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 25
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Mountain. The Grand Monad- nock, which lies mostly in this town, has an altitude of 3718 feet above the ocean. From the sum- mit of this mountain, some fine views of the surrounding country for many miles in extent can be obtained. Monadnock Mountain House is situated about half way from the main road to the top of the mountain, and can be easily reached by a passable road. The number of arrivals at this hotel last year was 12,000.
Spring. About one and one- half miles in a south-easterly di- rection from the mountain, is Mo- nadnock Mineral Spring. The waters are impregnated with car- bonate of iron and sulphate of soda. Yellow ochre collects in considerable quantities, where the spring issues from the earth. The temperature of the water is so high that it has never been known to freeze over.
Streams and Ponds. Several streams issue from the sides of the Monadnock, the largest of which rises about one hundred rods from its crest, and forms the principal source of the Contoocook River. There are several ponds in town,
out of three of which issue streams sufficient to carry mills. In the largest, which is four hundred rods long, and one hundred wide, is an island containing about ten acres. There is considerable wa- ter power in the east part of the town near the Monadnock Rail- road, still unimproved.
Employments. The inhabitants are largely engaged in manufac- turing, mercantile trade, and keeping summer boarders, who visit this town in the summer months, for recreation and health. The value of cotton drills annual- ly manufactured is $192,000; 1,000, 000 shingles, and 2,210,000 feet of boards are annually sawed. The Contoocook River knife works an- nually manufacture $ 14,000 worth of shoe knives of all kinds. Be- sides these, are nest boxes, bob- bins, clothes pins, chair stock, boots, shoes, &c., produced.
Village. East Jaffrey is one of the pleasantest villages in the State. In this village is a cotton manufactory, knife maunufacto- ry, large saw and grist mill, wooden ware, boots, shoes, &c., eight or ten stores, one large hotel, two banks, three churches, express and telegraph office, post office, railroad station, and about one hundred dwelling houses.
Resources. Agricultural produc- tions, $ 67,136; mechanical labor, $ 61,400; railroad stock and bonds, $72,500; money at interest, $ 33, 600; stock in trade, $39,630; de- posits in savings banks, $ 134,858; from summer tourists, $32,000. Jaffrey, in wealth, ranks the fourth town in the county; in population the seventh.
Churches and Schools. £
Ist Con- gregational, Rev. Rufus Case, pas-
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tor, at East Jaffrey; 2d Congrega- tional, Rev. D. N. Goodrich, pas- tor; Baptist, - -; Univer- salist, Rev. J. M. H. Smith, pas- tor. Ist Congregational, 80 mem- bers, value, $ 4,000; 2d Congrega- tional, 50 members, value, $3,500; Baptist, 86 members, value, $ 3,000; Universalist, 20 members, value, $ 3,000. There are thirteen school districts, and fourteen schools in town. Average length of schools for the year, nineteen weeks. Value of school houses, $ 11,000. The Conant High School has placed Jaffrey in the front rank of facilities for com- mon and high school education.
Libraries. Jaffrey Social Libra- ry, East Jaffrey, 500 volumes; J. M. H. Smith's private library, 669 volumes.
Banks. Monadnock Savings Bank, East Jaffrey, and Monad- nock National Bank, East Jaffrey.
Hotels. Monadnock Mountain House, . Cutter's Hotel; Centre, Central House, Massasoit House, and Granite State Hotel, East Jaffrey. Total Value of hotels, $62,000. number of arrivals for the year at all the hotels, 19,600. There are three livery stables with 26 horses, which are valued at $ 12,600.
First Settlements. This town was granted by the Masonian pro- prietors, to forty persons, in 1749. In 1758, a Mr. Grant, and John Davidson made the first settle- ment. It was originally called Middle Monadnock, or Number two. In 1773, the town was in- corporated and received its name from George Jaffrey, Esq., of Portsmouth.
First Minister. Rev. Laban Ainsworth, settled in . 1778; dis-
missed in 1782. The Congrega- tional Church was formed in 1780.
