USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Mason > History of the town of Mason, N. H. from the first grant in 1749, to the year 1858 > Part 25
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REV. JOSEPH B. HILL, son of Rev. Ebenezer Hill, was born in Mason, November 25, 1796. He graduated at Harvard College in 1821. Ordained an elder of the Cumberland Pres- byterian church in Tennessee, he was, for many years, an itin-
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erant minister of that church in Tennessee, Alabama, Missis- sippi and Kentucky. He returned to New England in 1840, and was settled as colleague pastor, with his father Rev. E. Hill, of the Congregational church in Mason, in 1841. This connection continued until 1847. Since that time, he has resided most of the time in Colebrook and Stewartstown in New Hampshire, employed in the duties of his calling.
REV. TIMOTHY HILL, youngest son of the Rev. Ebenezer Hill, was born in Mason, June 30, 1819. He graduated at Dartmouth College in 1842, and at the Union Theological Seminary in New York city in 1845. He preached as a mis- sionary, under the direction of the Home Missionary Society, for several years, in Missouri, and is now pastor of a Presby- terian church in Saint Louis, Mo.
DR. OTIS HOYT, came to Mason in the spring of 1835, and commenced practice as a physician and surgeon, at Mason village. He was a pupil of his uncle, Dr. Enos Hoyt, of Sand- bornton. His first wife was a daughter of Maj. Seth King, of New Ipswich. In September, 1837, he removed to Framing- ham, Mass., where his wife died. His second wife was also a daughter of Maj. King. In 1838, he received the degree of M. D., at Dartmouth College. At the commencement of the Mexican war, he joined the army as a surgeon, served to the end of the war, then returned to the United States and estab- lished his residence in Wisconsin, and was appointed receiver in the land office at Hudson, in that state.
REV. NEHEMIAH HUNT, son of David Hunt, was born in Mason, in the month of September, 1812. He joined the Congregational church in September, 1833, and in 1834 was a student in the Oberlin Institute in Ohio, from which he went to the Mission Institute in Quincy, Illinois, at which and at the Lane Seminary in Ohio, he pursued his studies for the period of eight years, and completed his academical and theo-
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logical education. He was licensed to preach in 1845, and has resided in Illinois since that time, engaged in preaching, and, most of the time, also, teaching high schools. He now resides in Bethel, Bond county, Illinois, where he has been pastor of a church for the last seven years.
RESIDENCE OF DR. WILLIS JOHNSON.
DR. WILLIS JOHNSON, was born in Sturbridge, Mass., Dec. 21, 1786. He studied medicine with Dr. Ephraim Carroll, of Woodstock, Conn., two years, and with Dr. Ferdinand Leth- bridge of South Brimfield, Mass., one and a half years. He married (1) Dorothy Flinn of Woodstock, Conn., March 30, 1806. She was born January 16, 1785. He first commenced the practice of his profession at Jaffrey, in August, 1807, and removed to Peterborough in January, 1808, where he remained till 1814, in July of which year he removed to Mason, where he now resides. Dorothy, his wife, died January 2, 1843. He married (2) Sarah Ann Robbins, daughter of Mr. Luther Robbins, of Mason, August 4, 1844.
Dr. Johnson was elected town clerk of Mason, May 5, 1823, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Samuel Mer- riam, Esq., and he was re-elected to that office at the annual
Inth byl brozeher Roston
Boek Willis Johnson
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town meetings between 1823 and 1854, twenty one times, so that he served in the office of town clerk twenty two years in all, a longer time than the office has been held by any other person. He also served five years as chairman of the board of selectmen. He was appointed a justice of the peace in 1823, and still holds that office.
DR. ENOSH LAWRENCE, was the son of Lieut. Enosh Law- rence, and grandson of Ens. Enoshi Lawrence. He studied medicine, and had just commenced the practice when he was cut down by disease. He died a victim of consumption, Sep- tember 28, 1798, at the age of 25 years, 10 months, 12 days.
BENJAMIN MANN, EsQ., removed with his family from Woburn, to Mason, about 1771. His father and mother, James Mann and his wife, and his brother-in-law, Simon Ames, removed to Mason about the same time. Mr. Ames' wife was Mr. Mann's sister. These three families settled on the farm lately owned by Joel Ames. One of their dwelling houses was in the field north of the road and cast of the John Bachelder house, the other was near the large willow tree by the road side south of and near the residence of S. H. Wheeler. Benjamin Kendall, whose wife was a sister of B. Mann's wife, came from Woburn about 1785, and built the house where Mr. White now lives; and about 1780, Abraham Merriam, whose wife was an aunt of Benj. Mann, came also from Woburn, and settled on the Wilton road, on the lot east of Mr. Mann's. James Mann and his wife both died about the year 1781.
