USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Warner > The history of Warner, New Hampshire, for one hundred and forty- four years, from 1735 to 1879 > Part 18
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James B. Straw, who was appointed collector of taxes, at this time, lived on Tory Hill, at the John Hardy place, though he was a Salisbury man by birth. His wife, Mehitable, was a daughter of Ebenezer Fisk, of Wilmot, and a sister to John Fisk, who was acci- dentally killed at the saw-mill on Stevens brook.
Van Slyck & Co. Boston.
ECC. Straw
331
EZEKIEL A. STRAW.
EZEKIEL A. STRAW, a son of the above named couple, was born at the Hardy (now Jacob Chase) place, Dec. 30, 1819. A few years after his birth the family removed to Lowell, and Mr. James B. Straw entered into the service of the Appleton Manufacturing Com- pany. He died at Lowell in 1830. Ezekiel A., in due time, entered the English department of Phillips academy, at Andover, Mass., where he applied him- self successfully to the study of practical mathematics. Upon leaving this institution, he was, in the spring of 1838, employed as assistant civil engineer on the Nashua & Lowell Railroad, then in process of con- struction. In July of that year he entered the ser- vice of the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company as civil engineer. He continued in this position till 1851, when he was appointed agent of this company, and placed in charge of their land and water-power. His duties and responsibilities were enlarged again in 1856, and again in 1858. In 1844 Mr. Straw was sent, in behalf of the Amoskeag Company, to England and Scotland, to obtain information and machinery. His mission was successful.
In 1859, '60, '61, '62, and '63, Mr. Straw was elected from the city of Manchester to the legislature of the state. The last three of these years he was chairman of the Committee on Finance. In 1864 and 1865 he was elected to the state senate, and was president of that body the last year.
22
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HISTORY OF WARNER.
In 1872, after a long and bitter contest, he was elected governor of the state, and was reëlected in 1873. He served his state with credit to himself in all these positions.
Mr. Straw was married to Miss Charlotte Smith Webster, of Amesbury, Mass., in 1842. He has two daughters and one son. The latter is now an agent of the Amoskeag Company.
ANNUAL MEETING, MARCH, 1824.
Henry B. Chase, moderator. Abner B. Kelley, town-clerk. For Governor.
David L. Morrill, 109
Levi Woodbury, 44
Representatives.
Henry B. Chase, Abner B. Kelley.
Daniel George,
Harrison G. Harris, Selectmen.
Jacob Sawyer,
James B. Straw, collector.
Support of the poor " struck off" again to Samuel Hill.
Jacob Sawyer was a son of Edmund, and Edmund was a son of Joseph, who came from Hampstead in 1763, and settled near the Parade. Jacob was born (and he probably lived at this time) on what is now known as the " old poor-farm." There are several sons of Jacob in different parts of the country, all men of standing.
333
CALEB BUSWELL.
ANNUAL MEETING, MARCH, 1825
Dr. Caleb Buswell, moderator. Abner B. Kelley, town-clerk. For Governor.
David L. Morrill, 190
Scattering, 12
Representatives.
Timothy Flanders, Caleb Buswell.
John Palmer,
Benjamin E. Harriman, Selectmen. Nathan S. Colby,
Struck off the collection of Taxes, at one cent five mills, to Elliot C. Badger.
Struck off the support of the Poor for the year to Moses Har- riman, at $294.
Caleb Buswell was born at Grantham in 1795. His parents were originally from Concord. He was a ready scholar, and a superior mathematician. He be- came a practising physician before he was twenty-one years of age, having graduated with honor from the medical college at Hanover. He settled first at Sun- apee, where he held the offices of town-clerk and selectman. He settled at Warner in 1820, where the greater part of his short professional life was spent. In 1825 he was appointed surgeon of the fortieth reg- iment of N. H. militia, which office he resigned after holding it two years. He served as moderator in Warner, and also as representative in the legislature. In 1828 he removed with his family to Newport, hav-
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HISTORY OF WARNER.
ing sold his interests to one of his students in Warner (Dr. Leonard Eaton). While on a visit with his fam- ily, in August, 1828, he died of a fever, at Waterford, New York, at the age of 33. He was a brother to Hiram Buswell, of Warner, and his daughter (and only.child) is the wife of Rev. King S. Hall, of Lake Village.
