USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Boscawen > The history of Boscawen and Webster [N.H.] from 1733 to 1878 > Part 34
USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Webster > The history of Boscawen and Webster [N.H.] from 1733 to 1878 > Part 34
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KILBURN, ELIPHALET, DEA.
He was born in Rowley. In 1775, on the 19th of April, he started for Lexington, and enlisted for eight months in Capt. Jacob Gerrish's company, which was quartered at Cambridge, Col. Moses Little's regiment, and was at Charlestown Neck at the time of the battle of Bunker Hill.
He reënlisted in the same company and under the same colonel in 1776; was stationed at Cambridge when the British evacuated Boston. He hired a man to take his place in the ranks, while he went home to Rowley.
He enlisted in the northern army the same year for six months, in Capt. Wm. Rogers's company, Col. Wigglesworth's regiment, Gen. Bricket's brigade, and proceeded to Ticonderoga.
In 1777 he enlisted as sergeant in Capt. Benjamin Adams's company, Col. Johnson's regiment, for six months. He was at Mount Independence, opposite Ticonderoga. At Saratoga the regiment was placed in Poor's brigade. He was in the battle of the 19th of August and 9th of October, and at the surrender of Burgoyne. He was honorably discharged upon the expiration of his enlistment.
In 1778 he enlisted for six months as sergeant in Capt. Enos's company, Col. -'s regiment, and was under Gens. Sullivan and Lafayette at Rhode Island-a hard and hazardous campaign.
In 1779 he enlisted for four months as sergeant in Capt.
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Stephen Jenkins's company, Col. J. Gerrish's regiment, and marched to Greenbush, N. Y., but was discharged with the regi- ment after about two months' service. His entire term of active service was about thirty months, most of the time as sergeant.
KILBURN, JR., ELIPHALET,
Was born in 1804, and resided through life upon the homestead, near Blackwater river. He enjoyed no educational privileges other than those of the district school, but ever made most of his opportunities for acquiring information. He was large-hearted, liberal in his ideas, and enthusiastic in his support of everything in which his sympathies were enlisted. He was foremost in ad- vocating temperance and anti-slavery reforms, and was ever a friend to the needy, exemplifying in every station to which he was called those virtues which go to make up the earnest Chris- tian, the active citizen, and the honest man.
KILBURN, ENOCH.
Enoch Kilburn and his twin sister Hannah were born in 1786, children of Dea. Eliphalet and Mary (Thorla) Kilburn. He had few advantages for obtaining an education. He married (1) Elizabeth Morse, of Boscawen, (2) Elizabeth Cogswell, of Derry, and settled on Battle street, in a house which was torn down in 1875. Upon the removal of Henry Little to Illinois in 1835, he purchased the farm then owned by him, now owned by Capt. William George ; from thence he removed to Andover, where he resided the remainder of his life.
He early engaged in the business of drover, purchasing cattle and sheep in the vicinity, eventually extending his operations to the northern section of the state and to Vermont, selling his flocks and herds in Brighton. He conducted his business on an extensive scale, and became familiarly known to a very large number of people. He possessed a remarkable memory, and through life remembered minute transactions that had taken place,-even the weight, appearance, color, and shape of oxen which he had sold years previous. This faculty of memory enabled him to keep in mind from month to month the cattle that would be ready for market, and their probable weight and condition.
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The business of drover was not what the railroad now makes it, but was a tedious journey of two weeks from Grafton county to Brighton. Through cold and heat, sunshine and storm, he fol- lowed his business. No "falling market" disturbed him. If he met with loss it was but a stimulant to induce him to retrieve his fortunes, his sanguine temperament ever leading him on.
He was an earnest supporter of religious institutions, a member of the church, and earnest and zealous in his advocacy of what he believed to be right. He was genial, kind, benevolent, and hon- est, and would suffer wrong rather than do wrong. He died in 1876. [See Gen.]
KIMBALL, PETER, CAPT.
Capt. Peter Kimball moved from Bradford, Mass., about 1765, and settled on Queen street. He was a man of strong character. Rev. Mr. Price says of him,-" Possessing great self-command, a sound judgment, and unwavering integrity, he soon came into public notice, and was elected selectman in 1768, in which office he served nine years. In our Revolutionary struggle he mani- fested a truly patriotic spirit, readily accepted those appointments with others which involved the dearest interests of individuals and of the public. He contributed to the security of our inde- pendence, not merely by his assiduous services at home, but en- dured the privations of four campaigns in defence of his country. In one of them he volunteered as a private soldier; but in the other three he bore a captain's commission, and at Bennington received a wound at the head of his company-a precious memen- to of that signal battle. Capt. Kimball was a valuable citizen, a much esteemed neighbor, and consistent man."
