USA > New Hampshire > Strafford County > Rochester > History of the town of Rochester, New Hampshire, from 1722 to 1890, Vol. I > Part 47
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Another time a man from Brownfield, Me., claiming to be a drover, came in wanting to borrow $2,500 at once. He said that
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Mr. Towle, who was known to be wealthy, was an uncle of his and would sign the note. He was informed that he could have the money if he would get the name of Amasa Copp of Wake- field, or Levi Jones of Milton. A little before bank hours next morning, Mr. McDuffee saw him coming up the street on a sweating horse, as though he had been riding all night. Sus- pecting that all was not right he secured the presence of the sheriff. The man, whose name was Meade, brought his note with the name of Levi Jones, which was at once seen to be a forgery. Denying at first, he finally confessed, and was arrested and lodged in jail. He belonged to a notorious gang of forgers and counter- feiters, who had money enough to almost ensure the escape of any one of their number who should be detected. John P. Hale, his counsel, set up insanity as defence, got him admitted to bail which proved to be worthless, and the man escaped to Canada.
This with other efforts to bring similar culprits to justice soon taught the bank officers that the only gain was the satisfaction of seeing them lie in jail for a time, while they themselves were out of pocket for the expense of putting them there.
The bank records contain the following account of an attempt at burglary : -
" On Saturday morning the 18th of November, A. D. 1843, this Bank was entered by Burglars. They broke a square of glass on the south side of the Bank window nearest the road, being the second square from the road in the second row from the sill. They then bored through the shutter with a la inch bit untill they could get in their arm. They then unbarred the window and came in. They then attempted to blow off the lock from the outer door of the vault, with Powder. Two explosions were made; the first one is supposed to have started one of the straps that holds the lock to the door, so that the door yielded about three inches; the second discharge is supposed to have effected nothing. They then attempted by the help of the Iron window bars, to pry open the doors but did not succeed. Both explosions were distinctly heard by numerous families in the vicinity. One arose soon after the second report and lighted a lamp. It was then 3 o'clock A. M. Nothing was taken except two of the window bars which were carried back in the field and thrown down, but found and returned on Monday. On Sunday morning at 8 o'clock, the Cashier came in to see that all was right as usual, and made the discovery. The building was filled with smoke and at first sight seemed as if it proceeded from fire. It is supposed that there were at least three of the villains."
Two other unsuccessful attempts have been made, only forcing one door, and once setting the bank on fire.
The old bank lock was made by Charles Dennett, and though long superseded by modern improvements, is still kept as a me- mento of early times.
ยท
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The last board of directors of this bank consisted of John Mc- Duffee, William K. Kimball, Charles Greenfield, Dominicus Han- son, Thomas C. Davis, E. J. Mathes, and Enoch Whitehouse.
When the state banks went out of existence in 1866, this bank closed up its affairs, but the same business was continued by John McDuffee & Co., private bankers, until the national bank was established.
ROCHESTER NATIONAL BANK was organized under a national charter January 27, 1874, with a capital of $50,000, and the following directors: - John McDuffee, Charles Greenfield, Thomas C. Davis, Enoch Whitehouse, Joseph H. Worcester, Nathaniel Burnham, and Franklin McDuffee. John McDuffee was chosen president, and Franklin McDuffee cashier. John McDuffee has continued in office till the present time (p. 370). From first to last his hand has been felt in the careful, conservative management of these banks, as also the Norway Plains Savings Bank, which has made their history a continuous success. 3 On the death of Franklin McDuffee in November, 1880, Henry M. Plumer from Salmon Falls was chosen cashier, and has held the office to the present time.
The present directors are John McDuffee, Charles Greenfield, Nathaniel Burnham, James Farrington, and Joseph H. Worcester. The bank has a surplus of $10,000, and $3,000 undivided profits.
NORWAY PLAINS SAVINGS BANK was incorporated July 2, 1851, and began business August 5, with the following officers :- Charles Dennett, president; John McDuffee, Jr., secretary and treasurer; Charles Dennett, J. D. Sturtevant, John Folsom, James C. Cole, N. V. Whitehouse, T. C. Davis, and E. J. Mathes, trus- tees. September 5, 1866, Franklin McDuffee was chosen secretary and treasurer, and March 11, 1867, John McDuffee was chosen president. December 1, 1880, Henry M. Plumer was chosen sec- retary and treasurer in place of the late Franklin McDuffee. By order of the Supreme Court March 25, 1878, the deposits were scaled down one sixth, but April 5, 1881, the entire amount was returned to all who had accounts there at the time of the reduction, whether they had withdrawn their money or not. This result fully justified the confidence which, even during the temporary embarrassment, pervaded the greater part of the community that the bank would come out all right in the end. The deposits at
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this time are over $600,000. The trustees are : - John McDuffee, Charles Greenfield, Dominicus Hanson, James Farrington, Na- thaniel Burnham, I. W. Lougee, and James H. Edgerly.