John Palmer lived in that part of Warner called the Gore. The exact place of his residence is stated in the preceding chapter, his being one of the houses demolished by the tornado. He was a moderate farmer, and a surveyor of land. He has one son now living, Thomas Palmer, of Bradford.
Nathan S. Colby was a son of Ezekiel, who was a son of Elliot Colby. His father lived on the Salisbury road, where Charles H. now resides. At an early day he engaged in mercantile business at Warner village, and continued in it through life. He also built the hotel at that place (which has recently been remod- elled), and acted as landlord till Nathan Walker took charge. He was a quick, stirring man, and was much in public life, though he died at an early age. He was twice married ; his first wife was a daughter of Hon. Benjamin Evans, and his second, a Miss Darrah, of Bedford, N. H. He died about forty years ago. Two, only, of his children now survive, viz., Dea. Charles H. Colby, Jr., of Warner, and Mrs. John C. Pearson, of Fisherville.
335
GEN. LAFAYETTE.
THE NATION'S GUEST.
Gen. Lafayette's visit to this country, in 1824 and 1825, was a notable event. Though more than forty years had elapsed since, at the close of the Revolu- tion, he had left these shores, and, though the country had undergone wonderful changes, the affection of the people for the friend of Washington, and the friend of the Republic in its dire necessity, knew no abatement. He was the Nation's Guest, and his jour- ney throughout the United States was one continuous ovation.
He came to Concord, where a grand reception awaited him, June 22, 1825. Among the military companies which were ordered out by the command- er-in-chief, to do escort duty at the capital of the state, was the Warner Light Infantry, Capt. Wm. Cur- rier. Capt. Currier was a son of Theophilus, and was born at the " Kiah Corner," so called. He was a tan- ner and farmer, and he lived many years at the Moul- ton place in Schoodac. The aged people of Concord remember the bearing and appearance of his company on that occasion, and speak of it in terms of praise.
After spending a few days at the capital, and in the eastern part of the state, Lafayette made a start from Concord, Monday, June 27th, to the westward, attended by a committee of the legislature. On reach- ing the line of Warner, near Rufus Putnam's, he was
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HISTORY OF WARNER.
received by an escort of our citizens, and a short ad- dress of welcome was made by Dr. Moses Long. He was escorted to the meeting-house at Kelley's tavern. In front of the church, on the green, stood a long ta- ble laden with choice refreshments. It was now noon. Before Lafayette could alight from his carriage, an eager crowd pressed forward to look upon his face and to grasp his hand. Among the rest, little squealing Johnny Pherson, of Sutton or Bradford,-a man who never weighed but 75 pounds,-elbowed his way up to the carriage, shoved up his diminutive hand, and, with a nasal whine, ejaculated, "How d' ye do, Gineral Lafayette ? I thought I know'd ye !"
As the distinguished guest passed on through War- ner village, the old brass cannon waked the echoes among the hills ; and all along through Warner the old and young thronged the way to catch a glimpse of that remarkable man's face.
The New Hampshire committee accompanied their guest to Pattee's hotel in Claremont, where the Ver- mont authorities took him in charge.
CATTLE SHOW.
The second cattle show of the Merrimack County Agricultural Society took place at Henniker, Oct. 19, 1825. It was thought to be a great success. Ezekiel Webster, the brother of Daniel, was president of the ociety. At that time he was in the full vigor of
337
CATTLE SHOW.
mature manhood, and was looking towards congress. The report states that " he gave an ingenious, able, and appropriate address." The exhibition, in all its parts, was an attractive one. "A plough with an iron mould-board was much admired." "Miss Sweet, of Concord, presented an elegant bonnet made by her- self, the chief article in its composition being the downy substance of the milk-weed." "The African gourd (the snake-bean), whose pods are said to grow to the length of two feet and upwards ; the Tangier bean, whose pod is short and of a beautiful purple color; and the nondescript pea, with a very small pod, arrested much attention."
