USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Manchester > Willey's semi-centennial book of Manchester, 1846-1896, comprised within the limits of the old Tyng Township, Nutfield, Harrytown, Derryfield, and Manchester, from the earliest settlements to the present time > Part 27
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There was at the date of the allotment of land a large area of meadow. Some of these meadow areas are represented on the map with names, but ten times the number are re- corded in the Pro- prietors' Book. Among these meadows per- haps the five-and- twenty aere mea- dow is a fair speei- men. It was di- vided into innu- merable parts, and the early settlers living several miles distant were anxious to have even a small por- tion of a few square rods in this meadow. Some- times these mea- dows were four or five miles in length, extending throughout the whole course of a river, brook, or creek, and only a few rods wide at the widest, and for some portions of the stream the width was inconsiderable.
As stated, a portion of David Morrison's lot was deeded to David MeAllester, and upon that Jonathan McAllester now lives. The two par- sonages and churches on the Mammoth road, and the soldiers' monument and Glenwood cem- etery, are all lo- eated on the Mor- rison land. The two houses and other buildings of the Maeks are on this tract, with the greater part of their farms. The Maek farms inelude a portion of the lot granted to Andrew Todd, and among the relies found in Robert C. Mack's antiquarian col- leetion is a pow- der horn pieked up in the woods near his house,
SCHOOLHOUSE IN DISTRICT NO. I, LONDONDERRY.
Some eare has been taken to indicate the eor- ner bounds of these old allotments of land, as adding an interest in the map to those who have had any experience in surveying, or derive pleasure from the perusal of old deeds, or 'enjoy the reeog- nition of a landmark that was old in the days of their grandfathers. The pitch pine tree was a common bound in the records of this section of
with such engravings and letters traeed in the horn that he believed it to have been the property of Lieut. Andrew Todd.
It has been noted that this part of the town was allotted nearly twenty years after the settle- ment, but it remains to point out to the reader that the meadows were appropriated as early as any land in the township, and probably were cut and harvested for more than forty years before the Nutfield colony thought of seeuring a claim upon them. The people of Haverhill continucd to
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WILLEY'S BOOK OF NUTFIELD.
maintain their rights to meadows in the easterly part of the town, and the people of Draeut, Tyngs- borough, and Dunstable contended for the west and the south for many years after the eharter of King George I. granted a township to this eolony in the name of Londonderry.
July 28, 1723, there was laid out to James Blair one aere and ninety rods of meadow in the upper end of Bear meadow, bounded by the upland and by stakes that bounded some meadow of James Leslie. As James Blair lived in the English Range, he must have travelled twelve miles, counting both ways, for a day's work harvesting hay in that meadow, unless he sold his
right to others. The same day there was laid out and reeorded to James Leslie one aere and seventy rods of meadow in Bear meadow bounded by stakes between James Blair on the north and James Lindsey and Matthew Clark on the south. Looking at the records again, it is seen that James Lindsey had for his share one acre and a half of the meadow at Bear meadow at the lower end and bounded on Leslie and Clark by stakes. Sir James Leslie lived in the English Range, as did also James Lindsey and the others. On the same date there was laid out to Matthew Clark at Bear meadow one acre and a quarter of meadow bounded by stakes on Samuel Houston and James Lindsey, and thus every reeord adds a new name to the list of owners to a small meadow that not one of the proprietors lived within six miles of, and in a region not appropriated or platted into farms for many years afterward. This was an unsettled region and the bear, moose, and wolves, with other smaller beasts, still elaimed the privi- lege of pieking berries, or browsing upon the tender shrubs, and other benefaetions of nature not yet claimed by man.
It is quite probable that John Goffe is the earlier form of a familiar name. And it is alleged on good authority that John Goffe was a refugee in this country prior to the settlement of the Nut- field colony, being one of the three famous regieides of history (Wheaton, Whalley, and Goffe) that were concealed in Connecticut for a time. John Goffe may have been a squatter or a home- steader on the theory of occupation eventually securing a title, for it appears that the old book of
records, ealled erroneously, perhaps, the Proprie- tors' Book, contains these entries, subjoined for the deleetation of those who are interested in searching out the footsteps of marked individuals : "John Goffe, Jr., was born Mareh 16th, 1700; Hannah Goffe was born Feb. 4th, 1705-6; Sarah Goffe was born Aug. 19, 1709; Mary Goffe was born April 12, 1711." At the time these children were born to John Goffe, neither Londonderry nor Nutfield was here, but with the families of Butter- field, and Smith, and Graves, and Phillips, and others, they were here in anticipation.
