USA > New Hampshire > Strafford County > Rochester > History of the town of Rochester, New Hampshire, from 1722 to 1890, Vol. I > Part 54
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The Association was formed by seventy men who paid a dollar each for membership, and this $70 is all that has been paid in, except the income of the fairs. In 1886 the organization was changed to a stock company with one hundred shares of $50 each. One share was given to each of the seventy original members, but the other thirty shares have never been issued. The first officers were I. W. Springfield, president; A. S. Parshley, secre- tary ; and A. W. Hayes, treasurer; all of whom have retained their offices to the present time.
This institution has been phenomenal in its growth and success. From the small show in the canvas tent of the first fair, its large and elegant buildings are now yearly crowded with rare and inter- esting products of the soil or of the shop, and from the hundreds of 1874, it has come to attract thousands of people from the sur- rounding country to gaze with admiring eyes on its annual displays of agricultural and mechanical productions. The first year only about $1,200 was taken, but in 1890 the receipts were over $10,000. This great success has been due not only to the fact of meeting a public want, but largely also to the enterprising skill of its principal managers, and especially to the efficient energy of its treasurer, Captain Hayes.
SECRET SOCIETIES.
For indisputable antiquity, universal celebrity, and world-wide brotherhood, Freemasonry is easily first of all secret orders. The founding of a Lodge in Rochester was mainly due to the efforts of J. H. Woodman (p. 332), who presented a petition therefor at a special communication of the Grand Lodge which was held at the house of Andrew Lovejoy in Sanbornton, October 25, 1809, Edward J. Long being Grand Master. A dispensation was issued to J. H. Woodman, Timothy F. Preston, Benjamin Wiggin, and others, to assemble as a Lodge of Masons in Rochester; and at a quarterly communication of the Grand Lodge at Portsmouth, October 24, 1810, Clement Storer being Grand Master, a charter was granted them to assemble under the title of " Humane Lodge No. 21." This Lodge has from the beginning borne upon its records the names of many of the best and most distinguished of our citizens, and consequently has had a successful and honorable career of useful and benevolent activity.
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Temple Chapter No. 20, of Royal Arch Masons was organized under a charter bearing date May 18, A. I. 2405, A. D. 1875, with the following charter members: - James Farrington, Charles B. Gafney, George Corson, Joseph A. Dame, Charles K. Chase, James H. Edgerly, Solomon H. Feineman, Frederick Feineman, Isaac W. Springfield, Franklin McDuffee, Charles E. Manson, Arthur D. Whitehouse, E. C. Blackmar, Everett M. Sinclair, William Moore, and Silas G. Kellogg. The first High Priest was James Farrington. The present membership, October, 1890, is 117, with John L. Copp as High Priest.
Among benevolent organizations of modern origin, Odd-fellow- .ship is deservedly pre-eminent. March 16, 1846, Motolinia Lodge No. 18 was instituted by Grand Master S. H. Parker, with Charles Dennett, Stephen M. Mathes, Jacob McDuffee, M. T. Curtis, and Edwin Bradbury as charter members. Asa P. Hanson, George B. Roberts, I. W. Springfield, and John Stott were initiated the same day, and Asa. P. Hanson was the first Noble Grand. At the end of the first year there were 48 members, 39 residing in Rochester and 9 in Farmington. Woodbine Lodge of Farmington, and Miltonia Lodge of Milton both sprang from this Lodge, besides the other two Lodges in Rochester. The character of the mem- bership and the management of this Lodge have secured to Odd- fellowship a high standing in this vicinity.
Kennedy Lodge I. O. O. F. was instituted by Grand Master S. J. Osgood, August 24, 1875. The charter members were Thomas Brown, Ira Doe, John Crockett, Charles W. Brown, Osman B. Warren, Wilbur F. Warren, John H. Pingree, George W. Rollins, and James H. Warburton. Twenty-one were initiated the first night, and the first Noble Grand was Charles W. Brown.
Cocheco Lodge No. 39 I. O. O. F. was organized at East Roch- ester, April 26, 1878, Grand Master Henry A. Farrington con- ducting the ceremonies. Elbridge H. Corson was the first Noble Grand.
Norway Plains Encampment I. O. O. F. was instituted September 11, 1849, by Past Grand Master S. H. Parker, and the first Chief Patriarch was Thomas Brown.
