USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Peterborough > History of the town of Peterborough, Hillsborough county, New Hampshire > Part 18
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63
"Voted, that the selectmen purchase a suitable carriage to carry the dead to their graves."
·
This was the first hearse bought in town, and was con- tinued in use until 1868, when at a meeting held March IO, 1868, it was voted "That the selectmen be authorized to purchase a hearse at an expense not exceeding six hundred dollars, and that the said sum be raised and appropriated therefor." Agreeable to the above vote, a handsome and modern hearse was purchased, which is now in use.
A sexton is now appointed by the town, whose duty it is to dig all the graves, to attend all the funerals, to convey the bodies to the graves, and take care of the cemeteries at the expense of the town.
CHAPTER XX.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Town Hall. - Monadnock Railroad. - Masonry. - Independent Order of Odd Fellows. - Banks. - Newspapers. - Temperance. - Casualties. -Town Clock. - Fire Engines. - Surplus Revenue. - Osgood Gra- tuity. - Post-Office. - Population.
TOWN HALL. - The first town-house was built in 1830. Previous to this time all the town meetings had been held in the meeting-house, of which the town, in this as well as in the adjacent towns, was always part owner. A vote was passed at a meeting of the town, Aug. 31, 1829, in which the house was located on the Mitchell Flat, so called; the selectmen were authorized to purchase Lot No. 5, on which John N. Thayer now lives, for this purpose; the house to be built of brick, of one story, and to be completed by Oct. 1, 1830. Many of the citizens of the town, being desirous of having a room in the town-hall for public schools and other purposes, petitioned the town to add another story to the building. At a subsequent meeting, June 9, 1830, it was voted not to add another story to the town-hall, and not to permit subscribers to add one at their own expense! It was a very mean house, seeming to be built in the narrow, jealous spirit which origi- nated it, and continued to be used with universal discontent, till the town outgrew its dimensions, and required larger quarters.
At a meeting of the town, March 13, 1860, it was voted to build a town-house; and, agreeable to this vote, a town-hall of large dimensions was erected during the year 1860.
228
HISTORY OF PETERBOROUGH.
It is a large building, fifty-five feet by eighty-five feet. The hall is on the second story, and the entrance is by stone steps on the north end of the building.
This floor embraces a large hall, sixty-four and a half feet by fifty-five feet, and two anterooms, an entrance to hall and rooms, besides a passage-way to the attic, which is occupied by the Odd Fellows. The basement story is divided into four apartments, which are rented for various purposes, in the south of which the town library is placed.
It is a handsome and imposing edifice, but has never proved satisfactory for the purposes for which it was intended. The hall was constructed from an imperfect and incorrect plan, and which did not accord with any acoustic principles ; so that both speaking and hearing are very difficult in the same. No remedy for this great defect has yet been devised, and it has to be endured with all its inconveniences.
MONADNOCK RAILROAD. - The necessity of railroad facili- ties had long been felt by the business community of Peter- borough, and strenuous efforts had been made from time to time to secure a railroad connected with some trunk leading to Boston, but had all hitherto failed. The barrier of the East Mountains seemed to cut off the town from all connec- tion with the Peterborough & Shirley Railroad at Green- ville; and the continuation of the Wilton Railroad round the north side of the mountain not being accomplished, and also then deemed impracticable if not impossible, from the steep grade and unfavorable ground out of East Wilton, the people in 1867 began to agitate a south route to Winchendon, Mass., to connect with the Cheshire Railroad, the present Monad- nock road. With much effort this road was pushed through in the year 1870, and opened for the general business of passengers and freight, June 6, 1871.
The town, at a legal meeting held March 12, 1867, voted five per cent. of its valuation for a railroad from Parker's Sta- tion to the Cheshire Railroad at the State line, so called, not to be paid till the road should be completed to the Centre Village. The Monadnock, having completed their road to
-
229
MISCELLANEOUS.
the village from Winchendon, claimed the gratuity as before voted, when, at a town meeting held Oct. 6, 1870, it was voted to give the Monadnock Railroad $40,000, and the remainder of the five per cent. when the road should be completed to Hillsboro Bridge or Parker's Depot, Goffstown. Vote, 293 affirmative, III negative, there being twenty-three more than two-thirds.
