USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Henniker > History of the town of Henniker, Merrimack County, New Hampshire, from the date of the Canada grant by the province of Massachusetts, in 1735, to 1880 with a genealogical register of the families of Henniker > Part 19
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A small mill was also built, at the close of the Revolution, near the mouth of Black brook, in the south-east part of the town.
Eliphalet Colby also erected one in the north-east part of the town, which was operated for upwards of half a cen- tury.
Shortly after the commencement of the present century, Moses Brown and David Gove erected a linseed-oil mill, in the south part of the town, where at one time quite a large amount of oil was manufactured. The raising of flax having ceased, this mill was converted into a saw-, grist-, and threshing-mill, for which purpose it is still used.
About 1825, Calvin Goss and Levi Barnes erected a saw- mill and dwelling-house on the Ammi brook on the main road leading to Bradford, a short distance above the junc- tion of the road leading to Mink hills. These mills were shortly after destroyed by fire.
Among the more prominent millers not before named, have been Nathan Blanchard, Leonard Wood, Joshua Silver, James Gibson, Jonathan Pressy, William Livingston, David
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HISTORY OF HENNIKER.
S. Carr, Albert W. Barnes, Fitz E. Courser, A. P. Nichols, and Imri W. Gove.
BRIDGES.
We have elsewhere given an account of the first bridge that was built across the river, which was at the centre of the town. In 1785, the water-power at West Henniker be- gan to be improved by the Amsden Brothers, Uriah and Joseph. A bridge was thrown across the river by private individuals, for the accommodation of people upon the south side of the river. At a meeting of the town, held March, 1785, the town voted to build a bridge near the Amsden mills. This bridge was built after the model of the one that had been built at the Centre. The bridge was repaired in 1792, and at other times as it needed. At the annual meeting in 1833 an effort was made to rebuild it, but the matter being left discretionary with the selectmen, noth- ing was accomplished.
In 1834, Mr. Horace Childs built a covered bridge at this point. This was what was called " Long's patent," and was the first one of its kind built in town. This was carried away in 1852 by the ice knocking down one of the piers. It was rebuilt the same year by Frederick Whitney, and is still standing.
A bridge was built across the river, near the lower mills, by private enterprise, about 1786, and was kept in repair by the different owners of the mill, for their own and the pub- lic's convenience, until 1797, when the mills having again changed hands, and Daniel Kimball having become the pro- prietor, he applied to the town for assistance in repairing the bridge. This the town voted to do, to a small extent. In 1805, Messrs. Adams & Silver having come into possession of the mills, an attempt was made to have the town assume control of the bridge, and keep it in repair. This the town refused to do. Thomas Davis came into possession of them in 1807, and the town voted to give $75 towards repairing
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the bridge. For twenty years the bridge was repaired by the different owners of the mill, with a little help from the town. In 1827, Lieut. Joel Howe, then owner of the mills, requested the town to assist him in repairing the bridge, it having become unsafe for travel. The town, however, re- fused any assistance. Mr. Howe being determined to have the matter of the ownership of the bridge decided, again brought the matter before the town in 1828, when the town voted to instruct the selectmen to procure the advice of some able attorney as to the liability of the town in regard to the bridge, and, if liable, to make such repairs as they thought expedient and best. The selectmen made no report of their efforts to obtain the advice of counsel, but repaired the bridge, and the town continued to do so partially until 1843, when an article was placed in the warrant for the an- nual meeting, to see if the town would vote to rebuild the bridge at the lower mills. At this meeting Jonas Wallace, Jacob Rice, and Rufus Sawyer were chosen a committee to consult with the selectmen upon the best plan for building a bridge. Before any action had been taken by this commit- tee, another meeting was held, August 15, the same year, at which meeting, on motion of Robert Wallace, the selectmen were instructed to consult some competent authority, and ascertain whether the bridge belonged to the town or not. The selectmen made a report to an adjourned meeting, four days after, that they had taken counsel, whose opinion was as follows :
That although there is no record to be found that ever there was a road laid across said river, the Counsel decides as fol- lows, viz., Upon examination I am satisfied that the town of Henniker, by its votes and acts, has adopted the road and Bridge near Howe's mills, in said town, and made it a public highway, and of course is bound to maintain and keep the same in repair.
