USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Derry > Willey's book of Nutfield; a history of that part of New Hampshire comprised within the limits of the old township of Londonberry, from its settlement in 1719 to the present time > Part 17
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WILLEY'S BOOK OF NUTFIELD.
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THE KENNARD BUILDING, MANCHESTER.
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WILLET'S BOOK OF NUTFIELD.
being stern and gloomy men. They were delightfully social in disposition and habits. Their words were often playful, and they told and relished good stories. Of despondency they knew little. Their hearts were full of courage. In earlier years they may have had spiritual conflicts ; but now their kindly, cheerful faces, and all their external bearing told of the peace of God that reigned within. They were thoroughly possessed of the spirit of worship. One of them at least seldom or never entered the house of God without pausing for a moment, after passing the door of the auditorium, and lifting his eye heavenward, as if he were saying : "This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven." And immediately upon entering his pew he bowed his head in silent prayer. The devoutness of those aged and venerable deacons was not official, not assumed nor formal ; it was in the heart, and therefore in the life. They were men of lordly will, but in the presence of God they had the spirit of little children. Those members of that church session did not seek personal influence, it was theirs before they knew it. But they shrunk from no obligation, were faithful to every trust, and lived in humble but joyful hope of the promised inheritance of the saints in heaven.
The First Church has been onc of the strong- est in the denomination. At a sacrament in 1734, fifteen years after the settlement of the town, 700 communicants were present. This number, how- ever, must have included many non-resident mem- bers and friends. Several other congregations have been formed from the parent church. In
1739 a company was dismissed to constitute the West Parish (Presbyterian) in Londonderry. In 1797 the Third Society (Congregational) was or- ganized in the East Parish, and in 1837 forty more were dismissed to form the First Congregational Church in Derry Village. In 1809, however, the Third Society re-united with the mother church, forming what is now known as the First Church in Derry. June 8, 1810, the joint society formally adopted articles of faith, which, in spite of all theological uphcavals of the last half-century, are still the creed of the church. Their reproduction here, in view of the current discussion of crecds, may not be without interest :
I. We believe that there is but one God, the sole creator, preserver, and moral governor of the universe ; a being of infinite power, knowledge, wisdom, justice, goodness, and truth ; the self-existent, independent and unchangeable fountain of good ; that there are in the unity of the Godhead a trinity of persons, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; that these three persons are in essence one, and in all divine attributes equal.
II. We believe that the scriptures of the Old and New Testament were given by inspiration of God ; that they are profitable for doctrine, contain a complete and harmonious sys-
tem of divine truth, and are our only perfect rule of doctrinal belief and religious practice.
111. We believe that the first parents of our race were orig- inally holy in the image of God; that they fell from their original state by voluntarily transgressing the divine command ; and that in consequence of this first apostacy the heart of man in his natural state is enmity against God, fully set to do evil, dead in trespasses and sins.
IV. We believe that Christ the Son of God, equal with the Father, has by his obedience, suffering, and blood, made infinite atonement for sin ; that he is the only redeemer of sinners, and that all who are saved will be indebted altogether to the sovereign grace of God through this atonement.
V. We believe that those who embrace the gospel were chosen in Christ to salvation before the world began ; and that they are saved not by works of righteousness which they have done, but according to the distinguishing mercy of God, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost.
VI. We believe that for those who once believe in Christ there is no condemnation, but they will be kept by the mighty power of God through faith unto salvation.
VII. We believe that there will be a general resurrection of the bodies both of the just and of the unjust ; that all mankind must one day stand before the judgment seat of Christ, to receive a sentence of just and final retribution, according to their respective works.
VIII. We believe that Christ has a visible church in the world into which believers and their seed are introduced by baptism.
