Full text of "The Granite monthly, a New Hampshire magazine, devoted to literature, history, and state progress"

DURHAM

Library Association.

Shelf W T"' j

^ 1

•

Book ■— \5tT-^0

Volume ..""%^
Source

Received

Cost

THE

GRANITE MONTHLY

A INew Hampshire Magazine

DEVOTED TO

HISTORY, BIOGRAPHY, LITERATURE, ;

AND STATE PROGRESS 1

VOLUME XXIX ^50'"

CONCORD, N. H.

PUBLISHED BY THE GRANITE MONTHLY COMPANY

I 900

974.2
&759
V.29

Published, 1900

.By the Granite Monthly Company

Concord, N. H.

Printed, Illustrated, and Electrotyped by
Rum/ord Printing Company (Rum/ord Press •
Concord, New Hampshire, U. S. A.

The Granite Monthly.

CONTENTS OF VOLUME XXIX.

July — December, igoo.

Aldrich, Frank Levi, Suncook To-Dav ....

Alewives and the Dip-Net Process, H. W. Brown, M. Sc

A Memory (poe/n), M. Oakman Patton

Among the Granite Hills (poem), Francis A. Fox

A Night in an Asylum, John Lenox Pender

An Indian Still (poetn), Rutli Harmon

An Island (poem), Laura Garland Carr

An Old House and its Traditions, A New Hampshire Girl

A Pathetic Monument (poem), Mary M. Durgin Gra\-

A Photograph (poem), Alice P. Sargent ....

At the Confessional (poem), Mary M. Durgin Gray .

At the Village Smithy (poem), Clara Augusta Trask

A Veteran of Two Wars, and Some of his Comrades, John C. Linehan

Bachiler, Rev. Stephen. The Hard Case of the Founder of Old Hamp-
ton, F. B. Sanborn
Baker, Gen. Henry M., Hon. Leonard Wilcox
Beede, Eva J., The Introduction of Grammar

GOLDENROD (poem)

By Winnipesaukee (poem) .
Bennette, George Roby, Goodman Keyzar (poem
Beyond the Veil (poem), C. L. Tappan
BONNEYS, The Two, John C. Linehan
Bow AND Its People, H. H. Metcalf
Brown, H. W., M. Sc, Alewives and the Dip-
Burke, Doris L., The Chilblain Cure
By Winnipesaukee (poem], Eva J. Beede

Carr, Laura Garland, An Island (poem)
Cloister Mar Saba (poetn)

at the Cross

Net Process

Roads

398

391
179

174

■03
106

334
268

107

205

215

135

108
204
250

348

280

151
398
426
2;o

106

274

C?^^^

CONTENTS.

Carter, N. F., Our God (poem) ..........

Chamberlin, Jessie C, The Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science

(poem) . . .
Clark, A. Chester, The Dana Meeting-house, New Hampton
Clark, Luella, Washington (poem) .....

Cloister Mar Saba (poem), Laura Garland Can-
Colby, Frederick Myron, My Old New Hampshire Home (poem)
COLEBROOK (poem), Raymond J. Roach ....

Cole, Emily E., Sea-Dreams (poem) . . . .

Comerford, Ethel F., Lochaber No More (poem)
Compensation (poetn), Moses Gage Shirley ...
Concord. The Old North Cemetery, Joseph B. Walker
Cook, Howard M., Hillsborough County Towns
Corning, Charles R., Count Rumford . . .

Count Rumford, Charles R. Corning .....

Court, Ormsby A., Life's Path (poem) ....

Cressy, Annette R., "Pete" ......

Elkins, W. P., Pack Monadnock ....

Forrest, E. W., Some "Lake City" Men and Industries
Fox, Frances A., AMON(i the Granite Hills (poetn)

Goldenrod (poem), Eva J. Beede
Goodman Keyzar (poem), George Roby Bennette
Gramma's Hollyhocks (poetn), Moses Gage Shirley
Graves, Ida J., The Woman's Club of Henniker
Gray, Mary M. Durgin, At the Confessional (poetn)

A Pathetic Monument ....
Greenwood, Alice D. O., Little Brown Mittens (poetn)
Griffith, George Bancroft, The Old Meeting-house at South Sunapee

Hannah Eastman's Capture, Guy S. Rix .

Harmon, Ruth, An Indian Still (poeiti)

Hazen, Raymond D., Suggestions on Boys' Reading

Hillsborough County Towns, Howard M. Cook

Hoyt, Samuel, The Forest in Winter

Hurd, Willis Edwin, The Battle in the Gorge

In Old Fort Constitution (poem), L. E. Chellis Story
In the Forest (poeiti), C. C. Lord ....
Is the Norse Claim Authentic, George W. Parker .

Kearsarge in Autumn (poetn), Eugene R. Musgrove .
Kent, Henry O., Truth (poetn) .....

Laconia. Some "Lake City" Men and Industries, E. W. Forrest

Life's Path (poem), Ormsby A. Court

Linehan, John C, A Veteran of Two Wars, and Some of his Comrades
Little Brown Mittens (Poetti), Alice D. O. Greenwood
Lochaber No More (poem), Ethel F. Comerford
Lord, C. C, In the Forest (poetn) ....

170

342

95
274

133
416
299
109

293
406

236
353
353
334
206

392

311
179

204

348

341

247
107

268

425
362

275
103
170
236
415
104

241
179
300

299
361

311
334
96
425
109
179

CONTENTS.

Mead, C. F., Jamks Scammon ....
Melinda Rankin, Jane Hobart Tuttle
Metcalf, H. H., Bow and Its People

George F. Putnam . . ...
Moses, J. M., Northwood: A Town of Lakes
Musgrove, Eugene R., Kearsarge in Autumn (poem)
My Oi-o New Hampshire Home (poem), Frederick My

ron Colby

212

270
185
299

New Hampshire Necrology
Adams, Maj. Enoch G.
Alden, Rev. William H., D. D
Allen, Alonzo .
Amidon, Hon. Charles
Barry, Very Rev. John E.
Bingham, Hon. Harry
Blaisdell, Hon. Josiah C
Brock, Lemuel M.
Burleigh, Hon. Henry G.
Burley, Joseph C.
Chamberlain, Hon. Mellen
Chandler, Henry
CiLLEY, Joseph N.
Converse, Eleazer C.
Cox, Alfred A. .
Critchett, Oliver G.
DoLBEER, Alonzo
Drew, Hon. George F.
Button, Rev. J. M.
Button, Rev. Newell T., B. B,
FiTTs, Rev. James H.
Fletcher, Gen. Everett
French, John F.
Hood, Harvey P.
HoYT, Charles H.
Ilsley, Winoate N. .
Keeler, Rev. Samuel C.
Locke, E. W.

Merrow, Augustus B., M. B.
Moses, Henry C.
Perkins, Hon. Nathan R.
Perry, True J. .
Ramsdell, Hon. George A
Richardson, Col. Lloyd B
Richardson, William A.
Thurston, Rev. H. W. L.

TiBBETTS, ORRAN W. .

Waterhouse, Charles H.
Wilder, Charles
Wyman, Stephen Bow

III, 180, 242, 304, 370,

431
435
374
114
242
432
304
370
307
243
372

1 1 1

373
307
113
373
114

30S

114

434

435
244

371

1 12

433

373
306

113

436
306
180

113
431
181
1 1 1
308
181

243
182

244

CONTENTS.

Nichols, Laura D., Only (poem) ....
Nichols, Mrs. Ellen Potter, J. E. Pecker
Nightfall (poem), Moses Gage Shirley
NoRTHWOOD : A Town of Lakes, J. M. Moses .

" Old Home Week'* (poem), Mrs. Nancy M. Paul
Only (poem), Laura D. Nichols
Our God (poem), N. F. Carter

Pack Monadnock, W. P. Elkins
Parker, George W., Summer (poem)

Is THE Norse Claim Authentic-
Picturesque Coopekstown
Patton, M. Oakman, The Idle Dreamings of an Idle Day (poem)

A Memory (poem) ....
Paul, Mrs. Nancy M., " Old Home Week" (poejn)
Pecker, J. E., Mrs. Ellen Potter Nichols
Pender, John Lenox, A Night in an Asylum
Perhaps So (poem), Mary J. Richardson . .
" Pete," Annette R. Cressy
Picturesque Cooperstown, George W. Parker
Prison Science tiersus Prison Discipline, F. B. Sanborn
Putnam, George F., Henry H. Metcalf

Richardson, Mary ]., Perhaps So (poem)
Rix, Guy S., Hannah Eastman's Capture
Roach, Raymond J., Colebrook (poem)
Rome, James J., To an Oak (poem)

235
129
214
185

149

235
94

392
149
300

231
21 1

391
149

129

174
no
206
231

417
270

1 10

275
416
230

Sanborn, F. B., The Hard Case of the Founder of Old Hampton.
Stephen Bachiler .......

Prison Science versus Prison Discipline ....

Sargent, Alice P., A Photograph (poem) .....

Scammon, James, C. F. Mead .......

Sea-Dreams (^/>fl^;;/j, Emily E. Cole ......

Shirley, Moses Gage, When Your Lips are Touched \vith Song (poem)

Nightfall (poe/n) ........

Compensation (poem) ........

Gramma's Hollyhocks (poetn) ......

Smith, Jonathan, The Scotch-Irish Settlers of Peterborough

The Evolution of a Church ......

Some "Lake City" Men and Industries, E. W. Forrest

Stevens, Nettie L., Thic Wayside King Cup (poem)

Stone, Cyrus A., The Old Home (poem) .....

Story, L. E. Chellis, In Old Fort Constitution (poem)

Suggestions on Boys' Reading, Raymond D. Hazen .

Summer (poevi), George W. Parker ......

SuNCOOK To- Day, Frank Levi Aldrich

Swaine, C. Jennie, White Chrysanthemums (poem)

Svi^EET Sleep (poem) Hervey Lucius Woodward ....

Rev

215

417
107

2 12

299
I 10

214

293
341
251

311
109
128
241

170
149

404

CONTENTS.

Jessie C. Cham

Tappan, C. L., Beyond the Vfai. (poem) ....

The Battle in tihc Gorge, Willis Edwin Hurd

The Chilulain Cuke, Doris L. Burke ....

The Dana Meeting-house, New Hampton, A. Chester Clark
The Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science (poet/i),
berlin .........

The Evolution of a Church, Jonathan Smith .
The First Bank in Concord, Joseph B. Walker
The Forest in Winter, Samuel Hoyt ....

The Idle Dreamings of an Idle Dav (poem), M. Oakman Patton
The Introduction of Grammar at the Cross Roads, Eva J. Beede
The McClarys of Epsom, Warren Tripp ......

The Old Home (poem), Cyrus A. Stone ......

The Old Meeting-house at South Sunapee, George Bancroft Griffith
The Old North Cemetery of Concord, N. H., Joseph B. Walker .
The Scotch-Irish Settlers of Peterborough, Jonathan Smith
The South African Tragedy (poein) ....

The Wayside King Cup (poem), Nettie L. Stevens

The Woman's Club of Henniker, Ida J. Graves

The Women's Clubs of Littleton, Jane Hobart Tuttle

To an Oak (poem), James J. Rome .....

Trask, Clara Augusta, At the Village Smithy (poem)
Tripp, Warren, The McClarys of Epsom ....

Truth (poem), Henry O. Kent . ...

Tuttle, Jane Hobart, The Women's Clubs of Littleton .
Melinda Rankin .......

Walker, Joseph B., The First Bank in Concord

The Old North Cemetery of Concord, N. H.
Washington (poetfi), Luella Clark .....
When Your Lips are Touched with Song (poem), Moses Gage Shirley
White Chrysanthemums (poem), C. Jennie Swaine
WiLCO-X, Hon. Leonard, Gen. Henry M. Baker .
Woodward, Hervey Lucius, Sweet Sleep (poem)

280
104
426

342

170

377
281

415
211

108

294

128

362

406

251

396
109

247
117
230
205
294

361
117

365

281
406

95
no
404

135
^71

O
<

I
O

Tnn (iRAniTC T^ONTtiisq,

Vol. XXIX.

JULY, 1900.

No. I.

SUNCOOK TO-DAY

By Frank Levi AldricJi.

^HERE is no village iu
New Hampshire, or in
all New England, more
favored by nature with
all the elements tending
to induce industr5% enterprise, thrift,
and prosperit}' among its people than
the village of Suncook. Nor is there
anywhere to be found a community
which has more fully utilized its op-
portunities than that which peoples
the banks of Suncook river, and the
pleasant hillsides overlooking the
beautiful valley.

It is not claimed for Suncook or its
people that every possible advance
has been made, every desirable im-
provement effected, or that it is not
excelled in some respect b}^ some
other village or villages, but it may
be maintained successfully that, on
the whole, no village has more gen-
erall}^ improved its natural resources,
secured for its people a higher aver-
age degree of material prosperity,
and a fuller measure of intelligence,
maintained a higher standard of mor-
ality, or has, in short, developed a
higher type of manhood and woman-
hood within its borders, and sent out

into the land and world a stronger
influence for good.

Supplied with abundant and al-
most unfailing water power, its
manufacturing interests are, and
hav^e always been, an important fac-
tor in its prosperity. Settled origi-
nall}' by a sturdy, industrious, intel-
ligent, and God-fearing class of peo-
ple, whose minds and the character
of whose descendants were strength-
ened and elevated by the mysterious
influence of grand and beautiful
scener\', its population has always
been of the highest order.

Suncook is situated iu the beauti-
ful valleys of the Merrimack and Sun-
cook rivers, in the count}" of Merri-
mack, south of Concord, a distance
of only seven miles. It has excep-
tional, uever-failing water power for
its mills and factories in the Suncook
river, and is regarded as one of the
most prosperous villages in the state.

In this article it is not proposed to
recount any of the details of its his-
tory, as the subject is somewhat
threadbare. It does not differ ma-
terially from other New England
villages, all having interesting his-

SUXCOOK

View on Main Street.

toric, romantic, and heroic incidents.
Those of Suncook have been care-
fully prepared and published in " The
Pembroke Town History," in two
volumes, which is very accurate and
complete.

Suncook of to-day typifies what
progress and civilization have ac-
complished in the time since the

village was established. While it
has some advantages not accorded
other New Hampshire villages, in
that it draws a trade from a radius of
from five to twenty miles north, south,
east, and west, it has a sufhcient
•number of manufacturing industries
to sustain its population. The pur-
pose of this article is to give to the

Town Hall.

SUNCOOh'.

View on Main Street.

world a succinct and accurate ac-
count of the nature and scope of
these industries, and of the business
of the village, together with portraits
and sketches of the men who are en-
gaged in the different pursuits.

If the work is sul^cienily attrac-

tive to call attention to the enterprise
and push of the men who make up
one of the busiest villages of the
state, its aim will have been accomp-
lished

Suncook has e\ery improvement
and advantage of a modern village,

Ponce station

SUNCOOA'

'.sm^ibi

North Side School House.

broad, shaded thoroughfares, hand- be found anywhere. In its educa-

some and substantial residences, cozy tional, religious, and fraternal rela-

and comfortable homes, an unlimited tions, Suncook is not behind its

supply of pure spring water, a mod- sister villages. It has the system of

erii system of sanitation, electric schools for which New Hampshire
lights, and as intelligent and pro-' has become famous, first-class build-

gressive a class of citizens as can ings at present, and excellent high

r*.
^-..

f f VB' f

South Side School House.

SUNCOOK.

school privileges at the Pembroke
academy.

Four religious deuomiuatious are
represented, their houses of worship
being handsome specimens of archi-
tecture. A notable and commend-
able feature of the religious work is
the spirit of fraternalism between the
denominations, which, in other places,
is so frequently absent.

and not only furnished employment
for ihe greater part of the population,
but aided in many ways in promoting
the comfort and general welfare of
the employes, and building up and
improving the village. In fact few
big corporations upon which a large
portion of a community are depend-
ent have been more generous to their
employes and the various objects of

Agent's Residence — China, Webster, and Pembroke IVIills.

MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES.

There are several reasons wh}^ the
Pembroke, Webster, and China mills
are of special interest to the people of
Suncook and why they should occupy
a prominent place in any industrial
review of the village. They have for
many years been a very prominent
part of the manufacturing industry of
the village, and have played no small
part in the industrial development of
New England. They have been the
life and the backbone of a large por-
tion of the village, added materially
to the general prosperity of Suncook,

public good in the communit}^ in
which they are located, or have been
more considerate of the operatives
within their works.

The three companies, "Pembroke
Mills," "Webster Manufacturing,"
and "China Manufacturing," are
distinct from each other, each own-
ing one mill, with other necessary
buildings and water power. All
manufacture print cloth. They are
under one management. B. R. Weld
of Boston is treasurer, David Iv.
Jewell, agent, and Edmund E- Trues-
dell, paymaster.

The Pembroke mill, three stories

SUNCOOK.

high, was built in i860, after the
mill built b}^ Nichols & Brownell
was burned. It is 273 feet long, 72
feet wide, has 19,000 spindles, and
422 looms, and is run by two turbine
w^ater wheels, aggregating 400-horse
power, supplemented by engines to
be used in case of low w^ater. It
employs 175 female and 80 male op-
eratives, and the j-early pay-roll is
$55,000. it uses 1,000 tons of coal,
2,000 gallons of oil, and 1,200 pounds
of starch per annum. It uses 1,000,-
000 pounds of cotton, and manufac-
tures 6,000,000 yards of cloth.

The Webster mill is five stories
high, and was built in 1865. It is
310 feet long, 72 feet wide, and for
power has two turbine water wheels,
800-horse power, and for auxiliary
power two Corliss steam engines, 800-
horse power. It employs 350 female
and 150 male operatives, with a yearly
pay-roll of $110,000. It requires 1,600
tons of coal, 4,000 gallons of oil, and
24,000 pounds of starch per annum,
and has 36,000 spindles, 913 looms,
uses about 2,000,000 pounds of cot-
ton, and makes 12,000,000 yards of
cloth per year.

The China mill, five stories high,
was built in 1868, and is 510 feet
long and 72 feet wide. The power
used is two turbine water wheels,
1,500-horse power, and two Corliss
steam engines, 1,500-horse power.
It requires 3,000 tons of coal, 6,000
gallons of oil, and 36,000 pounds of
starch per annum. It uses about
3,000,000 pounds of cotton, makes
18,000,000 yards of cloth jjer year,
and employs 500 female and 300
male operatives, with a yearly pay-
roll of $158,000.

It wnll be seen that the three mills
when in full operation use about

1 16 000 pounds of cotton and make
692,000 yards of cloth per week, mak-
ing an approximate total for a year
of 6,032,000 pounds, or 3,016 tons of
cotton and 6,000,000 yards of cloth.

THE SUNCOOK WATER-WORKS COM-
PANY.

This compatiy was incorporated by
act of the legislature, February 19,
1 89 1, with a capital stock of $100,000.
Its charier was amended by acts of
the legislature February 26, 1S95,
and March 8, 1899.

The directors are Frank Jones,
J. A. Farrington, and Justin V.
Hanscom, all of Portsmouth.

The officers are : President, Frank
Jones ; treasurer, Justin V. Hans-
com ; clerk, Calvin Page ; superin-
tendent, Curtis E. Dalton.

The first incorporators were Samuel
Ordway and four others, with capital
of $25,000. In 1895 instead of these
incorporators the following were sub-
stituted ; Frank Jones, J. A. Farring-
ton, C. B. Gafney, Nathaniel E.
Martin, and Edmund E. Truesdell,
wdio were elected directors. In 1898
Mr. Gafney having deceased and
Mr. Martin and Mr. Truesdell hav-
ing resigned as directors it was voted
to have only three directors. The
annual meeting is holden on the first
Saturdaj' of March each year.

Practically the Suncook water-
works are owned and controlled by
Hon. Frank Jones of Portsmouth.
A man whose name and fame ex-
tends far and wide ; the story of his
life is too well known to need repeat-
ing. It is enough to say that he is a
business man in a full sense of the
word. By his untiring euerg}' and
determined effort he has accumulated
a fortune for himself, and by his gen-

HON. FRANK JONES.
I'residcnt Suncook ',1'atrr Works.

SUNCOOA'

■-Supcook Water Works— Upper Reservoir and Filter

Suncook Water Works — Lower Reservoir.

6 UNCOOK.

erous disposition contributed liber-
ally to the material prosperity of the
state.

The works cover an area of about
twenty-five acres, and afford an
abundant supply of pure water for
all domestic, fire protection, and
manufacturing purposes of the town.
The water takers now number four
hundred.

Mr. Curtis E. Dalton is agent in
charge of the works. A long resi-

paving and curbstone. This quarry
has a quarter of a mile exposure, and
the outcroppings of the stone reach-
ing clear to the surface, make it very
easy to handle. The supply is re-
garded as inexhaustible. The plant
is thoroughly equipped with the
latest improved machinery, and has
railroad facilities for speedily tran-
sacting an immense business.

To give some idea of the output of
this concern it may be stated that

View of Railroad to C. A, Bailey's Quarry.

dent of Suncook, a very efficient and
faithful man ever mindful of his duty
to his employer and to his patrons.

THK BAILEY GRANITE WORKS.

One of Suncook's leading indus-
tries is the Bailey Granite Works,
situated about two miles from the vil-
lage, and in extent covering about
twenty-five acres. The granite is
of fine quality, and is used for
building, street, and bridge work.
They also have a very large trade in

they shipped twenty- two hundred
carloads of granite the past season,
and employ 125 men constantly from
April until December, with a pay-roll
of about four thousand dollars per
month.

A visit to the Bailey works con-
vinces one that with its modern plant,
its progressive, enlightened, ambi-
tious management, its ample capital,
and its past achievements, it looks
forward to the opening century with
both courage and confidence. The

S UNCO OK

owner of the works, Mr. Charles A.
Bailey, is noted wherever he is
known as one of the most energetic,
painstaking, skilful granite men in
New Hampshire.

The Bailey Granite Works are
very convenient!}' located on the
Suncook Valley branch of the Bos-
ton & Maine railroad. In order to
facilitate the transportation of the
products of the works, Mr. Bailey
built a side track from the main line

large stone-shed, where some very
fine monumental work is made. Mr.
Bailey is very ably assisted by his
two sons, Mr. Hall E. and Mr. Har-
vey D., who are shipping clerk and
book-keeper.

A large stone crusher was added
last year, and the waste stone is
broken up and shipped to Manches-
ter and other places, while the Bos-
ton & Maine railroad has used con-
siderable of it. Last season six miles

Residence of Charles A. Bailey.

of the vSuncook Valley railroad one
mile and a half in length. This was
surveyed by engineers, and the T;oad
was built by Mr. Bailey at consider-
able expense. The steepest grade of
this track is four feet in one hundred.
He also has three fourths of a mile of
additional side tracks in and around
the stone sheds and works. Mr.
Bailey owns a locomotive that is
daily used in shifting about the
works.

At Manchester Mr. Bailey has a

of street curbing was shipped from
the works.

CHARLES A. BAILEY.

Mr. Charles A. Bailey, the owner
of the Bailey Granite Works, is a
native of Pembroke. He has been
in the granite business for the last
twenty-two years, and is one of Sun-
cook's best known business men.
He has been very successful, and the
conduct of his works leaves nothing
to be desired.

SUN CO OK.

Mr. Bailey is independent in poli-
tics. He is a Thirty-second degree
Mason, and a member of Jewell
lyodge, A. F. and A. M., Hiram
Chapter, R. A. M., Horace Chase
Council, Mount Horeb Commandery,
Ariel Council, P. of J., Aaron P.
Hughes Lodge of Perfection, and St.
George Chapter, Rose Croix. He is
a member of the Methodist Episcopal
church, and of the official board of
the same. He married Mary J. Den-
nison, and by this union has had the
following children : Hall Edward and
Harvey Dennison, born January 4,
1877 ; Clara Eouise, born January
17, 1879, and died August 17, 1879;
Charles Parker, born June 16, 18S5,
and Emery Ward, born January 10,
1887.

Mr. Bailey stands too high in the
business circles of this village and
Manchester to need any encomium at
our hands.

THE SUNCOOK VALLEY CREAMERY.

The people of Suncook and vicin-

it}' are fortunate in enjoying the ad-
vantages of a first- class creamery es-
tablishment, and the homes of the
village are supplied with a fresh,
pure creamer)' butter, made here at
home from the milk furnished by
the farmers in this vicinity.

The Suncook Valley Creamery
(incorporated) was established in
October, 1897. The present board
of directors are Col. Eugene S. Head,
president; James E. Dodge, vice-
president ; Frank E. Blodgett, secre-
tary and treasurer; William E. Goss
and George P. Morgan.

They have a well-equipped estab-
lishment, twenty-eight by forty feet
in dimensions, fitted with large steam
churns, separators, and other appli-
ances necessary to the economical
conduct of the business. A fifteen-
horse power boiler and engine furnish
the power. Everything about the
premises is kept so neat and clean
that the most fastidious could not
find fault with the place or its pro-
ducts, and the methods used are so

SuncooK Valley Creamery.

SUNCOOK.

excellent that uolliing but the very
best creamery butter is produced. As
a consequence, the products of the Suu-
cook Valley creamerj^ are in demand
and very popular in the community.
Besides selling tlieir products at
home they have a good trade in Con-
cord, Manchester, and Lowell, Mass.
The creamery has the milk from

prizes that he has secured at the
Dairy Associations' meetings and
fairs. He is a prominent member of
the Patrons of Husbandry, being
chaplain of Pembroke Grange of this
town.

Truman Gilson, manager of the
Suncook Valley Creamery, was boru
at Granville, Vt., April lo, i860.

Truman Gilson.

seventy dairies, and makes about
eighteen hundred pounds per week.
It is in the hands of enterprising, re-
liable lousiness men, who are making
a good success of their "Gilt lidge
Butter."

Mr. Truman Gilson is the manager
of this creamery, having been in the
employ of the company since the
commencement. He holds many

He attended the district schools, and
Island Grove school of Fort Edward,
N. Y. For ten years he was em-
ployed at Sharon and Moutpelier, Vt.,
as butter maker. Mr. Gilson is a
loyal Republican. He is a member
of Jewell Lodge, No. 94, A. F. &
A. M. ; Hiram Chapter, No. 24,
R. A. M. ; Howard Lodge, No. 31,
I. O. O. F. ; Pembroke Grange, No.

SUN COOK.

III, P. of H., and the 3uncook Ini-
provemeiit Association. He is au
attendant of the Methodist Episcopal
church. He married Rachel B. Fife,
and they reside at their pleasant
home on Pembroke vStreet.

Mr. Gilson has been awarded
about forty first premiums and high-
est awards on butter including four
gold medals, one bronze medal ; di-
ploma of World's Columbian Fxposi-
tiou held at Chicago in 1893 ; also a
certificate of honorable mention from
the Board of Lady Managers of Co-
lumbian Exposition for having as-
sisted as an expert butter maker at
the exhibition ; also the Vermont
Dairyman's Gold Medal in 1S92, and
that of the -Columbian Pure Food
Exhibit at Castle Square Garden,
N. Y., in 1892.

THE VILLAGE IMPROVEMENT SO-
CIETY.

One of Suncook's most valuable or-
ganizations, and one that has done as
much as anything to fos'.er public
spirit, is the Village Improvement
Society, which was organized in
1899. Dr. Orlando B. Douglas was
the prime mover in this new entcr-
pri.se and was its president for the
first year, and has just been rtelecicd.
Mrs. Frank E. Blodgett was elected
vice-president, with Mrs. John B.
Haselton, secretary. Mr. Eleazer F.
Baker, of the firm of E- Baker & Co.,
one of the best known residents of
the town, was elected treasurer, and
h;is held the position since. Mr.
Baker is essentially a public-spirited
man, is vitally interested in all that
concerns Suncook, and has the de-
tails of the life of the society at his
fingers' ends. The organization has
164 members.

During the 3'ear a new sidewalk
was built to the Evergreen cemetery,
which is traced directly to the societ3%
and it has also made a business of
setting out and trimming shade trees,
over one hundred new ones having
been planted through its influence,
and farther beautifying Suncook's
streets.

The town officers have cooperated
with the utmost good fellowship and
heartiness for the improvements noted.

A town picnic was held on July 4,
and a good time enjoyed, under its
auspices. The society does not be-
lieve that man should live by bread
alone, and has .made a feature of lit-
erary life. Several entertainments
have been given in the opera house,
adding to the fund held by the treas-
urer. Sureh^ Suncook has been the
richer during the past year, and will
be for many years to come, because of
its hustling Village Improvement so-
ciety.

PEMBROKE ACADEMY.

In educational matters Pembroke
has been highly favored. No doubt
it, in common with other towns, took
advantage of any new school laws as
they were from time to time enacted.
Certainl}' a step in advance was
taken, when, in 1802, a movement
was made to increa.se the educational
interests of the district which in-
cluded the lower part of Pembroke
Street. A private association was
formed and then was established
what was known as the Columbian
school. This association continued
in force uHtil 1817.

In 1 81 8, Dr. Abel Blanchard, who
had been a pli\sician in Pembroke
for ten years, died, leaving the resi-
duary part of his estate for the pur-

S UNCO OK

Pembroke Academy.

pose of founding a public school or
academy. Dr. Blanchard named
nine men as a board of trustees, of
which Rev. Dr. Abraham Burnham,
pastor of the Congregational church,
was president until 1852. The in-
stitution was incorporated as Pem-
broke academy, June 25, 18 18. Ac-
cording to an expressed wish of the
founder a building was erected with
funds subscribed by the people of the
town and May 26, 1819, the school
was established. There was an at-
tendance of forty-eight students dur-
ing the first term. The teachers
were Mr. Amos W. Burnham and
Miss Frances Newell. Its stated
objtct was "for the purpose of im-
proving the rising generation in sci-
ence, morality, and religion ; also
for the education of youth in the
English, Latin, and Greek lan-
guages, writing, arithmetic, and
other branches of literature com-
monly taught in the public schools."
We believe it may be truthfully said

that during the more than eighty
years of its existence this object has
been steadily kept in view. Its
fund, at first comparatively small, has
been increased until at present it
amounts to over twenty thousand
dollars. It has a valuable library, a
large number of books having been
received from the estate of the late
Col. Thomas W. Knox of New York
city, a native of Pembroke, in accor-
dance with a provision in his will.
An interesting feature is its art gal-
lery, where can be seen portraits of
some of the alumni, and a museum
where are to be found curiosities il-
lustrating the customs and manners
of former days.

Its three courses of study have
been enriched from year to year so
that now they admirably serve their
purpose, students being fitted for col-
lege or business life.

I^fforts are being made to secure
funds for the erection of new build-
ings. Already the alumni and friends

SUNCOOK.

have pledged over twelve thousand
dollars for the purpose, with the un-
derstanding that twenty-five thou-
sand dollars are to be raised. This is
an enterprise that should have the
support of every alumnus and citizen
of the town.

Last year there was held a reunion
of former students and teachers of
the academy, as well as those of the
People's Literary Institution and
Gymnasium, an occasion of great in-
terest to all present. At this meet-
ing Gen. Henrj^ M. Baker of Bow
was elected president, George W.
Fowler of Pembroke, secretary, and
Bert G. Spaulding of vSuncook, treas-
urer.

From about 1840 to 1S63 there ex-
isted another school on Pembroke
Street, already referred to above.
This for several years was largely at-
tended, but it gradually decreased in
numbers until, in 1863, it was united
with the academy, trustees having
been chosen from the friends of both
schools. The union has proved to
be a happy one.

The present board of trustees is

Martin H. Cochran, president;
George P. Little, secretary and treas-
urer ; Joseph H. Dearborn, Frank
S. Whitehouse, George P. Thompson,
Addison N. Osgood, Jacob E. Chick-
ering, Eugene S. Head, Frank E.
Blodgett.

The teachers are Isaac Walker,
A. M., principal; Miss Annie Maria
Greene, preceptress ; Miss Tlieo-
dosia Grant Sargeant, assistant.

Since this article was written, the
Pembroke academy burned on the
afternoon of June 21.

Prof. Isaac Walker, the hon-
ored principal of Pembroke academy
for about twenty-seven years, is a
native of Fryeburg, Me., born Sep-
tember 26, 1842.

After attending the public schools
he pursued a preparatory course at
F'ryeburg academy, and ihen entered
Dartmouth college, graduating in the
class of 1863. and has received de-
grees of A. B. and A. M. from this
college.

Prof. Walker came to Pembroke
the first time in 1S63, remaining un-
til 1868, and was principal of the

EC EC IV
EE II K

Proposed New Pembroke Academy.

SUNCOOK.

Prof. Isaac Walker.

academy. From 1868 to 1873 he was
the principal of Ware (Mass.) High
school, and in 1873 returned to Pem-
l)roke, and has since been the faith-
ful principal of Pembroke academy.

January 6, 1883, Prof. Walker was
elected a deacon of the Congrega-
tional church, and July 7, 1874, was
licensed to preach by the Merrimack
Association.

He married Mary P. Smith of
Monmouth, Me., November, 1866,
and has three children, Mary Blanche,
married Dr. Edmund E. Hill of this
village; Arthur P., a clerk in Con-
cord, and Florence J., a student at
Middlebury (Vt.) college!

During the Civil War he was a
private in Company B, Seventh
Squadron, Rhode Island Cavalry.

FRATERNITIES.

The fraternal, social, and benevo-
lent organizations are well repre-
sented in Suncook, the Masonic or-
der having been especially prominent
for many years, as, also, the Odd
Fellows, Independent Order of Fores-
ters, Pembroke Grange, Catholic Or-
der of Foresters, Society of St. John
the Baptist, Cercle de Dramatique et
Litteraire, United Order of the
Golden Cross, Daughters of the
American Revolution, and the Sun-
cook Improv^ement Society.

Jewell Lodge No. 94, A. F. and
A. M., was formed and opened here
in Masonic hall, April 7, 1879. The
lodge was named after Col. David L.
Jewell, the esteemed and popular

SUNCOOK

agent of the three mills here. This
lodge has had a flourishing career
since its organization, its membership
embracing many of the most promi-
nent citizens.

Its present officers are Frank E.
Blodgett, W. M. ; Walter S. Cass,
S. W. ; William N. Johnston, J. W. ;
Henry P. Cofran, S. D. ; John P. Os-
good, J. D.; Jacob E- Chickering, treas-
urer ; Frank L. Aldrich, secretary;
Rev. Robert T. Wolcott, chaplain ;
Charles H. Smith, marshal ; Edmund
E. Hill, senior steward ; John T.
Merrill, junior steward, and Rufus
H. Paine, tyler.

The Past Masters of Jewell Eodge
are Edmund E. Truesdell, Enoch H.
Holt, Rufus M. Weeks, George P.
Cofran, Rufus H. Paine, Addison N.
Osgood, George E- Miller, Eugene S.
Head, and Thomas H. Bunney. The
lodge is in a flourishing condition, the
present membership being iio.

Hiram Chapter, No. 24,
Royal Arch Masons, was
instituted here in Novem-
ber, 1892, and chartered
May 15, 1894. Rufus M.
Weeks was the first pre-
siding officer, or Most Ex-
cellent High Priest, and
has been succeeded by
Charles H. Smith, Edwin
P. Northrup, and Bela H.
Emerson, the latter being
the present incumbent.

Odd. Fellowship estab-
lished its first tangible
abode in this village Sep-
tember 24, 1849, when
Howard Lodge, No. 31,
was instituted. The or-
ganization has now
eighty-two members and
fine quarters in the

xxix— 2

I. O. O. F. block. Dr. Edmund E.
Hill is the present noble grand ;
Truman Gilson, vice grand ; Fred
M. Millard, recording secretary;
Fred G. Evans, permanent secretary ;
Charles H. Smith, treasurer; George
G. Prescott, warden ; Will M. F^'ife,
conductor ; George F. Georgie, outer
guard; Charles B. Hadley, inner
guard ; Rufus H. Paine, R. S. N. G. ;
Stephen Hook, L. S. N. G. ; John
G. Bartlett, R. S. V. G. ; R. E. W. Os-
good, E- S. V. G. ; Daniel F. Eeavitt,
R. S. S. ; Frank S. Lancey, E. S. S. ;
Jesse R. Paine, chaplain ; F^rank E.
Aldrich, sitting past grand ; trustees
of funds, Daniel F. Eeavitt, Edwin
P. Northrup, Dr. George F. Muu-
sey ; committee on finance, Dr.
George F. Munsey, Addison N. Os-
good, Frank S. Lancey.

Friendship Lodge of Hooksett and
Evergreen Lodge of Short Falls are
an outgrowth.

Catholic Church.

DAVID LYMAN JEWELL,

S UNCOCK.

Hildreth Encampment, No. 17,
I. O. O. F., was instituted March 7,
187 1, with seven charter members.
It has now forty members, R. A.
Lantry of Hooksett being chief patri-
arch. It was named in honor of
Charles F. Hildreth, P. G. P.

Canton General Stark, No. 9,
Patriarchs Militant, was instituted in
this village August 15, 1883. It has
now about forty members, with John
D. Sweatt as captain.

Mary Gordon Bartlett Rebekah
Lodge, No. 69, I. O. O. F., w^as in-
stituted March 19, 1896, with twenty-
two members, and has now about
ninety-five, with Mrs. Fannie Fv.
Bickford noble grand. This lodge is
especially active, and has done much
for the advancement of Odd Fellow-
ship in the town.

Pembroke Grange, No. 11 1, P. of
H., was organized December 3, 1885.
Joseph H. Dearborn was the first mas-
ter. From the first, the grange has
had a steady growth, and now num-
bers about three hundred members,
including farmers from Bow, Aliens-
town, and Hooksett. It is only sec-
ond to the largest organization of the
Patrons of Husbandry in the state.
George B. Lake is master.

PERSONAL SKETCHES.

