USA > New Hampshire > New Hampshire agriculture : personal and farm sketches > Part 10
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Mr. Ryder is a Republican in politics and was elected supervisor by his town in 1894. He is married and has a son four years of age.
HON. MANSON S. BROWN,
PLYMOUTH.
The north-bound traveler, on approaching the charm- ing village of Plymouth, over the old Boston, Concord & Montreal Railroad, now a part of the Boston & Maine system, is struck by the beautiful appearance of the broad Pemigewasset valley intervales, below the village, whose fertile acres, in summer time, laden with fine crops of grass and corn, are a special delight to the eye of the practical agriculturist. Overlooking the lower intervales. upon the hillside at the left, is a spacious set of farm- buildings, including a roomy, old style mansion. one of the largest and best arranged barns in the country, and all necessary outbuildings. This was formerly known as the "Judge Blair place," having been long owned and occupied by the late Hon. Walter Blair, but now
HON. MANSON S. BROWN.
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and for the past fifteen years the home of that well-known and popular citizen, extensive farmer, and active man of affairs, Hon. Manson S. Brown.
Mr. Brown is a native of the town of Bridgewater, a son of James and Judith (Harron) Brown, born Novem- ber 30, 1835. His early life was passed in farm labor. with such educational advantages as he was able to secure at the district school and a brief attendance at New Hampton Institution. At nineteen years of age he went to live with an uncle, Theophilus Ladd, who took much interest in his welfare, and afforded him op- portunities in travel and in other directions, which he turned to the best possible advantage.
In 1859, at the age of twenty-three, Mr. Brown re- moved to Campton and engaged in business as a black- smith, where he remained until the summer of 1862. when he enlisted in the Thirteenth Regiment N. H. Vols., under Col. Aaron F. Stevens. He was a skilful musician, and was duly promoted, until, at the fall of Richmond, he led the bands of the First Brigade in the entrance into that city, April 3, 1865, having served faith- fully with his regiment during its three years' campaign, and being wounded at Fredericksburg and Cold Harbor.
After the close of the war, in 1865, he located in Ply- mouth village, where he lived until 1881, having been commissioned as deputy sheriff in 1868, and sheriff of Grafton County in 1874, and subsequently serving as deputy for that and other counties, under other sheriff's, which office he holds at the present time.
In 1881, he established himself upon the farm which he now occupies, which was the property of Kimball Whitney, formerly of Campton, whose daughter, Ann P. E. Whitney, Mr. Brown married. This farm, em- bracing several hundred acres altogether, was one of the first settled in the town of Plymouth, and on it was
FARM HOME OF HON. MANSON S. BROWN, PLYMOUTH.
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erected the first framed building in the town. It in- cludes about 100 acres of intervale, and cuts 100 tons of hay, or more, upon an average, while from ten to fifteen acres of corn and a considerable amount of oats are pro- duced. The stock consists of 40 to 50 head of cattle, and 15 or 20 horses. About 25 cows are kept, the milk from which is mostly sent to the creamery. Mr. Brown has one son, Manson W. H., who lives at home and gives his entire attention to the farm work. He married Miss Lottie Smith, June 25, 1896, and was a charter member and first Overseer of Plymouth Grange; also a charter member of Lodge No. 47, Knights of Pythias.
Mr. Brown owns another large farm and woodlands, and has been extensively engaged in lumbering for many years. Politically, he is a Republican and has been prominent in the councils of his party. He represented the Fourth District in the State Senate in the legislature of 1885-6, and in December, 1886, was appointed state liquor commissioner. In the discharge of his various official duties, and in his business relations, he has been brought extensively in contact with the public, and few enjoy a higher measure of personal popularity.
CHARLES W. FASSETT,
JAFFREY.
It can be very truthfully said of the subject of this sketch that he has been quite successful in his farming operations during the past few years, and has fairly demonstrated the fact that by industry and perseverance, coupled with intelligence, agriculture can be made to pay even in New Hampshire.
Charles W. Fassett was born in the town of Troy. December 3, 1848. His parents were Joseph W. and Sarah A. (Putney ) Fassett, who removed to Jaffrey. when
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Charles W. was about six years of age. The only edu- cation he received was that derived from a few weeks' attendance upon the district school each year, before he was sixteen, supplemented by a course of study in the Bryant & Stratton Business College. October 5, 1876, he was united in marriage with Adelia P. Upton of Jaf- frey, daughter of Thomas and Marietta (Cutter) Upton. They have one son, Fred. W.
