USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Lyndeborough > The history of the town of Lyndeborough, New Hampshire,1735-1905 > Part 47
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Some hold to the tradition that the land was part of the " common land " over which the town and Mr. Daniel Gould had a controversy, but this is doubtful.
The town has made a number of appropriations for keeping in repair the walls of this yard. The present iron gates were pre- sented by Mrs. Robert Hawthorne, formerly Miss Abby J. Boutwell. The gates and granite gateposts were put in place about 1892.
The land was never laid out in lots, and the graves have in' many instances been dug without regard to order. There is one central walk in the cemetery, curbed with granite, but nothing further to mark the boundaries of the lots, except in a few in- stances where the owners have improved and beautified them.
It is in this yard that the Rev. Sewall Goodridge was buried, and many others of the Goodridge family ; George and Daniel Gould, and their wives ; Capt. William Barron and Olive, his wife; Capt. Peter Clark, and many of his descendants ; Jacob Richardson, the first of the Richardson family to settle in the " middle of the town"; the Woodwards, Duttons, Holts, Hil- dreths, Dea. David Badger and Robert, his brother, the Had- leys, Fullers, Sargents, Boutwells, and many of the Jones
,
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family. These names of the early settlers, men and women of note and influence in their day, are recorded here.
The easterly part of this cemetery is thickly crowded with graves, and many are in the westerly half, more in this part being unmarked by headstones. It is to be regretted that the cemetery was not laid out with well defined walks. Sloping towards the setting sun it might have been made a beautiful burial place, with the range of mountains in view toward the west, which in life the sleepers loved so well.
THE WEST OR DOLLIVER CEMETERY.
This is situated just north of the No. 5 schoolhouse. The land was donated by Mr. John Dolliver, and the first burials there were those of Mr. Dolliver's first wife and Samuel Hodge- man. They were interred there the same day. This was in I860.
This cemetery is like most of the other burial places in that the town has no deed of the land, but has assumed the care of it.
There is also an old burial lot near the old Dolliver place where many persons were buried. There is said to be but one headstone standing, that erected to the memory of one of the Blaney family. Many of the other headstones were of slate and are now broken in pieces. No record or tradition can be gath- ered now in relation to this yard, but it must have been one of the first places of sepulture in town.
CHAPTER XXXI.
OWNERS AND TRANSFERS OF REAL ESTATE.
SOUTH LYNDEBOROUGH. BY REV. D. DONOVAN.
The village now known as South Lyndeborough was, previ- ous to 1830, called Putnam Corner. The name was given in consequence of the number of Putnam families who dwelt in this part of the town. At the date mentioned above, there were but five dwellings in the place, although authorities differ a little as to this. The places named were the residence of Daniel Putnam, Esq., now the parsonage; the residence of Ephraim Putnam, 3rd, the father of Captain Eleazer Putnam ; the building which was then the residence of Mr. Ebenezer Pearson, later changed to a tavern; the house of Mr. John Putnam and his sister, both unmarried ; and the house which stood where the cottage of Mrs. Dorcas A. Holt now stands.
The second of the houses here named used to stand a few rods north of the present residence of Mr. W. P. Steele, and the old cellar of it is covered by the railroad. The house was removed across the road to the site now occupied by Tarbell's store and was used as a store by William Holt for a time, who was the first merchant in South Lyndeborough. It was afterwards moved across the street to the place where the R. R. Station now stands. It was again removed and now stands as the dwell- ing of Mr. Ward N. Cheever.
Mr. Ebenezer Pearson, a shoemaker, lived then where Mr. Andy Holt now lives, but in the old house which was en- larged and changed finally to its present form and proportions. Mr. Pearson's shoe shop was near the ground on which the B. & M. freight house now stands, but a little north of it. He was the father-in-law of Mr. Ephraim Putnam whose home was where Mr. Pettingill now lives. Mr. Pearson removed to where Mr. A. T. Ford now lives, a place not included in the forementioned five houses. His son-in-law, Ephraim Putnam then took the Pearson house, enlarged it, raised its roof, remod- elled it and fitted it for a hotel about 1835. It was then called "The Forest House," probably in honor of the "Forest Road," recently built. Its first landlord was John J. Martin, who kept
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it only a short time. Mr. E. B. Crocker of Amherst was his successor, and also stayed but a short time.
