USA > New Hampshire > The statistics and gazetteer of New-Hampshire. Containing descriptions of all the counties, towns and villages statistical tables with a list of state officers, etc. > Part 24
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First Settlements. Holderness was first granted to John Shepard and others, October 10, 1751, but the grantees failed to obey the conditions of the charter, and it was forfeited. It was regranted, October 24, 1761, to John Went- worth and sixty-seven others.
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HOLLIS.
William Piper first settled here in 1763. The southwestern portion of Holderness was disannexed, and the town of Ashland formed, July 1,1868.
First Minister. Rev. Robert Fowle. An Episcopal church was established here in 1770.
Boundaries. North by Camp- ton, east by Squam Lake, south by Center Harbor and New Hampton and west by Ashland and Plymouth. Area improved land, 10,454 acres.
Distances Forty-five miles north from Concord, and six east from Plymouth.
Railroads. The nearest railroad communication is at Ashland, four miles, on the Boston, Concord and Montreal Railroad, It is expected that the New-Hampshire Central Railroad will pass through this town, when completed.
HOLLIS.
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. The surface of this town is varied, consisting of upland and interval. The interval produces excellent crops of corn, oats, hay, etc. The upland is good for grazing, and much attention is given to raising cows, for the production of milk, for the market. The farmers find a ready sale for all their surplus products, in the city of Nashua, at remunerative prices. The orchard production is more valuable than that of any other town in the coun- ty. Hollis is one of the wealthiest towns in the county, and every- thing pertaining to the farms and farm-houses, betokens an air of thrift and wealth.
Rivers and Ponds. The Nashua River passes through the south- easterly portion of the town. The Nisitisset flows through the south-
westerly part. There are four ponds, Flint's, Penichuck, Long and Rocky Ponds. These ponds afford an excellent field for fishing.
Employments. The inhabitants are largely engaged in agriculture. Especially in the cultivation of fruit, this town ranks the first in the county. Quite an extensive business is carried on in the pro- duction of milk for the market. Over 350,000 quarts are annually sold. There are saw mills annu- ally manufacturing over 1,400,000 feet of lumber. The manufacture of kegs and barrels is an important branch of business. (See tables,)
Resources. Productions of the soil, $ 133,321; mechanical labor, $ 21,500; stocks, $ 21,840; money at interest, $ 19,852; deposits in savings banks, $ 168,710; stock in trade, $25,951; summer tourists, $ 1,000.
Churches and Schools. Congre- gational church, Rev. James Laird, pastor. There are fourteen school districts in town. Average length of schools for the year, nineteen weeks.
Library. Hollis Social Library, sixteen hundred volumes.
Settlement. This town was formerly a part of Dunstable and Monson, Mass. Its original name was Nisitisset, and it was afterward called the West Parish of Dunsta- ble. It received its present name from the Duke of Newcastle, whose name was Hollis. The first settlement was made by Peter Powers, in 1731. A son of his, Peter Powers jr., was the first child born in town. Hollis was incorporated in 1746.
First Minister. Rev. Daniel Emerson, ordained in 1743, died in 1801.
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NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER.
Boundaries and Area. North by Milford and Amherst, east by Nashua, south by Massachusetts line, and west by Brookline. Area of improved land, 10,805 acres.
Distances. Thirty-eight miles south from Concord, eight miles south from Amherst, and five west from Nashua.
Railroad. Nashua and Worces- ter Railroad passes through the south-easterly part of the town.
HOOKSETT.
MERRIMACK COUNTY. Merri- mack River passes through nearly the centre of this town. The sur- face is uneven but the soil is gen- erally good, producing fine crops. Near the center of the town in the Merrimack is "Hooksett Falls." The descent of the water is about sixteen feet, in a distance of thirty rods. A large ledge just above the falls divides the stream and an- swers as a pier for the Concord Railroad bridge which spans the river at this place. The water power here is valuable. There is one cotton factory which gives em- ployment to seventy-five males and one hundred and seventy-five females. The rest of this priv- ilege remains unimproved.
Elevation. From an eminence called the Pinnacle on the west side of the river, a delightful view of the surrounding country can be obtained. At your feet, is the pleasant village of Hooksett; across the river, on elevated ground, stands the palatial resi- dence of Gen. Natt Head, ac- knowledged as being one of the most expensive and beautiful country residences in the State. At the north-east, a distance of one mile, can be seen the enterprising
village of Suncook, while the Mer- rimack, above and below the falls, with its verdant banks, the culti -. vated fields, and the distant hills in the back-ground, form a grand and picturesque scene. This Pin- nacle on its south-eastern side has an abrupt altitude of two hundred feet. At its foot, on the west side, is a beautiful pond of water, of a bright greenish tinge, remarkably clear, of great depth, and having no visible outlet. It is supposed this pond was the bed of the pin- nacle from which the latter, by some violent convulsion of nature, was upturned. Hooksett holds out many inducements for tourists to spend their summer vacation, around the falls or among the surrounding hills. Four trains daily to and from Boston, leave and arrive at the Hooksett depot. But few towns in the State have better railroad facilities.