The road has been in successful operation since it started, and has proved a great benefit by giving an impetus to indi- vidual enterprise and to all business affairs in town.
In the summer of 1874 the Boston, Barre, & Gardner Railroad leased the Monadnock road for ninety-nine years, and have successfully operated the same since.
The following are the officers of the road: President: Jonas Livingston; Clerk and Treasurer : William G. Livingston ; Directors : Jonas Livingston, Willis Phelps, O. H. Bradley, J. H. Fairbanks, Peter Upton, H. A. Blood, H. K. French.
MASONRY. - The charter of Altemont Lodge, No. 26, which was established in Dublin, was granted by the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire, June 14, Anno Lucis 5815. It went into operation, and was formally consecrated, Sept. 18, 1816, on which occasion Rev. Thomas Beede, of Wilton, preached the sermon. The meetings continued to be held in Dublin for some years, at one of which, May 7, 1816, the following vote was passed, viz. : "Voted to exclude the use of ardent spirits in this lodge, and substitute therefor crackers, cheese, and cider."
The subject of a removal of the lodge to Peterborough began to be agitated at a regular communication, May 15, 1825, when Amos Heald, Peter Tuttle, Levi Fisk, Henry Whitcomb, and Oliver Heald were appointed a committee to report whether, in their opinion, the interests of Masonry would be promoted by a removal of this lodge from Dublin to Peterborough. This committee reported : "that if the lodge can be removed from Dublin to Peterborough without disturb- . ing the harmony of the same, it will be for the good of Ma- sonry to have it removed." The report was accepted, and
·
230
HISTORY OF PETERBOROUGH.
measures were taken which resulted in the removal of the. lodge to Bernard Whittemore's hall in Peterborough. Few, if any, of the Masons in Dublin followed it. One after another, as appears by the records, withdrew his member- ship; and some never met with the lodge again.
The lodge was kept in operation in town till 1834, when in consequence of the political excitement of the times in which Masonry had become involved, its meetings were suspended until 1849. The institution of Masonry at this time became very unpopular, and the lodges generally suspended operation through the country. The charter of the Altemont Lodge, 'in consequence, became forfeited in 1840, but was restored in 1849.
On the renewal of the lodge, in 1849, it became very popu- lar, and now numbers about one hundred and twenty mem- bers, embracing some of our best citizens. It has recently taken possession of the beautiful and spacious hall over the Peterborough Savings Bank, which it now occupies. The Peterborough Royal Arch Chapter, No. 12, holds its meetings in the same hall.
INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS. - On the petition of Edwin Steele, John Parker, A. P. Morrison, Levi Cross, and J. H. Webber, a charter was granted by the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire, in February, 1846, to be located in Peter- borough, and to be known as Peterborough Lodge, No. 15, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
The members first initiated, when it was instituted into working order, the 18th of Feb., 1846, were Timothy K. Ames, Avery H. Hayward, James G. White, Nathan Whitney, Gran- ville P. Felt, David F. Hall, Henry S. Carter, Samuel Ja- quith, Hosea Pierce, and George Pritchard.
They held their meetings for nineteen years in the hall known as the Goodridge Hall, in the attic of the store for_ merly occupied by Samuel Smith, till 1864, when, jointly with the Masons, they leased the new hall fitted up in the Town Hall Building, where they still continue to hold their meet- ings, while the Masons have removed to the new hall in the Savings Bank Building.
231
MISCELLANEOUS.