During the forty years' pastorate of Rcv. Edward L. Parker (a sketch of whose life is given in this work), the church was unusually prosper- ous. At the January communion in 1825, thirty- six were added to the church; in October, 1831, thirty-three were received, and in May, 1838, ninety-six. Since the death of Mr. Parker, in 1850, the pastorates have been brief, compared with his. Six of the pastors repose in the old graveyard near the meeting-house, surrounded by most of their flocks. The chronological record of pastorates of the first church is as follows: James MacGregor, began May, 1719; died March 5, 1729. Matthew Clark, began 1729; closed 1732. Thomas Thompson, ordained October, 1733; died Sept. 22, 1738. William Davidson, ordained 1739; died Feb. 15, 1791. Jonathan Brown, ordained 1795 ; dismissed September, 1804. Edward L. Parker, ordained Sept. 12, 1810; died July 14, 1850. Joshua W. Wellman, ordained June 18, 1851 ; dis- missed May 26, 1856. Ephraim N. Hidden (acting pastor), Sept. 1, 1857, till Dec. 1, 1859. Leonard S. Parker, installed Feb. 20, 1861 ; dismissed June
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IO, 1869. David Bremner, installed April 27, 1871 ; dismissed Sept. 10, 1873. Edward S. Hunt- ress, installed Feb. 25, 1875; dismissed Feb. 21, 1877. J. L. Harris, installed July 8, 1880; dis- missed July 8, 1882. H. M. Penniman, settled April 8, 1884 ; dismissed June 19, 1889. R. C. Drisko (acting pastor), Feb. 1, 1891, till April 1, 1894. Thc present membership of the church is 132 ; Sabbath school, sixty-five; Christian Endeavor, thirty-fivc.
MRS. MARY J. TENNEY, GEN. STARK'S GRANDDAUGHTER. Photographed at her home in Londonderry, 1894.
R EV. WILLIAM McDONALD, the pioneer Catholic priest of Manchester, who laid well the foundations of the present prosperity of Cath- olicity in the Queen City, and whose memory is held in loving regard by thousands, was born in county Lcitrim, Ireland, in Junc, 1813. He was the youngest son of John and Winifred (Reynolds) McDonald, and the first twenty-three years of his life were spent with his parents. In 1836 he went to Quebcc, beginning at once his studies at the Laval University. He took the academic and theological courses. He was ordained in 1843 and assigned as assistant to the parish priest at St. John, N. B., having charge subsequently of the parishes at Eastport and Calais, Me. In 1847 he went to Boston, and in the following year was assigned to Manchester by Bishop Fitzpatrick of Boston, to which dioccse New Hampshire then belonged. Father McDonald found on his arrival about five hundred Catholics, almost all of whom were Irish, but lately arrived in the country. They were very poor, but they extended to their " sog- garth " an Irish welcome, sincere and hearty, and pastor and people with a united purpose began their arduous task of building up the Catholic Church of Manchester. Within a ycar he had begun the erection of St. Anne's church, on the site it now occupies, and from that time to his death there was scarcely a year that he did not inaugurate somc improvement of lasting benefit to the church. He was a man of remarkable fore- sight, and had unlimited confidence in the future of Manchester -so much so that he carly began to buy land intended for future usc as church property, and to this is duc the fact that the church is now possessed of so much valuable real estate. In 1853 he purchased St. Joseph's cemetery, and in 1855 he bought the land where the convent stands, built the beautiful Mt. St. Mary's, and, two years later, installed therein a small band of Sisters of Mercy. In 1859 he secured the property at the northwest corner of Laurel and Union strects, for a parochial school for girls, and established in the samc ycar a school for boys in the church base- ment, over (which he placed Prof. Thomas Cor- coran as principal and the Sisters of Mercy as teachers. A few years later he procured the use of the old "south grammar " of the city, and to
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WILLEY'S BOOK OF NUTFIELD.
this building the boys' school was removed and man. As it was, he died poor. He did not care became known as the Park-street grammar school. for the wealth he gathered except as it was a This was one of the first parochial schools in New means of doing good. England. Father McDonald bought the present site of St. Joseph's Cathedral, established a new parish and built St. Joseph's church in 1869. The next year witnessed the purchase of the Harris estate, at the corner of Pine and Hanover streets, and the establishment of St. Patrick's Orphan
- -
REV. WILLIAM MCDONALD.
Asylum for Girls. A little later he secured the ad- joining property and founded the Old Ladies' Home. He also built St. Agnes school, at the corner of Cedar and Union streets. Hc was the founder and promoter of the St. John's Temperance Society (since merged in the St. Paul's C. T. A. and M. B. Society), of St. Patrick's M. B. and P. Society, and of numerous church sodalities and associations.