Of still more recent benevolent orders, the Knights of Pythias stands foremost. Rising Sun Lodge No. 7, K. of P., was instituted
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January 5, 1870, with twenty-two charter members. W. F. Horn was first Chancellor Commander, Andrew Daggett holding the same office at the present time, October, 1890. This organization has flourished from the beginning, and bears on its rolls the names of many of our leading citizens.
The order of "Patrons of Husbandry," better known to the public as " Grangers," began in the city of Washington in 1867, and has rapidly spread over the whole country. Rochester Grange No. 86 was organized May 30, 1876, and is composed of some of the best farmers in town with their families. The first Master was I. W. Springfield, who held the office for ten years. His successors have been Dudley B. Waldron and Frank P. Wentworth.
Runnawitt Tribe No. 9, Improved Order of Red Men, was insti- tuted on the 3d Sun, Warm Moon, G. S. D. 396 (March 3, 1887), with T. C. Hennem, Prophet, and J. S. Daniels, Sachem. The Order has rapidly increased, containing at present one hundred and twenty-five members with C. W. Evans, Prophet, and L. G. Cooper, Sachem.
Sampson Post, G. A. R., has already been noticed (p. 235).
Other secret orders are quite numerous in Rochester, as : - the Knights of the Golden Eagle; the Golden Cross; the United Order of American Workmen; the Ancient Order of Hibernians; the Saint Jean Baptiste Société; the Ancient Order of Foresters; the Good Templars, and doubtless many more.
CEMETERIES.
The first recorded mention of a burial ground in Rochester is found in the Proprietors' record of May 28, 1744, when six acres of land was given to Mr. Main with the condition that he should not encroach on the burying place. This was probably the same burying ground which having been before "given by the Propri- etors " was laid out June 28, 1777, - " beginning about 20 ft due East from the North East Corner of the meeting house." The six acres deeded to Mr. Main included this lot, and he left it by will to his " heirs and assigns forever." Tradition says that in digging the first grave a stone was found so large that it had to be drawn out
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by a yoke of oxen, and that it was left as a natural monument at the head of the grave, where it may still be seen near the upper wall. The oldest legible inscription is that of John McDuffee, who died 1752. Another worthy of notice is "In memory of Mrs. Elizabeth Plumer Wife of the Hon. John Plumer Esq. who died Jany 26. 1770." Here also are buried several of the early min- isters, as has been previously mentioned. (Chap. VI.) Another stone bearing the name of Mrs. Elizabeth Cochran recalls a sad accident. She was traveling on horseback with her husband from Londonderry to Conway, and her horse taking fright she was thrown near the Wolfe Tavern where she soon died Oct. 21, 1778, in the thirty-first year of her age. This lot is now known as the "Haven Hill Cemetery," and has long ceased to be used, except occasionally by the descendants of a few old families.
After the new meeting-house was built in 1780, it was proposed to have the common around it for a burying-ground according to the old English custom, and a few interments were made there. But the ground was so wet that the graves would fill with water as fast as they were dug, and the dead were removed to what is now known as the " Old Cemetery." This was laid out in 1800, according to the following record : -
" Return of Burying ground
" Agreeable to a vote of the Town of Rochester passed, we have laid out of the Town's land for a burying place as follows, beginning near the clay pits on a line extended from the lower side line of the lot sold Hatevil Knight North 82° east four rods from said Knights corner and run on said line about eleven rods to some land sold to Maj Solomon Perkins & Benjamin Palmer then by said Perkins & Palmer land twenty rods - then Towns land South 48º east nine- teen rods to a stake then by land left for a four rods road south 50° east eleven rods to the first bounds containing about one acre & fifty five square rods - also we have agreed with Jabez Dame Esq and with Joseph Hanson to move theer lots lower down 2 rods to open a pass to & from said Burying yard between said Jabez Dames lot & land of Widow place laid out this 25th day of August 1800
Richd Dame
Beard Plummer Selectmen "
Joshua Allen
The clay pits mentioned refer to a very ancient brickyard near the " Old Cemetery " and recall the following anecdote. Messrs. U. and W. were sworn enemies. Mr. U. was very sick with fever, and one night said to John McDuffee who was watching with him, "I am very sick and may die, and I don't want my bones made into brick, to be put into W.'s hearth, for him to put his feet on."
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The oldest legible inscription here is "Mary B. Wife of Hatevil Knight, Died 1801." This lot remained unfenced for many years, and when the little son of Capt. William Hurd died in December, 1826, he built a fence around the grave, with a tablet bearing this verse : -
" Sacred should be the place where sleep the dead, Behold this rooted up, by cattle fed. When our devoted friends are buried here The ungrateful man forgets, nor sheds a tear."
