USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Wilton > History of the town of Wilton, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, with a genealogical register > Part 11
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bors above to Boston.
It was not strange, therefore, that a vigorous opposition should be made to new enterprises in road building, when the town was
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HISTORY OF WILTON.
already in debt, and a large outlay must be made. The old system of going over the hills required to be changed, and the roads must follow the valleys. Teams and stage-coaches demanded lighter grades. The extension of better roads into the country from be- low, and the increase of the transportation of heavy merchandise by the establishment of manufactories in towns above, rendered new valley roads a necessity of the times. It was under the stress of this revolution that the roads by the Sonhegan River, the Gam- bol Brook and Stony Brook were made, which are still very useful, though the immediate occasion that called them into existence has passed away. At the same time some of the hill roads have grad- ually been discontinued or disused.
Perhaps no better picture of the conflicts of parties upon the road questions of sixty or seventy years ago can be given than in the gentle satire, written at the time by a native female bard, which we give below. No embers remain now in the cold ashes, which it might be dangerous or discourteous to disturb, but the fun and the laugh remain as we recall the vigorous contests of the friends and the opponents of the new undertaking.
ROAD POETRY.
Says S --- h "a village I will build.
" On Gambrel's banks it shall arise ;
" With merchandize it shall be fill'd,
" With stores, and mills, and factories.
" To make a road without a hill," He said likewise, "do I intend :
" From Peterborough to my vill.
" And down to H --- n's to end."
To bring about the grand design. He thought it best to seek for aid.
So, he and L -- e combine, And to the court petition made.
Says S --- s "should the road be laid,
" Such sums of money I must spend.
" To Concord, I am much afraid,
" The town will not again me send.
" And though all falsehood I detest.
" To gain applause, I'll try my skill ;
" I'll make remonstrances, the best
"Of all, that ever wield the quill."
So, "honoured sirs, 'twould not be wise,
" To make this dark, and dreary road ;
" Thro' bogs, and fens, and woods it lies.
" There unmolested dwells the toad.
"'Twould make the stoutest Town clerk quake,
" To travel through this dangerous way :
" There dwells the frog, and speckled snake.
"There night birds scream. and squirrels play.
" There not a lonely hut is sten.
" Nor sheds the sun its cheering rays,
" Nor smiles a single hamlet green.
" But frightful Ignes fatni blaze;
" And not alone by night they burn,
". But here, amid the brightest day,
" These dread delusive phantoms turn.
" The lonely traveller from his way.
"And now kind sirs, I beg your aid.
'. This threat'ning evil to prevent ;
"So great's the expense, 'twould not be paid,
". But all our money would be spent.
" Far better climb the loftiest hills.
.. Where beauteous rocks in cones arise :
" Where fleecy snow, in hugest piles.
" Like Andes' summits pierce the skies."
* *
Some few the road did advocate, With earnest zeal their cause support, The conference lasted long and late : The wise Committee made report.
" We've thought the matter over and over :
" We wish no party to offend.
" We think it best to say no more.
" And in oblivion let it end.
" 'Tis very true, the place we view'd.
" No frightful spectres cross'd our way,
" Perhaps conceal'd in yonder wood.
" They hid themselves from face of day.
Sarah. Mes
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ROAD POETRY.
" We cannot once the 'squire dispute,
" Nor Æseulapins, learn'd and wise,
"Nor Judge, nor Vulcan, will refute,
" For we their friendship highly prize.
" Some evil which we cannot scan.
" In eaves, or mountains lurk unseen :
" Though there we saw the smoothest plain,
" And pleasing forests dress'd in green.
" When airy phantoms cease to be ;
" And dark deceit no more shall reign,
" When falsehood from the earth shall flee,
" This road shall stretch along the plain.
" But ere this peaceful happy time.
"Th' important subject we suspend;
" The people must o'er mountains climb.
" And road, and village have an end."
But the road was finally built.
1
CHAPTER XI.
MAIL ROUTES AND CARRIERS-STAGING-POST OFFICES AND POSTMASTERS.