In Father McDonald werc combined the clements of which the most successful professional and business men arc made, and there is little doubt that, had he chosen a mercantile or profes- sional life, he would have become a very wealthy
He was stricken with apoplexy early Monday morning, Aug. 24, 1885, and died Aug. 26. The mourning at his death was genuine and universal. Protestants and Catholics alike, rich and poor, high and low, recognized that Manchester had lost one whom she could ill afford to lose. Saturday, Aug. 29, the day of his funeral, was a day of public mourning. The mills were closed, and business generally was suspended. The funeral was at- tended by the mayor and city government, judges of the supreme court of New Hampshire and of the United States district court, Protestant minis- ters, bishops and priests from all parts of New England, and business men of every creed and racc. Pontifical requiem mass was celebrated by Rt. Rev. Bishop Bradley, assisted by a host of priests in sanctuary and choir. In the course of his sermon Bishop Bradley said : " I have lost one who has been to me from my childhood a father, a model, a wise counsellor," and he echoed the thoughts and feelings of every Catholic born or bred in Manchester. Father McDonald was buried in the churchyard of old St. Anne's, the church he loved, and wherein he ministered for nearly forty years. Over his grave has been erected a little chapel, and here one may find at any hour of the day some of his people kneeling in silent prayer.
His life work was a success. Hc lived to see the city of his adoption grow from scarcely morc than a hamlet to be the first municipality of north- ern New England. From the poor, struggling little parish of St. Anne's he saw the church in .- crease until it had more communicants and main- tained morc charitable institutions than all the other churches of the city combined ; and, to crown it all, made a diocesan sce, and one of "his own boys" chosen its first bishop. He was the friend and confidant of his whole parish. No undertak- ing was entered into without the advice of Father " Mac," and no case was too trivial to enlist his earnest attention and secure his wholesome advice. He was judge, jury, and advocate in the trial of many a cause, and never was a judgment given with more binding force, or one where the parties
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WILLEY'S BOOK OF NUTFIELD.
were not satisfied as to the absolute impartiality of the tribunal. His charity was not
" _- scrimped and iced, In the name of a cautious, statistical Christ,"
but was the natural outpouring of a generous, sympathetic heart that knew no crecd or race. He saw only needy suffering, and suffered himself if he could not alleviate.
Father McDonald is best remembered as a man in declining ycars, about medium height, slightly stooped, with white hair and a kindly, benevolent face that at once inspired confidencc. Through his old-fashioned bowed spectacles gazed a pair of eyes, anxious, one would say, to see nought of sin and misery in the world, and yet they saw and appreciated everything within their range, while an occasional twinkle in the
corners would indicate that " though a priest, he was an Irishman too," and had all the Irishman's love for bright repartee or good story. The best evidence of his universal acquaintance and popu- larity was to be scen by accompanying him on one of his daily strolls through his parish. With the regulation clerical coat and collar he always wore a soft broad-brimmcd hat and carricd a cane or umbrella. He walked along with a slow, deliber- ate stridc, and scarcely a person would bc met but Father " Mac " had a word with him. His intimate acquaintance with the personal affairs of ncarly every family madc these little talks pertinent and to the point, relative to somc matter or other of importance. And all in the sweetest of English, that is, slightly tincturcd with the Irish broguc. Father McDonald's memory will ever be dear to the Catholics of Manchester.
JAMES A. BRODERICK.
OUSE
CITY LIBRARY, MANCHESTER,
DR. WILLIAM WHITTIER BROWN.
W ILLIAM WHITTIER BROWN, M. D., for which he might easily have obtained a per-
was born in Vershire, Vt., in 1805. His education was obtained at the academies of Bradford and Randolph in his native state and at Hudson, N. Y. He taught school for two years in the latter state, and at the age of twenty-three began the study of medicine with Dr. John Poole at Bradford, Vt. After attending lectures at Hanover he was graduated from the New Hamp- shire Medical Institution in 1830, and at once went in Poplin (now Fremont), N. H., remaining there until 1835, when he removed to Chester, where during his ten years' residence he built up an ex- tensive practice and enjoyed the confidence of the people. Desirous of supplementing his early ad- vantages by further study, he went to New York in 1845 and attended a course of lectures and dili- gently followed the best clinical teachers through the hospitals. His fifteen years' practice had revealed to him his deficiencies, and he labored zealously to remove them, finally returning to New Hampshire with his mind well stored with new ideas and all the recent improvements in surgery and practice. In 1846 he moved to Manchester and soon had all he could do, many of his former patients in Chester and the neighboring towns having gone to the city before him, and many more still insisting that he should be their reliance in distress. To meet these demands of his old friends he was obliged to start very carly in the morning in order to be back in time for his day's work in the city. Very few men could have endured these long journeys in all kinds of weather as he did, uncomplainingly even in advanced life. During portions of 1849 and 1850 he was in California for one year practising his profession. He returned with a handsome amount of money, which he invested in Manchester real estate, erect- ing the briek block on Elm street, known as Brown's building. In 1861 he was appointed sur- geon of the Seventh New Hampshire Volunteers and served until the autumn of 1864, when he was obliged to resign on account of ill health. He was exceedingly popular with officers and men and a camp was named in his honor. He never fully recovered his health, and he also received an injury dressed, and the capture was duly celebrated.
