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 44
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76
Academy. Tubbs Union Acad- emy is located here.
Library. Shed Free Library, 600 volumes.
Hotel. Lovel House.
First Settlement. Washington · was granted by the Masonian pro- prietors to Reuben Kidder, Esq., and originally called Camden. It was first settled by the grantee in 1768. Incorporated under its pres- ent name, December 13, 1776.
First Minister. Rev. George Leslie, (Congregational,) installed in 1780; died in 1800.
Boundaries and Area. North by Goshen, east by Bradford, Hillsbo- rough and Windsor, south by Stod- dard, and west by Marlow and Lempster. Area, 30,765 acres; area of improved land, 11,964 acres.
Distances. Thirty-five miles west from Concord, and sixteen south-east from Newport.
Railroad. By stage three times a week to Hillsborough Bridge station, twelve miles, on the Con- toocook Valley Railroad. When completed, the Windsor and For- est Line Railroad, will pass through this town.
WATERVILLE.
GRAFTON COUNTY. Waterville is one of the wild mountainous
towns of New-Hampshire. It is now mostly a dense forest of pine, hemlock, maple, and birch and it is one of the best regions for hunting and fishing in the State. In her forests now dwell the bear, deer, and wild-cat, and in her crystal streams, swim the spotted trout.
Rivers and Ponds. Swift and Mad rivers are the principal streams. There are two ponds and several elevations.
Scenery. In many parts of Wa- terville the scenery is grand and sublime. All lovers of natural scenery, in its true primitive state, which man has never defaced, will find this town hard to be excelled in New-Hampshire. Over three hundred summer tourists annually visit here. They find a welcome home at the Greeley House, where every want is supplied, in shape of food for the inner man; horses guns, and fishing tackle for the sport.
Resources. Agricultural produc- tions, $ 2,870; mechanical labor, $ 600; from summer tourists, $5,000.
First Settlers. This town was granted to Josiah Gillis, Moses Foss, jr., and others, June 29, 1819, and was known as " Gillis and Foss Grant." It was incorporated July 1, 1829.
Boundaries. North by ungrant- ed lands, east by Albany, south by Sandwich, and west by Thornton. Distances. Sixty-eight miles north from Concord, and eighteen north-east from Plymouth.
Railroad. Montreal Railroad, at Plymouth, thence by stage.
WEARE.
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. Weare is one of the most important and
365
WEARE.
wealthy farming towns in the county. The soil is strong and deep, and is generally well cul- tivated and suitably adapted to the various productions usually grown in the State .. It exceeds any town in the county, in the quantity of corn and wheat raised; and but one other produces as many apples. The locality of the town is such that the inhabitants are divided into precincts or central points, consequently, there are five post offices, for their mail conveniences. There are many fine farms under a high state of cultivation, producing excellent crops of corn, hay etc.
Rivers. The principal stream is the north-west branch of the Pis- cataquoag River, which meanders through the northerly and easter- ly section of the town, and affords excellent water power, which is generally improved by mills, of various kinds.
Summer Tourists. The surface is broken with hills and vales, and in many sections there is some very fine scenery, which has at- tracted the attention of tourists, who spend their summer vacation in this thriving town. It is esti- mated that about two hundred tourists, from various sections of the country, stop here through the warm season of the year.
Employments. The inhabitants are generally devoted to the cul- tivation of the soil, but the manu- factures are quite important, and valuable resources, as to the pros- perity of the town. There are one cotton mill, one woolen mill, two shoe manufactories, one organ box manufactory, one furniture manufactory, wheel-wright shop, tannery, grist and saw mills &c.
The total amount of manufactured goods, annually produced, is val- ued at $290,300. There are eight stores in town. (See tables.)
Resources. Productions of the soil, $ 192,399; mechanical labor, $ 56,850; stocks, and bonds, $ 5,100; money at interest, $16,950; depos- its in savings banks, $ 239,191; stock in trade $ 41,168; from sum- mer tourists, $ 6,000. There are but few towns which show such large resources, in proportion to their population.