The first mail route through Wilton was established about 1788, and ran from Keene to Portsmouth over the old county road through the north part of the town. The first post-rider was Ozias Silsbee. He was succeeded by Messrs. Wright, Philips and Thayer. The latter died very suddenly in Amherst, August 4, 1807, of injuries received in a playful scuffle with Mr. Cushing, the editor of the Farmers' Cabinet.
Mr. Daniel Gibbs succeeded Mr. Thayer and carried the mail on horseback for about eight years. The mail-pouch was about two feet long, and from eight to ten inches wide, but was amply suffi- cient to carry the postal matter that passed over the road at that time. The post-rider had also a pair of saddle-bags, each end of which would hold nearly, or quite, half a bushel, in which he car- ried newspapers and express packages. He passed down through Wilton on Sundays, and back on Thursdays. During the War of 1812 he was accustomed to call out the news, good or bad, to those who were within hearing. as, for instance, "Glorious news! Com- modore Perry has captured the whole British fleet on Lake Erie :" or, if the news were bad, with a melancholy expression he doled out, " Bad news ! The British have captured and burned Washington."
Abont 1816. Mr. Gibbs commenced driving a wagon ; he did a good deal of express business and had some passengers. He was prompt and faithful in the discharge of his duties. Mr. Gibbs died in Peterborough. September 25, 1824, at the age of seventy-three, from being thrown from his wagon on the rocks beneath the great bridge over the Contoocook, his horses backing off the bridge. . Mr. Gibbs lived but a short time after the accident.
115
STAGING.
Before the establishment of the post office in 1816, a number of copies of the New Hampshire Patriot, published at Concord by Isaac Hill, and one or two copies of the New Hampshire Sentinel, published at Keene by John Prentiss, were brought to subscribers in Wilton by Mr. Gibbs. But the majority of the people took the Farmers' Cabinet, published at Amherst by Richard Boylston. Each subscriber, in his turn, went to Amherst for the papers on Satur- day, and distributed them on Sunday. Mr. Boylston kept the tally, and marked, each week, the paper of him whose turn came next. Letters, too, were forwarded to the one whose turn was next in succession, and thus reached the post office at Amherst. Verily, those were primitive times.
About the time of Mr. Gibbs's death the route was changed from the north road to the road through the middle of the town. Mr. Gibbs's son took the route and soon commenced running a two- horse carriage, which continued until the seventh of July, 1828, when the four-horse coach line from Keene to Nashua was started.
STAGING.
The "team" from Nashua to Milford was owned by Mr. Fred- eric Lovejoy ; the team from Milford to West Wilton, by Mr. Joseph Holt : that from West Wilton to Peterborough was owned by Mr. Samuel Smith, Mr. Silas Winn and Mr. John Holt, and the team from Peterborough to Keene, by Messrs. Senter and Cunning- ham. In a few years Mr. John Holt and Mr. Lovejoy owned the line from Peterborough to Nashua, and Mr. Holt was the driver. About 1833, an accommodation line was started, and then there was a coach each way through town daily. On the opening of the Boston and Lowell Railroad to Lowell, the stage line was extended to Lowell, and so continued until the railroad was built to Nashua. The line was shortened as the railroad was extended to Danforth's corner, Milford and Wilton. The railroad was opened to Wilton in December, 1851.
The drivers who had served the longest terms up to that time were Mr. John Holt, Mr. John Leach. Mr. Benjamin P. Cheney, who has since been extensively engaged in the express business and is now a wealthy man in Boston, and Capt. Porter. The line had been for a number of years in charge of Col. Fox of Nashua.
After the opening of the railroad to Wilton, the proprietors ran their stages from Wilton to Peterborough until October, .1870, when they sold out to the railroad company ; the line was then continued
116
HISTORY OF WILTON.
under the direction of Mr. John Dane of Hancock, as agent, until the opening of the railroad to Greenfield, about the first of January, 1874, took the last stages from Wilton.
