USA > New Hampshire > Cheshire County > Marlborough > History of the town of Marlborough, Cheshire County, New Hampshire > Part 14
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158
HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
in various parts of the West. Ellen and Eliza, daughters of Aaron Stone, are both successful teachers. Ellen L. Rich- ardson, now Mrs. Harrington, has taught more than seventy months, and always with good success.
Were it possible, we would like to give the names of all our native and long resident teachers : but so. numerous are they that we find ourselves unequal to the task, and have therefore only mentioned some who have become eminent in their calling.
The whole amount of money expended by the town for schooling in the year 1878 was $1,566.85. This is divided among the several districts as follows, -one-third equally one-third by valuation, and one-third by the number of children attending school the fall and winter previous, calling District No. 2 two districts. The Literary Fund is divided equally, calling No. 2 three districts.
The town has received two small legacies for schools. The first was in 1828, by Abijah Tucker, the interest of which is $5.01 yearly. The other was in 1863, by Lydia W. Wyman. The interest which is expended annually is $33.04.
Superintending school committee were first chosen by the town in 1809: that year nine were elected, one from each district. As this committee was composed of some of the most enterprising men, it is to be inferred that they attended to the duties assigned them, although we find no report of their doings.
From the report of the school committee of 1820, we gather tlie statistics of the winter schools: -
'Teachers.
No. of Scholars.
Term.
Ruhama Whitney,
18
13
weeks.
Levi Gates, Jr.,
52
66
Luther Wiswall,
27
10
66
George Lane,
37
8
66
Solomon Tarbell.
64
12
Augustus Noyes,
81
14
66
Whole No. of scholars.
279
653
This committee reported that they believed the instructors
159
SCHOOLS.
had been faithful and unwearied in the performance of their duty, and that the pupils were orderly, their progress good and encouraging. As a uniformity of text-books throughout the various schools in town was desirable, the committee recommended Murray's English Grammar, the History of the United States, the American Preceptor, Cumming's Spelling Book, and the Scriptures.
The following is a list of the Superintending School Committee, from 1809 to the present time, with the exception of the years 1812, 1832, 1837, 1838 and 1839. If any were chosen these years, no record was made upon the town books, and we have failed to learn their names : -
SUPERINTENDING SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
1809.
Benjamin Whitney.
Col. Joseph Frost.
Abraham Coolidge.
Capt. Jonathan Frost.
Amos Cummings.
John Parkhurst, Jr.
Lieut. Jonathan Frost.
Robert Worsley.
Shubael Stone.
1810.
Rev. Halloway Fish. Levi Gates. Benjamin Whitney.
1811. Rev. Halloway Fish. Levi Gates. Caleb Perry.
1812.
None recorded.
1813. Rev. Halloway Fish. Dr. Ephraim K. Frost. Asa Frost.
1814. Rev. Halloway Fish,
Dr. Ephraim K. Frost. Asa Frost.
1815. Rev. Halloway Fish. Nathan Wild.
Caleb Perry.
1816.
Rev. Halloway Fish. James Farrar. Levi Gates, Jr.
1817.
Rev. Halloway Fish.
Dr. Ephraim K. Frost. Benjamin Whitney.
Asa Frost. Amos Cummings, Jr. Nathan Wild.
1818.
Rev. Halloway Fish. Amos Cummings, Jr. Asa Frost. Levi Gates, Jr. Nathan Wild. Dr. Ephraim K. Frost. 1819.
Rev. Halloway Fish.
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HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
Nathan Wild. Asa Holman. Capt. Benjamin Whitney. Amos Cummings, Jr. Levi Gates, Jr. James Farrar.
1820.
Rev. Halloway Fish.
Asa Holman. Dr. James Batcheller. 1821.
Rev. Halloway Fish. Dr. James Batcheller. Levi Gates, Jr. Asa Frost.
1822.
Rev. Halloway Fish.
Geo. H. Lane.
Thomas Tolman. 1823. Rev. Halloway Fish. Cyrus Frost. Levi Gates, Jr.
1824.
Levi Gates, Jr. Amos Cummings, Jr. Asa Frost.
1825.
Asa Frost. Levi Gates, Jr. Rev. Salmon Bennet.
1826.
Rev. Sahnon Bennet. Levi Gates, Jr. Luther Wiswall. Benjamin Whitney, Jr. 1827.
Rev. Sahnon Bennet. Benjamin Whitney, Jr. Levi Gates, Jr. Luther Wiswall.