Benjamin Mann was, soon after he came into town, employed in public offices in town. He was moderator of the annual town meetings twelve years, town clerk four years, one of the selectmen six years, representative four years, and was chosen several times a delegate to conventions, a member of the committee of safety, and on many other important commit- tees in business relating to the revolutionary war. He com-
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manded a company in the battle of Bunker Hill, also in the army in Rhode Island. He built the house in the centre village, now owned by Asher Peabody, and kept a tavern there, and also a small store of goods. That village is also indebted to him for the noble elin trees which adorn the com-
mon. These he planted on the day of the ordination of Mr. Hill. Also, for the venerable willow planted about the same time, which has attained a circumference of about fifteen feet. Mr. Mann was the first person appointed a justice of the peace in town. About the year 1800, he sold his estate in Mason, and removed to Keene, and from that place to Troy, N. Y., where he died in 1831, aged about 91 years.
DR. THOMAS HASTINGS MARSHALL, son of William Mar- shall, was born in Jaffrey, December 2, 1806. His father William, the son of Thomas, was born in Tewksbury, Mass. He removed to Jaffrey during the time of the revolutionary war, and commenced a farm upon a new lot of land in the west part of that town, on which he resided until his death, in 1828. His mother was Sarah Cutter, born in New Ipswich. Her first husband's name was Kimball. Dea. Isaac Kimball, of Temple, John Kimball, of Fitzwilliam, and Benoni C. Kimball, of Mason, are her sons. Mr. Marshall was her second husband. Dr. Marshall and one sister are the only children of this marriage. He worked upon the farm with his father until he was 21 years of age, about which time his father died. His early education was obtained in the district schools of his native town. After studying two or three terms at New Ipswich Academy, and keeping school a few winters, he commenced the study of medical science, in 1832, with Dr. Luke Howe, of Jaffrey, a physician and surgeon of good reputation. He graduated M. D., at Dartmouth College, in 1834, having attended medical lectures at Bowdoin College, at Dartmouth College, and at Harvard University. He com- menced his professional life at Fitzwilliam, in 1835. His wife is Abigail Sophia Hawkes, of Templeton, Mass. They were
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RESIDENCE OF DR. THOMAS H. MARSHALL.
married December 1, 1836. He removed to Mason village in September, 1837, and has there continued in practice as a physician and surgeon to the present time.
JOSEPH MERRIAM, was born in Concord, in which place his ancestors have lived from its earliest settlement, and so many of them of his name that it is difficult to trace out his line- age. He settled in Mason about the year 1769. He was an industrious farmer, a good manager, and acquired a good estate. He enjoyed through his long life a large share of the confidence and esteem of his townsmen, shown by their eleet- ing him to important offices. He had not the gift of speech making, but he possessed a sound judgment and an honest heart-qualities more useful in life than the most full and flowing eloquence without them. He was one of the select- men fourteen years, and was the first representative elected after the town ceased to be classed with Raby. He lived many years on the farm now owned by Capt. Moses Merriam. About the year 1800, he built the large house near where Mr. Abijah Allen lived. Here he died, November 6, 1826, aged 82 years.
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SAMUEL MERRIAM, EsQ., was the son of Joseph Merriam, born at Mason, October 14, 1773. His first wife was Lucy, daughter of Aaron Wheeler. He served many years in town offices, as moderator, town clerk and selectman, was a justice of the peace and coroner, and was much respected for intel- ligence, integrity and business capacity. Lucy, his wife, died August 30, 1817. He lived on the farm now owned by his son, Capt. Moses Merriam, where he died, April 20, 1823, at the age of 50 years. His second wife was Huldal Burton, of Wilton, who survived him.
RESIDENCE OF MOSES MERRIAM.