CoL- David Lyman Jewell, agent
of the three large mill corporations —
China, Webster, and Pembroke — of
Suncook village, was born in Tam-
worth, January 26, 1837, a son of
Bradbury and Lucinda (Chapman)
Jewell. His great grandfather, Mark
Jewell, was born in England in 1724,
came to this country in 1743, settling
in Durham, and died in Sandwich,
February 19, 1787. His eldest son,
Mark, was the first white man to settle

in Tamworth in 1772. He married
Ruth Vittum, and they had sixteen
children, one of whom, Bradbury, was
the grandfather of the sul>ject of this
sketch. When the latter was about
two 3-ears of age his parents removed
to Newmarket, and, his father dying
there, his mother again removed to
Newton Upper Falls, Mass. Here he
attended the common schools and Wil-
braham academy, and, later, entered
the State Normal School at Bridge-
water, from which he was graduated
in February, 1855. He taught school
in Westfield, N. J., at Freehold (New
Jersey) acadenn-, and in Barstow's
private school, Newton, Mass.

He studied engineering with R.
Morris Copeland and Charles H. Fol-
som in Boston, but gave up this profes-
sion when the war broke out. He was
agent of the Newton mills, Newton
Upper Falls, Mass., from i860 to 1868.
While at Newton he was draughts-
man for the mills at Suncook and
Pembroke, and in 186S removed to
this village as superintendent of the
mills. Upon the death of the agent
he was gi\-en charge, and when the
China mill was started he took the
same position, and since 1870 has
been the efficient agent of the three
corporations.

Colonel Jewell is a member of the
New England Cotton Manufacturers'
Associati(m. He was aide-de-camp,
with the rank of colonel, on Gov.
Natt. Head's staff, and is a member
of the Ancient and Honorable Aitil-
lery Conipany of Boston. He is a
Thirty-second degree Mason, a mem-
ber of Jewell Lodge, No. 94, this vil-
lage, which was named for him ; of
Mt. Horeb Commandery of Concord ;
of Massachusetts Consistory, Ancient
and Accepted Scottish Rite, thirty-

HON. EDMUND E. TRUESDELL.

S UNCO OK.

second degree, and Aleppo Temple,
Ancient Arabic Order Nubles of the
Mystic Shrine.

In Augnst, i860, Mr. Jewell mar-
ried Mary A. Grover of Newton, Mass.,
who died October 16, 1S62. He mar-
ried, May 31,. 1865, Ella Louise Sum-
ner, of Needham, Mass.

As an agent, Colonel Jewell has
been very successful. He is popular
with his employes, and is a Republi-
can in politics. He is a public-
spirited citizen, is interested in Sun-
cook, and is always ready to assist
in every way in his power in anj'
movement which promises to advance
the interests of Suncook. He has
a beautiful residence at Wollaston
Heights, Mass., overlooking Boston
harbor, and for several years has en-
jo}'ed his Suuda\ s there. In his reli-
gious associations he is an Episcopa-
lian.

Hon. Edmund Erskine Trues-
DELiv, pajnnaster o{ the Cliina, Web-
ster, and Pembroke mills, was born
at Jewett City, Conn., March 3, 1845,
a son of Thomas and Mary (Boyden)
Truesdell. On the paternal side he
is of Scotch descent, his great-great-
grandfather, Ichabod Truesdell, hav-
ing come from Scotland about 1700,
and settled in South Woodstock,
Conn. His great-grandfather, Darius
Truesdell, was a soldier in the War
of the Revolution, and was at Valley
Forge during the winter of 1777.
He was wounded in the side, nar-
rowly escaping death by a ball provi-
dentially striking a large, old-fash-
ioned pocketbook in his waistcoat
pocket.

Edmund E- Truesdell was educated
in the common schools at Newton
Upper Falls, Mass. While attend-
ing school there he worked in the

cotton mills during vacation and at
other times, and also delivered papers.
He afterward took a regular commer-
cial cour.se at Comer's Commercial
college in Boston.

Upon leaving school he went into
the Newton Cotton mills and was soon
promoted to the position of overseer
in the cloth room and shipping clerk.
The treasurer of the Newton mills
was also treasurer of the mills in this
village, whither Mr. Truesdell was
sent to take charge of a de]iartment
at the Webster and Pembroke mills.
In 1870 he was promo'.ed to he sup-
erintendent and paymaster of the
China, Webster, and Pembroke com-
panies.

He was town treasurer of Pembroke
in i87S-'79-'8o and '8r ; a member
of the legislature in 1879 and again
in 1880; and a member of the state
senate in i887-'8S. He is a member
of Jewell Lodge, of which he is a
past master; Hiram Chapter ; Horace
Chase Council ; Mt. Horeb Command-
ery ; Massachusetts Consistory, An-
cient Accepted Scottish Rite, thirty-
second degree, and Aleppo Temple,
Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. Mr.
Truesdell is a member of the New
England Cotton Mainifacturers' A.s-
sociation and the New Hampshire
club, also trustee of the New Hamp-
shire Industrial school.

In politics he has always been a
staunch Republican, and is a mem-
ber of the Baptist church. Mr.
Truesdell married, June 11, 1872,
Mary Wilkins Austin. He has one
son, David Edmund Truesdell, born
in 1876.

Few Suncook men have been bet-
ter known throughout the state of
New Hampshire than Mr. Truesdell,
and he is popular and esteemed wher-

SUNCOOK.

Eleazer Baker's Block.

ever known, for he is always genial famil}'- groceries, fresh and salt meats,
and agreeable, and a good companion butter, cheese, and eggs, country
as well as a good business man. produce, fine teas, coffees, and spices,

E. Baker & Co. is perhaps the hard and soft wood and coal being a
best known mercantile establishment specialty. It has grown from a small
in Suncook. The firm handles choice • beginning in the year 1868 to one of

Farmhouse, E. Baker & Co.

SUNCOOK.

the largest stores aiul largest dis'ri-
biitors of goods in their line in this
section of New Hampshire. Their
success is due to natural shrewd-
ness and business tact, combined
with hard work, untiring attention
to the wants. of the public, fair
dealinsr, and lil)eral advertising.
They have always found time to
interest themselves in every move-
ment of a public nature which
promised to as.sist in the growth
and prosperity of Suncook, and
they have been important factors
in all local enterprises.

Eleazer Baker, the senior
member of the firm of E. Baker
& Co., was born in Brewster, Mass.,
November 2, i§38, a son of Joshua
G. and Margaret (Small) Baker.
He is of English decent, tracing
his ancestry back to the four-
teenth century. He attended the
public schools of his native town
until he was twelve j^ears of age,
when he left home and started out
to make his own way in the world.

Eleazer Baker.

He went to sea and followed this
career until the breaking out of
the Civil War. In April, 1861, in
response to President Lincoln's call

ijsrs?

Residence of Eleazer Baker.

SUNCOOA'.

V^V

Eleazer F. Baker

Residence of E. Frank Baker

S UNCO OK

for volunteers, he enlisted for one
year. He was assigned to duty
as a pett_v officer on the gunboat
Massachusetts. Receiving an honor-
able discharge at the Brooklyn uav}'
yard at the expiration of his term of
enlistment, he was engaged on the
steamer Young America, in transport-
ing troops and provisions from Fort-
ress Monroe up the Pamunkey river
to Whitehouse Landing.

In May, 1868, Mr. Baker came to
Suncook and established a grocer}-
and meat business, and by industr}'
and perseverance has built up a large
and lucrative trade. He is one of
Pembroke's most influential and pub-
lic-spirited citizens, and every good
work has his hearty support. Though
he never sought public office he was
elected to the legislature in iSS5-'86
by the Republican party. He is a
trustee of the Methodist Episcopal
church.

Mr. Baker was married November
16, 1862, to Hannah Jane Nickerson
of South Dennis, Mass. Six children
have been born to them : Eleazer F.,
born September 8, 1863 ; Josiah F.,
born Deceiiiber 31, 1866; Alice C,
born January 20, 1870, who died
January, 1873 ; Nellie J., born De-
cember 20, 1875 ; and Edith M., and
Eva E. Baker, twins, born Septem-
ber 8, 1880.

Eleazer Franklin Baker, who
is a member of the firm E. Baker &
Co., is a native of Brewster, Mass.,
born September 9, 1863, the son of
Eleazer and Hannah Jane (Nicker-
son) Baker. He was educated in
the public schools and Pembroke
academy. He has been a member of
the firm of E. Baker & Co. for the
past eighteen years. In politics Mr.
Baker affiliates with the Republicans,

and he represented the town of Pem-
broke in the New Hampshire legisla-
ture in i890-'9i. He was treasurer
of the town of Pembroke, i897-'98-"99.
In 1 886 he was united in marriage
with Elizabeth, daughter of John
L. Adams of Canterbur5\

Fraternall}', Mr. Baker is a mem-
ber of the various Masonic fraterni-
ties : Jewell Lodge, A. F. & A. M.
Hiram Chapter, Royal Arch Masons
Horace Chase Council, R. & S. M.
Mount Horeb Connnamlery, Knights
Templar; Edward A. Raymond Con-
sistory-, S. P. R. vS. ; 32 degree, Aleppo
Temple. Boston.

Mr. and Mrs. Baker reside on Pros-
pect street, where they have one of
the most beautiful and elegant homes
in the village of Suncook.

Ernest Fontaine, one of Sun-
cook's most respected P'rench citi-
zens, is also a member of the firm of
F:. Baker & Co.

Mr. Fontaine was born in La-
prairie, P. Q., in 1852. A little later
his pnreuts removed to Suncook,
where he attended the public schools.
For the past fifteen }ears he has been
a member of the firm of E. Baker
& Company.

Mr. Fontaine has been honored
by the Republicans of Allenstown as
.selectman in 1S96, town treasurer,
1900, and a member of the house
of representatives in i895-'96 and
i897-'9S. He is a regular attendant
at the Catholic church.

Mr. Fontaine married Georgina
Boulard, and has seven children :
Ernest Lewis, Oscar Octave, Eva
Josephine, Eugene Napoleon, Mary
Blanche, Ernestine, Juliette.

J.vcoB Emerv Chicicering, the
jeweler, has been a prominent man
in mercantile and financial circles

SUN COOK.

VT'V

Ernest Fontaine.

Residence of Ernest Fontaine.

SUNCOOK.

Jacob E. Chickering.

iu Suncook for the last tweuty-five
years. He is a native of Pembroke.
Mr. Chickering was educated in the
common schools, and at the Peoples'
lyiterar}' Institute and Gymnasium
and Pembroke academy. After com-
pleting his education he remained on
the home farm, and located in the
village thirty- two years ago. He
has continued in business all these
years, and has been very successful.
Mr. Chickering is a shrewd buyer,
and handles reliable goods, which,
perhaps, accounts for his success.
From 1864 to 1868 Mr. Chickering
was a member of the board of select-
men, he has also been town treasurer,
representative, trustee of Town Li-
brary, and treasurer of the school
board. Mr. Chickering is a member

of Jewell Lodge, No. 94, A. F. &
A. M.. holding the ofhce of treasurer
also a member of Hiram Chapter, No.
24, R. A. AL, and Pembroke Grange,
No. Ill, P. of H.

In religion he is a member of the
Methodist Episcopal church, having
been an official member since 1865,
and is now president and treasurer of
the board of trustees.

Mr. Chickering is also a trustee of
Pembroke acadeni}', and interested in
the same. In politics he is a staunch
Republican. He married Sarah Eliza-
beth Fellows of Pembroke.

George P. Cokrax,' chairman of
the Pembroke board of selectmen for
three years, is a native of the town
that honors him with public office.
He was born March 28, 1847, and

SUNCOOK,

George P Cofran

liiiiiiiiiriiiiiMiMiiiMirrMMrlnfuiiiJLUuiuaiiUJiuil

a*,*

Residence of George P. Cofran.

SUNCOOK.

Alrp.on F. BurbanK, Esq.

received his education at the com-
mon schools, and Pembroke acndt-my.
For several years he was engaged in
the grocery business in Cambridge,
Mass., and this village.

Mr. Cofran is a staunch Republi-
can, and a very active worker for the
principles of his party. He was town
treasurer in 1883, selectman in 1885,
'86, '87, '88; representative in 1889-
'90; postmaster in 1890, '91, '92, '93,
and again selectman in 1898, '99, 1900.
He is a nit*mber of Jewell Lodge,
A. F. & A. M., was master two terms,
and is a member of the thirty-second
degree.

Mr. Cofran married Miiiam J.
Palmer, May 10, 1870, and has two
children, Henry P. Cofran of Sun-
cook, and Annie W., who married

Dr. William H. Mitchell, and resides
at Loudon.

As a puljlic official, Mr. Cofran has
always given satisfaction to the peo-
ple of Pembroke. He is a strong
man in all business affairs and an
officer of unusual executive ability.

Mr. Cofran's residence on Main
street is geneially admitted to be one
of the most beautiful and comfortable
homes in the village.

Almon F. Burbank was born at
Boscawen (now Webster), October 17,
1857. His ancestors were among the
earliest settlers of Boscawen, and
fought at Bunker Hill and Benning-
ton. His boyhood was passed in his
native town. He attended the public
schools, Symonds Free High school,
Warner, and Peuacook Normal acad-

SUNCOOK.

eni}' at Penacook, where he gradu-
ated. He then studied law with
Chase & Streeter at Concord, and
was admitted to the bar iu 1880. He
soon after came to Suncook and be-
gan the practice of law, and has re-
sided and practised his profession
here most of the time since.

Mr. Burbank was reared a Repub-
lican in politics, and has been an

Arthur G. Whittemore.

earnest worker since his first election.
He was a member of the state legis-
lature from Pembroke in 1897; se-
lectman for the years 1892, '93, '94,
and was elected a member of the
school board in March, 1900.
ft*? He was married August 6, 1887, to
Mary E. Labontee. They have two
children, — Priscilla Ann and Esther.
Arthur Oilman Whittemore,
attorney at law of Dover, was born
in Pembroke, July 26, 1856, a sou of

Hon. Aaron and Ariannah (Barstow)
Whittemore, and a great-great-grand-
son of Rev. Aaron Whittemore, the
first settled minister of the Congre-
gational church in Pembroke, who,
having been ordained March i, 1737,
continued his labors as pastor of the
Congregational church for a period
of thirty years until his death,
November 16, 1767.

His great-grandfather, Aaron
Whittemore, was a soldier in the
Revolutionary War, his father
and grandfather were associate
justices of the court of common
pleas for Merrimack county, each
being active in town affairs, and
each holding the different town
offices.

On his mother's side he is a
lineal descendant of Elder Will-
iam Brewster, one of the I\Iay-
flozver pilgrims. He was edu-
cated at Pembroke academy and
Harvard Eaw school, and was
admitted to the bar in March,
1879. Soon afterwards he asso-
ciated with the late Judge C. W.
Woodman of Dover, in the prac-
tice of the law, which partner-
ship continued until the death
of Judge Woodman iu 18S8.
Since that time Mr. Whittemore
has practised alone. By stiict
application to his chosen profession
he has gained an extensive and lu-
crative practice, and with it the con-
fidence and respect of the whole com-
munity in which he lives.

He is attorney for, and one of the
trustees of, the Strafford Savings
bank, one of the largest and strong-
est savings banks in the state. He
is also attorney for the Dover Co-
operative bank. He has settled
many large estates, among them

SUACOOK.

being the estate of Ezra Barker, late
of Stratham. He was appoiuteil in
1S95 receiver of the Dover Natioiuil
bank, and so successfully liquidated
the assets as to pay the depositors
in full with interest, and a substan-
tial dividend to the stockholders.
He has identified himself with all

his brief summer vacation at the old
homestead on Pembroke Street. He
married, June 27, 1887, Caroline B.
Rundlett, a descendant of Sachel
Rundlett, of Stratham, one of the
original grantees of the town of Bow.
Tht^y have t'A'O children, Manvel and
Caroline Whittemore.

Hon. Trueworthy L. Fowler.

the public enterprises that concern
the welfare of his adopted city.

In 1887, when the city built a
new system of water-works, he was
elected water commissioner, and is
now president of the board.

Although business induced Mr.
Whittemore to locate elsewdiere, he
has retained an interest in his native
town, and esteems it one of his great-
est pleasures to spend a portion of

Trueworthy L. Fowler, son of
Benjamii: and Mehitable (lyadd)
Fowler, was born December 21, 1S16,
and has always lived in Pembroke on
the home farm. Industrious, intelli-
gent, of positive convictions, good
judgment, and practical common
sense, and conscientiously faithful in
the accom[)lishment of his undertak-
ing, he has always identified himself
with the interests of his native town,

SUNCOOK.

Addison N. Osgood.

and been zealous in promoting them.
To him, more than an other one man,
is the public indebted for the valua-
ble history of Pembroke published
in 1895. His researches among old
records for facts pertaining to the
early history of Pemhroke. were la-
borious and long continued. Recog-
nizing his abilities, the town has
often honored him with offices of
trust. He was collector of taxes four
years ; selectman eleven years, and
chairman of the board eight years ;
superintending school committee
twelve years ; moderator seven years ;
representative in i858-'59 ; member
of two constitutional- conventions,
and chairmau of the board of county
commissioners two years. He was
deputy United States marshal in

1870, taking the census in Pembroke,
Allenstown, Hooksett, and Bow.

Mr. Fowler was commissioned lieu-
tenant of the First company, nth
Regiment Light Infantry, N. H.
Militia, when he was nineteen years
old. He held the commission four
years and was then commissioned
captain, which office he held one
year.

He married Catharine Lucretia,
daughter of Thomas and Abigail
(Hulchins) Sargent, August 29, 1847.

Addison Newton Osgood, lum-
berman of Suncook. was born in
Allenstown, March 16, 1836, a son of
Ira B. and Alice (Prescott) Osgood.

Pie traces his descent from Chris-
topher Osgood, of Ipswich, England,
who died in 1650, and belongs to the

SUNCOOK.

Odd Fellows' Block — Addison N. Osgood.

xxix— 3

Residence of Addison N. Osgood.

SUNCOOK

East Side Main Street Block — Addison N. Osgood.

seventh generation of the family in three j^ears in Boston. In i860 he
this countr}'. He received his edu- settled in Pembroke where he en-
cation in the common schools of his gaged in lumbering, preparing his
native to.vn and at Pembroke acad- lumber for the market on tlie site
emy. After leaving school he spent of the old mill once owned by his

Church Street Blocl<s — Addison N. Osgood.

S UNCO Oh'

Addison N. Osgood's Tenements on Glass Street.

father. He has been most successful was a member of the legislature in

in his business enterprises, and owns 1878 and 1879, and was a member of

much valuable real estate in Pern- the board of selectmen of Pembroke

broke and Allenstown. Mr. Osgood for a number of years. He is a

•.. — sv

aff^'

-aigfiS"

6-*-"

Addison N. Osgood's Cottages at Newcastle.

SUN CO OK'

Osgood Inn — Addison N. Osgood.

Thirty-second Degree Mason, an Odd can. Mr. Osgood was married, De-
Fellow, a Knight of Pythias, a Pa- ceniber 17, 1S65, to Mary E., daugh-
tron of Husbandry, and is affiliated ter of William A. and Julia (Upham)
with the Grange of Pembroke. Phelps.

He is a member of the Methodist At Newcastle Mr. Osgood owns

church. In politics he is a Republi- several valuable summer cottages,

Pembroke Mill and Soutn Main Street.

SUNCOOK

that are rented to Washington, New
York, and Boston parlies every sea-
son.

The Osgood Inn, located on Main
street, is Suncook's popular hotel for
commercial travelers and others who
desire strictly first-class accommoda-
tions. The Osgood Inn is under the

native of Malone. N. Y., but resided
in Manchester from 1886 until 1897.
While in Manchester he was in the
livery business. Since 1897 he has
been found at this hotel, catering to
the want of the traveling public. In
politics Mr. Whitten is a Republican,
and is also a member of Jewell Lodge,

Guy F. Whitten.

successful management of Guy F.
Whitten, and accommodates fifty
guests. The table is superb, the
rooms and beds are clean and com-
fortable, the house is illuminated
with electricity, while the location in
the business centre of the village
makes the inn a very convenient
and desirable home lor " the stranger
within her gates."

Guy F. Whitten, the landlord, is a

A. F. & A. M. ; Past Noble Grand
of Wikiey Lodge, and Past Chief
Patriarch of Mount Washington En-
campment, I. O. O. F., Manchester.

He was a member of the common
council in Manchester four years.

Capt. Levi L. Aldrich was born
at Stanstead, P. Q., January 6, 1841,
and educated at the common schools.
At the age of seventeen years he
went to California overland, in the

S UNCO OR

employ of the American Pony Ex-
press company, and remained in llieir
service until 1861, when he enlisted
in Company I, Fourth United States
Infantry. He was severely wounded
at the Battle of Antietani, September
17, 1S62, and discharged February
28, 1863. Having been conimis-

been promoted as captain in the same
regiment. At the close of the war
lie located in Suncook, and in 1869
removed to Manchester.

He was employed in the lyangdon
corporation eight years. In 1877 he
started in the jewelry busines.:; on
Ehn street. In politics he is a Re-

j^SP' ^

Capt Levi L. Aldrich.

sioned as lieutenant of Company D,
Fifty-sixth Massachusetts Veteran
Volunteers, he reentered the service.
He was wounded and taken prisoner
May 12, 1864, and confined seven
months and twenty-four days in x\n-
dersonville prison, from which place,
with fifteen others, he succeeded in
making escape. After being paroled
he returned to the army and served
until the close of the war, having

publican. While in Manchester Mr.
Aldrich served two years as select-
man, in i87i-'72; a member of the
city council in 1S73, '74, '75, and of
the board of aldermen in 1 876-' 77.
He represented Ward 3 in the leg-
islature in 1 88 1, and was census enu-
merator for Ward 3 in 1880. He re-
turned to Suncook in 1883. He has
servetl as a member of the board of
supervisors since 1886, having been

SUNCOOIx.

chairman for the last ten years. He
was a census enumerator in 1890;
deputy sheriff in 1S93, '94, '95, '96,
and collector of taxes for 1S99-
1900.

He is a member of the Methodist
Episcopal church, and district stew-
ard of the same. He is a Mason and

Eugene Lane was born in Lim-
erick, Me., December 25, 1856, and
was educated in the public schools
and Limerick academy. At the age
of fifteen years he went to Augusta,
Me., and entered the Gospel Banner
office to learn the printer's trade.
He remained in this office six years,

Eugene Lane.

a member of Jewell Lodge, No. 94, of
Suncook ; also of Mechanics Lodge,
No. 13, I. O. O. F.. Manchester; past
chancellor of Granite Lodge, No. 3,
K. of P., Manchester; past comman-
der of Louis Bell Post, No. 3, G.
A. R., Manchester; and of the New
Hampshire Veteran Association.

He married Areannah A. Lewis,
January 29, 1864, ami has one son,
Frank Levi Aldrich.

the last four years having charge
of the whole printing establishment,
which at that time was the largest
Universalist denominational book
publishing house in the country.
In 1 88 1 Mr. Lane came to Suncook
and since that time has been identi-
fied with the local paper as printer,
editor, and manager. Besides con-
ducting his own paper he has con-
tributed considerably to other papers

-t ' -.,'

I-

i3
cc
o

UJ
Q

1/)
U
DC

SUNCOOK

George P. Little.

in the state, and for several years
was the agent of the Associated
Press. He was appointed postmas-
ter at Siincook in June, i8g8, for four
years. In politics he is a Republi-
can, and for the past sixteen years
has been a member of the town com-
mittee, serving as its clerk all that
time. He has twice been elected
town clerk, and represented the town
of Pembroke in the legislature of
i893-'94. May 17, 1883, he mar-
ried Melta Gault, and has two chil-

dren, Hazel, born Maj^ 2, 1889, and
Gladys, born October 29, 1891. For
quite a number of years he has been
a member of Pembroke Grange, serv-
ing as its master and lecturer, also
for six years was secretar}^ of Sun-
cook Valley Pomona Grange.

George Peabody Little, farmer
and stock raiser of Pembroke, was
born in Pembroke, New York, June
20, 1S34. a son of Klbridge Gerr}- and
Sophronia Phelps (Peabody) Little.
He is in the eighth generation from

S UNCO OK.

George Little, who settled at Old
Newbury, Massachusetts, iu 1640.
He received his earl}^ education at
the Lewiston and Pembroke acade-
mies, and at the Military institute at
Pembroke, — a branch of the Norwich
Military academy of Vermont. At
the age of eighteen he taught school.
The following year he left home
to engage in mercantile business at
Portland, Me. Here he remained
six years, and then went to Boston
for a short time. During the next '
ten years he managed a photograph
gallery at Palmyra, New York. In
1868 he returned to Pembroke, pur-
chased the present homestead, and
engaged in farming and the raising
of blooded stock, making Jersey cat-
tle a specialty for a time.

Mr. Little was deputy collector of
United States revenue in Palmyra,
New York, in 1 866-' 67 ; town treas-
urer of Pembroke in i88i-'82 ; select-
man in 1SS7, '88, '89; was elected
to the legislature in 1876 and 1877,-
when elections were annual, and in
1891 ; was a member of the Consti-
tutional Convention in 188S ; was
county treasurer four years ; and is a
justice of the peace. He is a trustee
of the Guaranty Savings bank of
Concord, and also of the Pembroke
academy. For many years he was
chairman of the executive committee
of the latter, and is now secretary
and treasurer. He is a memlier of
the New Hampshire Historical So-
ciety, and the New Hampshire Club
of Boston. He is a Thirty- second
degree Mason, a Knight Templar,
and an Odd Fellow. He is a deacon
iu the Congregational church, and
has always been a Republican.

On August 22, 1854, he married
Elizabeth Ann Knox. They have

six children living, — Clarence Bel-
den, president of the First National
bank of Bismarck, Dakota, who has
been a state senator since Dakota
became a state ; Mary Georgianna,.
wife of James E. Odlin of Lynn,.
Mass. ; Elizabeth Ellen, wife of E.
F. Thurber of Nashua ; Nettie K.,
wife of Frank E. Shepard, Concord ;.
Eucy Bowman ; and Clara Frances,
wife of Harman S. Salt, of Brooklyn,
N. Y. One child, George Willard
Eittle, died in 1858.

Martin H. Cochran. For over
half a centurj^ Martin H. Cochran
has served the public in various posi-
tions of trust and honor, and he has
been for many 3-ears one of the best
known citizens in this section of Mer-
rimack county. He was born De-
cember 4, 1821, in the towm of Pem-
broke and has always resided here.
Mr. Cochran attended the public
schools of this town, also the Pem-
broke academy, and the academy at
South Berwick, Me.

His occupation has been that of a
farmer and he has been an auctioneer
over twenty-five years, so that any
auction, however large or small, is a
success with genial "Mart" at the
helm.

He has filled with honor the fol-
lowing positions of trust : Selectruan,
1 1 years ; member of the legislature
in i86i-'62 ; school committee, 15
years; deputy sheriff, 12 years; cen-
sus enumerator, 1880; police justice,
2 years ; captain of the militia com-
pany many years ago, when that
organization was the popular order
in town. Mr. Cochran represented
Pembroke in the Constitutional con-
vention in 1880, and for more than
fifty years has filled the office of jus-
tice of the peace.

SUN CO OK.

Hon. Martin H. Cochran.

Residence of Hon. Martin H. Cochran.

S UNCO OK

Joseph Wilkins.

He has been an honored member
•of the board of trustees of Pembroke
academy since 1863, and is now the
presitlent. , ,

His political faith has always been
with the Republican party. He is a
member of Jewell lyodge, No. 94,
A. F. & A, M. ; Pembroke Grange,
No. Ill, P. of H., and the Suncook
Valle}^ Pomona Grange.

In July, 1844, he married Miriam
M. Rowell, a native of Albany, Vt.
They have two children : John Mil-
ton, born April ir, 1849, who is
located in Southbridge, and a suc-
cessful lawyer, well-known in Massa-
■chusetts, and Sarah E. W., v^'ho re-
sides at home.

The Cochran home is on Buck
:street (so-called), and the many

friends of Mr. and Mrs. Cochran find
it a cheerful place to visit.

Joseph Wii^kins, a resident of
Pemliroke, son of Jeremiah Hall and
Mary Thompson Wilkins, is not only
a representative of an old New Hamp-
shire family but a lineal descendant
of ancestors who were first settlers in
this country at Dorchester, Salem,
Dauvers, and Marlboro, Mass. Jona-
than Wilkins came in posses«>ion,
through a grant of land given in
1725, it being where the city of Con-
cord is now located. Jeremiah Hall
Wilkins, at the age of eighteen, set-
tled in Peml)roke, where he was en-
gaged in the grocery and dry goods
trade for forty consecutive years.
Joseph Wilkins served two years in
a store in Concord, and Sycamore,

SUNCOOK.

Thomas H. Bunney.

111., enlisted in the Civil War five
months and has followed photo-
graphy ever since, in connection with
the real estate business.

In politics he is a Republican, and
is a regular attendant of the Metho-
dist Episcopal church.

Mr. Wilkins was born in Pem-
broke, May 24, 1844, and after at-
tending the common schools, entered
Pembroke academj^ and later the
Henniker academy. He also re-
ceived a business education at the
Eastman business college. He is a
member of the lyouis Bell Post, No.
3, G. A. R., of Manchester.

June 23, 1897, he married Lora J.
Emery, daughter of Setla and Loren-
da H. Emery of Allenstown.

Mr. Wilkins owns valuable real

estate at Elizabeth City, N. C, and
spends the winter months there.

Thomas H. Bunnev was born in
Leicester, England, January 30, 1857.
He was educated at the public
schools. In politics he is a Repub-
lican. Mr. Bunney has been a po-
lice officer for the last five years, and
has served in such a manner that
he has the respect of all the citi-
zens.

He is a member of Jewell Lodge,
A. F. & A. M. ; Hiram Chapter,
R. A. M. ; Horace Chase Council,
and Mt. Horeb Commandery, K. of
T. He married Laura M. Smith of
Suncook in May, 1882. He was fore-
man at the Baile}' Granite Works for
eight years before he went on the po-
lice force.

SUN COOK

John P. Osgood.

John Percy Osgood. Station cook bo5% born December 5, 1873,
Agent John Percy Osgood is a Sun- his parents being James Henrj^ and

Boston & Maine Railroad Passenger and Ffeight Station.

S UNCO OK.

Elleu Frances (Wiggin) Osgood.
His education was obtained in the
public schools of Suucook, and at
Pembroke academy. After leaving
school he entered the Suucook pas-
senger depot ; a few years later he
was appointed . freight cashier, and
within a few months honored with
the position of station agent.

Hiram Chapter, R. A. M. ; Horace
Chase Council, Royal and Select
Masters. In politics he is a Repub-
lican.

Edward D. Perreault, the well-
known clothier, was born in Sun-
cook, August II, 1874. He attended
Ottawa college four years, and is
a graduate of Byrant & Stratton's

Edward D. Perreault.

During the thirteen years that Mr.
Osgood has been in the euiplo\- of the
Boston & Maine railroad, he has al-
ways been a jiopular official, courte-
ous to all, and, in short, an ideal
public servant.

Mr. Osgood has been twice mar-
ried, and has one child, John Ken-
neth Osgood. He is a member of
Jewell Lodge, A. F. & A. M. ;

Business college. He has been in
business as follows : Five years with
L. P. Labonte, Manchester, and for
the last five years in the firm of E- D.
Perreault «S: Co., Suncook. He is a
bright, capable business man and has
a host of friends. He is a member
of the Catholic church. He married
Miss Eveline Barris of Pawtucket,
R. L, and has two children.

SUNCOOK.

J. Otis Hale.

Suncook Ice Company's Ice-house.

S UNCO OK

J. Otis Hale is owner of the vSun-
cook livery stable and manager of the
Suncook Ice Company. Previous to
his locating here he was traveling
salesman for Norris & Co. of Con-
cord for six years. Mr. Hale was
born in St. Johnsbury, Vt., Febru-
ary 26, 1867. He is a staunch Re-
publican ; is a member of Jewell
Lodge, A. F. & A. M., also a mem-
ber of Rumford Lodge, No. 46,

the ordinary ice man, which melt be-
fore they can be stored in the house-
wife's refrigerator, do not apply to
Mr. Hale, for he is square and up-
right in all his transactions.

Frank Henry Simpson, of the
firm of Simpson, Miller & Co., was
born in Pembroke, November 28,
1868. He is the youngest son of the
late Henry T. Simpson, who, for
many years was well known all over

Suncook Livery Stable.

I. O. O. F., and Tahanto Kncamp-
ment.

He married Lillian M., daughter
of Hiram and Abbie Hall of Concord.
They have one daughter, Marion.

During the past year Mr. Hale
has been interested in the Suncook
Ice Company, and has constructed
one of the best ice houses in New
Hampshire, near the railroad, and is
prepared to sell at wholesale or re-
tail. He is square and upright in all
his transactions.

The traditional jokes regarding the
short weights and the small cakes of

xsjx— 4

the state as a brick manufacturer.
Born on a farm, his early years were
spent at home, and his education was
obtained from instruction received
at Pembroke academy. New Hamp-
ton Institute, and a course of stud}-
at the Bryant & Stratton Busi-
ness college in Boston, Mass. His
first business experience was with
his father, Henry T. Simpson of Sun-
cook, in a grocery store. He re-
mained in his emplo}' until about
eleven years ago, when the firm of
Simpson, Miller & Co. was organ-
ized, and he was admitted to mem-

SUNCOOk'.

n
^
^

-~--*?r-.

Frank H. Simpson.

bership. He has always taken a
great interest in the business af-
fairs of the firm, and since the
death of his father, about two years
ago, his responsibiHties have neces-
sarily increased. Their business has
been steadily increasing from year to
year, until, at the present time, Simp-
son, Miller & Co. are one of the
largest and strongest firms in town.
They occupy the three stores in the
Odd Fellows' block — groceries, dry
goods, and provisions, all in separate
departments — and employ thirteen
clerks.

Mr. Simpson devotes nearly all his
time to his business interests. He is
not a member of any secret organiza-
tion, nor has he ever taken any very
active part in politics. He is a Re-

publican, but has never held any
political ofhce. He is a lover of a
good horse, and has always taken
pride in owning one of the best. He
rides a great deal for pleasure, and
nearly every day can be seen driving
his fine dark bay, " Dick."

He is a progressive, public-spirited
citizen, and always finds time to as-
sist in any movement for the benefit
of the community.

On September i6, 1896, he was
united in marriage to Miss Katherine
Bell of Suncook. They have two
children : Helen Eudoxcia, born Au-
gust 21, 1897, and Katherine Bell,
born April 26, 1900.

His home is on Maple street, one
of the finest locations in the vil-
lage.

S UNCO Ok'

Stores of Simpson, Miller & Co.

Hon. George Eben Miller, Re- his educatiou at the common school
publicau senator of the eleventh dis- of his native town, Pembroke acad-
trict, and a member of the firm of Simp- emy, and the Bryant & Stratton Busi-
son, Miller & Co., was born at Deer- ness college. He has resided in Sun-
field, October 30, 1850. He received cook twenty-seven years, and has

Grocery Department — Simpson, Miiler 4c Cu

SUNCOOK.

Dry Goods Department — Simpson, Miller & Co.

been a general merchant for twenty- He is a past worshipfnl master of
two years. He was a member of the Jewell lyOdge, A. F. & A, M., No.
legislatnre in i897-'98, and elected 94, and also a member of Hiram
senator at the last election for the Chapter, No. 24, R. A. M., of Sun-
present term. cook ; Horace Chase Council, R. &

ft c

Meat Department — Simpson, Miller & Co.

SUNCOOK

Hon. George E. Miller.

Residence of Hon. George E Miller.

SUNCOOK.

S. M., and Mouut Horeb Commaud-
ery, Knights Templar of Concord, of
the Edward A. Raymond Consistory
of Nashua, and Aleppo Temple of the
Mystic Shrine of Boston.

He is also affiliated with Howard
lyodge, I. O. O. F., of SuDcook, hav-
ing passed the chairs. Senator Mil-

Bert G. Spaulding was born in
Suncook, May 22, 1871, where he
attended the public schools. He
graduated from Pembroke academy
and the New Hampshire Business
college.

Mr. Spaulding is a Republican in
politics ; is a member of Jewell

Bert G. Spaulding.

ler married Nellie M. Simpson,
daughter of the late Henry T. Simp-
son of Pembroke Street, November
20, 1878, and she died August 15,
1896. Mr. Miller is interested in all
movements of a public nature for the
growth and development of Suncook.
Spaulding & Johnston, clothiers,
are located on Main street and handle
everything usually found in all first-
class city clothing stores.

Lodge, A. F. & A. M. ; Howard
Lodge, I. O. O. F., and Pembroke
Grange. He married Arianna B.,
daughter of Hon. John G. Tallant of
Pembroke, October 26, 1899.

For eight years he was local agent
for the American Express Company
in Suncook, but resigned April i,
1900, to become a member of the
firm of Spaulding & Johnston, suc-
cessors to Truesdell & Blodgett,

SUN COOK.

clothing dealers aud men's fur-
nishers.

William N. Johnston was born
in Portsmouth, June lo, 1870; was
educated in the schools of that city,
and was two years in Dartmouth col-
lege. In political life he is a staunch
Republican. He is a member of the

dence, Rhode Island, June 12, 1900.
Mr. Johnston was station agent at
Suncook ten years aud resigned April
I, 1900, to become a member of the
firm of Spaulding & Johnston, suc-
cessors to Truesdell & Blodgett,
clothing dealers. The busincss^was
established about thirty years ago.

Wiliiam N. Johnston.

Pembroke school board, and its chair-
man.

Mr. Johnston is a member of Jewell
Ivodge, A. F. & A. M., and Hiram
Chapter, of Suncook ; Horace Chase
Council and Mt. Horeb Commander}-,
K. of T., of Concord; E. A. Ray-
mond Consistory, Nashua, and Alep-
po Temple, Mystic Shrine, of Boston.

He married May Alice, daughter
of George A. Worcester, of Provi-

Messrs. Spaulding & Johnston are
both young men, enterprising and
wide-awake for the increase of their
business and the satisfaction of their
patrons.

OssiAN D. Knox, of Manchester,
a son of Scott C. and Sophronia S.
(Marden) Knox, was born in Pem-
broke, August 22, i860. The famil}^
removed to the village of Suncook
when the son was about seven years

SUNCOOK.

old. His education was secured in
the village schools and Pembroke
academy, from which institution he
was graduated in the class of 1877.
He remained in Suncook village un-
til the spring of 1883, in the employ
of lEmerj' Brother's general store.
He' spent the summer of 1S83 in the

he sold out to Mr. Holmes and em-
barked in the same line of trade in
a larger way under the firm name of
O. D. Knox & Co., Mr. Knox being
the sole owner of the business, which
was continued until the latter part of
the year 1S99.