January 15, 1839, Mr. Joel H. Tarbell married Esther, the daughter of Mr. Ephraim Putnam, and they commenced life in the hotel, and conducted the house nearly fifteen years. Soon after becoming landlord he was appointed postmaster; and he kept both the post-office and a country store in that building. Later he bought the stock of merchandise of Mr. Gilman P. Fletcher, who had been trading here but a short time, and he afterward built a new store. He continued in trade till 1857, and retained possession of the hotel. About that time he sold his new store and stock to Mr. William W. Young of Chelsea, Mass., and for several years after that devoted himself to farm- ing on the homestead of his father-in-law.
Among the later occupants of the hotel was Mr. William Tar- bell, a brother of the owner, who kept it but a short time. Its proprietor was dissatisfied with its management, and, it is said, took down the tavern sign.
After Mr. William Tarbell withdrew, the Shattuck brothers, cousins of the Tarbells, tried the business for a little while, but gave it up.
After that the house became for several years a tenement house, in which the families of Mr. John Emery, Mr. Charles Tarbell (half brother of owner), Mr. John Gage and Mr. John Woodward found a temporary home.
Mr. Hiram Tarbell, another half brother, afterwards tried keeping it as a tavern, and gave quite an elaborate opening ban- quet. But the business proved insufficient to support the house, and its occupant retired after two months.
Mrs. E. P. Wallace conducted it as a boarding house for sev- eral years after that ; and her house was well patronized and had many summer guests. Her daughter, Miss C. M. Wallace, assisted her mother in its management, was a talented lady, a graceful elocutionist, and much sought as a reader. She was also a successful teacher, and in 1878 was chosen superintending committee of schools. . Mrs. Wallace's house was called by the city people, "The Pine Grove House," on account of its "proximity " as a writer of those days expressed it, "to three delightful pine groves." Her health failed and she left the place.
The house was kept after that as a summer boarding house for a few years by Mrs. E. M. Swasey, and its last manager as such
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was Mrs. M. J. Curtis. Mr. Tarbell was interested always in its orderliness and success, and in its last years as boarding- house, its guests overflowed all its accommodations, many find- ing lodgings in the vicinity and taking meals at its tables.
The place was sold to Mr. L. P. Hadley in 1888, and has since been used chiefly as a farmhouse. Owing to the sudden decease of L. P. Hadley Dec. 28, 1902, the place was for sale, and Mr. Andy Holt bought it in 1904, occupies it, and has added furnace heating, bath room and other modern improve- ments. It is pleasantly situated, near the railroad station, post- office, store and the Baptist church. The reporter above re- ferred to wrote, " A piazza surrounds the house, and a huge ash tree said to be a hundred years of age gives it a splendid shade on a summer's day."
The fourth house of those mentioned was the home of Mr. John Putnam and his sister Betsey, familiarly called Uncle John and Aunt Betsey ; it stood where W. S. Tarbell's house now stands. The main part of the house was taken down, and the ell was removed down the hill westward, and formed a part of the house lately vacated by Mr. Andy Cram. The house of W. S. Tarbell was built by the late Mr. Byron Stacey, son-in- law of Mr. J. H. Tarbell. After Mr. Stacey's death it was purchased by Mr. C. F. Tarbell, and became Mr. Walter Tar- bell's by inheritance.
The fifth house of those mentioned was that which was oc- cupied by Solomon Cram, a blacksmith, who came here from Roxbury, Vermont, about 1829. The house stood on the spot now occupied by Mrs. Dorcas A. Holt's cottage. He built the blacksmith shop, the first in the village, which is now carried on by Ward N. Cheever. This was the only such shop in the place till about ten years ago, W. H. Abbott built his shop, and about two years ago, Herbert A. Cheever built his.
In addition to these five, we may now notice the dwellings of more recent date. The house south of the railroad station on the Forest road, or main street, is Mr. William P. Steele's. It was built by his father-in-law, Captain Eleazer Putnam, about 1830, and was bequeathed to his daughter, Adeline, who is Mrs. Steele. Many transient visitors to this village find here homelike accommodations.
Opposite this is the house so long the home of the late C. Henry Holt, postmaster about twenty-four years, where he kept the post office. The house was built by Dr. Jonas
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Wheeler, whose daughter, Mary A., was the first Mrs. C. H. Holt. It is now the home of Mr. T. M. Beal, who married Miss Ardella, eldest daughter of Mr. C. Henry Holt. This house and grounds became her portion of her father's estate.
The adjoining place on the south is the home of Mrs. Dorcas A. Holt, widow of George Washington Holt, who was for a brief period a merchant in this village. The house is open more in the summer, as a resort for her relatives and her son's family, who here seek summer rest and recuperation.