REV. ALFRED L. MASON, was the son of Daniel and Martha Mason, and was born at Andover, Mass., in February, 1812. At the age of fifteen years, he united with the Congregational church at Andover. With the design of engaging in the min- istry, he commenced a course of study at the Teacher's Sem- inary, in Andover. After a brief term at that institution, he was, for a time, obliged to relinquish effort in that direction. Returning again as soon as circumstances permitted him to do so, he applied himself with the utmost earnestness, to pre- paration for the great work which he had chosen. His means
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A. Lo. Mason
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were limited to the earnings of his own hands, and very few students contend with greater difficulties than those which encompassed his path. He was generally obliged to labor until late at night in the manufacturing of shoes, to procure the means of continuing his studies, and his constitution was, naturally, by no means strong.
In 1830, he united with the Baptist church at Methuen, Mass. On the organization of a Baptist church at Andover, he removed his membership thither. By this church, he was licensed to preach, and was soon called to the pastorate of the church at Mason village. This call was accepted, and his ordination took place on the 20th of June, 1836.
On the 15th of November, 1837, he was married, by Prof. Emerson, of Andover Theological Seminary, to Miss Mary Town, of Andover. Of this marriage, were three children, Mary, Judson and Daniel, all of whom, with their mother, still survive, and reside at East Cambridge, Mass.
Mr. Mason's constitution, delicate always, and doubtless greatly impaired by efforts while in his academical studies, gradually gave way under the earnest labors of his charge, until the autumn of 1843, when a severe attack of hemor- rhage of the lungs laid him aside from his public duties. Somewhat recovering, after a time, he renewed his labors, but was soon again attacked as before, and continued to decline until his decease, which took place October 7, 1844.
Of the characteristics of Mr. Mason, the following is an extract from an extended obituary notice of him, in one of the papers of the Baptist denomination : "His character was pecu- liarly amiable and lovely. He was distinguished for equanim- ity, cheerfulness, affability and kindness. His piety, more- over, was not more simple and unaffected, than it was fervent and sincere. He manifested piety at home. As a preacher, his style was correct and impressive. His simple exhibition of truth and carnest appeals to the conscience, delivered in an affectionate manner, produced powerful and lasting impres- sions on many of his hearers. As a pastor, he felt deeply
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for the spiritual advancement of his charge, was laborious and eminently successful."
CHARLES TILDEN OTIS, pursued his preparatory studies at New Ipswich Academy, and entered Yale College in 1839. He was a good scholar, an amiable, promising youth, but was cut off by disease while a member of the college. He died, July 17, 1840, aged 21 years. His grave, in the village grave- yard, is marked by a headstone, but on it no mention is made of his literary life. His father, who resided on the farm for- merly occupied by Timothy Wheelock, removed out of town soon after his decease.
LIEUT. OBADIAH PARKER, may well be considered one of the fathers of the town. He was born in Groton, his wife, it is supposed, in Chelmsford, Mass. He began his farm on lot No. 8, R. 10, on which he built his house within a few rods of the line of New Ipswich. It is probably owing to this fact, that, in the History of New Ipswich, he is placed in the num- ber of the early inhabitants of that town. The same is the case with Aaron Wheeler, whose lot was next north of Lieut. Parker's, and his house near New Ipswich line. Lieut. Parker began to improve his lot in 1751. In the report made by the committee, at the Proprietors' meeting, in 1752, is entered : " Obadiah Parker, a good house and about two acres of land cleared." When he removed his wife into town, there were but three women in the place, and he used often to remark, in after years, that when his wife "was young, she was the hand- somest woman in town, except three." Lawrence, Hall and Tarbell, were the three who settled prior to Parker. It will be noticed, that Lieut. Parker's name appears on almost every page of the early history of the town, that he was a leading and active man in all affairs of church, town and state, on committees to hire preaching, and to seat the meeting house, &c., under the Proprietary, and was sent to Portsmouth to get the incorporation, and was directed, by a vote of the
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Proprietary, to "disburst the money" for that purpose. He was moderator, selectman and representative under the town organization. Possessing at all times through life the confi- dence and respect of his fellow citizens, he passed through the changes of life to extreme old age, and died October 5, 1816, aged 86 years. Without sickness or pain, in the quiet of night, without a struggle, from the repose of natural slumber, he fell into that deeper sleep that knows no waking.
OBADIAH PARKER, son of Licut. Obadiah Parker, was born in Mason, February 18, 1772. He graduated at Harvard Col- lege in 1799. He never entered upon any professional life, but gave his attention to teaching in private schools. He had, for several years, a popular school at Lexington, Mass. Afterwards, he removed to the state of New York, pursuing the same business, at various places, and finally, in the city of New York, in which place or in that vicinity, he died, about the year 1830.