In 1878 Mr. Fassett commenced farming in Jaffrey, upon a leased farm. After a time, not find- ing the situation en- tirely satisfactory, he bought a small farm near the beautiful little village of East Jaffrey, running in debt for the larger part of the price, and engaged in the cul- tivation of small fruits and early vegetables, in connection with a small dairy and poul- try raising. The sum- mer boarding interest naturally enhances the CHARLES W. FASSETT. value of the village market, and, by care and diligence, Mr. Fassett has found his business quite remunerative, enabling him to nearly clear off his indebtedness and make good prog- ress on the highway of prosperity.
Mr. Fassett was one of the twenty-two charter mem- bers of Jaffrey Grange, and was its first assistant steward, his wife serving at the same time as lady assistant. He has since served two years as overseer and two years as
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master, and has taken a lively interest in the welfare of the organization. He is a member of Cheshire County Pomona Grange, and has taken all the degrees of the order. He is also active in Odd Fellowship, being a member of Monadnock lodge, No. 90, of Jaffrey, Rebekah Degree lodge, No. 71, and Union encampment, No. 6, Peterborough.
In politics Mr. Fassett is a Republican. He has held various town offices of trust, and is now a member of the board of selectmen. He has always commanded the respect of his fellow-citizens for his integrity and worth.
MARCELLUS R. HODGMAN,
MASON.
The Hodgmans of Mason are old residents of the town, several generations of the family having dwelt within its borders. Marcellus R. Hodgman, a native and life-long resident of the place, an enterprising and progressive farmer, and highly-esteemed citizen, is the second son of Edwin J. and Lovina (Foster) Hodgman, born April 18, 1847. February 13, 1870, he was united in marriage with Anna E. Buttrick, daughter of Hiram N. and Augusta (Bennett) Buttrick of Rindge, commenc- ing housekeeping in the house where he was born, four good hands and two stout hearts being their only capital. In about two years they removed to another place in the same school district, where, two years later, on a cold April night, they were burned out, Mrs. Hodgman making her way with their two little children, shoeless, through the snow to the nearest neighbor's. Not even their clothing was saved from the flames ; but still young. undaunted and courageous, they went back to the old home, and started again.
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Five years later Mr. Hodgman rented the farm where he now lives, being then without sufficient means to pay for the stock. Laboring diligently three years, he had sufficiently mastered the situation to feel warranted in purchasing the place, which he then did, and, by per- sistent effort, backed by good judgment in directing the same, he is now entirely out of debt, with a fine farm in good condition, the house having been thoroughly re- modelled, pure running water supplied for house and barn, and various other improvements.
Fruit, poultry, and the dairy are leading features in Mr. Hodgman's farm operations, small fruits receiving special atten- tion. He has marketed several hundred dol- lars' worth of straw- berries and raspberries per annum, and had at one time three hundred peach trees. A fine plum orchard has just come into bearing. Plymouth Rock fowls are kept exclusively as poultry, about 600 hens and chickens having been cared for the past MARCELLUS R. HODGMAN. season. With excel- lent care a good profit is realized. From twelve to six- teen head of cattle are kept, the cream from the dairy going to the Ashby, Mass., creamery.
In politics Mr. Hodgman is a Republican, and has been honored by his party in various ways, having served as town and school auditor, as selectman, and as chair-
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man of the board of supervisors for the last ten or twelve years. He has also taken a strong interest in school matters, acting as prudential committee under the old system and as a member of the town school board sub- sequently.
Mr. and Mrs. Hodgman have two children-a daughter, Etta E., the wife of George E. Livingston of Greenville and the mother of two fine boys, and a son, Mervin E., who married Lilla E. Hall of Brooklyn, N. Y., in Jan- uary, 1896, and is associated in business with his father. All are active members of Fruitdale Grange, No. 106, of Mason, in which Mr. Hodgman has served as overseer. and contributes materially to the exercises and discussions.
THOMAS O. TAYLOR,
SANBORNTON.
