USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Boscawen > The history of Boscawen and Webster [N.H.] from 1733 to 1878 > Part 32
USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Webster > The history of Boscawen and Webster [N.H.] from 1733 to 1878 > Part 32
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In the spring of 1868 the trial of President Johnson began.
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Contrary to the hopes of many ardent members of the Republican party, Mr. Fessenden voted against impeachment. He gave his reasons clearly and explicitly. A storm of abuse was showered upon him, but he braved it all, and before his death regained in a great measure the confidence and esteem of those who had been most bitter.
In some respects Mr. Fessenden was the foremost senator dur- ing his long period of service. In many critical stages of legisla- tion his word was decisive, and few were the measures of con- gress which did not bear the marks of his acute intellect and his sturdy devotion to public interests. This honorable distinction is not due so much to his learning, or to any striking originality of genius, as to the singular harmony of his powers for the legisla- tive arena. He was equally quick and cool. No assault could disturb his equanimity, and his attack was as adroit as vigorous. He had a great faculty for condensation, of going straight to the point, of using none but the most direct and lucid English. When he was transferred to the senate, he was the best follower that Webster ever had there in clear and compact statement. But what particularly gave force to his words was the high character of the man.
He was long a sufferer from dyspepsia, and for many years was an invalid, yet by force of will going on with his work. He was of medium height, frail in person, but erect always, whether sitting or standing. His clear gray eyes looked out over finely drawn features, that seldom changed, even under his most fervid oratory. To those who did not know him, he may have been classed as stern and unyielding; but beneath a cold exterior a warm heart was beating.
Once an estrangement occurred between Mr. Fessenden and a senator, from words spoken in debate. After a few days of cold- ness, the page of the senate laid a note on Mr. Fessenden's desk, sent by the senator, who said,-" If I have offended you, I ask your forgiveness ; if you have offended me, I have forgotten it." In an instant Mr. Fessenden was on his feet. He crossed the chamber, and with tears in his eyes, reached out his hand to his old friend.
Mr. Fessenden, in debate, once dropped a word which was thought to be an insult to Mr. Seward. When informed of it,
(-1). Febsenden.
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and seeing that a wrong construction might be placed upon it, he went instantly to Mr. Seward and said,-
" Mr. Seward, I have insulted you. I am sorry for it. I did not mean it."
The apology, so prompt and frank, delighted Mr. Seward, who, grasping the offered hand, replied,-
" God bless you, Fessenden; I wish you would insult me again ! "
Mr. Fessenden was an able debater .- his style clear, forcible, concise, direct ; his language simple and natural. There was a striking resemblance between him and Hon. William E. Glad- stone, of England,-the same methods and manner, force, earnest- ness, tenacity of purpose, clearness of statement, precision and elegance of diction.
He died suddenly, Sept. 8, 1869, after a week's illness.
FRENCH, HENRY S. G., REV.,
Was the son of Mr. Joel French, a trader of Boscawen, with whom Daniel Webster boarded a part of the time during his residence in Boscawen. He was born in the house now occupied by Mr. James Gill, nearly opposite the Congregational meeting-house, 27 April, 1807. Upon the death of Mr. French, the son became an apprentice as printer to George Hough, in Concord. He greatly desired to obtain a collegiate education, and by industry and econ- omy prepared himself for college, and graduated at Yale in 1833. He spent three years in the Andover Theological Seminary, grad- uating in 1836. He married Sarah C. Allison, of Concord, and sailed to the East Indies as a missionary, preaching at Singapore a few months while acquiring the Siamese language.
He was of slender frame, and unable to withstand the enervat- ing influences of a tropical climate. He died at Bangkok, capital of Siam, 14 Feb., 1842. [See Gen.]
FELLOWS, HEZEKIAH.
He was born in Salisbury, 22 Dec., 1782; settled in Boscawen, on Corser hill, and with his brother, Moses, engaged in trade, doing a large business, for a country store, from 1820 to 1830. He was elected town-clerk in 1817, and continued to fill the office
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to 1855, when, under the general sweep of the " Know Nothing" or Native American party, which had a sudden rise and quick de- cline, he failed of an election. He was elected representative with Ezekiel Webster in 1820; again in 1824 and 1825.
He was a man of great probity of character. His word was as good as his bond. His fellow-citizens trusted him implicitly, nor did he ever do an act to forfeit their confidence. He was a jus- tice of the peace ; and, in the days when men resorted to litiga- tion for settlement of their difficulties, Esquire Fellows was the magistrate who would decide without fear or favor to either party, but on the merits of the case.