THRIFT AND SORROW do not seem to
be necessarily incompatible. It is related of one of the early settlers of that part of Nutfield ealled Kilrea, that she was a very industrious woman and that her natural bent of eharaeter was shown at her husband's funeral. While the corpse was awaiting the rites of burial, she ealled out, impatient of delay : " Hand me the spinning wheel, and I will draw a thread while the crowd are gathering." Just as philosophieal as she was Old Mellows, who lived north of the cemetery on Graveyard hill. His wife had gone on a visit to Beverly, and on returning in a riekety old ehaise she was thrown out and her neek broken. At the funeral, two days later, the afflicted husband remarked that had it not been for "the little delay at Beverly, Betsey would be with us on this great occasion."
COURT HOUSE, MANCHESTER.
HON. JOHN GAULT CRAWFORD.
H ION. JOHN GAULT CRAWFORD, son of meetings and raising volunteers.
Hosea W. and Caroline M. (Gault) Craw-
ford, was born in Oakham, Mass., April 21, 1834. I lis ancestors, who came to America in 1713, were among the first settlers of Rutland, Mass. Aaron Crawford, the first of that name in this country, and his wife, Agnes Wilson, were Scotch-Irish. The family is descended from Alexander, the
later was commissioned lieutenant and detailed as Cavalry, he was appointed sergeant major and September as a private in the Second Michigan Enlisting in
then colonel of the regiment. Returning to battalion adjutant by Philip H. Sheridan, who was
Michigan in 1863, he raised a company for the tenth cavalry and was commissioned captain by
colm Crawford of Kil- second son of Sir Mal-
birny, Scotland, the fif- teenth in descent from Jo-
hannes de Craufurd, who lived about the year 1140, and is the first one of the name of whom there is any record. John G. Crawford is of the twenty- sixth generation from Jo- hannes. His great-grand- father was a captain in the
to the Michigan state In 1864 he was elected and was twice wounded. in twenty engagements Governor Blair. He was
years. He was admitted senate and served two
he practiced law until 1881, when he was ap- Lancaster, N. H., in 1870, in 1867. Removing to the United States court Pontiac, Mich., and to to the bar in 1865 at
Revolutionary war and was present at the capture of Burgoyne. His grand- field United States consul pointed by President Gar- father also served in the Continental army for a time near the close of the struggle for inde- pendence. John G. Craw- ford's early educational service. He came to efficient consuls in the tation as one of the most years and winning a repu- holding that office three at Coaticook, Canada, advantages were limited to the district schools of his town, with a few practice of his profession has been engaged in the Manchester in 1890 and terms at the academy. HON. JOHN G. CRAWFORD. In the spring of 1855 he ford has been on the ever since. Mr. Craw- went to Kansas, when the territory was first stump in every campaign since 1856, and being an eloquent and earnest advocate of Republican prin- ciples, he has rendered incalculable service. to his party. His reputation as a public speaker is by no means confined to New Hampshire, for he has opened to settlement, and took an active part in the struggle with the border ruffians, serving with General Lane and John Brown. Returning to Massachusetts in 1856, he resumed his studies and in 1859 entered the law office of J. M. Gorham of been in great demand as a campaign orator in Barre, Mass., continuing his legal studies and Michigan, Massachusetts, Vermont, and other states. The voters of 137 towns have listened to him, and many close districts have been carried for his ticket by his masterly presentation of the teaching winters until the spring of 1861, when he went to Michigan on a visit. A few days after his arrival there Fort Sumter was fired on, and Mr. Crawford immediately. began addressing war issues. April 16, 1863, Mr. Crawford married
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WILLEY'S BOOK OF NUTFIELD.
239
Emma Tindall in Michigan; after her death he at his father's trade until he beeame of age, and was married, June 30, 1867, to Abbie T. Stevens of Franklin, Mass., and on April 30, 1885, his second wife having died, he was united in marriage to Mary A. Harrington of Woreester, Mass. He has one daughter, Carrie E., born Sept. 30, 1870. Mr. Crawford is a member of the Masonie frater- nity and of Louis Bell Post, G. A. R. He attends the Hanover-Street Congregational ehureh.
