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 36
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This town was concerned in the tedious controversy with the pro- prietors of Bow, who claimed cer- tain lands belonging to the gran- tees in this vicinity. Some of the grantees settled here as early as 1729. It was incorporated under its present name November 1, 1759. First Ministers. Rev. Aaron Whittemore, Congregational; or- dained in 1737; died in 1767. Rev. Jacob Emery, settled in 1768; left in 1775. Rev. Zaccheus Colby, settled in 1786; dismissed in 1803. Boundaries. North-west by Soucook River, which separates it from Concord; east and north- east by Chichester and Epsom; south-east by Suncook River, di- viding the town from Allenstown ; and west by the Merrimack River. Area, 10,242 acres ; improved land, 9,950 acres.
Distances. Six miles south-east from Concord, and ten miles north from Manchester.
PETERBOROUGH.
HILLLSBOROUGH COUNTY. The surface is uneven; diversified with hills, vales, meadows, broad swells, and rills; the whole pre- senting many beautiful landscapes, worthy the pencil of a skilful
artist. The soil on the uplands is rich and productive; the hills and mountain sides afford excellent pasturing, while the meadows, on the rivers, yield abundant crops of grass. There are many good farms under a high state of culti- vation, showing what they are ca- pable of producing under the man- agement of skillful husbandmen, who intend to make farming their business in New-Hampshire.
Rivers. The Contoocook River runs in a northerly direction, through the centre of the town, and affords some valuable water power. Nubanusit (or Goose Brook) River takes its rise in ponds in Hancock, Nelson and Harrisville, and, after a passage of nine miles from Harrisville, and a fall of over 600 feet, joins the Contoocook in the village of Peterborough. For a description of the valuable reservoirs, at the head of this river, see Harrisville. This river furnishes nearly all of the water power for the manufac- tories in Peterborough, with the exception of a woolen mill, grist mill, and barometer shop, and several lumber mills. There are many excellent water privileges, on both rivers, still remaining unimproved.
Mountains. On the east side of the town is a chain of hills, called Pack Monadnock. The Grand Monadnock, in Jaffrey, lies in a south - westerly direction, about ten miles distant. In the centre of the town is a hill, at an elevation of two hundred feet above the river. The summit of this hill was formerly the site of a church edifice.
Villages. West Village is situ- ated on Nubanusit River. Here
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is a large cotton manufactory, em- ploying 44 males and 87 females, and manufacturing wide sheet- ings, from 4-4ths to 11-4ths, also drills and print cloth; value of manufactured goods, annually pro- duced, $ 160,000. There are oth- er manufactories, store, graded school house, post office, and two paper mills.
Peterborough Centre Village is situated at the confluence of the Nubanusit with the Contoocook rivers, and is one of the largest and most enterprising villages in the State. The Monadnock Rail- road was completed about two years ago, (June 6, 1871) between this place and Winchendon, Mass- achusetts, and has given a new impetus to the business of this vil- lage. There are two cotton man- ufactories, carriage manufactory, grist mill, harness shop, shoe shops, piano stools, barometers, grave stones, trusses and support- ers, tailors, jewelers, and various other mechanical shops. There are five church edifices, high school building, one large graded school house, two banks, two ho- tels, Peterborough Transcript of- fice, telegraph and express office, three lawyers, five physicians, . three dentists, between twenty- five and thirty stores, of various kinds, and about two hundred and fifty dwellings. There are many fine buildings in the village, both public and private, and some of the streets and private residences are beautifully shaded. The pro- jected lines of railroad, being from Hillsborough Bridge to this village; the Greenfield extension, and the Manchester and Keene roads, will, in all probability, be built within a few years, and thus
open direct railway cominunica- tion with Concord and the north- ern section of the State; to Ports- mouth, through Manchester; to Boston and Portland, through Nashua, Lowell and Rochester ; to Connecticut River, north or south, through Keene; and, on the com- pletion of the Hoosac Tunnel, will give this town railroad facilities second to none in New-Hamp- shire. With this prospective view, together with the large amount of valuable water power still unim- proved, the future growth and prosperity of this village looks very flattering.