The first premium ever given to an inhabitant of Warner, at any fair, was given at this time, and only one citizen of Warner received a premium. The record runs thus :
Amos Putney, Warner, 2d best bull under 4 years, $2.
The animal that drew this money was a native, of yellowish color, large, but very homely. Leve Max- field, who was Putney's henchman, and who felt that this animal had put all others into the shade, in driv- ing him home, remarked, with a wise nod of the head, "They won't bring no bulls next year !"
ANNUAL MEETING, MARCH, 1826.
Benjamin Evans, moderator.
Abner B. Kelley, town-clerk.
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HISTORY OF WARNER.
For Governor.
David L. Morrill, 59
Benjamin Pierce, 197
Representatives.
Benjamin Evans, Daniel George.
Nathan S. Colby,
Jacob Sawyer, Selectmen. John Palmer,
Voted to buy a farm to put the town poor on.
Chose Stephen George, Stephen Bartlett, and Stephen Davis, as a committee to purchase such farm.
Voted to sell at auction the support of soldiers [meaning din- ner for soldiers ] muster day, to the lowest bidder.
Struck off to Benjamin Evans at 20 cents for each soldier.
The poor were disposed of in lots to different par- ties. Capt. Cyrus Watson was appointed collector of taxes. He was a Joppa man by birth, but he carried on blacksmithing at Warner village. He was a son of Jonathan, and a grandson of Dea. Parmenas, one of the first settlers of Warner.
At a legal meeting, held May 13, 1826,-
Voted to reconsider the vote passed at the last annual meeting, for purchasing a farm for the poor.
At the same meeting,-
Voted to raise no money for purchasing a farm.
The year 1826 was remarkable for being the great " grasshopper year," and also for being the year of the
339
BENJAMIN E. HARRIMAN.
famous "August freshet." That freshet carried off nearly all the bridges of Warner, did great damage to roads, and entirely destroyed the crops on certain tracts of land. The Willey family at the White Moun- tain Notch was destroyed by this freshet, which oc- curred August 28, 1826.
ANNUAL MEETING, MARCH, 1827.
Benjamin Evans, moderator. Abner B. Kelley, town-clerk.
For Governor.
Benjamin Pierce, 216
Scattering, 17
Representatives.
Benjamin Evans, Abner B Kelley.
Nathan S. Colby, Benj. E. Harriman, Daniel George,
Selectmen.
Levi Flanders took the support of the poor at $273. Capt. John Stewart took the contract to " victual " the soldiers, muster-day, at 193 cents each.
Abner Woodman, Jr., was appointed collector.
BENJAMIN E. HARRIMAN was a son of Asa, and was born in Warner, Jan. 14, 1791. His remotest ances- tor in this country was Leonard, who came from York- shire, England, in 1640, and whose name reappears, in the eighth generation, in the son of Leonidas Har- riman, of Warner.
Benjamin E. was but three years of age when his
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HISTORY OF WARNER.
father died, leaving four young children to the care of the mother. The family knew what it was " to be hungry " and " to suffer need," but seldom knew what it was " to abound." In due time the boys (Ben and David) became able to work, and ultimately to carry on the farm. After this " there was always meal in the barrel."
B. E. Harriman (as well as the rest of the children of Asa) had a slim chance for schooling, but he was naturally studious, and was a devoted reader of his- tory, both ancient and modern. After his sons were tolerably well advanced in mathematics, he worked out for them many a difficult arithmetical problem, which the district " master " was unable to solve. He served a great many years as moderator at town meetings, eight or ten years as selectman, two years as a member of the legislature, and two years (1847 and 1848) as chairman of the board of road commis- sioners for Merrimack county. He also frequently acted as magistrate in the trial of causes.