He dealt honestly with all men. His prices of whatever he had for sale were plainly marked on his goods. He had no cypher to represent the cost or the price. Be the purchaser the most re- spected citizen of the community, or one low down in society, there was the same line of conduct. A child would drive just as good a bargain as the shrewdest adult.
He was kind, genial, patient, endowed richly with common- sense, and sense that is not always common. When the Congre- gational meeting-house was erected in 1823, he presented the society with a large Bible for the pulpit. He was a constant at- tendant at church, occupying the pew nearest the pulpit at the right hand.
Prior to 1835, it was the custom of town-clerks to make public announcement of those intending marriage, which was done by Esquire Fellows upon the pronouncement of the benediction, at the close of the afternoon service. The congregation waited to hear the " crying," as it was termed, and possibly allowed the pub- lishing of the bans to usurp the place of the sermon in their minds, as they smiled and nodded one to another.
Esquire Fellows was simple in all his ways. He had many warm friends in Boston, which city he used to visit twice a year to pur- chase goods, for which he always paid cash [for family, see Gene- alogy ]. He resided in the house now standing opposite the resi- dence of Mrs. Simeon B. Little. He died, 10 Oct., 1861, honored and respected by all.
FELLOWS, MOSES.
Capt. Moses Fellows, son of Moses Fellows, brother of Hezekiah, was born in Salisbury, 26 Jan., 1786. He learned the trade of
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joiner, and settled in Boscawen, in the house now the residence of Rev. Mr. Buxton, to which he added a second story about 1835 or 1836. He was elected selectman in 1825, '26, '27, '28, '29, 30, '31, '33, '35, '37, '39, and without doubt would have been again and again entrusted with the affairs of the town had he not removed to Salisbury. He was elected represent- ative in 1832 and 1835, and was repeatedly moderator. He was energetie in business, and gave the same fidelity to his public duties that he gave to his private interests. He was a superior mechanic, and made the model for the covered bridge across the Blackwater, now standing. Like his brother, he was endowed with that sense which goes by the name of common, but which is understood to be superior to the sense of most men. He was de- eided in his convictions of what was right and what was best, nor did he ever hesitate to make them known. He was a supporter of civil and religious institutions, and his influence was ever on the side of right. His removal to Salisbury was felt to be a loss to the town. He died in Salisbury, 1864.
GAGE, WILLIAM H.
Hon. William Haselton Gage was born in Sanbornton, 21 March, 1791; removed to Boscawen in 1804, and entered the em- ploy of Col. Isaac Chandler, on the farm occupying the south- eastern corner of the town, which upon the death of Col. Chandler came into his possession. After remaining with Col. C. four years, he returned to his native town, and learned the business of dress- ing cloth of Jonathan Chase, returning to Boscawen in 1812, where he began the businesses of lumbering, wool-carding, and cloth-dressing. These occupations engrossed his attention to 1833. The building in which he began business now forms part of the "Harris " manufactory.
Mr. Gage in his political views differed from a majority of the citizens of the town, and though a Democrat, such was his probity, so universally was he esteemed, that party lines were forgotten, and the man, not the politician, was elected as representative in 1833, and again in 1836. He served frequently as selectman, was elected road commissioner for the county in 1841-2, and a member of the senate in 1846, '47, and '48.
He was social and kind to all, given to hospitality, and a firm
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supporter of religious and educational institutions. His life was prolonged to see the little neighborhood, of a few dwellings in 1804, increase to a thrifty village.
His early educational advantages were limited-a want keen- ly felt, and which awakened a desire to do what he could to promote the education of his children and the community. He was active in the establishment of Penacook academy, conveying two acres to the institution as a free gift, and contributing liber- ally towards the erection of the buildings. In this connection, it is worthy of notice that Wm. H. Gage and his brother Richard occupied a large property jointly twenty-seven years, and when the children of both arrived at manhood, a separation was accom- plished in the same spirit in which the brothers had lived quietly and satisfactorily. Mr. Gage married Polly, daughter of Brad- bury Morrison, of Sanbornton, 25 Jan .. 1814. He died 26 Sept., 1872. His wife died 15 Feb., 1833 (see Gen.).
GAGE, ISAAC K.