ROCHESTER SAVINGS BANK.
BY HON. CHARLES S. WHITEHOUSE.
The establishment of savings banks in a town is a fair indica- tion of the thrift and frugality of its people. Like the church and the schoolhouse which indicate the moral and intellectual standing of a town, these savings institutions emphasize the indus- try, economy, and prudence which make the former possible, or at least add greatly to their development. The good they do in a community is incalculable. Habits of economy and industry are stimulated and encouraged, and many a young man can date the beginning of his success in life from his first deposit in a savings bank.
Rochester has been singularly fortunate in its savings banks. They have been managed with prudence and sagacity, together with a commendable spirit of liberality towards the business men of the place, until from small beginnings they have become an important factor in the prosperity and growth of the town.
ROCHESTER SAVINGS BANK was incorporated by the State July 3, 1872. From various causes the first meeting of the corporators was not held till August 27, 1874, when they organized by the choice of trustees. The twenty-four corporators were as follows: - E. G. Wallace, C. K. Sanborn*, Enoch C. Dow*, Albert W. Hayes, William Rand, Francis Orr*, and John Hall, trustees; other members, Nathaniel Burnham, J. D. Evans*, Robert McIlroy, Larkin Harrington*, S. D. Wentworth, William Wentworth, J. H. Worcester, James Farrington, James Walker, S. H. Feinemann*, Edwin Wallace, John D. Sturtevant*, John Legro*, James Hurd*, Isaac Merrill*, E. J. Mathes, Isaac W. Springfield, and Elbridge W. Fox. Subsequently, Ebenezer G. Wallace was chosen presi- dent; Cyrus K. Sanborn, vice president; and Stephen D. Went- worth, treasurer. The bank, located in the Cole building, began business and received its first deposit November 2, 1874, Capt. A. W. Hayes being the first depositor. Since then the bank has
* Deceased.
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grown steadily in the confidence of the community, until at the present time, December, 1889, its deposits and accumulations amount to over $400,000. It has paid its depositors semi-annual dividends regularly from the beginning, never less than four, and a part of the time five per cent yearly. E. G. Wallace resigned the office of president in 1878, and was succeeded by C. K. San- born, who served till 1882, when Mr. Wallace took the office again for one year. John Legro next held the position till 1884, then E. J. Mathes filled the place till 1888, when William Rand was chosen and still holds the office. Stephen D. Wentworth has been treasurer from the beginning, -a period of fifteen years. Having all the details attending the loaning, collecting, and safety of nearly half a million dollars belonging to about a thousand depositors, he is fully alive to the responsibilities belonging to the position which he so successfully fills. He is an earnest and faithful official, -energetic, painstaking, and sagacious.
The present officers are: - William Rand, president; J. Thorne Dodge, vice-president; S. D. Wentworth, treasurer; William Rand, J. T. Dodge, Frank E. Wallace, Ezra Standley, Augustine S. Parshley, Richardson J. Wallace, and S. D. Wentworth, trustees.
Shortly after commencing business the bank was moved into the Hayes Block, where it remained till January, 1889, when it took possession of its present tasty and convenient quarters.
A word of tribute to the sterling worth and faithful devotion to the interests of the depositors on the part of the deceased members of the corporation is not inappropriate. They were all men who in their various callings of life were an honor to the town. They knew the struggles of early manhood, and appreci- ated the benefits growing out of a conscientious devotion to public and private duties. They were men of prudence, rugged integrity, and unblemished reputation among their neighbors and fellow citizens. Whether as the devoted family physician, the able law- yer, the honest merchant and manufacturer, the sterling farmer, or the public official, they gained and merited and held to the last day of their lives, the unqualified respect and confidence of their townsmen, and left a remembrance of their public and private worth rich in good deeds.
Some account has already been given of the FARMERS AND ME- CHANICS BANK, afterwards the GONIC NATIONAL BANK (p. 362).