In politics he has always been an

Ossian D. Knox.

Northwest, — chiefly in the city of
Minneapolis, Minn., where he was
emplo3'ed as cashier of a large de-
partment store. He returned to New
Hampshire in the fall of 1883, and
located in Manchester, at that time
the home of the mother and eldest
brother, where he engaged in the
grocer}^ trade as a partner in the firm
of Holmes & Knox, continuing with
this firm for about five years, when

earnest and active Republican. He
has represented Ward 2 in both
branches of the city government, re-
signing from the office of alderman
from Ward 2 in July, 1898, after be-
ing appointed postmaster of Man-
chester by President McKinley, tak-
ing the office July i, 1898.

He is a Methodist in religion and
has for many years been treasurer of
the board of trustees of St. Paul's

SUNCOOK.

Methodist Episcopal church. He is
a thirty-second degree Mason, being
a member of Lafayette Lodge, No. 41,
A. F. & A. M. ; Mount Horeb Royal
Arch Chapter, Nf). 11; Adouiram
Council, No. 3, Royal and Select
Masters ; and Trinity Commandery,
Knights Templar, of Manchester,

Warrex Sargext, brick manu-
facturer of Allenstown, was born in
that town September i, 1837, and
received his education at the town
schools, Pembroke Gymnasium, and
Colby academy, New^ London. For
thirty-five years Mr. Sargent has been
an extensive manufacturer of brick.

'-'.^

^?5;P 1^

Warren Sargent.

N. H., and Edward A. Raymond
Consistory of Nashua, N. H.

He is an honorar}^ member of the
Louis Bell Post, G. A. R., and also
an honorary member of Thornton
Association of Naval A^eterans of
Manchester, N. H. ; is a member
of the Manchester Board of Trade,
which organization he has served
ofhciall}^ as director and first vice-
president.

Mr. Sargent is a firm Democrat,
and was selectman in i860, and rep-
resentative in i892-'93. He is also
a member of Pembroke Grange, No.
Ill, P. of H. From 1 861 -'64 Mr.
Sargent was in California.

He married Florence J. Brown,
June 9, 1896, and they reside on the
Hooksett road in a very beautiful
home, near Mr. Sargent's brick-
3'ard.

S UNCO OK

J. Brodie Smith.
General Manager of the Carvings Falls Electric Coinpany,

THE GARVIN'S FALLvS ELECTRIC
COMPANY.

This village has, for a few years,
been lighted by the Garvin's Falls
Electric Company. This company
is located up the Merrimack river
about four miles from this village,
where they have an electric light
plant having a capacity of 4,000 16-
candle power incandescent lights.
The company have over i ,000 acres
of land lying on either side of the
river.

The Merrimack takes a plunge of

thirty feet at Garvin's Falls, de-
veloping an estimated 5,000-horse
power at the very least. Excepting
only the Amoskeag fall power, this
is by far the greatest water power in
the state and one of the finest in
New F^ngland.

The Manchester Electric Company
which recently purchased the Gar-
vin's Falls Company are tearing
down the old pulp mill and are to
erect in its place a splendid fire-
proof building of the latest modern
construction for an electric power
house.

SUNCOOK.

The stock of the Gaivin's Falls
Power Company was owned by the
estate of William A. Russell of Bos-
ton, by Alonzo Elliott, ex-Congress-
man Henry M. Baker of Bow, Charles
ly. Fellows of Concord, and some
other minor stockholders.

The present officers are S. Reed
Anthony of Boston, president ; Na-
than Anthonj', also of Boston, treas-
urer, and J. Brodie Smith of Man-
chester, general manager.

The Garvin's Falls Power Com-
pany will still do business under its
original name and charter, and the
identity of the company will be pre-
served, although it is owned and
operated by the men who own and
operate the Manchester Electric
Company.

J. Brodie Smith, the new gen-
eral manager of the Garvin's Falls
Power Company, is an honored and
respected citizen of Manchester, who
is a thoroughly wide-awake and pro-
gressive business man, and whose
knowledge of electrical affairs has
long since made him an expert.
Mr. Smith was born at Richville,
N. Y., April 6, 1861, and was the
son of Mr. and Mrs. William P.
Smith. He was educated in the
common schools of his native state,
and later in life took a mathematical
course to fit himself for an expert
electrician. Earlj' in life he became
interested in electricity, and in 1S78
constructed a telegraph line between
two small places in New York state.
He came to Manchester in 1880, and
went into the drug business with his
brother, Mr. A. D. Smith, at the
corner of Merrimack and Pine
streets. He mastered the business
and passed examinations as a regis-
tered pharmacist both in New

Hampshire and New York state.
During all of his career in the drug
business Mr. Smith, who had a
natural and undownable interest in
electricity, still kept up his studies
in this direction, and thus laid the
foundation of an electrical education
second to no man in New England.
Along in 1885 he found the field of
electricity so much more alluring to
him than the mortar and pestle that
he retired from the drug business,
and began to do electrical contract-
ing of all kinds, and was elected
superintendent of the fire alarm tele-
graph, a position which he held for
two years.

When the Ben Franklin Electric
Light Company was organized in
opposition to the Manchester Elec-
tric Eight Company in Manchester,
Mr. Smith was chosen as its super-
intendent, and continued in that ca-
pacity until just before that company
was consolidated with the Manches-
ter Electric Eight Company, when
he was elected superintendent of the
latter company. After the consoli-
dation he continued in the same ca-
pacity until he resigned in 1896,
and took a trip of several months to
Europe. On his return from abroad
he was elected general manager of
the Manchester Electric Eight Com-
pany, which position he has since
filled with credit to himself and to
the satisfaction of the stockholders
and directors of the company.

Aside from the above he is a di-
rector in the Binghamton General
Electric Conipany of Binghamton,
N. Y., a large and successful cor-
poration, and also president of the
Brodie Electric Company of Man-
chester, which is engaged in the
manufacture of electrical specialties.

SVNCOOK.

Fred G. Evans.

the inventor of which is Mr. Smith.
Among his inventions which have
met with great success and sale are
his patent insulators, fuse boxes, and
automatic motor switches.

Mr. Smith is an unmanied man, a
Thirty-second degree Mason, and a
member of the Canton in Odd Fel-
lowship.

There are few men in New Eng-
land who have had a more practical
experience in the business in which
Mr. Smith is engaged, and there is
no one more affable and courteous
at all times. The statement has been
made many times that "all good
men have their enemies," but in
Mr. Smith's case the rule has been
flagrantly broken. He is not known
to have an enemy.

Fred G. Evans, one of the mem-
bers of the Pembroke board of
selectmen, was born at Brownville,
Me., August 24, 1849. After receiv-
ing his education at the common
schools he went to sea in old style,
sailing East Indianian, at the age of
sixteen, following the life of a sailor
for six years and visiting China,
Java, Philippine Islands, Sandwich
Islands, California, and other places.
He came to Suncook in 1872, and
since 1874 has been in the employ of
Charles P. Morse in the furniture and
undertaking business.

The Republicans of Pembroke have
placed honors upon Mr. Evans by
electing him town clerk in 1895, and
selectman in 1899, reelecting him in
1900.

SUN COOK.

Nat: B . Emery.

He is a Past Grand in Howard
Lodge, I. O. O. F., and Past Chan-
cellor in Queen City Lodge, K. of P.,
of Manchester. He married Ada E.
Robinson, January 3, 1881, and has
one son, Ernest E., now a student at
Pembroke academy.

Natt BartlETT Emery, formerly
a merchant of Suncook, was born in
Pembroke, April 19, 1834, a son of
Joseph and Hannah (Morrill) Emery.
He is a descendant from one of the
oldest families of New Hampshire.
He attended the public schools of
Pembroke, the Gymnasium, and Blan-
chard Academy. After leaving the
Academy Mr. Emery taught school for
three winters in Chichester, Aliens-
town, and Pembroke. His first busi-
ness experience was as clerk in the

store of John Tennanr, tor whom he
worked two years. He engaged in
mercantile business Februar}^ 1S59,
in a building on the lot on which Mr.
Hartwell's block now stands. He at
that time formed a partnership with
his brother, J. Morrill I{mery, with
the firm name of Emery Bros. They_
moved into their new store on Emery's
Corner ten years later.

In his business career he was very
successful. He was postmaster for
seven years and town treasurer. His
pleasant residence is located at the
corner of Main Street and Broadway.

Mr. Emery married Abbie H. Sar-
gent of Allenstown, November 10,
1859. They have two sons : Fred
Parker, born April ir. 1865, now
a professor at Dartmouth College ;

S UNCO OK

Charles P. Morse.

]

Residence of Charles P. Morse.

S UNCO OK'.

he married Miss Mary E. Chesle}- of
Amesbury, Mass., Juue 26, 1889;
Natt Morrill, boru April 16, 1873,
an instructor iu the Lehigh Univer-
sity of Pennsylvania.

In politics Mr. Emery is a Repub-
lican, and has represented his town
in the state legislature. All the
town offices have been tendered him
but]his business would not allow him
to serve the town.

Mr. Emerv owns valuable real es-

licensed undertaker of this place.
For the last sixteen years he has
been honored with the presidency of
the Pembroke Republican Town club,
and has held the following public po-
sitions : Town clerk iu 1877; select-
man, i878-'83, being chairman four
years in succession. In 1881 he was
elected bj^ both parties, receiving all
the votes cast but nine. He was
again elected selectman in i89i-'92.
In 1S82 he was chosen representative.

C. p. Morse's Block.

tate in Suncook, Allenstowu, and
Concord. He is an active and loyal
member of the Methodist church, and
one of its stewards.

Charles P. Morse, of the South
Main [street stove, furniture, and
house furnishing store, was born iu
Loudon, July 5, 1838, and was edu-
cated at the common schools and
Pembroke academy. Mr. Morse has
been in business in this place thirty-
five 3'ears.

For many years he has been the

He was moderator of town-meetings
from i885-'88, and from 1895-1900,
and has been a member of the board
of health for the last five years. In
1900 he was elected town treasurer.
He enlisted in the First New Hamp-
shire Heav}^ Artillery July 21, 1863,
and was honorably discharged at the
close of the war.

He is a charter member of Jewell
Lodge, F. & A. M., and is Past
Grand of Howard Lodge, No. 31,
I. O. O. F. ; Past High Priest, Hil-

S UNCO OK

Charles V. Fisher.

Gnst-Mill and Ax Handle Factory — Cnarles V. Fisher.

S UNCO OK.

dreth Encampment ; Past Chaucel-
ler, Knights of P3'thias, and a mem-
ber of the Baptist church.

Mr. Morse married Georgie B. Yea-
ton. They have two children living :
Fred W. Morse, deputy sheriff, and
Lillian H., who married George E.
Gordon, druggist. Sarah Putnam
Morse, wife of John P. Osgood, died
April 21, 1898.

Charles V. Fisher was born in
Danville, Y\.., February 14, 1851.
He was educated in the public
schools of Danville, Vt., Franklin,
md Fisherville (now Penacook) in
this state. In business, he is a man-
ufacturer of axe, sledge, and ham-
mer handles, bridge and framing
pins, being the successor of H. M.
Fisher & Sons. There is also a grist-
mill and flour and grain store which
he operates in connection wilh his
oilier business.

The axe handle business was first
started by Hiram M. Fisher at Dan-
ville, Vt., in 1848, and was continued
there until August, 1862, when he
removed to Franklin and bought the
Lewis Batting mill and converted it
into a mill for the axe handle busi-
ness, and remained at this place until
March, 1865.

When he removed to Fisherville,
now Penacook, in 1872, C. V. Fislitr
and George E. Fisher, his sons, were
taken in partnership under the name
of H. M. Fisher & Sons. George E.
Fisher died at Penacook, October 31,
18S5, aged thirty-three years.

October 12, 1885, H. M. Fisher &
Sons removed to East Pembroke and
rented the Knox & Martin twine
mill building that had been idle for
some time with the exception of a
small part which was used by Isaac

xxix— 5

G. Russ as a grist-mill. After rtut-
ing this for some three years, Hiiam
M. Fisher bought this mill, and at his
death, in 1894, the axe handle man-
ufactory and grist-mill was bought
by C. V. Fisher. After he took the
mill he make extensive repairs on
the dam, which, by the way, is one
of the best water privileges on the
Suncook river. There is not so
much fall here as at some other
places on the river, but there are
four miles of flowa^e, which gives an
abundance of water at all seasons of
the year. In 1898 he built an addi-
tion to be used for a grist-mill on
the first floor, and grain bins on the
second floor, — having four bins for
corn, wilh a capacity of twenty- five
hundred bushels ; one for oats that
will hold eighteen hundred bushels,
and one for cracked corn and meal of
seventy bags each. About seven
hundred bushels of Western corn are
used per month, and two cars of oats,
of one thousand two hundred bushels
each, per year. About twelve cars
of mill feeds wxie sold from February
28, 1900, to Apiil 28, 1900, also forty
barrels of flour, twenty-eight barrels
of White Clover, six barrels of Wash-
burn & Crosby Gold Medal, six
barrels of City Mills ; this is bought
of Stratton & Co., Coi.cord.

With mills at Penacook the amount
paid Stratton & Co. for flour and
grain the last year will equal cue
thousand dollars ; the amount of all
grain and mill feeds for the past } ear
will nearl}' touch the ten thousand
dollar notch. The axe handles and
other kinds of work will equal one
thousand dollars a year.

He is a member of Ezekiel Webster
Grange, No. 94, of Boscawen ; Merri-
mack County Pomona, No. 3 ; P^ver-

SUNCOOK.

Methodist Church.

green Lodge, I. O. O. F., Short
Falls.

He has been married twice, first
to Ella O. Jeffers of Milford, July i6,
1874, by whom he had one daughter,
Ella J., born July 10, 1880. His wife
died July 21, 1S80, aged twenty-fiv^e

years. He next married Almeda H.
Kimball, of Pembroke, by whom he
has no children.

On the morning of June 16, Mr.
Fisher's propert)' was burned, with a
loss of about $7,000, and an insur-
ance of only $2,000. The cause of

SUNCOOK

this fire was due to the Hawley Box
Company conflagration, just across
the canal from Mr. Fisher's mills.
It is probable that he will rebuild
and continue, as such is the general
desire of the town. He was doing a
fine business, both in his mills and in
his store.

special course at the Wesle.\ an Uni-
versity at Middletown, Conn., and
was graduated from the Boston Uni-
versity School of Theolog3^ He en-
tered the New Hampshire Conference
of the Methodist Episcopal church in
1885, and has served the churches at
Contoocook, Sunapee, Bristol, Lan-

Rev. Robert T. Wolcott.

Rev. Robert Thomas Wolcott,
the son of Loron and Mary A. B.
Wolcott, was 'orn in Cherry Valle3%
a village in the town of Leicester,
Mass., in the year 1858. He was
educated at the public schools, and
was a pupil in the Leicester acad-
emy, at that time a military school.
Later he moved with his parents to
Dover, and was graduated from the
Phillips Exeter academy, took a

caster, Woodsville, and is now serv-
ing the third year at Suncook. He
was married in 18S7 to Miss Alice
W. Walton of Exeler, and has one
son, Robert H.

Rev. J. M. Olmstead, pastor of
the First Baptist church, was born in
Novi, Mich., in 1859. He spent
one year in Oberlin college, and
five years in Hamilton Theological
seminary, graduating in 1892. He

SUN COOK.

Rev. J. M. Olmstead.

afterwards spent four years in Har-
vard Divinity school, in post-graduate

for two years at Clinton, N. Y. He
was ortlained at West Townsend,
Mass., in 1893. and served the Bap-
tist church in that place for four
years. He was pastor of the Avon,
Mass., Baptist church four and one
half years. While in West Town-
send, Mass., he served on the board
of education.

In 1S86 he niariied Ada M. Dun-
can. Their children are James M.
and Gladys M. Olmstead.

Rev. Paul E. Bourne, the pres-
ent pastor of the Congregational
church, was born in Waqiioit, Mass.,
April 21, 1856. He graduated in
1880 from Faith college, Boston,
Mass.

Mr. Bourne is a member of the

studies. He was settled as supply Pilgrim Fathers, and the Golden

Rev. Paul E. Bourne.

SUNCOOK

Baptist Church.

Congregational Church.

I-

uj
o

c/)
UJ

SUNCOOK.

Hon. John G. Tailant.

Cross. He married Eliza E. Down-
ing of Kennebunkport, Me., and they
have two sons, John D. and Arthur I.
Bourne. With old and young aHke
he is a magnet that never fails to
draw, in the pulpit and out of it.

Hon. John G. Tai.i.ant is a na-
tive of East Concord, a son of the
late John L. Tailant, born March 2,
1846. He received a good education
in the common schools and New
London academy, and entered upon
active life as a farmer in East Con-
cord, making the raising of pure bred
Jersey cattle a specialty for many
years, and taking a front rank as a
breeder and dairyman. He removed
to Pembroke in 1893, purchasing the
fine establishment known as the Al-
bert Eangmaid place on Pembroke
street, which has since been his
home.

In politics Mr. Tailant was for-
merly a Democrat and as such served
as selectman, member of the connnon
council, alderman, assessor, and rep-
resentative in the legislature for
Ward 2, Concord, and also as state
senator for District No. 11 in 1891.
For the last eight years he has been
a Republican, and was chosen a
member of the board of selectmen in
Pembroke in 1899.

He is an active member of the order
of Patrons of Husbandry, and was the
first master of Rumford Grange, East
Concord. He has also served as
master of Pembroke Grange.

In 1892 Mr. Tailant was appointed
a member of the board of trustees of
the New Hampshire College of Agri-
culture and the Mechanic Arts, to
which position he has been repeat-
edl}' reappointed, holding the same

llJ

o
en

LlI

UJ
Q

SUNCOOK

George F. Munsey, M. D.

at the present time, aud taking a
strong interest in the management of
the institution.

He has been twice married, his
first wife being Addie G., daughter
of the late Hon. Aaron Whittemore
of Pembroke, who died October ii,
1876, aud by whom he had three
children. His present wife, whom
he married in December, 1S77, was
Helen B., daughter of Capt. Daniel
W. Wilson of New Hampton. His
children are Catherine, employed in
the New Hampshire State librar}^ ;
Arianna, wife of Bert G. Spaulding,
and John L., of Chichester, a gradu-
ate of the New Hampshire College of
Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts.

Dr. Gkorg?: F. Mi'NvSKY. Among
the well-known and skilful physicians

of Suncook is Dr. George F. Munsey,
who has a large and steadily increas-
ing business in his profession. Dr.
Munsey was born in Beverly, Mass.,
P'ebruary 5, 1855, and was educated
at Pittsfield academy, Bridgewater
State Normal school. Medical school
of Maine, and finished his profes-
sional studies at the Dartmouth Med-
ical college, graduating in the class
of 1878.

He commenced practice at Green-
ville, remaining there fourteen j^ears,
aud then came to Suncook eight
years ago. Dr. Munsey takes con-
siderable interest in secret and frater-
nal organizations. He is an Odd
Fellow, and a past grand of Howard
Lodge, No. 31, I. O. O. F. ; Hildreth
Encampment, and Mary Gordon Bart-

SUNCOOK.

Edmund E. Hill, M. D.

lett Rebekah Lodge. He is also a
member of Jewell Lodge of Masons
and Royal Arch Hiram Chapter. He
is a member of the Pembroke Grange,
Patrons of Husbandry, and a past
master ; also a member of the Suncook
Valley Pomona, State, and National
Grange.

Dr. Munsey is a Republican in
politics, and while at Greenville was
superintending school committee in
1885, and in 1892 a member of the
school board. He is an attendant at
the Methodist Episcopal church, and
a member of the board of trustees. He
married Mary J. Otterson, and they
have two daughters, Mary Kva, a
sophomore in the Middlebury, Vt.
college, and Bertha Annie, a student
at the Grammar school.

Unassuming in manner, sympa-
thetic and tender as a woman in the
presence of the suffering, he pos-
sesses keen intuitive perception, great
strength of purpose, and strong self-
reliance, qualities which cheer every
sick room he enters, inspire confi-
dence and courage in his patients,
and have won for him an extensive
and successful practice.

Dr. Edmund E. Hili, has prac-
tised his profession in Suncook for
nearly eight years, and has won a
wide reputation as an able physician.

He was born in Candia, October
22, t868. He graduated from Pem-
broke academy, and from Harvard
Medical college in 1893. Dr. Hill
has won much esteem for his social
qualities, and as a well-read, scien-

S UNCO OK

tific physician, enjoying an extensive
practice in this and adjoining towns.

In his political affiliation Dr. Hill
is a Republican. He was a member
of the Pembroke school board from
1894 to 1897, and is the county phy-
sician for the town of Pembroke.
He is a member of Jewell Lodge,
A. F. & A. M. ; present noble grand
of Howard Lodge, I. O. O. F., and
a member of the United Order of
the Golden Cross. He is a regu-
lar attendant at the Congregational
church. He was married in 1895
to Mary Blanche Walker, daugh-
ter of Prof. Isaac Walker of Pem-
broke, by whom he has had one
son, Edmund Walker Hill, born
September 17, 1896.

The doctor is a member of the
New Hampshire Medical Society
and the Centre District Medical
Society, and examiner for the New
York Mutual Life and various other
insurance companies.

Dr. Charles S. Gjlman.
Among the skilful ph3'sicians for
which Suncook has always been,
and still is, noted is Dr. Charles
S. Oilman who was born at Lake-
port, October 23, 1871. He at
tended the public schools of Lake-
port and Laconia, then went
to Tilton where he attended the
New Hampshire Conference semi-
nary. After graduating there he
went to the University of Vermont
at Burlington, where he attended
medical lectures ; also at Tufts Med-
ical college at Boston, and the Balti-
more Medical college at Baltimore,
Md. He graduated from Baltimore,
April 22, 1896. He studied the
practical side of his profession with
Dr. W. T. Slay ton, of Boston, at the
Boston dispensary, at thejMaryland

General and Maryland Lying-in hos-
pitals, and at the Baltimore Medical
College dispensaiy. After taking his
degrees he located at Lakeport for a
few months, and came to Suncook in
February, 1897, taking the office of
the late Dr. G. H. Larabee on Glass
street.

While at Tufts college he was edi-

Charles S. Gilman, M. D.

tor, from the Medical school, of the
B7-own and BIut\ Tufts' Junior class
annual, and a member of Gamma
Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Kappa,
a Greek letter medical fraternity.
He is a member of the Winnipe-
saukee Academy of Medicine, the
New Hampshire Medical Society,
and of Pembroke Grange, also the
State and National Granges.

Dr. Gilman has been very success-
ful in his practice in Suncook and
vicinity, and has been favored with

i i

O
Q

a' CQ

s <

c -I
CO o

Li.

UJ
'O

I/)

LiJ

SUNCOOK.

the liberal clieutage which his suc-
cess has merited.

Dr. Orlando B. Douglas. One
of the most public-spirited and busi-
est of Suucook's medical profession is
Dr. Orlando B. Douglas, a native of
Cornwall, Vt., born September 12,
1836. Dr. Douglas obtained his pre-

\'oluuteers, and acting assistant atl-
jutaut-general during the Rebellion.
He was twice wounded while in the
service. Dr. Orlando B. Douglas
w^as president of the Medical Society
of the County of New York in 189.',
treasurer of tlie same from 1879 to
1887 ; fellow of the New York Acad-

Oilando B. Douglas, M. D.

paratory education in the public
schools, and then attended Brandon
Vermont seminary, and New York
University Medical college. For the
last twenty-three years he has been
practising his profession in New
Yoik city at 123 East 36tli street.
During the last nine years he has
spent his summers in Suncook.

The doctor was lieutenant and ad-
jutant of the Highleeuth Missouri

emy of Medicine and treasurer from
1 888 to 1898 ; secretary of the com-
mittee on admissions of the academy
in 1887 ; and chairman of the sec-
tion on laryngology and rhinology in
1888 ; professor of diseases of the
nose and throat in the New York
Postgraduate Medical school and
hospital, 1888 to 1900 ; and has been
a director and surgeon to Manhattan
Eye and Ear hospital since 1877.

SUNCOOK.

He is a permanent member of the
Medical Society of the state of New-
York ; member of the New Hamp-
shire Medical Society ; member of
New Hampshire Association of Mili-
tary Surgeons; and honorar}' mem-
ber of the Vermont Medical So-
ciety ; member of the American Elec-
tro-Therapeutical Association ; the
American Laryngological, Rhiuolog-
ical and Otological Society ; mem-

sonic Fraternity, thirty-second de-
gree.

During his eight years' residence
in Suucook, Dr. Douglas has won a
reputation as a skilful physician and
surgeon, and makes a special study
of the nose, ear, and throat, which
has brought him much practice in
this line. For the past few years the
doctor has taken interest in all mat-
ters for the advancement of the vil-

Residence of Hon. Edmund E. Truesdell.

ber, and for ten years a director,
of the New York Physicians' Mut-
ual Aid Association ; member of the
American Geographical Society ; the
American Park and Out-door Art
Association ; the Indiana Forestry
Association ; the New York Tree
Planting Association ; the lyinnaean
Society and Scientific Alliance of
New York ; American Association
for the Advancement of Science ;
surgeon of Reno Post, G. A. R. ;
companion. First class, of the lyoyal
I,egion, U. S. A. ; member of the Ma-

lage, and generally finds time from
his professional duties to lend a help-
ing hand in any enterprise of this
nature in which he is interested.

He first married, in 1864, Mary A.
Rust of Orwell, Vt., who died Au-
gust 31, 1873, leaving one son, Ed-
wnn Rust Douglas, M. E. Sc. M.,
now electrical engineer at East
Orange, N. J. His second marriage
was September 16, 1875, to Mrs.
Maria E. Manson Tiddy, daughter
of Rev. A. C. Manson. Mrs. Doug-
las was an army nurse under Miss

SUNCOOK.

Rufus M, Weeks, M . D.

Dix at Chesapeake hospital during
the latter 3'ears of the RebeHiou.
She taught the Freedmen in Florida,
and afterward was preceptress of Pen-
uingtou seminary.

Dr. Douglas became a member of
the Baptist church in Brandon, Vt.,
November 4, 1855. He was at one
time prominent!}' connected with the
Young Men's Christian Association
in Vermont, and was superintendent
of the largest Sunday-school in the
state. He was also president of the
Vermont Sunday-school association,
being its father and founder. It has
been said of him, in connection with
his services in that work, that "his
spirit, singularly sweet, guileless, and
winning, mingled with a tact and

readiness of resource, made him a
valuable organizer." By his patients,
his brethren in the medical profes-
sion, and his large circle of warm
friends, the doctor is much beloved
for his qualities of great unselfish-
ness, charitableness, sympathy, and
cheerfulness.

Dr. Rufus M. Weeks has prac-
tised his profession here the past
twenty-five years, and is recognized
as a skilful and proficient dentist,
and has acquired a wide reputation
for scientific work in his line, which
has resulted in building up a large
and prosperous practice.

Dr. Weeks was born in Gilford,
December 15, 1854. His education
was received at the public schools

SUiXCOOK.

of his native town, and the Boston
Dental college.

In politics Dr. Weeks is a Repub-
lican. He is a member of Jewell
Lodge, A. F. & A. M., Hiram Chap-
ter, Horace Chase Council, Mt. Ho-
reb Commandery, Alpha Lodge of
Perfection, Ariel Council, Princes of

Isaac Gage Russ, son of John
Olcott and Sophronia Sanborn (Gage)
Russ, was born in Boscawen, Sep-
tember 2, 1836. He was educated at
Fisherville, now Penacook, and New
London academies.

He began trade at Thetford Cen-
ter, Vt., in 185S, and so continued

SS^iSSSSlWKS?

^1 '^^

Isaac G. Russ,

Jerusalem, Acaca Chapter of Rose
Croix, Edward A. Raymond Con-
sistory, thirty-second degree, Ortkr of
High Priesthood, Aleppo Temple, A.
A. O., Nobles of the Mystic Shiine,
and Howard Lodge, I. O. O. P".

Dr. Weeks mariitd Luella B.
Hoyt, and resides on Broadway in
one of the most beautiful and com-
foitable homts in the village.

two years. In i860 he removed to
East Pembioke, where he still re-
mains engaged in trade, and in the
manufacture of lumber and wood.

He was the first postmaster of East
Pembroke, i869-'70; representative
of the town to the legislature, 1871
-'72 ; commissioner for Merrimack
county, i88i-'83 ; and selectman of
Pembioke, 1874, 1884, 1889, 1891,

SUN COOK.

and 1S93. He attends the Congre-
gational church, is a firm Democrat
in politics, a man of gentlemanly
bearing, and an estimable citizen.

He married, first, Semautha R.,
daughter of Bickford and Jane Lang,
June 20, 1858 ; second, Bettie M.,
daughter of James and Eliza A.

1864, in that part of the town known
as North Pembroke. His parents
were lifelong residents of Pembroke,
and are now deceased. Mr. Fowler
was reared on a farm. He was
educated in the district schools, and
was a member of the graduating
class of Pembroke academy in 1882,

Gporge W. Fowler.

Stevens, November 20, 1867; and
third, Ann, daughter of David and
Lucinda M. Dickey, x\ugust 15, 1875.
His first wife died February i, 1865,
and his second, February 13, 1872.
By his second marriage he had one
daughter, Fronie Gage, who resides
with him.

George Winthrop Fowler was
born in Pembroke, November i,

sxix— 6

and from Dartmouth college in 1SS6.

At the present time he is engaged
in newspaper work, and is a member
of the firm of Fowler Bros., millers
and grain merchants, a partnership
formed in Januar}', 1900.

Mr. Fowler has bee 1 ^ ngaged dur-
ing the past years upon the following
papers : City editor of the Bismarck,
(Dakota) Tribune \\\ i886-'87; editor

SUNCOOK.

Fowler Brothers' Grist-Mill and Grain Storehouse.

of the Nashua Daily and Weekly Democrat. He was chosen a niem-

Gazette, i890-'95; associate editor of ber of the school board in 1886, 18S9,

the Manchester Daily Union since 1899. He is a member of the Patrons

1S95. of Husbandry ; Knight of the An-

lu pob"tics Mr. Fowler is an ardent cient Essenic Order; past president

Charles V. Fisher's Storehouse.

SUN COOK.

of the New Hampshire Cnon Club,
aud a member of the Democratic
State Committee.

Iti 1888 he married Etta Bartlett of
Alleustown, and the}' have two sons,
George Sherburne, born November
29, 1890, and Harold Bartlett, June
24, 1898. Mr. Fowler is widely and
favorably known as a newspaper man.
Nothing was ever contributed by his
pen to poison and influence the pub-
lic mind ; on the contrary his news-

iu the general court, and was a life-
long Democrat. He was a regular
attendant at the Methodist Episcopal
church, and a member of the official
board, serving as trustee many years.
He was for several years, in his
younger days, ensign of the town
military company.

Over thirt}' years ago Mr. Sargent
purchased the farm of the late Jacob
Emery, and that part of the village
north of Pleasant street and Broad-

Residence of Mrs. Philip Sargent.

paper work has ever been clean and
praiseworthy.

Philip Sargent. The late Philip
Sargent was born in Allenstown,
August 16, 1822. He received his
education at the public schools and
Pembroke Gymnasium. He learned
the art of brickmaking before he
reached the age of twenty-one, and at
that age he went into company with
his father, and continued the business
in a very successful manner until
1896, when he retired.

Mr. Sargent represented his town

wa}' was by him laid out in lots,
which were sold to individuals, thus
making one of the prettiest parts of
Suncook village.

About twenty years ago Mr. Sar-
gent built, on South Main street, a
very fine brick residence. The brick
used in the construction of the same
were made in his own yards.

He married Phebe A. Williams of
Pembroke, December 31, 1849.

Mr. Sargent died April 15, 1S98,
leaving a widow and one daughter,
Mrs. Charles H. Ames.

SUNCOOK.

Fonk E, Biodgett.

Reoidence of Frank E. Biudgelt

SUNCOOK.

Frank Edward Blodgett con-
ducts the largest wood and coal busi-
ness in the village of Suncook. His
headquarters and office is located at
the foot of Front street. The wood
and coal business was coniparati\-ely
new in Suncook a few j'cars a;,'©, and
at first was limited, for various rea-
sons. Only a few years ago wood
was nearb all purchased of farmers,
who hauled it into town during the
winter, and waited in the streets for

Mr. Blodgett is a Republican, and
was selectman of Allenstown in 1894-
'95-'96-'97. He is a member of the
Methodist church, and in secret or-
ders is Worshipful Master of Jewell
Loilge, A. F. & A. M., and a mem-
ber of Hiram Chapter, R. A. M.

He married Jennie Emer\^ Hasel-
tine, daughter of the late Hon. Will-
iam Haseltine, and they have one
daughter, Harriet Rose, and a son,
Philip.

_: =^;t^:_-- 1. \-^

Frank E. Blodgett's

customers. To-day a telephone mes-
sage and Mr. Blodgett will bring the
desired quantity of wood or coal at
short notice.

Mr. Blodgett was born in Lowell,
Mass., March 20, 1S58, and was edu-
cated in the common schools and the
State Normal school at Plymouth,
N. H. He came to Suncook ten
years ago and started in the wood
and coal business, and at the present
time is eng;)ged in a large wholesale
wood trade throughout New Hamp-
shire and Massachusetts.

Wood and Coal Yard.

George E. Gordon & Co. Gor-
don & Co.'s drug store, established
in 1877, is recognized as one of the
most reliable and best conducted es-
tablishments in the pharmacy line in
Suncook. Mr. George E. Gordon,
the proprietor, is himself a skilful
pharmacist, his certificate from the
State Board of Pharmacy having
been granted after examination in
1884, and he employs thoroughly
competent assistants in his establish-
ment. The Gordon drug store car-
ries a large and complete stock of the

SUNCOOK.

George E. Gordon.

Residence of George E. Gordon.

SUNCOOK.

purest and freshest drugs which the
market affords, supplemented by
patent medicines of ahiiost ever)'
kind and nature, including, of course,
all of the standard prepared remedies.

George Everett Gordon, the
proprietor of the Gordon drug store,
and the Suncook news agenc}-, is a
native of Suncook, born April 6,
1858. He was educated in the pub-
lic schools, Pembroke academy, and
Bryant & Stratton Business college,
and learned the druggist's business
at the establishment of Dr. Charles
F. Hildreih. After remaining thus
three years he established himself in
business, and has been very success-
ful in building up a first-class trade
in his line.

Mr. Gordon married L,illian E.
Morse, daughter of Charles P. and
Georgie Morse of Pembroke. In
politics Mr. Gordon affiliates with
the Republicans, and was a member
of the house in i897-'98 ; town clerk,
1887-88, and is library trustee. He
is a member of the Masonic lodge of
Suncook.

Mr. Wilfred J. Parent is a partner
of Mr. Gordon, and is a young man
who has a wide circle of friends.

Mr. Gordon is the proprietor of
Fairview house, cottage, and stables
at York beach ; member of a syndi-
cate who owns the i\tlantic house,
York beach, and is the owner of con-
siderable real estate at the beach and
in Suncook.

Capt. Geo. W. Gordon, a native of
Pembroke, father of George E. Gor-
don, enlisted April 22, 1861, reen-
listed May 22, 1861, for three years.
He was twice wounded, at Bull Run
and Gettysburg, and killed at Cold
Harbor, Va., June 3, 1864.

Capt. George W. Gordon. The

following is taken from Haynes's His-
tory of the Second New Hampshire
\'olunteer Infantry: "Capt. George
W. Gordon of Co. I had the top of
his head plowed by a Rebel bulkt
and died within an hour at the balt'e
of Cold Harbor, Va.. June 3, 1864.
He enli.sted from Allenstown, and
coming to the regiment well versed,
for those early days, in military tac-
tics, he was made its fn>t sergeant-
major. The Grand Army post at
Suncook w^as named for him."

Capt. George W. Gordon.

Following is an extract from the
complete roster of the Second New
Hampshire Regiment: "Gordon,
George W., Co. I; b. New Hamp-
shire ; age 27 ; res. Allenstown ; enl.
April 22, '61, for 3 mos. ; not must,
in; re-enl. May 22, '61, for 3 yrs. ;
must, in June 10, '61 ; app. Sergt-
Maj., June 10, '61 ; 2d I^t. Co I, July
29, '61 ; ist U. Co. D, July 8, '62 ;
w'd. Aug. 29, '62, .Bull Run, Va. ;
app. Capt. Co. I, Sept. i, '62; w'd.
July 2, '63, Gettysburg, Pa. ; killed
June 3, '64, Cold Harbor, Va."

SUN COOK.

Joseph Wilkins' Block.

Park H. Kelley, of the drug firm
of P. H. Kelley & Co., is a native of
Hooksett, born December 20, i860.
He was educated in the Manchester
public schools, and later learned the
drug trade. He has been in this
business twenty-three years, and be-
fore locating at Suncook was in
business at Manchester and at Wor-
cester, Mass.

Mr. Kelley married Miss Grace G.

G t; r g u E , G u f tJ o n &: Co.

P. H. Kelley & Co.

6 UNCOOK.

Thompson, aud the}' have two little
daughters, Harriet Warren and Irene,
aud a son, Harold Park. Mr. Kel-
ley attends the Baptist church, is a
Republican in politics, is a member
of the Calumet club of Manchester,
and the Merrimack- Street Baptist so-
ciety of that city. He prides him-

Suncook ; graduated from Bryant &
Strattou's Business college in Man-
chester, July I, 1890, and Pembroke
academy in 1S93.

Since 1896 Mr. Aldrich has been
employed during the summer months
as head waiter in the following ho-
tels : The Oceanic, Isles of Shoals

Park H. Keliey.

self upon the comjilete stock of goods
which he carries in his drug store.
He is a thoroughly expert pharma-
cist and alwaj-s employs skilful as-
sistants.

Frank Levi Ai.drich was born
in Manchester, May i, 1S75, and
came to Suucook when eight 5'ears
old, in 1883, where he has since re-
sided with his parents. He received
his education in the public schools of

off Portsmouth ; the Hotel Weirs,
Weirs; The Oceanside, Magnolia,
Mass. ; and la.st season was manager
of the Boston & Maine restaurant at
Plymouth for Elliott & Adams.