The Forest road in Wilton was built in 1831. In the spring of 1832, Mr. Joy of Nashua started a coach on the Forest road and the line was continued to Charlestown, New Hampshire. Prior to 1837, there were connected with the lower section of the line, that between Wilton and Hancock, beside Mr. Joy, either as pro- prietors or drivers, Mr. Iram Woods, two young men by the name of Wyman, Mr. Pennock, Mr. Nathan Dane, Mr. George W. Tar- bell and probably others; Mr. Dane and Mr. Tarbell being the proprietors. In December, 1837, Hon. Hiram T. Morrill, now of Nashua (1885), bought Mr. Tarbell's interest, and soon after Mr. Dane sold his to Mr. Phelps, and in 1840 or 1841, Mr. Phelps sold to Mr. Hall.
Mr. Hall retained his interest but a short time, when Mr. R. R. Howison and Mr. Howland Prouty, both now of Milford, became partners of Mr. Morrill. After a few years Mr. Pronty sold to Morrill and Howison, who retained their interest in the line until they sold it in October, 1870, to the railroad company, who ran the line until the railroad was opened to Greenfield. Among the drivers on this line, other than the proprietors, were Charles Leavitt, El- bridge Harris, Ezra Pettengill and Mr. Sanborn. During the time the stages ran through Wilton they were well patronized, and at times had to run extras.
While Morrill and Phelps owned the line an accident happened, about three-fourths of a mile from the depot, at a corner in the road near the foot of a moderate descent. Water had flowed over the road and had frozen ; one of the horses slipped upon the ice, and horses and coach were precipitated from the bank upon the river ice, three feet below. The driver and the passengers escaped with slight injuries, one horse and the coach were considerably damaged, and the town had to pay something over one hundred dollars for damages.
The road from Gray's corner to Greenville was completed in 1843. Soon after a mail-route was established from Manchester to New Ipswich, passing through Wilton. A part of the time four-horse teams, and some of the time two-horse teams, have been used on the route. A few years since, that part of the route between Mil- ford Village and East Wilton was discontinued. The names of some of the drivers through Wilton were Porter, Thomas, Sanborn, Batch-
117
MAILS.
elder. At the present time, 1884. the mail is carried with one horse and carriage.
Soon after the railroad was opened to Greenfield, the route from West Wilton to East Wilton was established, and Mr. Abiel Frye had the contract for carrying the mail daily over the route until his decease, June 21, 1886.
POST OFFICES AND POSTMASTERS.
The Wilton post office was established October 1, 1816. The fol- lowing list is given by the Department at Washington, consisting of the titles of the post offices in different parts of the town. the names of the postmasters, and the dates of their appointment :
OFFICE.
POSTMASTERS.
DATE OF APPOINTMENT.
John Mack.
Elijah Stockwell.
Hervey Barnes,
Stephen Abbott.
February 27, 1828.
Ezra Buss,
January 4. 1837. January 3, 1838.
Timothy Parkhurst.
Isaac Blanchard.
June 7. 1845.
Varnum S. Holt,
To Wilton Centre,
February 9, 1856. April 16, 1856.
WILTON CENTRE LATE WILTON
Varnum S. Holt. To West Wilton.
· April 16, 1856. April 23, 1856.
WEST WILTON LATE WILTON CENTRE
Varnum S. Holt, Philander Ring, Henry O. Sargent.
April 23, 1856. April 21, 1858. December 10, 1877.
Ballard Pettengill. William M. Edwards. John Merrill,
February 24, 1831. January 4, 1833. January 19, 1835.
October 30, 1835.
ESTABLISHED
FEB'Y 24. 1831
William M. Edwards. Ephraim Hackett. James M. Dane, - Albert Farnsworth, Leonard Pettengill. To Wilton,
February 14, 1839. February 17, 1842. July 22, 1853. February 28, 1854. April 16. 1856.
WILTON LATE EAST WILTON
Leonard Pettengill. Nathan Flint, William J. Bradbury. Alfred E. Jaques.
April 16. 1856. July 20, 1861. December 14, 1869. August 4. 1875.
EAST WILTON
October 1, 1816. February 21. 1824. April 4, 1826.
