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 30
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Professional Services, Trade and Transportation. This branch, of business includes all persons not employed in farming or in manu- factories and house keeping. It means merchants, clerks, book keepers, bankers, men employed on railroads, day laborers, teach- ers, lawyers, clergymen, physi- cians, dentists, &c. The number of persons employed in these pro- fessions is estimated at nine per cent of its population, or 2,700.
Resources. Productions of the
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MANCHESTER.
soil, $ 148,403; mechanical labor, $ 3,674,000; professional services, &c., $ 1,620,000; stocks, $ 272,120; money at interest, $ 48,300 ; depos- its in savings banks, $ 3,057,676; stock in trade, $ 1,902,080.
Manchester Water Works. The bill, establishing these works, was obtained at the June session of the Legislature, 1871. The water is taken from Massabesic lake, which is noted for its purity, being very clear from mineral sub- stances, and is about four miles from the City Hall. The water is raised into a large reservoir, about one hundred and fifty-two feet above Elm Street, at the City Hall, by hydraulic power pumping. The pumping station is located on Cohas river, the outlet of the lake, with an outflow of water averag- ing not less than forty-five million gallons per day, which, acting on the fall at this point, is equal to a five hundred horse power privi- lege, and has the capacity to pump and furnish the water for a city of 125,000 inhabitants. The present pumping machinery has a capacity to force into the main reservoir not less than five and one third million gallons of water every twenty-four hours, while to supply the present wants of the city, less than two million gallons are re- quired.
The pipes are wrought iron, ce- ment lined. The force main and supply main are twenty inches in diameter, while the other pipes are respectively, fourteen, twelve, ten, eight, six and four inches ; the greatest length being six inches. There are over one hundred and fifty fire hydrants, set uniformly on the north-west corners of the respective intersecting streets, and
over one hundred and twenty gates, set invariably in range with the curb stone lines of the inter- secting streets.
The facilities for extinguishing fires, alone, through force hose pipes, with a head of one hundred and fifty feet, is equal to an effi- cient fire department in many cities in New-England, and, in connection with the excellent fire organization in this city, nearly excludes the risk of any devastat- ing fires. The total expense of the works was about $ 600,000.
Sewerage. An excellent plan of sewerage has been surveyed, and much of it laid, and together with the excellent water facilities, must make Manchester a clean and healthy city.
Fire Department. The fire or- ganization consists of No. 1, Amos- keag Steam Fire Engine Company, No. 2, Fire King Steam Fire En- gine Company, No. 3, The E. W. Harrington Steam Fire Engine Company, No. 4, N. S. Bean; No. 1, Pennacook Hose Company ; No. 1, Excelsior Hook and Ladder Company. Benjamin C. Kendell, Chief Engineer.
First Settlement. Manchester was originally a part of the towns of Chester, Londonderry, Bedford Goffstown, and a tract of land call- ed Harrytown. It was incorpora- ted under the name of Derryfield, September 3d, 1757, and changed to Manchester in 1810. The char- acter of the soil was such that it offered poor inducement for the early pioneers to settle here in large numbers, for many years. One hundred years ago, the Amos- keag falls were as noted in New- Hampshire as they are to-day, but for very different purposes. To-
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NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER.
day they are noted for the vast a- mount of machinery the waters move, which give employment to ten thousand persons, thereby drawing a large city around them, of nearly 30,000 souls. One hun- dred years ago they were noted for the large quantities of various kinds of fish that were annually caught at the falls by people from all sections of the State. These fish, in the spring, would move out of the Ocean, up the Merrimack, to deposit their spawn at or near the various sources of the river, and the falls, in the spring high water, would naturally impede their passage up the streams. They have been known to swarm so plenty as to affect the progress of boats, near the canal, at the foot of the falls. The people would come prepared to camp out, and the light of the camp-fires at night, the roar of the foaming flood, min- gled with the loud laugh, and camp-fire songs of the fishermen, were rare sports which they year- ly looked forward to with delight.
