USA > New Hampshire > New Hampshire as it is. In three parts. Part I. A historical sketch of New hampshire. Part II. A gazetter of New Hampshire. Part III. A general view of New Hampshire. Together with the constitution of the State > Part 21
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NEW HAMPSHIRE AS IT IS.
MERRIMACK, Hillsborough county. Bounded north by Bedford, east by Litchfield, south by Nashua, and west by Amherst. Area, 19,361 acres. Distance from Concord, 27 miles, south ; from Amherst, 6, east. Merrimack River laves its entire eastern border, and affords communication by water with Boston ; which, however, is of but little impor- tance, since the Nashua and Lowell Railroad passes through the town, parallel with the river. The Souhegan, after winding through this town in an easterly direction, dis- charges its waters into the Merrimack, affording in its course many valuable mill privileges, some of the best of which are unoccupied.
The surface is generally level, broken by a few moderate swells. The soil in many parts is very fertile, especially the intervals along the river. Merrimack claims the honor of having first discovered the art of making Leghorn bon- nets. Some of the first manufacture were sold at the price of $50 apiece. The manufacturing interest is here exhib- ited on a moderate scale, it being almost wholly confined to two carpet factories, which in themselves are truly de- serving of great credit. The energetic spirit which has recently manifested itself in efforts for improvement and progress in education is highly praiseworthy. There are four stores, four sawmills, two gristmills, three wheel- wrights' shops, four blacksmiths' shops, and two meeting houses. This town was first called Souhegan East. It was incorporated April 2, 1746, though it had already been settled 13 years.
The first house in town was erected several years before any permanent settlement was made, and was occupied as a place of traffic with the Indians. It was called Crom- well's House, being owned by John Cromwell, from Eng- land. For a long time he carried on a profitable trade
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GAZETTEER OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
with the Indians in the purchase of their furs, weighing them with his foot in the opposite scale, until the latter, having discovered his trick, and chagrined at the deception practised upon them, formed the determination to kill him. This design was made known to Cromwell, who buried his ill-gotten wealth and made his escape. Within a short time after his flight a party of the Pennacook tribe made their appearance, and, not finding him, burned his house.
The name of the town is derived from the river on which it is situated. It was originally written Monnomoke, and Merramake, which latter is the term used by the Pennacook tribe, and in the Indian language signifies sturgeon. Fish of this kind were formerly abundant in this stream.
A Congregational church was organized here September 5,1772.
Population, 1250. Number of polls, 313. Inventory, $501,840. Value of lands, $298,190. Do. stock in trade, $34,138. Do. mills, factories, &c., $9150. Money on hand, at interest, &c., $22,800. Number of sheep, 368. Do. neat stock, 802. Do. horses, 141.
MIDDLETON, Strafford county. Bounded north by Brookfield and Wakefield, east by Milton, south by Mil- ton and New Durham, and west by New Durham. Area, 9840 acres. Distance from Concord, 40 miles, north-east ; from Dover, 25, north-west. This is a very level township. There are no elevations excepting a part of Moose, or Bald, Mountain, which separates it from Brookfield. There are no ponds or rivers of note. The soil is rocky and sterile. There are one meeting house, owned by the Freewill Bap- tist society, two stores, and one hotel. It was incorporated March 4, 1778.
Population, 476. Number of legal voters in 1854, 130.
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NEW HAMPSHIRE AS IT IS.
Inventory, $128,512. Value of lands, $78,305. Num- ber of sheep, 273. Do. neat stock, 524. Do. horses, 83.
MILAN, Coos county. Bounded north by Dummer, east by Success, south by Berlin, and west by Kilkenny and Stark. Area, 31,154 acres. Distance from Concord, 150 miles, north-east ; from Lancaster, 22, north-east. The Androscoggin River passes through the eastern part. Its tributaries here are the Chickwalneppee, Leavett, and Stearns Rivers. There is but one pond of any consider- able size, which is called Cedar Pond. The surface is un- even, and in some parts rocky, though there are no moun- tains. The soil is various. There are seven sawmills in this town, in four of which 40 hands are employed ; ag- gregate capital, $51,000. There are three stores, one hotel, and one meeting house, which is owned by the Methodist society. It was granted, December 31, 1771, to Sir William Mayne and others, under the name of Pauls- burg, which name was retained until 1824.