Churches and Schools. There are four Baptist, one Universalist, and two Friends churches. There are sixteen schools; average length, for the year, twenty-one weeks; annual amount of money appropri- ated for school purposes, $2,716. 93. " Clinton Grove Seminary" is in this town; C. H. Jones is the principal. There is one small pub- lic Library.
Hotels. Collins House, and Dearborn House.
First Settlements. The Maso- nian proprietors granted this town to Ichabod Robie and others, September 20, 1749. It was orig- inally called Halestown, but was incorporated September 21, 1764, and received its present name in honor of Hon. Meshech Weare.
First Minister. Rev. John Clay- ford settled in 1802; dismissed in 1808.
Boundaries. North by Henni- ker and Hopkinton, east by Dun- barton and Goffstown, south by New-Boston, and west by Frances- town and Deering. Area, 33,648 acres; area of improved land, 23, 392 acres.
Distances. Fifteen miles south- west from Concord, and eighteen north-west from Manchester.
366
NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER.
Railroads The terminus of the Manchester and North Weare Railroad is in this town. There are three stations. There is also a daily milk train runing from North Weare to Boston, and dur- ing the summer, Sundays; which offers great inducements for those who wish to follow the milk business.
WEBSTER.
MERRIMACK COUNTY. Webster was taken from the western portion of Boscawen, and incorporated un- der its present name, July 3, 1860.
The surface is uneven, but the soil is strong and deep, producing excellent crops of corn, wheat and hay. It is noted for the fine qual- ity and abundance of its apples.
Ponds and Rivers. Long Pond is about two miles in length, and half a mile in width. Blackwater Riv- er passes through the whole extent of the town, in a southerly direc- tion, and furnishes some excellent water power.
Courser Hill is quite an eleva- tion, but is capable of cultivation to its top, with quite a little settle- ment on it. There is a church, school-house, store, post-office and about fifteen or twenty dwellings. The views obtained from this hill, are extensive and very fine.
Employments. The inhabitants are largely engaged in agriculture, but there is some manufacturing carried on. 6,439 bushels corn, 2,497 tons hay, 25,475 pounds but- ter, 10,744 pounds cheese, and ap- ples to the value of $6,000, are.an- nually . produced; 115,000 clap- boards, 400,000 shingles and laths, 1,225,000 feet of boards and dimen- sion timber sawed, valued at $24, 200; besides, there are carriage and
chair stock, peg mill, grist mill, leather board manufactory, black- smith, carpenter, etc. Total value of goods manufactured, is $ 64,000.
Resources. Agricultural pro- ductions, $ 101,628; mechanical labor, $ 15,200; stocks, and money at interest, $ 13,487; deposits in savings banks, $ 62,766; stock in trade, $ 4,800.
Churches and Schools. Chris- tian, - - ; Congregational, Rev. Edward Buxton, pastor; Methodist, George Wood, pastor. There are eight schools in town. Average length of schools, for the year, eighteen weeks.
For First Settlements. See Bos- cawen.
Boundaries. North by Salis- bury, east by Boscawen, south by Concord and Hopkinton, and west by Warner. Area of improved land, 11,687 acres.
Distances. Fourteen miles north from Concord.
Railroads. Six miles to Bos- cawen, on the Northern Railroad.
WENTWORTH.
GRAFTON COUNTY. The surface is moderately uneven, but the soil is generally good, and that in the vicinity of the rivers is exceedingly fertile, producing excellent crops.
Rivers and Ponds. Baker's Riv- er flows through the town and is the principal stream. On this riv- er, is a fall of considerable height, affording splendid water privileges. The south part is watered by the south branch of Baker's River, which joins the main branch near Rumney line. Baker's Pond, sit- uated partly in Orford and partly in this town, is the largest sheet of water. Pond Brook is the out- let which affords water sufficient
367
WENTWORTH'S LOCATION-WESTMORELAND.
for several valuable mill sites.