Employments. The employment of the inhabitants is about equally divided . between agriculture and manufacturing. The farmer finds a ready market for his surplus products either at Manchester, Concord, Suncook or at Hooksett village. The future prospects of the farmers are flattering.
The manufacturing of brick is extensively carried on. Over ten millions of bricks are annually produced, employing over one hun- dred men in their manufacture. Gen. Natt Head has the most ex- tensive yards, annually producing over three millions of bricks. At a large granite quarry, twenty-five men are employed, who annually receive for their labor over $ 10, 000. One cotton manufactory an- nually produces over three million yards of cotton cloth. One har-
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HOPKINTON.
ness shop produces $ 12,000 worth of harnesses. (For manufactories, see tables.)
Resources. Agricultural prod- ucts, $ 118,708; mechanical labor, $ 107,000; stocks and money at in- terest, $ 4,897; deposits in savings banks, $ 112,217; stock in trade, $ 32,995.
Churches and Schools. Congre- gational, -; Methodist, Elder J. E. Robins, pastor. There are seven school districts, and eight schools in town; average length for the year, twelve weeks. Esti- mated value of school houses, $ 9,100.
Hotels. Ayer House and Stearns Hotel.
First Organization. Hooksett was taken from Chester, Goffs- town, and Dunbarton, and incor- porated July 3, 1822.
Boundaries. North by Bow and Allenstown, east by Candia and Auburn, south by Goffstown and Manchester, and west by Goffs- town, Dunbarton and Bow.
Distances. Sixty-two miles north-west from Boston, nine south from Concord and eight miles north from Manchester.
Railroads. The Concord Rail- road passes through this town. The Suncook Valley Railroad forms a junction with the Concord at Hooksett depot.
HOPKINTON.
MERRIMACK COUNTY. This town is one of the most important farming towns in the county in point of its agricultural produc- tions, and wealth of the inhabi- tants ; and ranking as the eleventh in the State as an agricultural town. The intervals and meadow lands on the rivers are very fertile,
while the uplands and hills afford excellent pasturing and tillage land. Some of the best farms in this town are on Putney, Diamon, and Beech Hills:
Rivers. The Contoocook River passes through the town in an easterly and north-easterly direc- tion. In its passage it receives the Warner river, coming from Brad- ford, Sutton and Warner, and the Blackwater coming from Andover, Salisbury and Webster. The Con- toocook furnishes some fine water power in this town.
Elevations. There are no moun- tains, but three or four hills of considerable height, and all capa- ble of cultivation to their summits. The most important of these ele- vations, is Putney Hill, about one mile west of Hopkinton village, and about five hundred feet above it. On this hill commenced some of the first settlements; the traces of many of the original houses can be distinctly seen by the half-filled cellars. On the extreme summit is one of the first cemeteries, con- taining about one acre, and well fenced. It is said that this yard is nearly full of graves, and has been for over sixty years. The roughness of the ground, caused, by indentations, and the many stones apparently set edgewise, all go to prove the veracity of the statement. There are but very few stones legible to mark the spot of those who once lived here and cultivated the broad fields, and viewed the delightful scenery upon the crest of their home hills. Among some names that can be traced, we noticed Lieut. Aaron Kimball, died July 30, 1760, aged 51 years; Jeremiah Kimball, died in 1764, aged 57 years; Dr. John
.
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NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER.
Clement, died in 1804, aged 61 years; his son died in 1779, aged 10 years, also a son Phinehas Clement, who died in 1872, aged 94 years. The Rev. James Scales, the first minister of Hopkinton, lies in this yard, but no legible stone marks the spot. Dr. Clem- ent was a popular physician in this town and the surrounding country for many years. The cel- lar upon which his house stood, can be distinctly seen but a short distance from where his ashes now rest.
Northeast from the graveyard, about thirty rods, arc the remains of the old Putney Fort. Here the people of the neighborhood congre- grated nights, when the Indians were lurking round for captives ; but with all these precautions, the inhabitants suffered much from their depredations. April 22, 1746, six Indians broke into the garri- son, and captured eight persons while in their beds, and hurried them off. April 13, 1753 they took Abraham Kimball, the first male child born in town, and Samuel Putney, (whose grandson is now living on this hill) and carried them away. The third day after their capture, the Indians were surprised while encamped on a hill west of Boscawen Plains, and in order to escape, they left Put- ney behind. Kimball was rescued through the help of a dog, which seized an Indian, while in the act of drawing his tomahawk to kill him.