The diary kept by Capt. Kimball in the campaign of 1776, and at Bennington, is given in the body of this volume, in connection with the events of the Revolution, from which it will be seen that he was a prompt, efficient, and brave soldier. He barely men- tions that he was wounded in the battle of Bennington,-leaving it to others to speak of his bravery.
He moved from Queen to Water street after the Revolution, and continued till his death, at the age of 72, a useful and hon- ored citizen. It may be said that Capt. Peter Kimball and Col. Henry Gerrish were leading spirits in the town during the Revo-
Kimball
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lutionary period. Both were military officers; and the prompt- ness with which they ordered out their commands when called upon, attests their efficiency.
KIMBALL, BENJAMIN T.
The youngest son of Capt. Peter Kimball,-Benjamin Thurston Kimball,-was born in Boscawen, 4 May, 1784. He had no op- portunity for education except the meagre instruction of the dis- trict school. He resided on the homestead where he was born, and built the house now occupied by Mr. Wade. He was an in- fluential citizen, and a member of the Congregational church and society. He was an early advocate of anti-slavery, and cast his influence and his vote in its behalf. He longed for the day when the slave would be a freeman,-a consummation he was not per- mitted to see. He died 9 July, 1852. He was hospitable, kind to the poor, and charitable to those who differed from him in opinion. [See Gen.]
KIMBALL, DAVID F., COL.,
Oldest son of Benjamin T. Kimball, was born in Boscawen, 24 Dec., 1811, at the old homestead, and lived there until 1845. He was married in 1837 to Mary P. Kilburn, daughter of Enoch Kilburn, of Boscawen. [See Gen.] At the age of 19 he was appointed ensign in the first company of light infantry, when the New Hampshire militia was in its glory. The next year he was ranked to captain, commanding the company for three years. From captain he was ranked to the colonelcy of the 21st Regi- ment, which he commanded for four years, then was honorably discharged.
In 1846 he moved to Salisbury, N. H., and engaged in the tan- ning business, which he carried on successfully for ten years ; moved to Beloit, Wis., in the spring of 1856; was in the grain trade for nearly three years ; then moved to Chicago, Ill., where Mrs. Kimball died. He married again, in 1859, Mrs. Emily P. Burke, daughter of Dea. George T. Pillsbury, of Boscawen. He remained in Chicago in the grain and commission business eight years.
During the war, Colonel and Mrs. Kimball, with seventy others, went to the army after the battle of Pittsburg Landing, to care
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for the sick and wounded soldiers. He there contracted the dis- ease of the army, and after struggling with poor health for sev- eral years, returned east and settled in Concord, N. H. ; resided there for five years, engaging in the same business as at Chicago. In 1871 he moved to Fisherville, N. H., where he now resides.
KIMBALL, PETER,
Was born 25 May, 1817, in Boscawen, son of Benjamin and Mary (Kilburn) Kimball. He remained at home till his majority, then entered the store of Greenleaf & Co., Salisbury. It was before the construction of the Northern Railroad, when the Fourth New Hampshire Turnpike was a great thoroughfare, and Salisbury a centre of trade. After acquiring a knowledge of mercantile busi- ness, he married Miss Nancy A. Adams, daughter of Cyrus Adams, of Grafton, and removed thither, where he has since resided, giv- ing his attention to agriculture. He takes great interest and pride in his calling, is one of the prominent farmers of the state, and active in promoting the state and county agricultural socie- ties.
KIMBALL, JOHN, HION.,
Son of Benjamin, born in Canterbury, 13 April, 1821, moved to Bos- cawen with his parents in the spring of 1824. His education was such as the town school afforded, and one year (1837) at the acad- emy in Concord. Next year he was apprenticed with his father's cousin, William M., serving four years, constructing mills and machinery. His first work after attaining his majority was to re- build the grist and flouring mills, in the valley near the north end of the Plain, in 1842, which are still in use. Afterwards he followed the same business in Suncook and Manchester, and in Lowell and Lawrence, Mass. In September, 1848, he was em- ployed by the directors of the Concord Railroad to take charge of the new machine and car shops then building at Concord ; pro- moted to master mechanic, 1850. He retained this position ten years, at which time circumstances rendered it desirable for him to relinquish mechanical labor for other pursuits.