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ROCHESTER LOAN AND BANKING COMPANY was organized in 1886, as a private partnership. A charter was granted by the Legis- lature of 1887 under which they reorganized June 1, 1888, with the following officers : - President, Edwin Wallace; vice-president, Sumner Wallace; cashier, John L. Copp; directors, Charles F. Caverly, Charles B. Gafney, Frank Jones of Portsmouth, Isidor Salinger, Edwin and Sumner Wallace, and Gurdon W. Wattles. They have a paid-up capital of $100,000, and transact all kinds of general banking business.
HOTELS.
Places for the public entertainment of travelers, in some form, have always held an important position among the conveniences of even a semi-civilization. They have been prominent in Roch- ester from the earliest times.
The Stephen Wentworth Tavern which stood on Haven's hill, " a short distance from the traveled road in the south-east corner of a three-acre lot, with a small cellar and an ancient well to mark its location," is said to have been the first tavern in Rochester. It was "a one-story double house with a wing at each end, unpainted, and exactly facing the sun at 12 M." This tavern was known also as the " Wolfe Tavern," from the sign which bore a bust por- trait of General Wolfe in full military dress. Under the portrait were the words "GENERAL: WOLFE -. 1770." This was the date of the sign. The tavern had doubtless been open for years before. In the upper corners of the sign were the letters S. W., for the name of the proprietor. This old sign is now owned by Dr. Farrington. Stephen Wentworth was akin to the famous Ports- mouth family, and here old Governor John Wentworth frequently stopped with his accomplished wife, and hence it was often called the " Governor Wentworth Tavern." Here men were recruited for the Revolution, and the scenes of interest here enacted would fill a long chapter of valuable history now passed into oblivion.
John Cloutman kept tavern as early as 1768 on the farm now owned by his grandson, Charles Willand.
Moses Hurd had a tavern which was burned not far from 1790. It probably stood where is now the " Moses Hurd house," at the lower end of Main street.
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About the time of the Revolution, a small one-story house in which Colonel McDuffee had lived, was moved to where Hayes Block now stands, and became a tavern first kept by Stephen Berry. In the early part of the century it was kept by Major Perkins, and afterwards by Levi Dearborn, known as "Squire Dearborn." After his death it remained unoccupied for some years, when Simon Chase added a story and made it his own residence. It now stands on the rear of the same lot.
The large two-story house at the lower end of the village known as the Roberts house, was formerly "Furber's Tavern," the old sign of which is still preserved by Mrs. John R. Roberts, being a small oval bearing the words, "M. Furber's Tavern. 1806."
" Barker's Tavern," where the Methodist church now stands, was well known in the carly part of the century, and was burned in 1823 (p. 131).
The " Old Tavern House" at the corner of Market street and Factory court was built in 1800, by Meshach Robinson, who is also said to, have built the first wagon run in Rochester. In 1845 this tavern was kept by William J. Roberts, and was discontinued not long after.
" Odiorne's Tavern " was an old-fashioned two-story white house where Dodge's Hotel now is. Capt. John Odiorne was a saddler by trade, "a smart man," and a popular military officer. He died in 1811, at the age of forty-eight years. His widow, Mrs. Sarah (Hanson) Odiorne, was a woman of unusual shrewdness and executive ability, and when left with a family of children to provide for, showed herself abundantly able to do so, by keeping the tavern with good success for about thirty years.
DODGE'S HOTEL.
BY MRS. DANIEL HALL OF DOVER.
A historical sketch of Rochester would be very incomplete with- out a notice more or less extended of "Dodge's Hotel," and the active, hard-working family who have lived there for the last half century, and have made it so widely and favorably known.
The place was first occupied for a private residence by Peter Cushing, who sold it to Mrs. Captain Odiorne, his wife's sister, who kept a public house here for many years. The courts for old Strafford county, embracing the present counties of Strafford,
DODGE'S HOTEL
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Belknap, and Carroll, were then held at Rochester, and " Odiorne's Tavern " was the favorite resort of judges, lawyers, and suitors.