1828. Rev. Salmon Bennet. Dr. James Batcheller. Benjamin Whitney, Jr. 1829. Rev. Salmon Bennet. Dr. James Batcheller. Benjamin Whitney, Jr. 1830. Luther Wiswall. Minot T. Lane. Sumner Frost. 1831.
Luther Wiswall. Benjamin Whitney, Jr. Minot T. Lane.
1832. None recorded. 1833.
Dr. James Batcheller. Luther Wiswall. Rev. Clark Sibley.
1834. Dr. James Batcheller. Stillman Buss. Willard Adams.
1835. Rev. Moses G. Grosvener. Dr. James Batelieller. Stillman Buss. 1836. Rev. Moses G. Grosvener. Benjamin Whitney, Jr. Stillinan Buss.
1837. None recorded. 1838. None recorded. 1839. None recorded.
161
SCHOOLS.
1840. Jairus Collins. Thorley Collester. 1841. Rev. David P. French. Giles Lyman. Jairus Collins.
1842.
Rev. Giles Lyman. Jairus Collins. Stillman Buss.
1843.
Rev. Giles Lyman.
Henry M. Danforth. Jairus Collins.
1844.
Rev. Giles Lyman. Henry M. Danforth. Dr. James Batcheller. Jairus Collins.
1845.
Rev. Giles Lyman. 1846.
Rev. Giles Lyman. Calvin Baker. Rev. Edwin Davis.
1847.
Rev. Giles Lyman. Charles F. Holman. Jairus Collins.
1848.
Rev. Giles Lyman. " Sherburn Dearborn. Jairus Collins.
1849.
Rev. Giles Lyman. 66 Sherburn Dearborn. Jairus Collins.
1850. Rev. Giles Lyman.
Jairus Collins. Norman Clark.
1851:
Rev. Giles Lyman. Jairus Collins. Cyrus Piper, Jr. 1852. Rev. Giles Lyman. Cyrus Piper, Jr. Rev. Judson Fisher.
1853.
Rev. Giles Lyman. 66 Judson Fisher. Jairus Collins.
1854.
Rev. Giles Lyman. 66 Judson Fisher. Jairus Collins.
1855.
Rev. Giles Lyman. Jairus Collins. 1856. Rev. Giles Lyman. Jairus Collins. Dr. Samuel A. Richardson.
1857.
Rev. Giles Lyman. Jairus Collins. Dr. Samuel A. Richardson.
1858. Henry C. Tenney. 1859.
Rev. Solomon Laws. Henry C. Tenney. Dr. Samuel A. Richardson.
1860.
Rev. Solomon Laws. Henry C. Tenney. Dr. Samuel A. Richardson.
23
162
HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
1861. Rev. Giles Lyman. Jairus Collins. Dr. Samuel A. Richardson. 1862.
Jairus Collins. Dr. Samuel A. Richardson. Charles E. Houghton.
1863. Jairus Collins. Charles E. Houghton.
Charles K. Mason. 1864.
Dr. Samuel J. Martin.
1865.
Jairus Collins. Charles E. Houghton. 1866. Jairus Collins. Rev. Hiram P. Osgood. 1867. Rev. Hiram P. Osgood. 1868. Rev. Hiram P. Osgood. 1869. Dr. Samuel A. Richardson. Elisha O. Woodward.
1870.
Charles E. Houghton. Elisha O. Woodward. Jairus Collins.
1871. Elisha O. Woodward.
Jairus Collins. Rev. Deming S. Dexter. 1872.
Jairus Collins. Rev. Deming S. Dexter. John L. Merrill. 1873. Rev. Deming S. Dexter. John L. Merrill. Charles E. Houghton. 1874. Charles E. Houghton. Rev. R. T. Sawyer .* John H. Hillman. J. Kilburn Southwick .* 1875. Rev. H. W. Hand. John H. Hillman. Charles Smith.
1876. Charles Smith. Rev. H. W. Hand.
1877.
Charles Smith.
1878.
Charles K. Mason. Charles Mason. Mrs. Carrie C. Fairbanks.
1879. Charles Mason. Mrs. Carrie C. Fairbanks. Charles K. Mason.
* Resigned.
CHAPTER IX.
THE REBELLION.
