staple groceries especially for the benefit of its members. This proved in some instances quite a saving to those who patronized this mode. Its social features were highly prized; affording, as it did, an opportunity for farmers and their wives to meet twice each month and enjoy an hour or two of pleasant social inter- course.
But however prosperous or promising a social, political, or even religious organization may be at first, a law in nature seems to order a change and it is permitted to suffer a decline. Cornish Grange afforded no exception to this. After a brief period of prosperity the interest decreased and the attendance of its mem- bers grew less. In this condition, though slightly varied, it remained about fifteen years, or until 1895, when it apparently received a fresh impetus and new members were added to the order. As many of the new members and also some of the old ones resided nearer Cornish Flat than to the hall of Cornish Grange, the idea of a new grange being organized at the Flat seemed to meet with much enthusiasm. Accordingly, a pe- tition for a new grange was presented to the State Grange. The petition was favorably received and James W. Fitch, then deputy of the district, was instructed to organize a grange at the Flat. This took place on the evening of August 29, 1896, in schoolhouse hall. The name of the new grange was Park Grange No. 249.
For several months the meetings were held in the room where organized, but during the season of 1897 the Grange purchased the "Bachelor" house across the street just above the cemetery. This building was entirely remodeled by removing all inside
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partitions and reducing all the rooms into one, which was refitted into the present commodious hall.
The list of the charter members of Park Grange was as follows: John S. Andrews, Willis J. Coburn, Rev. Charles E. Gould, Mrs. Charles E. Gould, Dr. George W. Hunt, Miss Martha A. Harring- ton, Edmund B. Hunt, Mrs. Edmund B. Hunt, William H. Harlow, Mrs. William H. Harlow, Frank C. Jackson, Mrs. Frank C. Jackson, John B. Moore, Mrs. John B. Moore, Norman C. Penniman, Mrs. Norman C. Penniman, William H. Sisson, Mrs. William H. Sisson, Alfred S. Sisson, Mrs. Alfred S. Sisson, Arthur P. Thrasher, Mrs. Arthur P. Thrasher, Mrs. Minnie Spaulding; twenty-three in all.
These were organized by electing John S. Andrews, master; * Frank C. Jackson, overseer, and Willis J. Coburn, lecturer, beside a full list of other required officers.
On the 17th of September following, eight members of Cornish Grange received demits, and at the next meeting of Park Grange were received into its membership.
From its start to the present (1908) this Grange has enjoyed a fair degree of prosperity and continued growth. Its present numbers are 110. In addition to its social features it has made a specialty of choice literary exercises with music which have been for the enjoyment and edification of its members, and the Grange is reputed to enjoy a good standing among others of its kind, as evinced by many testimonials for excellence of work and literary accomplishment from state officials.
Cheshire Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons.
Cheshire Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons was first organ- ized in Plainfield. Daniel Cole, David Read and others of Plainfield petitioned the Grand Lodge on October 26, 1814, for a new lodge to be called "Mt. Moriah Lodge." On the following day the grand master, Edward J. Long, considered the petition and ordered that the prayer of the petitioners be granted, and empowered them to assemble and perfect themselves in the several duties of Masonry, make choice of officers, make reg- ulations and by-laws . according to the ancient cus- toms of the order; but inasmuch as there was a lodge at
*Deceased March 2, 1898, while master.
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Canaan already named "Mt. Moriah Lodge," that the lodge at Plainfield be called "Cheshire Lodge No. 23," and that the privileges thus granted be and remain in full force until the next meeting of the Grand Lodge. On January 25, 1815, the Grand Lodge assembled at Portsmouth and confirmed its former action and the grand master appointed William H. Woodward a deputy to go to Plainfield and install the first officers and present them their charter, which was finally done on the 24th of May, 1815.
Thus propitiously started, the lodge increased in numbers and its members, for a time at least, were quite constant in their attendance, the lodge took fair rank among the other lodges of the state, and favorable mention of it was generally made by Grand Lodge deputies up to 1832, a period of seventeen years. . The lodge had ever labored under one serious incon- venience that contributed much to the ill-fortune that befell it. The members of the lodge chiefly lived at opposite ends of the town, nearly six miles apart and the place of meeting was at the west end. The members at the east end began to think their privileges were not equal to those of their brethren of the west part, and desired some change. They, however, tried to compromise the matter by meeting alternately at each end of the town. This action of the lodge did not meet the approval of the Grand Lodge, and so the practice was abandoned.