Summer Tourists. The good roads and delightful drives, in and around Peterborough, and the fine views obtained from the crests of its many hills, have rendered it a popular resort for tourists to spend their summer vacation. The num- ber who stop here, through the warm season, is estimated at 400.
Employments. Peterborough is decidedly a manufacturing and mercantile town, as their annual receipts, from these two sources, far exceed the value of the whole agricultural production. The Un- ion Manufacturing Co., Phoenix Manufacturing Co., and Peter- borough Manufacturing Co., an- nually produce cotton sheetings, from 36 inches to 100 inches wide, cotton drills and print cloth, to the value of $ 383,000; J. Noone's Sons, woolen goods, to the value of $ 75,000 ; J. Briggs, piano stools, to the value of $50,000; foundry and machine shop, $25,000; Charles Wilder, thermometers and barometers, $ 25,000. There are also manufactured : leather, $ 10,000; flour and meal, $ 35,000; wrapping paper, $ 28,000; harness-
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es, $ 10,000; custom boots and shoes, $ 7,000; trusses and sup- porters, $ 8,000; monuments and gravestones, $ 15,000; lumber, $ 18,700; carriages, $6,000; be- sides printing, millinery, tailors, jewelry, tin, iron, blacksmith, and various other mechanical shops. There are invested in manufacto- ries, of all kinds, $ 525,900; em- ploying 275 men and 216 women and children, who annually re- ceive for their labor, $ 175.600, and produce manufactured goods to the value of $ 740,900; J.
Briggs, the patentee and proprie- tor of Briggs' patent piano stools, has purchased water power on Nubanusit River, and is erecting buildings capable of employing 70 men. The increased demand for his stools has forced him to make this enlargement in his business.
Resources. Agricultural produc- tions, $128,742 ; mechanical labor, $ 175,600; stocks and money at in- terest, $ 112,719; deposits in sav- ings banks, $ 307,382; stock in trade, $107,306; professional busi- ness, $ 80,000; from summer tourists, $ 12,000.
Churches and Schools. Catholic, supplied by the priest in Wilton the first Sabbath of each month; 300 members; church value, $ 5,000. Congregational Unitari- an, Rev. A. W. Jackson, pastor; members, 159; value, $25,000. First Congregational, Rev. George Dustan, pastor; 87 members; val- ue, $ 12,000. Methodist Episcopal, Rev. A. F. Baxter, pastor; 40 members; value, $ 8,000. First Baptist, Rev. W. O. Ayer, pastor ; 60 members; value, $4,000.
There are fourteen schools in town, five of which are graded. Average length of schools, for the
year, twenty-one weeks. Value of school houses, $ 11,200. Total amount of money appropriated for school purposes, $3,314.50. There is a public high school which has been established about two years-Thomas P. Maryatt, prin- cipal.
Library. Peterborough Town Library has about 4,000 volumes.
Newspaper. Peterborough Tran- script.
Banks. First National Bank and Peterborough Savings Bank.
Hotels. French's Hotel, valued at $ 45,000; annual arrivals, 7,256. Union Hotel, value, $ 5,000; annu- al arrivals, 3,300.
First Settlements. This town was granted by the government of Massachusetts to Samuel Heywood and others in 1738. The first set- tlers were Scotch Presbyterians, from Ireland, and being unacus- tomed to clearing and cultivating wild lands, they endured great privations. Their nearest grist- mill was at Townsend, Mass., twenty-five miles distant, and their road was only a line of mark- ed trees.