Boundaries. North by Dublin, east by Peterborough and Sharon, south by Rindge and Fitzwilliam, and west by Troy and Marl- borough. Arca, 28,600 acres.
Distances. Forty-six miles south west from Concord, and fif- teen south-east from Keene.
Railroad. Monadnock Railroad passes through the south-east part of the town. Railroad station at East Jaffrey. Two miles to the centre of the town; conveyance by stage. ·
JEFFERSON.
Coos COUNTY. The surface of this town is rough, uneven and broken with mountains and hills. On the south-west side of Pliny Mountain, the soil is rich and pro- ductive, and furnishes several ex- cellent farms. An extensive and delightful view of the White Moun- tains is obtained from this farming neighborhood. The hills and base of the mountains furnish some ex- cellent grazing and tillage land. In proportion to the number of acres of improved land, Jefferson produces more bushels of potatoes than any other town in the State.
Ponds and Streams. Cherry and Safety Ponds, are the principal bodies of water. Israel's River passes through the town from south-east to north-west, and here receives a considerable tributary. There is some very good water power on these streams.
Summer Resorts. The fine moun- tain scenery found in Jefferson, has made it quite popular as a summer resort. There are three large hotels, besides many houses
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prepared for the reception of sum- mer boarders. The Waumbeck, Mt. Adams, and Jefferson Hill, are the names of the public houses. The scenery, at the Waumbeck House of the surrounding country, is grand. At the rear of the house is Star King Mountain which is easily ascended. From the piazza of the Hotel, people on the summit of Mount Washington can be dis- tinctly seen with a glass. Fine views can be had from all the Ho- tels in town.
Employments. Agriculture is the principal vocation of the peo- ple. Lumber to the value of $ 46,500 is annually sawed; four starch mills manufacture 190 tons starch, valued at $ 15,200; 11,000 bushels meal and flour ground, $ 13,800. Total value of goods manufactured, $ 75,600. bushels potatoes pro- duced, 78,467.
Resources. Agricultual produc- tions, $ 84,600; mechanical labor, $ 19,900; deposits in savings banks, $ 717.00; stock in trade, $4,399; from summer tourists, $20,000.
Churches and Schools. Metho- dist, I. J. Tebbetts, pastor. There are eight schools in town; aver- age length for the year, fourteen weeks.
First Settlements. This town was granted to Colonel John Goffe under the name of Dartmouth, October 3, 1765; June 26, 1772, it was regranted to Mark H. Went- worth and others. Colonel Joseph Whipple, Samuel Hart and others, commenced the first settlement about 1773. Colonel Whipple was captured here in his house, by a party of Indians, headed by a white man, during the war of the revolu- tion. He succeeded in making
his escape through stratagem. Jefferson was incorporated De- cember 8, 1796.
Boundaries. North by Lancas- ter and Kilkenny, east by Ran- dolph, south by White mountain region and Carroll, and west by Whitefield. Area, 26,676 acres; area of improved land, 6,980 acres. Distances. Ten miles south- east from Lancaster, and by rail- road and stage, one hundred and forty-seven miles north from Concord.
Railroad. Ten miles to Lancas- ter station on the Montreal Exten- sion Railroad.
KEENE.
CHESHIRE COUNTY. Coming in the cars from Bellows Falls, Ver- mont, on the Cheshire railroad, as you wind around the brow of a hill, you first obtain a view of Keene, nestling in the valley of the Ashue- lot. Before you are the meadows, the cultivated fields, the meander- ing Ashuelot, the farm houses, the church spires peering through the maple or elm, while farther in the distance are the hills which act as citadels to guard this delightful vale against the chilling blasts of a northern climate-the whole presenting a grand panoramic view of nature and art combined, rarely excelled.