The views obtained from Putney Hill, are some of the finest and most extensive to be found in the State. At the north can be dis- tinctly seen Mooshillock, in Ben- ton, while a little further to the
east are the White Face, and Cho- corua's Peak in Sandwich, Water- ville and Albany. At the north- east, the Gilmanton Mountains in Gilford, at the east, the Catamount in Pittsfield, and Fort Mountain in Epsom; further to the south, are the high hills in Francestown and Deering; at the southwest, the towering summit of the Mon- adnock in Jaffrey, is in full view ; at the west, the Sunapee lifts its lofty crest; at the northwest, right before you, stands the old Kear- sarge, as the central monarch of this vast chain of mountains which make a circumference of nearly two hundred and fifty miles ; while at your feet can be seen the vil- lages, the farm-houses, the mead- ows and the broad intervals through which meanders the Contoocook, whose limpid waters sparkle in the summer sunbeams. On this hill, mountains and hills in seven of the ten counties in the State can be seen.
Villages. About eight miles west from Concord, is situated, on elevated ground, the old but plcas- ant village of Hopkinton. Seven- ty years ago, this village was the most important with the ex- ception of Concord, in central New-Hampshire. The State Leg- islature convened here in 1798, 1801, in 1806. and 1807. The decis- ion stood on a pivot for several years, as to having the capital of the State here, or at Concord, but it was finally decided in favor of Concord, and permanently estab- lished there in 1808. The courts for Hillsborough county were al- ternately holden here and at Am- herst, for nearly forty years, or un- til it was setoff to help form Mer- rimack county in 1823. The main
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HOPKINTON.
street is wide and beautifully shad- ed with the elm and maple. The elms in this village, with the ex- ception of Exeter, are the largest in the State. Many of the houses have an antique appearance, but all are kept in good repair, and be- token an air of wealth. There are eight or ten wells in the village, from 45 to 65 feet in depth, nearly all of which were dug over a hun- dred years ago.
In the fall of 1872, the Perkins House was destroyed by fire. This hotel was a great resort for sum- mer tourists. In the spring of 1873, the Town House and Academy building was burnt. It was built sometime in the last century. In this house the Legislature of the State met, also the county courts. For many years an Academy was kept in it, and became very popular for the reason of there being a very quiet and moral community around it. The old cemetery is near the centre of the village, and is a love- ly spot. Many interments in these grounds date back over one hundred years. A new cemetery of fifteen acres has been located a little east of the village, towards Concord. In the village are three churches, school-house, library, one store, and seventy or eighty dwellings.
About three miles west of Hop- kinton village, on the Contoocook river, is situated the enterprising village of Contoocook. It has grown up within the last thirty years, and is the seat of considera- ble trade and manufacturing. One flannel mill annually manu- factures 120,000 yards of flannel, valued at $ 36,000. One grist-mill annually grinds 8,600 bushels of grain of all kinds valued at $ 8,600. Doors, sash and blinds, $20,000, be-
sides lumber mills, wool carding, carriages, fish kits,* harnesses, tin ware, black-smith's, &c. There are three church edifices, two school-houses, an Academy, six or eight stores of all kinds, one hotel, telegraph, express and post of- fices, insurance agent, three phy- sicians, and over one hundred dwelling houses. It is a very pleasant and desirable village to reside in, having as citizens, some of the wealthiest men in the State. The Contoocook Valley Railroad forms a junction with the Concord and Claremont, at this point, thus affording excellent rail- road facilities for all sections of the country.
Employments. The larger por- tion of the people are devoted to agricultural pursuits; the farmers find good markets for their surplus products at Contoocook, Concord and Fisherville. 14,600 bushels of corn, 8000 bushels of oats and bar- ley, 19,000 bushels potatoes, 1,200 bushels onions, 54,000 pounds but- ter, 19,000 pounds cheese, and 4,600 tons of hay are annually produced ; 125,000 clapboards, 450,000 shingles and laths, 1,120,000 feet of boards, of all kinds, are annually sawed, valued at $ 23,600 ; leather tanned to the value of $17,300; doors, sash and blinds, $20,000, besides flannel, wool carding, kits, &c. The total value of manufactured goods, is $ 119,800.
Resources. Annual productions of the soil, $ 186,582; mechanical labor, $ 25,600; stocks and money at interest, $ 69,333; deposits in savings banks, $ 192,628; stock in trade, $ 15,720.