It appears that as early as 1750 the inhabitants were afflicted with Indian depredations. Octo- ber 6, 1750, Alexander Robbe, Thomas Morrison, James Mitch- ell, William Robbe, John White, James Gordon, John Smith, John Hill, William Scott, and Thom- as Vender, petitioned to the General Court of Massachusetts to allow them to build a fort and block houses at the expense of this State, and, also, to have a guard of twenty men sent them for their protection. Their ex- cuse for calling on Massachusetts for this assistance, was, that if
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NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER.
they were obliged to give up the settlement at Peterborough, Town- send, Leominster, and Lunenburg, in that State, would be left expos- ed to the depredations and cruel- ties of the savages. John Ritchie was the first male child born in town. He was born February 22, 1759, and died in the defense of his country, at Cambridge, in 1776. Hugh Gregg and Samuel Stinson were among the first settlers. The town was incorporated January 17 ,1760. Peterborough has fur- nished many eminent men, who have adorned the bench, chair of State, the pulpit, the bar, the halls of Legislature and of Congress.
First Ministers. Rev. John Morrison, ordained in 1766, re- signed in 1775; Rev. David An- nan, settled in 1778, left in 1792; Rev. Elijah Dunbar, ordained in 1799, dismissed in 1827.
Boundaries. North by Hancock and Greenfield, east by Greenfield and Temple, south by Temple, Sharon, and Jaffrey, and west by Jaffrey, Dublin, and Harrisville. Area, 23,780 acres. Area of im- proved land, 15,925 acres.
Distances. Forty-two miles south-west from Concord, and twenty west from Amherst.
Railroads. . Monadnock Rail- road has its terminus in this town.
PIERMONT.
GRAFTON COUNTY. The sur- face is hilly but the soil is fertile and produces good crops of wheat, corn, oats, potatoes and hay. Along the banks of the Connecti- cut, is some good interval land. The hills afford some very fine pasturage for sheep grazing, large numbers being kept in town.
Streams. Eastman's Brook is a
large mill stream, and affords some good water power, which is improved.
Mountains. Pcakcd and Black Mountains are the principal ele- vations, from the summits of which a fine view of the country can be obtained.
Minerals. Iron ore hill con- tains inexhaustible supplies of specular and magnetic iron ore of superior quality. A vein of stone runs through this town, which is peculiarly adapted for whet stones, large quantities being annually manufactured.
Employments. Agriculture is the principal employment of the inhabitants. 150,000 shingles and 675,000 feet of boards, &c., are sawed annually. There is also one hub manufactory, where 12, 000 hubs are manufactured, valued at $2,250, and one whet stone and scythe rifle manufactory, where 1,300 gross of whet stones, and 100 gross of rifles, valued at $ 4, 300 are annually made.
Resources. Productions of the soil, $ 127,175; mechanical labor, $ 12,800; money at interest, $ 62, 300; deposits in savings banks, $ 7,276; stock in trade, $ 12,114.
Churches and Schools. Congre- gational, Rev. A. L. Marden, pas tor. Methodist, Rev. Moses Sher- man, pastor. There are thirteen schools in town. Average length of schools, for the year, twenty- two weeks.
First Settlement. Piermont was granted to John Temple and 59 others, November 6, 1764. The first settlement was made in 1770. First Minister. Rev. John Richards, settled in 1776, left in 1802. A Congregational Church was organized in 1771.
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PITTSBURG.
Boundaries. North by Haver- hill, east by Warren, south by Or- ford, and west by Bradford, Ver- mont. Total area 23,000 acres; improved land, 16,315 acres.
Distances. Seventy-five miles north-west from Concord, and eight south from Haverhill.
PITTSBURG.
Coos COUNTY. Pittsburg is the northernmost and by far the larg- est town in the State, and was originally called Indian Stream Territory. A large portion of the town is still covered with a heavy growth of wood and timber, which was principally the proper- ty of the State, prior to 1868. In these heavy forests the Deer, Bear, Wolf, and Sable still roam, while the streams, lakes and ponds abound with Trout, and Pickerel, and along the banks, are the Otter, Mink, and Musk-rat. The surface of Pittsburg is broken and uneven, but the soil is well adapted to graz- ing. Corn, buckwheat, and the English grains are successfully produced.