Keene is situated in a broad val- ley, which was in ages past the bed of a primeval lake. Its allu- vial deposits extend down to un- known depth, covering about one third the surface of the town, and varying in character from a clean sand to pure clay, with vast depos- its of peat and swamp muck com- posed of the vegetable accumula- tions of centuries. These, when
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properly drained, will make mead- ow lands that will vie in fertility with the prairies of the West. This valley is watered by the Ashuelot river and its tributaries, which run through the town, affording several valuable mill sites, some of which are still unoccupied. The soil, generally, in the valley, is fertile, while the hill-sides are well adapted to grazing. Granite, of good quality for quarrying, abounds in many parts of the town. A peculiar quality of gran- ite, designated "rotten stone," is found in abundance in several lo- calities, affording the best mate- rial for road-making. It contains a portion of sulphuret of iron, which decomposes, and leaves the rock in a very fragile condition, easily reduced, and convenient for use. All branches of business pur- sued in the place are in a very flourishing condition. In point of energy, enterprise, and growth, it may be considered the leading town in the State, with a popula- tion of about seven thousand five hundred. The offices, depots, and shops of the Cheshire and Ashue- lot railroads are at this place, and with their extensive business, find employment for a large number of hands. These buildings meas- ure more than a mile in length, and with their solidity and beauty, constitute an important part of the village. The new shops and fac- tories, erected in different parts of the place, are generally substantial and beautiful structures, imparting a business air to the town. There is a flannel factory, a pail factory, an iron foundry, two carriage man- ufactories, two chair shops, two furniture shops, one sash and blind factory, and another in process of
erection, one boot and shoe fac- tory, one glue factory, two soap factories, four tanneries-one of them the largest in the State-two potteries, two brick yards, two grist-mills, and six saw mills. There are in use eight steam en- gines, furnishing motive power for the various occupations, in addi- tion to several water powers in use. There are from fifty to sev- enty-five stores of all kinds, three large hotels, town hall, court house, seven church edifices, sever- al school-houses, three printing of- fices, five banks, besides many lawyers', physicians', dentists', and insurance offices. Some of the business blocks are the finest and most expensive structures of the kind in the State. Its natural re- sources consist in its numerous water privileges, some of which are still unoccupied, its wood and timber, its fertile soil, favorable for agriculture, its granite quar- ries, its vast beds of clay for mak- ing brick, its peat beds, which in time may be utilized as fuel, or prepared for fertilizing the adja- cent fields. There are hundreds of acres in different parts of the town, consisting entirely of peat and muck beds, which by a prop- er manipulation can be made into compost that for all practical pur- poses is equal in value to ordinary stable manure. This can easily be made available by the proprietors, who can thus add an immense val- ue to their cultivated lands.
The location of the town in the great basin makes it the natural centre of business for most of the county and portions of the adjacent territory, by affording means of communication and commercial facilties unsurpassed by any other
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town in the State. Its increasing population since the close of the war has required the erection of a number of houses, varying from seventy-five to one hundred annu- ally, some of which, in point of beauty and value, are not excelled by any private residences in the State. These with the generally neat appearance of the streets, shaded with majestic elms, make Keene one of the most beautiful villages in New-England. The park in the centre of the village, with its grove and soldiers' monu- ment, surrounded by substantial business blocks, makes the place particularly attractive to visitors. It is supplied with an abundance of pure water from a small lake three miles distant, of sufficient eleva- tion to force a stream of water ov- er the roofs of the highest build- ings, thus rendering the place comparatively secure against the ravages of fire. Its advantageous situation, in connection with the enterprise of its citizens, and its lo- cal resources, gives it a prospect of future prosperity and continued growth in manufactures, wealth and population, and, ere long, it will be ranked as one of the cities of New-Hampshire.