He is a member of Jewell Lodge,
No. 94. A. F. & A. M., and Hiram
Chapter, No. 24, R. A. M., hold-
ing the position of secretary of bolli
societies. He is also a past grand
of Howard Lodge, No. 31, I. O. O F.;

S UNCOCK.

Residence of J. E. Chickering.

a member of Mar}^ Gordeu Bartlett ery, No. 58S, United Ordt-r of the

Rebekah Lodge, No. 69 ; Pembroke Golden Cross. Mr. Aldrich is also a

Grange, No. in, and Suucook Val- member of the New Hampshire Coon

ley Pomona Grange, P. of H. ; and a Club, an organization for newspaper

member of the Suucook Command- men.

Jewelry Store of J. E. Chickering.

SUNCOOK.

Frank L. Aldrich.

While a student at Pembroke acad-
emy, at the request of the managing
editor of the Manchester Daily Union,
he commenced his first newspaper
work for that paper, and continued
for about seven years.

During the past eight years he has
been the Suncook Valley correspond-
ent for the Boston Globe, and for the
Associated Press since June 17, 1895.

While in P'lorida, during the win-
ters of 1897 and 1898, he was the
resort correspondent of several north-
ern papers. He is a member of the
IMethodish Episcopal church, antl a
regular attendant. Mr. Aldrich is
the local correspondent for the Man-
chester Mirror and Concord Monitor.
He was enumerator for Pembroke in
taking the census of 1890.

OUR GOD.

By N. F. Carter.

Who is so great a God as our God ? — Ps. Ixxvii, / j>.

For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy ; I dwell
in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit. — Is. lvii\ 13.

My soul, look up, with clear and circling sweep of vision,

On spaces stars with golden splendors intersperse.
And know thou art — I speak with simple truth's precision —

A central atom of the mighty universe !
How know it ? Is an utter ending of duration

Impossible to wisest range of human thought ?
So also bounding spaces of this vast creation !

Canst thou conceive, or even dream, where space is not ?

With all the speed of light forever and forever

Let go your radical lines whichever way you will,
And they shall travel on, and on, and on, and never

Find aught to stay their course — space lies beyond them still !
So roomy space where all the starry worlds are sweeping,

In stable equipoise and fine adjustment, as is need !
Worlds central, world round world revolving, keeping

Good time in one long rivalry of rhythmic deed !

So man}', many, from their hidden, far pavilions.

Show shining faces, as the flying seasons pass !
In all, by human estimate, a hundred millions

Encompassed by the piercing ken of eye and glass !
Suns, like our sun, and larger, who shall say revolving

Planets with moons sweep not around them every one,
Making unnumbered millions more to note, in solving

Creations baffling problem, ere the work is done !

Who made them, gave them motion, keeps them in their courses.

Systems on systems, in eternal harmony ?
Who feeds their vestal fires, controls inhering forces

For highest service, in ages now and j'et to be ?
Who but our God — so great a God — the God of revelation,

Who onl)' has to speak the word a-nd it is done ?
His word has given being to this vast creation.

From floating atom to the largest flaming sun !

95 WASHINGTON.

And who shall say the outer rim of silent spaces,

Unpierced by any lens yet shaped by human hand,
Holds not unnumbered other worlds with glowing faces,

Illumining the vaster stretches of that border land ?
Their numbers baffle all our powers of comprehension !

The seen are scattered islands of some central sea !
The unseen, in their circling sphere of far ascension,

lyight oceans with their beacon fires while time shall be !

Bewildered at the thought, O soul, in adoration

Bow down in presence of such majesty and might,
And know these countless worlds of this unspanned creation.

Are without weariness upheld in paths of light !
A God so great, immensitj^ His presence filling,

Yet condescending to the lowliness of thine estate !
What glory in the thought, so great, so good, so willing

In blessed care and ministries on thee to wait !

With power beyond our finite understanding,

What, in the range of need. He cannot do for thee ?
The universe itself, at His supreme commanding.

Shall bring its tribute in sure answer to thy plea !
Rejoice and be exceeding glad ! God is no fiction,

O living atom kindled into life by breath divine.
For thou shalt share in time His blessed benediction,

And in His glory, as a sun, shall sometime shine !

WASHINGTON.

By Liiella Clark.

As 'mid the giant peaks that round me rise,
One stands supreme to draw the gazer's ej^es,
With naked brow serenely towering high
To rest his shoulders 'gainst the bending sky.
Friend of the clouds, unmoved in stress of storm.
Whose beauty time nor tempest can deform,
The earliest herald of the tlay begun,
The last to hold the rays of setting sun,
So he whose name this monarch bears doth stand
First as the savior of his native land.
Dear to each loyal heart his honored name.
Unshadowed by the lengthening years his fame,
Strong in the strength of victory nobly won.
Pure patriot, statesman wise, our Washington.

Hannibal.

Horace,

THE TWO BONNEYS.

A VETERAN OF TWO WARS. AND SOME OF HIS COMRADES.

By John C. Lijiehan.

EW men in New Hamp-
shire have had a more
varied experience than
Hannibal Bonnej^ F^or
thirty-eight years he has
been the proprietor and landlord of
the Penacook House in the village
of that name. His twin brother,
Horace, while in life, was the well-
known host of the Ayer House in
Hooksett. The brothers were born
in Winihrop, Me., February 26, 18 15.
This was a notable ])eriod in the
history of the United vStates. The
infant republic had just finished its
second w^ar with Great Britain and
had added the name of Jackson to
the roll of its distinguished sons.
The boys must have inherited the
love of a soldier's life, for at the age

of eighteen, to be exact, on Septem-
ber 6, 1833, both enlisted in Boston
in the First United States Dragoons,
then being organized, for the period
of three years. The headquarters of
the regiment were at Jefferson Bar-
racks, Missouri. Shortly after their
enlistment they started on their long
journey to join their command. It
was before the era of railroads, and
the route taken, as well as the time
required to reach their destination,
would seem surprising to-day, sixty-
seven years later, when St. Eouis is
within thirty hours of Boston. The}'
were conveyed with other recruits
from the " Hub" in a sloop to Bed-
loe's island, the future home of the
Goddess of Liberty, in New York
harbor.

A \'ETERAN OF TWO WARS.

After a sojourn here of four weeks
the enlisted men were placed under
command of I^ieut. Elbridge G. East-
man, a native of Salisbury, and a
graduate of West Point, and all be-
gan their long journey. A steam-
boat furnished transportation to Al-
bany. To the two Maine boys the
ride up the Hudson was an unex-
pected treat. A canal boat was taken
at Albanj-, and from there to Buffalo
the route was through the Erie Ca-
nal, tlien the great avenue for traffic,
in Central New York. At Buffalo,
after a few day's delay, a steamboat
was again taken, on which the}' re-
mained until Green Bay on Lake
Michigan was reached. Here open
boats were secured, and a long,
weary, cold ride of twenty days up
the Fox river to Fort Winnebago fol-
lowed.

The weather now was quite cold.
The recruits had no overcoats, and
but one thin woolen blanket to each

man. \'ery often the}' were obliged
to get out into the water to pull the
boats up and over the rapids, and, as
often, to carry them overland, from
one point to another, as circumstanc es
required. In this manner they con-
veyed them from the Fox river at
Winnebago some miles to the Wis-
consin river down which they floated
to Prairie Du Chien where they
struck the "Father of Waters."
They remained here two days then
proceeded down the Mississippi, in
the same boats, until they reached
Jefferson Barracks, ten miles south of
St. Eouis, having been two months
on the journey from Boston.

Here they found two full com-
panies of their regiment and a de-
tachment of the Sixth United States
Infantry, all under command of Gen-
eral Atkinson. They remained heie
until May, 1834, and, in the mean-
time, were provided with horses and
equipments and drilled daily in the

i?^^S^

The Penacook House.

A VETERAN OF TWO WARS.

various evolutions then in vogue in
the old service. At the latter date
they were ordered to report at Fort
Gibson, Arkansas, in the Cherokee
nation, a distance of five hundred
miles from Jefferson Barracks. The
march across the prairies occupied a
little over a month.

They found here six companies of
their regiment, the First Dragoons,
and seven companies of the Seventh
United States Infantry. Gen. Mathew
Arbuckle was the post commander.
The troops were assembled at this
point to operate against the Pawnee
and Comanche Indians, who were
on the warpath, and who had com-
mitted horrible atrocities on many of
the defenceless settlers.

In the latter part of June the ex-
pedition started for the country of
the hostile Indians. The commander
was General lyeavenvvorth, for whom
Leavenworth, Kansas, was named.
The field officers of the First Dra-
goons were Col. Henry Dodge, later
governor of Michigan, — Lieut. Col.
Stephen H. Kearney, later a distin-
guished officer in the Mexican War,
and first military governor of Cali-
fornia, — and Maj. Richard B. Mason
of the celebrated Virginia family of
that name. Among the captains of
the dragoons were David Hunter,
Edwin V. Sumner, and Philip St.
George Cooke, major-generals in the
Civil War. Two of the lieutenants
were Jefferson Davis, later presi-
dent of the Southern Confederacy,
Pliilip Kearney, the lamented, also
a major-general in the Civil War,
and killed at Chantilly, a little more
than thirty years later.

The object of the expedition was
to meet in cimncil with the hostiles,
and arrange, if possible, to have some

of their chiefs selected to meet com-
missioners, appointed by the United
States government, at some point to
be named, for the purpose of making
a treaty ; as thus far nothing of the
kind had been effected with the In-
dians of the extreme Southwest.

The brothers were by this time
well known to both officers and men.
They were about the same height, of
athletic build, as straight as the
pines of their native state, well-fea-
tured, and resembled each other so
closely, that, unless together, it was
impossible to tell which was Hanni-
bal or which was Horace. This re-
markable likeness existed as both
advanced in years. It often served
them in time of need. They were
possessed of their full share of animal
spirits, and their youthful escapades
in the army secured for them the
names of the " Two Bonneys." Their
daring natures and adventurous dis-
positions often resulted in their being
detailed for special service, particu-
larly where nerve, dash, and discre-
tion were required, and when, as it
happened, the boyish pranks of one
caused the interference of the officer
of the clay, an "alibi" could always
be proven in the person of the other.

The march to the Indian country'
was of the most fatiguing nature.
Many of the men were taken sick.
After crossing the Arkansas, Cana-
dian, and Wichita rivers, and the
Not til fork of the Canadian, the com-
mand was obliged to halt on the
banks of a creek, near the Red river.
Over two hundred were prostrated
and could go no further ; a tempo-
rary camp was prepared, and the sick
were left here under command of
Lieutenant- Colonel Kearney. The
balance of the troops proceeded to a

A VETERAN OE TWO WARS.

point about twenty miles farther,
when General Leavenworth was
taken sick, and died the night fol-
lowing. His body was sent back to
the camp of the sick men and buried
there. The expedition then con-
tinued, under command of Colonel
Dodge, until the main Indian town
was reached, where they found as-
sembled over three thousand of the
most fierce and savage of the Indians
of the Southwest — the Comanches
and Pawmees.

The troops had been decimated by
death and sickness so that but four
hundred men were able to respond to
roll-call when their destination was
reached. Arrangements were made
here to have the chiefs of the several
tribes meet the United States com-
missioners at the "Cross Timbers,"
the year following, and the release
of many persons, prisoners in the
hands of the Indians, effected.
Among them was a boy who was
taken from a plantation on the Red
river. His father had been killed
when he was captured. He had
been with the Indians over three
years. Special instructions had been
given the commander of the expedi-
tion to secure his release. At first
the chiefs denied that he was in their
possession, but being informed to the
contrary bj' his friendly Indian scouts,
Colonel Dodge persisted in his de-
mand until the boy was safely deliv-
ered to him and finally returned to
his mother, who had given him up
for dead.

The troops then returned to Fort
Gibson. Their duties during the
campaign had been so arduous and
the privations so great that nearly
every officer and trooper in the dra-
goons was down sick on their return.

xxix— 7

There were hardly enough well men
in the regiment to take care of the sick
or bury the dead. Among the officers
wdio died was Lieutenant Kastman of
Salisbury.

The brothers remained at Fort
Gibson until the expiration of their
enlistment. There was but little
time for play as the Indians kept
them constantly in the saddle, and
their adventures in consequence were
thrilling and very often hazardous.
Few of our day and generation can
realize the atrocious treatment given
the unfortunate troops when captured
by the Indians in those days. All
prisoners were subjected to the most
inhuman cruelties, but the soldiers of
the regular army were looked upon
as their special pre 3^, and their sure
fate was torture while in life and mu-
tilation after death.

It was no wonder, therefore, when
their three years had expired, that
the "Two Bonneys " did not care
to reenlist. General Arbuckle, who
was still in command, admiring their
soldierly qualities, on mustering them
out, said, " What are you two boys
going to do ? You are three thousand
miles from home ; how are 5^ou going
to get there ? There is no conveyance
from here, and you must travel five
hundred miles through an unsettled
country before 3^ou reach the Missis-
sippi river ; j'ou had better reenlist
and remain here."

The two boys (then but twenty-
one years old), however, did not com-
ply wath the general's request. They
had seen all they w^anted to of Indian
warfare, and, hungering for old New
England, took their discharge and
started on their long journey home-
ward. They had purchased two
Indian ponies, and on these they

lOO

A VETERAN OF TWO WARS.

rode, by easy stages, about thirty
miles a da5^ through the Indian
nation and adjoining territory, liv-
ing on game and the contents of
their haversacks until they reached
Booneville, on the Missouri river,
over five hundred miles from the
.point of departure.

Here they sold their ponies, in-
tending to take passage on a steam-
boat down the river. They waited
three days, and no steamer appear-
ing they purchased a small row-
boat, and, taking their traps, floated
down to the Mississippi, and along
that to Vicksburg, rowing in the day
time and at night sleeping on shore.
Their provisions they purchased as
best they could in the settlements
on the river banks by the way. At
Vicksburg they sold their boat and
took passage for New Orleans on the
steamer General Wayne. On arriv-
ing, their money was exhausted, but,
with true Yankee grit, they were. not
discouraged. Thus far all of their
possesions were common — what be-
longed to one was the property of
the other.

They sought employment to earn
money enough to pay their transpor-
tation home, but failed. One day
they ran across a former comrade of
the First Dragoons, a sergeant. He
told them that Major Lawrence was
raising a company of volunteers for
the Texan army which was then
fighting for independence under Sam
Houston and urged them to enlist,
one of the inducements offered being
the prospect of receiving a liberal
grant of land at the close of the war.
The temptation to two boys, without
money or employment, was great.
The result was what under the cir-
cumstances might have been ex-

pected. They volunteered and signed
to serve until the end of the war.
Passage was taken on a schooner by
Major Lawrence for his command,
and, after a tempestuous voj-age of
five days, the companj^ disembarked
at the head of Matagorda bay. From
thence they marched up the Lavaca
river, about eight miles, to the camp
of the Texan ami}' which was under
the command of General Felix Hous-
ton, Sam Houston having just been
elected president of the Texan re-
public. The two boys served in
Texas over a year, enduring their
part of the privations which the brave
spirits who added a new domain to
the United States were obliged to
undergo. While here Hannibal Bon-
ney was a witness of the celebrated
duel fought between Gen. Felix
Houston and Gen. Albert Sidney
Johnston, who was killed at Shiloh
during the Civil War in 1862. Han-
nibal was on guard, when, in the
early morn, both of the principals
with their seconds went outside the
line to the point selected for the
fight. Johnston had been chosen to
command the army in place of Hous-
ton. This was indirectly the cause
of the duel. When the war was
practically over the Texan army was
ordered to Houston, where the men
were furloughed for an indefinite pe-
riod with instructions to report at
some future time for duty or dis-
charge as circumstances demanded,
also to receive their land warrants in
case of discharge.

The two boys returned to New Or-
leans. The United States was then
engaged in a war with the Indians in
Florida, and made a bid for the ser-
vices of the soldiers just furloughed
by the Texas government. A com-

A VETERAN OE TJIV WARS.

lOI

pany of volunteers was raised in New
Orleans, and the two Bonneys again
enlisted, this time for six months, to
fight against the Seminoles in the
Everglades of Florida, under the
command of Gen. Persifer F. Smith.
Their permanent headquarters were
at a point about twenty miles up the
river from Charlotte harbor. From
here the men were sent in detach-
ments through the swamps with two
or three daj^s rations, a heav)^ mus-
ket, a woolen blanket, and fifty
rounds of ball cartridges each.
There was no halt in this service.
It was a continual tramp, day after
day, without any let up, until dark-
ness came, and then there was no
respite for the pickets, because the
enemy was ever on the alert, and
woe betide the sentry caught nap-
ping ! Not the least of the discom-
forts was the mud, often up to their
knees, and the water not unfre-
quently up to their waists. Their
term of service expiring, transporta-
tion was furnished to New Orleans,
where they were mustered out and
received their discharge. From
thence they returned to Texas. On
arriving at Houston they called on
the provisional secretar}- of war,
Barnard E. Bee, and demanded their
discharge. This, on account of some
informality on the part of the " Two
Bonneys," was refused. While the
controversy between the secretary and
the boys was at its height, Gen. Sam
Houston entered the room and hap-
pening to overhear the conversation,
he turned and said, " What is this —
did you two boys come away out
here from Maine to help us fight
the Mexicans?" Hannibal spoke
up and said, "General, we enlisted
for the war, and now, if the war is

over, we want our discharge, and
what was promised us with it."

President Houston then ordered
Secretary of War Bee to give the
boys their discharge, pa)' for eigh-
teen months service, and land war-
rants for twelve hundred and eighty
acres each. A little later they re-
turned to New Orleans feeling com-
paratively rich, and there took ship
for New York, from whence they
started for Maine, for a happy reun-
ion with relatives and friends.

Their sojourn in Maine was, how-
ever, short. Life was altogether too
tame in the old Pine Tree state for
boys with the experience they had
enjoyed for five years ; so, both be-
ing of one mind and with a longing
for their old regiment, they went to
New York and reenlisted in the First
Dragoons, this time for five j^ears.
After a detention in New York of
several months on the recruiting ser-
vice, they were ordered to join their
regiment on the Western frontier, be-
ing assigned to the company com-
manded by Capt. Nathan Boone, the
youngest son of Daniel Boone, the
pioneer of Kentuck3\ Both served
the full terms of their enlistments
and were discharged at Fort Gibson,
Ark., on September 4, 1843, after
ten years of continuous and active
service.

Horace Bonney was for many years
landlord of the Ayer House in Hook-
sett. The love between him and his
brother never cooled. His house
was noted for neatness and home-
like comforts. He died a few years
ago, respected by all who knew him
best.

Hannibal Bonney purchased the
Penacook House, in Penacook, in
1862, and has been since then its

I02

A VETERAN OF TWO WARS.

proprietor aud landlord. For nearly
a third of a century it lias been one
of the best known public houses in
the state, and its reputation has not
been confined to New Hampshire.
It will rank favorably with the old
English inns so well described in the
works of Dickens and other British
writers. The secret of its success
has been the constant care exercised
by Mr. and Mrs. Bonney in provid-
ing the best in the market for their
guests, and in this respect the proof
that they have succeeded is the repu-
tation the house has enjoyed since he
took charge of it.

His army life ended eighteen j-ears
before the Civil War began, and
that event was thirty-nine years ago.
His last company commander was
the son of Daniel Boone, and one of
his tentmates was a son of David
Crockett. Fifteen years ago an arti-
cle relating to his experience was
published in the Concord Monitor.
It was copied extensively, and in
this way came to the notice of his old
comrade, Crockett, who was still in
Texas. The result was a correspon-
dence, which ended only with the
death of Crockett in 189S. In his
comradeship he united the soldiers of
the Revolution and of 181 2, with
many of the leaders of the Civil War
on both sides — Gens. Stephen H.
and Philip Kearney, Gens. David
Hunter, E. V. Sumner, Gens. Sam

and Felix Houston, Gen. Albert Sid-
ney Johnston, who was styled the
ablest soldier in the Confederate
army, and last but not least, so far as
notoriety was concerned, Jefferson
Davis, president of the Southern
Confederacy. All have departed
this life, and with them nearly every
one of his army associates.

Before coming to Penacook Han-
nibal had served on the police force
in New York city, and, after his dis-
charge, had been engaged in the
hotel business in New York and in
Manchester. Horace was engaged
in the same business for the greater
part of his life. He was at one time
a member of the common council of
Manchester. Both were connected
with the Amoskeag Veterans, either
as active or honorary members, for
a quarter of a century.

The adventures of the " Two Bon-
neys," if written in detail, w^ould be
fully as interesting as were those of
Sinbad the sailor, and iar more truth-
ful. Hannibal of Penacook is still
in fairly good health. An evening
spent in his compan}^ listening to
his reminiscences of army life nearly
three quarters of a century ago, must
be enjoyed in order to be properh' ap-
preciated, and after hearing him one
is inclined to believe that a " Grand
Old Man " lives in the person of the
veteran proprietor of the Penacook
House.

'JP^r^<i^Z

'f^^^^H

AN INDIAN STILL.
By Riitli Harmon.

An Indian still !
The rhythm of the seasons sways me,
The shining river's roll betrays me,

The wind 's my will.

A wild thing, sure !
My sister stars beat white rhymes through me.
My mother moon's still journeys woo me,

The woods allure.

Can I stay
And see the spring go by my door.
And see the summer stepping slower,

Pass away ?

Can I rest
And know the berry brighter growing,
And feel the brown brook's life a flowing

Through my breast ?

I only grow
Where forest ferns are upward fringing,
And pink and green th^ sun is tinging

Worlds below.

The city palls,
The meadow and the mountain need me,
My brother bird, the eagle, leads me,

Wood-dove calls !

Spontaneously
To pulse and beat in fine vibration.
With throb and thrill of all creation,

Let me free.

No more to bide
The laughter of these nature-scorners.
The measure of a room's four corners !

Ah, the tide

Of rhythms wide,
That swing and sway in loving leisure
The seas and trees in mighty measure,

I 'm South wind's bride.

THE BATTLE IN THE GORGE.

]iy Willis Edwin Hitrd.

OR the greater part of twenty-
four hours there is dusk or
iuteuse darkness in that
lonely gorge. Only the her-
mit and the hunter penetrate those
dim solitudes, for it is here that the
mountain grizzly and the rattlesnake
hold high carnival, and the moun-
tain goat poises over the precipices
in his sure-footed flight. Whenever
the prospector comes it is the lone
explorer daring the unknown dan-
gers in the gloom.

Behind a great pile of boulders,
yet holding a commanding view of
the valley at midday, is a natural
seat in the ledge where it seems as if
the hand of man in some remote time
had carved an armchair for some
kingly retreat. As you sit there, at
your feet rolls the crystal tide of
some brisk torrent wending its way
to the open meadows, where the
Comanche warrior smokes in his
tepee, and the wild bison roam free
as the wind, untouched by the sweep-
ing lust of civilization.

Sitting there in that hollow rock
one may allow his imagination a free
play through the weird fastnesses
and untamed surroundings. Here,
long ages before might have wan-
dered the huge monsters of the pre-
historic world, twisting and tumbling
in their L,eviathan gambols amid the
caverns of the deep sea, and fighting
to the death — as lord against lord —
they disputed the supremacy of their

rivals in the sea-fern bowers where
roamed their natural prey.

But imagination is not the only
king who holds sovereignty over this
grand isolation. Away to the right,
beyond the pile of boulders, the at-
tention is arrested by a loud snort
and a curious shuffling sound, at-
testing another presence, and one
whom Nature has placed in his right-
ful habitation. Just around a spur
in the dark cliff a huge grizzly am-
bles his ungainly bulk along an un-
certain foothold in the midst of the
torn rocks. He picks his way with
care, looking from side to side as if
expecting a hidden danger, and now
and then sniffing curiously at the
cracks in the splintered mass.

Off down the gorge a few rods be-
low lies a fallen tree, twisted and
broken, yet fresh as though it had
fallen but yesterday. Toward it the
bear seems making his way, his
eager eyes often roaming in that di-
rection. Twenty or thirty feet up
the trunk, which is scarred as if by a
lightning bolt, is a hole, around the
rim of which is a little cloud of in-
sects buzzing in and out as though
yet angry from their late disturbance.
It is a bee's nest, and bruin is bent
upon a feast. Yet from the uneasi-
ness in his gait it is. evident that
.some disturbing fear hovers about
his movements. And it surely is not
the bees of which he is afraid.

Suddenly the hungry beast espies

THE BATTLE IN THE GORGE.

105

a suspicious looking object stretched
out upou a rock. He utters a grunt
of miugled fear and anger. At the
sound the object moves, draws itself
into a coil, and gives vent to a warn-
ing hiss. It is, then, the rattlesnake
of which he is afraid — not of this one
alone — but of hundreds of others that
lie in these gloomy crevices. Ex-
perience, perhaps, has taught the
gray marauder that they are an
enemy not to be despised, and he
quickens his shuffle as he arrives at
the danger point. It is here that the
snake dens are the most frequent and
the venom boils in the reptiles at any
disturbance.

The coiled snake is a fearful thing
to behold. Its jaws are distended.
Its eyes snap dangerous fire. The
forked tongue plays like lightning
from between those terrible fangs.
Ill fares the living creature receiving
contact from those needle points.
Bruin makes a detour of the rock
that suffers the presence of his for-
midable enemy intending to come
back into the path again, and then
thrust his nose into that lucious,
melting hone)-.

The tail of the rattler vibrates its
warning whirr. In answer faint
hisses and other ominous sounds
proceed from the loose boulders
around. The bear catches a per-
ception of the movements of snaky
bodies over the rough bottom of the
gorge. It is but a rustle, yet it is
the rustle of death. His uneasiness
increases, but the temptation ahead
overcomes his wisdom. His great
fore-foot lifts again to the front. It
drops upon a loose flat slab of gneiss
that tips a little with his weight.
Instantly sounds the note of warning,
and an ugly, diamond-shaped head

darts with remor.^eless activit}', im-
bedding its awful weapons of defense
in the foot of the intruder.

The mighty grizzly utters a roar
that seems to shake even the solid
walls of the canon. That unfair
attack fills him with a burning desire
for revenge. Shaking the paw that
felt the prick he lunges to the right
as the reptile glides away and plants
his claws in the head of that writh-
ing bod}'.

Ugh, the checkered, crawling
things are now all around him.
There is no choice but in battle or
ignominious flight. But what mat-
ters it now to run ? The poison is
rankling with the fierce impulse, and
bruin thinks only of pursuing the
battle to the end.

The air is filled and heavy with a
sickening odor. Fearful hisses rise
in a full, sibilant chorus, while the
warning whirr of the rattle sounds
strange and ominous, where the
straggling rays of sunlight slant
feebly from the cliff above in a vain
attempt to flood with light the semi-
gloom.

The last scene of the tragedy is at
hand. The mountain monarch, as
though realizing that his final mo-
ments are fast spending, leaps fren-
ziedly into the coiling, squirming,
hissing mass. Clumsy no more, his
feet fly back and forth, tearing,
bounding, parrying, all in the grand
effort of defense, with the equally
powerful motive of revenge.

Hundreds of snakes, cold and ab-
horrent, swarm from the crevices.
They attack fiercely, lunging and
biting, in spite of the havoc created
in their midst by the plucky foe.
Sundered reptiles lie all about,
ghastly and hideous in the gloomy

io6 AN ISLAND.

belt of the onslaught. But the gray still, save where the irritated hordes

old hero is covered with his foes, send out their slowly dying notes

They cling to his face. They dart, and then disappear in the secret

and bite, and fall. The numbness of places of their lairs,

death is in his limbs, but still he bat- From the heavens come long, loud

ties on, waging to the last the fruit- sighs of regret, and a furious thun-

less war against insurmountable odds, derstorni washes the last traces of

From his jaw the tongue hangs black blood from the awful scene, where on

and swollen. Panting, and with the morrow the carrion birds wnll

closed eyes, he staggers and falls, leave but the bleaching bones as evi-

A few convulsive shivers, and all is dence of the conflict.

AN ISLAND.
By Laura Garland Carr.

The dull red sands of Breakley Beach^

Run a long arm out in the baj'
That tries to clutch but cannot reach

A little isle some rods awa}'.
At times the arm new length will gain
But rising winds and tides restrain.

The pretty island, all serene,

Gives little heed to this advance,
With close kept robes of emerald green

It smiles in calm indifference.
For, though the space a wave might leap.
The sands can only creep and creep.

This was my fancy as I laj^

Among the dunes upon the sand,
Watching the lights and shadows play.

Hearing the long waves beat the strand,
While sad- voiced beach birds came and went.
Choosing their food in sweet content.

Nested amid this island's green

Was one small cottage, low and wide.

Its curling line of smoke was seen
When boats came home at eventide,

When fishing boats came slowly in

And sea-gulls raised their homing din.

Lowly, distinct, but far away

The picture comes and comes to me :
, That little island in the bay

And that long arm pushed through the sea —
Silent, intent — though grain by grain —
Sure in the end its prize to gain.

Rreakky Beach is on the norlhcrii side of Prince Kdward Island, directly across from Cliarlottetou n.

A PHOTOGRAPH.
By Alice P. Sa)\s.ent .

Your face smiles on me from the

Pictured card, with the same

Dear look of old : your soulful eyes

Search out the highest good in me.

Oh, now no days are drear — there 's nothing hard

While tJiis is here to daily cheer me on,

I care not if the very world turns cold, —

Your face can be the light — the sun,

For there the warmth and sunlight never dies.

AT THE CONFESSIONAL.
By Mary M. Diirgin Gray.

A poetess a golden pen was given,

(A busy hou.sevvife filled with many a care)

Not in her desk she keeps it, through her hair

With silver streaked 'tis thrust ; one saw it there

And questioned why she put it to such use.

Her lips compressed, by a deep sigh were riven ;

She strove to speak ; at last with tears profuse

She cried, "Alas, this is my one excuse

(Tho' it may seem like vScriptural abuse)

I will confess to you, my friend, that pen

A demon seemed, to wreck my hopes of Heaven,

Oft with seductive smile and oft again

It beckoned me to stop and wield it w^hen

To yield were sin ; its emissaries then

(Giving no peace unless at once expressed.

Compelling thoughts) swift through my brain were driven,

Until at last, tho' urgent duties pressed,

(Seeking to still that clamorous unrest)

I 've grasped it though remorse lurked in my breast

And sat me down, surrendering to its sway

While broadest meaning to those thoughts were given.

Thus had I sinned ; but, penitent, one day.

With stern resolve I took the pen away

From all its wonted haunts ; — then did I say,

Satan behind me get ! tempt me no more :

Yearnings, away ! — let Duty be my law ;

With worms I' 11 grovel — only birds may soar."

Thus she confessed — Poets mav she be shriven ?

r-f

THE INTRODUCTION OF GRAMMAR AT THE CROSS ROADS.

A TRUE STORY.
By Eva J. Beede.

T was early in the win-
ter of 1820, and Abner
Johnson, a student from
Dartmouth college, had
come to the Cross Roads
where he was " keepin' of the skule
an' boardin' 'round."

The school consisted of some fifty
pupils, of all sizes, from the big boys
and girls on the back seats, who
were as old as the master himself,
and could cipher in the rule of three,
down to the A, B, C class on the
lowest benches near the fireplace.

The master wanted to introduce a
new study, called Grammar, but some
of the ' ' deestrict fathers ' ' gravely
shook their heads, and thought it a
waste of time and money, so a meet-
ing was called at the schoolhouse,
one evening, for the purpose of dis-
cu.ssing the matter.

First they raked open the coals in
the fireplace and put on a big birch
stick, then Lijah Marston, who was
chairman of the school committee,
produced from his pocket a tallow
dip which he lighted at the fire then
held downward on the teacher's desk
until a little pool of tallow was
formed, and in that he stood his
candle.

Then the meeting was opened and
each man given an opportunity to
express his views.

"I dunno nothin' 'bout this 'ere
Grammar," said Deacon Wetherby,
"but I'se out t' the corner terday,
an' I heerd 't they wuz a hevin' on't
'n the skule there."

"In my opinyin," .spoke up Si
Judkins, "the three R's, readin',
'ritein', an' 'rithumtic 's book larnin'
'nough."

Jacob vSmith, however, remember-
ing that the new teacher had seen
his daughter Hannah home from the
singing-school the night before, said,
" 's fur's I'm consarned, I'm fur
leavin' o' the marter t' the 'discree-
shun o' the marster."

Ebenezer Atwood was decidedly
opposed to the "new thing," as he
called it, "Fur, said he, "what's
th' use on't? They may hev their
book afore 'em, an' thej^ can't make
a sled by it."

Nevertheless, after a long dis-
cussion, Ebenezer's prejudices were
overcome, and Si Johnson's opinion
changed, and the "deestrict fathers"
voted to allow the master to teach
Grammar in the. school at the Cross
Roads.

LOCHABER NO MORE.
By Ethel F. Coinerford.

A gleam of dawn and a sunrise sky

O'er a field where the slain are sleeping ;

The end of dreams of days gone by,

And the grim hand of vengeance reaping.

The wind across a stricken land

On its harp a requiem playing ;
And gently now the little band

For the Gordon's dead are praying.

A gloomy veldt on the Afric shore,
And the Scotch pipes sadly sighing

The solemn dirge — Lochaber No More —
O'er the graves where the brave are lying.

A soldier's farewell, and a tear
, Down the piper's cheek falling ;
They turn, heartsick, death's nameless fear-
Then away ! The battle 's calling.

Far off within the Scottish land,

To the sense of loss awaking.
Beside the door I see her stand.

And the woman's heart is breaking.

The sunset gleam lights up the shore,
And a crimson glow tints the hillside ;

Her heart's sad dirge — Eochaber No More—
And the gates of grief they open wide.

THE WAYSIDE KING CUP.
By Nettie L., Stevens.

Dear little blossom, beside the dusty road,
Lifting thy yellow cup toward the sky.

I will not leave thee here alone,

Though some, unheeding, pass thee by.

I know a peaceful valley far away,

Where fields are yellow with thy wondrous gold.
And so I prize thee, for the memories sweet

Of that dear place my heart will ever hold.

PERHAPS SO.

By Mary J. Richardson.

Thiuk the brightest and best, think the happiest,

Go back to the first glad days you know,

Count them all over into the now ;

Then stand 'ueath the opaline air overhead,

And gaze with the gaze of the blest.

Is this that we see in that far-away gleam,

The marvelous island of rest ?

Perhaps so, perhaps so.

Oh, the gospel of love in that island above !
Reach into your heart's choicest treasure !
Turn back to the sweetest things you know.
They are there in the joyfullest measure !
God's measure which cannot help overflow !
For always and always is not our ideal.
That which is naught if it be not the real ?

Perhaps so, perhaps so.

Then, oh, for the story, oh, for the glory,

Of love-light that looks from afar !

Oh, for the hand-clasp whose faintest of pressure

Shall kindle a radiance far brighter than star !

He gives nor repents Him ! all brightness and beauty

That once has been ours.

Shall it not be ours still in that island afar ?

Perhaps so, perhaps so.

WHEN YOUR EIPS ARE TOUCHED WITH SONG.

By Moses Gage Shirley.

When your lips are touched with song you should never think of wrong,

But fight for truth and honor 'til you die.
You should battle bravely on with the sword of duty drawn.

And your standard ever lifted to the sky.

When your lips are touched with song, all the joys of earth should throng

Around you, and the waves of gladness beat
Like an ocean, vast and wide, bringing in upon its tide

Many treasures to be scattered at your feet.

When your lips are touched with song, sweetest memories belong

To the valiant soul who earnestly aspires ;
Yours should be the fount of youth and the deathless shield of truth.

And beyond, the fellowship of heavenly choirs.

1 ^' ^'-■^ '

HON. MELLEN CHAMBERLAIN.

Mellen Chamberlain, one of the best known citizens of Massachusetts, died at
his home in Chelsea, June 25, aged seventy-nine years.

He was born in the town of Pembroke, June 4, 182 1 ; was taught in Pembroke
academy and the Literary institution at Concord, where his father moved his family
when Mellen was fifteen, and entered Dartmouth college in 1840, being graduated
in the same class with Rev. Dr. Alvah Hovey, Harvey Jewell, A. A. Ranney, and
John H. George. Mr. Chamberlain taught school at Brattleboro for three years,
then went to Dane ,hall at Harvard and studied law, serving also as librarian ; and
was admitted to the bar and opened a law office in Boston in 1849. He married
and made his home at Chelsea, and had served the city in several places ; he was
representative to the general court in 1858 and 1859, being a member of the spec-
ial committee on the revision of the statutes; and he was in the senate in 1863
and 1864, in the latter year chairman of the judiciary committee.

From i866-'78 he was a judge of the municipal court of Boston, and during the
last eight years chief justice of that court. Judge Cliamberlain's historical studies,
and his great interest in collecting in England and elsewhere abroad, as well as at
home, manuscripts relating to American history, were well known, when, in 1878,
he was chosen librarian of the Boston public library, and he held that post in the
old Boylson-Street building until 1890, when the impaired health of advancing age
caused his resignation. He had spent the years since in his favorite pursuit. He
wrote many papers relating to this, most of them foi* the Massachusetts historical
society, of which he was a member, and among them may be mentioned " John
Adams, the Statesman of the American Revolution," " The Authentication of the
Declaration of American Independence," " Daniel Webster as an Orator," " Con-
stitutional Relations of the American Colonies to the English Government at the
Commencement of the Revolution," " The Genesis of the Massachusetts Town
and Town Government," " Josiah Quincy the Great Mayor," and " Landscape in Life
and Poetry." Judge Chamberlain was a corresponding member of several histori-
cal societies, a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and in 1S58
Dartmouth gave him the degree of LL. D.

WILLIAM A. RICHARDSON.

William A. Richardson, long prominently identified with the hotel business in
northern New Hampshire and Vermont, died at his private residence in Littleton,.
June 15.