Through his influence the cemetery was fenced soon after.
By the efforts of Charles A. C. Hanson a fund of nearly five thousand dollars has been secured for the perpetual care of the " Old Cemetery." (Appendix.) The care of this under the annexed conditions was accepted by the town at the annual meeting March 11, 1890.
Foreseeing the necessity of a new cemetery, Franklin McDuffee and Ebenezer G. Wallace bought the land adjoining the "Old Cem- etery" in order to reserve it for that purpose alone. September 9, 1864, they sold it to the Rochester Cemetery Association for $750, the same that they paid for it. This lot has since been known as the "New Cemetery," and is described in the deed as follows : -
" Beginning on the northerly side of the road leading from Rochester Village to East Rochester at the Southwesterly Corner of land owned by the Great Falls and Conway Railroad Company, thence running north thirty eight degrees west by said Companies' land twenty four rods five links thence south fifty one degrees west seventy nine rods fourteen links to the stone post in the northeasterly corner of burying ground recently opened by Walter F. Farrington ; thence south thirty two degrees east by said burying ground nine rods and twenty links; thence southerly by said burying ground fence as it now stands to land of Silas Went- worth ; thence south Seventy two degrees east by said Wentworth's land twelve rods twenty links to the road running to East Rochester; thence by said road north forty nine degrees east thirty six rods eight links ; thence north fifty degrees east by said road forty six rods to the bound begun at."
They sold the first lot June 1, 1865, to Thomas E. Sherman of Newport, R. I. Sixteen days later they bought of Walter F. Far- rington a small "heater-shape " piece of land adjoining. May 9, 1877, they purchased of Enoch T. Willey fifteen and seven six- teenths acres just across the road from their first purchase. This lot was bounded on one side by the old road to East Rochester, and on another by the Great Falls & Conway railroad. March 23, 1841, the Association bought still another lot adjoining the
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last. The first burial here was that of Jonathan Overand, August, 1865 (p. 513). Since then the " New Cemetery " has filled rapidly, and its neatly kept walks and grounds with many fine monuments are worthy of special notice.
The cemetery back of the Gonic schoolhouse was originally part of the Benjamin Hayes farm now owned by Col. Charles S. White- house. It is practically, however, a public burying ground, and has been used as such for as many as seventy-five years. It contains some one hundred and seventy-five graves.
Cold Spring Cemetery, named from a spring of clear, cold water in its northerly corner, is situated on the bank of the Salmon Falls river, just east of East Rochester village, and contains about five acres. The land was bought of George W. and Joseph Blaisdell, March 29, 1883, by an association consisting of Charles Blaisdell, Elbridge H. Corson, Frank W. Corson, John L. Dillingham, George L. Hayes, Sidney B. Hayes, George McCrillis, Joel S. McCrillis, John C. Shorey, and Stephen F. Shorey. Joseph Blais- dell's son Benjamin F., who died November 16, 1864, of wounds received in battle, had already been buried in this lot. After it was laid out as a cemetery, the first burials were children of J. C. Shorey and E. H. Corson, which were disinterred and brought here. The next burial was that of William P. Folsom, who died February 19, 1884. Between seventy and eighty lots have been sold, and the grounds are being beautified and improved every year.
About half a mile west of Rochester village lies the French Catholic Cemetery which was consecrated May 30, 1886.
The Irish Catholic Cemetery a little below the village on the new road to Dover was consecrated July 4, 1888.
Some other small private burying grounds require no special notice.
A strange fanaticism which gained a footing in East Rochester and other places, about thirty years ago, cannot well be omitted in a history of the town.