Employments The inhabitants, are principally engaged in manu- facturing and mercantile trade. It is one of the largest centres for trade in the State. The manufac- tures are varied and extensive. 86,400 sides of leather and 11,500 calf-skins are annually tanned, valued at $ 624,000. At the Bea- ver Mills are annually manufac- tured furniture, chairs, machinery, and other mechanical works, to the value of $242,000. There are made 60 tons of glue, valued at
$ 30,000; 3,800 chamber-sets, $ 115, 000; soap and candles, $ 54,500; 5,550 cases of men's and women's boots and shoes, $255,000; 143,600 chairs, of all kinds, $ 182,866; 260, 000 pails, $ 43,000; doors, sash, and blinds, valued at $ 125,000; brush handles, $ 14,000; machine- ry of all kinds, $ 80,000; foundry, $ 75,000; pottery works, $ 35,000; 700,000 yards of flannel of the best quality, $ 315,000; 550 sleighs and 150 carriages, $65,700; besides gas works, railroad shops, carpenters, butchers, photographers, custom boot and shoe manufacturers, plumbers, organ manufacturer, bookbinders, cloth dryers, tin ware, marble workers, blacksmiths, brick, bakery, hair work, tailors, milliners, and various other kinds of mechanical work too numerous to mention. The total amount in- vested in manufactories is $ 1,138, 300. 1,221 males, and 109 females are employed, who annually re- ceive for their labor, $ 636,000. Total value of manufactured goods, $2,757,700. (See statistical table.) Resources. Agriculturial prod- ucts, $ 144,134; mechanical labor, $ 636,000; stocks &c., $ 372,350; money at interest, $ 118,910; de- posits in savings banks, $ 583,338; stock in trade, $ 426,450; estimate from summer tourists, $ 6,000. The clerical and professional ser- vices are estimated at $ 300,000 or more.
Churches and Schools. Congre- gational Unitarian, Rev. W. O. White, pastor; number of mem- bers, 90; church valuation, $ 30, 000. First Congregational, Rev. Cyrus Richardson, pastor; mem- bers, 290; church value, $ 45,000. Second Congregational, Rev. J. A. Leach, pastor; members, 290;
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church value, $ 33,000. Grace Church, (Methodist) Rev. T. L. Flood, pastor; members, 300; church value, $ 50,000; Baptist, Rev W. H. Eaton, D. D., pastor; members, 184; church valuation, $ 16,000. St. James, (Episcopal,) Rev. George W. Brown, rector; communicants, 100; church value, $ 40,000. St. Bernard's (Catholic,) Rev. D. W. Murphy, priest; mem- bers, 1,600; church value, $ 10,000. The Baptist society is now build- ing a new church edifice, (1873). Total number of churches, 7; number of members, 2,850; church valuation, $ 223,000. There are eleven school districts, and thirty schools in Keene. Number of scholars, 1,190; average length for the year, twenty-nine weeks; annual amount of money appropri- ated for school purposes, $ 14,978. 14. The schools in this town stand as high as in any town in the State.
Keene Natural History Society was organized in 1872, and has met with eminent success in col- lecting illustrative specimens of the several departments pertain- ing to the natural sciences. The interest in this enterprise is grow- ing rapidly and its members have already a museum consisting of numerous objects exemplifying the mineral, and animal kingdoms, in their various phases, together with rare and curious works of art.
Libraries. Keene Public Libra- ry, 3,000 volumes; A. S. Carpen- ter, M. D., (private), 800; D. H. Woodward, Esq., 500; Rev. E, A. Renouf, 1,000; Messrs. Wheeler and Faulkner, Esqs., 450; G. B. Twitchell, M. D., 1,000; Mrs. Ing- ersoll, 1,200; Gen. James Wilson, 700; Rev. W. O. White, 1,800; C.
