USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Hillsborough > The history of Hillsborough, New Hampshire, 1735-1921, Volume 1 > Part 32
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46
Nothing further appears on the records in regard to schools until March, 3, 1788, when it was voted that the town be divided into five "classes" for school purposes, and "Voted that one half of the money raised for school purposes be for a Man school, and that said money be divided by families, and that there be a com- mittee of five men to class said town, which are as follows (viz) -John Dutton, Joseph Symonds, Paul Coolidge, John Bradford, William Taggart."
The committee attended to its duties, but changes in the population, and many persons not satisfied with the classification,
Photograph by MANAHAN.
THE OLD ACADEMY, HILLSBOROUGH BRIDGE, ABOUT 1880.
369
THE SCHOOLS IN 1803.
caused the warrant for the annual meeting in March, 1796, to contain the following :
Article 11th. To see if the Town will choose a committee to Class the town anew; for the better regulating and if voted to reclass the town then see how many classes the town shall be divided into and when the first Class shall be made-Also to see if the Town will build a school house in each class at the expense of the Town in each class -and if voted to build said school houses then see when the Houses shall be finished. Also see if the Town will vote to confine each within the limits of the class. Also see if the town will vote that all or any part of the money which may in future be assessed for the support of a school be divided by pole and estate.
12th To see if the Town will raise any money for the support of a school exclusive of what the law requires also how much, and how the same shall be disposed of ... "
The Town voted to confine each class within the limits of the class for the better Regulating of the schools-
Voted to divide the school money by family as heretofore.
Voted not to raise any Money for the support of a school exclusive of what the law requires.
"The schools and school houses occupy considerable space in the town records from this time on, much discussion arising in the classification of the school districts, new ones being added now and then. April 22, 1803, the following committees were chosen "to superintend the business in each class, which are to be denominated the school committee:"
Class No. 1, William Taggard, George Dascomb and Jedidiah Preston, Bridge.
Class No. 2, Calvin Stevens, William Symonds and Europe Hamlin, Centre.
Class No. 3, Benjamin Pierce, Samuel Gibson, and William Hut- chinson, Lower Village.
Class No. 4, Joel Stowe, David Livermore and David Goodell, Jr. Hazen Neighborhood.
Class No. 5, John Dutton, Elijah Beard and Alexander Parker.
Class No. 6, Daniel Flint, Nathaniel Symonds and Samuel Ellen- wood.
Class No. 7, Abraham Kimball, Isaac Farrah and Peter Clement, Farrah Neighborhood.
Class No. 9, Robert Carr, Paul Cooledge and Thomas Killom.
For some reason no committee was chosen for Class No. 8, and the selectmen were empowered to act in that capacity. These excerpts are pointers of what followed, year by year, until the
370
HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH.
pupils, decreasing slowly in numbers, the district school lost somewhat that quality for good to the largest percentage of children that was its pride and honor.
Affording a strong contrast to the conduct of our schools over a hundred years later is the record of the schools in town at the beginning of the 19th century. A folio record book made from eight losse sheets of paper sewn together, and labeled "A Record of School Money," covers the situation briefly for the years, 1805, 1806, 1807, 1808. Opening at random we quote from the pages devoted to the year 1807. There were nine classes or districts, 227 families in the town, and $340.50 raised, the propor- tion being $1.50 a family. The number of pupils is not given, nor are there any records to show just where the boundaries of these districts were. The name of the agent or committee to whom the money was paid gives a slight clue in some cases.
Proportion of School Money for 1807
$1.50 per Family
Class No. 1, 45 familys is $67.50
Paid Andrew Sargent.
Class No. 2, 16 families $24.00
Name of agent not given. Dr. Goodell thought this was on Bible Hill. Class No. 3, 29 families $43.50
Paid to David Starrett, so was probably at Lower Village.
Class 2 in 3, 9 families $13.50 Paid to John Gibson, who lived on Bible Hill, where there is not a single resident to-day.
Class No. 4, South part, 22 families $33.00
Paid David Goodell, Jr. This is now Division No. 9.
Class No. 4, North part, 16 families $24.00
Paid to Archleas Town, now Division 8.
Class No. 5, 30 families $45.00
Paid to Elijah Beard, who lived where the sanitarium is now
Class No. 6, 27 families $40.50
Paid to Abial Shattuck.
Class No. 7, 10 families $15.00
Paid to J. Carter and Jonathan Clement, "Concord End" and Farrah division.