manent pension, but he never applied for it. He was appointed pension surgeon, a position which he held only a short time. Dartmouth College conferred upon him the honorary degree of A. M. in recognition of his professional ability. He was a member of the Franklin-Street Congregational church, and always contributed liberally to the support of religion. Dr. Brown was elected a fellow of the New Hampshire Medical Society in 1836, and was chosen its president in 1869. He was a director of the First National bank, a trustee of the Merrimack River Savings bank, a member of the Washington Lodge of Masons and of Louis Bell Post No. 3, G. A. R. He survived all his children, leaving only a widow, Mrs. Martha W. Brown. His death occurred Jan. 6, 1874, at the age of sixty-eight years. He was a man of few words, easily approached, yet retiring ; ready to im- part information, yet never volunteering it ; modest, vet self-possessed ; dignified in bearing, yet utterly devoid of ostentation in dress or mode of living. He was remarkably even-tempered, never hilarious and never much depressed ; always hopeful and cheerful. His temperament was no doubt saddened by the severe domestie afflictions through which he passed. His memory is cherished in affectionate regard by all who knew him, for he left behind him the example of a true Christian physician and upright man.
D EER, BEARS, AND WOLVES were abun- dant in the forests of Nutfield. A large moose killed in 1720 in the West Parish gave name to a hill there five hundred feet high. Game wardens were elected by the town for more than sixty years, " to prevent the killing of deer out of season." Until after the Revolution, farmers brought their sheep every night to the fold to guard against the depredations of wolves, and boun- ties were paid on wolves' heads. Tradition says that the last bear seen was in 1807, when there was a great bear hunt, engaged in by fifty men for three days, until the animal was finally killed. He is said to have weighed two hundred pounds
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T
Irish stock was founded in this country by John Mack, who, after his marriage with Isabel, daughter of Sir John Brown, came from London- derry, Ireland, in 1732 and settled in Nutfield. His son Andrew, born in 1748, purchascd in 1772 the farm which still remains the family home- stead, a part of which was decded to him by Matthew Thornton. He enjoyed the highest confidence of his townsmen, as is shown by the record of his continual service in town office. He died in 1820. Of his son, Robert Mack, a sketch is given on page 329. It may be added that he was a justice of the peace for forty-seven years ; he also acted as agent for the town in the conduct of numerous lawsuits, one of which was with Derry in relation to the building of the Mammoth road, of which he was one of the projectors, and he was likewise a director of the Manchester & Lawrence railroad at its inception. He was notcd for his legal knowledge, social qualities, and ready wit.
Robert Clark Mack, his eldest son, was born Dec. 31, 1818. He obtained an academic educa- tion and taught school for a few years. March 6, 1856, he married Jane D. Patterson and settled on the homestead, to a life much devoted to historical and genealogical research, making daily weather observations many years for the Smithsonian Institution. In the Civil War he made the draft enrollment of Londonderry, Derry, Windham, and Salem. In 1870 he was appointed consul to Lon- donderry, Ireland, by President Grant, but was unable to accept. He published a volume on the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the settlc- ment of Londonderry, and he contributed the historical sketches of Derry and Londonderry in Hurd's History of Rockingham County. Hc died Jan. 1I, 1894, leaving ready for the press an exhaustive history of the Patterson and Wallace families.
Andrew Wallace Mack, youngest son of Robert Mack, was born Sept. 13, 1820, and died Feb. 7, 1877. Having attended Greenland and Pembroke academies, the routinc life of the scholarly inclined New England boy and man became his vocation, teaching in winter and farm- ing in summer. In 1860 he built a house on the ancestral acres, and devoted himself to farming
HE MACK FAMILY of the original Scotch- and to the fulfillment of his public duties. He was town clerk six years, superintending school committeeman five years, selectman four years, and from time to time representative in the legis- lature. Hc was conspicuous for personal integrity and literary tastes. March 20, 1861, he married Frances A. Preston of Danvers, Mass., and three children were born to them: Wallace Preston, Anne Bellc, and John P., the last named dying in infancy.