The old Taylor homestead in Sanbornton, whereon five generations of the name have dwelt,-descending
THE TAYLOR HOMESTEAD, SANBORNTON.
from Jonathan, who came with his father, Nathan Tay- lor, from Stratham and settled on the place in 1773, to
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Thomas, the son of Jonathan, and to Andrew J., son of Thomas-is now owned and occupied by Thomas Os- good Taylor, son of Andrew J. and Polly (Osgood) Taylor, born July 28, 1851, who was reared and has always had his home on the farm, receiving his educa- tion at the district schools and at the New Hampton Institution.
Being the only son, he was associated with his father in the management of the farm, and thus continued after his marriage, January 25, 1876, with Miss Cinda W. Heath of Bristol, and upon his father's death, some six years later, the property passed into his hands. The farm, which is located one mile from Sanbornton Square and five miles from Tilton, on the stage road to New Hampton, contains about 300 acres of land, of which 50 acres is mowing and tillage, THOMAS O. TAYLOR. the amount of hay crop being about 50 tons. Mr. Tay- lor has a silo, but in recent years has raised Hungarian instead of ensilage, as a supplementary feeding crop. For many years Mr. Taylor and his father made the raising of oxen and steers a specialty, producing many premium cattle of the Hereford strain. Of late, dairy- ing has been the leading feature of his farm operations, the number of cows ranging from 15 to 20. He uses the De Laval separator, being the first in the county to adopt
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it, and markets his butter at Franklin. He is an enthu- siastic Hereford breeder, and his fine herd took first money at the last Tilton and Rochester fairs, though coming in competition at the latter with cattle from dif- erent parts of New England. He also produces a con- siderable amount of maple syrup, being among the first to adopt improved methods in its manufacture, as he is prompt to utilize advanced ideas in all lines of agricul- tural work.
Mr. Taylor was a charter member of Harmony Grange, Sanbornton, and its first secretary, serving five years. He has since been two years master, and also for two years master of Belknap County Pomona Grange. He was active in the organization of the State Grange Fair association, and has served as super- intendent of the forage and cattle departments, and also as general superintendent for several years, until Janu- ary, 1896, when he was elected treasurer of the associa- tion. He is also a director of the Sanbornton Town Fair association, and has been treasurer of the same, and a director of the town Fire Insurance company.
Politically, he is a Democrat ; has served his town as collector of taxes and town treasurer several years. and has been the candidate of his party for county commis- sioner. He is a member of Harmony Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Tilton, and an attendant at the Baptist church in San- bornton.
JOHN BAILEY,
CLAREMONT.
Among the steady-going, thoughtful, and successful farmers of the first-class agricultural town of Claremont is John Bailey, a native of the neighboring town of Unity, son of Eaton and Elizabeth Wright (Sparling)
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Bailey, born June 30, 1833. Both his parents were of English descent, hence the persevering spirit and sturdy character which he has ever manifested. He attended the ungraded school until sixteen years of age, after which he pursued the study of the higher branches in the academies at Washington and Claremont, prepara- tory to a course at Dartmouth, but was forced to abandon the latter on account of poor health, and entered the dry- goods house of a brother at Claremont, where he con- tinued three years, but was finally compelled to abandon this business from the same reason that compelled the relinquishment of the college course.
About this time he was united in marriage with the only daughter of Laban Ainsworth of Claremont, and, purchasing a large farm on the Connecticut river, com- menced farming in earnest. He studied methods care- fully, and determined not to turn a furrow without thor- ough fertilization of the soil, so as to secure the largest crops that the land was capable of producing, realizing, as he did, that the cost of producing 150 bushels of corn per acre is but little more than that of 75 bushels, while the land would thus be left capable of producing two and one-half tons of hay per acre instead of a ton, or a ton and a half.
Mr. Bailey's present farm is situated on the Connecti- cut, about one mile south of Claremont Junction, and contains 205 acres, of which 75 acres is tillage, the bal- ance pasture and woodland. He cuts about 100 tons of English hay, and harvests from 1,000 to 1,500 bushels of ears of corn, and from 500 to 700 bushels of oats annu- ally, most of which is consumed on the farm. Since the experiment station at Hanover and Durham has been in operation, Mr. Bailey has followed closely the experi- ments in dairying, feeding stock, and raising crops. He believes that much has been reduced to science, and that
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the thinking farmer can add materially to his store of knowledge from the bulletins issued from the station from time to time.
The New England farmer has had much to contend with in the last twenty years, and Mr. Bailey early began to fortify himself against cheap wool, mutton, beef, grain, etc., raised in the West, by giving up these industries and going into dairying, supplemented by the raising of swine. He has kept from 20 to 40 cows, and raised and fattened as many hogs each year. His butter is sold at wholesale at 25 cents per pound the entire year.