Class No. 8, 4 families $6.00
Paid to committee.
Class No. 9, 19 families $28.50
Cash paid to committee.
None of this money seems to have been paid until the next
37I
AN OLDTIME SCHOOL.
year, and that of Class No. 8 not until 1809. The record for 1808 shows that there were eleven more families in town and the rate was $2.20 to each family, the sum total being $511.00. In four of the districts there were two terms during the year, and in the other five only one term.
Doctor Goodell, in commenting upon this situation says : "The branches taught were the three R's, spelling, good manners, and obedience. A few years since geography was added, and later still grammar and history, fundamentals only, 'no frills'. Is it not up to our schools of today, with their modern time increases in educational advantages, to develop men and women who shall at least equal our forebears in morals, patriotism, industry, perseverance, business capacity and all else that pertains to good citizenship ?"
In describing the schools of that day it has been said: "Dil- worth's spelling book was then the fountain of learning. The Psalter and a simple treatise on arithmetic were used in some of the schools.
"Choosing sides and spelling once a week was the food, dinner and dessert of ambition, and the schoolmaster's ferule the stimulant. Saturday noons the little square blue primer, containing the catechism and commandments, Watt's cradle hymns, furnished scholars with their quantum of religious instruction, and with their facilities and materials, the young mind was to be ad- vanced and furnished for the business of the world."
Society established on a broader basis, education received a creditable attention. Especially was this true of the improved grade of text books used in the schools. The old Historical Reader was introduced about 1820. Webster's spelling book had come into popular use before this and Pike's Arithmetic was used to advantage over the former method of having the teacher place some original example on the board for the pupil to work out. This book was destined to be replaced by an improved work from Dr. Daniel Adams, which bore his name. This book remained the leading arithmetic until about the time of the Civil War when it was succeeded by Greenleaf's Arithmetic about the time of the death of the author at Keene in 1864. It is interesting to know
-
372
HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH.
that Dr. Adams brought out his arithmetic while living in a near- by town, Mont Vernon.
In 1828 the name Prudential Committee was applied to the men overseeing the schools in the respective districts, of which there were nine at this time.
Did space permit it would be a pleasant task to trace the Story of the Schools through the succeeding years to the present time, and it would afford a valuable lesson to the student of history. No corner in the field of human progress is as essential to the development of public affairs as the niche filled by our rural schools. Upon the record of these little isolated seats of knowledge depends the intellectual strength of the people and upon the intelligence of the people rests the very pillars of govern- ment. Yet we review the work briefly. The best and brightest things in life are those of which we say the least. So it is with the history of our schools. Fortunately, or unfortunately as the case may be, their results are written in indelible ink upon the tablets of memory. If seldom mentioned are imperishable.
The story of Hillsborough's schools is not different from any other. It will average with her sister towns. Her rural districts have naturally fewer pupils in schools than before the Civil War, over half a century ago, which is impressively explained in the mute language of the abandoned farms, and emphasised by the fact of decreased numbers of children in the homes that remain. More is expected in the education of a child than in the days of greater rural activity. If more is being obtained the future, not the present, must show.
When the state, hoping to improve the rural school situation, took a firmer hand in the management in 1917, and established the State Board of Education, Hillsborough had very little to do to fall into line. No new school houses have been built for a considerable period, for the reason the need had not been manifest. In fact, when one comes to think of it, Hillsborough has never been advance in the construction of public buildings, and her sons and daughters who have prospered abroad have seemed to forget her in this respect. Let us hope not for always.
According to the Report for 1920, we find that schools have been maintained in six rural districts, as follows :
373
HILLSBOROUGH ACADEMY.
Hillsborough Lower Village, Mrs. Deborah Brown, teacher, 31 pupils ; Merrill School, Ida P. Phelps, teacher, 18 pupils ; Hillsborough Upper Village, Edythe W. Crooker, teacher, 16 pupils ; Flat School, Elizabeth Thompson, teacher, II pupils ; Centre School, Frances E. Barnes, teacher, 13 pupils; Goodale School, Mrs. Nellie R. Mellen, teacher, 12 pupils. This record shows a complete list of 101 pupils.
The report for the previous year shows that, in addition to the above list, schools were taught in the Howard and Bear Hill districts and that there were in town a total of 112 pupils.
The members of the Town School Board for 1920 were Mrs. Lottie Harvey, Henry W. Adams and Leonard T. Martin.
HILLSBOROUGH ACADEMY AND HIGH SCHOOL.
