USA > New Hampshire > Merrimack County > Warner > The history of Warner, New Hampshire, for one hundred and forty- four years, from 1735 to 1879 > Part 27
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The meeting-house was purchased in 1865 by N. G. Ordway, moved down street by him, and remod- elled. The lower story is now occupied by A. C.
511
THE OSGOODITES.
Carroll, merchant, and the post-office. The upper story is Union hall.
The Osgoodites (so-called) were at one time quite numerous in Warner. In Canterbury, and some other towns, there was a small number. The sect sprung into existence about the year 1812. Jacob Osgood, son of Philip, was its founder. His physical weight sometimes reached 350 pounds. He was a man of considerable ability and of the warmest sympathies. After his decease, Nehemiah Ordway and Charles H. Colby became the "ruling elders." In their best days, and perhaps always, these people claimed mirac- ulous gifts, such as the healing of the sick. Their meetings were peculiar, consisting of one service, all taking part. Songs, prayers, and exhortations were intermixed without much regularity. When there came a lull, unlike the Quakers, they did not sit in silence. Bro. Osgood, without rising, would close the exercises in these words : " If there's no more to be said, meeting 's done."
For their spiritual songs they relied less on Watts than on their own ready talent. They were naturally inclined to antagonize other denominations. About the year 1830, and for two or three subsequent years, there was unusual religious excitement in and about Warner. Great " revival meetings" were held, one of which was on Kearsarge mountain. The Osgood- ites composed a song (referring to this fact) which
512
HISTORY OF WARNER.
was very popular in their meetings for years. It consisted of twelve or fifteen verses, the first of which was as follows :
In eighteen hundred thirty-two, A band of locusts hove in view ; They were quite thick in every town : They had great meetings all around.
This sect was opposed to " bearing arms," and many years ago two or three of its members were committed to jail at Hopkinton for refusing to do military duty, or to pay fines. They pleaded " conscientious scru- ples," but refused to " pay an equivalent," as provided in the thirteenth article of the Bill of Rights, and they were carried to jail. But the military authorities, seeing that these men rather gloried in their " mar- tyrdom," went and released them.
The sect has substantially passed away. Notwith- standing its many and striking peculiarities, the men and women who composed it were probably about an average class in all that goes to make good neighbors and upright citizens.
There are also Adventists in Warner ; how numer- ous or how active at the present time the writer pre- sumes not to say. But whether their numbers be small or great, their rights are the same. Under the liberal laws of this country every one is left free to enjoy his own religious convictions in his own way. We cannot altogether harmonize our beliefs, but we can certainly " agree to disagree" till the time come
513
ECCLESIASTICAL.
when there shall be neither Jew nor Greek, nor bond nor free, nor barbarian, nor Scythian, but when dis- cord and division shall cease utterly.
The following is an imperfect list of persons who have gone out from Warner, and taken position in the ministry :
Asa Putney. [See College Graduates.]
Hosea Wheeler. [See College Graduates.]
Daniel Sawyer, a son of Edmund and grandson of Joseph, was educated for the ministry. He was settled over a Congregational church in Merrimack, where he preached many years. He has probably been settled at other places, but he has now retired, in his old age, to a quiet home in Hopkinton.
John Gould, a son of John, and grandson of Jona- than, was born and reared on the Gould road. He became a minister, and connected himself with the Methodist denomination. After preaching in the New England states some twenty-five years, his health be- coming impaired, he went West, and took up a farm in Iowa. This was in 1857. The change was benefi- cial. He joined the Upper Iowa Conference, was sta- tioned one year at Waverly, was presiding elder four years on Cedar Falls District, and was then four years on the Upper Iowa District. His health again failed, and for the last six years of his life he was compelled to inactivity. He was a fine-looking man, had good
514
HISTORY OF WARNER.
abilities, and was held in high esteem. He died at Osage, Iowa, in 1872, not far from 70 years of age.
Reuben Kimball, a son of Jeremiah and grandson of Reuben (the first), obtained a good education, and taught school in his early days. He remained on the old homestead of his grandfather and father, on the Kimball road, and devoted his attention mainly to agriculture till he reached the age of 40 or upwards. He then turned his attention to the ministry, and studied a few years at Gilmanton Theological Institu- tion. He was settled over the Congregational church of Wilmot, and also over that of North Conway. He died at the latter place a few years since. He was a man of most agreeable manners, and all who knew him were his friends.