Mountains. Part of Carr's Moun- tain is situated in the easterly part, while a portion of Mount Cuba rises in the westerly section of the town.
Minerals. The last named mountain contains inexhaustible quantities of the best limestone. Granite of a fine quality is found at the base of Carr's mountain, also Iron ore is found in various parts of the town.
The village, situated near the falls, contains several stores, post- office etc., and is a thriving and industrious place.
Employments. Most of the in- habitants are engaged in agricul- ture. The lumber business is car- ried on quite extensively. 25,000 clapboards, 965,000 shingles, and 5,900,000 feet of boards are annu- ally sawed; 40,000 cigars made, also gloves and mittens are man- ufactured in considerable quanti- ties. Total value of manufactured production $ 97,700.
Resources. Productions of the soil, $ 83,645; mechanical labor, $ 25,000; stocks, and money at in- terest, $ 6,070; deposits in savings banks, $ 20,723; stock in trade, $19,755; from summer tourists, $8, 000 ; professional business, $12,000.
Churches and Schools. Congre- gational Church, Rev. David S. Hibbard, pastor. There are thir- teen school districts in town ; aver- age length, for the year, twelve weeks.
Hotel. " Union House."
First Settlements. This town was granted to John Page, a few years prior to the Revolution, and incorporated November 1, 1776.
First Minister. Rev. Increase S. Davis, settled in 1833.
Boundaries and Area. North by Warren, east by Rumney, south by Dorchester, and west by Orford. Area, 23,040 acres ; improved land, 10,307 acres.
Distances. By railroad, fifteen miles north-west from Plymouth, and about sixty-five miles north- north-west from Concord.
Ralroads. The Boston, Con- cord and Montreal Railroad passes through the town.
WENTWORTH'S LOCATION
Coos COUNTY. This location is bounded north by Dixville and ungranted lands, east by Maine line and Umbagog Lake, south by Umbagog Lake and Errol and west by Dixville.
In 1870, there were 38 inhabi- tants, 575 acres of improved land, 5 horses, 67 cattle, 28 sheep and 6 swine. The value of agricultural productions was $6,098.
The Margallaway River passes through the eastern portion of the location. In some parts the soil is good, producing fair crops of corn, potatoes and hay.
WESTMORELAND.
CHESHIRE COUNTY. Westmore- land is considered one of the best farming towns in the State. The surface is less varied by hills, val- leys and mountains, than that of the neighboring towns. On the Connecticut there are some very fine interval farms. The soil of the uplands is good, and easily cultivated.
Streams. The town is well watered by small streams which empty into the Connecticut. The one which rises in Spafford Lake, in Chesterfield, affords some of the best water privileges, in town.
368
NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER.
Employments. Agriculture is the principal employment of the inhabitants, who receive a rich re- ward for their labor. No class of people in the State are more pros- perous and happy than the farmers of Westmoreland. There are sev- eral small manufactories. About 200,000 shingles, and 500,000 feet of boards are annually sawed, chair stuff to the value of $ 14,000 is annually sawed out. (See tables of manufactories.)
Resources. Productions of the soil, $ 148,139; mechanical labor, $12,600; stocks and bonds, $ 15, 400; money at interst, $ 66,371; deposits in savings banks, $ 145, 581; stock in trade $ 17,600; from summer tourists, $4,000; pro- fessional business, $ 12,000.
Summer Resorts. Owing to its fine situation on the beautiful Con- necticut, this town is drawing quite a number of tourists to spend their summer vacation among its hills and vales. City people, who wish to retire from the bustle and noise of our great cities for quiet recre- ation and rest in the country, to breathe its free, fresh air for a few weeks, will find that West- moreland will offer as many in- ducements for truly hospitable country life, as any other town in the county.