Population, 493. Number of legal voters in 1854, 153. Inventory, $106,346. Value of lands, $54,416. Do. mills, &c., $2400. Stock in trade, $1600. Number of sheep, 707. Do. neat stock, 617. Do. horses, 80.
MILFORD, Hillsborough county. Bounded north by Lyndeborough, Mont Vernon, and Amherst, east by Am- herst and Hollis, south by Hollis and Brookline, and west by Mason and Wilton. Area, 15,402 acres. Distance from Concord, 31 miles, south ; from Amherst, 5, south- west. Milford lies on both sides of the Souhegan River, which runs in an easterly direction, affording many fine water privileges. The intervals along its course are about half a mile in width, and are very fertile. Large quan-
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GAZETTEER OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
tities of excellent fruit are produced here annually. The surface is moderately uneven ; the soil is productive. On account of improvements made in its water power, it has recently grown into considerable importance. The inhab- itants are noted for sobriety, thrift, and industry.
The Souhegan Manufacturing Company were incorporat- ed in June, 1846. Capital stock, $150,000. Number of spindles, 5000. Do. looms, 128. The kind of goods man- ufactured is ticking. Number of yards manufactured per annum, 1,100,000. Raw material consumed per annum, 480,000 pounds cotton. Number of hands employed, 160. The machinery is driven by steam and water power. Moses French agent ; D. S. Burnham clerk.
The Milford Manufacturing Company were incorporated in 1810. Capital, $30,000. Number of spindles, 900. Do. looms, 30. The kind of goods manufactured is tick- ing. Number of yards produced per annum, 250,000. Do. pounds cotton consumed, 100,000. Do. hands em- ployed, 40. There is also a sawmill connected with this establishment, in which 400,000 feet of lumber are man- ufactured per annum. Hiram A. Daniels agent and clerk.
The Milford Plane Company employ 50 hands. Year- ly business amounts to $50,000. The celebrated eagle plane is manufactured here.
There are also two tinware manufactories, one employ- ing 15 hands, and the other 2; three boot and shoe man- ufactories, where about 75 hands are employed ; two car- riage shops, one employing 20 hands, and the other 8; one iron foundery, in which are engaged 35 hands ; two tanneries, employing 12 hands; one manufactory of agri- cultural implements, in which 35 hands are employed ; one furniture shop, employing 6 hands ; two tailors' shops, employing 14 hands; and one printing and bookbinding
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NEW HAMPSHIRE AS IT IS.
establishment. There are also seven stores, one hotel, and two meeting houses - one Congregational, organized in 1788 ; and one Baptist, organized September 5, 1809.
Milford was incorporated January 11, 1794. The first settlers were John Burns, William Peabody, Benjamin Hopkins, Caleb Jones, Nathan Hutchinson, Andrew Brad- ford, Captain Josiah Crosby, and William Wallace. Cap- tain Crosby was a revolutionary officer.
Population, 2159. Number of legal voters in 1854, 529. Inventory, $884,960. Value of lands, $493,365. Do. mills, factories, &c., $75,000. Do. stock in trade, $46,750. Money on hand, at interest, &c., $55,493. Number of sheep, 139. Do. neat stock, 989. Do. horses, 277.
MILLSFIELD, Coos county. Bounded north by Dixville, east by Errol, south by Dummer, and west by ungranted lands and Dixville. Area, 23,200 acres. Distance from Concord, 150 miles, north; from Lancaster, 35, north- east. Clear Stream waters its northern extremity, and Phillips River and other small streams its other parts. There are several ponds, the largest of which is 300 rods long and 140 wide. Its northern portion is mountainous. The surface is generally uneven, and the soil strong, but somewhat cold. This town was granted, March 1, 1774, to Sir Thomas Mills, George Boyd, and others.