Jonathan T. Dodge was born at Ossipee in 1803. His father was a native of Wenham, Mass., and in company with Judge Quarles kept a store at Ossipee Corner. Jonathan T. Dodge was one of eight children. At the age of eighteen, his health failing, he started for Massachusetts in hope of being benefited by the sea air. On his way he stopped to rest at Odiorne's Tavern, where he was taken sick, and was unable to proceed. Mrs. Odiorne becoming interested in him, persuaded him to remain with her after his recovery, as she was in need of help in the hotel. This
He lived there in her employ ten years, was in the year 1821. 3 for eight of which his pay was two shillings per day. He related in subsequent years, that going to bed at eleven o'clock, he was some nights called up as many as nine times to take care of horses, of which they sometimes had seventy in a night. After filling their own stables, they filled the neighbors' barns also. In 1831 he returned to Ossipee where his mother resided. Not feeling able to carry on the business without help, Mrs. Odiorne sold to her son-in-law, John B. Buzzel. In 1834 Mr. Dodge bought the stand, and in company with his brother-in-law, Daniel R. Carter, removed the old house and erected a new and larger one. They continued together in the hotel business till Mr. Car- ter's death in 1842. Meantime Mr. Dodge was married in De- cember, 1840, to Miss Sarah Hanson of Great Falls. Five chil- dren were born to them, four of whom are now living, one having died in infancy. The house was set on fire August 21, 1851, by one Ezekiel Tibbetts, an imbecile town pauper. All the hotel buildings, the house on the adjoining lot, with other buildings were consumed. The family were saved, but nearly all the fur- niture was lost. Only a small insurance was realized.
Six months later, the house having been rebuilt, the family moved into it. The new house was of brick, and is still standing, having been enlarged about twenty years ago.
During his connection with the hotel Mr. Dodge entered largely into staging, and other enterprises which were more or less suc- cessful (p. 135). He was the proprietor of several stage lines, which were, in those days, the only means of transportation. He owned at one time ninety horses which were employed in this
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business. He carried the mail for nineteen years from Conway to Dover and return, frequently driving the great teams himself over the long route. The well-known "whips," Moses Canney, Kirke Pitman, Sinclair, and John L. Hanson drove for Mr. Dodge for many years. He continued his connection with this business to a greater or less extent, till the old stage lines from the sea- board to the mountains were superseded by railroads.
Mr. Dodge died January 8, 1871, leaving an honored name among all who knew him, as a man of enterprise, of uncommon business ability, and thorough integrity of character.
For nearly nineteen years after Mr. Dodge's death, his widow, with the assistance of her son, J. Thorne Dodge, carried on the hotel, and under their charge it enjoyed unabated popularity, and served the public with the same satisfaction that Mr. Dodge gave in his lifetime. In fact, "Dodge's Hotel" is one of the "insti- tutions" of Rochester, and has contributed not a little to the credit and prosperity of the town.
During Mr. Dodge's lifetime, and ever since, this house has been famous for its cleanliness, its excellent beds and furniture, its orderly arrangements of every kind, and above all for a table and cuisine whose reputation has extended far and wide. Many trav- eling people go out of their way and take extraordinary pains to " make in" to this hotel.
Mrs. Dodge retained her vigor and activity up to advanced years, and conducted the business with the same assiduity, care, personal oversight, and attention to the comfort of her guests as characterized her earlier years. She was in failing health for about a year before her death, though still able to be about and attend to the house and her other affairs with much of the energy of her prime. After a sickness of about two weeks duration, she died November 1, 1889, upwards of eighty years of age, greatly lamented by the people of the town, by hosts of friends all over the country who had enjoyed her hospitality, and especially by many poor people to whom her hand was ever open.
Since her decease the hotel has been kept under the proprietor- ship of J. Thorne Dodge, and it would be difficult to find any house in the State where better accommodations are furnished, or which is more popular with the traveling public than "Dodge's
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Hotel." Its appointments have been modernized, keeping pace with the progress of the times, and to this day it enjoys and well deserves a most liberal public patronage and favor.
Lowell Kenney came from Salem, Mass., and opened " Kenney's Tavern " in 1824. Charles Y. Meserve bought it in 1838, and at a supper which he gave to his friends on the occasion, the Hon. J. H. Woodman proposed the name "Langdon House," by which it was afterwards known. His brother Stephen Meserve followed him, and in 1843 Capt. Ephraim Richardson bought it, and con- ducted the business on strictly temperance principles for seven- teen years. He leased the place for three years, and then in 1863 sold it to Mr. Dodge. The Wallaces soon after bought it, and the place is occupied by their business. The "Langdon House" did a large business before the time of railroads, frequently put- ting up from seventy-five to one hundred yoke of cattle, besides twenty to thirty horses in a single night. It was for some years " the head-quarters during the sessions of court, of the judges, lawyers, and leading men." The regimental muster was held for many years on the parade back of this hotel.