Churches and Schools. First and second Congregational, Revs. L. Fowler and J. Barber, pastors ; Christian, Rev. J. Clafflin, pastor ; Unitarian Rev. Joseph Barber, pastor. There are thirteen schools in town. Average length, for the year, sixteen weeks.
Hotel. Valley Hotel.
First Settlers. Westmoreland was first granted by Massachusetts under the name of Number Two;
afterwards it was called Grea: Meadow. It was incorporated un der its present name, February 11, 1752. First settled by four fami- lies in 1741.
Indians. The Indians several times attacked the early settlers. In one of their visits, William Phips, the first husband of Jemi- ma How, was killed; on another time Jeremiah Phips, father of her first husband, was taken captive and carried into Canada, where he died.
First Ministers. Rev. William Goddard, ordained in 1764; dis- missed in 1775; Rev. Allen Pratt, settled in 1790; dismissed in 1827.
Boundaries. North by Walpole, east by Surry and Keene, south by Chesterfield, and west by Putney, Vermont. Area 22,466 acres.
Distances. Sixty miles south- west from Concord, and ten west from Keene.
Railroad. The Cheshire Rail- road passes through the north-east portion of the town, where there is a station.
WHITEFIELD.
Coos COUNTY. No town in the county has made more rapid progress, for the past four years, in business, wealth and population, than Whitefield. The surface is uneven, and broken by lıills, but the soil is good, producing excellent crops of corn, oats, barley, pota- toes and hay. Some of the best hill farms in the county are here. The agricultural products, to each acre of improved land in town, are valued at $ 13.80; the average in the county is $ 10.77.
Ponds and River. Blake's, Long, Round, and Little River Ponds, are the principal bodies of water.
369
WHITEFIELD
John's River has its rise in Jeffer- son and Carroll and passes through this town in a westerly direction, thence west through Dalton, and discharges its waters into the Con- necticut. In its passage, it furnish- es some good water power.
Village. The village is situated on John's River, and on the line of the White Mountain Extension of the Montreal Railroad. It is growing quite rapidly, and is the seat of considerable business. There are two church edifices, one large graded school-house, with three departments, two grist-mills, two lumber mills, one sash and blind shop, one pail mill, wool carding and planing mill, printing office, ten or twelve stores, of all kinds, one good hotel, one lawyer, three physicians, about 125 dwell- ing houses, and 700 inhabitants. There are some nice private resi- dences, and, twenty-five years hence, many of the streets will be beautifully shaded. The views, from this village, of the mountains in Carroll and Jefferson, are very fine.
Employments. The inhabitants are largely engaged in lumber business, although farming is an important branch. Three potato starch mills annually manufacture starch to the value of $ 19,400; one job printing office, $1,000; Snow & Pillsbury, doors, sash and blinds, $ 10,000; Libbey & White, wool carding, $2,000; Smith & Walker, grist-mill, flour and meal, $ 20,300; A. L. & W. G. Brown & Co., meal, $ 6,000 ; . Quimby & Allard, lumber, $ 12,000; G. W. & N. W. Libbey, lumber, $ 16,000; L. D. & L. T. Ha- zen, lumber, $ 25,000; Burns & Brooks, lumber, $ 35,000; Charles Libbey & Co., lumber, $ 50,000; A.
L. & W. G. Brown & Co., lumber, planing, matching and grooving, $ 370,000; Messrs. Brown & Co. have the largest lumber establish- ment in the State. Their mill has two roofs, but the buildings are all open, and connected; it is about 250 feet long, and 160 feet wide. Their motive power is three loco- motives of 200-horse power, and one water wheel with 140-horse power. When there is sufficient water, this wheel will carry near- ly all of the machinery in the mill. The railroad passes along by the side of the mill, where the lumber is loaded on to the cars to be trans- ported to Boston, or to other sec- tions of the country, and to their lumber sheds, which are three in number, and each 150 feet in length.