Isaac Kimball Gage, son of Wm. H. and Polly (Morrison) Gage, was born 27 Oct., 1818, obtained his education at the district school and one year at Franklin and Boscawen academies. In 1841 he succeeded Jeremiah Kimball as partner in trade with Luther G. Johnson, in Fisherville, in the store opposite his present residence. He remained in trade till 1850, when, desiring a more active and profitable employment, he moved to Lawrence, Mass., and entered the service of the Essex Co. In 1852, upon the or- ganization of the first city government, he was elected to the com- mon council, and in 1853 was president of that body.
Returning to Boscawen in 1854, he became one of the firm of Gage, Porter & Co., in the manufacture of saws, which has been since carried on. He has frequently been chosen to fill offices in town, was treasurer of the New England Agricultural Society from 1865 to 1869, was member of the convention to revise the constitution in 1876, and is president of the Penacook Savings Bank.
Mr. Gage married Miss Susan Johnson, daughter of Reuben Johnson, 27 Oct., 1842 [see Gen. ].
Residence of Dea. Thomas Gerrish.
C.A WALKER BOSTON
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
GERRISHI, THOMAS.
Dea. Thomas Gerrish, son of Col. Henry Gerrish, was born 12 Sept., 1786. He married (1) Betsey Gerrish, daughter of Col. Joseph Gerrish, his cousin ; (2) Elizabeth Patrick, sister of Rev. Wm. Patrick, of Canterbury. He settled on Boscawen Plain, purchasing the estate formerly occupied by Nathaniel Greene, Esq., a view of which is given in this volume. He was an admirer of horses, especially those adapted to farm work, and had a span so well trained that he never tired of them. On Sunday, before the meeting-house was repaired, when, at the close of the service, the seats went down with a bang, the horses, knowing that they were needed, were accustomed to back out of the shed and move to the door-step, ready for their kind-hearted master, knowing that oats were in waiting at home. When threshing machines came into use Dea. Gerrish purchased one, and employed his horses profit- ably from August till mid-winter, threshing for the farmers throughout the county.
He was energetic, an early riser, and prompt in all his actions. The energy which characterized his daily business was manifest in his religious life. He was an earnest Christian, a pillar in the church, and was deacon for many years. He was kind and genial, and was not only honored and respected, but was regarded with affection by all who knew him. He was elected representa- tive two years [see Officers ].
During the last years of his life he resided with his son Thomas in Webster. His old age was beautiful, through his resignation, hopefulness, and expectation of a better life beyond the present. He died 19 Feb., 1875.
GERRISHI, HENRY, COL.
Col. Henry Gerrish, the eldest son of Capt. Stephen Gerrish, one of the first settlers, was born in Boscawen, 2 May, 1742. He was active in public affairs through life, possessing all the qualities of character to make him a leader in any community, and especially in a community like that of Boscawen.
In 1766, at the age of twenty-four, he was an ensign in the militia, and a selectman. He was often elected moderator of the town-meetings. He was elected delegate to the first state
.
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convention, in 1774; again, in 1775, representing Boscawen and Salisbury ; again, in 1779 and '80.
He was a land surveyor, and his services were called for in every direction, not only by the citizens of Boscawen, but of the surrounding towns. He was called upon to lay out roads. Being a justice of the peace, he was often selected as the fair- minded and judicious magistrate and arbiter, to settle the diffi- culties between the citizens of the town and county.
He was captain in the militia at the breaking out of the Revo- lution, and marched with the minute-men to Medford, upon the receipt of the news of the battle of Lexington. He was lieuten- ant-colonel of Stickney's regiment at the time of the Bennington campaign, but, having been detailed to other duty, was not in the battle. He was present at the surrender of Burgoyne, being on the left flank of Burgoyne at Battenkill, where lie acted as clerk at the sale of some of the plunder taken from the British. The mess-book used on that occasion is still in existence. He often acted as the town's agent during the Revolution, perform- ing the duties assigned him with the same care and energy that characterized the management of his private affairs.
He lived on Fish street, and was owner of a large tract of land, now the county farm. His house stood near the present build- ings. He was a blacksmith as well as land-surveyor, and forged mill-cranks and made mill-saws in his forge and on a common an- vil. He kept a tavern, and his house was known as the Travel- lers' Home. Many people, too poor to pay for a bed, passed the night under his roof, sleeping on bear-skins before the generous fire in the large old-fashioned fireplace in his bar-room.