Also with this order there exists a Rebekah Degree Lodge, No. 5, of Independent Order of Odd Fellows, confined to wives of Odd Fellows. "The degree of Rebekah" (says our informant, J. G. White, Esq.), "which has been in operation since January, 1852, has already won the approval and admi- ration of the fraternity. Thousands of ladies, the wives of Odd Fellows, have already availed themselves of its privileges, and thousands more are ready to receive them. It is chaste, beautiful, and admirably adapted to the object it designs to effect. Schuyler Colfax, the author of this new and popular degree, deserves and has received the sincere thanks of the fraternity for this ornament to the building which our fathers framed. The order is now in a flourishing condition."
In 1867, thirty of the younger members of Peterborough Lodge, No. 15, obligated themselves to revive and sustain the Encampment, No. 6, which had become extinct, provided seven patriarchs of the said order could be found who had been honorably discharged, who should petition for the resto- ration of the charter and property of said encampment. The following are the names of the petitioners, viz .: James G. White, John H. Webber, Granville P. Felt, Joseph Noone, Ira A. Spofford, Nathan Whitney, and D. F. Hall. The Most Worthy Grand Patriarch granted this request by dis- pensation. This encampment was instituted, Sept. 4, 1867, the officers were chosen and installed, and the lodge started off in good working order. To the present time, October, 1875, there have been admitted to the encampment sixty-four members. The present number is sixty. This encampment pays no benefits. It is at the present time in a prosperous condition.
Peterborough Lodge, No. 15, is in a flourishing state, and has admitted, during its thirty years of existence, by initia- tion, two hundred and forty-one members. The largest num- ber of contributing members has been one hundred and fifty- three; the present number is one hundred and thirty-four.
A large number have withdrawn by card to join other lodges, a few have retired from disaffection, and quite a num- ber have been suspended; four have been expelled, twelve have died, and seventy-seven have been rejected.
232
HISTORY OF PETERBOROUGH.
The lodge has paid, since it went into operation, for bene- fits, burying the dead, and for charitable purposes, $4,350; and at the end of thirty years, the funds of the lodge amounted to $5,000, with all its fixtures in good condition.
This institution is supported by the weekly dues of each of its members, and confers upon them when sick a cer- tain allowance per week during their illness. It exercises a supervision over the conduct of all its members, especially the younger part ; it admits of no immorality or vicious con- duct, or any crime amenable to the laws, but inculcates the highest principles of morality and Christian benevolence.
It looks after the sick of the order, having a special com- mittee for this purpose always appointed and in force, whose duty it is to see if any one of the brethren is sick, and if needy to help him, and provide watchers, or any other aid needed by his family. It pays thirty dollars for burial expenses to the family of every deceased brother, and fifteen dollars to every brother losing his wife. It has a charitable and orphans' fund, from which it dispenses to those of this class needing aid.
It has proved a useful and efficient aid to society in this place, exercising a helpful hand to a large class of its mem- bers; in guarding the community from vice, by raising the tone of public morals; in sustaining and taking care of the sick; and in the prevention of suffering and destitution, by its charities and services.
BANKS. - The Peterborough State Bank, with a capital of $ 50,000, went into operation, Jan. 1, 1855; A. C. Cochran, President, and Charles G. Cheney, Cashier. Mr. Cheney re- signed, May 16, 1862, and William G. Livingston was elected to fill the vacancy.
This bank closed its operations, May 27, 1865, when the First National Bank of Peterborough was established, with a capital of $100,000. The office of president becoming vacant by the death of A. C. Cochran, Esq., June 27, 1865, Fred- erick Livingston was elected to fill the same, which office he still holds. William G. Livingston resigned as cashier, Aug. I, 1867, and Albert S. Scott was elected in his place. Mr.
233
MISCELLANEOUS.
Scott held the office till April 24, 1871, when he resigned, and was succeeded by the present cashier, Charles P. Rich- ardson.
The bank was removed from the Granite Block, June, 1875, to the southern apartment, on the lower floor of the Peter- borough Savings Bank, which has been rented for a series of . years.
