USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Wentworth > History of the town of Wentworth, New Hampshire > Part 13
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JOHN T. SANBORN, M.D., came to Wentworth, it is said, from Gilford, N. H., in 1827. He practised in town for some ten years, leaving probably in 1838. He appears to have been quite fairly popular as well as prosperous during his stay in Wentworth. He was an active politician and served as representative in 1830 and 1832.
He owned in the village at least a portion of the land where the meetinghouse now stands. The build- ings upon that site were used for hotel and stable pur- poses by Dr. Sanborn and possibly by others. They were, however, all burned at the time of the great fire in 1828. The old meetinghouse was also burned at the same time. It is due to this fire, beyond a doubt, that our present meetinghouse was built at the time it was and located on the spot where it now stands.
ALONZO A. WHIPPLE, M.D., son of Dr. Thomas and
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Phoebe Tabor Whipple, and their first child, was born February 27, 1811, probably at Bradford, Vt.
He inherited much of his father's genius for medi- cine, and was educated as a physician. Soon after his father's death in '1835 he began the practice of his profession in town. For more than thirty years he shared with Doctor Hoyt the medical business of Wentworth, as well as that of the towns adjoining. He ranked high in his chosen profession. As an evi- dence of the extent of his practice, it may now be stated that several years before he gave up active practice his books showed he had been in professional attendance at the birth of over a thousand children. Included in this enumeration, is the humble, let us trust, not wholly indifferent individual who now writes these lines.
The doctor does not appear to have fallen heir to either his father's taste or capacity for public life. He was, however, elected representative in 1854 and 1856.
Dr. Whipple lived many years in the house now owned by Robert McLoughlin. Later he bought the Putnam Spaulding house fronting the Common and lived there until his death. This fine old house with a colonial doorway and a fan light above the door has for a hundred years been a landmark in the village. It is still known to the older generation as
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the Whipple house. The doctor was fond of books and always a great student with a very retentive memory.
In person he was of medium height, well built, with small and shapely hands and feet. He grew very infirm as the years advanced, being unable to practise much the later part of his life. During this period he was a familiar figure in the village, as wrapped in a heavy gray shawl and usually wearing slippers he strolled upon the Common or went to the post office for his mail.
Dr. PETER L. HOYT was the son of Abner Hoyt, a revolutionary soldier who fought under Stark at Bennington and was born March 26, 1814, upon the Hoyt farm on the west side of the river in Wentworth. He was a graduate of Dartmouth Medical College, class of 1837. After his graduation he practised two years in Peacham, Vt. He then returned to Went- worth and began there the medical and other activi- ties which filled fully the remaining years of his life. He had a large general medical practice in Wentworth and elsewhere and became a successful, as well as busy, physician. He was always distinguished for his progressive ideas and public spirit. He thus naturally became a leader in various movements which he believed would be of moral or material benefit to the community.
He was a member of the Congregational Church
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and a regular attendant. He was active in the pro- motion of the cause of temperance, practising it himself as well as advising others to do so. He took much interest in school matters, for a long time being charged with their superintendence, either alone or as one of a committee. At the formation of the Wentworth Academy Association, Dr. Hoyt's name headed the list of those who furnished the funds for that purpose. He was what is now termed a lover of nature and a naturalist who observed closely and "described clearly. Probably he had little time for political matters. He was, however, at all times a staunch Republican and as such served in 1857 as selectman.
During his long residence in town he acquired from the older people, as well as from the early records, a great fund of information relating to the town, its people and its history. This knowledge was from time to time reduced to writing and is in book form. Thus he prepared a manuscript history entitled, "The First Hundred Years of Wentworth, 1770-1870." This very valuable and important work has been well bound and is now in the Webster Memorial Library, where it can be consulted by the public as occasion or interest may require.
His wife was Elizabeth, daughter of the Rev. Increase S. Davis. Of their seven children, three sons
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and four daughters, none remained in town to live, but they usually spend some portion of the summer at the old home. Dr. Hoyt's modest and tasteful cottage, standing in the upper part of the village is still owned by the family, and is in practically the same condition as when it was the home of the doctor and his house- hold. His sign "Dr. Hoyt" still hangs above the door as it did during his life, and the general appearance of the place has changed but very little in the lapse of nearly sixty years. His youngest son, Edward M., has been for many years a practising physician in Georgetown, Mass.