112 NEW HAMPSHIRE NECROLOGY.

Mr. Richardson was a native of West Concord, Vt., born in January, 1846.
He commenced active life in the hotel in that place, and was subsequently pro-
prietor of the American House in Lancaster, and later, for a number of years, of
the Union House in Littleton. Subsequently he had the Stewart House at Island
Pond, Vt., the Union House at Littleton, for a second time, the Parker House at
Woodsville, the Sherbrooke House at Sherbrooke, Canada, and the Windsor
House at Windsor, Vt. At the time of his death he was proprietor of the Wind-
sor, Sherbrooke, and Parker Houses, and personally was managing the last men-
tioned.

Outside of his hotels he had many business interests. At one time he was
manager of several blocks in Littleton, was one of the founders of the Driving
Park Association of that place, and was afterwards one of its directors. He was
active and prominent in secret societies, being a Knight Templar, an Odd Fellow,
and a member of Canton Albin, Patriarchs Militant. Politically he was a
staunch Democrat. In 1881 he represented Littleton in the legislature, serving
with Harry Bingham. He was a delegate from the Second Vermont district to the
convention, which, in 1884, nominated Grover Cleveland for president. Mr. Rich-
ardson was a man of much public spirit and great liberality, and was personally
very popular. He leaves a widow, a daughter, and a son.

HARVEY P. HOOD.

Harvey P. Hood, of Derry, prominently known as the head of the milk con-
tracting firm of H. P. Hood & Sons, for many years, died at his home, June 17,
from apoplexy.

Mr. Hood was born in Chelsea, Vt., in 1823, and worked on the home farm
there till twenty-three years of age, when he went to Boston, and was engaged in
the bakery business for two years, when he sold out and bought a retail milk
business, which he conducted nine years. Disposing of this he bought a large
farm in Derry, and engaged extensively in agriculture, continuing the same and
engaging, later, in the collection of milk for the Boston market in which line he
developed a business unsurpassed in New England, his three sons, Charles, Gil-
bert, and Edward, having been associated with him for several years past.

Mr. Hood was a valuable and highly respected citizen of Derry. He had rep-
resented the town twice in the legislature, had been director of Derry National
bank twenty-tive years or more, and was a prominent member of the Central Con-
gregational church, to which he always contributed very generously. One of his
most recent gifts to this church was the sum of $500 for the purpose of purchas-
ing and fitting the rooms in the Association Hall building.

In 1850, Mr. Hood married Miss Caroline Laura Corwin, daughter of John
and Clarissa (Thompson) Corwin, of Tunbridge, Vt. Early last May Mr. and
Mrs. Hood passed the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage in a quiet and unos-
tentatious way at Hotel Tuileries. in Boston, where they had been during the past
winter.* The widow and six children survive. The children are Gilbert H., of
Derry; Mrs. Laura Johnston, of Manchester; Mrs. M. N. Smith, Charles H., and
Edward J., of Boston, and Miss Clara, of Lawrence, Mass. One brother, Gilbert,
of Lawrence, also survives.

NEW HAMPSHIRE NECROLOGY. 113

ALFRED A. COX.

Alfred A. Cox, born in Center Harbor, November 6, 1S25, died in Enfield,
June 20, 1900.

Mr. Cox was the son of Thomas and Hannah (Cate) Cox. In 1846 he mar-
ried Susan C. Stearns of Deerfield, and they had five children, two now surviving :
Mrs. Leora Huse of Somerville, Mass., and Miss Ida A. Cox of Enfield. Mr. and
Mrs. Cox removed to Enfield in i860, where Mr. Cox was interested in the shoe
business, and erected the building which, for many years afterwards, was occupied
as the post-office. Here he established the manufacture of boots and shoes, em-
ploying about twenty hands in the shop and putting work out in adjoining towns
employing about fifty more people. He continued this until 1864, when he en-
gaged in the lumber business, and later, with A. H. Hayes of Enfield, and W. A.
Batchelder of Lynn, Mass., in the manufacture of flannel in the old Mascoma mill.
He was for years a partner in the firm of Parker, Cox & Co. of Laconia, employ-
ing one hundred hands in the manufacture of shoes. He represented Enfield in
the legislature in i865-'66; was senator from i88i-'83, and sheriff of Grafton
county for four years. Mr. Cox was colonel on the staff of Governor Cheney.
For twenty years he was very active along political lines as a member of the Re-
publican party. During the war of iS6i-'65 he was active in securing volunteers.
The later years of his life were more quietly passed, his health gradually failing.

E. W. LOCKE.

" Father " E. W. Locke, the famous ballad singer, who died at his home in
Chelsea, Mass., June 11, 1900, was a native of the town of Stoddard, born Janu-
ary I, 18 18.

He was a blacksmith apprentice in early life, but became a school-teacher, and
also taught vocal music at evening singing schools. He first became noted as a
campaign singer in i860, having been brought into prominence by Governor An-
drew of Massachusetts in such connection. In 1862 he made the acquaintance of
President Lincoln and was sent to the front to make and sing songs for the sol-
diers. His war songs were more numerous than those of any other writer, and
many of them are still popular, and brought good financial returns that ministered
to his personal comfort in the later days passed in his pleasant home at the foot of
Powder Horn hill in Chelsea.

TRUE J. PERRY.

True J. Perry, born in Hopkinton, June 30, 1835, ^"^^^ ^t Manchester, June
15, 1900.

Mr. Perry was the youngest of eight children of William and Azeneth (Pressy)
Perry, and was educated in the public schools and at Pittsfield academy, where he
was a classmate of the late Chief Justice Lewis W. Clark and Hon. John G. Sin-
clair. He followed teaching for some time, and was superintending school com-
mittee in his native town. Subsequently he studied law in the office of Col. John
H. George, but abandoned the profession and retired to a farm in Amherst.

He married Annie L. Piper of Hopkinton and removed to Manchester about

114 ^E^V HAMPSHIRE NEC RO LOG ) '.

thirty years ago, where he continued to reside till his death, acquiring a compe-
tency by business operations. Politically he was an earnest Democrat and a good
worker in the party ranks, though never seeking office of any kind.

REV. J. M. DUTTON.

Rev. J. M. Button, who died at Newport, Vt., June 17, though born in the
state where he died, was essentially a New Hampshire man, as he was educated
and did most of his life-work here.

Born in Craftsbury, Vt., April 14, 1847, ^e fitted for college at Kimball Union
academy, Meriden, and graduated from Dartmouth in the class of 1873. He
studied theology at Yale seminary, graduating in 1876, and the ntonth following
was ordained pastor of the Congregational church at Lebanon, where he remained
nine years. Subsequently he was for six years pastor of the Congregational
church in Somersworth. Later he was for seven years with the Central church in
Newtonville, Mass., when he went to the church at Newport, Vt., a year ago.

ALONZO DOLBEER.

Alonzo Dolbeer, son of Joseph S. Dolbeer, born in Epsom, June 23, 1844, died
at Northumberland, Pa., June 10, 1900.

Mr. Dolbeer's early life was spent in railroading, in which he filled many im-
portant positions, having been for some years superintendent of motive power for
the R. & P. railroad at Rochester, N. Y. Subsequently he managed the Bois
Steel Works at Scranton, Pa. He also became known as a writer for magazines
and periodicals upon topics connected with his business. In 1868 he married
Clara Elliott of Northumberland, Pa., by whom he is survived, with two daughters.
John H. Dolbeer of Short Falls is a brother of the deceased.

ALONZO ALLEN.

Alonzo Allen, born in Croydon, February i, 1838, died in that town June 13,
1900.

He was educated at the common schools and Kimball Union academy, and
taught school for several terms. He enlisted August 19, 1861, in Co. E, Fifth
Regiment, N. H. Vols, under Captain Ira Mc L. Barton, and did valiant service
until seriously wounded at Fair Oaks, June i, 1862, being discharged in September
following. He was postmaster in Croydon eighteen years and town clerk sixteen.
He also represented the town in the legislature in 1896.

■HSr

>-'

Q
□
UJ

(X
UJ

LL)

o
<

_l
Q.
I
I-
QC

- j<

Tnn CRAnirn Aonrnm.

Vol. XXIX.

AUGUST, 1900.

No. 2.

THE WOMEN'S CLUBS OF LITTLETON.

By Jane Hobart Tiittle.

HE Spirit of Progress had
Libort-d willi kindliest
thought for her chil-
dren. A work of 3'ears
it liad been. Broadcast
she had scattered the seeds of im-
provement and change in hope of the
fruition of a higher and nobler civili-
zation. Warm and earnest was her
invitation, and mankind, admitted to
her domain, received the most loyal
of welcomes and wandered at sweet
will among the infinite by-paths of
invention and research.

Graciously the Spirit of Progress
smiled upon them. Bright was the
hope within her heart at the seed-
sowing ; radiant her faith, for all the
world was to progress and a new and
beautiful word was on the tongues of
men — evolution ! It was the watch-
word of the Spirit of Progress, the
magic w^and to inspire and bless.

So the years passetl, short and fleet-
ing, like a dream in the night, and,
with the fleeting, knowledge grew
and waxed strong ; wisdom held her
radiant own ; aims broadened ; and
over it all with the magic wand of
evolution in her hand and ambition

in her heart stood the Spirit of Prog-
ress, w^atchful and alert.

She saw all the good that had
come, all the gains accomplished, and
the victories bought, and her soul
was glad, yet, with the gladness
there was a feeling of dissatisfaction,
and contentment stood aloof.

The world was good and gloriously
fair, and yet more and more restless
grew the Spirit of Progress and the
ideals looked far away and unattain-
able. Then, as in a vision, she
learned, and, in the learning, wis-
dom came and walked beside her,
and the lesson was of infinite value.

In the great garden that had wit-
nessed many a fruitful harvesting,
she sowed yet another seed, and it
sprang up and flourished, root and
branch, and grew to a height and
beauty that made the entire garden a
place of exceeding fairness to the
sight.

Out into the world .'•pread its radi-
ating power, its fragrance and its
beaut}', and its influence was great.
Many an old evil fled abashed ; con-
servatism was banished ; ideals grew ;
the tunes of the world were ke3'ed to

ii8

THE WOMEN'S CLUBS OF LITILETON.

finer harmonies ; broader grew the
purposes of life ; law and liberty were
greater friends ; love and knowledge
greater comrades ; and the heart of
the Spirit of Progress was more at
rest than it had been for many a day.
"It is my gift," she said, "to the
twentieth century — the gift of the
Woman's Club, whose aim is ever
toward the stars."

' What is a Woman's Club ? A meeting ground
For those of purpose great and broad and

strong,
Whose aim is toward the stars, who ever long
To make the patient, listening world resound
With sweeter music, purer, nobler tones.
A place where kindh', helpful words are said
And kindlier deeds are done ; where hearts

are fed ;
Where wealth of brain for poverty atones.
And hand grasps hand and soul finds touch

with soul.
Where victors in the race for fame and power
Look backward even in their triumph hour.
To beckon others towards the shining goal.
This is a Woman's Club, a haven fair,
Where toilers drop an hour their load of

care."

Against the wall of an obstinate
New England conservatism the waves
of that unrelenting progressive spirit
known as the Woman's Movement,
beat with irresistible force.

Surmounting the barriers, or dash-
ing them aside, it leaped with sur-
prising celerit}' over traditional cus-
toms and prejudices, submerged them
in a whirlpool of triumph and swept
in its impetuous course from moun-
tain to coast, penetrating even to the
northern parts of New Hampshire,
where it perhaps encountered the
mo.st rabid conservatism of all.

Its Scylla and Charybdis were con-
servatism and man. If vScylla was
dangerous, Charybdis was more so,
lor conservatism is cranky, and man
is crankier.

Both put strong vetoes on the
Woman's Movement. " I am afiaid
of it," said Scylla, and perchance
Charybdis said so too.

Objectors forgot the coming gen-
erations, forgot that " on the mind of
woman depends the wisdom of man ; "
forgot to lake the forward look ; but
despite opposing forces, the tides
rolled on unchecked, and the gavel in
woman's strong and tender hands,
wielded power and struck a note that
was destined to echo with an unceas-
ing reverberation.

Oh, those objectors ! What a hur-
ricane they raised, and how powerless
they were! What fun they had at
the expense of the "woman's fad,"
and what sarcastic remarks were
leveled in the direction of the pro-
jectors.

The objectors had their day and it
was short ; the projectors had their
day and it has been long, and the
end is not yet.

In those earlier days ere modern
ideas had permeated the atmosphere,
when women were content to bask
in the sunlight of domesticity, when
contentment presided at the fireside,
and the yearning for broader views
and larger outlooks had not sprung
into the breast to the dethronement
of old ideals, the sewing circle was
the chief medium of intercourse
among New England women.

" Man for the field and woman for the hearth ;
Man for the sword and for the needle she."

A cord of satisfaction stretched
around the little circle shut in b}^
a horizon beyond which desire did
not pass. •

Happ3', friendly hours, when
placid, interested, domestically-in-
clined women gathered in some vil-
lage " living-room " and sewed seams

THE WOMEN'S CLUBS OE LITTLETON.

119

and gossiped over the affairs of the
ueighborhood without a thought of
the sceptre of intellect which sister
women would wield in later years,
when needle would give way to
gavel, and "seam and gusset and
band" to the writing of papers and
the exchange of ideas vitalized with
the current of electrical modern
thought.

The years passed and silently, but
steadily the time approached when
"divine discontent" descended at
the fireside, the cord of satisfaction
snapped in twain and ideals changed.
The spirit of the times had reached
the country town I

In the month of December, 1889,
when sewing circles had taken a
back gallery seat in the theatre of
the woman's sphere, when the ring
of hands plying needles had become
but a meraor5% a bright woman, of
Littleton, Mrs. Delia Bingham Mitch-
ell, the wife of Hon. William H.
Mitchell, well known throughout
New Hampshire as a prominent
member of the legal Iraternity, be-
came imbued with the club idea. It
floated in embryo about in her brain
for a while, took substance, and
finally was imparted to several other
women of the town, for " in the mul-
titude of counselors there is safety."

The evolution of the idea quickly
followed with the result that a new
star dawned in the intellectual firma-
ment of the little town amid the
northern hills.

The club woman,

" She with all the breadth of woman,
She with all the breadth of man,"

had placed her important foot within
the limits of the town and would
hereafter keep pace with the modern
spirit of progressive culture and ad-

vancement. Some one has said that
a "woman is a good idea spoiled,"
and the cynic adds, "Spoiled when
she became a club woman."

In every country town such a radi-
cal departure from the ordinar}-
would occasion comment and criti-
cism.

When fifteen of her brightest and
most cultured women stood forth and
boldly proclaimed " We are going to

Mrs. Delia Bingham Mitchell.
President and Founder Friday Club.

form a 'woman's club,'" Littleton
held up her aristocratic head in sur-
prise.

Aristocracy^ is always cast in a
conservative mould, and conservatism
raised a protesting voice against new
departures. Its cry was ever

" King out the new
Bring back the old."

In these latter daj's it is hard to
realize the flood of adverse sentiment
which set forcibly against such a
movement. Laughter and ridicule
these pioneers had to bear, not to

I20

THE WOMEN'S CEUBS OF LITTLETON.

Miss Anna Brackett.
X'ice-Presidoit Ff-iday Clnh.

mention the charge, made over and
over against them, that they were de-
cidedly too exclusive, this last accu-
sation springing from the fact that
the membership was limited.

" Support a literary club in I^ittle-
ton ! " said a scoffer, "why, it would
die a natural death in three months.
You might carry on a musical club
but a literary club never."

" My lover lies dead, and nij' heart is sad,
He was killed by a professional fad."

Such was the doleful plaint in the
light of a prophecy. Only a fad
whose frills and furbelows would
soon go out of fashion and be for-
saken by its supporters ! This was
the universal cry.

To-day these same scoffers are con-
fronted with the existence of four
women's study organizations, all
flourishing, all infected with the
spirit of the times.

" lyiterature gives woman a real
place and proper weight in society,

but then the)' must use it with dis-
cretion ; if the stocking is blue, the
petticoat must be long." In Little-
ton, the stockings may be blue, but
the skirts are far from being bicycle
skirts, and the modern type of " blue-
stocking " is more delightful than
disagreeable. The pioneer of the
four women's clubs was first known
as the Saturday Club, a name which
after a year's retention was changed
to the Friday club. The purpose of

Mrs. Corinda Cunningham Bingham.
Secretary and the first President Friday Clii/>.

the club from its inception has been
the mutual improvement of the mem-
bers through the medium of thought,
stud}^ and discussion.

During the eleven years of its ex-
istence it has advanced to a worthy
standing among the clubs of the
state. It is a club that sparkles with
brilliancy when all is told, and yet
with the glitter there is gold and
behind the outward a.spect is a sol-
idity that .stamps the organization as
a substantial force in the onward

THE WOMEN'S CLUBS Of LITTLETON.

121

march of the women's movement.
The courses are noted for their
thorouglmess in subject matter, and
the members pursue a line of broad
research that calls for hard and con-
scientious study. For three years
the club studied the cities of London,
Venice, and Florence. Then came
two years with Rome alone, the city
of the seven hills.

" From the very soil of ancient Rome
You shall grow wise and walking live again
The lives of buried people."

Two years of painstaking research
were given to French histor}'. The
members then adopted the subject
of Germany which was destined to
cover one year's study. At the end
of that time, however, the club de-
ciding " He is yet an unsolved prob-
lem," chose the same topic for an-
other year's work. Since May, 1898,
the members have been devoting the
line of pursuit to Spain and the
Netherlands.

Mrs. Clara Longley Edson.
President Colonial Club.

" Broad-breasted .Si)ain, leaning with equal
love on the mid sea that moans with memories
and the untraveled ocean's restless tides."

The ofhcers of the club are : Presi-
dent, Mrs. Delia Bingham Mitchell ;
vice president. Miss Anna Brackett ;
secretary, Mrs. Corinda Cunningham
Bingham; treasurer, Mrs. Cora Eaton.

The second club to launch its bark
on the waters of Littleton clubdom
was the Colonial Club. Five years
leavening by the existence of the Fri-
day Club had somewhat altered the
condition of things and prepared the
way for new ventures. Littleton's
second club offspring could read its
title clear when it came into being,
and its birth was under auspicious
circumstances.

Mental culture ! Sociability ! Fur-
ther education of women ! These
three and all are equally great in the
religion of the club woman. It is
this trio of expressions which is in-
corporated in the constitution and
by-laws of the Colonial Club, as sug-
gestive of the aim and purpose of the
organization. "in ntimbers the club
is the largest in the town, and it
forms a brainy coterie of women, who
are all infected with the modern idea
of broader culture for their sex.
Along these lines they work, and in
their six years of study, they have,
by systematic and patient research,
brought the chib ideal to a high
standard of intellectuality. The
motto of the body is " Progress and
Unity."

The country of Mexico, "an ambi-
tious marcher in the procession of the
nations," has been studied, the topics
embracing a comprehensive review of
the history of the country, from the
time of conquest to the present da}'.
The club has also given profitable

122

THE WOMEN'S CLUBS OF LITTLE 7 ON.

while the head is fashioned from a
cornice moulding of the Hancock
House. Every alternate Thursday
the ladies of the club are rapped to
order bv this historic relic.

Mrs. Annette Parker Silsby.
I'icc- President Colonial Cliih.

time and stud}' to Colonial history
from the time of the early Mound
Builders through the administrations.
At the present time the subject of
French history is the topic receiving
attention.

In conneclion with the historic re-
sume has been treated the music, art,
and literature of the countr}- under
discussion. Current Events are a
feature of each meeting, and affairs
of the political world, as well as the
general topics of the day, are brought
before the members for discussion
and individual opinion. The club
has this year joined the State Fed-
eration of Women's Clubs.

In its possession is a most curious
gavel which was presented it by Mrs.
Ella Moody of Somerville, Mass.,
who was formerly one of the most
prominent and active workers in the
organization. The handle of the
gavel is made from bark taken from
the pews of the Old South church.

Miss Bessie Tuttle Moffett.
President Nineteenth Century Club.

The following are the ofhcers of
the club : President, Mrs. Clara
Longley Edson ; vice-president, Mrs.
Annette Parker Silsby ; secretary,
Mrs. Mary Wallace Clapp ; treas-
urer, Mrs. Carrie Parker Abbott.

Four years passed by ere "divine
discontent" again descended upon
the women of Eittleton to imbue
them with the spirit of intellectual
broadening. This time it was on the
5'ounger element of the town that the
fever of disquiet had its sublime ef-
fect. Nineteen young women banded
themselves together in the month of
January, 1898, pledging heart and
brain to the "fellowship of intel-
lects." The brilliant Friday Club,
the stately Colonial Club had found
followers. " Imitation is the sincer-
est flattery." These nineteen young

THE WOMEN'S CEUBS OF LITTEETON.

123

■women have taken the name of the
Nineteenth Centur}' Chib, and dur-
ing their two years of life have made
rapid progress along historical and
literar}' lines oi advancement. The}'
have adopled purple aud gold as the
club colors, and have taken as a
motto " Vestigia Nulla Rctrorsavi y
(No footsteps backward.)

The first year was decidedly in-
formal in nature, the club studying
without the aid of year book or sys-
tematic outline of topics. Features
of America engaged attention during
the months of the club's "maiden
effort," 'this subject being followed
by the "Islands of the Atlantic," a
subject at that time receiving corn-

Mrs. Lenora Perry Cooper.
I'ice-Frcsidfiit .Viiietcciith Century Club.

ment and thought from pulpit and
press, and therefore remarkably
profitable for club study.

It has been said that " Study gives
strength to the mind ; con\-ersatiou,
grace," and following the sentiment

of the familiar couplet, the club
combines with its programme of
papers and readings a brief half
hour of discussion of current topics.

Its ofhcers are : President, Miss
Bessie Moffett ; vice-president, Mrs.
lycnora Perry Cooper; secretary,
Mrs. Lilian Sanger Green ; treas-
urer, Mrs. Tina Albee Smith.

In point of 3-ears, the Historical
Club is the 3'oungest club in town,
dating its organization from P'ebru-
ary 28, 1899. It is a lusty child,
and the growth it has made in the
one brief year of existence indicates
for it a prosperous future.

Clubs not only study histor}-, the}'
make history, but this new club of
Littleton has been an organization
for so short a time that its annals are
unwritten. It has sixteen active
members at the present time, and
they are all earnest, up-to-date club
women, ambitious to keep abreast of
the times.

Mrs. Lilian Sanger Green.
Secretary Niiieteetith Century Club.

124

THE WOMEN'S CLUBS OF LITTLETON.

Mrs. Hattie Rollins Renfrew.
President Histoyical Club.

Mrs Elizabeth Simpson Wilkins.
I'lCi'-Pn'siJeiii Historical Club.

During its year of stud}' the early There is no class of artists that re-
history of America has been the topic quire broader and deeper culture
pursued b}' the club whose investi- than musicians, for the brain concep-
gations included the period of the tiou rules the hand power, and the
Mound Builders, Indian life, and the
practices and events of Colonial days.

Mrs. Hattie Rollins Renfrew is the
energetic president ; Mrs. Elizabeth
Simpson Wilkins makes a good sec-
ond as vice-president ; while the sec-
retary and treasurer are, respectively,
Mrs. Emma Prouty Kinne and Mrs.
Hattie Hastings Cutting.

Standing forth luminously amid
these sister clubs, with as high an
ideal, if based on a different line of
purpose and a.spiration, is the musi-
cal club of Littleton. For years the
"happy art" has been Littleton's
specialty ; music was her darling
protege ; at its altars she kindled her
most glowing fires ; there she brought
her best gifts. She is to-day known
as the musical town of northern New ,, l. . ^/, ^ □ u

Mrs. Hattie M. Q. Bingham.
Hampshire. Pr,si<l,iit nud Fonnder Martha Dana Sk,-pard Club.

THE WOMAN'S CLUBS OF LITTLETON.

\2-

hio^her the ideal of the brain, the
diviner the strain.

With this thought in mind, one of
Littleton's enterprising women, a
member of the great host that throng
the ranks of mnsicians, bethought
herself that an organization for the
aid and advancement of joung musi-
cians would be a beneficial institu-
tion for the town, as well as for the
individual.

Miss Grace Applebee.
Secretary Martha Dana SJicpard Chtb.

Mrs. Hattie Qnimby Bingham was
the instigator of the idea, and the
founder of the club wliose members,
some fifty in number, comprise her
pupils in instrumental music. Her
heart and soul are wrapped in music
and all young people who are .striv-
ing to attain the musical goal find in
her a willing and kindly friend.

Since the founding of the club Mrs.
Bingham has each year been chosen
president, and, through her able
management, the organization has

Miss Edith Bellows,
Vice-President Martha Dana Shepard Club.

grown to be a power in raising the
musical ideals of the town. Any one
joining the club pledges herself to
endeavor to keep the ideal high by
the use of good music, standard mu-
sic, and classical music.

The club is called the Martha
Dana Shepard Club, in honor of one
whose name is a household word in
the musical circles of New England.
Mrs. Shepard is a lifelong friend of
Mrs. Bingham, who received from
the former her first instruction in
music.

Despite the countless duties and
encroachments upon her bus}*, active
life, Mrs. Shepard yet has time to
bestow thought upon her faraway'
namesake. Her interest is deep-
rooted and has taken practical form
in the presentation to the club of
many useful gifts, as the expression
of her good will and encouragement.

Several years ago, at the time of
the Annual Musical Convention, at
which for thirty years Mrs. Shepard
presidetl as accompanist, the club

126

THE WOMEN'S CEUBS OE EITTLETON.

tendered her a reception at the home
of Mrs. Bingham, which was the
most brilliant social affair in the club
calendar.

With its forceful leader, who, in
musical ability is in the front rank of
Xevv Hampshire musical artists, the
club promises to hold regal sway and
in undisputed sovereigut}', turn the
musical standard to finer issues, and
thus fulfil ils mission of leading on-
ward to that " far off divine event "
when materialism and uuappreciation
of " God's best gift to man" shall
have vanished.

Littleton, present, is a prominent
club factor. And Littleton past ?

One finds a record written on the
scroll of the years, and "honorable
mention " must be accorded her.

Far back in the sixties it was es-
sentially a Woman's Movement that
anti-slavery agitation called forth.
It was a woman who was the chief
promoter of the Anti-Slavery societ}^
formed here in those critical and
troublous times between sixty and
seventy.

Mary Kilburu Coffin, the wife of
Edmund Carleton, a prominent New
Hampshire lawyer, and a woman of
rare character and personal attain-
ment, was the most prominent anti-
slaverj^ agitator in the section, and
through her influence and aid the
Littleton society was founded, one of
the earliest to find a foothold in the
state.

Later it was a woman's organiza-
tion that was the means of the incor-
poration of a town library, the re-
quisite funds being secured through
the aid of fairs and entertainments,
involving labor and thought on the
part of the projectt^rs.

Even earlier than this, woman's

brain and heart were enlisted in a
cause that produced a woman's so-
ciety incorporated under the name of
the " White Mountain Cemetery Cor-
poration."

The beautiful "Silent City" of the
dead, where Littleton's sons and
daughters sleep the last sleep, is en-
tirely due to the work of women.
They purchased the land ; they pro-
cured the hearse, and built the
receiving tomb ; they made improve-
ments, alterations, enlargements, and
to them is the praise and the glor}^ as
long as the rays of the departing sun
kiss tenderly the grassy mounds be-
neath which lie the faces long un-
kissed.

Who shall say that the new tran-
scends the old ?

Who dares state that the Woman's
Club, modern, progressive, alert, is
ahead of those earlier organizations
whose mission was neither intellect-
ual nor literary ?

Fully as important' was the aim
of those early- founded organizations,
and the good they accomplished has
been permanent.

The great word in the modern club
is self. It is self culture ! Self-im-
provement ! Self- advancement !

The aim of the earlier women's
organizations of Littleton was wholly
outside self.

Charity made its abode with them
and l)enevoleuce was the guiding star
which pointed the wa}' to the im-
provement, the culture, the advance-
ment of, not self, but others.

Thus it is to-day with the Re-
bekahs, the W. R. C, the W. C. T.
U., all of which are represented in
Littleton.

Their aim is benevolent; self is
eliminated ! Happy state !

THE WOMEN'S CLUBS OF LITTLETON.

127

If the woman's study clubs and
these organizations covild be grafted
on one great tree, the combination
would drive away all cynicism and
scoffing at the Woman's Movement
forever, for the result would be a
splendid commingling of head and
heart. " The only worthy end of all
learning, of all science, of all life, in
fact, is that human beings should
love one another better.'' When this
sentiment enters into the spirit and
life of a woman's club, the club will
have traveled a long way on its jour-
ney to the Ideals.

A kindly and fraternal fellowship
exists among the Littleton clubs.
The)^ are united by the mystic bond
of sisterhood, and their motto is not
competition, but in every sense coop-
eration that finds expression in social
intercourse and club reunions.

Each club notes in its calendar
"gentlemen's night" and "all things
come round to him who will but
wait." It may be "idle time" but
it is by no means " idly spent."

These affairs are always brilliant
occasions, when club women drop the
serious and indulge in the frivolous ;
when " Charj'bdis " comes to be en-
tertained, and goes awa^' vowing
never to utter another word deroga-
tory to the charming organization
known as a woman's club. Was it
the effect of the Welsh rabbit or the
oyster a la Newberg ?

The scoffers (God bless them all),
are growing fewer !

They no longer quote Mr. Baile}'
of Texas as saying " Women are not
fitted by nature to become good par-
liamentarians," for they have dis-
covered that woman in the dignity of
a chair is decidedly at home, and the

hand that rocks the cradle can just
as gracefulh' wield a gavel.

Little Miss Muffett

Sat on a tuffett,

As president of a club,

She was the presider :

'T was worse than a spider,

And her heart went

Rub-a-dub-dub.

This condition existed in the palmy
days of club life. Woman to-day
puts the motion without a tremor,
with a heart at normal temperature,
and a voice strictly in control.

Wherever is founded a woman's
club, there is signed, consciously or
unconsciously, as the case may be. an
Emancipation Proclamation. Eman-
cipation from the old horizon to the
larger vision 1 Emancipation from
the narrow range to the broader out-
look ! Emancipation from aimless-
ness in study to consecration of pur-
pose ! from stagnation of thought to
the unfolding of undreamed-of facul-
ties ; from the sunrise of conservatism
to the afterglow^ of progress !

Such has been the meaning of the
club movement to the women of Lit-
tleton. Such is the meaning to-da}',
and the mission and the ideal are
still developing.

" Sail on, nor fear to breast the sea,
Our hearts, our hopes are all with thee ;
Our hearts, our hopes, our praj-ers, our tears,
Our faith triumphant o'er our fears,
Are all with thee — are all with thee."

' ' The world is hollow and my doll
is stuffed with bran, and I want to
go into a convent." If such a wail
enters into the life and spirit of the
woman of the twentieth century, let
her seek the haven of the woman's
cltib and find therein her cure and
her salvation.

THE OLD HOME.

By Cyrus A. Stone.

Home of my childhood, to thee, to thee, I lift my longing eyes,

To thy scenes of shifting light and shade, thy forests and valleys fair,

As a weary pilgrim looks away to the shores of Paradise,

And counts the rolling waves of time that will bear him safely there.

Long years, long years, through alien lands my restless feet have strayed
In pathways bright with hope and joy, or dark with grief and pain.

I 've seen life's fairest flowers in bloom, I 've seen its blossoms fade,
And now in pensive thought I turn to the dear old place again.

I wonder how much that I once have known, is fondly lingering there.

Is the quaint old homestead standing yet, and the trees so grand and tall?
Are the garden walks, by skilful hands, kept ever fresh and fair ?

Is the red ripe apple hanging still, high over the orchard wall ?

I wonder if still the cowslips grow far down in the meadow lands.
Does the winding brook go singing on, as it did in the days of yore ?

Do the rippling wavelets of the lake still break on the shining sands.
And tell the story of their loves to the ever listening shore ?

Does the s-ame old forest pathway lead through tangled wood and vine,
Across the lot, and o'er the ridge, and through the shady dells,

'Mid clover blooms, and buttercups, and fields of columbine.

That sway and swing in the summer breeze, their frail fantastic bells ?

And where are the voices sweet and clear, that sang the songs of old ?

Have they died in echoes faint and far, through hollow wood and glen ?
Have they fled forever from our lives as a tale that is quickly told,

And will they nevermore return to our yearning hearts again ?

I stand alone in the busy throng and dream of bygone years,
And call to mind the cherished forms of those I used to know

Who are resting now forever free from toil and grief and tears,

'Neath the low green mounds by the riverside where churchyard daisies
grow.

Let me rest with them when my work is done, and I lay me down to sleep
In some quiet spot where violets bloom, and weeping willows wave,

While the watching stars above my dust, their silent vigils keep,
And the cool gray shadows of the hills shall fall across my grave.

MRS. ELLEN POTTER NICHOLS. ^
By J. E. Pecker.

HE large emigration of
young men from New
Hampshire in pursuit of
larger fields of activity
elsewhere, has been go-
ing on for so many years that the
subject does not now attract public
attention so much as formerly. The
matter, however, is given a fresh in-
terest from time to time as one learns
of the personal successes achieved by
our absent sons, some of them, per-
haps, wanderers like Jason in search
of the Golden Fleece. This desire,
or perhaps one might well say eager-
ness, of our young men to leave all
in search of more alluring fields and
brighter skies, has had, especially
during the last fifty years, a counter-
part in many young women in the
Granite state, who have been equally
restless and unsatisfied with the out-
look at home, and who, imbued with
an ambition just as praiseworthy and
honorable as that of their brothers,
have bid adieu to the family at home
and gone to beckoning scenes in
other states or in foreign lands.

If the writer should enumerate all
of the latter class whom he has per-
sonally known during the last half
century, who have sought dame For-
tune away from the associations of
their childhood days, and should re-
late the varying achievements that
have illumined their pathways, it
would require more than one number

1 Mrs. Nichols, who had been ill for some weeks,
bury, after this article was put in type.

of this magazine in which to record
the same. I cannot recall any ex-
tended spheres of female labor in our
great cities in the far South and
West, or in the distant mission lands
of the orange and palm, where New
Hampshire women have not been

Mrs. Ellen Potter Nichols.

found toiling in the best interests of
humanity. Some of those who have
won success have returned to their
old homes, but by far the greater
number are permanent residents
abroad, or, their life's work finished,
have been gathered into the bosom
of Mother Earth.

Among the many women who have

died on July 6, at the liome of a relative in Canter-

I30

MRS. ELLEN POTTER NICHOLS.

gone out from our state in an effort
to better their coudiliou, I recall no
one who has shown more persistency
in overcoming obstacles, more ambi-
tion to make for herself an honorable
name and career, more untiring in-
dustry in her varied sphere of labor,
or who has exhibited a more sublime
faith in that " God ot our Fathers,"
whom she was early taught to love
and revere in her New England
home, than Mrs. Ellen Potter
Nichols, who was born in East Con-
cord on July 15, 1832. She belonged
to one of the oldest and most promi-
nent of the families that aided largely
in the development of Concord.
Ephraim and Richard Potter, with
their sister Elizabeth, emigrated from
Ipswich, Mass., in 1771. Their an-
cestors were among the early settlers
of New England, ar.d the}- traced
their family back to Rol^ert Potter of
Coventry, in England, who emigrated
to America in 1630 and located at
Eynn, Mass.

Richard Potter, who was the great-
grandfather of Mrs. Nichols, together
with his brother Ephraim, located on
the shore of Turtle pond, on the east
side of the Merrimack river. They
were both ardent patriots and their
names were signed to the Association
Test, in 1776, and Richard served
under General Sullivan on Winter
Hill. The latter died in 1S2S, leav-
ing two children, Eydia and Joseph,
the latter being the grandfather of
Mrs. Nichols. The third child of
Joseph, Hon. Jacob A. Potter, was
the father of the subject of this arti-
cle. He w^as born on July 22, 1798,
and during a long and useful career
became known as one of Concord's
most honorable and influential citi-
zens. He was reared and resided

during his entire life upon the farm
which was taken up by his great-
uncle, Ephraim Potter, and the hon-
ors and distinctions that came to him
were the results of a well directed
and patient industry. After leaving
the district school he attended sev-
eral terms at Pembroke academy.
He was not only a mechanical genius
but he early developed an artistic
talent. He invented a blind-catch
and fastener, and an instrument for
cutting profiles of the human face.
Notwithstanding his many private
and public duties he became a pro-
fessional portrait painter, and the
productions of his brush included
numerous creditable pieces. His
likeness of Capt. Jonathan Eastman,
Sr., is now in the possession of the
New Hampshire Historical Society.
It is interesting to recall the fact that
Judge Potter, as he afterwards be-
came known, w-as the leader among
those who started to build a cotton
factory in P)ast Concord, at the time
the original Sewall's P'alls Locks and
Canal Company began operations in
that part of the town, but the failure
of the corporation in the financial
panic of 1837 stopped an enterprise
which at one time promised to make
the east side of the river an important
manufacturing place. Judge Potter
filled the offices of selectman and city
alderman, and was an associate jus-
tice of the court of connnon pleas of
Merrimack county, from December
10, 1844, to his resignation in 1853.
In 1826 he was married to Miss So-
phronia Moore of London, a descend-
ant of Thomas Moore, who came
from an Engli.sh famil}' of intelli-
gence and ambition. Judge Potter
taught school in the district in Eon-
don in which the Moore family re-

AJRS. ELL EX POTTER NICHOLS.

131

sided, aud fell iu love with So-
phronia at first sight, and made up
his mind that he would marry her.
The first horse aud carriage owned
iu Loudon were among the posses-
sions of the Moore famih'. Judge
Potter died on. April 28, 1865.

From her father Mrs. Nichols in-
herited decided tastes for learning
and art, and from her mother the
womanly refinement and graces of
character that distinguished her in
all the relations of life. vShe w^as
very ambitious to stud5% and the de-
velopment of her intellect was early
manifested. Before she was twelve
years of age she became much inter-
ested in her father's work as a paint-
er, and she besought him so earn-
estly to allow her to paint that finally
he said to her one day, " Nellie, I
will give you what instruction I can,
and besides you shall have the best
teachers I can find." Her father's
kindness seemed to open a new life
for her, and her ambition was to be
not only an artist, but a scholar.
After attending the public schools of
Concord she entered the Gilmanton
academy, then one of the best known
institutions of its class in New Hamp-
shire. She was a student there dur-
ing the entire course, and was gradu-
ated with other members of her class
in 1S50. While at Gilmanton she
won a high rank in her studies, giv-
ing especial attention to painting and
music, and devoting considerable
time to ancient and modern lan-
guages.