Population, 2.
MILTON, Strafford county. Bounded north-west by Middleton and Wakefield, east by Salmon Falls River, which separates it from Lebanon, Maine, and south-west by Farmington and New Durham. Area, 25,000 acres. Distance from Concord, 40 miles, north-east ; from Dover,
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GAZETTEER OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
20, north-west. Salmon Falls River washes its whole east- ern border for a distance of 13 miles. A branch of this river passes through its northern extremity. Milton Pond lies at the foot of Teneriffe Mountain - a bold and rocky elevation, which extends along its eastern section. The soil is generally good, the surface somewhat broken, and affords excellent pasturage. The inhabitants are mostly engaged in farming.
Milton Mills - John Townsend proprietor ; capital, $50,000 ; manufacture flannels ; have 18 looms and 1200 spindles. Amount manufactured per annum, $90,000. Do. stock used per annum, 120,000 pounds wool. Num- ber of operatives, 35.
This town was formerly a part of Rochester, from which it was taken and incorporated June 11, 1802. There are two meeting houses - one Congregational, and one Chris- tian.
Population, 1629. Number of polls, 406. Inventory, $414,982. Value of lands, $236,265. Do. mills and factories, $8500. Do. stock in trade, $10,730. Money at interest, &c., $12,939. Number of sheep, 708. Do. neat stock, 1264. Do. horses, 189.
MONROE, Grafton county. Bounded north by Littleton, east by Lyman, south by Bath, and west by Barnet, Ver- mont. This town formerly constituted the western portion of Lyman, from which it was separated and incorporated July 13, 1854. The surface is broken, and in some parts hilly, and affords excellent grazing. The soil is generally good, and produces, with proper cultivation, the grasses and grains in abundance. The western slope of Gardner's Mountain produces excellent grass and wheat. There is considerable interval. Within the limits of this town are
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NEW HAMPSHIRE AS IT IS.
the Narrows, at which place the river is only five rods in width, being confined by walls of slate. The scenery is grand and picturesque. Near the north-western extremity of the town, at the confluence of the Connecticut and Pas- sumpsic Rivers, the former assumes the shape of a dia- mond, its greatest width being about one mile, encircling 20 islands, and affording a delightful landscape.
There are several sawmills here, at some of which an extensive business is carried on. In one of these, during the month of June, 1854, were manufactured 724,141 feet of lumber, &c. Number of hands employed, 35. There are also a carriage factory and machine shop, where a large business is carried on. Bog iron ore and zinc and copper ore are found here in various localities.
There are two stores, one hotel, and one meeting house. Population in 1854, about 750. Number of legal voters, 156.
MONT VERNON, Hillsborough county. Bounded north by New Boston, east by Amherst, south by Amherst and Milford, and west by Lyndeborough.' Area, 7975 acres. Distance from Concord, 28 miles, south ; from Amherst, 3, north-west. There is but one stream of any note. It rises in the northern part of the town, and passes into Am- herst, near the eastern extremity of the plain. That part of the stream near its mouth was called by the Indians Quohquinapassakessanannagnog. The soil is strong and productive - well adapted to the growth of the various grasses and grains. The situation is elevated, and the sur- face uneven. The village is located upon the highest ele- vation, and is healthy and pleasant. It was originally a part of Amherst, from which it was separated and incorpo- rated December 15, 1803.
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GAZETTEER OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
The Congregational church was organized here in 1780. There are four stores, two hotels, and twelve shops and mills of various kinds. There is a writing desk and fancy box manufactory, owned by Messrs. Bragg & Conant, in which 30 hands are employed.
Population, 722. Number of polls, 176. Inventory, $252,256. Value of lands, $167,026. Stock in trade, $7200. Money at interest, &c., $11,764. Number of sheep, 86. Do. neat stock, 624. Do. horses, 89.