The doctor was injured by being thrown out of his team in February 1871, and gradually failed from that time. He died on June 4, 1871, and with Mrs. Hoyt and their son Eustis who died in early manhood, deeply regretted by all who knew him, is buried in the village, in the midst of scenes he loved and described so well.
SAUL S. STEVENS came to Wentworth from Canaan, N. H., in 1833. He practised here until 1840 and then returned to Canaan. Later he went from there to Lowell, Mass. In Lowell he prospered financially so well that in 1850 he decided to live an easier and more . retired life. He returned to Wentworth and bought the farm at the river bridge first settled by Hugh McClellan and now (1929) owned by Mr. Rolfe. Dr.
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Stevens improved the place greatly. He enclosed the field with a tasteful picket fence, cultivated vines, flowers and shrubs and adorned the grounds in various ways. For many years it was one of the attractions of the town. During this period, his practice was not extensive. Dr. Stevens removed to Nashua in 1867 and lived in that city the remainder of his life. His son, Albert S. Stevens, was for several years a storekeeper in the village, the firm Stevens and Phillips having their place of business in the store building later owned and used by John A. Davis.
Dr. FREEMAN A. DURKEE came from Rumney in 1869. He belonged to the Botanical School of Medi- cine and did but little, if any, surgery. He acquired quite an extensive practice, however, was a good citizen and prospered in town.
Dr. Durkee's house, standing about where Mr. Charles Sprague's house is now, was burned in the daytime. The doctor then built the present large and substantial house on nearly the site of the old one.
The doctor left town about 1898, removing to Lake- port, where he spent several years, finally removing to Andover, where he died in 1916.
Dr. JOHN A. WHITMORE came with his family from Portland, Maine, in 1872. He lived at one time in the house at the end of the village bridge, now owned by Eugene C. Downing; about 1880 he bought the house
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at the head of the main street, later the home of Doctor Fraser, remaining there until his death some five years later.
Dr. Whitmore was a skilful physician with an extensive general practice. He was a handsome, well- built man of medium height, of rather slight propor- tions. His manners were courtly at all times and he was precise and correct in speech and action. He was a great smoker and it has been said he seldom used a pipe the second time. He bought clay pipes by the box and not infrequently had the box in his buggy as he rode out to make his visits. No member of the doctor's family is now living. He, with his wife, is buried at Hebron meetinghouse.
Dr. SAMUEL FRASER was of Scotch descent and Canadian birth. He was born at Leeds Village, P. Q., December 15, 1877, the son of John and Jane (Alex- ander) Fraser. He was educated in the local schools and Inverness Academy. He entered McGill Medical College, Montreal, in September, 1900, and gradu- ated in June, 1904.
He came to Wentworth in September of the same year with his family and began there the practice of his profession. He lived in the house formerly owned by the late Dr. Whitmore, and remained there until he moved with his family to New Boston, N. H., in June, 1920.
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HISTORY OF WENTWORTH, N. H.
Dr. Fraser was a valuable and highly respected citizen, who made friends easily and retained their friendship and esteem by deserving it. He was a skilful physician, a good townsman, and with his wife and children, made a welcome addition to the town and its population. His departure has been much regretted by all.
Since the death of Dr. Hoyt and retirement of Dr. Whipple, various physicians have come into the town and practised a longer or shorter time.
With the exception of Drs. Durkee, Whitmore and Fraser, none of them remained in town long enough to become really identified with the town and its people.
We can mention in this class, with the years of their residence, the following:
M. C. Eaton. 1870
Haven Palmer. 1872
Quincy A. Ballou, dentist. 1880
George B. Emerson
1885-1888
W. L. Goodale.
1889
O. L. Corliss
1892
T. Kitson Bruce.
1895
E. P. Lunderville
1898
G. H. Sanborn
1900-1904
E. C. Ladd. 1922-1925
Of the above, Dr. Emerson is remembered as being a man of much ability; he served as superintendent of schools and made many friends in town.
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Dr. Corliss moved to Rumney and was there for many years.
Dr. Sanborn also removed to Rumney, practising there until a short time ago.
Dr. Ladd was the last doctor to live in town; he moved to Warren in 1925 and has since gone to live in Maine.