In 1867, Silas H. Wentworth bought the Woodman house (p. 132) and opened a hotel which was named " Mansion House " by J. F. Place. Mr. Wentworth was a generous man, and never allowed any one to go away because he had no money. Under his man- agement the "Mansion House " was a place of popular resort, especially for political gatherings. After Mr. Wentworth died in 1881, his widow continued the business for two years, when she leased it to B. L. E. Gowan for two years, since which it has fre- quently changed hands. It is now owned by Mrs. Jennie L. Goodwin, a daughter of Mr. Wentworth, and is rented by Na- thaniel Ham.
The widow of Levi F. Roberts of Rochester built a hotel near the railroad station, and opened it December 5, 1881. She named it "Hotel Wrisley," from her husband's sister, Mrs. Wrisley. After three years she sold it to Buelduc & Thurston, the latter of whom sold out to his partner in 1889. This house is extensively patronized by commercial travelers.
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RAILROADS.
BY CHARLES W. BROWN
The contrast between the past and the present is nowhere more marked than in methods of travel and transportation (p. 135). With the advent of railroads into Rochester began the permanent growth of the town, which has been steady and healthful from that day to this.
The first regular trains run into this town were over the Great Falls & Conway Railroad, commencing March 6, 1849. There was a bitter rivalry between this road and the Cocheco which had been chartered about the same time to run from Dover through Rochester to Alton Bay. Out of this rivalry sprang the famous "railroad riot" of February 21, 1849, the following account of which is condensed from a Great Falls paper : -
" When the Boston & Maine Railroad built a branch to Great Falls, there was a written agreement that it should not be extended further north under certain specified penalties. This served to stifle for a time all railroad exten- sion in this vicinity. The people of Dover learning that Great Falls had thus secured to itself a terminus on the country route, began to agitate the sub- ject of extending a railroad from Dover to Rochester and thence northward. The capitalists of Great Falls saw that if this were permitted, they would be entirely cut off from the country routes. Though appearing to be geographi- cally in the line, they would really be as much out of the line of trade and travel as if in the midst of the Atlantic. Therefore a proposition to establish the Great Falls & Conway Railroad met with much favor. A charter was se- cured, and when it became certain that Dover was about to make an iron grasp upon Rochester, the building of the road was begun at once. The Dover cap- italists who had made every arrangement for building the Cocheco Railroad, considering this a kind of trickery, worked earnestly against the Great Falls & Conway road, and made an unsuccessful attempt to contest the validity of its charter. The Great Falls & Conway road had been surveyed and laid out by its own engineers, and had taken bonds of the land where it crossed the Cocheco road. The Cocheco company employed the Railroad Commissioners to lay out their road, who paid no attention to the claims of the Great Falls & Conway, directing the Cocheco company to pay the owners of the land a specified sum for damages. The owners, however, refused to accept it, though tendered to them in gold and silver coin. It was therefore deposited with the State Treas- urer subject to their order. Subsequently the Great Falls & Conway company paid the land owners a sum which satisfied them for all damages. But the Cocheco road, resting on the authority of the Railroad Commissioners, persisted in its claim, so that the crossing became a special point of battle between the two roads. The track of the Great Falls & Conway having been completed to Rochester Village, preparations were made to commence running trains on Thursday, the 22d of February. Anticipating a fracas, and to prevent tearing up of the track, the Great Falls & Conway had placed a heavily loaded car on the crossing, and trigged it at both ends with ties, besides running rails through the wheels between the spokes. The track had also been doubly spiked, and the whole work done in the most thorough manner. On the morning of the 21st a crowd of Rochester people had gathered upon or near the car, determined
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that it should not be removed, except to admit the passage of the Great Falls & Conway train. During the forenoon a number of persons from Dover, among whom were some of the most influential and wealthy men of Strafford county, appeared on the disputed territory and gave orders for the removal of the car that they might finish up some work on the Cocheco road. The Rochester people informed them that the car could not be moved, whereupon they made several attempts to attach ox-chains and drag it off. In the squabble that en- sued, several persons were slightly injured, one had a broken arm, and one came near losing his life. A constable was called and the riot act read, and William Hale, Jr., with others from Dover was arrested and required to recognize for par- ticipating in a riot. The result of the melee was that the rioters dragged off the car and pulled up the track."
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