South of this and opposite the blacksmith shop is the house owned and occupied several years by Mrs. W. H. Abbott. It was built by Mr. Joseph H. Ford. Here dwelt, for a time, Rev. Mr. Hussey, the Universalist minister, who preached to the believers in universal salvation, and occupied the Baptist meeting-house a portion of the time, for religious services. It was also the home of Mr. Jeremiah Hartshorn, and of his widow, Aunt Ruby, and of Harriet Russell, and of Mrs. Abigail, widow of Capt. Israel Putnam. It was for many years the property of Mr. J. H. Tarbell, who made to it the addition of the two-story part nearest the street.
The next house on the street going south is Mr. W. N. Cheever's, already described as that of Ephraim Putnam, 3rd., removed from its former foundation when the house of Capt. Eleazer Putnam was built, for a time used as a store, the first in the village, and later removed to its present place. Mr. Cheever has lived here since 1861, when he came from Lunenburg, Mass.
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A few rods south of this, across the street, is the house of Mrs. Martha M., widow of the late Charles M. Butler. The main part of her house used to stand with side facing the street. At that time it contained a shoemaker's shop, and also a little store, which were kept by Mr. John J. Martin, a former land- lord of " The Forest House."
The ell of this house had previously been a separate build- ing, and contained a basement part. In this lived Mrs. David Gage and her mother for a time ; and here, also, Mrs. Ephraim Hildreth Putnam spent her last days.
Very close to this on the south is the residence of J. A. Johnson, Esq. The house was built by Mr. Francis Johnson, father of its present owner, is adapted for two families, and is occupied by both Mr. Johnson, himself, and his son-in-law, Mr. Frank J. Bishop.
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South of this, and on the other side of the street, is a new house, built in 1903, by Herbert A. Cheever, who learned the blacksmith business from his father, worked for him several years, and is now occupying a shop independently. His shop is near his house.
Nearly opposite the shop last named is the dwelling of W. H. Cheever, brother of Herbert. He bought a small building and lived in it a few years, and built later the two-story part, using the old part as the ell. He has now a pleasant, comfort- able home.
Still farther south and across the street is the home of Mr. John C. Carkin, who is employed by D. Whiting & Co., and has charge of the milk-house, and of their grain and feed sup- plies. The house was built in 1857 by Mrs. David Gage, and was sold to Mr. Olney P. Butler about 1865, and purchased by Mr. Carkin from the heirs of Mr. Butler.
On the same lot, a few rods south, is the old house in which John's father, Mr. David Carkin, lived several years. It is now owned by Fred Carkin, grandson of David, and second son of John.
Nearly opposite the last-named house is that of Mr. Edwin Wilkerson. It was built by Mr. Olney P. Butler in company with Mr. Hiram F. Blood of Wilton. It was for several years the home of Mr. George Butler, Olney's son, who sold it to Messrs. Byron Putnam and Walter S. Tarbell. Andrew J. Marshall occupied it a few years as tenant, after which it was purchased by its present owner. It has recently reverted to the Byron Putnam estate.
The next house below, on the road towards Wilton, was built by the sons of Major William Richardson whose wife was a daughter of Squire Daniel Putnam. After their father's decease, the sons removed to Milford where the next station on the B. & M. railroad, west of Milford village, is named for them, " Richardson's." The house was afterwards rented to several families, among whom were Mr. Joseph Blanchard, Mrs. Colby, whose son, John Freeman Colby, Esq., of Boston and Mont Vernon, won distingushed honor in his profession .*
* Here also lived Mr. Tidd whose daughter, a native of Lyndeborough, won great praise for her presence of mind a few years ago, as a teacher in Somerville, Mass. Discovering the great building in which she was teaching was on fire, she hastily but quietly informed the other teachers to arrange their scholars for fire drill, and got them all out, almost before they discovered any fire. None of the hundreds of pupils were injured, and her prompt action saved both the pupils and the building. The school board publicly thanked her afterwards for her heroic service.
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For the longest period in its history it has been the home of the Ross family, Mrs. Sarah Ross, widow of Samuel Ross, a veteran of the Civil War, and her children. It is now owned by Mrs. Clough of Lynn, Mass., as a summer residence.
The next house south, on the opposite side of the street, is that of Mr. George Ross, one of the fore-mentioned Ross family. It was built by Mr. Nathan Fish, the father of Mrs. Joseph Blanchard. It was the first house built by Mr. A. S. Conant, after learning his trade of house carpenter. .
The last house in Lyndeborough, on the direct road to Wilton, is Mr. James Colson's. It was built by Mr. Quincy Young, who sold it to Mr. Orin Cram. The latter willed it to his son Nelson, who sold it to Mr. Colson. In 1905 it was pur- chased by Miss Ellen B. Churchill.