After 1832 the interest in the lodge seemed to decline. They failed to be represented in the Grand Lodge. They also ceased to work, and soon after, ceased to meet.
On June 9, 1840, the Grand Lodge, then in session, declared the charters of twenty-six lodges forfeited, including that of Cheshire Lodge, and ordered them to be recalled, which was accordingly done. The Grand Lodge, unwilling, however, to thus lose its subordinates, sent a committee to the jurisdiction of Cheshire Lodge on June 8, 1841, to see if any hopes remained of the revival of the lodge. But so far as known the committee accomplished nothing.
For nearly twenty-two years the lodge remained dormant, its charter being surrendered; consequently, there was no gather- ing of its members.
The opening of the Civil War seemed to create a fresh interest in the order which was quite general throughout the northern states. The former members of Cheshire Lodge who were then
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living, still retained their love for the order and desired to see the lodge again revived. A petition from these brethren was sent to the Grand Lodge asking for a renewal of the charter and that the lodge might be restored to the rights and privileges belonging to a lodge of Masons. The Grand Lodge saw fit to grant their petition, and on the seventh of May, 1862, they convened at the dwelling house of Dr. Charles C. Beckley in Plainfield, when officers of the lodge were elected and installed. A good degree of enthusiasm prevailed, giving promise of the productive results which appeared in the succeeding years.
After the revival of the lodge in Plainfield it soon became apparent that a change in its location would promote the interests of the lodge by accommodating a larger number of its present and prospective members. During the summer of 1862 the lodge held all its meetings in Plainfield, but on the eighth day of September following, it was voted to remove the lodge to Cornish Flat, and that its next meeting, in October, be holden there. Permission for this removal had been previously obtained of the Grand Lodge through its deputy, and on October 13, 1862, Cheshire Lodge held its first meeting on Cornish Flat in Union Hall (since called Hampshire Hall). Here it convened at all of its stated communications until July 25, 1863, inclusive. Meanwhile the lodge had previously engaged and fitted apartments for its use in the upper story of the store of John T. Breck, and on the latter date it was voted to occupy the new hall at the next regular meeting. This was accordingly done on August 22, 1863. Since this date the lodge has held all of its com- munieations in this hall. Like all kindred organizations, the lodge has had its seasons of prosperity and its periods of decline of interest; but it has ever since maintained its rank and standing among other lodges of its order. Its jurisdiction embraces the towns of Cornish and Plainfield. Its membership has ever been composed of representatives of most of the good families of these two towns.
CHAPTER XII.
MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES.
NOT unlike every other New England town, Cornish has had her quota of domestic industries and her share of men to carry them on.
Nature here has not been as favorable to the manufacturing of goods on a large scale as in some towns favored with greater water privileges. Yet such privileges as have been afforded have been utilized to the best advantage.
During those years when the people were dependent upon goods manufactured in their own homes, workmen of every trade were at hand preparing the same for use. Coopers, tailors, shoe- makers, weavers and spinners and other workmen were then in demand in every home.
Now all these are among the things of the past, and the people have but little use for them, as the goods once manufactured by them can be obtained "ready-made" in the markets and at cheaper rates, and, perchance, of better quality than formerly. For the same reason carding and fulling mills have gone out of business. Two prominent ones formerly did a good business in town: one in the west part of the town operated by Walter Mercer, and one near the Flat operated by Eldad Coburn. Each of these were active many years, greatly to the advantage of the community, and bringing profit to their owners.
When every family made its own shoes, it was necessary that tanners should prepare the leather for the shoemaker. So with the departure of the shoemaker goes the tanner, both to the larger central places where at their trade they may find more steady employment and greater profit.
There were several tanneries in town some of whose sites can scarcely be located. The last one to abide in use was at the Flat, owned and operated many years by Alvin Comings. The Weld families also carried on this industry to considerable extent, also the Comingses, in the early days of the town.
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Blacksmiths, carpenters and wheelwrights still remain, although many of the articles heretofore made by them are procured from the larger factories and at a better advantage. A larger percent- age of the labor of these artisans now is that of repairing.
For many years carriage building was a large item of industry at the Flat. Hiram Little, a skilled workman, employed a few men and for many years produced carriages that were second to none then in use; some of these are in use at the present time. Henry Gould also carried on a similar business there. Each of these men had successors in their shops who continued the busi- ness for a longer or shorter period; but these industries have de- parted, and even the buildings then used by them have been torn down and the sites almost obliterated.