Elder George J. Adams, who had been a Methodist minister for eight years, afterwards a stage actor, and a Mormon preacher, suddenly made his appearance one rainy Sunday in October, 1861, at the house of John W. Tebbetts, where Isaac Rankins now lives at Blaisdell's Corner. He had his wife and boy with him and asked
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for food and shelter. During the preceding year he had gathered a few followers at Springfield, Mass., and was now on his way to Maine. At Addison, Me., and the vicinity he gained a large number of disciples, among whom a Mr. Mckenzie joined him in publishing a paper called "The Sword of Truth and Harbinger of Peace," and furnished considerable money for his other schemes. After a few months he came back to East Rochester and held fre- quent meetings in the church and in the schoolhouse at Blaisdell's Corner. He declared that he had been appointed of God to es- tablish the true "Church of the Messiah"; that two angels had ordained him to the Priesthood of Melchizedek, and had given him power to heal the sick by laying on of hands. Many crowded to hear him, and a great impression was made, about forty joining his church. They called themselves "Ephraimites," and said that the other churches were Babylon. He persuaded them to turn all their property into money and follow him to Palestine where the Lord would soon come and make them rulers; some over ten cities, and some over five, according to the Scripture promise. He took their money to buy land in what he called the "Valley of Jehoshaphat," near the city of Jaffa, each one paying from $45 to $100 dollars in gold for a lot. By his persuasive speech he induced one hundred and fifty-six persons, about twenty-five of whom were from East Rochester, to intrust their money and themselves to his care. They sailed from Jonesport, Me., on the 10th of August, 1866, and on arriving at Jaffa, built sixteen houses on a lot of about four acres just outside the city. They soon found they had been terribly deceived. "The first building put up was a rum-shop, and its best customer was the elder. One of his cronies said that he spent over $500 in liquor in a few months, and was subject to delirium tremens. He had control of the funds, nearly all of which he appropriated to his own use." By the next June starvation was at their doors with no prospect of relief, and many of their number died from the hardships encountered. In the very extremity of their distress, Moses S. Beech of New York gave the money necessary to bring them home, where a remnant of fifty-three arrived November 15, 1867.
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Occasional " mad dog" scares furnish excitement to almost every country town. One such occurred in Rochester about 1812, when hydrophobia seemed to have assumed an epizoötic form. Col- lector Hayes had a steer bitten in the tail by a mad fox which he fortunately killed on the spot with a stake. The steer was also killed and burned in a great fire built for the purpose. Seeing what appeared to be a mad dog running by, Squire Plumer hastily mounted his horse and hurried to warn the people. After biting some other animals the dog was killed in Mr. Barker's yard. A dog-killer's club was formed, and the members ransacked the town, slaughtering every dog they could find. Some families tried to conceal their pets, but they were all dragged out and slain. One old lady had a hog bitten in the nose, and her hired hands were about to kill it, but she insisted on building a pen with a high fence to secure it from harming any other animal, and it gave no further trouble, proving the best hog of the season.
About the first of November, 1860, quite a sensation was pro- duced by the discovery of human bones, by some boys jumping down a sand bank near the old trotting park, where the notorious " Foss Tavern " once stood. They were thought to be the remains of a young Nova Scotian named Webster who came here from Newburyport, Mass., and was supposed to have been murdered about 1846 by a rival in love. It was known that about 1853 an old woman living near by, had sent for an "elder," when on her death bed, and had made some startling confession, so that she was very carefully attended, being apparently under surveillance instead of neglect as before.
Every town has its peculiar local names, the origin of which is often a puzzle to succeeding generations. The only remembrancer to Rochester people of the Rev. Avery Hall is found in the name " Whitehall Swamp," sometimes written White Hall. In the dry years of 1761-62 this tract was so deeply burned over that the soil itself was almost destroyed. After the fire, white birches sprang up and covered it so thickly that it became literally white. A large part of it being " parsonage land " belonged to Mr. Hall while he was the legal minister. Hence the name; perhaps, at first, Hall's White Swamp, which would be easily transposed to the present form. The name first appears upon the town records during Mr. Hall's ministry.
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" Blue Job" in the edge of what is now Farmington received its name in a similar way. "Blue " describes the appearance of the mountain, or, as some say, alludes to the great number of blueberries that grow there; and "Job " is from Job Allard who formerly owned the mountain. Of most other Rochester local names the origin is obvious or has already been given.
New Hampshire streams have always been subject to great " freshets " or floods. Old records refer to such in 1770 and 1785, sweeping away mills and bridges in all directions. That they are less frequent or less destructive in recent times is doubtless owing both to firmer built structures, and floods rendered smaller by the extensive removal of the ancient forests.
On the first page of the fly-leaf of the old town book, which begins with records of 1737, we find the following : -
" Rochester June ye 30th 1759 we had a severe hard frost which killd most of the Pumkins Vines and Beans Squashes and cucumbers and cut the Tops of the corn of through most of the town -
" Monday 15th Jany 1770 and the Day before was as Great a Flood of Rain as has been Known in the Age of a man which swelld the fresh Rivers so as to Sweep away most of the Bridges over them hereabout and in this Town in Particular and many Mills were Carried away or much Damaged."