Rivers and Lakes. Indian, Hall's, and Perry's streams furnish abundant water power. In the north-east portion of the town, is Connecticut Lake. It is four miles in length, and three in width, and is the source of Con- necticut River. Four miles above Connecticut Lake, is Second Lake, which is connected with it by a considerable stream. Third Lake lies two miles above Second Lake, has an area of 200 acres, and is situated near the highlands, which separate New-Hampshire from Canada.
Employments. The people are engaged in agriculture. About
fifty tons of starch are annually manufactured; 375,000 feet of boards &c., and 24,000 clapboards, are annually sawed.
Resources. Productions of the soil, $ 45,289; mechanical labor, $ 4,800; money at interest, $ 4,900; stock in trade, $ 10,000; from sum- mer tourists, $ 5,000.
Churches and Schools. There is an Advent Society in town; nine school districts, and six schools; average length, for the year, thirteen weeks.
Organization. The exact time of the organization of the town is not known. General Moody Bedel, who rendered valuable service in the war of 1812, John Haines, Esq., Rev. Nathaniel Per- kins, Jeremiah Tabor, Ebenezer Fletcher, and about fifty others, settled here in 1810. Incorporat- ed December 10, 1840.
Hotel. Connecticut Lake House. Boundaries. North by the high- lands that separate the waters of the St. Lawrence from those that fall into the Connecticut; east by the State of Maine, south by Con- necticut River, and west by Hall's Stream. The area is over 200,000 acres; area of improved land, 6, 008 acres.
Distances. One hundred and seventy-six miles north of Con- cord, and forty north-east of Lan- caster.
Railroads. Connected by stage to North Stratford station on the Grand Trunk Railroad, about twenty-five miles. It is expected that the Montreal and Quebec Railroad, will be extended through this tract of New-Hampshire, and develope its valuable resources which are, at the present time, in a latent state.
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NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER.
PITTSFIELD.
MERRIMACK COUNTY. Pittsfield is one of the growing towns of the county, and its future prospects are very flattering. The surface is uneven, and, in some portions, rocky; but the soil is very fertile, producing excellent crops of wheat, corn, &c. But one other town in the county raises as many bushels of wheat, and but two sell as many gallons of milk. There are many fine farms under a high state of cultivation, and many wealthy farmers in Pittsfield.
Rivers and Ponds. Suncook River passes through this town in a southerly direction, affording many fine water privileges, several of which are not improv- ed. The new railroad facilities will, doubtless, cause the utilizing of all the surplus water power be- fore many years. £ Berry's and Wild Goose ponds are the princi- pal bodies of water.
Mountain. " Catamount Moun- tain" extends across the south-east part of the town. It has an eleva- tion of 1,450 feet above the level of the ocean, which can be dis- tinctly seen from its summit, in a clear day. Berry's Pond is on this mountain.
Minerals &c. Black tourma- line and magnetic iron are found in a few localities; peat bogs are numerous, and, when reclaimed, produce heavy crops of grass. A short distance north-east from the village, is a spring impregnated with sulphur.
Village. In a valley on the Sun- cook river is situated the neat and flourishing village of Pittsfield. Since the introduction of the rail- road, it has increased in business and population very rapidly. Since
1870, there have been established, three large shoe manufactories, employing 325 hands, and annual- ly producing 500,000 pairs of wom- en's boots and shoes valued at $550,000. There have also been erected many business buildings and dwelling houses, with every prospect that what has already been done is but a foretaste of its future business operations. There are in the village, four church ed- ifices, an academy, town hall, two banks, about twenty stores, of va- rious kinds, one hotel, numerous offices, of various professions, three large, shoe manufactories, one cotton manufactory, grist- mill, saw mill, and many other mechanical shops, and about two hundred dwelling houses. A disastrous fire occurred here in the fall of 1872, but the people are alive to such an emergency, and it will soon be rebuilt with more expensive structures, adding beau- ty and renewed life to the village. Pittsfield holds out great induce- ments for manufactures to locate in it.