* Saturday night, November 15, 1873, the buildings containing the above manufactories were destroyed by fire.
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NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER.
Churches and Schools. At Hop- 1
kinton, Congregational, Rev. J. K. Young, pastor; members, 120; church value, $8,000; Baptist, Rev. A. Snyder, pastor; members, 75; value, $ 7,500; St. Andrews, Episcopal, supplied by St. Paul's School; communicants 40; value, $ 3,000. Contoocook; Methodist, Rev. D. Howard, pastor; mem- bers, 22; value, $ 3,000; Freewill Baptist, Rev, J. D. Osgood, pastor ; members, 80; value, $ 3,000; Swe- denborgian, Rev. Charles Hardon, pastor; members, 32; value, $2, 000. There are 21 schools in town ; average length for the year, eight- een weeks; total amount annual- ly appropriated for school purpos- es, $ 2,499.84.
Literary Institutions. Contoo- cook Academy, Charles Hardon, Principal.
New-Hampshire Philomathic and Antiquarian Society. This society was established November 19, 1873. Its rooms are located in Contoocook. This society is the outgrowth of the Philomathic Club formed in 1859, by three young men then residing in this village. There is now a museum of some 2,000 or 3,000 specimens of antiq- uities and other curiosities. The society desires and solicits the ac- quaintance and co-operation of all persons of antiquarian or scientific pursuits throughout the State. The Rev. Silas Ketchum, of Bristol, is the Corresponding Secretary.
Libraries. Hopkinton Public Library, 750 volumes. Contoo- cook Social Library, 650 volumes. Hotel. Contoocook House.
Early Settlements. Hopkinton was granted by Massachusetts to John Jones and others, January 16, 1735, and was called “ Number
Five," afterwards "New-Hopkin- ton." The settlements were com- menced in 1740, by emigrants from Hopkinton, Mass. Among the first settlers were the Kim- ball's and Putney's. Henry Mil- ler and others received a new grant of this town in 1756, which was the occasion of long and bit- ter disputes in regard to titles. January 11, 1775, the population was 1,085, and, with the exception of Amherst, was the most populous town in central New-Hanıpshire.
First Ministers. Rev. James Scales, Congregational, ordained in 1757, dismissed in 1770. Mr. Scales was ordained in Putney's Fort, on Putney's Hill. Rev. Eli- jah Fletcher, ordained in 1773, died in 1789. Rev. Jacob Cram, ordained in 1789, dismissed in 1794. Rev. Ethan Smith, settled in 1800, dismissed in 1817.
Boundaries. North by Warner and Boscawen, east by Concord, south by Bow, Dunbarton and Weare, and west by Henniker. Area, 26,967 acres ; improved land, 17,590.
Distances. Eight miles west of Concord.
Railroads. Concord and Clare- mont Railroad runs through the northeast corner of the town. The station is at Contoocook. The Contoocook Valley Railroad has its terminus at Contoocook, and forms a junction with the Concord and Claremont Railroad.
HUDSON.
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. The surface of this town, back from the Merrimack, is uneven, and the soil is more suitably adapted to pas- turage, and the growth of wood and timber, than to tillage. On
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JACKSON.
the river, there are large intervals of a deep, fertile soil, producing fine crops of corn, vegetables, and hay. The surplus products of the farmers are readily sold in the city of Nashua, at fair prices.
River and Ponds. The western border of Hudson, is washed by Merrimack River. Little Massa- besick and Otternick, both cover- ing a surface of three hundred acres, are the principal bodies of water.
Employments. Agriculture is the principal employment of the people who receive a good return for their labor. There is some manufac- turing done in town, but not on an extensive scale. Extension tables, plane woods, &c., are manufac- tured. About 700,000 feet of lum- ber, are annually sawed.
Resources. Agricultural pro- ducts, $ 133,321 ; mechanical labor, $ 12,500; stocks, &c., $20,600; money at interest, $ 2,900 ; deposits in savings banks, $ 135,775; stock in trade, $ 14,483. The resources of this town clearly show that the inhabitants are prosperous, and ought to be happy.
Churches and Schools. Congre- gational, Rev. S. M. Blanchard, pastor in 1870; Methodist, Elder C. A. Cressey, pastor; Baptist, Rev. A. W. Chaffin, pastor. There are ten schools in town; average length for the year, twenty-two weeks. Annual amount appropri- ated for school purposes, $1,394.80.