Miss Lois Hoyt, whose father was a brother to Major Joseph B. Hoyt, and whose mother was a daughter of Joseph Sawyer, senior, educated herself for the work of a missionary, married a Mr. Johnson, of Hollis, and went with her husband to the Sandwich Islands over forty years ago, where she still remains. She is now a widow, but is surrounded by a family of sons and daughters, all of whom are content with their home on the isles of the sea.
Joseph Sargent, a son of Zebulon and grandson of Joseph, senior, of Schoodac, was born about the year 1816. He entered the ministry of the Universalist denomination in Pennsylvania when a young man,
J. D. Stewart
515
ISAAC DALTON STEWART.
but during most of his active life he was in the New England states. He was admirably adapted to the pulpit. He preached a few years in New Hampshire, and many years in Vermont. He was chaplain of one of the Vermont regiments in the late war, and shortly after his return from the scenes of strife he died at Barre, aged about 50.
Alvah Sargent, a brother to the above named, joined the Free Will Baptist denomination, and entered the ministry. As a man and minister, he has the full con- fidence and respect of all who know him. He enjoyed a long pastorate at Ashland, N. H., and is now sta- tioned at Wilmot Flat.
ISAAC DALTON STEWART. The Stewart family was of Scotch origin. A branch of this family settled in the north of Ireland, and a number of its mem- bers came to New England, between 1725 and 1760. John Stewart (one of these) came from Ire- land when 20 years of age, and settled at Haverhill, Mass. This was in 1750. His son John, who was born at Haverhill, in 1758, settled first, after he be- came of age, in Deering, N. H., and then, in 1799, removed to Warner, having bought sixty acres of land on the south side of the Mink Hills. He made his home with Jacob Whitcomb (father of the late John) till he had opened a clearing and built a tem- porary house.
John and Mary (McClure) Stewart were the parents.
516
HISTORY OF WARNER.
of Thomas, John, Polly, Susan, Lucinda, David, Will- iam, and Nancy. The last named John, and Hannah (Dalton) Stewart, were the parents of Isaac D.
Philemon Dalton, with his wife and child, came to this country from England in the ship Increase, reach- ing these shores April 15, 1635. His great-grandson, Isaac Dalton, had six children; and their names are all given in a letter written on the battle-field of Louis- bourg in 1745, a copy of which letter is now held by B. Dalton Dorr, of Philadelphia. One of the six was the grandfather of Dea. Isaac Dalton, who was born at Salisbury, Mass., March 2, 1761, and who, with his wife (Eleanor Merrill), moved to Warner in 1784, as stated in Chapter VII. These were the maternal grand-parents of the subject of this sketch.
Isaac D. Stewart was born in Warner, Dec. 23, 1817. His fondness for books and school was developed in childhood, and when 16 years of age he was teaching his first school. At 18 he went to Ohio, and after teaching there two years he returned with a full pur- pose of taking a college course of study. When about fitted for such course, his plans were changed, and after two years in a theological school he entered the ministry of the Free Will Baptist denomination, and was ordained Feb. 2, 1843. His pastorates have been,- Meredith Village, 2 years; Laconia, 8; New Hampton, 10; Boston, 2; and Dover, 6.
He was married, Feb. 8, 1843, to Elisabeth G., only
517
ISAAC D. STEWART.
daughter of Isaac Rice, Esq., of Henniker. Their only child, Frances, was born July, 1845, and in September, 1871, she married George Frank Mosher, of China, Me., the present editor of the Morning Star.
Mr. Stewart left Laconia in poor health, in 1852; went West, remained one year, and returned to enter the New Hampton Institution as a teacher. He taught two years ; and when he left the school for the pastor- ate there, he continued to act as treasurer of the insti- tution. He represented the town of New Hampton two years in the legislature of the state.
The positions of trust and honor assigned him in denominational work have been many, among which are the following : He was a member of the Home Missionary Board for many years, and chairman till he declined a reelection; was secretary of the Anniversary Convention for eighteen years, and one of the commit- tee that arranged all of the annual meetings of the benevolent societies; has been four times chosen a delegate to the General Conference, the denomina- tional body that meets once in three years, and has been secretary of the conference since 1868. He was one of the corporators of the Free Will Baptist print- ing establishment fourteen years, which position he resigned in 1873, on being elected treasurer and agent of the establishment. Since that time he has been the publisher of the Morning Star, and of whatever said establishment has issued. He was a trustee of
518
HISTORY OF WARNER.
Bates college, in Maine, till he declined a reëlection, and is still a trustee of Hillsdale college, in Michi- gan, and of Storer college, at Harpers Ferry, West Virginia.