HOME OF JOHN BAILEY, CLAREMONT.
Mr. Bailey had always turned a deaf ear to all sugges- tions of office-holding, until the new school law went into effect, when, being a firm believer in all its provisions, he accepted a position as a member of the board of edu- cation. In that capacity he served two successive terms, during which time a new school building was erected and many of the old ones, in sparsely settled districts, abandoned, the scholars being conveyed to graded schools in central points. At the expiration of his term of office, he had the satisfaction of leaving the schools 13
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much improved in method, and the standard in the inter- mediate and grammar grades raised materially, while the friction attendant upon the change had subsided, and the people became eminently satisfied with the change.
Mr. Bailey has a son and three daughters. The son is a farmer in Claremont. Two married daughters reside in Antrim. The youngest, unmarried, is a teacher. In politics, he is an earnest Republican ; in religion, an Episcopalian.
CLARENCE L. TROW,
MILFORD.
There are some sections of the state in which the poul- try business is an important item of agricultural industry, being followed as a specialty by many persons. Per- haps no town makes a better showing in this line than Milford, where there are several men engaged in the business, keeping from 500 to 1,000 hens each, with profitable results.
One of the most enthusiastic of these, although com- paratively new to the business, is Clarence L. Trow, formerly of Amherst, who bought a pleasantly-located poultry farm of ten acres, with good buildings, near the village, in 1894, and by diligence and care is already on the high road to success. He has now 500 hens, and is engaged in egg production mainly, poultry for market being mainly incidental ; but chickens for the mainte- nance and increase of laying stock are raised. His eggs are chiefly marketed in Lowell, and the poultry sold goes there and to Boston.
Mr. Trow was born in Amherst, November 13, 1860, being a son of Joseph P. and Foreno F. (Underwood) Trow, and had his home in that town until his removal to Milford. He was educated in the district school and
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at McCollom Institute, Mont Vernon, graduating from the classical department of the latter institution in 1879, with a certificate ensuring admission to Dartmouth col- lege, had he been disposed to pursue his studies further ; but he preferred farm life, and, returning home, was engaged with his father and brother in milk, fruit, and berry production, with the exception of a year or so in the management of a general country store in Amherst village, until his adoption of the poultry business, as heretofore men- tioned.
Mr. Trow became a member of Souhe- gan grange, Amherst, (which connection he still retains) in 1879, and has served as Master two terms, also as Lecturer and Secretary. He is also CLARENCE L. TROW. an active member of Hillsborough County Pomona grange, and has been an officer in that organization. He has prepared a Grange column for the Farmer's Cabinet at Milford for sev- eral years past, and has written considerably for other papers. He is a member of Custos Morum lodge, I. O. O. F. Politically, he is a Democrat, but, always resid- ing in a strong Republican town, he has not held office to any great extent, nor has he sought the same, though he served six years upon the school board in Amherst, as tax collector two years, and selectman one year.
June 1, 1893, Mr. Trow united in marriage with Miss
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Lucy C. Mitchell of Nashua, who makes him a happy home and brings congenial companionship. Both are members of the Congregational church, and each has charge of a class in the Sunday-school.
FRED BEAN,
WARNER.
Among the worthy and substantial citizens of the town of Warner, enjoying an enviable reputation alike in busi- ness and agricultural circles, is Fred Bean, son of Wil- liam H. and Mary (Colby) Bean, born at Waterloo in that town, September 30, 1851. He was reared to farm labor, receiving such educational advantages only as the district school afforded, and has always been interested in agriculture, although engaged for some ten years in business as a grain dealer in Warner village, finally disposing of his interest in that line on account of his health, and subsequently devoting his attention to farm work.
October 16, 1877, he was united in marriage with Frances A. Robbins, daughter of Francis Robbins, for- merly of Sutton. They have one daughter, Stella, born May 5, 1884. Their home is a charming place, known as " Ingleton Farm," a short distance up from the main street in Warner village, on the road to Kearsarge moun- tain. There are about twenty-five acres of choice land in this home place, with well-appointed buildings, pleas- ant grounds, and plenty of shade and fruit trees, making it a desirable resort for summer boarders, who have been accommodated to some extent in recent years.