MOULTONBOROUGH, Carroll county. Bounded north by Sandwich and Ossipee, east by Ossipee, south by Tufton- borough and Lake Winnipiseogee, and west by Centre Harbor and Squam Lake. Distance from Concord, 50 miles, north ; from Ossipee, 12, east. The surface is much broken by mountains, lakes, and ponds. Great Squam Pond lies in the western part, and Squam and Long Ponds in the south, the latter of which is terminated by a neck of valuable land, extending for some distance into Winnipi- seogee Lake. Red Hill, which rises about 2000 feet above the level of the sea, is composed of a beautiful sienite, in which the feldspar is of a gray ash color. Near the sum- mit, where the ledges of rock are exposed to the action of the air, the rock is of a reddish hue. It is covered with uva ursi, the leaves of which are turned into a brilliant red by the early frosts. Great numbers of visitors, attract- ed by the unrivalled grandeur and beauty of the scenery of the surrounding country, ascend this mountain in the summer months. On a clear day, the view from its summit is extensive. Mountains, lakes, islands, forests, and culti- vated fields are here presented in a single view. On the south side of the mountain is a spring of pure cold water, about sixteen feet in diameter, from the centre of which
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NEW HAMPSHIRE AS IT IS.
the water, impregnated with small particles of a fine white sand, is constantly thrown up to the height of two feet above the surface of the spring. It affords water sufficient to drive saw or gristmills. On the stream, about a mile below, is a beautiful cascade and waterfall of 70 feet per- pendicular. Descending the mountain on the left of the fall, you soon come to a cove, in which charcoal and other substances are found, giving rise to the belief that this was once a place of concealment for the Indians. Many In- dian implements and relics have been found in this town. In 1820, on a small island in the Winnipiseogee, was found a curiously wrought gun barrel, much decayed by rust and age, enclosed in the trunk of a pine tree sixteen inches in diameter. About the year 1817, on the north line of the town, near the mouth of Melvin River, a gigan- tic skeleton, apparently that of a man seven feet in height, was found buried in the sand. The Ossipee tribe once lived in this region ; and several years ago a tree was standing, on which was carved in hieroglyphics a history of their deeds and expeditions.
There are three stores, seventeen common schools, one hotel, and three meeting houses, two of which belong to the Congregational society, and one to the Methodist and Universalist societies, who occupy it alternately.
This town was granted, November 17, 1763, by the Masonian proprietors, to Colonel Jonathan Moulton and 61 others. The first house of public worship was erected in 1773, and was blown down by a violent east wind in 1819. The Congregational church was formed March 12, 1777.
Population, 1748. Number of legal voters in 1854, 420. Amount of local funds for schools, $1910. Inven- tory, $337,764. Value of lands, $200,078. Do. mills,
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$2115. Stock in trade, $2225. Money at interest, &c., $5576. Number of sheep, 1426. Do. neat stock, 1595. Do. horses, 208.
NASHUA, Hillsborough county. Bounded north by Mer- rimack, east by Litchfield and Hudson, south by Tyngs- borough and Dunstable, Massachusetts, and west by Hollis. Area, 18,878 acres. Distance from Concord, 35 miles, south by the Concord Railroad, which terminates here. The soil has considerable variety. It is easy of cultivation, and generally productive. The eastern portion of the town (now city) of Nashua, lying upon the river, presents a very even surface ; the western part is more broken and hilly, though by no means mountainous. It is watered by Salmon Brook ; also by the Nashua River - a fertilizing stream, which rises in Massachusetts.
The valley of the Nashaway, or, in modern phrase, Nashua, sheltered one of the earliest settlements in New Hampshire. The tribe of Indians bearing the name iden- tical with that of this river had its head quarters in the present town of Lancaster, Massachusetts, through which the Nashua flows. The settlement, though commenced some years previously, received its charter in 1673. Its name was Dunstable, and its territory was much greater than the present city of Nashua, embracing in addition Dunstable, Tyngsborough, and parts of Groton, Townsend, and other towns in Massachusetts, and Hollis, Brookline, Milford, Hudson, parts of Amherst, Merrimack, Litchfield, and sections of other towns in New Hampshire. More romance of history clusters around this locality than at- taches to most others in the state, filling with poetry the memory of those days of "war's alarms," -
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" What time the noble Lovewell came, With fifty men from Dunstable, The cruel Pequ'at tribe to tame, With arms and bloodshed terrible."