As an author, he prepared the Minutes of the Gen- eral Conference for publication ; wrote the history of the Free Will Baptists for the first half century of their work; and prepared and published the Ministers' Manual. He is still an industrious and hard-working man.
Marshall G. Kimball. John Kimball was born at Waltham, Mass., June 4, 1788; he came to Warner to live in 1816, where he was actively engaged in busi- ness some twenty years. He married Hannah, daugh- ter of Daniel Bean. Mr. Kimball died at Manchester in 1841, and Mrs. Kimball in 1865. Ten of their children are now living,-viz., John H., Henry, Mrs. Darling, Mrs. Smith, Marshall G., Mrs. Varney, Newell S., Albert H., Caleb J., and Mrs. Olzendam.
Marshall G. Kimball was born at Warner, June 22, 1824. He was a natural scholar; he received his ed- ucation at the public schools of Warner and Manches- ter, and at Dartmouth college. He concluded a course of study at the Cambridge Divinity School in 1854, and entered the ministry of the Unitarian denomina- tion. His first regular settlement was at Barre, Mass., though he had preached at Watertown and several other places previous to that. He is now at Sheboy-
519
JOHN CURTIS AGER.
gan, Wis. Possessing abilities of a high order, as well as culture and genial manners, he is a universal favor- ite wherever known.
John Curtis Ager, a son of Uriah, was born in War- ner, March, 1835. At the age of thirteen he left home and found employment in Fisherville, in a cot- ton mill. From this time (depending upon his own resources) he managed, by close economy, to secure ten or twelve weeks' schooling each year. His chief employments, until he became of age, were working in cotton mills, shoemaking, and farming, and, during the latter part of the time, teaching country schools.
From his early childhood he had felt a strong de- sire to become a minister. In the spring of 1855, a course of lectures on the doctrines of the New Church was delivered at Warner by the Rev. Abiel Silver, which determined him at once to devote himself to the New Church ministry. In the spring of 1856, after six months' preparation in the New London academy, he entered an advanced class in the New Church col- lege at Urbana, Ohio. During the year, as his means were limited, he was permitted to undertake the studies of two classes. His health failed, and he was obliged to leave Urbana in the spring of 1857, after a college residence of little more than a year. Recruit- ing his health during the summer, he took charge, in the autumn, of the New Church academy at Contoo- cook. He continued in this position nine months,
520
HISTORY OF WARNER.
carrying on at the same time his college studies, so that he was enabled to graduate with his class in June, 1858.
After holding a position of tutor in his alma mater for two years, he was appointed Professor of Philoso- phy and English Literature. In 1861, on account of the war, and the consequent financial prostration, the college was compelled to suspend its sessions, and Mr. Ager, receiving an invitation from the New Church society in Brookline, Mass., to become its pastor, ac- cepted it.
In January, 1865, he removed to Brooklyn, N. Y., and took charge of the New Church society in that city, a position which he still holds.
He was for several years editor of the New Jerusa- lem Messenger, the only weekly paper in that church, and he has also served as Secretary of the American Swedenborg Publishing Society.
His summer residence is in Warner, and instead of. losing his attachment to the place of his birth, he is continually looking forward to the time when he can make it his permanent home.
JOHN GEORGE, a son of Charles, a grandson of Major Daniel, and a great-grandson of John, senior, entered the ministry of the Free Will Baptist denomination, had a successful pastorate of two or three years at Loudon Centre, and is now stationed over a church at Amesbury, Mass.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
LOCAL NAMES-POPULATION OF WARNER-FOUR-SCORE YEARS AND TEN-MANUFACTURES.
VERY town has its odd local names. Webster
has its Bashan, Sutton its Nauvoo, Wilmot its Shindagan, and so forth. Warner has its local names, the origin of some of which is here given.
Waterloo village came by its name in the follow- ing manner : Samuel Champlin was in trade at War- ner village, near Ira Harvey's house. He owed Thomas Whitman of Boston, for goods, $2,000. Whit- man came up to look after the debt, and he succeeded in getting Henry B. Chase and Stephen Currier, Jr., to sign a note with Champlin for the amount. This was in 1819. Champlin was to secure Chase and Currier by collaterals ; but instead of doing this, he ran away. Currier and John Kimball, of Bean's Mills, were sent in pursuit of the fugitive, having been ap- pointed deputy sheriffs for this purpose. They over- hauled Champlin at Waterloo, New York, a charming town at the foot of Seneca lake. Kimball thought it the most delightful village he had ever seen. They brought back their man, and Kimball brought back
522
HISTORY OF WARNER.
the name and applied it successfully to the village of his residence. The Duke of Wellington had then recently borne down the "Man of Destiny" on the immortal battle-field of Belgium, and Waterloo had become forever historic.