Thus, after a dispute for upwards of fifty years, was the question decided. The covered bridge, still standing, was built by Horace Childs in 1843.
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HISTORY OF HENNIKER.
STONE BRIDGE.
At a meeting of the town, held Nov. 5, 1832, the select- men were instructed to "make such inquiry, and obtain such information in regard to building a stone arch over the riv- er, as will enable them to report to the town at the next an- nual meeting, the expediency of building the same with stone."
This was the first move made for building a stone bridge with two arches, there having been as yet no such a structure, it is said, in the state. So many bridges had been damaged or carried away by ice and high water, the town was becoming determined to have something better, if possible, than a wooden bridge. The selectmen, at the next annual meet- ing, made a report upon the matter, but made no recom- mendations, preferring to leave the whole subject for the consideration of the town. After discussing the propriety of building a stone bridge, the town authorized the select- men to employ an experienced engineer to examine and es- timate the probable expense of building a stone bridge, and report to the town in the September following. James Haywood, of Lowell, Mass., was employed, who examined the matter thoroughly, and made a report to the town at the time designated, which report the town accepted. [There is no record of his report.]
At the same meeting it was voted " that Dr. Moses Long be invited into the meeting-house, and exhibit his models of wooden bridges."
The bridge being unsafe for travel, the selectmen were in- structed to make the necessary repairs, and all action in regard to a new bridge was postponed. A portion of the people were for building a stone bridge, while others thought it could not be done with safety.
At the annual meeting in 1834 the selectmen were au- thorized to receive proposals for rebuilding the Centre bridge, of wood, stone, or both, and report to the town on
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the first Monday of September following. At the time specified, the selectmen made their report, when they were again instructed as at the annual meeting, and to report to an adjourned meeting of the town in one month. They report- ed October 6, when the town voted to receive still farther proposals, and then the town
Voted, the Town of Henniker build a Stone Bridge across Contoocook River, near Col. Goulds store, provided, any man or men, shall within two weeks propose to the selectmen to build said Bridge at a sum not exceeding two thousand, seven hundred dollars, of such stone, width and height, as said select- men shall direct.
Oliver Noyes, Joshua Darling, and Moses Brown were ap- pointed a committee to advise and direct with the selectmen concerning the building of the bridge.
At a meeting of the town, held October 27, 1834, the se- lectmen and committee made the following report :
Resolved and voted, that it is expedient, and in our opinion, would be for the best interest of the Town of Henniker, to erect, or construct, a good, and permanent Stone Bridge across Con- toocook River near where the old bridge now stands, Provided said Bridge can be safely constructed for a reasonable sum.
Resolved and voted, that the town of Henniker, now assem- bled in open meeting, will proceed forthwith to hear any pro- posals which may be offered by any person or persons, to con- struct a good and permanent Stone Bridge across Contoocook River as aforesaid, and upon the plan and the principles as hereafter reported by your Selectmen and Committee.
Voted to accept the report with alteration and amendment of the aforesaid Selectmen and Committee which is as follows-
We the undersigned, Selectmen and Committee appointed by said town to unite with the Selectmen in fixing upon a plan on which a Stone Bridge shall be built across Contoocook River, near Col. Daniel C. Goulds, Report in part, that the following principles and dimensions shall be observed in the Construction of said Bridge, and further detailed out and specified in any Contract which may be entered hereafter-The bridge shall con- sist of two Arches ; one of forty five feet diameter at the base, and the other of forty two and one half feet, to be raised on two new abutments on each shore, near where the old ones now are, which must be nearly, or entirely removed.
17
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HISTORY OF HENNIKER.
They shall be built in perfect range with the Middle Pier, and of equal width ; the outside Course shall all consist of large split Granite Stone laid up from the Pan or Solid Earth, with every other course of the same kind of split stone, laid ending, or crosswise, and the whole foundation upon which the Arches are to be raised, shall be of large split stone, and laid close, in a good and workmanlike manner.
All of said stone in the foundation upon which said Arches shall be raised, shall consist of large Stone, as aforesaid, not less than ten feet in length, and laid alternately endwise to the stream, and across-wise, and all to be laid in this manner up to the traveled path, and the outside of the remainder of said Abut- ments shall be of split Stones and tied together with headers not less than eight feet long, and put in through every other course, and the inside filled, and chinked well with small stones.