WILTON
CHAPTER XII.
SOCIETIES, LODGES, GRANGE, AND GRAND ARMY POST.
A great change has taken place in the community during the last fifty years in regard to social life. In the earlier times, when the population was sparse. and families lived remote from one another. and the means of communication from neighborhood to neighbor- hood were more difficult. the opportunities of social intercourse were more rare than in this day of railroads and steam navigation. In country towns, too. the improved roads and carriages and in- creased facilities for neighborly intercourse have multiplied the ties of human acquaintance and brotherhood. Hence a multitude of clubs, societies, lodges and granges has sprung up, and has in- augurated what may be called " the social age " or "' the age of as- sociation." This has come to be what may be called a species of secular church. It is the forerunner of the more perfect spiritual union of mankind, established, not merely on grounds of temporal but of eternal interest and of diviner brotherhood.
THE LITERARY AND MORAL SOCIETY.
One of the earliest movements of this kind was the establish- ment, in 1815 or 1816, of the Wilton "Literary and Moral Socie- ty" by the pastor of the town, Rev. Thomas Beede. He was aided in this undertaking by a number of intelligent and public-spirited young men and women, who desired a higher education and a culture beyond what the schools and academies could give. A de- scription of this institution can best be given in the language of one of its members, Rev. Warren Burton :
The members of this early society consisted of young gentlemen and › ladies, and there were a few boys, like myself, who had a literary taste
119
LITERARY SOCIETIES.
such as to admit them to a companionship with their superiors. We met at first once a week or fortnight at Mr. Beede's house. and then in a par- lor in the Buss House (or hotel). as it used to be called. We should have been lost in the spaciousness of a hall.
There our revered pastor presided over us under the title of Instruct- or, if I rightly remember. We discussed literary and moral questions orally or by writing. Fudeed, subjects were given ont at each meeting to be written upon against the next. and the essays were read before the so- ciety and then put into the hands of the Instructor to be corrected. These were to me. and I doubt not to the rest. delightful meetings. hn- pulses were given there, which in the chain of canses must. I think, have been of valuable consequence.
Among those whose names can now be recalled as belonging to this early society are Samuel Abbot, Samuel Barrett, Phoebe Abbot, Saralı W. Livermore, the Misses Rockwood, Warren Burton, Abner Flint and others, besides the family of the pastor, Rev. Thomas Beede.
THE LYCEUM.
The next association was the Wilton Lyceum. This was a more general and popular organization, designed not for a special few but for the benefit of the public at large. Its organization was simple, and its meetings were held in what was called the " Brick Hall," over Messrs. Haskell and Whitney's store. A chairman, a secretary and a treasurer, with a board of directors, constituted the management. The employment of home talent was encouraged, and seldom, if ever, was any paid lecturer called to the stand. A
certain person, then a student in Harvard College, recollects giving a lecture on " The Diffusion of Useful Knowledge," and another lecture on " The Prussian System of Popular Education," before this august body. Debates on the questions of the day sometimes took the place of a formal address.
THE LECTURE BUREAU.
The next step in the social and educational development of the town was the still more popular assembly, gathered to hear some distinguished lecturer from abroad, a Chapin, a King, a Giles, a Parker, a Mann, a Taylor, or a Gough, either sent out by some Lecture Bureau, or coming on his own responsibility. But, in general, the expense of these lecturers from abroad was too heavy for small country towns. Still later the system has been worked up to the establishment of courses of lectures. interspersed
120
HISTORY OF WILTON.
with musical, humorous and dramatic entertainments. Circulars are issued at the beginning of the winter campaign and courses are arranged for the season. Tickets are issued for the season at a fixed price. In some towns the method is adopted of replenishing the church treasury by resorting to such courses of lectures. Thus the concert and the theatre are subsidized in the support of religious institutions.
By all these methods the sociability and intelligence of society have been advanced. A new leaf has been turned over in civiliza- tion, and, if great and crying evils exist in society, we cannot tell how much more general and malignant they would be if no social methods were put in train for the improvement and cordial under- standing of society, regardless of church, caste or party.