In and around the mill, they em- ploy about 120 hands. There are two large circular saws, for saw- ing boards and timber, one gate saw for sawing long timber ; three shingle machines, two power edg- ers, one large planer for matching and grooving, three small planers, one Daniels' planer for dressing large timber, two saws for cutting off logs, two trimming saws for trimming boards and planks, and two slab saws. This mill is now (1873,) daily sawing 40,000 feet of long timber, 14,000 shingles, 1,000 clapboards, 35,000 laths, and plan- ing and matching 10,000 feet of long timber, making the annual production 12,000,000 feet long timber; 4,200,000 shingles, 300,000 clapboards, and 10,500,000 laths; the whole being valued at $ 350, 000. They also annually cut and sell masts and spars to the value of $ 20,000. The labor is all done on a systematic plan, and everything
370
NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER.
connected with the mill, from the rolling of the logs into the pond, to the loading the lumber on the cars for its final destination, moves like clock work. Every man knows his place and duty, and is held responsible for doing his part of the work when offered to him, and delivering it to the next man, when required. The two men who have charge of the two large circular saws, and wield their cant-hooks as skilfully as the mar- riner ; moves his tiller, which safely guides his bark along our rock bound coast, are the pendu- lums which move the work of the whole mill. If they neglect to do a good day's work, every man in the establishment falls short accord- ingly. Messrs. Browns fully ap- preciate the services of such men, and, doubtless, no men in New- Hampshire, for doing rough and heavy work, receive larger pay, and no men more richly deserve it.
In order to keep the machinery of this establishment constantly in repair, there is, connected with it, a wood shop, machine shop and blacksmith shop. To guard against fire, there is a large force pump, one of the No. 1 Amoskeag steam fire engines, and 1,500 feet of hose.
The timber fields which feed their establishment, are situated principally in the towns of Carroll and Jefferson, in one unbroken lot and contain 26,000 acres. They have a railroad extending from their mill into their lumber lands, eleven miles. The rolling stock of this road is two first class en- gines and thirty-two cars, made expressly for their business. Be- sides the help of their railroad, in the winter they employ two hun- ·dred men, forty pairs of oxen, and
ten spans of horses. They have a grist-miil to grind their meal, and have now on hand over 7,000 bush- els of corn. The timber on their lot is about one third pine, and the larger portion of the remainder is spruce. It will require about forty years to clear this lot once over, at their present rate of doing business. At their mills, in the lumber lots, building rail- roads, and erecting dwellings for their employees, they employ, on an average, about two hundred and fifty men, who annually receive for their labor $ 131,000. The cap- ital invested in their business, in- cluding lumber lots, is about $ 300,000.
The total amount of long timber annually sawed in town is 19,900, 000 feet. The value of this timber, together with the planing, match- ing and grooving, clapboards, shin- gles and laths, is $ 472,500. The total capital invested in manufac- tures in the town (including the lumber business) is $ 440,000; number of hands employed, 325; annual pay roll, $ 171,350, with an annual value of manufactured production of $ 554,000.
Resources. Agricultural pro- ductions, $ 102 750; mechanical labor, $ 171,350; money at inter- est, $ 17,250; deposits in savings banks, $750; stock in trade, $ 49, 850; from summer tourists, $ 4,000; professional business $ 30,000.
Churches and Schools. Metho- dist, Rev. William C. Tanson, pastor; Freewill Baptist, Rev. G. H. Pinkham, pastor. There are ten schools in town, two of which are graded; average length, for the year, sixteen weeks.
Library. Whitefield Library Association, 400 volumes.
371
WILMOT.
Hotels. Whitefield House, and 1
Dodge House. The latter is kept open only in the Summer.
First Settlements. The first set- tlement was commenced here about 1774, by Major Burns and others. The town was incorpor- ated December 1, 1804.