The Arches shall commence eight feet below the plank of the old bridge at the Middle Pier, and shall rise three feet above the plank of said old bridge. All the Arches shall commence on a perfect level. The heater of the middle pier, must be raised six feet above where it now is, and well dowelled together with round iron of one and a quarter inch diameter.
It is however understood, that the stones which are to be laid endwise, and crosswise, on the South Shore Abutments, are not to be ten feet where the large stone will not permit it, but as long as can be. The Stone of the Arches shall not be less than twenty inches wide at the bottom, nor less than eigh- teen at the top, and hammered or hewed on each side so as to come to a bearing, or rest, one upon another from end to end : the beveling of each stone should correspond with the Circle which the Arch is turned upon : each stone to be perfectly square at the end and laid so as to break joints, at least six inches. There shall be a tier of Stone on the top of the outer edges of the Bridge of eighteen inches square, and a Railing on the top of that tier Stone consisting of two other tier of Stone : they shall be eighteen inches at the bottom, and eight inches at the top, and hammered, so as to correspond and lay close to- gether, and well dowelled together with one and a quarter inch round Iron, and laid so as to break joints ; the two top stone aforesaid, shall be three feet high, making the whole railing three and a half feet high.
The Railing shall extend as far as the old one. The old Bridge shall be for the use of the Contractor, or Contractors, while building the Stone Bridge and then revert to the town.
The Contractor shall be under obligation to hire a Master Workman, who shall be competent and well understands the work of erecting Stone Bridges. The Bridge shall be comple- ted on or before the first day of October eighteen hundred and
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STONE BRIDGE.
thirty-five. The Contractor shall have the privilege of occupy- ing and using the old Bridge two months previous to the finish- ing the Bridge.
The Town of Henniker shall pay the Contractor, or Con- tractors, One thousand dollars when they shall commence lay- ing the stone of said Bridge, and the remainder shall be paid when the Job shall be completed according to the tenor of the Contract, with interest for delay. On receiving the first pay- ment, the Contractor shall give approved security for the thou- sand dollars.
Your Committee further report, that any amendments, or al- terations, which the Superintendent, or Master Builder of said Bridge shall deem absolutely necessary, shall be made in the Committees report aforesaid. But it is distinctly understood that no Contractor, or Contractors, shall employ any Superin- tendent who is not fully acquainted with Building Stone Bridges, and who shall not come fully recommended as a man everyway competent to construct a permanent Stone Bridge.
Parrott Marsh,
Oliver Noyes
Charles Barker,
Committee.
William K. Howe,
Selectmen Joshua Darling Moses Brown
Oliver Noyes, Esq., made a proposal to build the bridge, agreeably to the specifications, for the sum of $2,845, which proposal was accepted by the town at the same meeting at which the above report was made. Upon considering the matter further, Mr. Noyes was of the opinion that the bridge could not be built for that sum; and he notified the select- men and committee of that fact. When another meeting of the town was held, December 31st of the same year, Mr. Noyes stated that he could not fulfil his contract to build the bridge. The town instructed the selectmen to see what the damage would be in consequence of Mr. Noyes's not ful- filling his contract, and to report the same at the next annual meeting in March. The selectmen reported no damage as- sessed against Mr. Noyes. The town, at its annual meet- ing in March, 1835,
Voted that the Selectmen be authorized, and directed to con- tract with some person, or persons, to build and complete a good and permanent Stone Bridge, twenty four feet wide, across the river where Centre bridge now stands, provided such per-
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HISTORY OF HENNIKER.
son, or persons can be found who will build, and complete the same for a sum not exceeding Thirty five hundred dollars, in the following manner : viz : that the top of the Arches shall be three feet higher than the plank on the old bridge, the abut- ments to be raised with stone and gravel as high as the Arches, and suitable Stone or Iron railing to be placed on each side of the bridge, to extend as far as the Selectmen shall deem it nec- essary, and warrant the same to stand one year after its comple- tion. Said bridge to be completed fit for travel on, or before the first of November 1835.
Such Contractor, or Contractors, shall be required to give good and sufficient bonds to the town for the fulfillment of said Contract.