But this great resource of the State afforded no material growth to the town. In 1775 there were but 285 inhabitants; in 1790, only 362, and in 1820, 762.
Major General John Stark died here May 8, 1822, aged 93 years, 8 months and 22 days. The ceme- tery is enclosed on his own farm, overlooking the Merrimack. By his grave is placed a plain granite shaft, with the simple inscription " MAJOR GENERAL STARK."
History gives his deeds done for his country.
Hon. Samuel Blodgett, the founder of the canal, died here in 1806.
Parker Murder. March 27, 1845,
Manchester was the scene of one of the most attrocious murders ever committed in a civilized communi- ty. Mr. Jonas L. Parker, a prom- inent citizen and tax collector of the city in 1844, was enticed from his place of business, late in the evening, by a man unknown to any one, save Parker, under a plea that a lady in Janesville, wished to see him, on urgent business. This little village was situated about one mile east from the City Hall, and at that time a small piece of woods intervened between the two places. In this woods, the next morning, the body of Mr Parker was found with his throat cut, and the light snow on the ground re- vealed the fact that a desperate struggle had taken place between the assassin and his victim. The pocket book containing several thousand dollars, in the side pock- et of Parker's coat, was missing, but a wallet in his pants-pocket having sixteen hundred dollars in it, was left. This horrid murder naturally created a great excite- ment in Manchester, and every means was taken to ferret out the perpetrators of this dark and bloody deed; but to day it is still veiled in mystery to the public.
Manchester was incorporated as a city in June, 1846. The Mayors, up to the present time, are as fol- low: 1846, Hiram Brown; 1847, Jacob F. James; 1849, Warren L. Lane; 1850, Moses Fellows; 1852, Frederick Smyth; 1855, Theo- dore T. Abbott; 1857, Jacob F. James; 1858, Alonzo Smith; 1859 E. W. Harrington ; 1861, David A. Bunton; 1863, Theodore T. Ab- bott; 1864, Frederick Smyth; 1865, Darwin J. Daniels; 1866, John Hosley; 1867, Joseph B. Clark;
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MANCHESTER.
1868, James A. Weston; 1869; Isaac W. Smith; 1870, James A. Weston ; 1872, P. C. Cheney ; 1873, Charles H. Bartlett; resigned in February 1873; succeeded by John P. Newell.
The population, at different times, has been as follows: 1850, 13,933; 1860, 20,108; 1870, 23,586; at the present time, (December 1873,) it is estimated at about 30,000. The polls charged for tax- es in 1871, were 5,404; in 1872, 5,911, a gain in one year of 507.
The assessed valuation of the city as returned to the Legislature in 1872, to base the State proportion- al tax, was $ 13,930,822; the true valuation, upon the usual basis of assessing property at two thirds of its actual value, is not far from $ 21,000,000.
Railroads. The Railroad facil- ities of Manchester are very good ; no less than three roads have their termini here, and the Concord road passes through the depot. The Manchester and Lawrence Railroad, connects Lawrence and intervening towns with the city; Concord and Portsmouth Rail- road, from Manchester to Ports- mouth; Manchester and North Weare, Railroad, from Manches- ter to North Weare, and the Con- cord Railroad, connects Manches- ter south, via Nashua, with Bos- ton, Worcester, New-York, Al- bany, Chicago, &c., North via Concord, on the Northern Rail- road, with White River Junction, Montpelier, Burlington, St. Al- bans, Montreal and the West; on the Montreal Railroad, with Lit- tleton, White Mountains, Lancas- ter and Grand -Trunk Railroad; on the Concord and Claremont Railroad, with Hillsborough, New-
port and Claremont; at Hooksett, to Pittsfield over the Suncook Val- ley Railroad. A charter for a railroad from Manchester to Keene, has been granted, and no doubt the road will be built within the next five years. The Concord Railway was first opened to this city and the first train of cars run June 28, 1842, and opened for the public July 4, of the same year. The de- pot is a fine, brick structure, and is the largest building of the kind in the State.