Mr. Bean has another farm of about one hundred acres, situated opposite the River Bow Park fair grounds. For some time he was engaged, to a considerable extent, in breeding horses, and has a number of good animals in
RESIDENCE OF FRED BEAN, WARNER.
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this line at present, but has given his attention more to dairying of late, keeping about ten cows, on the average, and selling his cream to the Henniker creamery. He raises from five to ten acres of corn each year, which he husks, and also raises quite an amount of oats, which he cuts for fodder.
He has been a member of Warner grange for ten years or more, and has taken much interest in its suc- cess, filling various offices, including that of Master for 1894. He also occupied the Master's chair a consider- able portion of the time in 1895, in the unavoidable absence of the regular incumbent.
He has also been active and prominent in Masonry, having been a member of Harris lodge of Warner since 1875, in which organization he has passed the chairs. In the Grand lodge he has served as District Deputy Grand Master and District Deputy Grand Lecturer. He is also a member of Woods Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, of Henniker, and has served as High Priest in that body.
In politics, Mr. Bean is a Republican. He has been three times chosen a member of the board of selectmen, and was chairman of the board in 1891. He was also representative from Warner in 1889-'90, during which term an extra session of the legislature was holden. In religion, he is a Baptist, and, with his family, is included in the membership of the church of that denomination at Warner village.
WILLARD W. CHASE,
GEORGE'S MILLS.
One of the most important factors of agricultural suc- cess in New Hampshire is the summer boarding industry, and he who readily combines farming and boarding, thus making a profitable market for his products on his own
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premises, has found the key to prosperity. There are many such men in New Hampshire, and a good repre- sentative of the class is Willard W. Chase, of " Pleasant Home," George's Mills, Sunapee.
Mr. Chase, a son of Asa and Mary A. (Abbott) Chase, was born in Springfield, April 18, 1839. He was reared a farmer, enjoying only common school advan- tages, and lived at home until twenty years of age. He then worked out, most- ly at farm labor, until twenty-four, when he purchased from an uncle his grandfather's old farm in Spring- field, and went indus- triously to work im- proving the same, and ultimately erected on it a fine, new set of buildings. January 3. 1870, he married Laura A., daughter of William Moyan of Springfield. In June WILLARD W. CHASE. of the following year he sold his farm, and, in company with Alfred Martin, who married his wife's twin sister, bought the mill prop- erty at George's Mills, and they operated the same to- gether for eighteen years.
Meantime, recognizing the eligibility of this beautiful location as a summer boarding resort, they commenced, in 1873, taking a few boarders, and gradually increased. In 1880, Mr. Chase began building what is now " Pleas- ant Home," making additions from time to time, till he has now a finely-appointed house, with accommodations
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for seventy-five guests, and has entertained not less than two hundred persons each season for the last few years.
Mr. Chase has thirty acres of good farm land in con- nection with the house. He keeps six cows and pro-
" PLEASANT HOME," GEORGE'S MILLS.
duces all the milk, butter, cheese, pork, and lard necessary for the season's use ; also fruit and vegetables in abundance. He has one son, Dura A., born March 26, 1871, who is married and is now engaged in the livery business in company with his uncle, Alfred Martin.
He is a member of New London grange, also of Mt. Vernon lodge, F. and A. M., and Tabernacle Chapter of Newport. He was the leading spirit in the organiza- tion of the Sunapee Mutual Fire Insurance company, of which he is a vice-president and director, and in which he holds the first policy, which company, established in 1886, has risks now approaching $200,000. Politically, he is a temperance Republican, and in religion he is affiliated with the Christian denomination, and was superintendent of the Sunday-school of that church in Springfield eight years. He had charge of the Sunday- school of the Union church at George's Mills, as super- intendent and teacher, twenty-five years.
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GEORGE W. GOODHUE,
HANCOCK.
One of the most substantial and industrious citizens and most successful farmers of the town of Hancock is George W. Goodhue, son of Jonas W. and Phebe (Wil- son) Goodhue, born in Nelson, April 20, 1857. His father, who was a farmer, removed from Nelson to Han- cock in 1870, and there resided, until his death in 1892. upon the place in Hancock village near the foot of Norway hill, which his son now occupies. The house, by the way, was built more than one hundred years ago, by Rev. Reed Paige, the first settled minister in Han- cock, and is, therefore, a historic landmark.
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