With the district schools flourishing it soon became evident that the town could well afford to support a higher grade of education, and as the Lower Village was at that time the centre of business enterprises with considerable promise for the future, it was decided to erect a suitable building at this hamlet and establish an academical course. A brick building was raised in 1820, and in 1821 the Hillsborough Academy was incorporated.
March II, 1822, the following notice of the new school ap- peared : "Recently incorporated, new brick building near General Pierce's, instruction of Simon Ingersol Bard. Tuition, $3 per quarter. Highest price for board, $1.25 per week."
Dr. Bard, the first principal, was a native of Francestown and a graduate of Dartmouth College. He was very bright in- tellectually, but of small stature. The following anecdote told of him illustrates this fact: While on his way to the academy one morning with his books under his arm, a stranger meeting him asked good-naturedly, "Hilloa, sonny, how do you like your preceptor ?"
After a very successful career here Dr. Bard was succeeded by a fellow graduate of Dartmouth and Andover Theological Seminary Rev. William Clark, in 1827. He was succeeded by his brother, Rev. Samuel Wallace Clark, while he removed to Cin- cinnatti, Ohio. Rev. Samuel W. Clark was born in Greenland, a graduate of Dartmouth College in 1823, and of Andover in
374
HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH.
1827. He was followed by Rev. Josiah Peabody, a graduate of Dartmouth in 1825; Robert Reed Heath, of Dartmouth, 1825; Solomon Heath, a brother and graduate of Dartmouth in 1826; Benjamin F. Wallace, Esq .; Rev. Ephraim Taylor, Albert Baker, Esq., and Francis Brown Mussey of Amherst.
In 1840 it was thought advisable to move the academy to the Centre, where it was opened in the old first meeting house build- ing, with Rev. Elisha Thayer Rowe as Principal, which position he retained until 1864.
In the meantime a change had taken place in the school situa- tion at Bridge Village. Until 1861 this growing hamlet had been divided into two districts, the river being the boundary line between them. In the fall of 1860 the South School House, as it was called in District No. 2, was burned, and it was then decided it would be better to remove the old house and build a new one large enough to accomodate the entire village. At the annual meeting in March, 1861, a committee of four, James F. Briggs and Theron B. Newman representing the North side, and S. Dow Wyman and Reuben E. Loveren of the South side, was appointed to secure plans for a school house not to exceed $2,500 in cost fully equipped. Joshua Marcy, S. Dow Wyman and Daniel Wyman were chosen a committee to receive bids, but all of the bids received were above the proposed cost, and a building committee consisting of Joshua Marcy, Daniel Wyman and Horace Eaton was selected to build the house at as reasonable price as possible. This committee discharged the duty assigned it and completed a new building at a cost of $4,626.36. The old house was sold for $175. This bill included the cost of a bell, which is still in use.
Until then no school in town had been graded, but it was now thought to do this at this school in November. James F. Briggs, Harry Brickett and Abel C. Burnham were chosen to undertake this task and formulate rules for its government. This com- mittee placed the pupils of twelve years of age and upward in the higher grade, and assigned the second floor as their school room.
The first term of school in the new building was opened in the winter of 1861-1862, the teacher of the higher grade being Warren McClintock, while Ellen Fisher taught the primary grade.
375
HILLSBOROUGH HIGH SCHOOL.
At this time Dr. Abel C. Burnham was chairman of the super- intending school committee.
In 1864 the Aacademy at the Centre was removed to Bridge Village and made a part of the higher grade in the school at this hamlet, under the name of the "Valley Academy," a tuition school. Rev. Harry Brickett, acting pastor of the Congregational church at Bridge Village, with his wife as assistant, became its principal, and there were 120 pupils attending.
After sixteen very successful years, in 1876, the name was changed to "Union School," and it became in reality a high school. Harry L. Brickett, son of the former principal, was placed at its head. He was a graduate of Oberlin College, Ohio, and under his instruction the school continued to prosper.
In 1879 the need of a still larger building was apparent, when provision for the Primary department had to be made out- side of the building. In 1880 the first Board of Education was elected, its members being John C. Campbell, Brooks K. Webber, S. Dow Wyman, Marcellus H. Felt, James F. Grimes and Wil- liam H. Story. The membership of this committee has since been reduced to three, the members for 1920 being George W. Haslet, Charles S. Perry and Delmont E. Gordon.