A few now living still remember the famous " cold season " of 1816, and many of the present generation have been deeply im- pressed by the accounts of it which they have heard from parents or grandparents. The following is a page from "John Plummer Jun' Day book began the 12th day of October 1803." The dates are a little mixed : -
" 1816 July 4th Dreadfull windy and cold & frost nites for four days in succession it was so cold that a person felt uncomfortable with winter cloths on; it stoped the corn from growing and killed a great part of it; beans and other things in propor- tion the 9th there was a total eclipse of the moon and a great frost. Pleasent the 10th but not warm. Began to weed the corn the 17th rain the 27, a small frost. very dry and warm till July 17th showers all day a frost finished hoeing 24th began to mow 25th some corn spindled. grass uncommonly short, beef low & corn slim. 3 loads to odiorne place. 5 at blackwater mowed it in 3 days 18th August. 21st at night great frost killed most all the corn in the country. Sept, 3d finished mowing 3 loads at allards, not § as much hay as usual, very dry and windy Sept 11th at night a heavy frost- Some Corn fit for to roast, but very little 13th a storm be- gan, no rain before for about 6 weeks it was the driest time that has been known for many years 16th Cleared off very warm 19th a rainy night Cleared off 20th warm 21st a frosty night 25th a very heavy frost 26th another killed all the leaves on the corn and part of the stalks. frose the ear through Corn in the milk, not but one ear on twelve acres of ground in the place that is speckt. Cutting it all up by the
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ground and shocking it. October 8 finished diging potatoes 100 bu. in the Young orchard 100 in the old orchard & 50 in the little pasture and elsewhere 9th Came up overcast P' M and rained some overcast the loth misty & a shower P M. 14th rain PM began at one, a smart rain 15th overcast finished making cider 12 hhds rainy night. 16th warm & overcast. 17th rainy all day windy & squally night 18th squally morning, windy all day Cleared off 19th warm 21 overcast 22 rainy & a very rainy night 23 Cleared off warm 25th got all of the corn. about 10 bushels fit to grind rainy night 26th rainy warm with a great deal of rain till Novr,, 11th then a little snow."
Many people still remember the spring of 1841 when snowdrifts were over the fences till the first of May, it being the coldest April ever known. Many cattle almost starved being compelled to subsist by browsing trees cut for them by the farmers in the lack of hay.
To all who remember the " Anti-Slavery Conflict," in which originated the " Woman's Rights " movement, so called, the name of " Abby Folsom" must be familiar, though few may remember that she was from Rochester. She was the daughter of Paul Harford (p. 129), and was born in 1792. She married Peter Folsom, who learned his trade of Capt. Odiorne, and kept a sad- dler's shop in his house next below the Methodist Episcopal church. He was a man of much wit and natural ability, but would have occasional " sprees," though he reformed and was a consistent member of the Congregational church in the latter part of his life. After a few years trial, " Abby" left him, and returned to live with her sister at their old home, from which they removed to Boston. She became noted as an energetic advocate of all so- called "reforms," and as one of the earliest woman lecturers. She was benevolent and sympathetic towards all who were suf- fering whether justly or unjustly, and would go into the courts to plead for those on trial, and into the jails to seek their release ; and if successful, would often take them to her home and aid them to secure employment. She was a frequent visitor to the State House during sessions of the Legislature, and whether there, or at other public gatherings in halls or in churches, it was impos- sible to keep her silent if anything was said that displeased her. She was generally let alone to talk as she pleased, but when it became necessary to good order to restrain and silence her, she became violent and unmanageable. She felt she had a mission and was determined to fulfill it in spite of all opposition. She
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was fond of little children, and often invited them to her home when living in Rochester, and sometimes visited the schoolroom to give them good advice or repeat to them some text of Scripture. Returning in her last years to the old homestead she died there August 5, 1867, aged seventy-five years, and at her own request was buried in the same grave with her sister in the old cemetery.
Only elderly people have now any adequate impression of the intense bitterness of political rancor prevailing during the anti- slavery conflict. At one time both Henry Wilson and a promi- nent Democrat were to speak the same day in Rochester or vicinity, and the friends of each had engaged a dinner for their speaker at the Mansion House. Mrs. Wentworth prepared a special table and dinner for them in her very best style. But when they were ushered into the dining room, the Democrat refused to sit at the same table with Wilson, - a specimen of merely political prejudice which seems hardly possible here at the present time.
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