He married Hannah, daughter of Zebulon Flanders, and had eight sons and two daughters, who lived to mature age,-viz., Henry H., Benjamin F., Walter, David C., Elhanan W., Augustine W., Leonidas, Han- nah, Helen, and Frank P., all of whom are now living except Elhanan W., who died at Piermont, June, 1851, aged 28, and Henry H., who died at Warner, May, 1878, aged 64.
341
BENJAMIN E. HARRIMAN.
Benjamin E. Harriman died on the farm where he was born, and where he always lived, in October, 1856, aged 65, and was buried on the river bank, at Pine Grove Cemetery.
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CHAPTER XXV.
TOWN RECORDS-PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION-HENNIKER CELEBRA- TION-FIRST POOR-FARM.
ANNUAL MEETING, MARCH, 1828. Benjamin Evans, moderator. Abner B. Kelley, town-clerk.
For Governor.
John Bell, 88
Benjamin Pierce, 276
Representatives.
Benjamin Evans, Abner B. Kelley.
Nathan S. Colby,
Benj. E. Harriman, - Selectmen.
Stephen Davis,
Zebulon D. Currier, collector.
The support of most of the poor was bid off by Francis Davis, Jr., at $197.
Stephen Davis was a son of Zebulon, and grandson of Francis. His brothers were Alpheus and Zebulon. He was born where he lived and died, which is the place now occupied by Charles P. Sawyer. Dr. Dana D. Davis was his son.
343
GEN. JACKSON.
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
In the state convention of the Jackson party at Concord, June, 1828, the delegates from Warner being Capt. Joshua Sawyer and John E. Dalton,-
Resolved, That we would pardon Private injuries, but the con- duct of the Federal party during the last War, in aiding and assisting a foreign foe against our common country, we never can forget, and never will forgive while such conduct is attempted to be justified.
This resolution is not introduced here on account of the sentiment embodied in it, but because it was written by Warner's young delegate, John E. Dalton, who at that time became a voter. But the resolution clearly shadows the animus of the campaign, which was a most exciting and fiery one. The party posi- tions were well defined. One party now, for the first time, distinctively took the name of "Democratic party." .This supported General Jackson for the presidency. The other was popularly called the " Federal party," and it supported John Quincy Adams, who was then president of the United States.
Great bitterness was manifested in that campaign. The fever of excitement ran high. Gunpowder was burnt; political meetings were rife ; rum flowed free- ly ; every man was pronounced in his position. On the 4th of July of that year, extraordinary celebra- tions took place all through the country. The day rang with patriotic utterances. At Warner village
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HISTORY OF WARNER.
the multitudes assembled to indorse the hero of New Orleans. Among the sentiments or "toasts" then and there offered was the following, by Abner R. Ring :
The Toryism of the Revolution, changed to Federalism, and sustained the first Adamses reign of terror,-joined Burr's "un- ion of all honest men," hypocritically pretending to be the dis- ciples of Washington by sacreligiously affixing his venerable name to their treasonable Societies,-subsequently assumed the name of Federal Republicans under Monroe's reign of modera- tion, and now claiming the title of exclusive Republicans, under the present reign of corruption. But Rhubarb is Rhubarb, Madam, call it what you please.
On the same national day, there was another dem- onstration in town. This was on the top of Bald Mink. A large number of Jackson's admirers as- cended the steep declivity in the early morning. Such enthusiasm ruled the hour that they apparent- ly mounted up with wings as eagles. They carried their commissary stores, and did their cooking on the mountain. The meeting was boisterous, but success- ful. An address of thirty minutes' duration was de- livered by one of the leading men, toasts were offered, and the proceedings afterwards found their way into the public prints. David Stewart climbed a tree, and, hooking his crooked leg around one of its branches, blazed away. He added an inch of powder to each successive charge, and when the charge of four inches, solidly rammed down, exploded, his old Queen's Arm, though strongly griped, went into fragments. But
345
GEN. JACKSON.
Stewart was not cooled, in his warfare against the enemy, by this untoward casualty, though it com- pelled him to change " the mode and manner of attack."