The list of teachers and numbers of pupils for 1919-1920 were: Mrs. Cora Scruton, I-2 grades, 67 pupils ; Miss Eva W. Brown, 3-4 grades, 40 pupils ; Miss Flora E. Atwood, 4-5 grades, 42 pupils ; Miss Eva B. Ash, 6-7 grades, 48 pupils ; Mrs. Lottie Harvey, Mrs. Josephine Gordon, Miss Esther Crosby, 7-8 grades, 42 pupils. In the High School, with 60 students, Robert J. An- derson was head master, with Laura L. Newell, Blanche Totman and Dorothy Cambridge, assistants; Miss Sarah L. Baker, draw- ing ; Miss Florence Lee and Mrs. Doris Watkins, music.
In conclusion it can be truthfully said that the Hillsborough High School has maintained a creditable standing among the schools of its grade in the state.
CHAPTER XXIII.
INDUSTRIAL PURSUITS.
Keyes Saw Mill-Mills on Beard Brook-Beginning of Woolen and Cotton Manufacturing-First Complete Mill-Spinning Jenny- "Father of Cotton Manufacture in America"-First Mill in New Hampshire-Carding Mill in Deering-First Cotton Mill in Hills- borough-"The Red Factory"-Third Factory in the State-Cook and Waterman Factory-Marcy Mill-Contoocook Mills-Hillsbor- ough Woolen Mills-Other Industries-Tanneries-Water Power of the Contoocook.
The beginning of industry in any locality is usually the saw mill and Hillsborough is no exception to the rule. Hence industry here may be said to have been begun in the little old frame of a mill which must have stood on the north bank of the Contoocook above the main falls and near where the saw and grist mills of Grimes and Walker stood in later years. This saw mill, as we have seen, was built by Gershom Keyes and his associates in 1739, and was really the first mill upon the entire length of the Contoocook River. Other saw mills followed, and these were built along the same river or upon some of its tributaries, Beard Brook having been the favorite stream. . Charles Hartwell owned and operated a saw mill at the foot of Loon Pond. The first saw mill and grist mill at the upper privilege at Bridge Village was built by William Rumrill. Before water power was harnessed to the machinery of man Hillsborough had her share of hand manufacture with other towns, description of which has been given in farm life.
The story of woolen and cotton manufacturing in Hillsbor- ough starts from a very small beginning, as in truth it does in all localities. The first machine for carding, roving and spinning in the United States was made by two brothers from Scotland, Alexander and Robert Barr, for Hon. Hugh Orr at Bridgewater, Mass., in 1786. The following year a company in Beverly began manufacturing with very imperfect machinery and unsatisfactory
376
CONTOOCOOK MILLS.
Photograph by MANAHAN.
RAILROA
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
HILLSBOROUGH WOOLEN MILLS.
377
LITTLE'S FACTORY.
results. The combined operations of spinning and weaving were not put into successful operation until 1813, in Waltham, Mass., by Francis C. Lowell and Patrick T. Jackson, the latter the in- ventor of the power loom. This factory is believed to be the first in the world to have combined all the processes necessary for converting raw cotton and finished cloth.
Until 1786 England had monopolized the rude attempts at cotton manufacture and guarded zealously what she believed to be her exclusive right. Cotton was first spun at Birmingham by mules in 1742, and from that date no one was allowed to leave the country who was supposed to have mastered the secret of building necessary machinery for the work. But the Barr brothers seemed to have escaped the vigilant watch of these master manufacturers. In 1788 spinning jennies were put into operation in Philadelphia and Providence. Still it was left for the ambitious youth, Samuel Slater, who stole his passage over to this country, after having mastered the trade at home, to begin practical manufacture at Pawtucket, R. I., in 1790. For that achievement he has rightfully been styled "The Father of cotton manufacture in America," and from that date the enter- prise expanded and improved.
Samuel Slater's interests were not confined to the locality of his beginning, and it was only a few years before he was sending skilled workmen to other places as pioneers in the work. Through his assistance the erection of a cotton mill was under- taken at New Ipswich, in this state, Benjamin Prichard being the master builder. No sooner was the machinery installed here than Mr. Prichard hastened to Amoskeag Falls, on the Merrimack River, and built a mill so he was enabled to place such machinery as he could obtain at that time in motion in 1805, this being the second mill in New Hampshire.