S. Faulkner, Esq., 500; George Cook, Esq., 800; J. II. Elliott, Esq., 500; Rev. J. A. Leach, 2,700; Samuel W. Hale, 500; D. W. Gil- bert, 400; I. F. Prouty, 400; Gen. S. G. Griffin, 800; C. T. Buffum, 400; Rev. G. W. Brown, 900; Dr. II. II. Darling, 600; Rev. W. H. Eaton, D. D., 900; C. C. Webster, Esq., 500; Rev. D. W. Murphy, 400; G. H. Tilden & Co., 600; Horatio Colony, Esq., 800; Julius N. Morse, 500; Hon. T. M. Edwards, 500; and Samuel Dinsmore, 500. Total number of volumes in libraries of 400 volumes or more, 24,150. There are at least six Sunday- school libraries, ranging from 500 to 1000 volumes each.
Hotels. Cheshire House, Eagle Hotel, and American House: To- tal value of hotels in the town, $ 170,000; total number of arrivals for the year, 24,300.
Livery Stables. There are four livery stables, with fifty-nine hors- es, valued at $ 12,000.
Banks. Cheshire National, Ash- uelot National, Keene National, Cheshire Provident Institution for Savings, and Keene Five Cent Sav- ings Bank.
Newspapers. New-Hampshire Sentinel; Cheshire Republican.
First Settlements. Keene was originally granted · by Massachu- setts, under the name of Upper Ashuelot. The first settlement was commenced about the year 1734, by Jeremiah Hall, Elisha Root, Nathaniel Rockwood, Seth Heaton, Josiah Fisher, Nathan Blake, and others. It was incor- porated under its present name, April 11, 1753, in honor of an Eng- lish nobleman, Sir Benjamin Keene.
From Hayward's Gazetteer, we
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append a few extracts, showing the danger, hardships, and cruel- ties . which the first settlers of Keene were subjected to by Indian incursions.
"The usual scourge which attend- ed the frontier settlements visited this town. In 1745, the Indians killed Josiah Fisher, a deacon of the church; in 1746, they attacked the fort, the only protection of the inhabitants. They were, however, discovered by Capt. Ephraim Dor- man, in season to prevent their tak- ing it. He was attacked by two Indians, but defended himself suc- cessfully against them, and reached the fort. An action ensued, in which John Bullard was killed; Mrs. M'Kenney, being out of the fort, was stabbed and died; and Nathan Blake taken prisoner and carried to Canada, where he re- mained two years. Mr. Blake afterwards returned to Keene, where he lived till his death, in 1811, at the age of ninety-nine years and five months. When he was ninety-four, he married a wid- ow of sixty. The Indians burnt all the buildings in the settlement, including the meeting house. The inhabitants continued in the fort until April, 1747, when the town was abandoned. In 1753, they returned, and recommenced their settlements. In 1755, the Indians again attacked the fort. Their number was great, and the onset violent, but the vigilance and courage of Capt. Syms success- fully defended it. After burning several buildings, killing cattle, &c., they withdrew. They again invaded the town, but with little success."
Colonel Isaac Wyman, an active and influential man, and a brave
soldier, marched the first detach- ment of men from this town, in the war of the revolution, and par- ticipated in the battle of Bunker (Breed's) Hill. This company consisted of thirty men. The list of the foot company in Keene, at this time, numbered one hundred and twenty-six men; the alarm list forty-five.
Hon. John Prentiss, who es- tablished the "New-Hampshire Sentinel," at Keene, in March, 1799, is still living in this town, and is one of the oldest printers in the United States. Father Prentiss deposited his 74th an- nual vote for State and county officers, on the 11th day of March, 1873 .* Keene has been the birth place and residence of many prom- inent and talented men, who have held many honorable positions, both in the State and Nation.
First Ministers. A church edi- fice was erected in this town in 1736. In 1736, the Rev. Jacob Bacon was ordained; left in 1747. Rev. Ezra Carpenter settled in 1753; left in 1760. Rev. Clement Sumner, ordained in 1761; left in 1772. Rev. Aaron Hall, settled in 1778; died in 1814.
Boundaries. North by West- moreland, Surry, and Gilsum, east by Sullivan and Roxbury, south by Swanzey, and west by Chester- field and Westmoreland. Area,
22,040 acres; improved land,
11,445 acres.