The North village has been known by that name a hundred years. There was quite a farmer's village on the Gould road at an early day. The lots headed on the road, and extended back each way a half mile. They were but forty rods wide, and they contained, of course, but forty acres each. A number of these were chosen by settlers as " gift lots ;" others were bought and occupied soon after the gift lots were ex- hausted. Between Kiah Corner and Bartlett's brook, ten or twelve deserted cellars can be counted where families once resided. It was a bustling, lively street, a century ago.
Directly to the north of this cluster of farm-houses was another smart settlement, extending from the Elliots at one extreme, to Bradshaw Ordway's at the other, and taking in on the one side Wells Davis with his mills, and on the other Isaac Dalton with his tan- nery. The people of the south road called this settle- ment of the north road the North village.
Tory Hill received this name in the days of the . Revolution. There was a family or two on that road who were opposed to war. They inclined towards the Shakers in their religious views, and, ultimately,
.
523
LOCAL NAMES.
openly avowed themselves Shakers. The intolerance of that period knew no bounds. Every man of the proper age, who was not willing to take up arms in the cause of the colonies, was denounced as a Tory and treated with derision. But generations have come and gone since the last vestige of Shakerism disappeared from Warner, and the name of the hill has had no significance for a hundred years.
Pumpkin hill derives its name from the fact that when the land was new, huge pumpkins (pompions, Dr. Long would say) were produced on that eleva- tion. It was no unusual thing to find a pumpkin that weighed seventy-five pounds.
Burnt hill is so called, because, before any white man had stepped foot in Warner, a high wind had swept down the forest trees on that hill by the acre. The Indians had set fire to the dead wood, and a large part of the hill had been burnt over. It has been stated that the Indians raised corn on this burnt ground.
Schoodac gets its name from the harsh music of a saw-mill. The first saw-mill ever built there was on the exact spot where the present mill stands, by the old Col. Roby place. The saw-gate (if that is the proper term) worked up and down with a good deal of friction, and seemed continually to say S-c-h-o-o-dac- s-c-h-o-o-dac !
The section of Warner called Joppa is not supposed
34
524
HISTORY OF WARNER.
to bear a very striking resemblance to the Joppa of Judea, on the majestic shore of the Mediteranean ; nor has it been the abode of any pious Dorcas, at whose bier Peter has proclaimed, with miraculous authority,-" Tabitha, arise !" but Samuel Pearsons once dwelt there, on the Origen Dimond farm, and he came from a locality called Joppa, down by the salt water in Newburyport. He brought the name with him to Warner.
POPULATION OF THE TOWN.
Warner has been settled a hundred and seventeen years. In less than sixty years after the first sod was turned, the population of the town reached its highest figure.
In 1775 it was
262
In 1790.
863
In 1800 66
1569
In 1810
"
1838
In 1820 66
2446
In 1830 66
2222
In 1840
2126
In 1850 66
2038
In 1860
66
1971
In 1870 66
1667
It will be seen that the increase for fifteen years after the first census was very great; also, that the population was nearly doubled in the decade between 1790 and 1800. The large increase between 1810 and 1820 is partly attributable to the annexation of the Gore, which took place in 1818. Since 1820 the
525
FOUR-SCORE YEARS AND TEN.
population of the town has been decreasing, but the indications now are that the census of 1880 will show that we are holding our own.
We have more adults,-more voters, certainly,- now, than we had in 1820, but the children are far less numerous than at that time. The town-house is full, but the school-houses (some of them) are nearly empty. A century ago, and even fifty years ago, in riding over a town like Warner, one would see from five to eight white-haired children racing about the premises of almost every young farmer. He will do well now if he can find half that number. The sub- ject is an important one, and it demands the careful consideration of the moralist, the minister, and of all thinking people.
The population of the state in 1860 was 326,073, that being the highest point it ever reached. It fell off in the following decade, being but 318,300 in 1870. It is believed that the next census will show an in- crease. Merrimack and Hillsborough counties made an increase of 2800 between 1860 and 1870, but the other eight counties made a loss.
FOUR-SCORE YEARS AND TEN.
An erroneous impression prevails in regard to the question of longevity. The general opinion appears to be, that life is becoming shorter and shorter as time advances. The fact, however, undoubtedly is, that in
526
HISTORY OF WARNER.
this country, for the last century or two, the average age of mankind has been increasing.