Future Prospects. With its vast water power, its excellent railroad facilities, the completion of its public works its fine churches and schools, its large commercial trade, its rapidly growing wealth, together with the intelligence and enterprising spirit of its inhabi- tants, all portends to a brighter fu- ture for this city, in wealth, popu- lation and social position than it has ever enjoyed in the past. Thirty-five years ago where the city proper now stands there were less than 100 persons, now there are 30,000, and contains nearly one tenth of all the population and wealth in the State, and produces one sixth part of all the manufac- tured goods. With the past and present before us, by the next decade we may expect to see a city of 36,000 inhabitants and a wealth of thirty million dollars. Seven years hence, may the statis- tical facts exceed our prediction.
Boundaries. North by Hook- sett, east by Auburn, south by Londonderry and Bedford and west by Bedford and Goffstown. Area of improved land, 5,140 acres.
Distances. Seventeen miles south from Concord and fifty-six miles north-west from Boston.
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NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER.
MARLBOROUGH.
CHESHIRE COUNTY. The sur- . face of this town is uneven and frequently broken by hills, being excellent for grazing. There are some very good farms on the streams which produce fine crops of corn, oats, hay, &c.
Ponds and Rivers. There are several ponds which are sources of some of the branches of the Ashuelot. The North Branch, passing through the two villages, is supplied by a large reservoir, about seven miles above, and two smaller ones, nearer, and thus fur- nishes some of the best water pow- er in the county. Marlborough is one of the growing towns of the State.
Employments. Agriculture, in this town, is superseded by manu- facturing, the people being largely engaged in that branch of busi- ness. The value of horse blankets annually manufactured is $ 150, 000; tricots, diagonals, fancy cas- simeres, $ 70,000, and machine- shop productions, $25,000. There are also manufactured 20,000 box- es, 10,000 toy wagons, 1,500 toy bedsteads, 1,340,000 pails, 14,000 chairs, and 300,000 feet of lumber. There are ground, annually, 26,000 bushels grain, of all kinds. There is an extensive granite quarry which gives employment, during the months from April to Decem- ber, to about forty men. This stone is of the best quality, and is shipped to all parts of the country. Several other branches of mechan- ical business are carried on. (See tables.)
Resources. Agricultural pro- ducts, $ 60,306; mechanical, $92, 900; money at interest; $ 18,482; deposits in savings banks, $ 76,785;
stock in trade, $ 21,225 ; from sum- mer tourists, $ 2,250.
Churches and Schools. Congre- gational, Rev. J. L. Merrill, pas- tor; Methodist, Elder A. K. How- ard, pastor; Universalist, Rev. E. L. Senft, pastor. Church val- uation, Congregational, $8,000; Methodist, $2,000; Universalist, $4,000. There are nine school districts and ten schools in town. Average length of schools for the year, fifteen weeks. Annual amount of money appropriated for school purposes, $ 1,149.10. Marl- borough High School, C. E. Hough- ton, principal.
Library. Frost Free Library, has 2,300 volumes.
Hotel. Marlborough Hotel, ar- rivals last year, 2,310.
First Settlements. Marlborough was granted to Timothy Dwight and sixty-one others, April 29, 1751. The conditions of this charter were not seasonably fulfilled, by reason of the French and Indian war, and a second charter was granted September 20, 1754, and called Monadnock, No. 5. Incorporated, December 13, 1776. The first set- tlers were William Barker, Abel Woodward, Benjamin Tucker, Daniel Goodenough, and one Mc Alister. Colonel Andrew Col- burn, an officer killed in the Rev- olutionary struggle, belonged to this town.
First Ministers. Rev. Joseph Cummings, ordained in 1778, dis- missed in 1780; Rev. Holloway Fish, ordained in 1793, died in 1824.