C `OL. ANDREW C. WALLACE was born in Antrim Oet. 26, 1820. He is a great- grandson of Deaeon Isaae Cochran, who was an offieer in the Revolutionary war and who was present at the surrender of Burgoyne. Deaeon Coehran built the first two-story house in the town of Antrim, where he settled in 1785. Col. Wallace lived in his native town until he was seven- teen years of age, when his father, who was a carpenter, removed to Bedford. Here he worked
eoming later to Manehester he was in the employ of Baldwin & Stevens until 1848, when he pur- chased their machinery and started in business for himself, manufacturing sash, doors, and blinds. He was burned out in 1852, and he then removed to Littleton, where he remained about a year engaged in business. Returning in the spring of 1853, he established himself on Main street, where he has ever sinee been located and where he earries on a large business in the manufacture and sale of lumber. He has ereeted several business bloeks and is a large real estate owner. Col. Wallaee has always been greatly interested in the fire department and in the state militia. From 1848 until 1882 he was a member of the fire department, and for eight years was on the board of engineers. He was an active member of the old Stark Guard, and a charter member of the Amoskeag Veterans, being major commanding of
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COL. A. C, WALLACE AND HIS LUMBERMEN.
WILLEY'S BOOK OF NUTFIELD.
the latter organization when it visited the centen- nial exposition in 1876. In politics, Col. Wallace has been one of the most efficient workers and wisest leaders of the Republican party, and his efforts have many times enabled that party to carry the city. He was a member of the board of alder- men in 1857-58 and in 1881-82, and of the state legislature in 1856, '71, and '72. Other honors have frequently been urged upon him, but he has declined them all. Since its organization he has been a valued member of the water commission.
COL. A. C. WALLACE.
As a breeder and owner of blooded road and trot- ting horses, Col. Wallace is one of the best known men in New England. Few men possess such excellent judgment concerning horses as he, and his opinion is frequently sought. For years he owned the noted stallion Ned Wallace, whose record was 2.25, the fastest trotter of his day in New Hampshire. Col. Wallace was president of the Manchester Driving Park Company for several years and has perhaps donc more than any other one man to promote the interests of the trotting turf in this vicinity.
JORACE GREELEY'S VISIT. - Horace H Greeley visited Londonderry in the autumn of 1832. He was then about twenty-one years old, tall, pale, and thin, somewhat awkward, but dignified and manly. Making the home of John Diekey his headquarters for more than a week, he visited his relatives and old acquaintances in the neighborhood, starting out in the morning and returning at night. His evenings were spent in reading or telling stories in his quaint and pleasing way. Sometimes sights and incidents of New York life were the subjects of his conversation, but his greatest delight was in relating anecdotes of settlers on the western frontier. He always fascinated both young and old. During his stay he attended a militia muster of the old eighth regiment on the field of John Pinkerton. Although not much interested in military affairs, he started off with high hopes of meeting some friends whom he had not yet seen. Rain, however, spoiled the day's enjoyment, and he soon returned, and expressed a rather indifferent opinion of New Hampshire militia musters, declaring that "they weren't much of an institution, after all." After partaking of the hospitalities of all his relatives in Londonderry, Manchester, and Windham, he departed for the scene of his labors, and in a few months started his first newspaper, the New Yorker. He was in town again in June, 1840, on his way to the Harrison convention at Concord, and he subsequently made frequent visits to Lon- donderry, twice being accompanied by his wife, and on three occasions he made public addresses in town. In 1847 he spoke at Derry, Exeter, and Chester, and while at the latter place was the guest of Hon. Samuel Bell, whom he ever after- ward spoke of as resembling his idcal states- man, Henry Clay. At the time of Greeley's death there were 119 residents of Londonderry who were of his kith and kin.
D EER-KEEPERS, "to see that the dear should not be destroyed," were chosen annually by the town of Londonderry as late as 1768. Deer were frequently seen within the limits of old Nut- field in the early years of the present century, but they were not so numerous as to require the services of a keeper.
WILLEY'S BOOK OF NUTFIELD.
