USA > New Hampshire > New Hampshire agriculture : personal and farm sketches > Part 8
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In 1820, Thomas Cogswell of Atkinson, a nephew of Colonel Thomas, and son of Gen. William and Judith (Badger) Cogswell, located in Gilmanton, uniting in his possession the Badger and Cogswell farms. He was a young man of twenty-one, having just been united in
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THE COGSWELL HOMESTEAD.
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marriage with Mary Noyes. Coming of a strong and distinguished ancestry, and endowed with great natural abilities, he soon became a leader of the people, and was conspicuous in all the affairs of this important town, serv- ing repeatedly as moderator, selectman, and representa- tive ; as deputy sheriff, associate justice of the court of com- mon pleas, and member of the executive council, while his success as a farmer was also marked, an addition of some 500 acres having been made to his estate, this portion subsequently constituting the farm of his elder son, the late James W. Cogswell. At the death of Judge Cogs- well, August 8, 1868, his younger son, Col. Thomas Cogswell, Jr., came into possession of the homestead, and its management has since been in his hands.
Colonel Cogswell was born February 8, 1841, grad- uated from Dartmouth with the class of 1863, served gal- lantly as first lieutenant and captain of Company A, Fifteenth New Hampshire Regiment, during the regi- mental term of service; studied law with the firm of Stevens & Vaughan at Laconia, and at Harvard Law School ; was admitted to the bar in September, 1866, and immediately commenced practice at Gilmanton Iron Works. After returning to the farm he continued prac- tice to some extent and also became active in political affairs, as a Democrat, serving as school committee, repre- sentative, and selectman for several years. He was a member of Governor Weston's staff in 1871, and repre- sented his district in the state senate in 1878. In 1886 he was the Democratic candidate for Governor. He was appointed on the board of railroad commissioners in April, 1893, serving until he became U. S. pension agent at Concord, July 1, 1894, which position he now holds. He is also president and treasurer of the board of trustees of Gilmanton Academy, which notable institution his great-grandfather and great-uncle were instrumental in
COL. THOMAS COGSWELL.
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founding. He is a Mason, a prominent Grand Army man, and a Patron of Husbandry.
The Cogswell homestead embraces 517 measured acres, and has always been known as one of the best farms in the county, sustaining large stocks of cattle and horses, and producing great crops of wheat and corn as well as hay. Colonel Cogswell has carried out important im- provements in various directions, putting in a new 100-ton silo the past season. The barn is 120 feet in length, and this, and the fine stable for horses, are thoroughly appointed, and, together with the fine old mansion, are abundantly supplied with running water, by means of a windmill, put in for the purpose. Colonel Cogswell pro- poses to make dairying his leading farm industry, increasing his number of cows from 15 to 25, now that a creamery has been established in town, in which enter- prise he is a leading spirit. His hay crop is from 80 to 100 tons per annum, and he pastures from 50 to 75 head of cattle for outside parties. He has reduced his stock of horses, but keeps a fine span for driving, a stallion, and a few colts. The farm work is largely done by oxen.
Although a lawyer, a politician, and a man of affairs, Colonel Cogswell is a thorough-going, representative farmer ; his sympathies and interests are with the agricul- turists of the state, and he is an earnest champion of their cause on all proper occasions.
He married, October 8, 1873, Florence, daughter of R. D. Moores of Manchester, who died February 14, 1892, leaving a daughter and two sons. The daughter, Anna M., married Walter J. Edgerly of Gilmanton. Thomas, the elder son, entered Dartmouth College class of '99. Clarence Noyes, the younger, is employed in the wholesale boot and shoe establishment of Parker, Holmes & Co., Boston.
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NORWAY HILL FARM-HANCOCK,
C. H. DUNCAN, PROPRIETOR.
Hancock is a rugged upland town, with varied and beautiful scenery, and generally rough though productive soil. Among the most prosperous farmers in this town is Cristy H. Duncan, proprietor of " Norway Hill Farm," located on the westerly slope of Norway Hill, the farm buildings being about half a mile from the village, and commanding a beautiful landscape view. Near the sum- mit of the hill Mr. Duncan's great grandfather, Deacon James Duncan, one of the pioneer settlers of the town, originally located, and the family home has ever since been in this locality. His father, John Duncan, who married Almira Chandler, bought the present home place-the nucleus of Norway Hill farm,-forty-two years ago, and here Cristy H. Duncan was born, February 29, 1856, receiving his education in the town schools.