As a mechanic Mr. Kimball has few superiors ; and his sound judgment and skill were in constant requisition in the responsible position held for so many years at the Railroad shops in Concord.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
The experience and training of those early days have also been of unquestionable value to the city and state; for the knowledge then acquired has contributed, not unfrequently, to the solution of the knotty mechanical and scientific questions which have con- stantly arisen in connection with the state and municipal offices he has been called upon to fill.
He was elected to the common council from Ward 5, in Con- cord, in 1856, '57-was president the last year; member of the legislature from the same ward 1858, '59, and chairman of Com- mittee on State Prison ; collector of taxes, and city marshal, 1859, 60, '61, '62; appointed by President Lincoln, in 1862, collector of internal revenue for the second district of New Hampshire, includ- ing the counties of Merrimack and Hillsborough, an office he held seven years, during which time he collected and paid over to the treasurer of the United States nearly seven millions of dollars ; elected moderator of Ward 5, 1861, and reelected ten successive years. On the organization of the Merrimack County Savings Bank, in 1870, he was elected its treasurer, an office he now holds. He was elected mayor in 1872, '73, '74, '75; during the time was one of the water commissioners to supply the city with water- president of the board, in 1875; appointed in 1877 for three years. He was member of the constitutional convention of 1876, and chairman of the Committee on Finance. In August, 1877, was appointed by Gov. Prescott one of the commissioners to build a new state prison. At the first meeting of the commissioners, he was unanimously chosen chairman, and is now engaged with the architects in making preparation for prosecuting the work during 1878.
Mr. Kimball possesses rare business and financial ability, and his integrity is as firm as the everlasting hills of his native state. In his management of public affairs he has ever displayed en- larged and progressive views, sound judgment, and conscientious motives ; and in private life he is a devoted friend, kind neiglibor, esteemed citizen, and a charitable, tolerant, self-reliant, manly man, who alike honors his native town and the city of his adop- tion.
KIMBALL, BENJAMIN AMES,
Youngest child of Benjamin and Ruth (Ames) Kimball, was born in Boscawen (Fisherville) 22 Aug., 1833; learned the trade of
26
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machinist of his brother John. After suitable preparation at Prof. Hildreth's academy in Derry, he entered the Chandler Scientific Department of Dartmouth college in 1851, from which he gradu- ated in 1854 ; immediately entered the Concord Railroad machine shop as draftsman and machinist ; after two years was made fore- man of the locomotive department ; 1 Jan., 1858, succeeded his brother as master mechanic, where he labored successfully until 1 April, 1865, when he resigned to become a member of the firm of Ford & Kimball, manufacturers of car wheels and brass and iron castings.
Mr. Kimball is not inclined to seek political positions, but has filled several offices to the general satisfaction of his constituents. He was member of the legislature in 1870, but, owing to business considerations, declined a reelection in 1871. He was appointed one of the water commissioners at the organization of the board in 1872, and is now serving the sixth year, and is its president. The complete success of this undertaking is no doubt largely due to his untiring and persistent labor, his ripe mechanical judgment, and his superior executive ability. He was returned as one of the members of the constitutional convention of 1876, from the sixth ward.
After the financial embarrassment of the "National" (now Con- cord) Savings Bank, he was named as one of the new trustees, and 15 Oct., 1874, was elected its president. This position he resigned in 1877, and now (1878) is travelling with his family in Europe.
LITTLE, ENOCH,
Was born in Newbury, 21 May, 1728, son of Tristram Little and Sarah (Dole) Little. He married Sarah Pettingill, of Newbury, 19 Feb., 1755, who died 10 March, 1758, the mother of two chil- dren,-Friend and Mary. He married for his second wife Han- nah Hovey, of Newbury, 5 June, 1759. He was a weaver, and also learned to make shoes. He moved from Hampstead to Bos- cawen, April, 1774, a poor man with a large family. He passed the year in a house on the Hale Atkinson farm, Fish street, carrying on land on High street, near Salisbury line; also building a log house-his future home-on land now owned by his great-grandson, Sherman Little. He moved to his new home on the 2d of September, 1774. His house had no floor.
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The fireplace, in all probability, was made of such stones as he could conveniently obtain. The whole surrounding region was a dense forest. Two other houses only had been erected west of Blackwater,-the " Day" house, on land owned now by Henry L. Dodge, and the "Cass " house, on the farm occupied by Mr. David Sweatt, near Long pond. Mr. Corser was living on Corser hill. Capt. Peter Coffin's, and perhaps one or two other houses, had been erected on Water street. With neighbors so far away, in an unbroken forest, Mr. Little reared his humble home.