Employments. The inhabitants are largely engaged in manufac- turing and mercantile trade, though the products of the soil are valuable. About 600,000 pairs of women's boots and shoes are man- ufactured annually, and over 2,000, 000, yards of cotton cloth, 7,000 shingles, 500,000 feet of boards and dimension timber, and 9,000 slioe boxes are annually produced. There is a planing and turning mill, and several other small man- ufactories. The Pittsfield Manu- facturing Company enlarged their mill, in the summer of 1873, to the capacity of manufacturing fifty per cent. more goods.
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PLAINFIELD.
Resources. Agricultural produc- tions, $ 97,973; mechanical labor, $ 255,500; stocks, &c., $ 30,200; money at interest, $12,350; deposits in savings banks, $ 137,248; stock in trade, $ 43,375; from summer tourists, $ 3,000; professional bus- iness, &c., $ 60,000.
Churches and Schools. Congre- gational-Freewill Baptist, Rev. A. Durgin, pastor ; Cal. Baptist, Rev. J. M. Coburn, pastor; Episcopal, -; Union, Rev. Joseph Har- vey, pastor; Quaker, Hiram Paige, pastor. There are ten school dis- tricts, and eleven schools in town; average length, for the year, eight- een weeks; amount of money an- nually appropriated for school purposes, $ 1,755.45.
Literary Institution. . Pittsfield Academy, a prosperous institution, is located here,
Library. Pittsfield Library As- · sociation.
Newspaper. Pittsfield Star.
Hotel. " Washington House."
First Settlers. John Cram and others were the first settlers in this town. It was incorporated March 27, 1782.
First Minister Rev. Christo- pher Page, (Congregational,) set- tled in 1789, dismissed, 1793.
Boundaries. North-east by Barnstead, south-east by Strafford nd Northwood, south-west by Chichester and Epsom, and north- west by Loudon. Area, 14,927 acres ; improved land, 10,648 acres.
Distances. By railroad, twen- ty-two miles north-east from Con- cord; private conveyance, fifteen miles.
Railroad Pittsfield is the ter- minus of the Suncook Valley Rail- road. Suncook Valley Extension to Alton, it is thought, will be
built another season. The Con- cord and Rochester Railroad pas- ses through Pittsfield, if ever constructed.
PLAINFIELD.
SULLIVAN COUNTY. Plainfield is one of the best farming towns in the State. The Connecticut River waters its western border where can be found some very valuable interval. In other parts of the town, there are many fertile meadows. The hills furnish some of the best pasturage for sheep in the county. The soil is generally strong and fertile, producing ex- cellent crops of wheat, corn, oats and potatoes. Nearly 4,000 bush- els of wheat and 18,000 bushels of corn are annually produced.
Rivers and Ponds. Connecticut River waters its western part, while a small stream which has its source in Croydon mountains pas- ses through the centre. Hart's Is- land, in the Connecticut, contains nineteen acres. There are two small ponds.
Elevation. Home Hill, on the Connecticut, is a considerable ele- vation. Its summit can be seen for a long distance, either up or down the river, and it was named by the Indians, who had their en- campment near its base.
Lime Stone, of a good quality, is found in the western portion of the town.
Plainfield has a pleasant village situated on a plain, through the centre of which a street passes, north and south.
On a gentle eminence, in this town, is located the beautiful vil- lage of Meriden, upon the top of which eminence are two churches, a school house, two stores, a hotel,
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NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER.
and Kimball Union Academy, being one of the most distinguished liter- ary institutions in the State. This school was founded in 1813, and in- corporated the same year. It was endowed by Daniel Kimball, Esq., of Meriden, with the sum of $ 42, 000, and has an additional school property of $ 18,000. Number of alumni, about fifteen hundred. The average expenses of each scholar, including tuition, board and room-rent, is $150.00 per year. The average number of students, per year, for the last thirty years, has been about two hundred.