Mr. Duncan early developed a fondness for dealing in cattle, and at twenty-one, and for five years after, was extensively engaged in purchasing stock in the lower towns in the spring, bringing the same to the rich pas- tures of Hancock and vicinity for the summer, and selling again in the fall. December 11, 1878, he was united in marriage with Miss Helen C. Walker, an educated and accomplished young lady, and successful teacher, of Leominster, Mass., who has proved a most helpful and sympathetic companion. About sixteen years ago he bought a small place of some fifteen acres in extent, adjacent to the home farm, and began active operations in agriculture, making thorough improvement of the soil his object. He has continued on that line to the present time, adding to his possessions now and then, till his present holdings embrace two hundred acres of land in- cluding his original home which became his own resi- 10
NORWAY HILL FARM-
RESIDENCE OF C. H. DUNCAN, HANCOCK.
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dence after the death of his mother in 1894, his father now residing with him.
He has extensively improved the buildings and has one of the best appointed barns to be found in the state. It is what is known as a " double-decker," the hay and fodder going in on the upper floor and no pitching up being required. The stables are thoroughly arranged for the comfort of the animals, and furnished with the Buckley watering device. The hay production is about sixty tons per annum, secured from forty acres of mow- ing land. This is supplemented with oats and other crops.
For a time Mr. Duncan took considerable interest in stock breeding, devoting special attention to Swiss cattle, but dairying and the boarding of horses now command his principal attention. He keeps about twenty cows, selling milk to village customers, and the balance at the cars, to Whiting, and has fifteen or twenty horses usually in charge. The farm has a good supply of fruit, with three hundred apple trees in good condition.
Mr. Duncan has been a member of John Hancock Grange for more than twenty years. He is a director of the Grange State Fair Association, and has long taken an interest in agricultural exhibitions : was a director of the Oak Park Fair Association, during its existence, and subsequently a moving spirit in the Hancock town fair organization. He was also one of the projectors and, for some time, a director of the Peterborough creamery. Politically Mr. Duncan is a Republican and has held various offices in town. He is a member of the Con- gregational church, has been superintendent of the Sunday-school and clerk and treasurer of the society. He is engaged considerably in probate business and is a correspondent for various papers. As a citizen he is public spirited, and actively instrumental in promoting the welfare of the town, in erecting dwellings and in other
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directions, " progress" being his motto in all things. Mr. and Mrs. Duncan have three daughters, aged re- spectively 15, 13, and 10 years. The family are all musical, with a taste for literature also, and their home life is exceedingly pleasant.
EDWARD BRYANT,
CORNISH.
Edward Bryant owns one of the best farms in the town of Cornish, It is situated on the western slope of the Cornish hills, and is one of the most picturesque spots in the Connecticut River valley, commanding magnificent views up and down the river, while in the west, the towering form of Ascutney mountain makes a splendid background. Several New York, Boston, and Phil- adelphia people have been so impressed with the beauties of this region that they have erected summer residences and spend several months here each year. Mr. Bryant has sold several parcels of land to them on which to build, and each year it becomes more popular.
Mr. Bryant was born on this farm which has been in the family more than sixty years. It contains about two hundred and fifty acres, and is three miles from the Windsor bridge. It is well timbered and watered. The buildings consist of the dwelling house, five barns, and two lean-tos at the home place, and two barns on what is known as the upper place. Mr. Bryant is a well known horse and cattle raiser, one of his horses having trotted in 2 : 36 over Dover track. His cattle are mostly Jerseys and he averages to send three hundred pounds of milk to the Hillside creamery every day in the year. Mr. Bryant is a model New England farmer, and has made a success, and is classed among the heaviest tax- payers in town. His post-office address is Windsor, Vt.
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SAMUEL S. WHITE,
SULLIVAN.
Sullivan is one of the small rural towns of Cheshire county, its population being almost entirely devoted to agricultural pursuits, and including in their numbers a fair proportion of thrifty and prosperous farmers who rank among the substantial citizens of the county. One of the best known of these is Samuel S. White, a son of George and Lavina (Ellis) White, who was born Sept. 18, 1850, on the farm which he now occupies and which has been in possession of the family since its original settlement.