Rev. Mr. Price, in a biographical notice, says that " he became a Christian at the age of eleven, and, like Enoch of old, 'walked with God ' seventy-seven years, sixty-four of which he was a dis- ciple of Christ by a Christian profession. He sought retirement, particularly in his advanced age, for what was most congenial with the habits of his mind, giving himself to the reading of the scriptures and prayer." He was the ancestor of numerous descendants, many of whom have entered the ministry. He died 21 Oct., 1816.
LITTLE, ENOCH, DEA.,
The second of the name in Boscawen, was the son of Enoch Little and Hannah (Hovey) Little. The incidents of his life are learned in part from an autobiographical sketch found among his papers.
"Enoch Little, born Jan. 17, 1763, in Newbury, Mass.
" 1766. Moved to Hampstead at 3 years and 3 months old-lived there 8 years.
" 1774. April, moved to Boscawen at 11 years and 3 months old.
" 1785. At the age of 22 took my land wild and began to clear.
" 1786. Went to school at Atkinson.
" 1787. Kept school on Corser hill in winter, and worked on my land in summer.
" 1787. Built my first barn.
" 1788. Kept school on Corser Hill. Hired Oliver Clement 7 months this summer for 42 dollars. Cleared 6 acres on the hill, and by the low- est side of the new barn field.
" Kept school in Jo's house this winter, and carried on my farm alone this summer, and in the fall began to cut timber for my house.
" 1790. Prepared boards and shingles, bricks &c., for my house this winter. Raised my house in June, made my cellar, covered my house, built my chimneys this fall, and married the last day of Nov.
" Moved into my house Feb. 22, 1791."
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Mr. Little early in life identified himself with the cause of re- ligion, became a prominent member of the church, and was elected deacon to succeed Dea. Benjamin Sweatt.
He kept a day-book for many years. Although his entries are brief, and almost phonographic, yet they are so terse that from them we get, now and then, a complete picture of the times. He was a natural poet, and many of his notes are in rhyme.
" Sat. 9 May, 1807.
" The ground is chiefly dressed in green, But still some banks of snow are seen.
" 1810, Tues. July 31.
" My corn is yet exceeding low, Although it now begins to grow; The field I travelled wholly through To find one spindle in the blow.
"1812, Jan. 24.
" The Northern blast for three full weeks Has reign'd triumphant thro' the land ; The frost each narrow crevice seeks, The brooks in iron fetters chained ; Propitious Heaven! in mercy speak, And bid the Southern breezes wake."
The next day we find an entry in rhyme indicating that the weather has grown milder.
"1812, Jan. Sat. 25.
" Now Sol, propitious, condescends to pay A longer visit each succeeding day ; And as he runs his journey from the east, Comfort administers to man & beast."
In 1813, in the month of December, occurred an exceedingly disastrous fire at Portsmouth, the light of which was seen in Boscawen. His book contains these notes :
" 1813, Dec. 25. Cold and windy. Went to Salisbury. Paid $5.00 to those who suffered by fire.
" The fire seen last Wednesday night, Which burned so long and shone so bright,
In Portsmouth dreadful havoc made, And wide its desolations spread; Above an hundred dwelling-houses burned, Above 1000 people out of doors are turned."
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Mr. Little delighted in abbreviating words. He was naturally a phonographer, and almost invariably wrote "taters" instead of potatoes, and " lasses " for molasses.
" Oct. 8, 1814. " The tater tops are green as yet, But very soon they must be bit.
" 1815, Ap. 22.
" Our sheep have left the barn to-day, Took up with grass and left the hay. I've turned them out for good & all, And fondly hope they'll stay till fall."
On his fifty-third birth-day, in four lines he throws a glance backward over the buried years and onward to the close of life. A pathetic minor chord runs through the stanza :
" 1816, Jan. 17. 53 years old to-day. " My years are swiftly rolling on And most of them are past : Some one must end this mortal life, And this may be my last."
In April the "notes " are ludicrous. During the month a woman partially insane suddenly disappeared from one of the neighbors' houses, and the neighborhood joined in searching for her. Hence the allusion :
" April 11. Strayed from Mr. Stickney's a large girl 16 hands high.
" April 12. Snowy day. Hunted for Sal Stickney."
The winter of 1819 was an open one. These are some of the notes :
" Dec. 20. " My hogs are fat and fit to go, But yet the price is very low. I wait awhile for better times, And spend my time in making rhymes.