List of Directors for 1876: Frederick Livingston, Thomas Little, Amos Whittemore, Jonas Livingston, Henry K. French, David Hunt, William G. Livingston.
PETERBOROUGH SAVINGS BANK. - This bank was incorpo- rated in 1847. It was organized in 1859, by the choice of John H. Steele, William Follansbee, Timothy K. Ames, Whitcomb French, James Scott, Albert Smith, Daniel B. Cut- ter, Samuel Nay, Abraham P. Morrison, Abial Sawyer, Nor- ton Hunt, and Samuel Adams, as a board of trustees.
John H. Steele was chosen president and George A. Rams- dell secretary and treasurer. Jan. 12, 1863, John H. Steele re- signed his position as president and trustee, and William Fol- lansbee was chosen president of the board. George A. Ramsdell resigned as treasurer, April 30, 1864, and Riley B. Hatch was elected to fill the vacancy. The office of presi- dent becoming vacant by the death of Dr. William Follans- bee, Dr. Albert Smith was elected to this office, July 6, 1867, which office he still holds.
The bank buildings of the Peterborough Savings Bank were erected during the season of 1870, and the first meeting for business was held in the new rooms, Feb. 20, 1871. R. B. Hatch resigned the office of treasurer, April 5, 1873, and Mortier L. Morrison was elected to fill the vacancy. He entered upon the duties of secretary and treasurer, April 17, 1873, and still holds the office.
Whole amount due depositors, Jan. 1, 1876, $611,676.76. Board of Trustees elected January, 1876: Albert Smith, James Scott, Whitcomb French, Norton Hunt, Daniel B. Cutter, Silas Sawyer, Thomas Little, Ebenezer Jones, Fred- 30
234
HISTORY OF PETERBOROUGH.
erick Livingston, Jonas Livingston, Andrew A. Farnsworth, Albert Sawyer, Albert S. Scott.
Standing Committee on Investments : James Scott, Daniel B. Cutter, Ebenezer Jones.
Auditors : Albert Smith, Thomas Little.
NEWSPAPERS. - The first newspaper in town was published by William P. and John S. Dunbar, and commenced in the last part of 1829, which was called the Hillsboro Republican and New Hampshire Clarion. It was edited by Rev. Elijah Dunbar. It was printed in the building near the bridge, on Main Street, afterwards known as Joel Brown's store. It had a short duration, for it closed, April 29, 1831, with the ninth number of its second volume.
The second paper, a little sheet in pamphlet form, called the Peterborough Messenger, was published by Samuel P. Brown, in the summer of 1847, and discontinued after about ten months.
The first number of the Contoocook Transcript, published by Miller and Scott (John R. Miller and Kendall C. Scott), was issued, June 2, 1849, with four hundred subscribers. It has been continued uninterruptedly to this time, the present proprietors having early changed the name to that of The Peterboro' Transcript, by which it is now known.
During the first two years of its publication, for a portion of the time, it was edited by Albert S. Scott, Esq., and they were also indebted, for many valuable contributions, to the students of Harvard College.
At the expiration of two years, the subscription list, in the meantime, having been doubled, the paper passed into the hands of K. C. Scott. Elias Cheney was the next proprietor, who sold out to Charles Scott, and by him it was again sold to K. C. Scott, and after some years passed into the hands of the present proprietors, Farnum & Scott.
TEMPERANCE. - This town has never been backward in this great enterprise. Though much good has been accomplished by the various efforts made in its behalf by the efficient or-
235
MISCELLANEOUS.
ganizations of the Sons of Temperance, the Good Temp- lars, etc., yet the cause progresses slowly, and much remains to be done to inculcate the true principles of sobriety and tem- perance. Perhaps it may be said with truth, that there is now more total abstinence from intoxicating drinks among the young people than ever before; but the evil is yet great, and the remedy seems as yet unknown.
CASUALTIES. - Aug. 16, 1771, Anna, daughter of Maj. Robert and Mary Wilson, was killed by the falling of a log off a fence.