First Settlements. This town was included in the grant of Dunstable, and formerly called Nottingham West, now Nashua, and settle- ments were commenced by Messrs. Blodgett, Winn, Lovewell, Col- burn, Hill, Greeley, Cross, Cuni- ings, Pollard, Marsh and Merrill, in
1710. Incorporated July 5, 1746, name changed to Hudson in 1830. The first settlements were com- menced on the banks of the river, where the Indians had cleared fields for the cultivation of corn. Near the old Indian cornfields, cinders have been found, similar to those produced in blacksmiths' works. The first inhabitants lived in garrisons. While the men were abroad in the fields and forests, the women and children were lodged in these places of security. First Ministers. Rev. Nathaniel Merrill, Congregational, settled in 1737, died in 1796; Rev. Jabez P. Fisher, settled in 1796, dismissed in 1807.
Boundaries. North by Litchfield and Londonderry, east by Wind- ham and Pelham, south by Tyngs- borough, Massachusetts, and west by Nashua. Area, 17,379 acres ; improved land, 9,443 acres.
Distances. Thirty-eight miles south from Concord, and two and one half miles east from Nashua.
Railroads. Two miles to Nash- ua station, on the Concord and Nashua Railroad. The Nashua and Rochester Railroad, now be- ing constructed, will pass through Hudson.
JACKSON.
CARROLL COUNTY. Jackson is a mountainous town. Along the streams are some very fine lands, producing excellent crops, which find a home market, for the reason that summer tourists who frequent this romantic town, number about 500 annually.
Rivers and Mountains. The two branches of Ellis River are the principal streams. Thorne and Iron Mountains are the most im- portant elevations in town.
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NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER.
Minerals. Tin ore has been found here in considerable quanti- ties. In the southern part, border- ing on Bartlett, and near Rocky Branch, an affluent of Ellis River, is one of the most valuable mines of iron ore in the United States, with everything considered. The vein now being opened, is 55 feet in width, and 175 rods in length. It is evident the whole mountain is intersected by numerous veins of excellent iron ore, and will furnish an inexhaustible supply. This ore has been tested by one of the most celebrated English iron and steel manufacturers, who favorably reported upon its good qualities, as producing the finest quality of steel. Until recently, this ore has been far from any means of transportation by rail- way, but now the Portland and Ogdensburg Railroad, which ex- tends through Bartlett, will pass within three miles of the mine, and a branch road may be easily built up Rocky Branch, to a point near the shafts. (See Bartlett.) The future prospects of Jackson are very flattering.
Employments. The inhabitants are generally engaged in farming and keeping summer boarders. Some new manufactories are ex- pected to be built, the coming season.
Resources. Productions of the soil, $ 72,243; mechanical labor, $1,800; money at interest, $ 3,800 ; deposits in savings banks, $ 4,084 ; from summer tourists, $ 25,000; stock in trade, $ 2,700,
Churches and Schools. There are two churches of the Freewill Baptist denomination, Rev. Cha's. Hurlin, is pastor of one of them. There are seven public schools.
Average length of schools for the year, ten weeks. There is an annu- al church and school fund of $ 400.
Hotels. Jackson Falls Hotel, " Thorne Mountain House," and "Iron Mountain House." These Houses are full of guests, through the summer season.
First Settlers. Benjamin Copp, came to this town with his family in 1779, and remained fourteen years before any other person set- tled here. The town was incor- porated by the name of Adams, December 4, 1800. It was changed to its present name, in 1829,
First Minister. Rev. Daniel El- kins, F. Baptist, settled here in 1809. A Freewill Baptist church was formed in 1803.
Boundaries. North and west by Pinkney's Grant, east by Chatham, and south by Bartlett. Area 31,968 acres, improved land, 5,496 acres.
Distances. 90 miles north from Concord, and forty-five north from Ossipee.
Railroad. Two and one half miles to railway station, on Port- land and Ogdensburg Railroad.
JAFFREY.
CHESHIRE COUNTY. The un- even surface of this town affords numerous meadows and rich pas- tures, causing it to be peculiarly adapted to raising cattle. There are some very fine farms, however, well cultivated, and producing ex- cellent crops; but, like too many of the neighboring towns, the farming interest is neglected-the young men being inclined to leave their paternal home, and seek their fortunes elsewhere. There are but few country towns which offer better inducements in nat- ural resources, for the people
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JAFFREY.
to be happy and prosperous, than Jaffrey. Its fine water power and delightful scenery have attracted the attention of capitalists, and the lovers of lake and mountain scenery. The number of tourists who spend their summer vacation in this delightful town is estimated at over eight hundred, while thou- sands annually visit the mountains for a day's recreation. With this advantage the farmer can find a ready sale for all the surplus pro- ducts of his farm, at remunera- tive prices.
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