JASON RUSSELL, JOHN RUSSELL and HUBBARD RUSSELL, were brothers, and their sister, ELIZABETH WEBBER, wife of Dea. Jotham Webber, were born in West Cambridge, then called Menotomy. They all settled in Mason, Jason in 1769, Hub- bard in 1772, John in 1774, and Dea. Webber in 1780. Each brought up a numerous family, and lived to old age, Jason to 84, John 86, Hubbard 88 years, and Mrs. Webber 82 years. Hubbard Russell served as selectman several years.
Richard Russell was, undoubtedly, the ancestor of this fam- ily. He was born in Hereford, county of Hereford, England, in 1611. He came to New England, and settled at Charles- town, in 1640. He was a representative from Charlestown thirteen years, was several times elected speaker of the house, was treasurer, and one of the assistants. He was an eminent merchant, and several of his descendants have been distin- guished for their success in mercantile business. John Rus- sell was appointed, 1645, "clerk of the writs at Cambridge."
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REV. JONATHAN SEARLE, was born at Rowley, Mass., in 1744. He graduated at Harvard College, in 1764. He preached in Mason, as a candidate, in 1770, and received an invitation from the people to settle as their minister. In 1772, he accepted the invitation, assisted in organizing a church, of which he was one of the original members, and was, on the 13th of October, of that year, ordained pastor of the church and minister of the town. As the first settled minister, he was entitled to a right of land in the town. This he owned in fee simple. A part he disposed of early, and a part he continued to own till near the close of his life. He purchased the valuable farm now owned by Ebenezer Blood, and built on it a very good house, which is yet standing in good condi- tion, and in it he resided till his death. It has already been related in this work, how difficulties arose between him and his people, which resulted in his dismissal, in 1781. He was commissioned as a justice of the peace, in 1785, and held that office until his decease. Soon after his dismissal, he ceased to officiate as a minister, and devoted his attention to his farm, on which he brought up, in a very respectable style, his numerous family. He died December 7, 1812, aged 68 years.
STEPHEN SMITH, was born at Kingston, R. I., August 31, 1807. At the age of fourteen years, he entered the employ of Bradford Sparrow, of Killingly, Conn., a cotton manufacturer. With him, he remained several years, and acquired a good practical knowledge of that business. His next engagement was with a manufacturing company in Sutton, Mass., by the failure of which, in 1829, he lost all his savings, several hundred dollars, and was left in debt, even for his board.
In the spring of 1830, he returned to Killingly, and engaged in the employ of Jedediah Lcavins, with whom an intimate friendship sprung up as lasting as life. In the year 1831, he united with the Presbyterian church in Killingly. In 1832, he married Marcia G. Leavins, a sister of his employer. In 1834, he went to Norwich Falls, Conn., and there he buried
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Fletcher Smith
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all his family, a wife and two infant daughters. In 1837, he married Maria Ellis, of Attleborough, Mass. Their only child, Erwin L., was born November 6, 1839.
The financial crisis of 1837 having thrown him out of employment, he, with another, undertook to operate a small mill in East Haddam, Conn. Disappointed as to the pecu- niary ability of his partner, and by the failure of the man who contracted to stock the mill, the enterprise, after a few months, was abandoned, leaving him once more stripped of all his hard earnings, and plunged in debt. Under these circum- stances, his health became impaired, his spirits depressed, and partial derangement ensued. He returned to Killingly, and, at the genial home of his brother-in-law, Leavins, gradually regained his wonted strength and cheerfulness.
In the spring of 1839, he removed to Uncasville, a small manufacturing village in the town of Montville, Conn. While residing here, he removed his church relations to Montville, and was elected deacon.
In 1843, he was invited by the Columbian Manufacturing Company, to take charge of their mill at Mason village, to which place he soon after removed his family. The company having had full proof of his integrity and capacity for busi- ness, increased their operations, and, in 1845, rebuilt the High Bridge mill, in New Ipswich, now No. 2. In 1855, having pur- chased the old saw and grist mill in the village, then owned by William Durgin, the company commenced building, upon its site, the new or No. 4 mill. About the same time, the old Water Loom mill in New Ipswich, now No. 3, was bought, and underwent thorough repair. The planning, drafting, contract- ing for, and supervision of, all this business, was done by Mr. Smith. In the midst of these multiplied labors and cares, his health again failed, and his mental equilibrium was once more overcome. In January, 1857, he relinquished business, and in April, by advice of eminent physicians, he was placed at the McLean Asylum, in Somerville, Mass., where he died, August 13, aged 50 years.