Dec. 31, 1795, Deacon Robert Smith, died in consequence of a slight wound of his knee, aged forty-three years.
June 25, 1793, Jabez, son of John Field, drowned in a tan-vat, aged four years.
May 19, 1801, Israel, son of John Leathers, and brother to John and Nathan Leathers, was killed by falling from a tree, aged twelve years.
June 29, 1801, Samuel McCoy, son of William McCoy, killed by the kick of a horse, aged thirty-four years.
Dec. 24, 1801, funeral of John Gray, who died instantly, just after sunset, by falling from the staging of Samuel Smith's new saw-mill, aged forty-six years. [Church Records.]
January, 1810, Nathan Sanders, drowned in the mill-pond near the great bridge, a son of Philip Sanders and wife, who were called the "King and Queen." Thomas Baker had taken the boy to bring up to the trade of paper-making, and when out this evening, with a party sliding on the pond, he slipped into an air-hole and was drowned, aged ten years.
June 15, 1810, Ebenezer Hadley, died in consequence of being thrown from his horse and one foot remaining in stir- rup, by which he was dragged some distance on the ground, and so injured that he died the next day, aged fifty-nine years.
Jan. 13, 1812, Joseph, son of Capt. William Wilson, scalded to death by falling into hot water, aged two years.
March 27, 1812, Daniel Kimball, killed by being thrown from a horse, aged thirty-four years.
236
HISTORY OF PETERBOROUGH.
Jan. 13, 1813, a child of Eli Hunt's, scalded to death, aged two and a half years.
April 8, 1814, Lieut. Ephraim Smith, called "Cady Smith," was drowned in the Cold Brook just beyond Mr. Mears', the water but a few inches deep, aged seventy-five years.
June 17, 1816, Samuel Edes, Jr., fell from a barn, now owned by Charles McCoy, while raising, and instantly killed, aged forty-one years, three months.
Sept. 24, 1815, Nathan Smith, lately from Washington, committed suicide by cutting his throat.
Oct. 1, 1818, Thomas White, Jr., by kick of a horse, aged twenty-three years.
Aug. 7, 1821, John Smith, Esq., was instantly killed by fall- ing from a load of hay in the meadow near the Samuel White place, aged sixty-seven years.
Oct. 16, 1822, Nathan Watts, blown up in a well in Dublin, aged thirty-five years.
May 28, 1824, Charles, son of William Smith, mortally wounded by a cart-wheel running over his head, aged seven years.
Sept. 25, 1824, Daniel Gibbs, the mail-carrier, mortally in- jured so that he died in a few hours, by being thrown out of his wagon and off the great bridge upon the rocks below, aged seventy-three years.
Dec. 25, 1824, David Scott, killed by a falling tree, aged eighteen years.
Dec. 20, 1825, Sarah, daughter of Jonathan Bowers, killed by accidentally falling down the cellar stairs, aged four years.
March 21, 1825, Noah Jackman, killed by the explosion of a rock, aged twenty-one years.
Dec. 28, 1826, Nancy, daughter of Deacon Samuel May- nard, scalded.
July 10, 1828, John Morison, son of John Morison, drowned in the Nubanusit River, in meadow above the Union Fac- tories, aged thirty-one years.
Dec. 21, 1828, John Haywood, of Dublin, killed at the Daniel Robbe hill, by being thrown from his wagon and the wheels passing over his head, aged forty-three years.
237
MISCELLANEOUS.
April 17, 1829, Jonathan Mussey, son of Dr. John Mussey, accidentally shot himself, aged seventeen years.
April 8, 1832, B. Morse, suicide, aged twenty-seven years.
Jan. 31, 1833, R. W. Stebbins, drowned at the great bridge during a great freshet, body not recovered till the next June.
June 30, 1833, Luther, son of Jonathan Bowers, killed by the explosion of powder, aged fourteen years, seven months.
June II, 1837, Rebecca Brackett, daughter of Samuel Brackett, committed suicide by hanging, aged fifty-four years.