Before reaching Mr. Colson's house, a road turns to the left leading by where the glass factory used to stand. On this road the first house is that of Mr. George Winn, which he bought of Mr. Samuel Ross. This was used as a boarding house when the factory was in operation, and was managed by Mrs. Cutter, the mother-in-law of Samuel Ross, son of above named veteran.
A little farther along, on the right hand, is the dwelling of Mr. Benjamin Joslin, R. F. D. carrier No. I. It was built by the late Mr. J. D. Putnam, agent, and apparent proprietor of the glass factory. After his decease the house was for a time occupied by his daughters, Misses Emma D. and Grace E. Put- nam. It was finally sold to Mr. George Butler, who improved the grounds, added the granite curbing, and, after making im- portant changes in and about the house itself, sold it to Mr. Joslin, its present occupant.
Next to this on the same side of the road is a small house, formerly the office of the glass factory, which Mr. Willis H. Draper bought and changed to a dwelling, in which he lived several years. He removed to Nashua, and the house is now owned by Mr. J. Alonzo Carkin and occupied by his brother, Fred Carkin.
Turning from the latter house towards the village again, the house on the right is Mr. Willie C. Carkin's, who sold it to Mr. Harry Draper, and recently bought it back and now occupies it.
Continuing still towards the R. R. station, the house on the left is Mr. H. E. Emery's. It was built by his uncle, Morris M. Emery, who lived in it several years, and died in March, 1886. His wife died in 1887, and the house became the prop-
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erty of his nephew above named, as the only male heir of the Emery family.
Across the street, nearly opposite, is the house of Mrs. Sharpe, widow of the late Joseph Sharpe. The house was built by Mr. William Young, who lived in it a few years, then sold it to Mr. Sharpe, and removed to Manchester.
The next house on the same side of the street is Mr. Milo Burton's. He is foreman on this section of the B. & M. rail- road. The house was built by the late J. H. Tarbell, Esq., about the year 1877. It was for years the property of Mr. Edward Hall, who repaired and made important changes in its interior, and later removed to Antrim. Mr. Burton bought it of Mr. Hall.
Nearly opposite Mr. Burton's, across the street, is Mr. W. A. Barden's house. It was built by Mr. L. P. Jensen, an active, worthy citizen, a member of the Congregational church, and for several years the efficient superintendent of the Baptist Sunday School. He was a carpenter by trade. In 1892, he sold his house to Mr. Barden, and removed with his family to California.
Very close to Mr. Burton's house is that which was originally built on the same plan, and by the same person, J. H. Tarbell, Esq. It was for several years owned by Mr. Mullin, a glass worker, who, after the closing of the glass works here, removed to New York State. It was let a few years to Mr. A. J. Marshall; afterwards, it was bought and occupied by Herbert A. Cheever, and after a few years, was sold to Mr. S. S. Harts- horn, its present owner.
The next house across the way, and set back from the street, is that built and occupied by the late Mr. Byron Putnam. It is now the property of his adopted daughter, K. Frances Put- nam, who is now Mrs. James A. G. Putnam.
Passing under the railroad bridge still west, the house on the right hand, reached by two sets of steps ascending the terraces, is the home of Mrs. Ann M., widow of the late John M. Emery. Mr. Emery was for many years a successful teacher of both vocal and instrumental music. He built the house, lived in it many years, and died in it Sept. 6, 1891. It was first a cottage of a story and a half ; but a few years ago bay windows were added, and an increased elevation of the front gave more room within, and gave the whole a finer appearance.
The next place on the opposite side of the street, is the resi-
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dence of Mr. Albert S. Conant, a veteran of the Civil War, and a house carpenter, whose hands have been employed on many of the houses in our village. His dwelling has often accom- modated two families. Among its tenants were Charles H. Wilson, Mrs. George Bishop, Edward Hall, Mrs. Octavia Shedd, W. H. Cheever, Mrs. Letitia McGinley, W. H. Dolliver, Thomas Ross, J. A. Carkin, Miles Wallace, Hartwell Stephen- son, Will Carkin, twice, Roy Burton, Frank Haley, Mrs. Addie M. Heath, W. H. Abbott, Dustin Wheeler, and John E. Dol- liver, twice.