Boundaries. North by Lancas- ter, east by Jefferson and Carroll, south by Carroll and Bethlehem, and west by Dalton and Lancaster. Area, 20,800 acres ; area of improv- ed land, 7,450 acres.
Distances. One hundred and twenty-five miles north from Con- cord, and twelve south-east from Lancaster.
Railroads. Besides the Mon- treal Extension, which passes through the town, it is expected the Portland and Ogdensburg Rail- road, when completed, will also pass through.
WILMOT.
MERRIMACK COUNTY. This town is composed of hills and valleys and presents a rough sur- face. The pasturage is suitable for sheep. The tillage land is rocky, but, when properly culti- vated, produces fair crops. The Fourth New-Hampshire Turnpike, from Concord to Hanover, passed through this town, and before the days of railroads, was the great thoroughfare for travel, from the Connecticut River, through Con- cord, to Boston. But the times of the rattling stage coaches and the dull click of six and eight horse baggage wagons, as they moved through Wilmot, are far in the past, and stories of those days are as a romance to the youth of to-day.
Rivers. The Blackwater River has its sources in this town and
Springfield, and affords many good water privileges in Wilmot.
Mountain. The summit of Kear- sarge Mountain forms the south- ern boundary. The Winslow House, on this mountain, and the most popular summer hotel in central New-Hampshire, is located in this town.
Minerals. Felspar, of an excel- lent quality, and which has been successfully used in the manufac- ture of teeth, is found here, also beryls and crystals of mica.
Village. At Wilmot Flat there is quite a business and pleasant village. There is a post office, one church edifice, a large school house, two stores, a large tannery, one hosiery manufactory, lumber mills, tailor, carpenter, blacksmith shops, etc., besides some fifty dwel- ling houses.
Employments. Farming is the principal employment of the in- habitants, although the manufac- turing is considerable and valua- ble. The value of woolen hose and other woolen goods, annually made, is over $ 30,000; leather tanned, $ 40,000; 100,000 shingles, and 1,500,000 boards and dimen- sion timber sawed, besides various other small shops. The value of mods, of all kinds, annually man- u.actured, is about $96,300. (See tables.)
Resources. Agricultural produc- tions, $ 97,278; mechanical labor, $ 15,100; money at interest, $ 15, 450; deposits in savings banks, $ 36,970; stock in trade, $ 13,125.
Churches and Schools. Congre- gational, Rev. C. B. Tracy, pastor ; Methodist, Elder C. E. Trussell, pastor; Union, -- -; Free- will Baptist. Rev. J. A. Knowles, pastor. There are fifteen schools
372
NEW-HAMPSHIRE GAZETTEER.
in town, two of which are graded. Average length of schools for the year, eleven weeks.
Hotel. Winslow House.
First Settlement. This town was originally called Kearsarge, and was granted to Joseph Minot, Mat- thew Thornton and others, in 1775. It received its present name from Dr. Wilmot, an Englishman, who, at one time, was considered a pop- ular author. . It was incorporated June 18, 1807.
Boundaries. North-east by Dan- bury and Hill, east by Andover, south by Warner and Sutton, south-west by New-London, and north-west by Springfield. Area of improved land, 15,775 acres.
Distances. Thirty miles north- west from Concord.
Railroad. The Northern Rail- road passes through the eastern corner of the town. It is two and one-half miles to Potter Place sta- tion, in Andover.
WILTON.
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY. The surface is generally uneven, but not mountainous. The soil is strong and of an excellent quality, producing fine crops of grain and hay. The Hillsborough county farm is located here, which proves that the town contains soil of a su- perior grade. Clay of a good qual- ity is found in abundance.
River and Village. Souhegan is the principal river. Its main branch enters Wilton near the south-west corner, and flows in a north-east course, till it forms a junction with several streams running from Temple and Lynde- borough. Thence it flows through the north part, and furnishes some valuable water power at
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.