The dates given in above list are only approximate and should not be scanned too critically; it is possible, too, there may be omissions, but it has been a pleasure to write of the doctors of Wentworth, who were many of them excellent and able men, and who as a class reflected credit on the town as well as on themselves and their profession.
LAWYERS
The following account, so far as it relates to the different members of the legal profession who have at sometime practised in Wentworth, is very largely the work of the late Jona. E. Sargent. As probably Judge Sargent was better qualified to write with authority on this subject than any person now living, it is proper that his article be used as a basis for historical record, making only such changes as the limits of space and the vicissitudes of fifty years may require.
The first lawyer to practise and reside in Went-
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worth was LOAMMI DAVIDSON, Esq., so far as we can learn. He came here about 1813 and was admitted to the Bar of Grafton County at the Court of Common Pleas, February term, 1817. He never did much at law, but was more a man of business. He was about five feet ten inches in height, wore side whiskers, and . of a sprightly and animated appearance. He left Wentworth about 1819, going to New York state, and died soon afterwards. His wife was a daughter of Col. Amos Tarleton of Piermont.
Hon. WARREN LOVELL was born in Rockingham, Vt., December 3, 1802, and educated in the common schools and Chester, Vt., Academy; was admitted to the Vermont Bar in 1825 and in that year came to Wentworth; was admitted to the Grafton County Bar; opened a law office in Wentworth and practised there 1825-26. He then removed to Meredith Village. Judge Lovell had in Belknap County a long and distinguished career as a lawyer, judge of probate and banker, dying in 1875 universally respected.
Hon. JOSIAH QUINCY of Rumney soon after 1825 made it a practice to visit Wentworth regularly on certain days, and soon made it a habit to come each Saturday transacting such legal business as came his way. He continued this arrangement until 1840, and for more than ten years he did the legal business for the townspeople in this way, as much as though he
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had been an actual resident, but he never lived in Wentworth.
Col. THOMAS J. WHIPPLE was a native of Went- worth, the son of Dr. Thomas Whipple and Phoebe Tabor Whipple. Born January 30, 1816; educated at New Hampton, Bradford, Vt., and Norwich Uni- versity; read law with Josiah Quincy, and also at Johnson, Vt., with Salmon Wires; was admitted to the Bar in 1840, and settled at once in Wentworth, where he soon had a very extensive law business and was appointed postmaster. He had a very decided taste for military affairs and raised an independent company called the Wentworth Phalanx, before 1840. He volunteered for the Mexican War, was com- missioned first lieutenant in the Ninth U. S. Infantry, April 9, 1847, and became adjutant of Colonel Pierce's regiment in the May following; went to Vera Cruz, was there taken prisoner and later exchanged at Jalapa. He also served on Adj. Gen. Lewis' staff. He came back when the war was over, and the people of Wentworth had a public reception in his honor. Soon afterwards he settled in Laconia which was henceforth his home. At the outbreak of the Rebellion he volunteered for service and was commissioned lieutenant colonel of the First New Hampshire Regiment, colonel of the Fourth, and was chosen for colonel of the Twelfth Regiment but not mustered in.
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In civil life he filled many honorable and responsible positions. He was assistant clerk and later clerk of the New Hampshire House of Representatives; solicitor of Belknap County, secretary of the Constitutional Convention of 1850; also a member of the Constitu- tional Convention of 1876; was attorney for many large corporations, besides enjoying an extensive general law practice.
Colonel Whipple was an able though eccentric lawyer, an advocate of great power, with original thoughts and power of forcible expression and at all times a genial friend and companion.
BENJAMIN POOLE, Esq., bought out in 1844 the office and business of Colonel Whipple and practised law in town for about a year and a half. He then sold back to Colonel Whipple all the property he had bought from him and moved away, becoming later a very successful business man in Boston.
SAMUEL HERBERT, Esq., was born in Rumney, December 17, 1813, and studied law with Josiah Quincy; was admitted to the Bar and in 1847, having bought out Colonel Whipple's business, he moved to Wentworth and practised law in Wentworth for five years. Then he returned to Rumney. He was success- ful as a lawyer and business man, and for many years a leading citizen of Rumney.
Hon. J. EVERETT SARGENT, LL.D., or Jona. E.
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Sargent as you prefer, known universally in Went- worth as "Judge Sargent," was born in New London, N. H., October 23, 1816. With no resources except his own earnings he acquired an education and graduated from Dartmouth College in 1836.