After leaving that academy, she,
for a time, continued her art studies
under private instruction, and then
accepted a situation as an instructor
in the Young Ladies' Home School
at Worcester, Mass. The branches

she taught there were painting, mu-
sic, Latin, French, aud higher Eng-
lish. She was very successful as a
teacher, and remained in that posi-
tion about five years, when, desiring
rest and change, she returned to her
home in East Concord. After taking
a v^acation she taught about a year
in the village schools of that place.
In 1857 she went south as a private
tutor, and two years later, at Flor-
ence, Ala., she became acquainted
wath Dr. William Kogar, to whom
she was subsequently married. Not
long afterwards Dr. Kogar was killed
while an officer in the Confederate
army, and Mrs. Kogar returned to
her New Hampshire home. She
then resumed teaching in Concord
and vicinity, which she continued
with her accustomed popularitj^ and
success, until June, 1870, when she
was united iu marriage to Prof.
Joseph Hull Nichols of East Had-
dam, Conn.

Mr. and Mrs. Nichols immediately
took up their residence in East
Orange, N. J. Mr. Nichols had in-
tended to practise law in that state,
but abandoned that plan and ac-
cepted a responsible position with
the American School Apparatus
Company. He devoted himself
mainly to designing and patenting
school apparatus. For twenty years
he was closely engaged iu modeling
maps of sections of the United States.
Afler remaining three years at East
Orange, Mr. aud Mrs. Nichols re-
moved to Phillipsburg, in the same
state.

At ihe latter place Mr. Nichols
erected a beautiful home where he
and his wife passed many happy
years. Their residence was one of
the most romantic and picturesque in

132

MRS. ELLEN POTTER NICHOLS.

that place, being located on a hill-
side in the valley of the Delaware
river, opposite Lafayette college.
The house was connected with ex-
tensive grounds, on one portion of
which the owner erected a building
which he called his factory, and
where, at times, he devoted himself,
almost without rest and sleep, to
various inventions connected \fith
his professional work, several of
which his life was not long enough
to complete.

Mrs. Nichols resumed painting,
fitting up a cosy studio in her own
home which was in keeping with the
flowers, fruits, and idylic scenery
with which it was associated. Sub-
sequently, at the request of friends,
she established an additional studio
in Easton, Pa., on the opposite side of
the river from her home, where, be-
sides her own personal work, she
gave instruction to a limited number
of students in crayon, water color,
and oil painting. While her studies
embraced quite a wide field of sub-
jects it was to landscape work that
she gave the greater portion of her
time. She particularly excelled in
oil and water colors, and the high
character of her work drew to her
numerous students from the best
families in Phillipsburg and Easton.
Good judges of art were of the
opinion that her highest success was
in flowers mid landscapes. During
President Arthur's occupancy of the
W^hite House at Washington, she
executed a commission lor him
which attracted much attention and
elicited wide admiration. It was a
work in oil on velvet, the represen-
tation being a bird of Paradise im-
bedded in a bank of callas and
ferns. The design was for drapery

in the president's private library in
the White House. While engaged
on this work Mrs. Nichols resided in
Washington, where she was a guest
at all of the president's card recep-
tions, and was also given unrestricted
freedom to visit the White House
gardens and gather whatever floral
emblems she desired for use in her
art work. Mrs. Nichols's stay in the
national capital covered nearly an en-
tire winter sea.sou, and while there
she was the recipient of many courte-
ous attentions from government offi-
cials and personal friends. After
her return to Phillipsburg she re-
ceived from President Arthur a box
of the rarest flo\\-ers that were culti-
vated in the While House conserva-
tories.

Another of the noted pictures
which Mrs. Nichols painted in oil
was a study from nature of the Old
Man of the Mountain, upon a canvas
thirty-six by thirt}- inches. This is
now in the art collection of a wealth}^
gentleman of Illinois. In the Flem-
ington galler}^ in a New Jerse}' city is
one of Mrs. Nichols's pictures that is
greatly admired. This is an English
hunting scene painted from an im-
aginary study. In portraiture she
has executed numerous likenesses all
of which have also helped to give
her an enviable reputation in the art
world. Perhaps one of her happiest
efforts in this direction is a crayon,
free-hand portrait of Charles vSumner
in the possession of her niece in Win-
throp, Mass.

The production, however, from her
skilful brush which has been the most
generously complimented bj' critics
is a picture in oil of an ancient
house and its landscape surround-
ings, which is now in the Elm-Croft

MY OLD NEW HAMPSHIRE HOME. 133

library iu her native village. Mr. Jersej-, Mrs. Nichols has become a
U. D. Teuney, the famous artist, conspicuous lady in circles outside of
said of this picture, — " The scene art. In the literary field she has ac-
is charmingly and accurately delin- quired fame as a prose and poetical
eated throughout. The perspective writer and essayist, and has written
is perfect. The painter had evi- and delivered numerous addresses on
dently studied the works of the Bar- themes connected with the social and
bizon school. The picturesque road- religious life of the people in Phillips-
way extending past the old mansion burg and PCaston. In public gather-
to the extreme distance is finely ings in behalf of charity and similar
executed ; the foliage in the raid- work she has been indefatigable in
die ground is broadly and faithfully her labors,' aiding largely in the suc-
drawn. The lights in the fore- cesses achieved.

ground suggest warmth and sun- Mrs. Nichols is a member of the
shine, and add to the many pleasant First Presbyterian church in Phillips-
associations of an old home, blessed burg. Mr. Nichols died in the an-
to succeeding generations for a cen- tumn of 1S9S, and was buried in the
tury." Potter family lot in Pine Grove ceme-
During her long residence in New tery in East Concord.

MY OLD NEW HAMPSHIRE HOME.

By Frederick Myron Colby.

O'er many lands I 've wandered.

And sailed from sea to sea ;
I 've seen the sunlight glisten

On waves of Zuyder Zee ;
But mid strange scenes and pleasures,

And whereso'er I roam.
There 's no place to me so pleasant

As my old New Hampshire home.

I 've dreamed iu grim old Holy rood,

In Windsor's stately halls ;
I 've seen the wondrous paintings

On the Louvre's gleaming walls ;
But not in hall or castle,

'Neath shining spire or dome,
Have I found the sweet contentment

Of my old New Hampshire home.

xxix— 9

134 MY OLD NEW HAMPSHIRE HOME.

Sweet are the clust'ring olives

Among the hills of Spain ;
And fair the blooming orchards

Of Normandy and Maine ;
But not in cot or homestead

Beyond the swelling foam,
Can you find the cosy comfort

Of my old New Hampshire home.

Bright are the streams of Hellas

Girt with their woods of pine ;
And gay the Tuscan vineyards

'Neath purple Appenine ;
But fairer than the landscapes

Of sunny Greece or Rome,
Are the hilltops and the valleys

Of my old New Hampshire home.

Oh, warmly falls the sunlight

O'er Bagdad's domes of snow ;
And rich the fields of roses

Where Pharpar's waters flow ;
But sweeter grow the violets

By merry brooklet's foam.
And fairer is the sunlight

Of \\-\y old New Hampshire' home.

New Hampshire ! O New Hampshire \

I love to think of thee,
Gazing o'er vineclad mountains,

Or lulled by tropic sea ;
And my heart will always hunger

While foreign lands I roam.
For the comforts and the blessings

Of my old New Hampshire home.

HON. LEONARD WILCOX

r 1

By Gen. Henry J/. Baker.

HE epoch of the country
lawyer was the first half
of the nineteenth cen-
tury. Then business
had not been concen-
trated in large cities and important
railroad centres as now, but each
locality, though in association with
other sections of the same or adjacent
states, became a self-reliant commu-
nity with its full complement of men
of every profession, trade, and em-
ployment. There were few public
libraries in the United States and
those were nearlj' all in the larger
cities. In our state there were less
than a score of them, and a majorit}'
of those were connected with educa-
tional institutions. Not until the
second year of its last decade was our
state capital enlivened by the whistle
of the locomotive, and not until near
its close was the railroad extended to
White River Junction. Then a daily
newspaper was seldom seen, inter-
views were unknown, and topics of
state and public policy were an-
nounced arid generally determined
by those in official station. Then,
more than now, the successful public
man led his party, formulated its
platform and explained and enforced
it before the people. Now each edu-
cated man practically has an equal
opportunit}' to determine the justice
and propriet}^ of public questions
with those elected to decide them

officiall}-. Thus the responsibility of
government rests more closel)' upon
the whole people, and political wis-
dom consists more than ever before
in following the public pulse-beat.
The people are nearer to practical
self-government than at any age of
the republic.

With so few libraries and news-
papers, and such limited facilities for
communication and conference, our
people became self-reliant and reso-
lute. They did their own thinking
and frequently reasoned to wise con-
clusions in a way now scarcely possi-
ble. They generall}' approached a
subject in a state of mind more
nearly that supposed to be the nor-
mal condition of a first-class juror
than our more complex civilization
will permit.

Under such limitations the country
lawyer became not only a conven-
ience, but was a necessity. Ordi-
narily he had an education superior
to that of his townsmen and clients,
and was supposed to be a man of
encyclopaedic knowledge in the com-
munity. He was the natural leader
in the town, — directed its affairs, and
held its offices. If a true man he
soon acquired the unhesitating en-
dorsement of his local clientage, and
ever after held the unvarying patron-
age of those to whom his daily life
seemed a part of their own. If stu-
dious, honorable, and energetic, he

' A paper read before the Graltou and Cocis County Bar Association at Woodsville, X. H., March 21,
1900, by Uenry M. Baker.

136

HON. LEONARD WILCOX.

soon won for himself not only the re-
spect and confidence of his townsmen
but the esteem of his county and fre-
quentl}' of his state.

His environment was favorable to
stud}^ and with the few books he
owned or borrowed he had an inti-
mate acquaintance. So far as his
knowledge extended it was positive,
and he could usually give a satisfac-
tory^ reason for the opinion he ex-
pressed — one founded upon the fun-
damental principles and authorities
of his profession. The intricacies
and forms of common law plea.ding
and practice were known to him in
all their details. He had time to
study them and master the principles
upon which they were supposed to be
founded, and so intent was he upon
the acquisition of such knowledge
that for years the profession seemed
not to question seriously the value of
the technical learning with which the
forms for the administration of jus-
tice were encumbered. Though the
forms were artificial and burdensome,
and for securing justice useless, 3^et
to reflect upon the wondrous theories
and conclusions of Littleton and
Coke, and the more practical in-
structions of Chitty and Tidd, could
not fail to produce an enlarged ca-
pacity for deep thought, prompt anal}'-
sis, and logical deduction. Building
upon such ground work, and sus-
tained by the unwavering devotion of
one's townsmen, 'success is assured.
No failure can be permanent which
does not sacrifice the good-will and
confidence of friends and neighbors.
In our profession, as elsewhere, char-
acter is the only foundation ; the rock
upon which one can safely build.
That secured and maintained, all else
is within the reach of the lawyer ac-

cording to his individual capacity.
Local ofhce and public employment
naturally follow and they fitly dis-
charged produce enlarged capacity
and opportunit}', and yield increas-
ing honor. Such has been the rec-
ord of man_v a lawjT^er whose career
began in a countr}^ village where the
streets are few and the population so
limited that an acquaintance with
each person is not only possible but
expected. Such an acquaintance is
even now permitted to some members
of the bar in our .state. Its value as
an element of success cannot be over-
estimated. The country lawyer is
among the most worthy of all good
men and no one can wish to see him
disappear from the professionab field.
He is a benefactor of his town, the
county, the state, and his fellow men.

I am to speak to 3'ou at this time
of such a man whom you have
deemed worthy of commemoration.

Leonard Wilcox, son of Jeduthun
and Sarah Fisk Wilcox, was born in
Hanover, N. H., January 29. 1799.
His father was born in Connecticut
of sturdy Quaker stock and was a
saddler by trade. Several years af-
ter the elder Wilcox attained man-
hood, he removed to New Hampshire
and soon began to read law with
Benjamin J. Gilbert at Hanover.
When admitted to the bar in 1S02
he opened an oiSce at Orford where
he remained until his death in 1S3S.

It is a tradition that he was a well-
read lawyer, especiall}' equipped as
a .special pleader ; that he had an
agreeable voice, fluenc}' in .speech,
and skill in the logical arrangement
of his arguments. It is certain that
he was the leading lawyer in his
locality. He was successful also in
politics. He represented Orford in

HON. LEONARD WILCOX.

137

the legislature for three years, and
was a member of the United States
house of representatives during the
thirteenth and fourteenth congresses.
His political and legal careers, both
distinguished and honorable, were
checked by increasing deafness. He
retired to his farm and devoted him-
self for years to agricultural pursuits.
He was twice married and the sub-
ject of this paper was the sole off-
spring of the first wife. She is said
to have been a lady of fine quali-
ties.

Of such an ancestrj^ Leonard Wil-
cox was born. From it he inherited
a .strong analytic and logical mind,
scholarly tendencies and ati aptness
for the legal profession. Of his boy-
hood little is known. His family re-
moved to Orford when he was a
child. There his boyhood and ma-
ture 5'ears were passed. As he grad-
uated with high rank from Dart-
mouth college when he was only
eighteen years old, it is presumed he
was studious and thoughtful, of good
mind and retentive memory. I can
find no contemporaneous account of
him at this time, and his classmates
and instructors are all dead. He
read law with his father, who must
have been an excellent preceptor, re-
quiring diligent application and ex-
act thought, and was admitted to the
bar of Grafton count}' at the May
term of 1821 held at Haverhill. At
once he opened his office in Orford,
presumably with his father, and soon
found ample clientage.

The young lawyer in a country
village, if at all worthy of his profes-
sion, is not only consulted about
town affairs, but they are officially
entrusted to him. Mr. Wilcox was
no exception. For many years he

was chairman of the selectmen of
Orford.

i\s early as 1828 he was elected
to represent his town in the legisla-
ture, and was reelected twice con-
secutively. He was again elected in

1837, making four years of service in
our popular branch of legislation.
He was a member of its judiciary
committee and prominent in its pro-
ceedings. His reputation as a well-
read lawyer of sound judgment and
excellent abilit}' was such that he
was appointed a justice of our supe-
rior court of judicature, June 25,

1838. He was then only thirty-nine
5'ears of age. At that time the se-
lection of so young a man as a jus-
tice of our highest court was unusual
and a compliment to him both flatter-
ing and burdensome. When Mr.
Wilcox took his judicial oath, Joel
Parker, whose learning is the ad-
miration of the profession and whose
brilliancv and service are recognized
everywhere, was the chief justice of
the court. The associate justices
were Green and Uphani, and soon
after John J. Gilchrist, who became
chief justice upon the retirement of
Judge Parker and later the first chief
justice of the United States Court of
Claims.

The}' were worthy associates and
inspired the young judge to earnest
work and deep thought. His whole
life had been a preparation for the
new duties to which he was sum-
moned, and he met them with cour-
age and success.

The first case in which Judge Wil-
cox rendered an opinion was that of
Bassett vs. Harkness (9N..H. 164).
No great law point was involved, but
the case is worthy of consideration at
this time as it furnishes the keynote

I3S

HON. LEONARD WILCOX.

of all his judicial work. It appears
that the parties had voluntarih^
agreed in writing to submit their
differences to referees whose report
should be made to the count}' court
and judgment entered accord ingh'.
The report being filed was recom-
mitted for specified reasons to the
referees who filed a second report to
which exception was taken upon the
ground of gross partiality arising in
the fact that one of the parties had
private interviews with the referees
after their award had been made
which led to an increase in the
award. The motion wa«t to set aside
their report. Judge Wilcox said,
"And while on the one hand, such
reports should receive a fair and lib-
eral construction, and not be set
aside for subtle and technical excep-
tions, so, on the other hand, courts
of law should be vigilant, that injus-
tice be not done by the mistakes or
misconduct of referees," and held
that "the same partialit}' must ever
make them unfit judges of that mat-
ter between those parties." During
his whole judicial career he never
varied from the strict impartiality he
required as the test of fitness in this
case.

Another of his early cases was
that of Charlestown vs. Hubbard,
Admr. (9 N. H. 195). The plain-
tiff was the town of Charlestown,
and the defendant was Hon. Henry
Hubbard, who held ever)- ofhce of
importance not judicial which the
state could confer.

This cause is more notable on ac-
count of the parties to the record
than because of auj'' great principle
enunciated in its decision. Yet it
seems to have been the first in our
courts to affirm the legal basis of

charitable relief. The court said,
"It is a gift, and cannot be re-
claimed, so, in the eye of the law, of
the relief afforded to a pauper. It is
a charit}' and a gift to relieve present
distress, and it would seem quite un-
reasonable that the town should have
the right to commence a suit against
their pauper, arrest his bod}', and
throw him into jail which is the nec-
essar}' result, if furnishing the relief
creates a debt."

Here we see the trail of that ancient
horror — imprisonment for debt. Had
it been then abolished, the decision
would probably have been the same,
but strong equitable reasons could
have been advanced wh}' the town
should be reimbursed when the pau-
per became wealthy or died, leaving
an estate from which the expendi-
tures in his behalf could be paid.

The case of Tilton vs. Tilton (9
N. H. 385) has probably been cited
and approved more times than any
other decided b}' Judge Wilcox. It
was a case in chancer}^ and involved
the power of a court in equity to de-
cree the specific performance of a
parol contract for a sale of lands
when such contract had been per-
formed in part and further, the pow-
er of the court to correct upon parol
evidence an error or mistake in a
deed or other written contract, if
shown clearl}' to exist.

This is a case which must have ap-
pealed strongly to Judge Wilcox's
sense of justice. He admits that the
case is not wholly without difhcultj-,
but his opinion nowhere wavers.
He sa3's, "It is no objection to the
power of a court of equity to decree
a specific ])erformance that the con-
tract is proved only by parol testi-
mony." Again he says, "In our

HON. LEONARD WILCOX.

139

opinion, a court of equity is compe-
tent to correct and reform any ma-
terial mistake in a deed or other writ-
ten agreement, whether that mistake
be the omission or insertion of a
material stipulation, and whether it
be made out by parol testimony or
be confirmed by other more cogent
proofs. And the same rule applies
to contracts within the operation of
the statute of frauds." And adds,
' ' This principle is apparently at va-
riance with a well-established rule of
evidence, observed equalh- in courts
of law and of equit}-, and resting
upon the most satisfactor}^ reasons,
that when the parties have reduced
their agreement to writing the writ-
ten instrument is the only admissible
evidence of the terms of that con-
tract and is not to be controlled,
added to, altered or varied b}' parol.
Fraud is, however, an exception to
the rule, and so in our judgment, is
a case of mistake clearl}' made out.
For it would be a reproach to the
jurisprudence of the country, if it
were not in its power to relieve from
the consequences of a mistake un-
equivocally established. But the
mistake must be made out in the
most clear and decided manner, and
to the entire satisfaction of the court,
and especiall}^ must the proofs be
clear and convincing when the mis-
take is denied in the answ-er."

Judge Wilcox never gave stronger
proof that iu his judgment the funda-
mental purpose of the courts should
be to defend the right and administer
justice, and that no technical rules or
even so-called established principles
should be permitted to prevent their
decrees from enforcing absolute jus-
tice between litigants, thus maintain-
ing the confidence and security of

the people, than in the opinion from
which I have just quoted somewhat
at length. Though educated in all
the intricacies of special pleading,
and taught to revere precedent and
authority, he would not permit either
to cloud his absolute sense of justice
or his determination to enforce it.
It is the crowning glory of the judi-
ciary of our state that it is guided by
such principles and enforces them by
stead}- hands, brave hearts, and clear
heads. The non-professional citizen
understands every decision based
upon evident right, and so often as
the courts enforce it they strengthen
the respect, for law and authorit)' in
every communit)-.

In his next case, that of Libbey vs.
Hodgdon, principal, and Portland
Stage Compan}^, trustee, Judge Wil-
cox held that a foreign corporation
may be sued in this state whenever
under our laws effective service can
be made upon it or its property. At
that time the courts in Massachusetts
and New York held that under their
laws no writ could be served against
a corporation in another state. The
decision in this case was a distinct
advance in the application of just
legal principles to new- conditions.
Without such extensions of legal
right either b}- the courts or by
statute it would be impossible to
transact the interstate busines.^ of
the present time. In the modern
complex system of business trans-
acted by corporations extending
their operations into many states, no
other doctrine could be sustained
with any justice to the individual or
even with safety to the state. Are
we not even now looking for some
other judge to indicate to us some
right legal process hy which corpora-

I40

HON. LEONARD WILCOX.

tions, foreign and domestic, may be
restrained and kept to the discharge
of their appropriate duties without
interference in the business of others
or an attempt to control the functions
of the state ? Will it not be a re-
proach to the jurisprudence and
legislation of the country if the
courts are not vested with some
power by which they maj' curb sel-
fish combinations hostile to the inter-
ests of the state, and destructive of
the commercial freedom and prosper-
ity of the individual ?

No case decided by Judge Wilcox
ever led to so much discussion and
difference of opinion as that of Whip-
ple vs. Walpole (lo N. H. 130). It
has been approved three times in this
state, questioned once, and overruled,
at least, twice. In other states the
legal conflict has been w^aged with
varying results. In the courts of the
United States no case involving like
facts seems to have arisen, but the
general principles stated by Judge
Wilcox have been generally upheld.

That part of the opinion relative to
the competency of evidence is stated
in this language: "A witness ma}^
testif}' as to the market value of prop-
erty at any particular time and place,
for that is a matter of fact and not of
opinion."

Notwithstanding the adverse criti-
cism this doctrine has evoked, I am
satisfied it is right and will prevail
everywhere eventually. It is noth-
ing but the statement in legal lan-
guage of that common expression,
"An article is worth what it will
bring." How there could be any
more certain measure of value than
an actual sale of a like article under
ordinary business conditions, it would
be hard to say. Or how a jury com-

posed of men from every business or
of no business by having an article
or a horse described to them, no mat-
ter how particular and minute the
description may be, could determine
more accuratel}' the real value of the
article or horse than is expressed by
actual sales at the place in question
seems incomprehensible.

But those who insist that the jury
shall, unaided, determine its value
through a description of the article
or animal, its size, age, characteris-
tics, etc., secure at best nothing but
the consensus of opinion of men fre-
quentl)- not qualified by education
or experience to render a valuable
opinion at all. Who can doubt that
the actual transactions of skilled men
in the ordinarj' routine of business are
more valuable and accurate ? The
recorded transactions of boards of
trade and of stock are accepted as the
measure of value in ever}^ civilized
and commercial communit3^ What
sensible judge or lawyer would prefer
to have a jury assess the value of the
stock of the Western Union Tele-
graph company five years ago to-day
upon a detailed description of its
quality, length of wire, franchises,
propert}', and business that year,
than to put^in evidence as practically
conclusive of value the price at which
it was sold at the New York Stock
Board the very day stated ? Who
can doubt that testimony of actual
sales rather than the finding of a
jury, though informed by collateral
evidence and description, now wel-
comed in many jurisdictions, will
soon become the universally accepted
practice of the courts of our countr}' ?
Every 3-ear we come nearer in our
legal practice to the recognized and
approved ways of business men, and

HON. LEONARD WILCOX. 141

that movement is worthy of commen- our persons, and by a neglect of this

dation and acceptance. Judge Wil- duty the lives of many are endan-

cox took a forward step in advance gered. In this very case, in conse-

of his brother jurists and of his time, quence of the neglect of the defen-

but both the bench and the bar will dant, three individuals were suddenly

soon be abreast of his progressive destroyed, and others exposed to

thought. All honor to the pioneer in most imminent peril. If, then, the

movements toward wise conclusions defendants had been guilty of gross

and in action toward their practical ncgligejice, we think the jury were

application. not bound to be very exact in esti-

But there is another phase of mating the amount of damages, and
Whipple vs. Walpole that has led to that they might, in their discretion,
more discussion and dissent than the give the plaintiff exemplary dam-
ruling as to the competency of the ages."

testimony just considered. That is, Whatever may be our view of the

that exemplary damages may be law of this case, as just quoted, no

given against a town which through one will assert that Judge Wilcox

its duly qualified officers has been wavered or failed to meet the issue

^\x\\\.y oi gross negligence \n\\o\.'k.^Q.^^- presented to him. The opinion is

ing a bridge on its public highway in clear and its terms comprehensive,

such condition that loss of life and As our business and social rela-

property would not naturally result tions become more varied and com-

from its ordinary use by the travel- plex, our civilization more refined

ing public. Both life and property and inclusive, the more we are com-

had been destroyed by the failure of pelled to rely upon municipal protec-

the bridge upon which the accident tion and control. The efficiency of

occurred. town and city officers becomes each

Upon this point Judge Wilcox year a more personal and important

said, "The principle being thus es- subject to each one of us. The com-

tablished, that in actions for torts to fort and health of our homes, our se-

the person and to personal property, curity at home and on the streets,

the jury ma}^ give liberal and exein- the protection of our property, and

plary damages, in their discretion — the enjoyment of our civil and relig-

damages beyond the actual injurj^ ious rights, are, in the first instance

sustained, for the sake of the ex- at least, largely dependent upon the

ample — the onl}- remaining inquiry is local government which controls the

whether the present case was proper township or the municipality. It is

for the exercise of that discretion ? our government in a very peculiar

And upon this point we entertain no and exact sense. We are responsi-

doubt. This is an action on the ble for it, and no citizen ought

case ; and brought for the neglect of and no good citizen will attempt to

a duty in which the public at large shirk its responsibilities. It is the

have a deep interest. Towns are representative by direct authority of

bound by law to make and repair every man, woman, and child within

bridges. Upon these structures we its confines. Its acts are those of

necessarily intrust our property and each citizen, and no one can escape

142

HON. LEONARD WILCOX.

his liabilit}' under them, and there is
no power to rev^erse its action except
by and through the exercise of the
authority vested in each voter, or by
an appeal to the courts for the exer-
cise of their common law or statutory
jurisdiction.

The whole question of municipal
reform, when reform is necessary,
rests upon one of these controling
factors in self-government. The mu-
nicipality then is the direct agent of
the people and should be subject to
all the general limitations and re-
sponsibilities which restrict and di-
rect the individual. If then it is
right to assess exemplary damages
against the individual citizen, why
should it not be proper and legal,
when a municipality is at fault to the
extent of gross negligence, for a jury
to give exemplary damages " for the
sake of example " against the aggre-
gate individuals known as a city or
town ?

Unless a municipality can be pun-
ished b)^ exemplar}' damages there
seems to be no wa)' to compel its
right behavior towards the public
except through the more disagree-
able process of indictment and fine.
The neglect of a town may not be
malicious in an individual sense, but
the general public may suffer through
the neglect of town officers to an ex-
tent that could not be enlarged or
intensified by personal maliciousness.
If the voters of a town continue such
officers in power, why should not the
town in its corporate capacity be
held to suffer even to the extent of
exemplary damages for the gross
neglect of those who maladminister
its affairs ?

In approving a verdict for such
damages, was not Judge Wilcox the

true friend of the people, enforcing to
the extent of his power the rights of
the governed and the responsibility
of those in official station? It is true
that he has been overruled and the
doctrine of this case denied. I am
not oblivious to the great learning
and unquestioned integrity of those
judges who have destroyed the value
of Whipple vs. Walpole as an author-
ity in this state, but their argument
appears to me to be based far more
upon expediency, technicalit}', and
modified statutes than upon the fun-
damental principles enunciated by
Judge Wilcox.

That the doctrine of ' ' exemplary
damages ' ' ma}' be carried too far
and be made the vehicle of oppres-
sion and hate there is no doubt, but
under the control of a wise court
there would be slight danger of that
result. The sufferers from such an
accident as that under consideration
in this case will seldom receive full
compensation for their losses b\' ordi-
nary damages as usually assessed by
a jur}'. The innocent victim of inex-
cusable neglect is more entitled to
the favor of the court than the in-
dividual or town through whom " the
offence cometh." Vet it is probable
that there is an increasing hostilit)'
in the judiciar}' of both federal and
state jurisdictions to the allowance of
exemplary damages against individ-
uals as well as municipalities, and
that many members of the bar unite
in that movement ; but if that prac-
tice is to be maintained, I am confi-
dent the trend of judicial thought
will yet sweep around to those simple
propositions which made the case of
Whipple vs. Walpole one of the prom-
inent ones of our jurisprudence.
Whether that time be near or far I

HON. LEONARD WILCOX.

143

trust we all shall keep in miud the
true purpose and use of orovernment
which is the greatest possible good to
the largest number, and guard with
jealous care every safeguard of our
personal and civil rights.

This duty is especially incumbent
upon our profession. We are the
natural and responsible watchmen
upon the towers of liberty and
justice.

Years of study and hard work in
his profession and on the bench had
made their impression upon Judge
Wilcox. His physical strength was
unequal to the activity of his mind
and by reason of illness he resigned
his judgeship, September 29, 1840.
From that time until the first of
March, 1842, when he was appointed
a United States senator b}' Governor
Page to fill a vacancy caused b}'
the resignation of Franklin Pierce, I
have been unable to learn anything
of his career. Probably he was at
his home in Orford regaining his
health and performing such profes-
sional duties as he was able.

Plis colleague in the senate was
Hon. Levi Woodbury, who had been
judge of our superior court and
speaker of our hou.se of representa-
tives, governor, and senator in con-
gress for a full term, then secretary
of the navy and secretar}' of the
treasury, and was again a United
States senator and soon to be a jus-
tice of the supreme court of the
nation by the appointment of Presi-
dent Polk.

He presented Mr. Wilcox's cre-
dentials March 7, 1842. Mr. Wilcox
being present immediately qualified,
and took his seat in the senate.

Judge Wilcox entered the senate
under many disadvantages. He had

no congressional experience, and no
acquaintance with public men or
national affairs beyond that common
to those of his station and abilit}-.
His tenure of office was temporar)-,
and unless elected by the legislature
to succeed himself, his term of ser-
vice could not exceed four months.
His predecessor was personall}^ popu-
lar, of well-known ability, and es-
peciall}- qualified for the work of
legislation. His immediate col-
league was one of the leaders of the
senate which included such brilliant
men as Bayard, Benton, Buchanan,
Clay, Chittenden, Calhoun, Clayton,
Graham, Choate, Berrien, Mangum,
and Silas Wright. On the other
hand, Mr. Wilcox brought to the
senate the experience gained in an
unusually long service in our legisla-
ture and the equipment which made
him a successful judge.

Mr. Wilcox was a Democrat and a
party man. His votes were in ac-
cordance with the polic)' of his party.
He believed its principles were cor-
rect and patriotic, and hence did
right to uphold them. One qf his
earliest votes was against a bill au-
thorizing the banks in the District of
Columbia to receive and pay out de-
preciated bank paper until the banks
in Baltimore and Richmond should
resume specie payments.

Soon after he voted to retain in the
federal treasury the proceeds of the
sales of public lands instead of dis-
tributing them to the states. The
intent of this bill was to obviate a
necessit}' for an increase of the duties
on imports.

At this time the credit of the
United States was very low, and he
voted to pledge the proceeds of the
sales of public lands to secure the

144

HOA\ LEONARD WILCOX.

treasur_v notes and other obligations
of the government issued and to be
issued ; and two da3'S later voted not
to sell or issue the securities of the
United States at less than par.

The same daj' he voted to strike
out from the pending bill authorizing
the extension of the existing loan
and increasing it the section which
made its certificates of indebtedness
transferable by deliver}^ as well as by
assignment on the books of the treas-
ury,

Mr. Wilcox seems to have been in
favor of economy and of making the
credit of the government as secure as
possible. He was also in favor of
indemnif\'ing General Jackson for
the fine of $i,ooo imposed upon him
by the courts in I^ouisiana, in 1815,
while in the discharge of his official
duties. He desired the passage of
the resolution providing for an inves-
tigation to determine whether or not
the government of the state of Rhode
Island was republican in form, and
favored a later resolution which as-
serted the right of the people of that
state to establish a new government,
or modify the old one if its republi-
can form be maintained and denied
the right of the federal government
to interfere relative thereto.

When the bill fixing the number
and apportioning representatives in
congress under the census of 1840
was under consideration, he proposed
that each state should have a repre-
sentative for each 50,648 of its popu-
lation, instead of the ratio of 70,680,
which was adopted, and opposed the
second section of the bill which re-
quired the states having more than
one representative to be divided into
districts of contiguous territory equal
in number to the representatives to

be chosen. This was the beginning
of the district system. The Congres-
sional Globe reported his opposition
as follows : " Mr. Wilcox objected to
the clause under discussion on the
grounds of unconstitutionality. He
also objected on the ground of the
inexpediency of interfering with the
states without au}^ direct neces.'iity.
He had further objections ; it was,
that if this bill was passed with such
a clause, it would be an incentive to
such state as it would profess to ex-
ercise control over, to resist its exe-
cution, and it would thus lead to a
collision with the general govern-
ment without any means on the part
of the latter, to maintain its own law.
He did not see any necessity or pro-
priety for this interference. He
thought it was an unconstitutional
exercise of power and he would vote
to strike out that section when that
question came up." He kept his
word, opposing the bill to its final
passage. None of the direful events
he feared ever followed, and now
no opposition to the district system
exists.

When our legislature met in June,
1842, it elected Mr. Wilcox to fill
out the term of Mr. Pierce and Mr.
Charles G. Atherton for the succeed-
ing full term. On the 13th of June,
Mr. Wilcox's credentials were pre-
sented, and he again took the oath of
office.

Upon the consideration of the tariff
bills, he voted against an increase of
rates and in favor of ad valorem
rather than specific duties. He
steadily opposed any modification of
the celebrated Compromise act.

He resisted the bill conferring up-
on the supreme court of the United
States the power to regulate the prac-

HON. LEONARD WILCOX.

145

tice of the district and circuit courts
and to make and prescribe regula-
tions for those courts as to the taxa-
tion and payment of costs. His op-
position seems to have been based
upon the idea that such authority
vested in that court the power of
legislation upon those subjects. He
also voted against the extension of
the power of the United States courts
in matters of habeas corpus ; the in-
corporation by congress in the Dis-
trict of Columbia of the National In-
stitute for the Promotion of Science
and in favor of bringing- in a bill to
repeal the Bankruptcy act. He voted
against the enlistment of negroes in
the naval and marine service except
as servants, and against bringing in
a bill to reduce the term of residence
necessary to naturalization from five
to two years. He voted in favor of a
joint resolution to amend the federal
constitution so as to limit the terms
of office of the judges of the supreme
and inferior courts of the United
States. The Congressional Globe
does not give this resolution in full
and I am able to state onXy its gen-
eral purpose.

He also voted in favor of the oc-
cupation and settlement of the Ore-
gon territor}^, which was one of our
early acquisitions and extended our
boundaries from the Atlantic to the
Pacific.

He was assigned to the committees
on military affairs and on patents.
His entire period of service in the
senate was less than a 3'ear, and at
no time did he have an assured ten-
ure of office of quite nine months in-
cluding the time congress was not in
session. No one can become promi-
nent in the councils of the nation
through such service. He showed

good judgment and commendable
modesty in not attempting to make
himself prominent.

-Mr. Wilcox was a loyal Democrat,
and voted with his party in favor of
state rights, a low tariff, and sound
mone}'. So far as the j'eas and nays
disclose his votes they are found with
onl}' one unimportant exception to
have been the same as those of his
active and experienced colleague,
who, in some matters, was regarded
as the leader of his party. After
the resignation of Henry Clay, Mr.
Woodbur}' was the best equipped
senator in all matters pertaining to
the finances and the tariff.

At the time Mr. Wilcox was in
congress there was no verbatim re-
port of its proceedings. The Con-
gressional Globe furnished only an
abstract of them made b}- unofficial
reporters who seldom gave a speech
in full or in the exact words spoken.
The details of public business and
that which is now known as runnins:
debate were frequently unreported.
Hence, just what part Mr. Wilcox
took in the practical affairs of the
senate cannot be ascertained. Its
journals show that he reported sev-
eral bills from the committees of
which he was a member. None of
them was of an}' considerable na-
tional importance.

It is evident from the whole avail-
able record that Mr. Wilcox was con-
scientious and faithful in the dis-
charge of his senatorial duties, and
that viewed in the light of his brief
tenure of office and inexperience in
national affairs, his career as a sena-
tor was honorable and praiseworthy.
That it was satisfactory to the people
of our state is certain.

At the close of his brief ser\-ice in

146

HON. LEONARD WILCOX.

the national senate Mr. Wilcox re-
turned to his home and resumed the
practice of his profession. I do not
find anything of public interest in his
life at this time, or that he held any
office until December 7, 1847, when
he was appointed circuit justice of
the court of common pleas. He re-
mained in that court until June 26,
1848, when, upon the promotion of
Judge Gilchrist to chief justice he
was again appointed a judge of our
superior court of judicature. Judge
Wilcox was as active during his sec-
ond term of service as during the
first, but his later opinions have not
provoked so much discussion or such
a diversity of judicial expression as
those we have considered. They
cover a variety of subjects requiring
the consideration of manj^ branches
of the law, thus testing the versatil-
ity and learning of the judge. He
was so well grounded in general le-
gal principles and ordinary practice
that it would be difficult to decide in
which section of the law, as adminis-
tered here fifty years ago, he was
superior.

He was generally liberal in his rul-
ings and willing to aid in securing
justice by amendment of the plead-
ings or by any action which he
thought within his legitimate con-
trol, but firm and unyielding when
called upon to decide upon any prin-
ciple or rule of law which he re-
garded as established. The case of
Wheeler vs. Nurse (20 N. H. 220)
fully illustrates this phase of his
character. It appears that Nurse
had rented a certain number of sheep
ot Wheeler at one pound a head,
and agreed to return them in one
year from date. That at the expi-
ration of that time the defendant

did not return the sheep or pay the
pound per head, and that Wheeler
sued him in assumpsit alleging that
the value of the sheep was $31.25,
and that the defendant promised to
receive the sheep, keep them one
5'ear, and return them, or the same
number of sheep, and as good, and
pay the plaintiff also one pound of
wool for each sheep.