The bridge was contracted by William Smith, who pro- cured the services of Isaac C. Flanders, of Lowell, Mass., as engineer.
The stone were split in the quarry in the easterly part of the town, and were drawn by ox-teams. Quite a large num- ber of hands were employed by Mr. Smith ; and the bridge was ready for travel by the time specified in the contract. During the erection of the bridge, the travel, otherwise than on foot, crossed the river at the lower mills. A foot- bridge was laid close to the water on the east side of the bridge : this was also used in constructing the bridge.
A great deal of curiosity was manifested by the people of this and the neighboring towns as the work progressed ; and numerous were the prophecies, that when the wooden arches were removed, the whole structure would fall with them. The bridge was completed, and the day set for driving out the key pins, which would let the wooden arches fall. Sev- eral hundred people assembled to witness this ceremony, some with anxious faces, but by far the larger part with a perfect confidence. At a given signal from Mr. Flanders, the two pins were driven out, and down came the wooden arches ;- but the bridge did not follow. Its success was an assured fact, amidst the cheers of the assembled multitude. The "heater" of the bridge was repaired and made higher in a few years. No material damage was done to the bridge
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POST-ROUTE.
until the severe freshet in the early spring of 1852, when the water forced its way around the north end of it, doing some damage to the stonework, and at one time threatening to sweep away the blacksmith shop at the end of the bridge, owned and occupied by David Cogswell. By the timely efforts of the citizens, the current was stopped. At a meet- ing of the town, held May 10, 1852, the selectmen were instructed to appoint some suitable person to superintend the repairs upon the structure ; and during the season it was repaired as it now stands.
POST-OFFICE AND POST-RIDERS.
In 18II a petition was sent to the proper authorities at Washington, asking that a post-office might be established in this town, that the people might be better accommodated with mail facilities. The application was successful, and in February, 1812, a post-office was established here, and Hon. Joshua Darling appointed post-master. Judge Darling then held the office of state senator, and being ineligible for the position of post-master while holding the former declined accepting the commission, and returned the same, with the recommendation that Isaac Rice be appointed. He was ap- pointed, and in a short time received his commission, the whole affair being a surprise to him, as the matter had nev- er been mentioned to him. Mr. Rice opened the post-office in Judge Darling's store, where Mrs. Nehemiah Colby's house now stands. Shortly after, it was moved into Edward Whit- man's house,-the one his sons now live in,-where it re- mained until he removed it to his own house, where his son Hiram now resides.
A post-route was established by government in 1794, from "Concord to Henniker, thence to Hillsborough and to Charlestown No. 4," with the understanding that the people on the route should pay for carrying the mail. This they consented to do, and Jacob Smith was the first mail-carrier, making a trip from Concord to Charlestown and return,
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weekly. He received as compensation $50 a year. After the first year the government assumed the expense of carry- ing the mail. Mr. Smith carried the mail but a short time, when he was succeeded by John Philbrick, who carried the mail for twelve years, performing his duty very faithfully. Mr. Philbrick's post-horn began to sound when he reached the common upon the south side of the river, and stopping there to distribute his newspapers, which nearly all came outside of the mail, and his parcels, his horse always came on alone to Mr. Rice's, who received his mail and then fed the horse. On the return, the horn was sounded on the plain westerly from the village, and Mr. Rice had his mail ready for him on his arrival.
The postage at the time the post-office was established was twelve cents per ounce for letters, the distance being forty miles and under ; over forty and not exceeding ninety, fifteen cents; over ninety, and not exceeding 150, eighteen and three fourths cents ; over 150, and not exceeding 300 miles, twenty-five and one half cents ; over 300, and not ex- ceeding 500 miles, thirty-five cents ; over 500 miles, thirty- seven and one half cents. Newspapers, 100 miles and un- der, one cent ; over that distance, one and one half cents. Before the establishment of the post-office, all letters were received and sent from and through the post-offices at Con- cord and Amherst, and were brought to town by any one who saw fit to take them out, and also by the post-riders.
Mr. Rice was post-master until June, 1841, a period of twenty-nine years. He received his commission as post- master from Francis Granger, then postmaster-general, and was removed by his son, Francis Granger, then postmaster- general. Mr. Rice performed the duties of the office with his usual fidelity, and was ever ready to accommodate the public, whose servant he was.