241
J JOHN PLUMER, son of Deacon John and Mary (Ferson) Plumer, was born in Goffs- town April 29, 1821. He received the common school education of the place, wrought faithfully on his father's farm until he was twenty-one, and then came to Manchester, with only pluck, hon- esty, and a good name, to earn his living. He first found employment in the furniture store of John B. Goodwin, in the building called the "Ark" (which also migrated from Goffstown), on the spot now occupied by Dunlap block. Soon leaving that business, however, he entered the clothing trade, and finally pur- chased, about 1844, the stand then num- bered 60 and 61 on Elm street. From that time until his death he conducted a most successful and honorable business, for the most part in his own name, but also as a member of the firms of Gilbert & Plumer and Plumer & Bailey. His na- tive goodness, his honesty, his genial and kindly nature, made him many friends, and there are
NOAH S. CLARK, son of Noah and Mary
(Wood) Clark, was born in Quincy, Mass., May 17, 1830. His father, a farmer by occupa- tion, was born in Chester and his mother in Auburn. Having graduated from the Manchester High School in 1848, he began his mercantile career as a clerk, and by his industry and strict attention to business paved the way to the eminent success which he has since achieved as a mer- chant. After a cleri- cal service extending over several years in Manchester, Boston, New Haven, Chi- cago, Cincinnati, and New York, he re- turned to this city in 1856 and engaged in business for himself in a building situated at the corner of Elm and Hanover streets, known as the "Old Ash." He remained there for a year and then removed to Hanover street, where he was burned out at the time of the great fire. He then removed to his present location, the famous "Big Six " John Plumer r. store, and was in business alone until 1884, when he took those yet living who bought of him years ago and Joshua B. Estey into partnership. Since then the who purchase their garments at the same stand business has been conducted by the firm of Clark & Estey. Mr. Clark has performed valuable public service as member of the board of aldermen, and also as a member of the Manchester police commission. He has been for many years a director in the Manchester National bank and in the Concord & Montreal railroad. In his religious affiliations he is connected with the Franklin- Strcet Congregational church, and he is a member from the force of old associations. The daily press of the city bore testimony to the character of Mr. Plumer as a man of scrupulous integrity, universally beloved for his kind and amiable disposi- tion and the gentlemanly courtesy he manifested to all. Mr. Plumer married, Dec. 2, 1851, Lucy A., daughter of Jesse and Alice (Steele) Cheney. They had two children, neither of whom are now living.
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WILLEY'S BOOK OF NUTFIELD.
of the Derryhield Club. Ranking among the most poration as a city, and he was a member of the successful merchants of the state, Mr. Clark's opinion at all times carries weight in mercantile and financial quarters, and he is held in high esteem by the community at large. Mr. Clark
NOAH S. CLARK.
was married to Eliza M., daughter of Gordon and Mary (Barr) Atwood of Bedford. His children are: Edward W., a commercial traveller residing in Boston; Clara Belle of Somerville, Mass .; George Matthews, a carpenter, and Helen W.
C `OL. JOHN S. KIDDER was born in Man- chester May 31, 1811, being, on his mother's side, a direct descendant of Gen. John Stark, whom he often saw in his boyhood. His father owned a large farm bounded by Lowell and Har- rison streets and extending eastward to the Amos- keag company's ledge, and here his early life was passed. He was educated in the public schools, and in 1831, at the age of twenty, began business COL. JOHN S. KIDDER. for himself by opening a general store in Piscata- quog. In 1834, during President Jackson's admin- istration, he was appointed postmaster of that place and held the office until 1840. He served as police officer in Manchester before its incor- never misscd voting at a presidential election.
first common council from Ward 1. In 1833 he was made quartermaster of the third division of the militia, with the rank of colonel, and he was a member of the old Piscataquog engine company, whose pump was the first piece of fire apparatus in this vicinity. Col. Kidder was chosen president of the Amoskeag bank in 1852, and the same year was made a director in the Concord railroad. In 1857 he went to Washington, and for two years was interested with Col. Franklin Tenney in the management of the National Hotel. Returning to Manchester in 1859, he was in the flour and grain business until 1880, and three years later he retired from active life. Col. Kidder joined the 4 Masonic order in 1849, and, excepting that of Grand Master, has held all the high offices in the Grand Lodge of the state. For forty-one ycars he was treasurer of Mount Horeb Royal Arch Chap-
ter, and he has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows since 1843. Col. Kidder is an old-line Democrat, having cast his first vote for Andrew Jackson in 1832, and since then he has
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WILLEY'S BOOK OF NUTFIELD.