Wallace Preston Mack was born Nov. 7, 1863. At the close of his school life he entered upon farming as a business, devoting much of his time and land to small-fruit culture. He has also established and carries on the largest factory in the state for the manufacture of evaporated apples, the capacity being four hundred bushels per day. Feb. 24, 1892, he was united in marriage to Har- rict Lavinia Pillsbury, daughter of Hon. W. S. Pillsbury. They have three children: Lillian Wallace, Lavinia Pillsbury, Robert Andrew.
GEORGE O. COLBY, DERRY.
12a
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WILLEY'S BOOK OF NUTFIELD.
-
ANDREW W MACK
ROBERT C. MACK
ROBERT MACK.
THE GLENWOOD
W.P. MACK
151
WILLEY'S BOOK OF NUTFIELD.
A LDEN B. SMITH was born Sept. 20, 1837, in Mason, N. H. He removed to Derry May 17, 1872, purchasing with B. C. Smith of
ALDEN B. SMITH.
Boston the hotel then known as the Railroad House. This eopartnership existed but a short time, when Mr. A. B. Smith bought his partner's interest and eondueted the house alone until it was destroyed by fire Aug. 19, 1882. He immediately rebuilt, naming the new hostelry "Hotel Brad- ford." Mr. Smith accumulated considerable prop- erty, and besides the hotel he owned "Smith's Bloek," containing the publie hall, the postoffice, and several stores, and also the fine residenee in which he died Dee. 14, 1886. He was very active in all efforts to promote the welfare of the village and town, contributing both of his time and his means. Mr. Smith was a stauneh Democrat, having been the candidate of his party for several offices of influenee and trust on the
state tieket, and holding the position of deputy sheriff for the county from August, 1874, until July, 1876. After the fire which destroyed his hotel, he retired from active business life, but still continued to assist in all movements looking toward the prosperity of the community. Mr. Smith was a member of Trinity Commandery of Manchester and of Eeho Lodge No. 4, I. O. O. F., of Derry Depot.
THE WAR OF 1812 was not popular in Lon- donderry, and there were but few voluntary enlistments from the town. At the request of President Madison, Governor Plumer of New Hampshire ordered into the service of the United States a company of the state militia for the de- fenee of Portsmouth, and Captain John Leonard was placed in command. In this company were Moses C. Pillsbury, John Palmer, Moses Messer, John Plumer, David Wilson, John Saunders, and James Whittemore. The men were drafted to serve six months. In 1814 Captain James Thom of Londonderry commanded a company for a time, and there were twenty-two men from the town in the service. Their names are on record, but the town also furnished others coneerning whom the muster rolls are silent.
GRAVE OF GEN. JOHN STARK, MANCHESTER.
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R EV. W. J. O'CONNOR, the son of Timothy and Catherine (Lane) O'Connor, was born in Manchester, Feb. 26, 1862. Graduating from
REV. W. J. O'CONNOR.
the famous Park-Street Parochial Grammar School, where Thomas Corcoran, the first Catholic school- master of Manchester, taught for over thirty years, he studied next successively at Montreal College, Canada, Holy Cross College, Worcester, and Notre Dame University, Indiana, receiving the degree of A. B. from the last named institution in 1883. He then entered the theological depart- ment of Laval University, Quebec, and was or- dained to the priesthood June 13, 1886, at St. Joseph's Cathedral, Manchester, Rt. Rev. Bishop Bradley officiating. He was immediately appointed assistant pastor of the Church of the Immaculate Conception at Nashua, where he remained until Aug. 15, 1888, when he was appointed the first resident pastor of St. Thomas ehureh, Derry.
G EORGE S. ROLLINS was born in Deer- field, N. 11., Aug. 10, 1835. He married Miss Rosina Hayward of Topsham, Vt., Jan. 1, 1857, and the following year he moved to Lowell, Mass., where he engaged in the house painting business with his brother-in-law, George N. Os- good. Soon after the war began Mr. Rollins went into the boot and shoe business, becoming sales- man in Elbridge Dearborn's store, in Lowell. . In 1864 he accepted a position as manager of a boot and shoe store in Manchester, N. H., and after remaining there a year and a half he returned to Lowell and became travelling salesman for Hap- good Wright, with whom he stayed for about twelve years. In 1879 he removed to Derry, where he now resides, and engaged in the mercan- tile business. He is also the local agent of the American Express Company. He was out of
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