It is narrated that the settlers from New Chester (Hill), Bris- tol, Bridgewater, and other towns up the Merrimack, when the corn-mill at the head of King street was the nearest to their homes, were accustomed to leave home in the morning, reach Col. Gerrish's, spend the night in his bar-room, purchase a grist, carry it to the mill on their backs, get it ground in season to return to the hos- pitable home at night, where they would make a Johnny-cake, or hasty-pudding, for supper and breakfast; and on the third morning, with the bag on their backs, start for their distant homes.
Col. Gerrish became an extensive land-owner. At that time, large
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tracts of land in the northern part of the state could be had at low rates, and he became proprietor of many thousand acres.
Rev. Mr. Price says of him, that " from early life he was a pro- fessor of religion, and uniformly gave his support to religious so- ciety. He acquired a great estate, and brought up a large family of children, the most of whom he lived to see well settled, and whose habits evidenced that his government over them was salu- tary ; and his house, though for many years the stranger's home, was a house of order."
GERRISH, FRANK L.,
Only son of Col. Enoch and Miranda (Lawrence) Gerrish, was born 19 May, 1855, educated at Phillips academy, Andover, Mass., and at the Chandler Scientific School, at Hanover. He afterwards served a year in the New Hampshire Savings Bank in Concord, and is now preparing himself for agricultural pur- suits, to which he is devotedly attached.
GERRISH, ENOCH, COL.,
Only son of Isaac and Caroline (Lawrence) Gerrish, was born at the old homestead, on High street, 28 July, 1822. He obtained his education at the academies in Boscawen, Franklin, and Meriden. On the death of his father he inherited a large portion of his estate, and with it, at the age of twenty, came the care and man- agement of an extensive farm. An addition of more than one hundred acres made it one of the largest in Merrimack county. For twenty years he devoted his time to the cultivation and im- provement of his soil, successfully developing its resources by raising live stock, hay, and wool, when its heavy growth of wood and timber attracted the attention of the lumber manufacturer, to whom it was sold in 1865.
Possessing a love for military parade and drill, he was pro- moted from the lowest rank to that of colonel of the 21st Regi- ment N. H. Militia.
He was often elected to fill the various offices in town, the duties of which were well performed. A friend to the church where his ancestors worshipped, and to religious institutions gen- erally, he manifested an interest in all measures that contributed to their usefulness.
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He moved to Concord after the sale of his farm, where his sound judgment, particularly in matters of finance, was duly ap- preciated, as is shown by his appointment as one of the trustees of the New Hampshire Savings Bank in Concord, and of the Rolfe & Rumford Asylum.
GERRISH, ISAAC.
Isaac Gerrish, who resided on the homestead inherited from his father, at the foot of Gerrish hill, on High street, was born 27 Nov., 1782. By his untiring industry and frugality he from time to time added to the old homestead, so that he was the possessor of the largest cultivated farm in town, which was devoted to stock- raising, and manufacturing butter and cheese. The products of the dairies of Boscawen were well and favorably known in the markets of New England. His dwelling and out-buildings were burned 1 May, 1824. The same year he built a new set of build- ings, which at that time were the largest and most commodious in town. His services and advice were frequently sought for in making deeds, wills, and other papers, usually executed by a jus- tice of the peace. Being a neighbor of Rev. Dr. Wood, his at- tachments to him, and the church of which he was pastor, were very strong, and his place at the meetings was seldom vacant. A kind neighbor, strongly attached to friends, given to hospitality, his house was open ; and the pleasant firesides in the large rooms of his dwelling will be long remembered by the many who have enjoyed them. He died 22 Aug., 1842.
GERRISH, ENOCH, MAJ.
Maj. Enoch Gerrish, third son of Capt. Stephen, one of the first settlers, was born in Boscawen 23 Jan., 1750. When eighteen years of age he built his log cabin on the east side of the road now called High street, where he cleared five acres of land, being part of the homestead where he and his posterity have since re- sided. Chestnut rails, split by him one hundred and ten years ago, are now in a good state of preservation on the farm. Al- though his principal occupation was the care and improvement of his land, he had a fondness for mechanical labor, and framed many of the buildings in town, including the churches. The first bridge across the Merrimack, at the Plain, was built by him. He
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had a love for military parade, as his title indicates. During his life, he was chosen to fill the offices of moderator, selectman, and representative to the general court. A man strictly religious, he joined Dr. Wood's church in 1781, and was elected deacon in 1783, an office which he held until his death, 1 May, 1821.