MARLBOROUGH THE FIRST TOWN IN THE COUNTY TO RESPOND TO THE CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS. - THREE MEN IN THE FIRST REGIMENT. - LIEUT .- COL. CONVERSE. - FOURTEEN MEN IN THE SECOND REGI- MENT. - SIXTH REGIMENT. - THE FOURTEENTH REGIMENT. - THE DRAFT. - AMOUNT OF BOUNTIES PAID. - NATIVES OF MARLBOROUGH WHO ENLISTED FROM OTHER TOWNS.
IT would be worse than useless for us, in a volume like this, to attempt to write a chapter on the cause of the Great Rebellion which deluged our country with the blood of many of our bravest and noblest men.
Like the shock of an earthquake, it burst upon our land. The opening scenes are still fresh in our minds: the election of Abraham Lincoln to the presidency in 1860, the occupa- tion of Fort Sumter by Maj. Anderson, and the final attack upon it.
If Marlborough did not do as much toward the suppres- sion of the Rebellion as some other towns, it was not for want of fidelity to the Union, but because her territory was smaller, her population less, and her resources not so ample.
When the stars and stripes were ruthlessly assailed on the ramparts of Fort Sumter by traitors, and Abraham Lincoln issued a call for seventy-five thousand volunteers, Marlborough acted promptly and patriotically, being the first town in Cheshire County to respond to that call. Her young men left their farms and work-shops, and went to the field. They fought as bravely, suffered as much in battle, in camp, and hospital, as those from other towns. The
164
HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
people of Marlborough shared fully in the excitement which spread over the entire North at the news of the surrender of Fort Sumter.
As soon as a recruiting-office was opened at Keene, three young men enlisted into the First New Hampshire Regiment, which was raised for three months. They were honorably discharged with their regiment on the 9th of August following. They were Thomas L. White, James Totten, and John Totten. The first-named is said to have been the first man to enlist from Cheshire County.
Soon after this regiment went to the field, a company was organized at Keene for the Second New Hampshire Regi- ment, and several of our citizens enlisted, among whom was Levi N. Converse. Young Converse first enlisted as a private in Company A. He was soon promoted to Orderly Sergeant, in which capacity, in the absence of his superior officers, he commanded the company through all the battles of the McClellan Peninsular Campaign, and afterwards became Lieut .- Col. He lost his right arm at Gettysburg; and. at the battle of Chapin's Farm, a minie ball passed through the roof of his mouth, injuring and disfiguring his face. Still he remained with his regiment until mustered out in Concord, at the close of his term of service.
The following from Marlborough were also in the Second Regiment : -
Daniel B. Woodward, William H. Tenney,
James Newell, Mirrick H. Ross,
Amaziah Sawtelle,
Jolın Totten,
Asa M. White,
Discharged June 20, 1864. Discharged for disability, Oct. 8, 1862.
Discharged with his regiment.
Wounded at Williamsburg, Va., May 5, 1862. Discharged Dec. 5, 1862.
Wounded July 2, 1863, and again June 24, 1864.
Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 2, 1863. Grave No 15, Sec. A. N.H. Lot, Gettysburg Cemetery.
Discharged July 30, 1862, in conse- quence of wound received in the battle of Williamsburg.
165
THE REBELLION.
. Rhodolphus I. White,
Lucius F. Hunt,
Amos L. Corey,
Mark True Greenwood,
Cyrus E. Hardy, Augustus C. White, Milton G. Razey,
Died at Camp Beaufort, Md., Dec. 20, 1861.
Discharged for disability. Reën- listed in Co. F., 2d Regiment Sharpshooters. Wounded. Discharged for disabil- ity Feb. 2, 1863. Discharged Sept. 25, 1861. Mustered out Dec. 21, 1865. Mustered out May 22, 1865. Deserted at Warsaw, Va., Sept. 30, 1865.
This regiment participated in more than twenty battles, and lost in action nearly one thousand men. The most sanguinary battles in which it was engaged were the first and second Bull Run, Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Gettysburg, Cold Harbor, and the battles in front of Petersburg. In these engagements alone, the loss in killed, wounded, and missing, was more than eight hundred.