The names of Lovewell, Weld, Blanchard, Waldo, Cum- ings, French, Farrell, Lund, and Coburn are cherished as belonging to some of the first inhabitants. For a long time it was a frontier town, exposed to Indian depredations, and annoyed by wars and sudden onsets of the relentless foe. In the spring of 1702 a party of Indians made an assault upon the settlement and killed several persons, among whom was the Rev. Thomas Weld, the first minis- ter. In Lovewell's war, the company from this town, under the noble captain whose invaluable services give name to the campaign, acquired imperishable fame.
The Congregational church was organized in 1685.
The village (now city) of Nashua may properly date back to 1803, when a post office was established, houses built, a canal boat launched, and, with much parade, chris- tened "The Nashua," and "Nashua Village " substituted for " Indian Head." A tavern, a store, and two or three dwelling houses were at that time the principal buildings. The following table exhibits the movement of population in Nashua : -
In 1800,
862
" 1810, -
-
-
1049
" 1820,
- - 1142
" 1830,
- - 2417
" 1840,
-
- - 5960
" 1850, (and Nashville,) 8942
The present population is probably something more than
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GAZETTEER OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
10,000. It will be noticed that its growth was quite gradual until subsequent to 1820, when manufacturing enterprises were undertaken upon an extensive scale. In 1822-1823 the land now owned by the Nashua Manu- facturing Company was secured for manufacturing pur- poses, in 1824 a charter was obtained, and in 1825- 1826 the mills went into full operation. The works of the Jackson Company went into operation in 1826.
In 1837 the thriving village so far eclipsed the ancient town as to give its name, Nashua, to the old township of Dunstable. In 1842, in consequence of the hasty action of the legislature, instigated by some of the participants in a foolish quarrel about the location of the new Town House, (which the majority had located near the bridge, on the south side of the river,) that portion of the town north of the river, with a small section south of it, near its mouth, and north of the Nashua and Lowell Railroad, (it including a portion of the property of the Jackson Com- pany,) was incorporated with the name of Nashville. In 1853 a charter was granted and accepted, by which the original town became a unit under a city government.
Nashua, in 1854, presents an aspect gratifying to the pride of her sons, and indicative of that indomitable spirit of intelligent enterprise for which the descendants of the Pilgrims are so distinguished. For variety and perfection of mechanical skill she yields the palm to none of her sister- hood of the Granite State cities ; and in point of population she claims the second rank. Cotton manufacture, though important, does less for her than the combined benefits of other manufactures. Artificers in wood and iron, in cards, paper, and leather ; builders of ponderous or curious ma- chines ; makers of edge tools, locks, and shuttles ; forge- men, founderymen, and artisans of every degree and multi-
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NEW HAMPSHIRE AS IT IS.
farious callings, -together swell the sum of her benefits, until the cup of her prosperity runs over.
Few places of similar growth and pursuits wear so at- tractive an appearance. The placid Nashua flows through the midst of the city; grateful shade of grand old for- est trees is each year thickening in the principal streets ; and the hand of taste is yearly becoming more apparent in architecture and gardening.
In morals, like all other portions of " Paradise Lost," the trail of the serpent is visible upon a landscape where virtue and charity are ever-blooming flowers, though frail, and far too few. In morals, Nashua will compare fa- vorably with the great multitude of New England cities of 10,000 inhabitants.