MASONIC,
The first Masonic service in Wilton of which we have any ac- count was the funeral of Deacon John Burton, who died Novem- ber 18, 1816, aged 78 years.
Rev. Thomas Beede (a brother Mason) preached a sermon at the meeting-house, and conducted the other customary services ; then a procession was formed, which, to the music of three or four clar- ionets, two bassoons, a fife and a muffled drum, proceeded to the north cemetery, where the Masonic ceremonies were performed.
He was one of the first deacons of the church in Wilton, and sat in the deacons' seat, and, for many years, took the lead of the singing. He had a clear, strong tenor voice, and was noted for song-singing, " Burns's Farewell " being his favorite. Probably no resident of Wilton ever rode so little in proportion to what he walked as did Deacon Burton. His interest in Masonry was well exemplified by his habit of walking to Amherst to attend Lodge meetings, it being not less than ten miles from his home.
The following notice was published in the Farmers' Cabinet :
MUSICAL AND MASONIC.
Notice is hereby given that there will be a public exhibition of Sacred Musie at Wilton on Monday, the 28th day of December next. The pieces selected for the occasion are : "Stand Up, my Soul," " Blow the Trump- et." " The Dying Christian," " Sheffield," " The Heavens are Telling," and "Strike the Cymbal." A dinner will be provided, and a discourse is ex- peeted from Rev. Mr. Fay of Harvard, Mass. The brethren of Bethel Lodge, No. 24, and of Benevolent Lodge, No. 7, will celebrate the birth of St. John the Evangelist at the same time and place.
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FREE MASONS.
The following officers are appointed to preside over them on that day. viz. :
Thomas Beede, Master: Aaron Whitney, S. Warden; N. D. Gould. J. Warden ; Ira Wilkins. Treasurer: Henry Isaacs, Secretary: Seth King and Josiah Converse, Marshals: J. Pritchard. S. Deacon : John Secomb. J. Deacon : Nathaniel Emerson. Thomas Bennett, Asa Pritchard and Jonas C. Champney. Stewards: Joseph Boutelle and James Kennedy, Ty- lers : Rev. Mr. Fay, Orator, and Rev. Mr. Hill, Substitute.
The procession will be formed at the Hall of Mossrs. Haskell and Whitney. precisely at eleven o'clock. A. M .. and will move to the meet- ing-house where the services will be performed. Dinner is to be on the table at half-past two, P. M.
Brethren of neighboring Lodges are invited to join in the celebration : and all Masons are requested to give a punctual attendance with their ap- propriate Jewels and clothing.
Tickets for the dinner may be had at the store of Messrs. Haskell and Whitney on the day of the celebration at one dollar each.
Wilton. Nov. 26th. 1818.
On the day of the celebration the meeting-house was full. Dea. N. D. Gould, then of New Ipswich, the most celebrated singer of his time in these parts, led the singing. Of the Masons present, many of them wore the Royal Arch insignia.
The early Masons of Wilton were Dea. Burton, Rev. Thomas Beede, Col. Jonathan Burton, Capt. John Burton. Joel Abbot, Esq., Dr. John Putnam, John Dale and probably others.
In 1825, several machinists came to Wilton, who were engaged in setting up the machinery for the old factory, of whom George Kin- son, Ira Bliss, John A. Burnham and Joseph Putnam were Masons.
About 1826, Asa Jones, Ephraim Brown, Moses and Charles Spalding, Joseph B. Howard, Eliphalet and Abiel A. Putnam and Luther Dascomb were made Masons in Benevolent Lodge, No. 7, at Milford.
At the annual session of the Grand Lodge of the state of New Hampshire in June, 1827, a charter was granted to organize a lodge in Wilton, by the name and style of Clinton Lodge, No. 52. The hall over the brick store, now the house of Mrs. Henry Newell. was fitted up to accommodate the Lodge, and November 30th, 1827, the Lodge was consecrated and the officers were installed.