The Sixth Regiment was raised in the autumn of 1861; and Nelson Converse was commissioned its Colonel, October 26, which position he held until the 8th of March, 1862, when he resigned in consequence of ill-health. In this regi- ment were seventeen men from Marlborough : -
Calvin Stone, Falis H. Castone, Edward F. Adams, William A. Russell, Thomas L. White,
George V. R. Farnum, Arculus Vicar, Charles L. Clark, Oscar W. Farnum,
Charles A. Field, John H. Priest, Henry A. Atherton,
George H. Smith,
Discharged for disability. Mustered out with regiment. Promoted to captain Apr. 20, 1864. Discharged for disability. Promoted to corporal. Transferred to V.R. corps May 1, 1864. Discharged Dec. 26, 1864. Reënlisted Dec. 22, 1863. Reënlisted Jan. 4, 1864. Transferred to V.R. corps July 1, 1863. Discharged for disability. Mustered out Nov. 27, 1864. Discharged for physical disability June 20, 1865. Transferred to Invalid Corps Sept. 30, 1863.
166
HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
Charles W. Pike,
Francis M. Farrar,
Everett F. Gates,
George Tilden,
Killed in 2d Bull Run Battle Aug. , 29, 1862. Discharged for disability at Wash- ington, D.C., Oct. 20, 1862.
Died at Nicholasville, Ky., Ang. 30, 1863. Discharged for disability at Ro- anoke Island, N.C., Feb. 28, 1862.
The Fourteenth, which was the last of the three years' regiments raised in the State, was mustered into service in the autumn of 1862. Cheshire County furnished four com- panies, and Marlborough was represented by eighteen of her citizens : -
James Totten, Christopher Totten, William Collins, Enoch Foster,
George H. Stone,
George H. Stockwell,
Alphonso A. Adams,
Perley E. Collins, Delevan C. Richardson,
Nathaniel P. Rust,
Theodore Pope,
Sumner L. McCollester,
Wounded Sept. 19, 1864, but served to the close of the war. Wounded Sept. 19, 1864.
William H. Pierce. Luke Knowlton, Jr., Charles A. Mason.
Edwin B. Matthews, Ebenezer T. Greenwood.
Charles Knowlton,
Mustered out with regiment. 66 66
Promoted to sergeant Jan. 17, 1864. Corporal. Discharged for disability, at Concord, May 30, 1865. First lieutenant. Wounded Sept. 19, and died Sept. 25, 1864. Died at Troy, while at home on a furlough, July 20, 1865. Discharged at Concord, Oct. 13, 1864. Mustered out July 8, 1865.
Wounded Oct. 19, 1864, mustered out July 8, 1865. Killed at Winchester, Va., Sept. 19, 1864. Discharged for disability at Wash- ington, D.C., Oct. 18, 1864.
Promoted to corporal Nov. 1, 1864. Died at Washington, D.C., Sept. 7, 1863. Mustered out July 8, 1865.
Promoted to corporal Jan. 24, 1863. Wounded Sept. 19, 1864.
Died at Poolsville, Md., Jan. 20, 1863.
167
THE REBELLION.
Melvin H. Collins enlisted in November, 1861, in Company F, Second Regiment, United States Sharpshooters, and was discharged for disability, June 2, 1862. Asa C. Dort enlisted April 29, 1864, and served as Quartermaster Sergeant in Company D, First New Hampshire Cavalry, and was mus- tered out July 15, 1865.
In September, 1863, there was a general draft throughout the State; and this town was no exception. Fourteen were thus selected and held for service, only one of whom entered the army; namely, Horace O. Lewis who became a member of Company D, Fifth Regiment. He died at Armory Square Hospital, Washington, D.C., in consequence of wounds received at the battle of Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864. The remaining thirteen paid three hundred dollars each as commutation. Their names were as follows: -
Cyrus S. Moors. Thomas H. White.
Albert W. Stockwell.
Joel S. Knight.
Charles H. Thurston.
James Brown.
Charles E. Houghton.
John Carr.
Luther G. Bemis.
Lucius F. Hunt.
Fay Forbush.
Henry D. Richardson.
Henry H. Ward.
The whole number of men furnished by the town, includ- ing foreign substitutes, was ninety-eight; and the amount of bounties paid was ten thousand four hundred and twenty- one dollars.
Several of our young men were absent from town at the time the first call was issued for soldiers, and enlisted into the service from the places of their abode. We are unable at this time to give the names of all who thus entered the army, but among them were William M. Clapp, Lucius H. Shattuck, Ora W. Harvey, Levi D. Jones, Alfred M. White, and George H. Woodward.
CHAPTER X.
MILLS AND MANUFACTORIES.