After graduation he studied law with the Hon. William P. Weeks of Canaan, and also was in Wash- ington, D. C., for a while where he continued his studies and was admitted to the Bar in that city in April, 1842.
He was admitted to the New Hampshire Bar in 1843, and was law partner with Mr. Weeks in Canaan until 1847. He was successful in Canaan, became a militia officer of high rank and solicitor of Grafton County in 1844.
In June, 1847, he removed to Wentworth, where he soon secured an extensive and lucrative law practice. His record as a public man is a long and impressive one. He was for ten years county solicitor of Grafton County; member of the legislature 1851, 1852 and 1853; the first year being chairman of the committee on incorporations, the second year chairman of the judiciary committee, and the third year he was elected speaker of the House of Representatives; in 1854 Mr. Sargent was elected senator from District No. II and was chosen president of the Senate on the organization of that body.
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In April, 1855, he was appointed a judge of the Court of Common Pleas and remained a judge of that court until 1859 when the court was abolished and he was immediately appointed to a seat on the bench of the Supreme Judicial Court, which place he held for fifteen years. He also held many other po- litical, business and fraternal offices. He was an active and, it is unnecessary to add, exceedingly able man. His first wife was Miss Maria C. Jones of Enfield and while a resident of Wentworth he married for his second wife Miss Louise Jennie Page, daughter of Deacon James K. Page of Wentworth.
Judge Sargent built several houses in Wentworth and had a large farm there. He served as grand master of Free and Accepted Masons of New Hamp- shire in 1864 and 1865. From Dartmouth College he received in 1869 the degree of LL.D., the highest honor in the power of the college to bestow.
Judge Sargent disposed of his estate in Wentworth and removed to Concord in 1869, having been a citi- zen of the town for twenty-two years. His beautiful residence there was burned in 1868. The building used by Judge Sargent as a law office in Wentworth was moved, an addition built to it and now forms a part of the house on the Buffalo Road formerly owned by Mrs. Thomas Esty and now owned and occupied by her daughter, Mrs. Nellie Clark.
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Hon. LEWIS W. FLING came with Judge Sargent from Canaan to Wentworth as a student. After Mr. Fling's admission to the Bar in 1851, he entered into a partnership with the Judge, remaining in business in that manner for some two years, when the partner- ship was dissolved and Mr. Fling moved to Bristol, where he opened an office and continued to practise successfully in Bristol as long as he lived.
Hon. THOMAS J. SMITH was born in Dorchester, N. H., April 18, 1830, and graduated from Dartmouth College in the class of 1848. He studied law in Judge Sargent's office and was admitted to the Bar in January, 1855.
After admission he was a partner of Mr. Sargent's, remaining until the latter's appointment to the bench, when Mr. Smith continued the practice alone. He rep- resented Wentworth in the legislature during the entire Civil War period, 1861-65 inclusive, five terms in all. He was senator of District No. 12, 1866-67; also postmaster 1857-61. Mr. Smith was rated a good lawyer and was quite distinguished as a political speaker, both in the legislature and out of it for many years. His wife was Miss Sarah S. Kelly of Went- worth. Desiring a larger field for legal practice he moved in 1868 to Dover, N. H., and in later years to Washington, D. C. His last days were spent at Manasquan, N. J.
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HISTORY OF WENTWORTH, N. H.
CHARLES AUGUSTUS DOLE was the son of Stephen Dole, who was for a long time station agent at Went- worth. He was born at Lunenburg, Mass., June 20, 1834. Mr. Dole was another of the students of Judge Sargent and after his admission to the Bar in 1857, practised law in town for a year or more. In July, 1858, he was appointed clerk of the Court for Grafton County and removed to Haverhill, where he remained as clerk for sixteen years, when he moved to Lebanon. He practised law there, was representative to the legislature and finally a member of the State Board of Equalization.
Hon. CHARLES HENRY BARTLETT was born in Sun- apee, N. H., October 15, 1833, and having studied law was admitted to practice in 1858, coming to Wentworth the same year, where he remained in the practice of his profession for five years, when he removed to Manchester. He was successful as a lawyer and has had in Manchester a long and distinguished career.