One ardent patriot, who shall be nameless, went down a precipice headlong, not less than ten feet, but came out unharmed, carelessly remarking, "I did n't know I got so nigh the aidge." Whatever else hap- pened, Jackson was indorsed that day with unmis- takable emphasis.
The great Chatham had said, "Let me make the ballads of a people, and I care not who makes its laws ;" and the supporters of Gen. Jackson introduced ballads into this election. One of their songs was very popular in some parts of the country. A single verse will be sufficient to show the vivacity of the campaign.
Tune : "I've kissed and I've prattled with fifty fair maids."
I've seen all the heads of departments and state, And I've studied them well, d' ye see ?
And tho' some are called cunning, and others called great, Yet Jackson's the hero for me. Bold Jackson's the man, Let them say what they can,- Old Hickory 's the hero for me.
The other side in this campaign should be present- ed, but Warner and the adjoining towns were so near- ly unanimous for Andrew Jackson, that the opposition made little or no demonstration in this vicinity. There
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HISTORY OF WARNER.
was opposition, however, in the country, strong and resolute. Those who advocated the reelection of John Quincy Adams (that pure and able man), were not lacking for argument, and New Hampshire cast her vote for him as she had done in 1824.
At the election in November, the vote of Warner stood thus :
Jackson electors, 310
Adams electors, 90
THE RETURNS.
The Warner people, December 6, 1828, having re- ceived news of Jackson's election, brought out the old brass field-piece to celebrate the victory. They took it up to Denny's hill. The fourth discharge was pre- mature, and Mitchell Gilmore, Jr., lost his right arm ; Capt. Safford Watson was injured in the hand; and Daniel, son of Capt. Benjamin Currier, narrowly es- caped instant death, as the flying ramrod cut the clothes from his shoulder and scarred his neck.
HENNIKER CELEBRATION.
The 8th day of January, being the anniversary of Jackson's victory at New Orleans, was celebrated in 1829 with great spirit and éclat. Jackson was now the president-elect, and the knowledge of that fact added ten-fold to the pomp and excitement of the day.
The Henniker celebration was one of unusual in-
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TOWN RECORDS.
terest in all respects. It was conducted on a broad scale. The committee in charge spared no pains nor money necessary to make the demonstration success- ful. They provided dinner for a vast concourse, and the populace responded bountifully to the invitation to " come." The wheeling was never better, for not a flake of snow fell that season in central New Hamp- shire till that afternoon. The cannon stood on an em- inence, belching forth its continuous thunder, which rolled up the valley to the south side of the Mink Hills, resembling the jar of a perpetual earthquake. Frank Pierce was the young and talented orator of the day; and among the invited guests, who were present, were Gen. Benjamin Pierce, Hon. Bodwell Emerson, of Hopkinton, Judge Horace Chase, Hon. Matthew Harvey, Benjamin E. Harriman, and others. The sentiment of the latter was as follows :
Gov. John Bell,-Doomed to be buried, on the 2d Tuesday of March, like the great Bell of Moscow, beneath the ruins of the fallen fabric that supported him.
The prediction proved to be correct, for though the state had gone for Bell the preceding March, and for Adams in November, the effect of Jackson's election was such that Gen. Pierce, the Jackson candidate for governor, was triumphantly elected in March, 1829.
ANNUAL MEETING, MARCH, 1829.
Benjamin Evans, moderator.
Abner B. Kelley, town-clerk.
23
348
HISTORY OF WARNER.
For Governor.
Benjamin Pierce, 298
John Bell, 69
Representatives.
Abner B. Kelley, Nathan S. Colby.
Daniel Jones,
Philip Colby, Jr., Selectmen.
Mitchell Gilmore, Jr.,
Asa Pattee was appointed collector.
The support of the poor was divided up among fif- teen different parties.
Daniel Jones lived in Schoodac, near Boscawen line. He was a son of Jonathan Jones, whose residence was just within the limits of Boscawen. Mr. Jones was a large farmer and an active business man. He was extensively engaged in lumbering for many years. He served the town both as selectman and represent- ative, but died in the prime of life, leaving a number of sons and daughters, who are in Warner, Hopkin- ton, and Concord.