FIRST SAW-MILLS. - TUCKER MILL. - TENNEY MILL. - GRIMES MILL. - HUNTING MILL. - WISWALL MILL. - COLLINS MILL. - OSBORNE MILL. - MASON MILL. - GRIST-MILLS. - FULLING-MILLS. - PAILS. -- CLOTHES-PINS AND OTHER WOODEN WARE. - KNOB SCREWS. - BLANKET MILLS .- BREED POND COMPANY .- MACHINISTS. - BLACK- SMITHS. - TANNERIES. - SHOEMAKERS. - SADDLERS AND HARNESS- MAKERS. - BROWN EARTHEN WARE. - BRICK. - GRANITE QUARRY.
FOR many years after the settlement of the township, the excellent water power afforded by the numerous streams running through the town was considered of little value, beyond what was used for the sawing of lumber and the grinding of grain. In Chapter II., allusion was made to the first saw-mill built by Daniel Harrington, and the first two grist-mills built by Joseph Collins and Abijah Tucker. Both of these had a saw-mill connected with them, thus rendering it comparatively easy for the settlers to obtain lumber for building purposes. The one built by Joseph Collins was sold by him, in 1771, to his brother-in-law James Lewis, after which we hear no more of this mill, and it probably remained in existence only a few years. Mr. Tucker continued to carry on his mill until the infirmities of age compelled him to give up labor ; after which, he let the mill for several years to different parties. His mill-dam was the first obstruction placed across the river; and at that time it was no unusual sight, in the spring of the year, to see shad below the dam, which had run up from the Connecticut River.
169
MILLS AND MANUFACTORIES.
About 1826, this mill came into the possession of Charles Holman who for many years carried on an extensive lumber business. In 1837, Mr. Holman erected the stone-mill which he continued to occupy until old age rendered him unfit for labor, and the mill then came into the possession of his sons-in-law, Messrs. Thurston & Wilkinson. They built an addition to the mill and put in machinery for the manu- facture of nailed and dovetailed boxes and trunk-cleats.
There was also a saw-mill built at an early date by Benjamin Tucker and his sons a little below the outlet of Meeting-house Pond on the site of the Whitney and Tarbell mill, so called. A native poet of that day, whose rhyming gives evidence of considerable inventive genius, notices this mill in the following verse : -
Tucker's boys built a mill, Half the time it did stand still, When it went it made a noise, Because it was built by Tucker's boys.
The present mill was erected by William. C. Mason and Nathaniel Tottenham in 1840, who intended to saw out chair stock; but, failing in their design, the mill was left in an unfinished state till 1845, when it was purchased by Amos A. Mason and Charles R. Bemis who finished the mill and commenced the manufacture of cane-seat chair-frames. In 1846, Mr. Bemis sold his interest in the business to Mr. Mason who carried it on for several years. After this Mr. Bemis in company with Austin G. Parmenter carried on the same business for twenty years in the mill now owned by Osgood R. Wiswall. Mr. Mason was succeeded by different parties, each of whom remained but a short time ; and about the year 1856 it came into the possession of Charles D. Tarbell and Jared I. Whitney who for several years carried on an extensive lumber business in connection with the manufacture of chair-seat frames. In 1866, Mr. Tarbell sold his interest in the mill to Mr. Whitney who continued the business some two or three years, and then sold to Mortimer M. Stowe. The mill is now in the possession of Amos A. Mason, and occupied by Miles Cudworth as a stave-mill.
24
170
HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
William Tenney, Sen., butlt a saw-mill, probably about 1780, on the Baker Brook, about half-way between the bridge and the saw-mill since owned by Miles Cudworth. The latter mill was built by Rufus Brooks some twenty years since. In 1867, he sold it to Francis L. Mason who used it as a saw-mill and also for the manufacture of clothes-pins. After the death of Mr. Mason, Miles Cud- worth purchased the mill, and used it for the purpose of getting out pail-staves, until it was burned, Dec. 3, 1877.
There was a saw-mill on the Roaring Brook in Roxbury, which is supposed to have been built by Bart. Grimes. We have no account of the building of this mill; but it must have been previous to 1800. This was afterwards owned by Esq. Holman.
A saw-mill was erected by JJesse Hunting, at the outlet of Cumming's Pond about 1800. It is said, when Mr. Hunting was building this mill, that old Mr. Tayntor (father of Jedediah), passing near the spot on his way through the woods, remarked to Mr. Hunting, " This is an excellent place to build a mill, but where is your water?" This meaning will be readily understood by all who are acquainted with the surroundings.
About 1805, John Wiswall, Sen., built a saw-mill on the river near what is now called the "Day Bridge. " This, however, was washed away in a few years, and never rebuilt.