The post-rider gave way to the stage-coach, and soon the mail-route was established to Amherst, and thence to Bos- ton, the mail going down one day and returning the next.
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POST-RIDERS.
The stage-coach gave way to the rail-car in 1850, by which the mails have been conveyed since.
Mr. Rice was succeeded in June, 1841, by Col. Robert B. Eaton, who removed it into his store, where it is now. He held the position until 1845, when James Straw was appoint- ed, who moved it to his store, near the stone bridge. In 1852, Mr. Straw was elected to the legislature, and Horace Gibson succeeded him as post-master until January, 1855, when Hiram Bell was appointed, who moved it into the cor- ner store. In a short time he resigned his commission, and John W. Morse was appointed, who held it until the spring of 1861, when Horace Gibson was again appointed. He held the position until he resigned in 1874, when Gawn Wilkins was appointed, who still retains the office.
POST-RIDERS.
Lieut. Francis Bowman, of this town, commenced about the beginning of the present century to be a post-rider, or carrier of letters, papers, and small parcels. There were but few letters sent in those days, and still fewer newspapers. Mr. Bowman established his route from this town to Amherst, then and for a long time the county-seat of Hillsborough county, to which this town belonged for sixty years. Here he deposited what letters he had entrusted to him, and also all deeds to be recorded, always carrying them in his saddle- bags, thrown over the horse's back. Then he filled his sad- dle-bags with the Farmers' Cabinet, which was about the only newspaper taken at that time in Henniker and the neighboring towns, secured what letters were in the post- office for this place, thence up through Dunbarton to Con- cord, taking the letters from the post-office there, thence to this town. Coming up on the south side of the river with his old gray mare, he commenced to blow his post-horn on the common, and distributed his letters, papers, and parcels as fast as he could ; then went up to his house, where Alden Newman now resides, ate his dinner, and then hurried on to
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Hillsborough, thence to Washington, then Bradford, and then home, making the trip weekly. Mr. Bowman was very prompt in all his transactions, and was a great favorite with the people. Not being able to labor hard upon his farm, he inaugurated this enterprise, and secured a comfortable living for a number of years. The first appearance of the Farmers' Cabinet, then, as now, printed at Amherst, in any number, was Dec. 16, 1805, brought by Mr. Bowman. Post-routes were established by the publishers of newspapers, and Mr. Bowman was appointed to distribute the Cabinet through the north part of Hillsborough county. Mr. Bowman paid for the papers at the office of publication, and ran his own risk of getting it from his customers. Some began to fall in arrears after awhile, and he published some pretty sharp " duns" to his customers, as the following will show :
Francis Bowman, Post Rider from Amherst through the north part of Hillsborough County, requests all those indebted to him for newspapers, &c., for more than six months standing, to make payment up to the date of the present paper. The ar- rangement he has made with the Printer, and his own pecuni- ary wants, render payment at this time indispensable ; and he hopes that this earnest request will not be treated with indiffer- ence.
This was printed in the Cabinet of Dec. 20, 1808. A lit- tle less than one year from this date, or Oct. 23, 1809, he printed in the Cabinet the following :
Francis Bowman respectfully acquaints all those whom he has long and faithfully served as " the herald of a noisy world," with news from all nations "lumbering at his back," that the requirements of his other avocations, and the infirmities of age, have induced him shortly to relinquish the business of post-riding into other hands; and that he shall cease to "bear tidings" after the first Tuesday of November next. He pre- sumes it will be obvious to every one of his customers for the Farmers Cabinet, how necessary it is for him to require of them an immediate settlement with the Printer.
His bills will be made out to that date and presented ; and he confidently trusts that not one will be "found wanting " in the "balance" of the accounts.
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Then the editor of the Cabinet says :
A trusty, faithful person is wanted like Lt. Bowman, to ride on the above route, (when he shall have ceased from his public labors, and retired to his farm, conscious of having performed his duty, and of meeting his reward,) through the towns of Bed- ford, Goffstown, Dunbarton, Hopkinton, Henniker, Warner, Bradford, Weare, &c. A large number of papers are circulated on this route, which, with the incidental business it affords, ren- ders it a profitable undertaking to a person of punctuality, de- sirous of contracting for said route, who will meet with advan- tageous tetms from The Printer.
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