Mr. White was ed- ucated in the public schools of the town, and at Springfield, Vt., and has always had his home in Sul- livan. Sept. 18, 1873, he was united in mar- SAMUEL S. WHITE. riage with Miss Fran- ces A. Locke, daugh- ter of John Locke of Sullivan. They have one son, . Winfred J. Another son, Charles E., died at the age of three years.
The farm embraces about four hundred acres of land altogether, about fifty acres in mowing and tillage and the balance in pasture and woodland. The hay crop averages from fifty to sixty tons per annum, and several acres of corn are usually planted. The stock consists
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of about twenty head of cattle, four horses, and thirty- five sheep. The cattle are largely cows, and milk pro- duction is a leading feature of the farm business, the same being sold to the Whitings at the station in Keene, eight miles distant. Another important item is the maple sugar product, which has amounted in some seasons to 3,000 pounds, twelve hundred trees being tapped. There is also a large apple orchard on the farm, the product of which reaches 1,000 bushels in good bearing years.
Mr. White is an interested and active working member of the order, Patrons of Husbandry, having joined Ashuelot Grange, of Gilsum, in June, 1890, and given no little time and effort to promote the success of the or- ganization, believing it to be an effective agency for advancing the interests of the farmer and his family in every community where it is established. He has served several years as chorister, has filled the stations of stew- ard and overseer respectively and was master for two terms-in 1894 and 1895. He is also a member of Cheshire County Pomona Grange; has taken much in- terest in its work, and attended its sessions as generally as circumstances would allow. He received the seventh degree of the order at the session of the National Grange in Concord, in November, 1893. Mr. White is a Dem- ocrat in politics, and a member of the Congregational church, for which he was organist twenty years, and ten years superintendent of the Sunday school.
HON. JOHN G. TALLANT,
PEMBROKE.
Among the men prominently identified with the large farming interests in New Hampshire is John G. Tallant, formerly of East Concord, now a resident of Pembroke.
RESIDENCE OF HON. JOHN G. TALLANT, PEMBROKE.
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He was born Mar. 2, 1846, and is the son of the late John L. Tallant, of East Concord, one of the largest farmers and most prominent citizens of Merrimack county.
Mr. Tallant received a good common school and academical education, but inherited a strong attachment or agriculture, and has persistently and successfully followed it, always in the front rank as a farmer, always ready to adopt new and progressive methods.
Among the specialties of farming, he early gave his attention to the rear- ing and sale of pure bred Jersey cattle, in which line he can easily claim the first place among New Hampshire farmers. He was associated in the Jersey busi- ness for many years with Hon. Joseph H. Walker, of Worces- ter, Mass. Their celebrated Crystal Spring herd was known through - out the length and HON. JOHN G. TALLANT. breadth of the land, from which sales have been made in every state in the Union. His skill and judgment as a dairyman was widely recognized, and the production of superior butter was a feature of his well managed farm, the excellent quality of which won prizes in many contests in the fairs throughout New England, also securing the much cov- eted gold medal known as the Jersey Bulletin prize. For many years he has been employed as an expert
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judge in blooded stock, dairy tests, and products, and many other departments in many of the fairs. He has been prominently identified with various agricultural associations.
In 1893 he disposed of his East Concord farm, and bought the Albert Langmaid place, delightfully located on Pembroke street, and provided with one of the finest sets of buildings in the county, where is now his home.
Mr. Tallant has been active in public affairs, having served as selectman, member of the common council, alderman, assessor, member of the town school commit- tee, representative in the legislature and state senator, the latter in 1891, when he was active in the organiza- tion of the farmers of the legislature, for the advance- ment of their own interests, and was first president of the body known as the New Hampshire Council of Agri- culture. In 1892 he was appointed by Governor Tuttle a trustee of the New Hampshire College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts, and has taken an active interest in the management of the institution. He was reap- pointed by Governor Smith, and still holds the position of trustee. He is prominent in the order of Patrons of Husbandry, and was the first master of Rumford Grange, holding the office for three years. In December, 1894, he was chosen master of Pembroke Grange, and re- elected the following year. He has been twice married, his first wife being Addie G., a daughter of the late Hon. Aaron Whittemore of Pembroke, whose death occurred October II, 1876, and by whom he had three children.