" Feb. 10.
" No sleighs have gone to market this year.
" Stock is high and hay is low; The ground is wholly void of snow."
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The following prayer is remarkable for comprehensiveness and felicitous expression. Dea. Little often repeated it, and taught it to his children and grandchildren.
"AN EVENING PRAYER.
" Lord, thou hast kept me through the day, For which to Thee my thanks I pay ; O keep me safely through the night, And bring me to the morning light. Forgive my sins, renew my heart, Wisdom and grace to me impart; Grant me an interest in thy love, And raise my thoughts to Thee above."
His opportunities for obtaining an education were exceedingly limited. It is probable that during the eight years he lived at Hampstead he learned to read, but he left there at the age of 11. The next year, 1774, was taken up with the removal of the fam- ily to Boscawen, to the house on Fish street, and in getting the log cabin started on Little hill, and a patch of ground cleared. His father and his older brothers went up from Fish street at the beginning of the week chopping trees, and stayed till Saturday. Enoch, then 12 years old, and one of his brothers, had to keep them supplied with provisions. The house of Capt. Peter Coffin on Water street was the half-way place, where they rested, and ate a bowl of bread and milk which Mrs. Coffin gave them. Mr. Coffin had been several years in town,-had quite a patch of ground cleared, raised corn and rye, and was getting on in the world.
In the fall of 1775 his father moved into his log cabin, and dur- ing the long winter evenings Enoch employed his time in learning to write, by lying on the split floor before the pitch knot fire, with strips of birch bark for paper and a charred stick for a pen.
The family was very poor. There were many mouths to feed. Nothing had been raised. Corn was scarce and high, but there was one man to whom they could look for help,-Capt. Peter Cof- fin, who never took advantage of his opportunity, but who supplied them with corn at the regular price, on credit. There were so many to be provided for, that in midwinter some of the children were obliged to go with bare feet. Enoch often was obliged to
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wrap his feet in swingling tow, and stand on a chip while cutting down trees in midwinter.
He went to Atkinson academy one term in 1786, when he was 23 years of age. There he made the acquaintance of a pleasant girl, Polly Noyes, 15 years of age, whom he asked to be his wife, and who accepted the offer,-agreeing to wait till he could get started a little in life. Her parents were prudent people, and the father was not quite sure whether or not the young man from the backwoods would succeed in getting a living; and so, when he went down to claim his bride, in 1790, the father informed him that the kettle, frying-pan, feather-bed, and quilts, which made up the daughter's outfit, were loaned to him. The young husband, flashing up, proposed not to take them. He would sleep on the floor, and cook his porridge as best he could. The pluck displayed pleased the father-in-law, and in November, 1790, with his bride seated on a pillion behind him, and all her outfit packed on a led horse, he rode from Atkinson to Little hill, and began married life on the farm now occupied by Dea. Francis B. Sawyer.
Before his marriage, as learned from his autobiography, he taught school on Corser hill, in the south-west corner room of the house occupied by Rev. Mr. Price, and later by S. B. Little, Esq., and then owned by Samuel Corser. The seats were of plank, without any backs. There were no desks. The only window was half a saslı of six lights. He taught reading, spelling, and arith- metic. The school district embraced the whole of what is now the town of Webster. There were about forty boys, and a few girls. Many of the boys were from eighteen to twenty-four years of age, and it required tact, diplomacy, and dignity to preserve order ; but the young man was equal to the occasion, and proved himself a competent master.
He was the first teacher of music in the town. His first school was taught in the house now owned by Henry L. Dodge. Mr. Little was at that time tending the saw-mill near by. He studied his arithmetic while the saw was going through a log, and in the evening taught music gratuitously one term, but charged a shill- ing-seventeen cents-an evening the second term.
In regard to his knowledge of music, he said,-" I knew but lit- tle about music, but I guess I knew more at that time than any other man in town."
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The rules were in rhyme-some of his own making. He had the idea that triple time was suited to pensive music.
He was a man of remarkable vigor, physically and mentally, lived in advance of his age, took long looks ahead, predicting great things in the future,-of the advancement of society in knowledge, and in the application of science to practical life. He ever kept pace with the times, and was the first to produce mer- ino wool in the town, if not in the county.
He was long an officer of the church, and was decided in his own convictions, but tolerant of the opinions of others. His later years were devoted to the study of the Bible, in which he took great delight. He was kind, genial, witty, a natural poet, a good citizen, an earnest Christian, and an honor to his age and genera- tion.
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