WILLIAM A. FLANDERS, Esq., was born and edu- cated in Canaan. Studied law with George W. Mur- ray, Esq., and admitted to the Bar in 1863. He com- menced practice in Wentworth the same year and remained in Wentworth as a lawyer until his death in 1909.
"Squire Flanders" as he was always called, was a
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fine looking man, with piercing black eyes, jet black hair and swarthy skin. He was of medium height, well built, and as a young man notable for physical strength and endurance.
He had a large library and was all his life a close student. As a lawyer he ranked higher as a counsellor and adviser than as a practitioner in court.
His wife was Miss Angie L. Clark of Canaan and they had five children.
Mr. Flanders lived during the most of the forty-six years he spent in Wentworth in the large square house in the village fronting the Common, and next to the Doctor Whipple house. The place is known to this day as the Flanders house.
JOSEPH CLEMENT STORY appears to be the last man who has come to Wentworth to practise law. Born in Sutton, N. H., August 30, 1856; he taught school; read law and was admitted to the Bar in 1880, and directly after began to practise at Went- worth where he remained for three years, when he removed to Plymouth and was a resident of Plymouth until his death. He was successful, both as a lawyer and business man, becoming widely known during the years of his life in Plymouth, as a lawyer and man of affairs.
From 1868 to 1871 another lawyer resided in the town, in addition to those already mentioned.
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HISTORY OF WENTWORTH, N. H.
His name was Horace S. Moore. Moore does not appear to have been prosperous in town, or ever to have done much in his profession.
The tradition is he died in town; at any rate he failed to make an impression on the townspeople during his residence among them, and definite in- formation in regard to him or his fate is sadly lacking at this late day.
CHAPTER IV
MILLS AND MILLMEN - TAVERNS AND TAVERNKEEPERS
MILLS AND MILLMEN
A fisherman following along the banks of our larger brooks often comes, at times unexpectedly, on the foundations of old dams, ditches which have evi- dently been built for canals, mill races and other evidence that the waters of our streams were at some time used for mill purposes.
In many cases these mills must have been of the so-called "thunder shower" type, that is, only able to run a few weeks in the spring or during the time of heavy rains; others had a more reliable flow of water. Taken altogether, they constituted a milling industry of importance and contributed much to the prosperity of the community.
The first mill was the saw- and gristmill built by William Hackett for the proprietors, of which he was one. This mill was on the Pond Brook, and has already been described. It was the first mill in the entire region and the only one for several years, being used for the benefit of the people of Warren as well as
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those of our own town. John Akin, the pioneer, built the next one, on the falls in Baker's River at the village. This was quite an undertaking for those early settlers, who had to make on the spot about all parts of the mill and equipment. The millstones were no doubt imported from somewhere, as well as the irons for the sawmill which Akin later added to a gristmill, which was his first venture. The Akin Mills were held by the family until around 1840. They were repeatedly damaged by floods, first seri- ously in 1785. In 1814 or 1815, they were again wrecked by high water. The dam and sawmill were then thoroughly rebuilt by Ezekiel Aiken. This was the old crib work dam and sawmill which stood on the spot until recent years. The mill was finally bought by William Haines, who had it a long time. It then was owned a few years by one William Capen and last by Thomas P. Nutting, who also owned the building on the other side of the river used as a wheelwright shop at times, for a while by Van Merrill as a tannery and glove shop and lastly by Nutting for woodworking purposes. A long flume ran from the dam along the face of the ledge to the wheel which furnished the power for the old shop. Nutting took out the old up-and-down saw in his sawmill and in- stalled a circular saw and edger.
Nutting was a rather eccentric man, who, for no
BAKER POND AND A PART OF CAMP PEMIGEWASSET
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particular reason, was rather unpopular with the village boys. These scamps felt impelled at times to have, as they expressed it "some fun with Old Nutting," and would sometimes go late at night into the old sawmill and hoist the gate, thus setting the wheel and more or less other machinery to going. They would then flee from the wrath to come. In time, Nutting or somebody would go and shut the gate, thus restoring peace to the souls of the villagers for the time being. The firm of Knight and Crosby, about 1878, built a bobbin mill on the back of the old sawmill and made bobbins there until the whole plant was burned in 1885, or about that date.
One of the very early mills was built on the Tural or Ellsworth Hill Brook by Capt. Ebenezer Gove and John Lyster (Leicester).
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