Of the income of this fund, $ 150 is annually applied towards the support of a preacher; the remain- der, in aid of young men who con- template entering upon the duties of the ministry.
The success which has hitherto attended this institution, is a suf- ficient guarantee of its present standing and future prospects. Rev. L. A. Austin, M. A., is the Principal.
Employments. Farming is the principal employment of the in- habitants. Some of the finest farms in the State can be found in this town. Many of the farmers keep summer boarders through the warm weather, there being about 400 tourists who spend their sum- mer vacation in this pleasant town. 50,000 clapboards, 200,000 shingles. and 700,000 feet of boards, etc., are annually sawed. Furniture to a moderate extent, is manufactured.
Resources. Agricultural prod- ucts, $ 179,075; mechanical labor, $ 5,500; stocks and bonds, $ 14,000; money at interest, $ 37,710; depos- its in savings banks, $ 35,826; stock in trade, $ 54,000; from summer tourists, $ 12,000.
Churches and Schools. There are five churches in Plainfield viz. two Congregational, two Baptist and one Methodist. Revs. C. M. Palmer and Jacob Scales, pastors of the Congregational; Revs. H. G. Hubbard and E. H. Smith, pastors of the Baptist, and Elder David Moody, Methodist pastor. There are sixteen school districts and seventeen schools. Average length of schools, for the year, twenty weeks.
Hotels. Booth House.
First Settlers. L. Nash, and J. Russell settled here in 1764. In- corporated, or a grant given, Au- gust 14, 1761.
First Ministers. Rev. Abraham Carpenter, (Congregational) set- tled in 1765; dismissed in 1799. Rev. Micah Porter, settled in 1804; dismissed in 1824.
Boundaries. North by Lebanon, east by Grantham, south by Cor- ' nish, and west by Hartland, Ver- mont. Area of improved land 24,683 acres.
Distances. Sixty miles north west from Concord, seventeen north-west from Newport, and twelve south from Dartmouth College.
Railroads. Lebanon on Northern Railroad, and Windsor on the Vermont Central, are the nearest points to railroads.
PLAISTOW.
ROCKINGHAM COUNTY. Plais- tow is a small township with an even surface, in the larger portion of the town. The soil is generally good, being a mixture of black loam, clay, and gravel. The many thrifty farms, attest as to the quality of the soil, and to the skill and industry of the husband-
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PLYMOUTH.
man. Its proximity to the large manufacturing city of Haverhill, Mass., gives the farmers, a fine market for the sale of their sur- plus productions, at remunerative prices. Clay of the best quality is found in abundance near the centre of the town, which affords a rare opportunity for the manu- facturing of brick.
Village. On the Boston and Maine Railroad, near the centre of the town, is located the pleasant village, of Plaistow. There are several stores, of various kinds, one hotel, two church edifices, school houses, post office, tele- graph office, one lawyer, two phy- sicians, and about fifty dwelling houses. If proper inducements are held out to the manufacturers in the now crowded city of Haver- hill, four miles distant, the popu- lation of this village, can be doubled, and the valuation trebled within the next five years.
Employments. The inhabitants are largely engaged in the manu- facturing of brick. It is estimat- ed that there will be over 30,000, 000 of brick made the present sea- son (1873). Many people live in this town, and do business in Hav- erhill. 18,000 pairs of shoes, are annually manufactured, and about 350,000 feet of lumber sawed.
Resources. Agricultural pro- ductions, $29,136; mechanical la- bor, $ 46,500; money at interest, $ 18,900; deposits in savings banks in the State,* $ 2.800; stock in trade, $ 31,590; from summer tourists, $ 1,000.
Churches and Schools. Congre- gational Rev. Calvin Terry, pas-
* The Savings Banks, in Massachusetts, re- ceive the benefit of the large deposits, made , by the people of Plaistow.
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