Turning back to remote antiquity, we find the Psalmist declaring, " The days of our years are three- score years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be four-score years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow." This would be hardly true of the peo- ple of this country at the present time. Three-score years and ten is 70 years. Men and women are now young at 70. Even at 80 many are vigorous and healthful, in both body and mind, and not a few re- tain their faculties almost unimpaired till they have reached the age of 90.
The names of Warner persons, dead and living (so far as they can be recalled), who have reached the age of four-score years and ten, are here presented.
Gideon Davis, brother to Capt. Francis, died on the Moses E. Davis place at the age of 92.
Mrs. Hannah, widow of Zebulon Flanders, lived to be nearly 94. Mrs. Sarah, widow of Asa Harriman, died in 1856, aged 91.
Anthony Clark, the Revolutionary soldier, died at the age of 100.
Miss Hannah Sibley died at Timothy Eastman's, rising 90 years of age.
John Davis, the carpenter, and the father of John, Zaccheus, and Eleazer, died at the age of 90.
Mrs. Betsey, widow of Jonathan Straw, died at Alfred W. Sar- gent's, a few years since, at the age of 101.
Nathaniel Eaton (who is reasonably claimed as a Warner man) died at the age of 100 years and 5 days.
John Whitcomb, a hard-working farmer through life, died in 1878, aged 93.
527
MANUFACTURES.
Mrs. Nathaniel C. Whittier, the mother of Richard B., died in Warner at the age of 93.
Noah T. Andrews died November, 1878, two months above 90 years of age.
The father of Mr. Andrews was from Wallingford, Conn. He settled in Claremont, N. H., when a young man, and Noah T. was born there (on the exact spot where the town hall now stands), September, 1788. He married Sally (daughter of Daniel Bean), and had children by the following names : Sarah B. (Mrs. John P. Colby), Almira R. (Mrs. Harriman), Harriet B. (Mrs. C. G. Haines), Susan T. (Mrs. H. D. Adams), N. Tyler, William G., Helen M. (Mrs. A. I. Sawtelle), Charles C. Austin, and Fran- ces M.
Mrs. Miriam, widow of Jacob Osgood, is now living at the age of 99.
William Lamphier, of Joppa, is nearly if not fully 100 years of age.
Mrs. Heath, widow of Dea. David Heath, has gone consider- ably beyond her four-score years and ten.
Reuben Porter, who is referred to on the preceding pages of this book, is nearly 90.
Timothy Eastman and wife are living in the enjoyment of good health, he being not much short of 90 years of age.
Mr. Eastman came from Hopkinton about the year 1820, and settled in the bow of the river, where he has always resided. Mrs. Eastman (a sister of the late Stephen Sibley) was also from Hopkinton. Their sons, now living, are George and Timothy B .; and their daughters are Laura, Mrs. Andrews, Mrs. Wheeler, and Mrs. John.S. Bean, of Wisconsin.
MANUFACTURES.
It would be impossible to make an accurate and complete report of the manufactures of Warner, past or present, and that job is not attempted here.
Many manufacturing establishments, great and small, have gone down since the first saw-mill was
528
HISTORY OF WARNER.
erected at Davisville in 1739, but others have arisen ; and it is believed that the manufacturing, which is done in town at the present time, will equal if not excel that of any previous period.
Commencing on the river, where it enters the town- ship, we find a grist-mill and a saw-mill, now in the hands of Mason Holmes. The first grist-mill at those falls was built in the year 1798. A saw-mill may have existed there a few years previous to this time. The grist-mill was built by Stephen Hoyt, of Bradford, and it was his custom to come and grind, the last week in every month. The rest of the time the mill was closed. The next owner was Thomas Eaton, who sold to Edward Cressey and Ebenezer Simmons; and they gave the old mill and privilege to Josiah Melvin, on condition that it should be put in good order and run as a grist-mill. In the spring of 1827 Mr. Melvin built the new mill, which now stands. The next owner was his son Richard, who sold to his brother Nathan; the latter sold to Abner W. Bailey ; Bailey sold to Dr. J. H. Ames, and Ames to Lewis Holmes, the father of the present proprietor. Melvin's mill and the Calico school-house were old familiar land- marks to the generations that have passed away.
Following down the river, we next come to the fac- tory of John Rogers, where excelsior, bedsteads, and chairs are manufactured. Next below Rogers was the woollen mill. This was converted into a box-factory
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