The officers were :
Thomas Beede. W. Master: George Kinsou, Sen. Warden ; Abiel 1. Putnam, Jun. Warden; John Dale, Treasurer: Jonathan Burton. Secre- tary: Eliphalet Putnam, Sen. Deacon ; Charles Spalding, Jun. Deacon : Jacob Lovejoy and Joseph B. Howard. Stewards: Moses Spakling. Mar- shal, and Ephraim Brown. Tyler.
122
HISTORY OF WILTON.
The first work in the Lodge was at the regular communication, January 2d, 1828, when Samnel King, William Emerson and Sew- all Putnam were initiated in the Entered Apprentices' Degree. They each subsequently took the Fellow-Crafts' and Masters' De- grees.
The Lodge flourished for a year or two, when the Morgan ex- citement gave Masonry a check. The Lodge continued to meet for about five years, but there was little or no work done after the first two years. Those who were Masters of the Lodge during that time were, Rev. Thomas Beede, George Kinson, Elijah Stockwell, Ephraim Brown and Eliphalet Putnam.
There were no meetings of the Lodge for about twenty years, when the Lodge was reorganized under the original charter, was re- consecrated. and the officers were installed by the Grand Lodge, M. W. Alfred Greele, Grand Master.
The Lodge has had its times of prosperity, as also of adversity ; twice the hall that it occupied has been burned, with its furniture, and its records prior to February 2d, 1867, have been destroyed.
Of those who have held the office of Master of the Lodge since its reorganization, are Madison Templeton, Caleb W. Hodgdon, Lewis Howard. Charles H. Burns, Thomas HI. Dillon, Edmund P. Hutchinson, William A. Davis, George S. Neville, David A. Gregg, Daniel Cragin, David W. Russell, John Gage, William II. Barnes, Rufus F. Stowe, Frank E. Hutchinson, William H. Put- nam and Frank P. Martin.
On examination of the records of the Lodge, now extant, ample evidence is found that the Lodge has not been derelict in its duty to the widow, the orphan and the needy.
ADVANCE GRANGE.
Early in the year 1874 the necessary papers for the preliminary steps in the organization of subordinate granges were placed in the hands of one of our farmers, who, on receiving them, called upon another prominent farmer and found him ready to engage in the work. They started together to circulate a petition for a charter, and found most of those whose attention they called to the subject, ready to sign at once. A few hesitated on account of the existence of a farmers' club, which was then in a flourishing condition. These subsequently waived their objections, and the leading members of the club became charter members of the grange. On the after- noon of February 20, 1874, Worthy Brother Deputy C. C. Shaw in-
123
ADVANCE GRANGE.
stituted Advance Grange with thirty members. the maximum num- ber then allowed as charter members. Their names are as follows :
Henry Gray, George Buss. Mrs. George Buss. Levi A. Pierce, Mrs. Levi 1. Pierce, Charles C. Spalding, Henry N. Gray, Mrs. Heury N. Gray, Joseph W. Stiles. Waldo Foster. Mrs. Waldo Foster, Charles White, James Hutchinsou, John D. Wilson, David W. Russell. Gardner Blanch- ard, Mrs. Gardner Blanchard, AA. D. Abbot, Mrs. A. D. Abbot, George H. Keyes, Mrs. George H. Koyes. George Barrett, Mrs. George Barrett, George L. Dascombe. Mrs. George L. Dascombe, W. K. McGregor, Mrs. W. K. McGregor. Charles Wilson. Jacob Putnam and Thomas Law.
The officers elected for the first year were as follows :
Master, Henry Gray: Overseer, Waldo Foster; Lecturer, G. L. Das- combe: Steward, Geo. IT. Keyes: Assistant Steward, Heury N. Gray : Chaplain, Charles Wilson : Treasurer, Gardner Blanchard : Secretary. 1. Dwight Abbot: Gate Keeper. JJ. W. Stiles: Cores. Mrs. Henry N. Gray : Pomona. Mrs. Levi A. Pierce: Flora. Mrs. Gardner Blanchard ; Lady Assistant Steward. Mrs. George H. Keyes.
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