Distances. Ninety miles north- west from Boston, and fifty-five south-west from Concord.
Railroads. The railroad facili-
Since writing the above, Mr. Prentiss died, Friday, June 6, 1873, aged 95 years. He was an excellent man in every relation of life, and he died full of both years and honor.
-
3
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ties of this town are good. Cars on the "Ashuelot" and the "Cheshire" railroads leave daily for all sections of the country. When the " Manchester and Keene Railroad" is completed, thereby giving a more direct communica- tion with the central portion of the State, the railroad facilities of Keene will be nearly perfected.
KENSINGTON.
ROCKINGHAM COUNTY. Ken- sington has generally an even sur- face, and the soil is deep and fer- tile, and well adapted to grazing and tillage, and produces excellent crops. The average value of agri- cultural products for each acre of improved land is over $ 14. This includes all improved land except wood land. The State of Illinois averages less than $ 11, or 22 per cent less than Kensington. The farmers find a ready market at Exeter, three miles distant, for their surplus products, at fair prices. There are some fine farms under a high state of cultivation. From the summit of Fogg's or Moulton's Hill, an extensive view can be had of the broad Atlantic, and many cities and villages. Many tourists stop through the summer in this ancient and pleas- ant town.
Ponds. Muddy Pond is the only body of water of any note. It derives its name from the turbid appearance of its waters.
Employments. Agriculture and shoe business is the principal em- ployment of the people. 120,000 pairs of shoes are annually made, valued at $ 120,000, giving employ- ment to about 40 men. 650,000 feet of lumber, of all kinds, are annually sawed. There is one
small tannery, a plow manufac- tory, and a wheelwright's shop.
Resources. Productions of the soil, $ 82,794; mechanical labor, $ 25,650; stocks and money at in- terest, $ 13,129; deposits in savings banks, $ 16,856; stock in trade, $ 9,445; from summer tourists, $ 1,200.
Churches and Schools. Congre- gational, Rev. E. D. Eldridge, pas- tor ; Baptist, -; Univer- salist, - There are two schools in town. Average length of schools for the year, thirty-four weeks.
Libraries. Kensington Ladies' Sewing Circle Library, 500 vols. First Settlements. Kensington was settled at a very early period, but the exact date is not known. It was originally a part of Hampton, from which it was de- tached and incorporated, April 1, 1737.
First Ministers. Rev. Jeremiah Fogg, (Congregational,) ordained in 1737, died in 1789; Rev. Naph- tali Shaw, ordained in 1793, dis- missed in 1812. The Congrega- tional society was organized in 1737.
Boundaries. North by Exeter, east by Hampton and Seabrook, south by South Hampton, and west by East Kingston. Total area, 7,045 acres; improved land, 5,729 acres.
Distances. About forty miles south-east from Concord and three south from Exeter.
Railroads. By Newburyport and Exeter daily stage to Exeter station, three miles to the Boston and Maine Railroad. When com- pleted, it is expected that the Ex- eter and Salisbury Railroad will pass through Kensington.
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KILKENNY-KINGSTON.
KILKENNY.
Coos COUNTY. Since the last gazetteer of New-Hampshire was issued, but little if any change has occured in this town. It is a rough, rocky, and cold township. Along the southern border of the town is a narrow strip of land which is quite productive and easily cultivated.
Mountains. Pilot and Willard's mountain include a large portion of this territory; they receive the name of Pilot and Willard's moun- tain from a fact that a hunter named Willard, was once lost on this mountain, while out hunting with his dog. On the east side of the mountain was his camp; each day he noticed the dog left him, as he supposed in pursuit of game, but towards night he would return. At last he resolved to follow him; and, on the following day, he set out with the dog and after three days of hunger and fatigue, was brought back to his camp by his faithful guide and companion.
Organization. This town was granted to Jonathan Warner and others, June 4, 1774. In 1840, it contained 19 inhabitants; in 1856, 19, and we have no way of know- ing any different census, at the present time.
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