In December, 1877, he married Helen B. Wilson, daughter of Captain Daniel W. Wilson, of New Hamp- ton. Mrs. Tallant has ever been an enthusiastic sup- porter in all of her husband's interests, and he is always ready to accord to her good judgment and advice much of his well-earned success.
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FRANK E. CRAM,
PITTSFIELD.
In 1768 John Cram of Hampton, N. H., came through the woods to what is now Pittsfield and built a saw-mill, and two years later he moved his family, who had been living in Epsom, to a new house he had built near his mill. This was the first settlement within the limits of the town. He was a man of great energy, and superior judgment, and to him were referred all the disputes that arose among the early settlers of the town, and from his decision it is said no appeal was ever taken. It was from this fact that he was widely known as " Esquire " Cram.
Before moving into town Esquire Cram had bought one thousand acres of land, including that on which Pittsfield village stands, for ten cents per acre. He subsequently bought at the same price one hundred acres lying at the northeast corner of his first purchase. This he gave to his son Tristram, who in turn gave it to his son Reuben, who, at his death, gave it to his youngest son, Frank E. Cram. This land, therefore, has never been deeded, but has remained in the Cram family for more than one hun- dred and twenty-five years. Frank E. Cram's mother was Miss Polly Berry, a daughter of Lieut. Thomas Berry, who made the famous ride in 1813 from this town to Portsmouth and return in seven and one half hours.
The subject of this sketch was born on the old home- stead, January 7, 1847, and has always made it his home. He married Ida A. Young, November 24, 1870. They have had three children, all boys,-Natt A. Cram of Manchester, F. Guy, and Alroy B. who remain at home with their parents.
When Mr. Cram succeeded to the ancestral homestead it was in the condition of many of our New Hampshire farms. His aged father had done what he could with
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FRANK E. CRAM.
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Frank's help on the farm, but the result was that the fields had "run out." Ere long the most casual observer could at once see that a new hand had taken the management of affairs. Fields that had been untouched for years were plowed, stones and bushes removed, walls rebuilt, and the buildings thoroughly repaired, and shade and fruit trees planted. Nothing was done for show, but everything that was done was to improve the farm-to make it more productive and more attractive. The result was that Mr. Cram was obliged to enlarge his barn and build several out-buildings until now he has one of the largest and most productive farms in this section of the state.
Of course a man with such energy and good judgment, could not remain unnoticed by his townsmen, and many times he has been called upon to fill public offices. This he has done not only with credit to himself, but to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. He was tax col- lector two years, selectman three years, road agent two years, representative in 1887, and was elected county commissioner in 1892, receiving the largest vote ever cast in Pittsfield for a candidate for any office, his vote stand- ing 399, to 149 for his opponent.
In his farming operations in which he has been so suc- cessful he has always believed in using the best-the best tools, the best seeds, and the best fertilizers ; consequently he gets the best crops that his land can produce. It is a pleasure to visit his farm and look over his growing crops in summer, to see his bountiful harvest in autumn, or to examine his sleek animals in winter.
Mr. Cram belongs to the Red Men, the Knights of Pythias, the I. O. O. F., and the Patrons of Husbandry. In the last order he takes great interest; in fact it was through his exertions that the grange in Pittsfield was effectually revived in the spring of 1896.
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HERBERT L. BROWN,
CANTERBURY.
New Hampshire is rightly named the Switzerland of America, with its lofty mountains and beautiful valleys, through one of which flows the Merrimack river, on whose banks is situated, opposite the beautiful village of Boscawen, the farm of Herbert L. Brown of Canterbury, one of the thrifty young farmers and Patrons of Merri- mack county.
Mr. Brown is a native of the town in which he resides, born March 20, 1867, the only child of Albert and Ellen (Leighton) Brown. His father is a native of Northfield, and the eldest son of Samuel B. Brown, who, with his father, Abram, were among the most prominent men of their day in the community. His mother is a native of Franklin, and the only child of Thomas and Eliza (Sanborn) Leighton, being a de- HERBERT L. BROWN. scendant of the Cloughs and Fosters, two prom- inent families, Abial Foster being the first representative to congress from New Hampshire, and several times returned to that body. Three of his ancestors were in the Revolutionary War, and one in the War of 1812, while his father was a soldier in the late Civil War.