Boundaries. North by Roxbury, east by Dublin and Jaffrey, south by Troy, and west by Swanzey and Keene.
Area. 13,000 acres; improved land, 8,007 acres.
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MARLOW.
Distances. Five miles south- east from Keene, five from Monad- nock Mountain, and fifty-eight south-west from Concord.
Railroads. Cheshire Railroad passes through the western part of the town.
MARLOW.
CHESHIRE COUNTY. The sur- face of this town is generally un- even; but the soil is productive. On the river, and other streams, there are large tracts of interval land, of an excellent quality. Many of the farms are under a high state of cultivation, producing fine crops of grain and grass.
River. Ashuelot River passes through almost the whole length of the town in a south-westerly direction. There are some fine water privileges, which are gener- ally improved.
Village. There is a very pleas- ant and lively village in Marlow, which is the centre of considerable trade. There are several stores. various kinds of manufactories, about seventy-five neatly painted dwelling houses, and four hundred inhabitants.
Employments. The larger por- tion of the people are engaged in agriculture, but there is consider- able manufacturing done. 750.000 feet of lumber are annually sawed ; 100,000 trowel handles, 2,000,000 pail handles, 300,000 bucket but- tons, 100,000 tassel moulds, plant protectors, &c., are manufactured. One of the largest tanneries in the State is in this town. Over 40 men are employed, who annually receive for their labor, $ 22,000. 75,000 calf skins, besides slaughter, are annually tanned, valued at $ 275,000. (See tables.)
Resources. £ Agricultural pro- ducts, $ 65,176; mechanical labor, $ 33,500; stocks and bonds,. 4,700; money at interest, $28,775; depos- its in savings banks, $ 73,736; stock in trade, $ 26,100.
Churches and Schools. Meth- odist, Elder Irad Taggart, pastor; Christian, Rev. William H. Na- son, pastor; Baptist, -;
Universalist, There are eight public schools in town. Average length of schools, for the year, sixteen weeks.
Academy. There is a flourish- ing academy, called the Marlow Academy. Mr. Carl Allen is the principal.
Hotels. Forest House, and Jones' Hotel.
First Settlers. This town was granted to William Noyes and six- ty-nine others, October 7, 1761. Joseph Tubbs, Samuel and John Gustin, N. Royce, N. Miller, Na- than Huntley, and others, were the first settlers. The first town meeting was held in March, 1776.
First Ministers. Rev. Caleb Blood, (Baptist) settled in Janua- ry, 1778, dismissed in 1779; Rev. Eleazer Beckwith succeeded, and preached till his death, in 1809.
Boundaries. North by Acworth and Lempster, east by Washing- ton and Stoddard, south by Gil- sum, and west by Alstead. Area, 15,937 acres.
Distances. Forty miles south- west from Concord, and fifteen north from Keene.
Railroads. No railroad passes through Marlow. The nearest point is at Keene, 16 miles, or Bellows Falls, the same distance. The Windsor and Forest Line Railroad will pass through this 'town, if ever built.
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NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER.
MASON.
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. The surface of Mason is uneven, but the soil is rich and productive, and yields good crops of corn, oats, potatocs and hay. The soil in the valleys is exceedingly rich and free from early frosts. For this reason excellent grapes and peaches are produced. Some of the finest graperies and peach orchards to be found in the State are in Mason. In 1872 the north- west part of Mason was disannex- ed, and the town of Greenville formed, in which is included near- ly all the water power in the old town.
Employments. Agriculture is the principal employment of the inhabitants. 1,500 pairs of shoes are annually made. There are several granite quarries and the stone being of a superior quality, it will soon be considered a val- uable resource.
Resources. Productions of the soil, $ 55,000; mechanical labor, $ 14,000; stocks and money at in- terest, $ 10,275; deposits in savings banks, $ 20,000; stock in trade, $ 10,000; from summer tourists, $ 1,500.