Philip Colby, Jr., was a son of Hezekiah Colby, who came from Amesbury, and made, first, a brief stay at the Parade, and then settled at the Mark Colby place. Mr. Colby lived at Waterloo, and was both farmer and carpenter. He kept a store several years (in the neighborhood of 1820) in the building now occupied as a dwelling-house by Mrs. Geo. W. Osgood. He was post-master at Waterloo in 1829 and 1830. He served the town both as selectman and representa-
349
EXHIBITIONS.
tive. He died March, 1867, aged 78. He had two daughters,-one the wife of William H., and other the wife of Stephen S. Bean. The former has been dead a number of years.
Mitchell Gilmore, Jr., was a son of John, and a grandson of David Gilmore, one of the early settlers. Mitchell was born and reared in school district No. 8. He learned the blacksmith business, and was engaged in it when he lost an arm, in December, 1828. After this, he was engaged several years in trade. He also served as selectman, town-clerk, and representative. Having been elected as register of deeds for Merri- mack county, he removed to Concord, where he still resides. He married a daughter of Jacob Currier of Warner, and they have one daughter (the wife of ex- Gov. Weston) and two sons.
An elephant was on exhibition at Daniel George's, in 1829, the first that ever stepped foot in Warner.
The first menagerie came in 1832. It was ex- hibited on a snowy, sloshy day in May, on the plat between Elliot C. Badger's house and the ground that the church now occupies.
The first circus performance in town was in June, 1834, on ground a little above where the late Jesse Savory's house stands.
ANNUAL MEETING, MARCH, 1830.
Benjamin Evans, moderator.
Abner B. Kelley, town-clerk.
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HISTORY OF WARNER.
For Governor.
Matthew Harvey, 280
Timothy Upham, 67
Representatives.
Nathan S. Colby, Zebulon Davis.
Daniel Jones,
Mitchell Gilmore, Jr., Selectmen. Philip Colby, Jr.,
John Bean was appointed collector.
The support of the Poor was struck off to John Bean at $400.
On the question of setting off the two westerly ranges of lots from Warner to Bradford, the vote stood,-affirmative, 25; negative, 205.
Zebulon Davis was a son of Zebulon, who was a son of Capt. Francis. The first Zebulon lived at the Charles P. Sawyer place; the second (now elected representative) lived at the Lower Village, where he carried on the wheelwright business through life. Warren Davis, now in trade at the Lower Village, is his son.
Abner B. Kelley, having been elected state treas- urer, resigned the office of town-clerk, and the select- men, July 12, 1830, appointed Thomas H. Bartlett to fill the vacancy.
ANNUAL MEETING, MARCH, 1831.
Daniel George, moderator. Thomas H. Bartlett, town-clerk.
351
TOWN RECORDS.
For Governor.
Samuel Dinsmoor, 250
Ichabod Bartlett, 76
Representatives.
Zebulon Davis, Benjamin E. Harriman.
Daniel Jones,
Daniel George, Selectmen. Abner Woodman,
Stephen Hoyt was appointed collector.
Levi Flanders, senior, took the poor to support at $549.
Thomas H. Bartlett was a son of Richard, who came from Amesbury, and a brother to Stephen of Burnt Hill. He was engaged in mercantile business a large part of his lifetime. He died many years ago, leav- ing a widow, who was the daughter of John George.
Abner Woodman was from Salem, N. H. He settled on Pumpkin Hill, but during the last years of his life he was at Warner village. He served both as selectman and as representative. His first wife was a Miss Hill, and his second, who survives, was a daughter of Ben- jamin Evans.
Capt. Stephen Hoyt was born in Bradford. He settled in the west part of Warner, where he was en- gaged in farming. He commanded the old artillery company in its best days. In 1841 he removed to Sutton, and there served as collector of taxes and as selectman of the town, but returned to Warner, and died in 1866.
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