The plaintiff offered to show by
parol evidence that at the time the
contract was made, his construction
of it was that he was to have twenty-
five sheep returned to him, and so
informed the defendant, and offered
to prove that there is a custom or
usage among farmers that the same
number of sheep of equal qualit)^ is
to be returned. The court below re-
fused to receive such evidence, and
gave judgment for the defendant.
Upon appeal to the supreme court
Judge Wilcox gave judgment on the
verdict and said, "By the terms of
the contract the defendant was to
return the same .sheep which he re-
ceived. He had no right to return
other sheep of a like quality. .
As to parol declarations, it is too
clear for argument that they cannot
be received to qualify or add to the
written contract. . . . Where the
terms of a contract are express and
certain, usage cannot be received to
give a different effect to the contract
from what its terms clearly import;
because whatever usage may exist,
the parties may contract as the}'
please. They may disregard the
usage altogether, and it is to be in-
ferred that such is their intention
where the language is fixed, certain,
and determinate in its character."
That Judge Wilcox clearly and
firmly announced the literal law of

HON. LEONARD WILCOX.

147

this case, all will agree, and also as
the case was submitted, that no other
decision could be rendered under our
usual law practice, but, in the case
itself, there was a total miscarriage
of justice, and to xwy mind a misap-
prehension as to the clearness of the
contract involved. If the contract,
as stated in the case, had been fully
considered in all its parts it would
have been found not to be complete
in itself or free from doubt. Various
questions would have arisen and
without the determination of them
justice could not be done. If one
or more of the sheep die within the
year, whose should be the. loss ?
Wheeler owned them, but Nurse had
them in possession and was responsi-
ble for them, and the court held that
he must return the identical sheep
he received. Would the return of a
dead sheep be a substantial com-
pliance with the contract, or would
the contract have been held invalid
pro tanto, or would testimony of
usage in such cases be permitted
rightfully to determine the liability
of the parties? Again, Wheeler was
to receive from Nur.se "a pound a
head." What did that mean ? Was
it a pound of mutton or a pound of
wool ? How could these questions
be determined beyond dispute except
by proving b}' parol evidence the
custom or usage in such matters of
the farmers in the locality where the
case arose ? In what marked con-
trast does it stand to the case of
Tilton vs. Tilton already considered
and commended ? In that case the
court relaxed its strict rules of prac-
tice and enforced justice — in this one
it actually sustained the wrongdoer
who failed to perform his contract
and denied ju-stice because the gen-

eral rule of law is for wise purposes
that a plain valid contract is the best
possible expression of the intention
of the parties to it. Qui haeret in
liter a haeret in cortice.

Coiirts are established to adminis-
ter justice, and every time it fails
there is a lo.ss of confidence in them.
Our whole judicial .sj^stem rests upon
the approval of the people who have
generally correct views of right and
wrong in the abstract, but who do
not know how to account for failures
in producing right results in the de-
termination of causes. Hence such
cases as that of Wheeler vs. Nurse
unexplained are an injury not only
to the immediate parties to them but
to all to whom the facts are known
and to the courts themselves. Hap-
pily they are few in number and
every year less likely to occur.

The limit of this paper will not
permit the consideration of other of
the cases decided by Judge Wilcox.
While on the bench of the superior
court he rendered reported decisions
in nearly sixty cases. For clearness
of expression, correctness of state-
ment, and the enunciation of sound
legal principles his opinions will com-
pare favorably wnth those of his asso-
ciates. Though twice appointed to
the bench of our highest court his
period of service was brief. Under
the first appointment he served from
June 25, 183S, to September 29, 1S40,
and under the second one from June
26, 1848, until his death, June 18,
1850, — -onl}' a little more than four
years in all. His health had been
uncertain for years but his death was
not expected so soon. He did not
complete his fifty-first year. His life
had been a busy and useful one.
The bench and bar joined in tributes

I4S

HON. LEONARD WILCOX.

to his memory and life. The resolu-
tions of the bar said, " We entertain
a deep sense of the many estimable
and excellent qualities possessed by
our friend and former associate as a
man and as a citizen ; of his learning,
ability, and fidelit}^ as a counselor;
of the many high qualifications which
he possessed for the judicial office
which he held, cautiousness, patience,
learning, impartiality, and, above all,
and over all unbending integrity."

Mr. Justice Woods responded for
the court and paid a high tribute to
the learning, ability, and character
of their late associate. He said, " All
the judges had great confidence in
the judgment of Judge Wilcox. In
discussions of difficult questions as a
general rule he convinced his as-
sociates that his conclusions were
right." The resolutions were adopted
and entered upon the records of the
court.

Of the many personal tributes to his
memory and virtues I will giv^e only an
extract from that of Hon. Harry Hib-
bard. He said, "I had known him
long and well ; had been associated
with him in different relations, re-
specting various affairs. During all
this time I had know^n him but to
appreciate and esteem with ever-in-
creasing regard the clearness of his
understanding, the accuracy of his
learning, the soundness of his judg-
ment, and the steady integrity of his
heart."

All authorities agree that as a stu-

dent he was diligent and exact, that
as a man he possessed good natural
ability, practical good sense, honest5^
patriotism, a kind disposition, com-
bined with a desire to be helpful, an
energy beyond his phj'sical strength,
and a religious conviction which was
evident in his daily life ; that as a
lawyer his deep learning and integ-
rity gave him many clients whom
he served faithfully, preparing their
cases for hearing with excellent judg-
ment, presenting the evidence in their
behalf with skill and sustaining it
with an arra}' of authorities the best
at his command ; that as an advo-
cate he was not equal to his ability
in other respects, his voice being
weak, and at times his words lacking
vitality and power through indis-
tinctness, and that as a judge he
was learned, wdthout passion or pre-
judice, courteous to all, and especially
helpful to the young men of the pro-
fession to whom a kind word from
the bench means so much ; that he
was patient in hearing, careful in
examination and investigation, con-
scientious in deciding, and strict in
the enforcement of the orders of the
court.

His life, as 5'ears are counted, was
brief, but it was full of service to the
community in which he resided, to
his state, and to the nation. His
career was an honor to himself and
helpful to the people. Such men are
the bulwarks of freedom and the sta-
bility of the state.

SUMMER.

By Geo>-ge J!'. Parker.

To wander 'ueath the leafy bower ;
Pluck from its stem the fragrant flower
Sail o'er the lake with gentle breeze ;
Ride through the forest and the leas.

To angle by the shady brook ;
The mottled trout take from the hook ;
To bathe on ocean's silvery strand,
With salt sea breezes gentl}^ fanned.

To climb yon towering precipice,
Or thread the path by dark abyss ;
By torrid day or starry night,
The gladsome summer gives delight.

" OLD HOME WEEK."

By Mrs. Nancy M. Paul.

Roll on, oh, radiant sun, roll on,
Shine on, bright sun, shine on ;
Oh, speed the lingering hours away
To bring once more the festal day
With " Old Home " joy and song.

Bloom on, oh, beautiful flowers, bloom on,
Fair flovv'rs, sweet flow'rs, bloom on ;
With richest perfume fill the air,
And scatter fragrance everywhere
To greet the " comers " home.

Ring on, ye silvery bells, ring on,

Sing on, sweet birds, sing on ;

From out New Hampshire's granite hills

Ten thousand little rippling rills

Will join you in the song.

Smile on, oh, angels above, smile on
Our Old Home Week, smile on.
While every voice its song shall raise
To heaven in gratitude and praise
For th' " Old New Hampshire Home ! "

xsix— 10

I-
o

H
<

LU
13
Q

□3

Q
<

DC
<

z
o

I-

2
<

LU
>

BOW AND ITS PEOPLE.

By H. H. Met calf. ^

^^^DJOINING the Capital made by Gov. John Wentworth. with
city — on the south, and advice of council, May 20, 1727, to

so closely allied there-
with in interest that it
may almost be regarded

Jonathan Wiggiu and others, the
same covering a territory nine miles
square, Avhich embraced the larger
portion of Penacook (now Concord),
as granted by Massachusetts, in 1725,
and the territor}' south thereof, to
belo'iv the mouth of the Suncook
river, the same lying on both sides
of the ]\Ierrimack, the southerly por-
tion beino; also included in or includ-

as a part thereof — as much so, in-
deed, in everything but name as the
sections known as East and West
Concord — is the town of Bow. So
close is the relationship, in fact, be-
tween Concord and Bow that there
was a long time - in the early history
of the two, that it was practically im- ing the Massachusetts grant of Sun-
possible to determine what was the cook, made in August, 172S. Un-
territory of one and what of the other, avoidably, in the course of time,
on account of the conflicting nature there was a serious conflict of rights
of the grants under which they re- and titles under these grants by two
spectively held charters, the one from different governments, covering prac-
Massachusetts and the other from tically the same territory, the details

New Hampshire, a considerable por-
tion of each being covered by the
grant of the other.

A history of these conflicting
grants, the controversy growing out
of the same, and the final adjustment
thereof, would be entirely beyond
the scope of this brief article, but the

of which cannot be entered into in
this connection. Suffice it to say
that the territory now embraced in
Concord was created by the New
Hampshire general court, a parish
by that name. Ma}- 25, 1765, the
portion east of the Merrimack and
south of Concord having; been erected

same is well embodied in a compre- into the parish of Pembroke (or Pem-

heusive address upon "The Bow
Controversy," prepared with great
care by Hon. Joseph B. Walker of
Concord, and delivered before the
New Hampshire Historical Society
some two years since, which address
should be rendered accessible to the
public by being printed in the pro-
ceedings of that society.

The original grant of Bow was

broke as it was then known), Novem-
ber I, 1759. Subsequently, in 1804,
another tract of land w^as set off from
Bow to Concord, and one to Pem-
broke at the same time, and another
to Allenstown in 1S15.

The town of Bow, as now consti-
tuted, contains about sixteen thou-
sand acres, being bounded on the
north by Concord, on the east by the

'The writer is indebted for many facts to the historical sketch of Bow, by Harrison Colbj-, iu the
" History of Merrimack and Belknap Counties," published by J. W. Lewis & Co., Philadelphia, in 1SS5,

15:

BOJV AND ITS PEOPLE.

Merrimack river, which separates it
from Pembroke, on the south by
Hooksett, and on the west b}- Dun-
barton. The land on the Merrimack,
which borders the town for about five
miles, is generally excellent, and oc-
cupied by thrifty farmers. The bal-
ance of the town is largely hilly, and
somewhat rough, but the soil re-
sponds generously to cultivation, and
the people, who are generally devoted
to agriculture, are among the most
prosperous and contented in the state.
Fogg's '• Statistical Gazetteer of New

Town House.

Hampshire," issued in 1874, says:
"There is no town in the state in
which the people are better provided
with this world's goods than Bow.
The soil alone produces to each man,
woman, and child, $200 annually.
They have deposited money in the
savings banks enough to give every
ratable poll in town $530 each, or to
give every person in town $175."

We are unable, from any records
or data at hand, to state, when,
where, or by whom the first perma-
nent settlement within the present
limits of the town of Bow was made,

but by the first enumeration of the
people of the province of New Hamp-
shire, made in 1767, the total popu-
lation of Bow was shown to be 187.
The first town-meeting of the inhabi-
tants was held in the dw^elling house
of William Robertson, on the nth
day of March, 1767, on which occa-
sion Samuel Rogers w^as chosen mod-
erator, William Robertson, town
clerk, and Samuel Rogers, Ephraim
Moore, and Samuel Welch, selectmen.
At this meeting it was also " Voted
to build a meetiiig-house b}^ subscrip-
tion," which w^as subsequently done,
and at a meeting, held in the meet-
ing-house in 1770, it was "voted to
pay Mr. Wooster thirty dollars for
preaching this year." A like appro-
priation for the same purpose seems
to have been made the following
year, when, as appears from the
record, it was also "Voted not to
raise money to hire a schoolmaster
this year," which would seem to in-
dicate that at some previous time this
had been done. In 1772, however,
the town voted thirtj' dollars for
preaching and thirty dollars for a
town school, showing that the peo-
ple had come to regard, the claims of
education and religion as standing
upon an equalit3\

In 1773, according to a census
taken by order of Governor Weut-
worth. Bow contained 30S inhabi-
tants. At the annual meeting in the
following year it was " Voted that the
meeting-house be on the Hill, where
it now stands, and not at the Cen-
tre," and it was also " \'oted to give
Mr. F'essenden an invitation to settle
with us in the miiiistr}', giving him
one thousand pounds. Old Tenor, in
Lands for his settlement, besides a
yearly salary of forty pounds, and to

BOW AND ITS PEOPLE.

153

advance his salarj' as the town grows
able, and chose a committee to treat
with him." This Mr. Fessenden is
supposed to have been settled in Bow
about three j^ears, the church being
composed of Congregatioualists, Pres-
byterians, and Baptists.

At a town-meeting held January
12, 1775, to see if the town would
elect some one to go to Exeter to
" set" with the Provincial Congress to
choose delegates to the Continental
Congress in Philadelphia in May fol-
lowing, it was " Voted not to send a
man, but voted to buy a town stock
of ammunition," which fully indi-
cated the patriotic spirit of the peo-
ple. At a meeting on the nth of
May of the same year, however, it
was voted to send Benjamin Noyes
as a delegate to the Fourth Provin-
cial Congress at Exeter on the 17th
of the same mouth, and it was also
voted " to drop school and highway
rates for the year."

For several j-ears after 1775, Bow
and Dunbarton were classed together
for the election of a representative,
and in 1776, Capt. Caleb Page of
Dunbarton was the representative for
the September session, and John
Bryant of Bow for the December ses-
sion of the Provincial Congress. It
was in this year that the New Hamp-
shire Committee of Safety requested
the selectmen of the various towns to
require all males above twenty-one
years of age to subscribe to what was
known as the "Association Test,"
promising to oppose with arms to the
utmost of their power, at the risk of
life and fortune, the hostile proceed-
ings of the British fleets and armies
against the United American colonies,
which test was subscribed to by sixty-
three men of Bow. Bow furnished

forty-eight soldiers for the patriot
cause during the Revolution, the first
on the list, and among the most con-
spicuous, being Aaron Kinsman, who
was commissioned a captain in Col.
John Stark's regiment, March 2, 1775.

From 1794 till 1813 Bow and Al-
lenstown were classed for the elec-
tion of representative, but beginning
with the latter j'ear Bow elected,
alone, its first representative, who
also served for several subsequent
years, being Samuel Clement. The
population of the town, as shown
b}^ the census of 18 10, had come to
be 720, and, as the records show,
eight persons in town were then li-
censed to keep public house and sell
spirituous liquor.

As early as 1779, the matter of a
new meeting-house had been under
consideration, and it was voted that
year to build a new one at the cen-
tre of the town. Nothing was done,
however, and in 1785, the old house
having become unfit for use, it was
" Voted to raise 500 dollars in labor
and lumber to build a meeting-house
on the Hill, where the old one
stands," and a committee was ap-
pointed to provide the material.
The work did not proceed, however,
and the next year it was voted to
find the centre of the town and locate
the house there, and a committee was
appointed to fix the location. Still
nothing was accomplished, and the
wrangle over the site, between those
favoring the "Hill" and the "Cen-
tre " continued till 1792, when it was
voted to reconsider all former pro-
ceedings concerning the matter, and
a committee of impartial non-resi-
dents was selected to fix the location.
This committee reported in favor of
the old site on the "Hill," which

154

BOW AND ITS PEOPLE.

report was accepted, and the build-
ing erected accordingl}^ the con-
struction having been bid off by
Eliphalet Rovvell for ^60, 12s., law-
ful money. It was many years, how-
ever, before the meeting-house was
completed, and it was not until 1805
that a minister was engaged, Rev.
Thomas Waterman having been then
employed to preach one jxar from
the ist of May. No money had been

Baptist Church.

raised in town for preaching since
1 781, up to that time.

Meanwhile highways had been
built and extended through the
town, school districts had been es-
tablished, and schoolhouses built.
The first public celebration of the
Fourth of July within the limits of
the town was held in 18 10, when the
citizens of Bow, Concord, Pembroke,
and Dunbarton assembled at the resi-
dence of Benjamin Noyes for the pur-
po.se, where there was speaking, a
procession, and dinner.

The Baptist church was the first
church organized in the town. It
appears, indeed, that there was a
Baptist church in Bow previous to
the present organization, which fin-
ally became extinct. The present
church was organized in 1816, the
first pastor being Rev. Henry Veasie,
who died while in office, in 1825,
greatly lamented. He was the first
school inspector in the town, of
whose election any record is made,
having been chosen such at the an-
nual election in 1823, and voted a
salary of nine dollars for this service
and the care of the meeting-house
key. Mr. Veasie was succeeded bj-
Rev. Simeon Chamberlain, who re-
mained until March, 1830, and was
succeeded by Rev. William Boswell,
who continued some three years, the
present house of worship having been
erected in 1833, near the close of his
pastorate, at a cost of about $1,600.
His successors were Revs. Henry
Archibald, James W. Poland, N. W.
Smith, S. S. Leighton' and Franklin
Damon, the latter continuing for
eighteen years — the longest pastorate
in the history of the church. Mr.
Damon was very highly esteemed in
the communit}', and left a strong in-
fluence for good in both church and
town. His successor was Rev. B. H.
Ivane, a 3'ouug man, fresh from his
.studies, who was ordained here.
Revs. J. ly. Whittemore, J. P. Chapin,
O. W. Kimball, and Franklin Mer-
riam succeeded in the order named.
Then the present pastor, Rev. Samuel
Woodbur)s came from Newton, N. H.,
and was settled over the church in
May, 1886, remaining three years,
when he went away, but, after an
absence of five years, returned and
commenced his second pa.storate.

BOW AND ITS PEOPLE.

155

Rev. Samuel Woodbury.

Baptist Parsonage.

156

BO IV AND ITS PEOPLE.

which has since continued. During
his absence the pulpit was supplied
by Rev. D. L. Crafts, Rev. Silas
Deane, and H. E. Brady, a student
of Newton Theological Institution.

Mr. Woodbur5''s pastorate has been
longer than anj' other except that of
Mr. Damon, and the church has pros-
pered under his ministration, though
never large in point of membership.
The present deacons are Manley
Clough, Betton F. Smith, and Win-
throp O. Ballon. The church has a
fund of some $5,000, the income of
which enables them to support a
pastor, by paying a moderate salary.
A good parsonage is owned by the
church — the gift of the late Dea.
Obed Gault.

Rev. SamueIv Woodbury, pastor
of the Baptist church in Bow, was
born in Newburyport, Mass., Sep-
tember 28, 1840. He pursued his
studies at Brown university, and
Newton Theological Institution,
graduating from the latter in 1864.
He was ordained to the ministry at
Orleans, Mass., in December, 1864,
and has filled pastorates in Maine,
New Hampshire, Vermont, and
Massachusetts, aside from his ser-
vice at Bow, where in his two pas-
torates he has spent nearly ten years,
and accomplished excellent work not
only in the religious field, but as a
citizen and member of the community.

The highest point in the popula-
tion of the town, as shown by the
census returns, was reached in 1830,
when the inhabitants numbered 1,065.
Twenty years later there were 1,055 ;
in 1870, the population had decreased
to 745, and in 1890 it was 725.

Politically the town was strongly
Democratic up to within the last few
years. In 1828, the vote for presi-

dential electors stood, Democratic,
153; Whig, 35. In 1S52 it was,
Democratic, 140; Whig, 12; Free
Soil, 27. In 1892, Democratic, 118;
Republican 80; scattering, 7. The
first Republican majority given in
town was in 1896, when the Republi-
can electors received 123 votes to 59
Democratic, and 1 1 scattering. This
evidenced a remarkable political over-
turn, since at the gubernatorial elec-
tion, two years before, the Democratic
nominee received 119 votes, to 76 for
the Republican, and 8 scattering. At
the last election, in 1898, the Repub-
licans cast 120 votes, the Democrats
89, and there were 7 scattering.

Citizens of Bow have not figured
prominently in public and political
life to any great extent. The town
has furnished no governor of the
state, cabinet officer, or United States
senator, and but one member of the
national house of representatives —
Henry M. Baker, who served from
1893 to 1897. Tbe town has fur-
nished no member of the executive
council, and but two state senators —
General Baker and Walter Putney,
a member of the present senate.'

During the War of the Rebellion
the town manifested its patriotism in
a marked degree. The total enroll-
ment of citizens liable to military
duty was 114, and the town's quota
under all calls, 52 ; 3^et the number
of men furnished was 60, being 8
more than the total number called
for. At the head of the list in rank
and distinguished service was Au-
gustus B. Farmer, whose record is as
fellows : Mustered in Company B,
Second N. H. Regiment, June, 1861 ;
promoted to first sergeant, February,
1862; wounded June 3, 1864; mus-
tered out June 21, 1864; reenlisted as

/;OlV AND ITS PEOPLE.

157

first lieutenant in Company A, Eigh-
teenth Regiment, September 12,

1864 ; promoted to captain, April 4,

1865 ; mustered out June 10, 1865.
The most distinguished citizen of

Bow, and the only resident of the
town to hold high public office at
any time, is Gen. Henry M. Baker,
who was born in that town January
II, 1841.

Henry Moore Baker is a son of the
late Aaron Whittemore and Nancy
(Dustin) Baker, and comes of a dis-
tinguished and patriotic ancestry.
His great-grandfather was Capt.
Joseph Baker, a Colonial survej'or,
who married Hannah, only child of
Capt. John Lovewell, the noted In-
dian fighter, who was killed in the
Battle of Pigwacket, May 8, 1725.
His wife as the heir of her father.
Captain L,ovewell, received a share
in the lands awarded the survivors
and heirs of those engaged in the
fight, and settled, with her husband,
in Lovewell's town, or Suncook, af-
terwards Pembroke, previous to 1740,
where he became a prominent citizen,
and was at one time a member of the
Provincial Congress at Exeter, His
son Joseph, the great-grandfather of
Henry M., married Marion Moore, a
descendant of the Scotch Covenant-
ers, and settled in Bow, reclaiming
from the forest land which is now a
part of the Baker farm in this town.
This Joseph Baker was a soldier in
the War of the Revolution and on
the Committee of Safety for the town
of Bow. Another of General Baker's
ancestors, his paternal grandmother,
was a descendant of the celebrated
Rev. Aaron Whittemore, the first
minister of Pembroke, while on his
mother's side he is a descendant of the
famous Hannah Dustin. His father

was Aaron W. Baker, a leading
citizen of Bow, and a man of sterling
worth, highly esteemed by his fellow-
townsmen. He was a successful far-
mer, having been reared on the home-
stead where his father, James Baker,
died, leaving him, the eldest of six
children, only twelve years of age,
with, necessarily, a life of earnest
toil before him. After attaining
manhood, he aided his younger broth-
ers and sisters in securing an educa-
tion, and finally bought out the other
heirs and became the owner of the
homestead,, which he greatly im-
proved, and to wdi,ich he made exten-
sive additions. He married, March
10, 1825, Miss Nancy Dustin of Con-
cord. They had four children, P'ran-
cis M., born February 8, 1826, who
died April 13, 1838; Rufus, born
March 8, 1831, who died February
15, 1861, John B., and Henry 'M.,
the subject of this sketch, who at-
tended the common schools of his
native town, Pembroke and Hopkin-
ton academies, the New Hampshire
Conference seminary at Tilton, and
Dartmouth college, graduating from
the latter in 1863, and receiving the
degree of Master of Arts three years
later.

Immediately after graduation he
commenced the study of law under
the direction of the late Judge Josiah
Minot of Concord, continuing the
same in Washington, where he re-
ceived an appointment as clerk in the
war department in 1864, being sub-
se(iuently transferred to the treasury
department, where he remained for
several years, meanwhile pursuing
his legal studies and attending the
lectures of the Columbian Law
school, from which he graduated
with the degree of EL. B., in 1866,

GEN, HENRY M, BAKER,

BO IV AND ITS PEOPLE.

159

being admitted to the bar of the su-
preme court of the District of Colum-
bia the same year. After leaving the
government service General Baker
was actively engaged in his profes-
sion for many years, being admitted
to practice in the supreme court of
the United States in 1S82. He has
been concerned in much important
litigation, bringing to his work great
industry, perseverance, and research,
and securing in many cases profit-
able financial results for his clients,
and naturally for himself.

While his professional and business
affairs have held him in Washington
a large portion of the time, he has
alwaj'S holdeu his residence in his
native town, where he has constantl}-
voted and paid taxes, living until re-
cently upon the old home farm, which
has been in the familv for more than
a century, and which he has im-
proved in various directions. His
regard for his native state has always
been deep and earnest, and he has
never lost an opportunity to sustain
the honor of New Hampshire b}' act
or voice.

In politics he has ever been an
aggressive Republican, and a liberal
and active supporter of his party
cause in every campaign for many
years past. In 1 886-' 87 he served as
judge advocate general of the State
National Guard with the rank of brig-
adier-general. In 1890 he received
the Republican nomination for the
state senate in what is known as the
Merrimack District and was elected
by a vote considerably in excess of
that cast for the gubernatorial candi-
date of his party in the district. He
took an active part in legislative pro-
ceedings in the senate, serving as
chairman of the judiciar;i committee.

and of the joint special committee on
the revision, codification, and amend-
ment of the Public Statutes.

In 1892 he was the Republican
candidate for member of congress in
the Second district, and was elected
by a safe plurality, though the Demo-
crats had carried the district at the
preceding election, and was reelected
by a largel)' increased plurality two
years later, retiring at the end of four
years' service in conformity with the
established custom which has oper-
ated to minimize New Hampshire's
influence upon national legislation so
far as service in the lower branch is
concerned, by retiring members just
as they become well trained for effec-
tive service. During his first term
in the house he served on the com-
mittee on agriculture, and in the
second he was a member of the judi-
ciary committee, and the committee
on election of president, vice-presi-
dent, and representatives in congress,
being chairman of one of the stand-
ing sub- committees of the former.
He made several .speeches during his
term of service, which were published
and extensively circulated, and came
to be regarded as one of the best-
informed and argumentative debaters
of his part}' in the house.

General Baker is prominent in the
Masonic fraternity, being a Knight
Templar and a noble of the Mystic
Shrine. He is also a member of the
New Hampshire Club of Boston, of
the New Hampshire Historical So-
ciety, in whose work he takes a deep
interest, and to which he has mate-
riall)'- contributed, and of the Sons of
the American Revolution. He is
a member of the Pembroke Acad-
eni)' and Dartmouth College Alumni
associations, and is also president

mm.

<■ ^

■-^ ff-TWr

^^^^#

, ^ -^

'~ ~ .

•-■.*v -

^^«:

. _. .«• .,^j

A, vf

;. y.

' «'

f4ft

't >-'

tJm^KJr •<» ad

BO IV AND ITS PEOPLE.

i6i

of the same. He has been for several
years a member of Bow Grange, and
is also a member of Merrimack Coun-
ty Pomona Grange.

A few years since General Baker
became interested in the development
of the water power at Garvin's Falls,
the only power of importance within
the limits of the town, and one of the
best on the Merrimack river in point
of fact, which had never been utilized
at all, until 1SS3, when a pulp mill
was erected there b}' Brown, Moore
& Co., and operated quite exten-
sively for several years, the town
having voted the year previous to
exempt from taxation for a term of
ten years manufacturing capital ex-
ceeding ten thousand dollars. The
old " Bow canal," constructed in the
early part of the centur}' to facilitate
navigation at this point, and which
still remains intact, was utilized for
the company's purposes. From some
cause or other operations were sus-
pended a few years later, and soon
after, as has been suggested. General
Baker, realizing the value and im-
portance of this power, interested
himself therein, and set about the
organization of a company to further
its development. This company, of
which he was president, was known
as the Garvin's Falls Power Com-
pany, and finally sold its interest to
the New England Electric Light
Company, which a few months since
consolidated with the Manchester
Electric Light Company.

It may be remarked right here
that the power at this point is vastly
superior to that at Sewall's Falls, the
fall in the river being twenty-eight
feet here against fourteen there.
Had the money invested at Sewall's
Falls, by Concord capitalists and

others, been expended in improving
Garvin's P'alls instead, a good factor}^
plant might have been established,
and unfailing and unlimited light
and power have also been secured for
Concord and points below at the
same time.

The onl}^ other water power of any
consequence in Bow is that on the
Turkey river at " Bow Mills," in the
northerly part of the town, some two
and a half miles south of the state
house in Concord, which is now
largel}- owned by General Baker. He
owns the old grist and sawmill, for-
merly known as Brown's mills, and,
.still earlier as Dustin's mills, the
.same having been the property of his
maternal grandfather, Ebenezer Dus-
tin. Below this is another power
which runs a sawmill, owned jointly
by General Baker and INI ark Upton.
Still lower down the stream are a
shingle mill, planing mill, etc.,
owned b}' Mr. Upton. Turke}- river
is fed by Turkey and Turee ponds,
and furnishes a good power during
the larger part of the year. There is
a favorable location here for the es-
tablishment of some light manufac-
turing industr}^ furnishing employ-
ment to a goodl)^ number of people.

Bow Mills is a small settlement
containing a few dwellings, a store,
post-ofhce, schoolhouse, blacksmith
shop, etc. It has no church, but a
convenient hall, owned by the Wo-
man's Christian Temperance Union,
furnishes excellent accommodations
for all public gatherings. This hall
was erected in 1S92, at a cost of
something over $1,600, and is now-
paid for, the debt of the LTuion being
now onl}^ about twent\--two dollars.
Lectures and concerts are held here,
under the auspices of the Union,

i6;

BO IV AND ITS PEOPLE.

W. C T. U. Hah

and the hall is also occupied by Bow
Grange, which was instituted Sept.
29, 1S92, with thirty-three charter
members and D. N. Morgan, master.
It is in a most flourishing condition
at the present time, 'with over one
hundred members, Charles H. Mor-
gan now being master.

At present this hall is also used by
the Methodists for public worship
Sunday afternoons, forenoon services

being held by the same denomina-
tion at the Methodist church, located
toward the southerly part of the
town, in the section known as the
"Bog." There has been a Metho-
dist society in town for some sixty
years, and in the early part of its his-
tory, in 1842, it gained much
strength from a great revival, under
the ministry of Rev. James Pike.
Elder John Hook, in his early days,
also held revivals here, and Revs.
Sullivan Holman and Jedediah
Abbott were among the preachers
heard by these people. Rev. Henry
Kandler is the present minister in
charge, looking after the interest of
both congregations.

Metl.udi:,t Church.

Among the best known of the in-
dustrious and thrifty farmers for
whom Bow is noted, is John B.
Baker, elder brother of Gen. Henry
M., and son of Aaron W. and Nancy
(Dustin) Baker, born on the Baker
homestead, April 6, 1834. He was
educated in the common school and
at the old Pembroke " Gymnasium,"
and engaged in agriculture on the
home farm, devoting himself particu-
larl}^ to dairying, which he pursued
with marked success up to 1892,
when he removed to a small but pro-
ductive farm, purchased by his
brother. General Baker, near the
Concord line, formerly known as the
Oliver Bailey place, of which he has
since had the management, together
with valuable outlands. General
Baker also making his home here.

Mr. Baker is a Republican in poli-
tics and a Universalist in religion.
He has served as town treasurer and
represented Bow in the legislature of
1 897-' 98, serving as a member of the
committee on revision of the Statutes.

BOW AND ITS PEOPLE.

165

«»«r

John B. Baker

Residence of Andrew Noyes".

164

BO IV AND ITS PEOPLE.

Hon. Walter Putney.

He is an active and interested mem-
ber of the Patrons of Husbandry,
having joined Hooksett Grange be-
fore the order v/as estabHshed in Bow,
and withdrawing subsequently to join
Bow Grange, in which he has served
as overseer.

November 14, 1865, Mr. Baker
united in marriage with Miss Sarah
Jane L,ocke. They have had two
sons, the younger dying at the age
of thirteen. The elder, Rufus H.,
born March 16, 1870, is a graduate of
the Concord High School, and of
Dartmouth College, class of 1893,
and is now a practising attorney-at-
law in Concord. He married Grace
Iv. Tuck of Concord, and they have
two children.

Hon. WAI.TER Putney, the only
resident of Bow, aside from General
Baker, to be elected to the state
senate, is a native of the town, a son
of David and Mary (Brown) Putne}-,
born July 26, 1845. He was edu-
cated in the common school and at
Hopkinton academy, and has always
pursued the avocation of a farmer, in
his native town, being among the
most prosperous and successful of its
many thriving agriculturists. Politi-
cally he is a Republican. He has
held various town offices and repre-
sented Bow in the legislature in 1895,
being the first Republican elected in
town. In 189S he was the candidate
of his part}^ for senator in the Ninth
district, and was elected by a 760

BO IV AND ITS PEOPLE.

165

^41 ^

Warren C. Saltmarsh.

majority over William O. Folsom of
Henniker, DeiiK^crat, and serving on
the committees on agriculture, claims,
elections, and labor.

Mr. Putney is an Odd Fellow and
a Patron of Husbandry, being an
active meiuber of Bow Grange. He
married Ida P". Cilley, and they have
three children, — Maude I., AHce N.,
and Richard C. Putney.

In the southerly part of the town,
well down the river toward Hookselt,
is the old Noyes homestead, now
occupied by Andrew Noyes, a typi-
cal, old-time, all-around farmer, son
of Benjamin and Abigail (Buntin)
Noyes, and a descenclant of Rev.
James Noyes who came from Eng-
land in 1634, and settled in Newbury,

sxix — 11 i.

Mass., where he was pastor, and
died in 1656. John Noyes, born in
1744, built the house which Andrew
now occupies, and the elm trees
around it were set out more than a
hundred years ago.

Mr. Noyes was born March 3,
1S23, and has always resided on
the old farm. He married Saluria,
daughter of Hiram ami Martha (Sar-
gent) Colby of Bow, November i,
1849. They had one son, Hiram,
born October iS, 1851, who died
February 27, 1S93. Mr. Noyes has
always been a Democrat in politics.
He served as a member of the bmird
of selectmen in 1862, 1863, and 1867,
and represented the town in the leg-
islature in 1885., He is a member of

1 66

BOW AND ITS PEOPLE.

ifl^^m ^wr

John- H. Burroughs

Friendship Lodge, No. 19, I. O. O. V.,
and of Hooksett Grange, P. of H.

Still farther down the riv^er, near
the Hooksett line, is the home of
another enterprising, prosperous far-
mer, Warren C. Saltmarsii. Mr.
Saltmarsh is a native of Hooksett, a
son of Oilman Saltmarsh, born Jan-
uary 15, 1847. He removed with his
father to Bow in 1854, anil has since
resided in town. His father died
April 25, 1899, and his brotlier,
Orren C. Saltmarsh, resides on the
homehtead.

Mr. Saltmarsh is an active Repub-
lican and interested in public affairs.
He has served as supervisor of the
checklist in Bow five years, four jears
as selectman, as collector, town treas-

urer four years, member of the school
board nine years, and represented the
town in the last legislature. He ha-^
been twice married, — first to Amelia
E. Chase, of North Stockholm, N. Y.,
by whom he had three children, —
Perry E., who died at three years of
age; Fred W., American Express
agent at vSuncook, and Ernest W.,
assistant Ireight agent at the same
]')]ace. After the death of his first
wife he married Miss Julia A. Gault
of Bow\

Residing in the northwest corner
of ilie town, or North Bow, are two
brothers, John H. and Edwin P.
Bui roughs, who rank well up among
the prosperous farmers who know
how to make their business "pay."

BO IV AND ITS PEOPLE.

167

Residence of John H. Burroughs.

John H. Burroughs, third son
of Alfred and Mariah (Corning) Bur-
roughs, was born in Londonderry,
June 13, 1845, and removed with his
parents to Bow, at the age of three
years, where he has since had his
home with the exception of sixteen

years, when he was a resident of the
adjoining town of Dunbarton. He
married Miss Helen M. Baker,
daughter of lyuke Baker, of Dunbar-
ton, and they have had born to
them four children, — Sherman E.,
now a lawyer of Manchester; Evelyn,

Residence of Edwin P. Burroughs

1 68

BO IV AND ITS PEOPLE.

The White Farm — Jersey Herd.

who married Frank H. Sargent of
Milwaukee, Wis. ; J. Russell, a civil
engineer, now employed by the Bos-
ton & Maine railroad, and Martha
Grace, who resides at home. Mr.
Burroughs and his family are mem-
bers of the Episcopal church at
North Dunbarton. In politics he is
a Republican. He has served his
town several years as selectman,
member of the board of education,
and as representative in 1 893-' 94.
He is a member of White Mountain
Lodge, I. O. O. P\, of Concord.

Edwin P. Burroughs was born
in the house where he now liv^es in
1859, and educated in the district
schools. He has always resided at
home, and hns made extensive im-
provements upon the place which
was originally the old Cavis farm,
built in 1806. It now embraces
220 acres of land lying partly in
three towns, but mainly in Bow.

He has made a specialty of dairy-
ing, and keeps a fine herd of
from twenty to twenty-five Jerseys
and Holsteins. Mr. Burroughs mar-
ried Hattie, daughter of Charles and
Emma (Tucker) Green of Hopkin-
tou, and they have two daughters,
Bessie and vShirley.

One of the best-known farms in
Merrimack county is the White farm
in Bow, made specially notal)le by
the successful breeding and dairying
operations of the late Henry K.
White, son of Daniel While, who
was born September 21, 1832, and
has always lived thereon. Tliis place
is on iliL* highway leading from Con-
cord to Manchester, one mile south
of Bow Mills, and embraces 150 acres
of land, reaching to the Merrimack
at Garvin's Falls, with a substantial
set of buildings. Mr. White estab-
lished a superior herd of pure-blood
Jerseys, and their product, in the form

"■•''-■ ^Wii-ai&saife, ii£ffiaS£SiatS£ai&i:-i2C>- "

.,'^: mi'^f.Ti

REV. MARY BAKER EDDY.
DisfpTfri'r nnc{ Foinulcr of Chrhtuni Scioice.

BO IV AhW ITS PEOPLE.