Brick has been made in several places and several houses have been erected in town from the product of the kilns. Four of these kilns are known to have been in use. Brick was formerly made on the Henry Bartlett farm not far from the site of his present house. A limited amount was made on the Joshua Wyman farm and the Wyman houses were built from the brick made there. On the mountain farm of Capt. William Atwood brick was made. In the southwest part of the town on the farm owned by Leonard Har- low, brick has been made in large quantities. This kiln is still used occasionally. Other places for making brick have probably existed, but they are slumbering in the memories of the past.
Gristmills were counted of prime importance. The first of these erected in town was by Jonathan Chase on a brook on his allotment. This constituted a center for many miles around for farmers to bring their grain to have it ground for use in their families. This mill was built during the fall of 1765, soon after the town was settled. It was operated by Mr. Chase until 1773 when it came into the possession of Samuel Comings. He and his children, and others of the same name and their successors, continued to successfully operate this mill and other mills adjoin- ing it for more than a century. This was long known as "Com- ings' mills." It was burned in 1894, but was succeeded by another doing a moderate amount of business.
Dea. John Chase had for many years a gristmill in connec- tion with his sawmill which accommodated several families in that neighborhood.
A gristmill east of the Flat, for two or three generations,
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did a large amount of business. Beside ordinary grinding like Comings' mill, it was fully equipped for the bolting of wheat flour. This mill recently became disused and now (1907) is in a state of ruin and decay.
B. S. Lewis built a gristmill about 1850 but operated it only a few years; also Bryant's mill, in the west part of the town, was for many years successfully operated as a gristmill until it burned.
The last gristmill erected in town is on the estate of the late C. C. Beaman, Esq. This is still active, doing the needful work for the estate and some for the neighborhood. It is the only gristmill now doing any business in town. The sites of some of these already named can scarcely be located; others may have existed, but none are left to tell their story.
The decadence of gristmills is mainly due to a great change that has taken place in the commercial world.
The great West is, to a large extent, now feeding the East with wheat and corn. These are raised and manufactured in the West and come to us ready for our consumption, so that many farmers think they can buy cheaper than they can raise the grain and get it ground near home, and so as a result, the eastern mills have been suffered to decay.
The sawmills of Cornish are interesting to consider. The great necessity for lumber for building purposes incident to the rapid settlement of the town, and the difficulties of removing large logs long distances, induced many to utilize every sufficient stream of water, by building a dam and erecting a mill as near their home as possible; consequently, the number of sawmills was greater than that of other mills.
The first sawmill in town was a companion to the first grist- mill, both built and owned by Col. Jonathan Chase. This, like the gristmill, passed into the possession of the Comingses who carried it on through their lives. A succession of owners have since operated it, and it is still active and doing a good amount of busi- ness. Below this mill, nearer the river, was another sawmill also built and used by Colonel Chase. This was used consider- ably in its day, but it has long since disappeared.
At the Flat have been two sawmills. The lower one near the head of the street was rebuilt in 1832 by Abel Jackson, who operated the same a number of years, but it was in turn succeeded by others. This mill has recently been taken down and the site
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has nearly reverted to its natural state. The upper mill, now standing, was built and operated by Jonathan Wyman who came from Pelham, N. H., to Cornish in 1794. This mill is partially active, doing a moderate amount of business, but it is evidently doomed to destruction like all of the adjoining buildings whose industries were formerly active but have now passed away. This mill has passed through the hands of several owners, chief among whom was Henry Gould who built a fine dam of granite and otherwise substantially repaired the mill, as well as the gristmill which he also owned.
An important sawmill was that of Dea. John Chase which was built about the first of the last century. It was burned in March, 1847, but rebuilt that season. It has done a large amount of business, but is now dismantled and ready for destruction.
A sawmill, not long since, stood on the brook in "Slab City," owned and operated during its last years by James F. Tasker. Nothing of this mill is now left but huge walls of stone. The same may be said of a sawmill once standing on the Ichabod Smith farm, which did a good amount of business. On the mountain streams farthest east were three mills: one in the "Hempyard," and one in the "Poppy Squash" neighborhood, having long since ceased to exist. The other in school district No. 8, belonging to Edward O. Day, is still standing, but not used as a mill.
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