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Stephen Smith was a self-made man. In youth, he was bashful and retiring, almost shunning society, which he after- wards highly valued and enjoyed. His educational advantages were little more than those of the common schools, but doubt- less well improved. He wrote a fine hand, composed readily and correctly, and was an effective public speaker. His private residence and corporation improvements, are monu-
WAS
RESIDENCE OF HON. STEPHEN SMITH.
ments of his refinement and taste. He united a good degree of mechanical ingenuity with what may be termed executive ability, and great energy in the prosecution of business.
Mr. Smith held the office of a justice of the peace through- out the state, was once elected representative of Mason to the legislature, and served two years as one of the executive council. He was always foremost in good works, and espec- ially generous in his contributions to aid the cause of educa- tion, temperance and anti-slavery. Every good cause had his sympathy, and every one he regarded bad, his fearless oppo- sition.
But it is as a philanthropist and a christian that his mem- ory breathes the choicest fragrance. His was an earnest life,
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guided by principle. He evidenced his sincerity by his sacri- fices. As an illustration of his character and the spirit of the times, the following incident is given: While at Norwich Falls, he opened an anti-slavery prayer meeting at his house, which was threatened with mob violence unless discontinued. But the faith within was too strong for the force without. The little band prayed on unmolested.
Dea. Smith was one of the principal founders and support- ers of the Congregational church, formed at Mason village, in 1847, also one of its officers, and for many years the efficient superintendent of its Sabbath school. With children, he was always popular, enjoying with them innocent hilarity and cheerful recreations, with the keenest relish.
The prominent traits of his character were, a vigorous will, generous impulses, strong sympathy with suffering, and a prac- tical zeal for reform of the social, political and religious evils of our day.
His funeral took place at Mason village, Sabbath, August 16-a large concourse of people testifying by their presence and sadness, that a friend and public benefactor had fallen.
REV. JOHN SPAULDING, son of Hezekiah and Sally Spauld- ing, was born in Mason, November 30, 1800, graduated at Middlebury College, in 1825, completed his theological studies at Andover Theological Seminary, in 1828, and was ordained a missionary to the valley of the Mississippi, September 25, 1828. He was installed pastor of the Presbyterian church at Athens, Ohio, April 23, 1829, and of the Main-street Presby- terian church at Peoria, Illinois, June 6, 1838; was Secretary of the Western Education Society at Cincinnati, Ohio, four years and a half, and Corresponding Secretary of the Sea- man's Friend Society, New York city, sixteen years. He was a successful and popular school teacher, having before and during his college life, taught school four successive winters, in all one and a half years. During his pastorate of eight years, were admitted to his churches mostly on examination
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and profession of faith, 177 persons. Of one of his bible classes, in number 87, all but nine became professors of reli- gion ; of these, twenty one entered the ministry, two of whom were missionaries in foreign countries. Of the ladies of the class, five or six married ministers.
RESIDENCE OF JOHN STEVENS, ESQ.
JOHN STEVENS, was born at Wilton, N. H., July 21, 1783. His parents removed from Chelmsford, Mass., and were among the carly settlers of that town. He had several sisters, but no brother who attained mature age. The rural sports of childhood, and the labors of the farm, contributed to give him a fine physical development, a heritage to be coveted by every youth, whatever may be his future employment.
In addition to the advantages of the district school, the subject of this sketch attended, for a time, a private school, kept by the Rev. Mr. Beede, the clergyman of that town, to whom Wilton is much indebted for the high character, her common schools have so long held.
When about eighteen years of age, he commenced school teaching, an employment in which he soon attained great
JUUl . hrvzeller Boston
John Stevens
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celebrity. The "hard schools" particularly, sought his ser- vices ; and, what moral suasion and kind treatment could not effect, his powerful arm was prompt to accomplish, the entire submission of the most refractory scholars. For more than twenty years, his winters were chiefly devoted to this busi- ness.
June 6th, 1807, he married Hannah Lovejoy, of Wilton, and settled upon the homestead farm, ministering to the wants of his parents, while they lived. His mother, from an accidental injury, was almost helpless for many years.
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