Mr. Brown believes in the policy of mixed farming,
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regarding it as safer and more profitable than to devote all his time and efforts to a single branch. The farm consists of three hundred acres of land, fifty being natural mowing, and cuts eighty tons of hay. In 1895 he raised seven hundred bushels of corn. He keeps from twenty to twenty-five cows, and sells the milk for the Boston market. He has been quite successful in raising and training colts, among them Homer Wilkes, 2.29 ; Speed- well, 2.18, and a large number of fine road horses.
Mr. Brown is a member of Ezekiel Webster Grange No. 94 of Boscawen, and has filled many of the chairs, being overseer four years, and master in 1895-'96. He was also elected assistant steward of Merrimack County Pomona Grange No. 3 in December, 1895. In politics he is a Democrat, and has been two years a member of the Canterbury board of selectmen. He is interested in the temperance cause, being chief templar of Boscawen Lodge of Good Templars No. 127, and is always ready to aid in any good cause or undertaking.
WARREN TRIPP,
EPSOM.
The town of Epsom is almost wholly an agricultural community, embracing no considerable village, and no manufacturing industries of any magnitude within its limits. The leading farmer of this town is Warren Tripp, who occupies the old homestead within a mile of the rail- way station at Short Falls, originally settled by his great- grandfather, Richard Tripp, who had previously come from Portsmouth to the north part of the town, and who married Ann, sister of the gallant Major Andrew McClary, of Epsom, who was killed at the Battle of Bunker Hill. His grandfather, John Tripp, passed his life upon this
WARREN TRIPP.
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farm, as did his father, Jeremiah, whose wife was Chloe Prescott, and who died in 1884, ten years after her decease.
Mr. Tripp was born October 16, 1839, being one of a family of six children, of whom himself and a sister, now Mrs. J. L. Prescott of North Berwick, Me., are sur- vivors. He grew to manhood on the farm, and it has always been his abiding place. June 8, 1862, he married Katie M. Bickford of Epsom. Two children were born to them, Florus W., a promising young man who met an untimely death by accident in 1894, and Annie M., who married Blanchard H. Fowler of Epsom, and remains at home, Mr. Fowler being in charge of the farm work dur- ing the frequent and continued absence of his father-in- law, who for some years past has been extensively engaged in lumbering in company with Hon. James B. Tennant of Epsom, the firm operating mills in Hillsborough and Hen- niker, and, previous to 1895, in Moretown, Vt., their exten- sive plant in the latter place being then destroyed by fire. For a number of years in early manhood, previous to engaging in the lumber business, Mr. Tripp did a large business in the purchase and sale of cattle, often handling 2,000 head per annum or more.
The original homestead embraces about 100 acres of land, of which about fifty acres is mowing and tillage, but Mr. Tripp has other farms and outlands, to the extent of some 400 or 500 acres, besides his joint interest in several hundred acres more, owned with Mr. Tennant. He win- tered the past season, 33 head of neat cattle, and eight horses, the former stock being mostly grade Holsteins. The milk from twenty cows goes to the Short Falls creamery, a cooperative concern which Mr. Tripp was largely instrumental in establishing, and which has proved of great advantage to the farmers of the Suncook valley. The stock and forage are accommodated by a
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RESIDENCE OF WARREN TRIPP, EPSOM.
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spacious barn, 38 x 91 feet, and another for horses, 36 x 40, recently erected. There are two silos of 60 tons' capacity each, in which are stored the product of eight or ten acres of corn, after the ears are picked therefrom. The soil of the home farm is of excellent quality, it being largely a high intervale, free from stones and easy of cultivation. Its productive capacity has been greatly increased under Mr. Tripp's management, and the best improved modern machinery is brought into use in all departments.
Politically Mr. Tripp is a Democrat. He has served as selectman, collector and treasurer of the town, and was the candidate of his party for state senator in 1894. He was a charter member and first vice-grand of Ever- green lodge, I. O. O. F., of Short Falls; was subse- . quently noble grand, and has almost constantly held some office in the lodge. He is also a member of the Masonic fraternity, of Jewell lodge and Hiram chapter, Suncook, and of Mt. Horeb Commandery, Concord. He was the first master of McClary Grange, of Epsom, subsequently twice elected to the same office, and always deeply inter- ested in the welfare of the order, as well as in that of the Grange State Fair Association, of which he was presi- dent in 1892 and 1893, and has since been general superintendent.
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