About this time, a mill was erected on the Marlborough Brook, upon the site of the old Harrington mill. This was owned by Jonathan Whipple who probably sold it to Joseph Wellington. When the latter left town, it came into the possession of Capt. John Lane who continued to own and occupy it until the great freshet of 1826, when it was carried away.
Samuel Collins built a mill (probably a saw and grist- mill) at an early date on the site of the lower mill of the Marlborough Manufacturing Company. In 1803, this was owned by Daniel Fisk who converted a part of it into a fulling-mill. In 1807, it was purchased by Ebenezer Hill who did considerable business at dressing cloth. He
171
MILLS AND MANUFACTORIES.
remained here eight years, and then sold to John B. Farrar who continued the business for several years, and then sold to Gilman and Nelson Converse who used it as a lumber- mill. They also engaged in the manufacture of powder- kegs. In 1834, the building was destroyed by fire; and some time after, the privilege passed into the hands of Asa Greenwood who erected the main building now standing, and engaged in the lumber business.
Of the mills erected in the south part of the town, now within the limits of Troy, we can say but little beyond the fact that there was a grist-mill built by Phinehas Farrar in 1784, a few rods above the Forestall mills. This was after- wards owned by Daniel Gould. Alexander Parkman also built a fulling-mill in that part of the town about 1778.
Jacob Osborne is believed to have been the first to erect a saw-mill on the privilege now occupied by Levi A. Fuller. As this was a part of the tavern property, it was bought and sold in rapid succession for many years. Mr. Fuller, the present owner, purchased it of his father in November, 1863. In the spring of 1872, this mill was destroyed by fire. Mr. Fuller immediately erected a neat and substantial building, and is at present engaged in the manufacture of bail-boxes, pail-staves, and coarse lumber.
Some years since a mill was erected on the stream, a few rods below the above-mentioned Fuller mill, by Isaac Fuller, and was used for the manufacture of various kinds of wooden-ware. Osgood J. Bemis succeeded Mr. Fuller, and for several years manufactured pail-handles to some extent. In the fall of 1871, he lost the mill by fire, and built the present structure which is now occupied by Levi A. Fuller in connection with his other mill.
In 1837, James Hobert built a saw and stave mill on the Baker Brook, which was the one since owned by Aaron Mason. Hobert carried on the business for a short time, but, not making it profitable, it passed into the hands of Mr. Mason who retained possession of it until the destruction of the dam by the freshet of 1869. The dam was never rebuilt, and the property soon passed into other hands. A part of
172
HISTORY OF MARLBOROUGH.
the mill was taken down, and the remainder converted into a barn.
Some time previous to 1800, Samuel Collins built a grist- mill at what is now called .. Marlborough Glen." This was in use by Mr. Collins and his sons until 1830; at which time, being somewhat out of repair, it was deserted, and the same year Joseph Collins built the mill now owned by Osgood R. Wiswall, which he used as a grist-mill for a few years, and then, selling to George Harvey, removed further down the river, and about the year 1840 commenced to erect the one sinee owned by the late Barton Blodgett. Before it was completed, Mr. Collins died ; and the mill soon after came into the possession of Stillman Buss, under whose skilful management it soon won the name of being the best flouring- mill in Cheshire County, and was extensively patronized, not only by the people of the adjoining towns, but by those from a distance of more than twenty miles around; and so famous did this mill become, that Mr. Buss was obliged during a part of the time to run it night and day. In 1861, Jedediah T. Collins purchased an interest in the mill which was carried on under the firm-name of Buss & Collins. After the death of Mr. Buss, Barton Blodgett bought one- half of the mill, and continued in company with Mr. Collins for several years, when he purchased of Mr. Collins his share and continued to run it until his death. It is now owned by John M. Farnum of Keene.
Eliphalet Stone erected a fulling-mill at the outlet of the Stone Pond on the site of the present saw-mill at an early date. This was probably the first mill for dressing cloth within the limits of this town. Mr. Stone divided his time between the farm and mill for many years, until, meeting with some reverses, he divided his property between his sons, Calvin and Shubael; and Calvin, taking the mill, resumed the business of dressing cloth. He removed the old fulling-mill to the opposite side of the road, and con- verted it into a dwelling-house for his father; built a saw-mill in place of it, and also a new fulling-mill a few rods below. Calvin Stone, Jr., with his brother Solon,
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