Dec. 7, 1838, Jefferson Nay, suddenly, from a large infusion of alcohol, aged thirty-one years.
May 19, 1839, son of Paul Boyce, drank some strong ley and lived twenty-three hours, aged one year, nine months. Sept. 30, 1839, son of - - Crawford, drowned at West Peterborough, aged five years.
March 14, 1841, Gilman Miller, shot himself.
· June 21, 1841, Alfred and Albert, sons of Jonathan Bowers, drowned in the Nubanusit, aged six years, eleven months.
July 12, 1844, Dexter Carley, drowned in North Factory pond, aged thirty-nine years.
April 27, 1845, Abby, daughter of Samuel Converse, drowned, aged two years.
Oct. 2, 1846, Charles Brackett, son of Josiah Brackett, killed at Waltham Factory, aged twenty-three years.
June 27, 1847, William, son of William D. Cogswell, drowned, aged eighteen years.
August, 1848, Joel B., son of D. B. Willoughby, drowned while bathing above the Bell Factory, aged eleven years.
June 2, 1838, Hannah Jane, daughter of John Chapman, killed by a window-sash falling upon her neck in her attempt to get into a school-house in Jaffrey, the blocking under her feet falling away and leaving her hung by the neck, aged twelve years, five months.
Dec. 4, 1851, Samuel Clark, hung himself, hereditary in sanity.
Feb. 17, 1851, Charles F., son of Amasa Alexander, drowned by being swept over the dam at Granville P. Felt's shop, on
.
238
HISTORY OF PETERBOROUGH.
a piece of ice on which he was standing, which broke off un- expectedly. His body was not recovered for six weeks, when it was found near the pine trees opposite to the Village Cem- etery, aged fifteen years, seven months.
Aug. 13, 1862, Sophronia, wife of Col. Charles Scott, and Katie, wife of Maj. John Cummings, drowned by a collision of the steamboats "West Point " and " George Peabody," on the Potomac River.
Oct. 27, 1875, La Forrest Saunders, this day, was caught under the cars near the car-house, and both of his legs were broken and crushed as well as his left arm. He survived the accident four hours, aged fifteen years.
THE TOWN CLOCK. - The Town Clock was purchased and erected in 1856. The ladies of the town, determining that we should no longer be without this useful adjunct to our vil- lage, organized and carried through successfully " a clock festival," so called, at the upper hall in this village, Feb. 14, . 1856, from which they realized four hundred dollars for this purpose. Another hundred was raised by subscription, the clock costing about five hundred dollars. They employed Mr. David Smiley, jeweller, as their agent to select, purchase, and erect as good a town clock as could be procured. In the discharge of his trust, he rendered a large amount of gratui- tous services in the business, to the acceptance of all.
The clock was purchased of Howard & Davis, of Boston, in 1856, and erected in the tower of the Congregational Church the same year. It has proved an excellent time-keeper, and after a trial of nineteen years is now as good as ever. It has grown to be one of the indispensable things in our vil- lage. When the clock had been put in good running order, the ladies presented it to the town, and it was accepted by the following vote, March 10, 1857: "Voted, That the town accept the clock presented by the ladies, and take charge of the same." Mr. Smiley has been employed to take charge of it since its erection.
FIRE-ENGINE. - Previous to 1856 there had been very in-
239
MISCELLANEOUS.
adequate means to extinguish fires in town. The only means were a large fire-engine belonging to and attached to the Phoenix Factory, being placed in a small building on the west side of the same, but from its weight incapable of being transported to any other place, and a smaller one belonging to the Union Manufacturing Co .; but these afforded very lit- tle security to the property of the town. Many individuals, feeling their great insecurity from fire, subscribed about $700 for a fire-engine, which induced the town to have the follow- ing action, May 3, 1856; "Voted, That the town purchase a fire-engine and the necessary apparatus for the extinguish- ment of fires."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.