There are eight religious societies with houses for wor- ship. The First Congregational church, Rev. Daniel March ; Olive Street Congregational, Rev. Austin Rich- ards ; Pearl Street Congregational, Rev. E. E. Adams ; Baptist, Rev. D. D. Pratt ; Unitarian, Rev. M. W. Willis ; Universalist, Rev. C. H. Fay ; Lowell Street Methodist Episcopal, Rev. Elihu Scott ; Chestnut Street Methodist Episcopal, Rev. Jared Perkins. Prosperous Sabbath schools, with ample libraries, exist in each, and the amount paid in furtherance of various objects of Christian benevolence and philanthropy is quite respectable. In one of them, during the past year, between $2000 and $3000, in contributions and legacies, have been contributed.
Few towns in the state have made more substantial prog- ress, during ten years past, in the cause of popular edu- cation. The schools are now more systematically and ju- diciously graded, furnished with better houses and educa- tional helps, and supplied with teachers of more experi- ence and success than the great majority of public schools
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GAZETTEER OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
throughout the state. The people have been educated, by lectures, and discussions, and by the local press, till a more just and discriminating idea of the wants and value of right education now prevails. A great revolution in the popular mind by such means secured the High School House and apparatus, in district number 4, at a cost of $15,000. The state may be challenged to produce a better house or better school. The whole number of districts is 11, occupying 23 school rooms, and employing between 30 and 40 teachers even in winter, most of whom are females.
The nucleus of a public library was created by the in- stitution of the Union Athenaeum July 23, 1851. It is yet in its infancy, numbering but 795 volumes. An annu- al course of winter lectures is given under the auspices of the Athenæum.
The Pennichuck Waterworks have been constructed during the present year, (1854.) The Pennichuck has its rise in a pond near the north-western boundary of the city, is fed by many never-failing springs of soft, pure water, and falls into the Merrimack. The water is taken, at a point just above the Concord road, from an artificial pond of 26 acres, and forced by a jonval turbine wheel of eighty-horse power into a reservoir half a mile north of the City Hall, 110 feet above the street level at that point, and of a capacity of 1,250,000 gallons. The number of hydrants is 32 ; the pipe to the receiving reservoir is eight inches in diameter ; from the reservoir the pipe is fourteen inches. E. P. Emerson is superintendent of the works, and Russell E. Dewey clerk.
Few places have better railroad facilities. The Nashua and Lowell leads to Boston and the east ; the Concord to Canada and the western lakes ; the Nashua and Worces- ter to Albany and New York ; and the Wilton road pierces
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Hillsborough county north-westwardly. The Nashua and Epping, a projected air line to Portland, much needed to straighten the route from the British provinces, via Port- land, to New York, has already been surveyed.
Manufacturing Establishments. - Nashua Manufactur- ing Company. The following statistics of the Nashua Manufacturing Company are taken from the County Record, published, in the fall of 1853, by Dodge & Noyes : Daniel Hussey agent ; John A. Baldwin clerk. Incorpo- rated in June, 1823. Capital, $1,000,000. Number 1 mill is 155 feet long, 45 feet wide, and 5 stories high. In December, 1824, the machine shop was completed, and in December. 1825, number 1 mill went into partial opera- tion. It contains 6784 spindles and 220 looms, and man- ufactures 30 inch drills and number 14 yarn. Number 2 mill was built in 1827; is 155 feet long, 45 feet wide, and 6 stories high ; runs 12,170 spindles and 315 looms ; and makes 28 inch printing cloth, 30 inch jeans, and numbers 20 and 24 yarn. Number 3 mill was erected in 1836 ; is 220 feet long, 50 feet wide, and 5 stories high ; operates 9088 spindles and 276 looms ; and produces 37 inch sheet- ings and number 14 yarn. Number 4 mill was built in 1844; is 198 feet long, 50 feet wide, and 5 stories high ; runs 9408 spindles and 278 looms ; and produces 37 inch sheetings and number 13 yarn. Besides these mills, there are a machine shop, 308 feet long, and 1 and 2 stories high, rented for various purposes ; forty tenements for over- seers and boarding-house keepers ; and two brick houses for agent and clerk. The company employ 1000 hands -850 females and 150 males. The female operatives average from $2 to $2.25 per week, besides board. An addition to number 1 mill is now in progress - 108 feet long, 48 wide, and three stories high. It will accommo-
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