Contemporary with these efforts, and reflecting credit upon the indomitable will of the man, Rev. William Sleigh smuggled from England machinery for carding wool, which he set up in the town of Deering, operating it by horse power for about a year. Then, about 1806, it was purchased by George Little of Hillsborough, who set it up in a small building nearly on the spot where a grist mill was later built. The machinery was run by a
378
HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH.
small breast wheel, the water being brought from the canal in a plank spout. Two or three years later the machinery was moved across the river and established in "the red factory," which stood on the site of the silk mill raised July 4, 1812. The canal on the south side of the stream, already mentioned, was dug in June, 1805. Finally Mr. Little sold his machinery to Imri Wood, who removed it to West Henniker, where it was burned a few years later.
By this it is seen that Hillsborough has a most respectable record as a pioneer in manufacture, and with the excellent water privileges found here it was prophesied that it was destined to become a manufacturing town of importance.
Perhaps it is of sufficient interest to mention in passing that the first cotton mill in Maine was built at Brunswick in 1809. Power looms were first set in operation in this country at Wal- tham, Mass.,, in 1814. The first cotton factory in Lowell, Mass., was built in 1822 and it was not until 1849 that Lawrence began manufacturing .*
Mr. Little was followed in the manufacture of cotton goods within six years by two men from out of town, Messrs. Cook and Waterman, who began work upon a cotton factory July 3, 18II, on the north bank of the river above the bridge falls near where the original saw mill had been built. This was the third cotton factory in the state, and is therefore worthy of special mention. This mill, like others, did a thriving business near the outbreak of the War of 1812, but its wheels became nearly idle before its close, and it was not until 1822 that it resumed normal activities. It then continued to prosper and within a few years it had 1800 spindles and 40 looms. The number of operatives employed in 1840 was sixty.
Unfortunately this factory was burned at 10 o'clock on the night of July 8, 1842, and was never rebuilt. The Cook and Waterman factory stood nearly opposite the present plant of the Hillsborough Woolen Mill Company.
*A cotton factory was built at New Ipswich in 1803, and another at Amoskeag Falls in 1804-5 .- Author.
379
A PIONEER MANUFACTURER.
THE MARCY MILL.
In the meantime another pioneer in the manufacturing in- dustries had established a mill on the south bank of the Con- toocook River below the rapids at the bridge. This new-comer, who ranks high among the early cotton manufacturers in Hills- borough was Joshua Marcy.
Mr. Marcy was a native of Woodstock, Conn., but he had lived in Pepperell, Mass., and Peterborough, N. H., coming to Hillsborough from Peterborough. At the time he came to this town the manufacture of cotton goods in this country was rapidly awakening a keen interest. Understanding this, and with an ambition equal to the opportunity, Joshua Marcy saw the almost unlimited possibilities that lay in the water power of the Contoocook tumbling with headlong velocity along its rocky pathway.
Immediately he purchased of James P. Barker the site for a mill on the south bank of the stream, and began at once to build the original factory in that vicinity. This building was com- pleted so the machinery was set in motion in the fall of 1828, when he began the spinning of cotton yarn, and the manufacture of cotton wadding and batting. Eventually he added the manu- facture of the first twine ever made, while he also made candle wicking. It is interesting to note that this was accomplished contemporary with the beginning of successful manufacture on the Merrimack River, at Amoskeag Falls and Lowell. In 1840 Mr. Marcy's mill contained 512 spindles and employed sixteen operatives.
In 1845 Mr. Marcy built on the north side of the street the brick grist mill noted at the time as the best mill of its kind in the state. A saw mill connected with the same water privilege also came into his possession at this time.
Mr. Marcy continued active in his business and owned his mill to the time of his death May 5, 1848, when his property passed into the hands of his children, three sons and three daughters. These formed a company and carried on the business for seventeen years with success.
380
HISTORY OF HILLSBOROUGH.
THE CONTOOCOOK MILLS CORPORATION.
In 1865 a new impetus was given manufacture in Hills- borough by the appearance upon the scene of John B. Smith, then a young man filled with the ambition of a young man and with the experience of similar enterprises elsewhere. With a predilection for that industrial pursuit, Mr. Smith had begun his career as a manufacturer in Washington, but finding the field too small for his satisfaction, he removed to Weare. Still he was not satisfied and he bought out the Marcy heirs, resolved to enlarge and improve the opportunity here. He built a new mill, repaired those standing, and from the first was very successful. Devoting his time and energies to the manufacture of woolen goods, and eminently fitted for this work, it was here Mr. Smith laid not only the foundation of his financial success but of his civil and political prestige. He was assisted for several years in his manufacturing interests by his nephew George Edward Gould.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.