Churches and Schools. Congre- gational Church, Rev. Daniel Goodwin, pastor. There are six schools in town. Average length of schools, for the year, twenty- two weeks. Mr. John Boynton, a native of Mason, left a fund of $ 10,000, the interest of which is to be devoted to public schools.
Libraries. There are two pri- vate libraries, of 500 volumes each.
First Settlements. Mason was granted and known by the name of Number One, August 26, 1768. An effort to settle here was made-
in 1751. Enoch Lawrence and Deacon Nathan Hall made 'a per- manent settlement, in 1752.
First Ministers. Rev. Jonathan Searle, ordained in 1772, dismissed in 1782; Rev. Ebenezer Hill, or- dained in 1790. A Congregational Church was formed in 1772, and a Baptist Church organized in 1786.
Boundaries. North by Green- ville, east by Brookline, south by Ashby, Mass., and west by New- Ipswich. Area of improved land, 6,500 acres.
Distances. Forty-three miles south from Concord, and fifteen south-west from Amherst.
Railroads. The Peterborough and Shirley branch of the Fitch- burg Railroad passes through this town.
MEREDITH.
BELKNAP COUNTY. In 1855 the eastern portion of this town was set off and formed the present town of Laconia, and included the thriving villages of Lake Village and Meredith Bridge, on the west side of the Winnipiseogee River. Meredith is still a large and im- portant town, in agriculture, man- ufactures and trade, and as a resort of summer tourists. As a farming town it is surpassed by but few in the State. The soil is decp, fer- tilc, easily cultivated, and many of the farms beautifully situated on the shores of Lake Winnipiseo- gee, which washes a large portion of its southern and north-eastern borders. At Meredith Village there is one of the best water priv- leges in the State, which is con- trolled by the Meredith Mechan- ics' Association, with a capital of $ 50,000. Besides the manufacto- ries in the village, it is the centre
253
,MERRIMACK.
of a large mercantile trade, In the summer season, steamboats leave its wharves for all impor- tant points on the lake. There are ten or fifteen stores, 3 churches, a savings bank, two livery stables, and one hotel in the village. Un- til 1873 a portion of the village of Centre Harbor was in this town. It is estimated that nearly 1000 summer tourists visit the town annually. There are but few towns in the State where the fu- ture prospects are more flattering than those of Meredith.
Ponds and Streams. Wauka- wan Lake, near the village, is con- nected with Lake Winnipiseogee by a stream affording a large a- mount of water power. At the outlet of the pond is a substantial dam (owned by the Mechanics' As- sociation) which forms a large wa- ter basin.
Employments. Agriculture is the principal employment of the in- habitants, who receive a rich re- ward for their labor. There is considerable capital invested in manufactures. 35,000 pairs of cot- ton hose, 4,000,000 feet of dimen- sion lumber, 600,000 lath, and 5,000 shooks are annually manufactured, besides chair stuff, bobbins, &c., &c. (See tables.)
Resources. Annual productions of the soil, $ 175,900; mechanical labor, $ 45,000; stocks and bonds, $ 6,900; money at interest, $ 34,726; deposits in savings banks, $ 111, 020; stock in trade, $ 23,557; from summer tourists, $ 20,000.
Churches and Schools. Congre- gational, Rev. G. I. Bard, pastor ; Calvin Baptist, - - -; Freewill Baptist, Rev. Lincoln Given, pas- tor. There are 20 school districts and seventeen schools in town.
Average length of schools, for the year, twelve weeks.
Hotel. Elm House.
Bank. Meredith Village Sav- ings Bank.
First Settlers. Hon. Ebenezer Smith moved into this town at an early period of its settlement, and was looked to as an adviser by the settlers for many years. He died, August 22, 1807. Meredith was originally called New-Salem. In- corporated Dec. 30, 1768.
First Ministers. Rev. Simeon F. Williams, settled in 1792; dis- missed in 1798. Rev. David Smith, settled in 1819; died in 1824.