A LONZO H. WESTON, son of Samuel S. and he attends the Unitarian ehureh. He is a and Roxana (Bell) Weston, was born Mareh member of all the various bodies of Masonry, ineluding the Knights Templar, the thirty-second degree Scottish Rite, and the Mystic Shrine. Jan. 14, 1856, Mr. Weston married Miss Letitia Morse Richards, daughter of Darius M. and Elizabeth (Morse) Richards of Cambridge, Mass. Two children have been born to them : Lill Anna, now the wife of George L. Jenks, treasurer of the Waterville Cutlery Company, of Water- ville, Conn., and Maude Richards, born Dee. 10, 1866, died Oct. 19, 1873. 4, 1832, in New Hudson, N. Y. He is a grandson of Jonathan Bell of Goffstown, who served in the Revolution and fought at Bunker Hill under Gen. Stark. When he was two years of age his parents moved to Goffstown, and here his boyhood days were passed in attendance at the village schools and in learning the blaeksmith's trade in his father's shop. Having a taste for mercantile life, he went to Rushford, N. Y., where he was a elerk in a general store for two years. He came to Man- chester in 1852 and was employed as elerk in the dry goods stores of Wil- liam Putney and William White until 1859. The following year he started in the same business for himself in Gran- ite bloek, remaining there until 1864, when he bought the elothing business of Jacob Morse, located at No. 836 Elm street. After sev- eral years of success- ful business life and ALONZO H. WESTON. inereasing eares, he admitted Arthur E. Martin to partnership, consti- for himself in 1856, and continued until 1869 tuting the firm of Weston & Martin. Mr. Weston has always aimed to do business on an honorable basis, earning for the firm its high reputation for integrity and fair dealing. He was a member of the first board of trade in 1860 and is a member of the present board. In 1895 he built a large block at the corner of Lowell and Chestnut streets, known as Weston Terrace (see cut of block on page 246). In politics he is a Republican,
D. H. YOUNG was born in Manchester May 10, 1833. Two years later his parents rc- moved to London- derry, and he was edueated in the eom- mon schools of that town, returning to Manchester in 1852 and attending sehool on Manchester street. Having worked at the shoe business and also at the mason's trade for a few years, he started in business
Sinee 1868 he has been in the real estate business, and at the present time he owns and eares for in person more than sixty tenements in different parts of the city. For five or six years he was engaged in the lumber trade in addition to his real estate interests. Mr. Young is a man of great business ability, having derived profit from every enterprise in which he has embarked, and he has always invested nearly all his earnings in real
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WILLEY'S BOOK OF NUTFIELD.
estate, believing it the safest and in the end the of training and being a thorough commercial most lucrative form of investment. He is a thirty- second degree Mason, and is also a member of the Odd Fellows, of the Amoskeag Grange, and of
DAVID H. YOUNG.
the Amoskeag Veterans. Mr. Young is a strong Democrat, and in 1880 was a delegate to the national convention. In 1878 he was the candi- date of his party for railroad commissioner.
W ILLIAM HERON, JR., who since 1880 has been principal of the Bryant & Strat- ton Business College in Manchester, was born in Schenectady, N. Y., where he lived until coming to this city. He was educated in his native city and at Troy. The institution at the head of which he has been for so many years is one of the oldest and best known commercial colleges in the Eastern states and ranks with the best schools of its class in the country. It has been, since its establishment in 1865, a most important factor in the commercial and mercantile life of the city and state, having numbered among its pupils many who subsequently achieved distinguished success in the business world. Having enjoyed the best
scholar, Mr. Heron has all the qualifications which enable him to maintain for his school the high position which it has won. There have been enrolled upon its register the names of more than 5,800 students sinec it was founded, and the insti- tution has received the hearty indorsement of all the leading business men of the city. Mr. Hcron is thoroughly abreast of the times, and has gradually added to the school new courses and new facilities for instruction, until now the curric- ulum includes all the branches of a business education. The secret of Mr. Heron's success may be told in one word -thoroughncss. His pupils learn that whatever is worth doing at all
is worth doing well, and that of itself almost consti- tutes an education. He was married in his native city, and four children have been added to the family. (See cut of school building, page 326.)
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WILLEY'S BOOK OF NUTFIELD.
R. GEORGE L. WAKEFIELD was born his removal to the hospital. Previous wounds in Plymouth, Vt., Oct. 18, 1846. His received in the service, together with the fact that hc was obliged to care for himself for several days before reaching the hospital at Alexandria, so depleted his strength that his life was despaired of, and he was at once placed in the ward with the fatal cases ; but he held tenaciously to life. Wounded in his head, in his body, in his shoulder and elbow, and elsewhere, he was obliged to stand on his feet for three months. Then he began to convalesce and soon obtaincd a furlough. Return- ing to the hospital, he was ordered to the Invalid Corps, which was not all satisfactory to the old soldier, and he was transferred to the Manchester Hospital and subsequently to Galloupe's Island, Boston Harbor, whence, after a rough and unpleas- ant experience, he returned to his regiment March 19, 1865, remaining with his company and doing duty with his right arm in a sling until the close of the war. He was mustercd out as ser- geant June 10, 1865, having shared the vicissitudes of the Ninth Regiment in more than twenty sanguinary battles and having been wounded four times. He was commended for his coolness in emergencies, his bravery in action, and his rigid adherence to every demand of duty.
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