GERRISH, JACOB,
The fifth son of Col. Henry and Martha (Clough) Gerrish, was born at the old homestead on the river road, now the Merrimack county almshouse, 10 Nov., 1779. His father was a large land- owner, and was able to give to each of his sons, as they became of age, a quantity of land suitable for a farm. The portion assigned to Jacob is situated just north of the homestead. He married Sarah, daughter of David Ames, of Canterbury, 15 April, 1803, settled upon his land, and continued the labor of clearing the rich intervale, surrounding himself with the comforts of home. The farm extended westerly nearly one mile, from the river to the saw- mill built by Benjamin and John Kimball, comprising, in addition to the intervale, the low lands drained by "Stirrup Iron Brook," and the high land beyond known as "light-gains." The intervale was covered with a growth of large pine trees, which in clearing were rolled into the river to get rid of them.
On this farm he reared a large family. He subsequently added to his estate on the east side of the river, in Northfield and Can- terbury, so that he was able to sub-divide and give to each of his three sons a valuable farm. On the completion of his new and substantial dwelling, now standing near the railroad depot, he opened it as a hotel, which he kept for many years. His house was often the head-quarters of the lumbermen from the north, who were engaged in driving logs down the Merrimack to be manufactured into lumber at the mills near the mouth of the Con- toocook. He was kind and hospitable to strangers, indulgent to his family, a good neighbor, active in sustaining schools and the institutions of religion, and ready to aid in every effort to advance the prosperity of the town. He died 22 May, 1861.
GERRISH, MARTHA C., MRS.,
Daughter of Jeremiah Clough, Esq .; of Canterbury, N. H., was born 10 Nov., 1742. She married Col. Henry Gerrish, of Bos-
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cawen, 10 Nov., 1763, and was the worthy mother of seven sons and four daughters. The united ages of these eleven children amount to over 850 years,-average age exceeding 77.
Her early years were thrilled with the events of Indian wars and block-house life, the family residing for a time in the fort at Canterbury, of which her father was commander. Endowed with a vigorous constitution, and in- ured to the privations and hard- ships of frontier life, she was a pattern of industry and frugal- ity, "working willingly with her hands." Like the model wife de- scribed in Prov. 31, she was also skilful and ingenious ; and there is now in the possession of one of her grand-daughters a skirt of home-made cloth, embroidered in colors from natural flowers by Martha Clough in 1763. In those days it often became neces- sary for women to assist their husbands and brothers on the farm. Said one of her sons,-" My mother, when twenty years of age, would mow all day in the field, and keep up with the men." Another son remembered seeing his father ride on horseback three miles to church, with his wife sitting on a pillion behind him, each with a child in arms. On showing her profile (see engraving) to Dea. Thomas Gerrish, her youngest son, only five weeks before his death, he said,-" That looks like my mother's face ; " and then added, " I remember of her riding to meeting on horseback, while I, a boy of fifteen, sat on behind." Mrs. Ger- rish died 15 Oct., 1826.
GREENE, NATHANIEL.
Nathaniel Greene was born in Boscawen, 20 May, 1797. He was christened Peter; but having great respect for the mem-
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ory of his father, by permission of the legislature of Massachu- setts he took the name of Nathaniel.
Educational advantages at the beginning of the century were limited to eight or ten weeks of schooling in winter, and a term of about the same length in summer. Two of his teachers were,- Miss Lucy Hartwell, who afterwards became the wife of Col. Timothy Dix, and Rev. Henry Coleman, then a young man, who subsequently was a minister in Salem, Mass., and who distin- guished himself as a writer on agricultural subjects. One of Mr. Greene's schoolmates was John Adams Dix. Together they stood with their toes to a crack in the floor, their spelling-books in their hands, and made their "manners " when Lucy Hartwell said, " Attention ! "
At the age of ten he went to Hopkinton, and became a clerk in a store. While there he had some three months' additional school- ing.
The death of his father when he was but eleven years of age, leaving an embarrassed estate, compelled him to begin the strug- gle of life under adverse circumstances. He was a great reader, and devoured all books that came in his way, and which he could find time to read. By chance he read a memoir of Franklin, which awakened in him a desire to be a printer, and especially to become an editor. The idea took complete possession of his youthful mind. He thought of it by day, and dreamed of it by night.
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