Nearly opposite Mr. Conant's is the residence of Mrs. Fanny Putnam and her sisters, the Misses Clara and Harriet Brown. It was built by the late John Fletcher Holt, whose widow, Mary A. (Brown) Holt obtained a life lease of the place. The present occupants were her sisters, and were living with her when she died, Jan. 29, 1897. The place then became the property of Miss Flora M. Holt, grand-daughter of John Fletcher Holt, and was purchased from her by Mrs. Putnam, its present owner.
We return again to the railroad station. The house was built by Mr. J. H. Tarbell as an armory for the Lafayette Artillery. It occupies a portion of the ground on which the Baptist meeting-house originally stood. Mr. Tarbell offered to give the Baptists the lot on which their meeting-house now stands for their old lot, and also agreed to assist them in mov- ing their house to its location. The offer was accepted, and the building now used as a railroad station was erected in 1863. When the Wilton railroad came through, Mr. Tarbell sold the place to the railroad company. The building contains a tene- ment in which resides the station agent, Mr. E. A. Danforth, who has held his position about thirty years. Over the main part of the building is a hall, used by the Lafayette Artillery until Citizens' Hall was built. It was known as "armory hall."
The next place north of the R. R. station is the Baptist meeting-house, described more fully in the history of the church.
North of the Baptist meeting-house is a lane running east- ward, on the south side of which and directly in rear of the meeting-house is a building used as a storehouse by Mr. Everett Cram. On the north side of this lane are first several horse- sheds. Then eastward is the residence of Mr. James Colson. The main part of the house was formerly a meat market, and
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stood across the street in front of W. H. Cheever's house. It was then the property of Mr. Albro Wilson, who sold it to Mr. Albert Cram and moved to Milford. Mr. Cram kept the market a short time, assisted by Mr. D. B. Sargent, after which he sold it to Mr. J. H. Tarbell, who moved it to its present location. He sold it again to Mr. Miles Wallace, who kept it himself, and let it to various persons, viz .: Roy Burton, Andrew Marshall, Jason Holt, and Will C. Carkin, who finally bought it, and changed it to a dwelling. Byron Putnam accepted security on the property and the ell was added by his co-operation. Mr. Carkin lived in it but a short time and moved to Nashua, when it came into Mr. Putnam's possession. After his death his heirs sold it at auction. It was bought by Mr. Milo Burton, who sold it to John Dolliver, who recently sold it to Mr. James Colson, its present occupant.
The next house, near the pine grove, is Mr. Albert Cram's, who built it about the time that the railroad came into the place. Unable to get a lot on either of the thoroughfares, Mr. Joel H. Tarbell sold him the lot on which he built his home. His niece, Miss Irene Cram, was brought up by her uncle, and married Mr. Walter Patterson, and they have their home in Mr. Cram's house.
The dwelling next north of the Baptist church is the so-called " brown cottage," now the home of Mrs. Edwin Swasey. The late Joel H. Tarbell gave Mrs. Swasey, his sister, the use of this property during her life. Mr. Tarbell bought one of the buildings which the R. R. company wished to dispose of, re- moved it to this location, and remodelled it into a dwelling house, having Mr. Albert Cram as mechanic.
For a time Mr. Tarbell fitted up a small dry goods store in the front part of the house, and stocked it for his grand-daughter, Miss Minnie Stacey. But the business did not seem to pay, and so was soon given up. The rooms were again changed into living apartments, and were occupied a while by Mrs. E. C. Tarbell and son, Charles H .; and also, by Mr. Dustin Wheeler and J. A. Carkin. They are now the home of Mr. Roy N. Putnam, our postmaster.
Passing by the " Pine Grove House " already described, and going toward Greenfield, less than half a mile from our post- office are four more dwellings, which are part of South Lynde- borough. The first of these is Mrs. George Willis Hadley's house, two-story, built in 1899 and 1900, near the railroad cross-
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ing, west of the cut. It is of modern construction and appoint- ments, and a good windmill forces water from the well into all parts of the house. It is a handsome dwelling, and the first one in our vicinity to be furnace heated.
Farther west, on the same side of the street, is Mr. Charles Clement's home, a pretty cottage, newly painted in 1904. Mr. Clement is a house carpenter, who built his house in 1877, and lived here until 1893, when he removed to Mass. He was em- ployed several years on the bridge building department of the N. Y., N. H. & H. R.R. But last year he returned, and is now occupying his own house. During his absence the house was let to several tenants, among whom were Mr. Dustin Wheeler, Mr. Dana Hadley and Mr. John Dolliver.
Opposite Mr. Clement's is the house of Mr. George M. Cram. It was built by Mr. Levi Tyler in its present form, and Mr. Cram has lived in it about thirty-two years.
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