Boundaries. North by Centre Harbor and Winnipiseogee Lake, north and north-east by said lake, south-east by Laconia, south by Sanbornton, and west and north- west by New-Hampton. Number of acres of improved land, 16,586.
Distances. By the Montreal Railroad, thirty-seven miles north from Concord, and nine north from Gilford.
Railroads. The Boston, Con- cord and Montreal Railroad passes through this town. The Mere- dith and Conway Railroad is a pro- jected line which may be built at some future time.
MERRIMACK.
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. The surface of this town is generally even, broken by a few moderate swells. The soil, in various places, is fertile ; but there is considerable plain land which is not very pro- ductive, without heavy fertilizing. The intervals on the rivers, pro- duce fine crops of grain and grass.
Rivers. Merrimack River wash- es its eastern border. Souhegan River enters the town from Am-
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NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER.
herst, and pursues a winding course and joins the Merrimack one mile above Thornton's Ferry. Babboosuck Brook, issuing from · Babboosuck Pond, in Amherst, empties into the Souhegan near its confluence with the Merrimack. Penichook Brook has its source from a pond in Hollis, and forms the southern boundary of the town. About one mile from the mouth of the Souhegan is the best water power on the river. The water falls 83 feet in three separate falls within the space of half a mile. It is estimated, that if the power on these falls was properly utilized, it would sustain a village of 4,500 inhabitants.
Villages. There are four small villages, each with a post office, viz., Merrimack, Reed's Ferry, Thornton's Ferry, and South Mer- rimack, on the Nashua and Wilton railroad. The three first are on the Concord railroad, and all have some manufacturing. At Reed's Ferry there is one store, school house, and several manufactories, such as brick, barrels, and overalls (on an extensive scale). At Thorn- ton's Ferry there is a school house and store; also manufactories of bricks, barrels and furniture. At Merrimack there is one church ed- ifice, school house, a new and com- modious town house, store, and hotel; also manufactories of ex- tension tables and woolens. At South Merrimack there is a church edifice, school house, and store.
Employments. Farming is the principal employment of the in- habitants, but manufacturing is an important branch of business. M. Houghton & Son manufacture black walnut and chestnut exten- sion tables; annual value of pro-
ductions, $ 40,000. Parker & Co., black walnut centre tables, orna- mented and carved work, with marble tops, $ 60,000. David Hen- derson, flannel and carpets, $ 70, 000. Fessenden & Lowell, cooper stock, $ 20,000. Nelson H. Brown & Co,, barrels and lumber, $ 6,000. IIosea Evans, barrels, $ 2,000; be- sides overalls, pants and sacks, $ 200,000; meal and flour, $3,500; lumber, $ 8,700; also blacksmiths, carpenters, wheelwrights, painters, coopers, harness makers, &c. The total value of all kinds of mechan- ical productions, is $ 435,000 annu- ally. Merrimack claims the first discovery, in this region, of making what are called Leghorn bonnets. Misses Burnaps first made them, several years ago, and some of their bonnets were sold at auction for $ 50.00 each.
Much attention is now given to ·manufacturing sale sacks, pants, and overalls. Two firms make 20,000 dozens annually, valued at $ 200,000. The amount paid for making this clothing is over $24,000. Females take the goods (cut out) from the shops, and make them, at their respective homes.
Resources. Productions of the soil, $94,496; mechanical labor, $ 96,400; stocks and money at in- terest, $ 25,380; deposits in savings banks, $ 157,847; stock in trade, $ 25,375; from tourists, $2,000; professional business, $ 10,000.
The large available water power still unimproved, together with its railroad facilities, make the future prospects of Merrimack look en- couraging for seeing a large manu- facturing town within a few years.
Churches and Schools 1st Con- gregational, Rev. C. L. Hubbard, pastor; number of members, 125 .
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MIDDLETON.
at South Merrimack, 2d Congre- gationalist, no settled pastor, 40 members. There are twelve schools in town; average length, for the year, twenty-one weeks; total value of school houses, $6,900.
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