169

of " Whites Jersey Cream," has come Concord, a young ladies' organization
to be an article of prime lucessity in formed for the laudable object of pro-
many households. Mr. White died moting out-door recreation among its
last December, and the farm passed members. It commands a beautiful
into the possession of his ne])he\v, view of the city of Concord and a
D. Waldo White, son of David and wide extent of surrounding country,
Charlotte (Page) White, who was In the years to come the town of
born in Concord, June 30, 1864, grad- ]?ow will undoubtedly l)e mainly
uated at Dartmouth college in th.e noted as the birthplace of that re-
class of 18S7 ; was for eight years maikable woman, Mary Baker
superintendent of c >nstruclion and Eddy, (!iscoverer and fouiuier of
electrician for the Concord Street Christian Science, and author of the
railway, and is now engaged in the text-book, " Science and Health with
flour, hay, and grain trade in Con- Key to the Scriptures," daughter of
cord, at the old Frank Coffin stand. Mark and Abigail Baker, who was
He holds his legal residence in Bow, born within its limits, on what is still
and was chosen moderator at the last known as the Baker farm, July 16,
biennial election. He is a Republi- 1821, a comprehensive sketch of
can in politics, k member of White whose career and work, by Judge
Mountain Lodge, I. O. O. F., and of S. J. llanna, apjieared in the
Bow Grange, of which he is a past Granite Monthly for October,
master. He married ICva M. Colby, 1896. Whatever diversity of opin-
by whom he has two daughters, Una ion may exist among men as to the
Goodell and Irene B. merits or demerits of the remarka-
Upon an eminence, southeasterly ble system of religious philosophy of
from Bow Mills, is Camp Weetamoo, which she is the recognized author,
the home of the " Outing Club," of there is no question as to its wonder-

Camp Weetamoo, Ihe Home of the Outing Club.

I70

SUGGESTIONS ON BOYS' READING.

ful influence, conunauding as it has parts of the world, and whose ranks
the recognition and adherence of vast are rapidly increasing from year to
numbers of intelligent people in all year.

THE DISCOVERER AND FOUNDER OF CHRISTIAN SCIENCE.

By 'Jcssh' C. Cliaiiiberiin.

How falls thy thought in roumied perfectness

Among our, ragged earth-irregularities, —

No sawing edges rudel}' jagging through.

No angry angles, no extremities.

No contradicting cuives ! It holds its own

Amid our wayward lines, all tenderly,

As soft as dewdrop, yet as firm as pearl.

A spheric truthfulness is thine, that fills
All sides of thought proportionately round ;
A sympathy that, soluI)le to tears.
Resolves our frozen facts to forms of love ;
While all thy cosmic comprehensiveness
Is moulded, by a moderation meek,
To satisfying symmetry of soul.

Fell not in such sufficing fulness, once.
The ancient manna from the Hebrew skies,
Supplying to the hungry wants of men
The orbed sweetness of fulfilled desire ?

SUGGESTIONS ON

By Raymond

HE subject of boys' read-
ing is one that has been
given but little serious
attention until recently,
and now the impulse in
the right direction is coming from
the public school rather than from
the home. New ideas in pedagogy
are accomplishing much in forming
the reading habit in boys who would
otherwise have failed to acquire it, and
in providing them with a good grade
of reading matter. But the scope of
the teacher, at best, is limited. The

BOYS' READING.

D. Ha sen.

opportunity of the parent is vastly
superior to that of any teacher how-
ever enthusiastic, as the most of a
boy's reading is of necessity done at
a time when the teacher's influence
can be but little felt.

The reading habit, the value of
which no one will dispute, must be
acquired in youth-, if at all. Admit-
ting frequent and conspicuous ex-
ceptions, this rule is, neverthele.ss.
geuerall}^ true. It is an equally gen-
eral proposition that the taste for
superior literature can be most

SUGGESTIONS ON BOYS' READING.

Ill

easily acquired between the ages of
ten and sixteen. F'urther in this
connection it should not be over-
looketl that there are many good
books which can only be thoroughl}-
enjoyed by boys under sixteen.
There are tales of romance and ad-
venture that thrill the boyish heart
with a pleasure he can not find in
liter years, tr}- as he may. Such
books aie a boy's rightful heritage
and he who fails to know and appre-
ciate them is cheated of his birth-
right. Such a book is " Ivaidioe."
It is read and enjoyed, to be sure, b}^
adults, Init not with the fascination
and keen relish of a boy whose illu-
sions are as yet undispelled and to
whom the glamour of life is more
real than the real.

Do not, however, aim too high at
first lest you miss the mark entirely.
A bo}^ can not with profit be forced
into reading books he does not like.
Great care must be taken to suggest
only such books as will interest, and
never to force a book, however meri-
torious in itself, on a boy who cannot
enjoy it. For under these circum-
stances he will soon regard readino:
as a task, instt-ad of in its true and
proper light. Many a boy who
might have acquired the reading
habit to his own great later pleasure
and profit has been estranged from it
by being given books he could not
appreciate.

I know a lady of unusual educa-
tion and culture, active in the liter-
ary life of her community, who,
anxious to benefit the boys and girls
of her town, invited them to her
home and gave them a very excellent
talk on the choice of books. Her
audience was made up of boys and
girls from ten to sixteen years old.

She gave them a talk that would un-
doubtedly have been highly benefi-
cial to mature men and women. At
the close she gave each of them a
neatly printed list of books that she
especially reconnneuded them to
read. I remember the names of
Shakespeare, Thoreau, Isaak Wal-
ton, and several other justly cele-
brated poets and essayists. Unless
I am greatly mistaken there was not a
novelist on the list. By questioning
some of these boys later I became
convinced that her advice had been
of little practical value. To use a
figure of Lord Macaulay's upon a
different subject, "She drew a good
bow, but like Acestes in Virgil,
aimed at the stars and therefore,
though there was no lack of strength
or skill, the shot was thrown away.
His arrow was, indeed, followed by a
streak of dazzling radiance but it
struck nothing."

As a child cannot learn to walk at
once but goes through the interme-
diate stage of creeping, so we must
not expect children to attain the
heights of literature at a single
bound. The}' must rather "mount
the ladder round by round." Read-
ing is not a natural but an acquired
habit. Better for a boy to read dime
novels, detestable as they are, than
to never read at all. For a taste for
reading once acquired, a taste for
gootl reading may be developed. I
once knew a boy, who, at sixteen,
had never read a book in his life,
notwithstanding the efforts of his
parents who had repeatedh' procured
for him books that would have in-
terested most boys. Even Poe's
"Gold Bug" failed to hold his at-
tention to the conclusion, but he
read " The Adventures of Sherlock

172

SUGGESTIONS ON BOYS' READING.

Holmes " with avidity. A taste for
reading once formed, a great deal is
accomplished, though much care is
required to raise the standard of
books without lessening the interest
in them.

There are many so-called boys' au-
thors, boys' books, etc., and while I
would not disparage such books or
authors yet I think there are hooks
not written especially lor boys that
nevertheless interest them more, and
are more beneficial in their influence
than these "juveniles." I have
known but few boj-s who did not
prefer a stirring tale like Cooper's
" lyast of the Mohicans," or " Deer-
slayer," to the adventures and
achievements of any ordinary youth.
Unreal as the former stories are in
some of the authors' conceptions,
they are not so repugnant to a boy's
common sense as the glaring unreali-
ties of the latter.

Though a trifle too full of descrip-
tion to quite suit youthful taste,
Cooper is a delightful author for
boys. In addition to the books I
have mentioned I would add "The
Pathfinder," " The Pilot," and " The
Spy." The latter has consitlerable
historical value. Some people woukl
have boys read nothing but books of
an historical character. In tliis they
certainly err. Because meat is a nu-
tritious and well-nigh necessary arti-
cle of diet we do not think of living
on meat exclusively, so in reading
we require the entrees and even the
desserts of literature.

I do not believe any boy was ever
harmed by reading " Tom Sawyer"
or " Hucklebery Finn," — do I hear
some reader sarcastically say "and
' Peck's Bad Boy ? '" I should most
certainly repudiate such an amend-

ment. These books differ radically
in character. Mark Twain's boys
are invariably manly, generous, kind-
hearted, and truthful, as they under-
stand truth. Few writers have un-
derstood boys as Mark Twain does
and few authors have portrayed more
real, wholesome boys than he. I
would much prefer one of Mark
Twain's boys with all his faults to
one of the lyittle Lord Fauntleroy
type. I think he would make a bet-
ter man. For what is a man worth
if he be not manly? However, I
would not place much real construc-
tive value on such books. Thej'
are serviceable because they are ex-
tremely interesting to every real boy,
and, judiciously mingled, contribute
to variety.

Scott has written many books that
interest boys. If I were to mention
one or two where all are preemi-
nently good I should say " Ivanhoe,"
"The Talisman," and " Quentin
Durward." A good many boys like
"The Lady of the Lake" and
" Marmion " when fairly into the
action of the poems. Boys generally
prefer adventures to love stories, and
this is well though I should not go
to the extreme practised by our
greatest juvenile paper of leaving out
entirely this department of fiction.
Few boys will stick to Dickens's
" C<)])perfield " or Thackeray's " Es-
mond." This is a great pity as ihey
are two of the finest types to hold
before any boy's mind, and the in-
fluence of such books cannot but be
extremely beneficial.

The Henty books have a certain
sort of merit. They are calculated
to interest boys and their historical
setting makes them of value. Among
the reallv valuable books we must

SWEET SLEEP.

173

not overlook those two excellent
stories by Thomas Hughes, " Tom
Brown's School Days" and "Tom
Brown at Oxford." Much has been
said but too much cannot be said of
their fine manly tone and wholesome
morality. Stevenson is an excellent
boy's author. I pity the bo}-, if such
there be, who does not exult in the
thrilling adventure of " Treasure Is-
land." Jules Verne and Rider Hag-
gard are fascinating authors, but of
doubtful value. "Allen Quarter-
main" and "Twenty Thousand
Leagues Under the Sea" are, per-
haps, not harmful in themselves, but
are so highly colored as to render
less imaginative books dull. A re-
sult to be seriously deplored.

Although a boy's taste should be
carefully cultivated yet there is a cer-
tain individuality of taste, a natural
bent of the mind that we should de-
velop and be extremely careful not to
destroy. That is, if a boy shows
special interest in the books of any
good author, let him read all of that
author's publications that he will,
even if he be neglecting for the time
other standard authors. If the vine
be too closely trimmed it will not
thrive.

These hints do not prescribe any

regular course of reading or of books,
but rather authors and principles.
No rigid, inelastic course could be
succe.'^sfully laid down for boys as
bo3's' minds are not all run in the
same mould.

The books I have mentioned are
such as appeal to boys' hearts and
imaginations and hold up to their
admiration examples of courage and
manliness. There are many books
of this sort, among many I would
mention Thompson's "Green Moun-
tain Boys," Eggleston's " Hoosier
Schoolboy," Blackmore's " Lorn a
Doone," and the "Scottish Chiefs,"
by Jane Porter. These are, to be
sure, in no sense classics, though
" Lorna Doone" holds a consider-
able place in literature. It is not
natural for a boy to have sufficient
maturity or mental development to
enjoy " Sartor Resartus," " Faust,"
or even " The Autocrat." I think I
should be distrustful of a boy who
did. I know I should pity such ab-
normal precocity. Rather let him
begin with the books suited to his
years and understanding, and if his
reading be judiciously guided, in
later life he will find little in litera-
ture which is beautiful and enduring
that he cannot appreciate and enjoy.

SWEET SLEEP.

By Hervey Lucius Woodward.

When the da}' is far spent
And the night is at hand,-

When the soul is oppressed
As if bound by a band, —

When the shades of the night
Fall refreshingly down,

And the whip-poor-will's cry
Is heard thro' the town.

Then in rapture I gaze
On the bright blue above, -

Then I flee to sweet sleep
With the speed of a dove.

A NIGHT IN AN ASYLUM.

\Copyyight by tlic author.^

By John Lenox Fetuier

|ARIvY in December, in
one of the closing years
of the last centurjs John

Hay arrived in Boston,
fresh from the little city
of Baymore, which nestles snugly on
the bold and picturesque shores of
the Pine tree state, where he had
passed the greater portion of his
life.

He was twenty-five years of age and
a powerful young fellow, equipped
for his battle with life, in a large city,
with good health, a fairly liberal edu-
cation, and a fair amount of brains,
but with very little ready cash in his
pocket.

He was one of a large family of
children, whom his parents, by dint
of a hard struggle, had managed to
help to a college course. After grad-
uating at Dartmouth he had returned
to the home of his boyhood and en-
gaged in newspaper work in which
he had been quite successful, and
this, in connection with outside en-
terprises, had proved highly renum-
erative.

But young Hay had the failing of
being good-natured, and utterly un-
able to say "no," so he had fallen
in with a fast crowd and been a hail-
fellow-well-met, with the result that
when in a fit of pique he had thrown
up his comfortable and lucrative po-
sition on the Baymore Daily Leader,
and struck out for the city, he had.

after settling his debts, a very smnl!
sum.

On his arrival in the city he spt-ed-
ily settled himself in a room at a
south end lodging house, pacing
more for it than the state of his
finances really would allow, and after
purchasing a meal ticket at a cheap
restaurant, he began comfortably to
look about for something to do, think-
ing in his ignorance of the city that
this would be very easy to procure.

He first tried the city dailies, but
speedily found that, while he had
been looked up to in Baymore as a
great and shining light in the jour-
nalistic field, his fanie had not pre-
ceded him to Boston, and the papers
were overwhelmed with applications
from really good men out of work.

On one paper he was promised a
position as space writer at an early
date, but he had not money enough
with him to keep him until that time.
So, that avenue closed, he scanned
the " Help Wanted" columns of the
Globe and Herald for several days, in
the hope of finding some position for
which he was fitted, l)ut without suc-
cess.

He had begun to despair when on
picking up tho.' Herald one morning
he ran across an advertisement read-
ing as follows :

Wanted — A young: man as companion to an
invalid in a sanitarium. College graduate or
trained nurse preferred. Liberal compensa-
tion. Apply to QZ, Herald office.

A NIGHT IN AN ASYLUM.

175

This was not exactly in Hay's line,
but he was by this time reduced to a
condition, both in mind and pocket-
book, that he was willing to grasp
at anything that gave promise of a
living.

He replied to the advertisement,
stating his qualifications for the posi-
tion, and the next day received in
return a letter in feminine hand writ-
ing asking him to call at a number
on Commonwealth avenue at two
o'clock that afternoon.

He kept the appointment, and on
presenting his card was ushered into
the presence of a very pleasant look-
ing old lady.

She told him that the invalid was
her son, that he was a little queer
on some subjects, and it had been
thought best to have him cared for
at the sanitarium kept by Dr. S — ,
which stands in one of the pleasaut-
est of Boston's suburbs.

He seemed to please the old lady
by his conversation, and iu a very
brief space of time found himself en-
gaged as companion to her son at a
compensation so large that he was
surprised at its generosity, and was
instructed to report at the asylum at
four o'clock that afternoon.

He was punctual to the minute,
and found the sanitarium to be a
large and handsome building, al-
though somewhat gloomy-looking,
built of granite, with spacious
grounds around it, encircled by a
very high iron fence, over which it
would be a physical impossibility for
any one to climb.

He ascended the steps and rang
the bell. The door w^as opened by
an attendant to whom he stated his
business and was admitted, although
Ha}^ fancied that the man smiled

rather peculiarly at him. However,
he was young and strong, and so far
in life had not known w'hat fear was,
so he flattered himself that even
should it chance that his patient was
a dangerous lunatic he could handle
him.

However, he did not have much
time to think the matter over as he
was conducted immediately to the
private apartments occupied by the
invalid, and was shown into the pres-
ence of Air. George \'an Ryke, which
he had been told was the name of
the unfortunate.

The guide retired immediately,
locking the door behind him, and
Hay was left standing gazing at a
man who had arisen from an easy
chair at their approach, and who evi-
dently had been engrossed in read-
ing.

Van Ryke was apparently young,
not more than five and thirt3^ and
had a pleasant, intelligent counte-
nance very like that of his mother.
The only striking features about him
wxre his eyes, which were of a deep
brilliant green, and his hair, which
was very long and thick and per-
fectly white.

He stood silently looking Hay over
while he explained that he was the
companion engaged b}' his mother
for him ; then he motioned him to be
seated and resumed his own chair.

He sat silently for some minutes, a
period which Hay improved b\' gaz-
ing about the apartments and ob-
serving their arrangements. There
were three rooms, the large one iu
which they were at present, and
which it was evident was used as a
sitting- and lounging-room, and two
smaller rooms, which were hand-
somely furnished as bed- rooms. All

176

A NIGHT IN AN ASYLUM.

were furnished in excellent taste, al-
though in magnificent style, and re-
minded Hay more of rich bachelor's
quarters in the city than of apart-
ments in an insane as5dum, so pleas-
ant and homelike were they.

Hay was recalled from his musings
by his companion who was speaking
in a singularly pleasant and well-
modulated voice. He questioned Hay
in regard to himself and seemed well
satisfied with the replies he received.
Then in return he spoke of himself
and told his new companion that he
was a graduate of Harvard, and had
later pursued his studies in Germau3^

They were interrupted in their con-
versation by the advent of two ample
waiters who brought in an excellent
supper, to which both did full jus-
tice.

After the meal was over and the
dishes carried away again. Van Ryke
took a well-seasoned brier pipe down
from the rack over his head and
passing another to Hay invited him
to join him in a smoke, which he did
gladly.

They passed a very pleasant even-
ing together, during which the in-
valid astonished his companion with
his wide range of knowledge on all
subjects. He was an enthusiast on
art and well posted on all of the
ancient and modern masters. He
was also a linguist of no mean dis-
tinction, and had evidently traveled
in all quarters of the globe. He was
well informed on all of the leading
and vital questions of the day, and
in addition to these proved himself
to l)e a thorough musician, and en-
tertained Hay with selections on
the various musical instruments with
which the room abounded, winding
up by singing a solo in a rich bari-

tone voice and accompanying himself
on the piano.

In the thorough enjoyment of his
society Haj^ almost lost sight of the
relations they held to each other, as
his companion proved to be one of
the most charming of men. The fact
was only called to his mind once dur-
ing the evening, when Van R5^ke
turned suddenly to him after an in-
terval of silence and abruptly queried,
" Do you think me mad ? "

Hay was about to respond that he
certainly had not that appearance,
when he continued: "I am not in-
sane although they say I am. I am
simply an advanced student many
years ahead of the present genera-
tion. While electricity is still in its
infancy, with Edison, Tesla, and
Marconi carrying on their puny ex-
periments, I have followed it out to
the end, and have discovered what
the rest of the universe will not know
for fifty years to come. Yet I have
taken a fancy to you- and will share
with you the knowledge which I
have only acquired after years of
patient research."

With these words he abruptly
changed the subject and struck off
into a discussion of one of the eco-
nomic questions which was then at-
tracting much attention throughout
the country, and regarding which he
expressed some very original and
bright opinions as to its solution,
and in following his line of reasoning
with interest Hay speedily forgot his
strange words.

At length he signified his intention
of retiring, and indicating one of the
bed-rooms he info.mied Hay that it
was to be his chamber. The latter
entered it, closing the door, and then
more from force of habit than from

A NIGHT IN AN ASYLUM.

177

an}^ fear of his companion, locked it
with key and bolt, with both of
which it was provided.

He was speedily undressed and be-
tween the sheets of what seemed one
of the most luxurious of beds, and
fell asleep almost immediatel5^ His
respose was both sweet and dream-
less, until he had been in bed about
two hours as near as he can judge,
when he awoke with a start and be-
came suddenly conscious of another
presence in the room. Then he be-
held standing at his bedside, in dim
and shadowy substance, the image of
his companion, the insane man. His
expression was still kindly as in the
afternoon, and when Hay was thor-
oughly awake he said :

" I told you I would reveal to you
a portion of my .secrets, and I have
come to fulfil my promise."

Hay glanced at the door. It was
still locked and bolted, and he re-
members dimly wondering how he
had entered the room, but felt abso-
lutely no fear. In a moment he
stretched out his hand towards Hay.
As he did so a blue flame .^eemed to
dart from the end of his forefinger
towards Hay. The latter was con-
scious of a slight shock, and in an
instant was up beside Van Ryke in
the room as dim and shadowy as
himself.

He was conscious of a joyful
lightness and involuntaril}' glanced
towards the bed. There he saw him-
self again in substance, but looking
cold and corpse like.

" Now then," said his companion,
" you can see for yourself that I have
attained the knowledge of how, by
the aid of electricity, to separate the
spiritual from the material body, and
in this shape I have explored all

parts of the universe. To-night I
am going to take you a short journey
that 5'^ou may see for yourself also
some of the mysteries that I am
called mad for trying to explain to
the world."

As he spoke the walls seemed to
fade from around them, and to Hay
it seemed that they were sinking
down with incredible speed into the
bowels of the earth, which opened
below them as they descended and
closed above them. At last, after
going an interminable distance, it
seemed, very swiftly, they came out
into a vast open space in which the
glare of light blinded Hay momen-
tarily and the heat was almost in-
tolerable, although they hovered near
the edge of the cavern.

When he was able he gazed about
him and beheld a scene which defies
description. In the center of the
huge amphitheatre was a vast burn-
ing lake which was fed by a myriad
of loathsome looking monsters, with
great red, hairy bodies, who from
time to time scraped off from the roof
and sides of the cavern great quanti-
ties of rocks and eartli with long
handled rakes and shoveled it into
the fire, which devoured it with in-
satiable greed as though it were j-o
much dry pine wood.

All around the burning lake were
seated row upon row of shadowy
beings like themselves, but of more
grotesque shape it seemed to Hay,
and the cries of anguish and agony
from this vast concourse as the heat
scorched and shrivelt-d them filled
the cavern, and their lamentations
were painful to listen to, seeming to
ascend, as they undoubtedly did,
from the eternally damned.

As Hay hovered on the outskirts

178

A NIGHT IN AN ASYLUM.

of the circle he was struck by the
familiar appearance of one of the per-
sons iu the rear row, and as he gazed
he recognized it to be the spirit of a
departed church deacon from Bay-
more, with whose hypocrisy he had
been cognizant long before his death.
The smallness and meanness of his
miserable soul was now apparent in
all its true inwardness.

"My friend," at length spoke his
companion, "you have had a brief
glimpse of the ett-rnal punishment.
Is it enough? Theu come."

As he concluded speaking they
seemed again to be flying through
space, this time upwards, and shortly
they again entered Hay's chamber.
Here Van Ryke extended his hand.
Again the blue flame. Then blank-
ness.

When Hay awakened it was day-
light and he was lying very com-
fortably iu bed, but with very vivid
recollections of the events of the
night.

He arose, performed his ablu-
tions, and dressed, thinking seriously
all the while. Tlieu he unlocked
and opened the door leading into the
sitling-room. Van Ryke was seated
in his easy chair reading. He arose
and welcomed Hay with a smile, but
neither referred in any wa}' to the ex-
perience they had passed through.

Breakfast was soon served, and
af;er eating it Hay infonnetl his com-
panion that he had made up his
mind to give up his jiosition. Van
Ryke showed no surprise but seemed
somewhat disappointed. He did not,
however, press him to stay, l)Ut sum-
moned ati attendant, and Hay was
speedily in the presence of Dr. S — .

He explained to the latter that he
did not care to continue in his ca-

pacity at the sanitarium. The doctor
was not at all surprised. In fact he
told Hay that every companion en-
gaged for Mr. Van Ryke during his
stay at the sanitarium, and he had
been there for tw^o months, had left
after a very short stay. He was
curious in regard to the cause of this
going, but as Hay was not at all sure
that he had not had a nightmare in-
duced by his companion's strange
words of the evening, he was not dis-
posed to enlighten him, and he got
scant satisfaction.

On his return to the city Hay took
the trouble to look up two of the
former companions of Van Ryke, and
by cautious questioning became con-
vinced that they had also undergone
some peculiar experiences while iu
that capacity.

Hay was lucky enough to get
another position that day, and as
weeks passed by the adventure be-
gan to fade from his memory until
one day his attention was attracted
to the following paragraph in the
Globe :

vSTRUCK BY LIGHTNING.

At an early hour this morning George Van
Ryke, a wealthy young Boston man who was
temporarily an inmate of Dr. S — 's sanitarium,
and his paid companion, were found dead in
their apartments there, having evidently been
killed by a stroke of lightning, although the
sky was cloudless last night. A blue spot on
the end of ISIr. Van Ryke's right fore finger and
a similar spot on his companion's forehead
showed where the fatal fluid entered.

Details as to family and funeral
arangements followed.

Hay has wondered many times
since then if it was a stroke of light-
ning that killed the two men, or
whether at last one of George Van
Ryke's mysterious experiments had
failed.

IN THE FOREST.

By C. C. Lord.

Grots and aveuues of shade —

How the soul grows weird in feeling !

Mystic forms the scene invade,

Through the leaf}' cloisters stealing.

List the breath that fills the trees,
Teeming fancy geutl}' flowing ;

Whispers float upon the l^reeze,

Accents hushed of thoughts all-kno A'ing.

Light and shadow, lisping air —
Now the mythic theme is waking h

Nymphs serene and dryads fair,
Each a seal divine is breaking.

AMONG THE GRANITE HILLS.

By Frances A. Fox.

A narrow strip of country' road.

Grass-grown and softly shaded
By birch and beech and fragrant pines,

Willi maples iuterladed —
Above, the bright blue sky looks in,

In fancy-l)roken spaces —
And here and there the sunbeams kiss

The flow ers' tender faces.

Deep in the woods, a joyous song

From feathered songsters ringing,
And by the moss grown rocks the feins

Their dainty plumes are swinging.
And over all. there comes a thought,

Of love and peace and glory.
Reflection of the Infinite,

Harmonious and hoi)'.

HON. NATHAN R. PERKINS.

Nathan Randall Perkins, born in Middleton, Dec. 13, 1828, died at Jefferson,
July 26, 1900.

Mr. Perkins was engaged in farm work in boyhood, and was afterwards employed
in the mills and at stone work in Manchester, enjoying limited educational advan-
tages. Subsequently he went to Lancaster, where he learned blacksmithing, and
also for a time attended Lancaster academy. In May, 1832, in company with
L. M. Rosebrook, of whom he learned the blacksmith's trade, he began the erec-
tion of the Summit House, the first hotel on Mt. Washington, which was completed,
and of which he had full charge the following year, making many additions.

In 1854 he purchased the farm in Jefferson, on which he ever after resided, and
where he died, and on May 22 of that year was united in marriage with Elizabeth
C. Hicks, by whom he had one son, Manasseh, born in October, 1855, who sur-
vives with his mother, and who is the president of the Jefferson Hotel and Lumber
Company, and who represented the town of Jefferson in the legislature of i885-'86.
Mr. Perkins continued blacksmithing in connection with his farming operations,
and prospered in both lines. In 1860 he bought the Jefferson mills property and
rebuilt the saw- and gristmills, erected a starch factory and conducted these three
enterprises for twenty years with great financial success.

About 1868, Mr. Perkins purchased some 3,000 acres of timber land from the
estate of Canning Williams, known as the Governor Williams purchase, and at
once began to survey it, having done much field work in this profession. In 1872
he was engaged in laying out the Whitefield and Jefferson railroad, and attended
to all the civil engineering required by the main road and its lumber branches. In
1872 he purchased three fourths of Lowe and Burbank's grant. Upon the organi-
zation of Brown's Liunber company in 1874, Mr. Perkins became a member, and
has since been in charge of its interests in Jefferson and the " woods." He was
the second president of the company. He superintended the entire building of the
railroad, laying out and putting up the camps, surveyed the land, let contracts for
getting out timber, etc., etc. He had been for years president of the \^'hitefield
and Jefferson road.

Politically Mr. Perkins was a lifelong Democrat and one of the most prominent
leaders of the party in northern New Hampshire for more than thirty years. He
held many important public offices, representing his town five terms in the legisla-
ture, serving five terms as county commissioner, as a member of the constitutional
conventions in 1876, and as a member of the executive council under both Gov-
ernors Straw and Weston. He was an active member of the Masonic order, both

a
z
<

z
<

>
LU
>

DC
<

The (jRANiTC AonTMi^q,

Vol. XXIX.

SEPTEMBER, 1900.

No. 3,

NORTHWOOD: A TOWN OF LAKES.

[Illustrated from photographs by O. M. James and others.]
By J. M. Moses.

^ORTHWOOD received
its first literary intro-

duction to the world
from the pen of that
gifted New Hampshire
authoress, Sarah J. Hale. Her first
important work was a purpose novel,
written to promote a better under-
standing between the people of the
northern and southern sections of the
country, with the hope of contribu-
ting to the solution of the slavery
problem. It was written in 1827.
Its title was " Northwood ; or L,ife
North and South." Its scene was
laid in Northwood. The book is
now forgotten and hard to find ; but
it attracted much attention in its day.
It was even reprinted in England, —
a rare honor for an American book
of that time, — and thus introduced
our humble township to the people of
both hemispheres.

Mrs. Hale correctly located North-
wood as lying about midway on the
turnpike between Concord and Ports-
mouth, and made Pleasant pond and
a mountain to the east its most

prominent physical features. Aside
from these particulars, she could not
have given mitch attention to the
topography. At any rate, the North-
wood of to-day differs widely from
the Northwood of the story. It is
amusing to read of the adventures of
the hero on the mottntain, where he
"rolled down huge rocks, listening
as they bounded thundering from
crag to crag, till they fell dashing in
the waters below." Saddleback now
rears its gentle swell several miles
east of the lake. The lake now emp-
ties to the north, instead of the east ;
and it no longer performs the optical
miracle of resembling a "burnished
sheet of living gold ' ' when seen from
the west at sunset. The South Par-
ish, in which the characters of the
story lived, has disappeared not only
from the town, but from the memory
of all the inhabitants. Finally, Lake
Pleasant, by agreement of the officers
of Northwood and Deerfield, has
come to be regarded as lying wholly
within the territory of the latter
town, although hy their acts of in-

i86

NORTHWOOD.

corporation Deerfield had only "the
Lands and Settlers west of Pleasant
Pond," and Northwood was made to
be ' ' bounded southwesterly on Deer-
field line."

Northwood is so rich in lakes that

A View of Suncook Lake.

it can easily bear the merel}^ nominal
loss of one of them. Lakewood
should now be its name, for it is
noted for lakes rather than for high
latitude, and is rich in forests as
well as lakes. Of the latter, ten lie
within its limits and on its borders.,
viz., Suncook, Pleasant, Harvey,
Bow, lyittle Bow, Durgin, Long,
Jenness, Morrison, and North river.
There is an extensive forest tract
surrounding Little Bow, and extend-
ing from Bow to Jenness and Harvey
lakes, — a remnant of the feature that
gave the town its name. The lantl
is level as compared with the towns
to the north and west, though there
is a rugged section in the south.
The roads are mostly of easy grade.
The height above sea-level varies
from 512 feet at Suncook lake to
about 700 feet at the Ridge. Saddle-
back rises 1,032 feet, — a very mod-
est altitude compared with elevations
farther inland, yet it is the highest
land in Rockingham county, except-
ing a spur of Nottingham mountain

in Deerfield, and the highest on the
Atlantic coast, south of Maine, so
near the sea. The outlook from its
summit extends over nearly the whole
of Rockingham and Strafford coun-
ties, reaching far into Maine and out
over the ocean.

Northwood was of late settlement
and incorporation. It was erected
into a township February 6, 1773,
having been previously a part of
Nottingham. It had retained its
forest condition longer than the land
about it and had come to be known
as the North Woods of Nottingham.
Its poverty in water-power may have
retarded its settlement and clearing.
It is a dividing ridge or watershed,
sending its streams in four different
directions, feeding the North river
on the east, the Suncook on the west,
the Isinglass on the north, and the
Lamprey on the south. The north-
ern and southern drainage seems to
have had no influence on our history,
but the eastern and western flows
have been typical of the tendencies
of our business and social life.

' ,:. f^i^''

;4£)2ik..

Residence of J. R, Towle.

The earliest settlements were made
in 1763, at both East Northwood and
the Narrows. At the former place
.settled Moses Godfrey and John and
Increase Batchelder. The first house^
that of Godfrey, was on the hill east

NORTHWOOD.

187

of the square. The Batchelders set-
tled west of the church ; Johu, where
his desceudaut, Arthur Batchelder,
now lives, aud Increase, on the lot of
the late Francis Hanson.

To the Narrows came Solomon

Residence of S. S. James.

Bickford, followed two years later by
Samuel Johnson. Bickford located
where is now the residence of J. R.
Towle, known as "First Place."
Johnson settled at Johnson Square
and later built " Second Place," now^
the home of D. ly. Towle.

Johnson spent his first night on a
ledge between two rocks that had
been split apart, spreading over them
a covering of boughs. This place
was long known as the " Old Camp."
Close by it he located the family
graveyard ; and here his ashes re-
pose with those of many of his de-
scendants.

Other early arrivals were Abraham
and Samuel Batchelder, John, Simeon
and Benjamin Johnson, Jonathan and
Taylor Clarke, Thomas and Ebenezer
Knowlton, Daniel Hoyt, John Sher-
burne, Benjamin Hill, and David and
Simeon Knowles. In 1775 there were
313 inhabitants.

On the outbreak of the Revolution
every man but one signed the Asso-
ciation Test. North wood took her

full share of the sufferings and sacri-
fices of that trying time, as well as of
later times when the country has
been imperiled. Over one hundred
of her soldiers were in the War of the
RebelHon.

The epoch-making event in the
history of the town was the open-
ing of the Concord and Portsmouth
turnpike. This was about 1800. It
did more for us than the building of
a railroad would now^ do. Ports-
mouth then had a large commerce
and was the principal gateway of
enirauce to New Hampshire. The
turnpike became the chief artery
of communication with the interior.
Location on this route gave the tow^n
a decided advantage. It opened an
outlet for products, especially lum-
ber. The scant water-power was
now made to do service to its utter-
most, running sawmills. At least
twelve mill privileges were utilized,
although there are no streams that
can 5'ield power more than a small
part of the year. Five of these water

^!*sa£..

Sawmill of S. S. James.

sawmills still remain. That owned
by Samuel S. James is the oldest.

As Northwood was about midway
between Concord and the coast, it
was the place where travelers must
dine and have their teams fed.

i88

NORTHWOOD.

^ .

The Pillsbury Shoe Factory and J. E. Batchelder's.

Hotels sprang up. Many distin-
guished men were entertained, among
them Lafayette and President Mon-
roe. Contact with the outside world
stimulated enterprise. Our merchants
learned to draw trade from the sur-
rounding country, and the town
gained a mercantile ascendency that
it has not yet wholly lost. Wc are
still a center of trade in hardware,
dry-goods, millinery, and fauc}' arti-
cles, besides being resorted to for
legal and medical services, academic
education, music, surveying, den-
tistry, photography, and printing.

With the building of the railroads
the turnpike lost its importance as a
thoroughfare. Boston usurped the
trade of Portsmouth. North wood was
left stranded as a hill town, while the
currents of commerce swept by on
either side. Still the enterprise of
the people proved equal to the new
conditions and we suffered no retro-
gression. About this time was intro-

duced the form of manufacturing,
which soon became the industrial dis-
tinction of the town.

One of our schoolboys, when asked
by his teacher to name the occupa-
tions of mankind, replied that there
were two, farming and the shoe busi-
ness. This was merely an amusing
projection of home conditions on the
world at large. Presumably reflec-
tion convinced him that there were
some other ways of ministering to
human needs ; but so far as North-
wood was concerned, he had stated
the main facts of the situation. For
two generations, with every boy not
aspiring to mercantile or professional
life, the question has been, " To be a
farmer or to be a shoemaker ? ' ' The
majority have chosen shoemaking.

Shoemaking is, of course, as old as
civilization. In colonial times the
shoemaker went from house to house
making shoes for families, and cus-
tom shops existed. The ready made,

NORTH WOOD.

189

or sale work was developed early in
this century. As early as 1835 some
of the more ambitious workmen of
this vicinity were making for parties
in Haverhill, doing their own freight-
ing. A little later some of our enter-
prising merchants bought stock and
gave out work to their patrons. This
was done by Eben Coe and Josiah
Lancaster at the Narrows, and by
Jacob Knowles and his successors,
William and Caverly Knowles, at the
Ridge.

Cotton Drake of Pittsfield was our
first man to make a specialty of
freighting shoes and getting work for
others. He drove through North-
wood to Hampton, beginning with
one horse. Other early freighters
were Wni. B. Pinkham and John B.
Hill.

It was not till the middle of the
century that our shoe business took
on the expansion that has since dis-

tinguished it. This development was
mainly due to the enterprise of the
freighters, who went to Lynn every
week with .shoes and returned with
new stock and the pay for the work
of the preceding week.

The leading freighters at this time
were Woodbury M. Durgin and
Henrj' Bickford. Later James C.
Locke and Lewis E. Kimball were
equally prominent. The business
spread till there was hardly a house
at which one or two members of the
family were not engaged in it. It re-
quired three four-horse teams, mak-
ing one trip a week, to carry the
shoes and stock between Northwood
and Hampton, where connection was
made by rail for Lynn. Between
1850 and i860 it is estimated that on
an average two thousand dollars a
week were brought into town as
wages, and three thousand a week in
the decade following.

Union Shoe Factory — Blake, Allen & Co.

190

NORTHWOOD.

Our first shoe factor}- was built at
East North wood in 1866, by John
and Alpha Pillsbury, descendants of
the Rev. Edmund Pillsbury, the first
minister. It was enlarged in 1S70,
and again in 1874. They built up a
flourishing business, paid good
wages, and employed an excellent
class of workmen. At least two hun-
dred people were employed when the
business was at its height, and not

up as a hotel and boarding-house.
The business had come to equal the
best days of the Pillsbury factory.

In 1 885 the Pillsburys left town
and their factory was closed. A new
and much larger one was immediately
built by the citizens, and the firm of
Davis & Crafts of Haverhill came to
occupj^ it. They employed two hun-
dred workmen, and the pay-roll
amounted to twenty-two hundred dol-

J. R. Towle & Sons' Shoe Factory — Burned in 1895.

less than two thousand dollars a week
was paid as wages.

About twenty years ago J. R.
Towle with his sons, C. K. and J. A.
Towle, started a small shoe factory at
the Narrows. His nephew, J. G.
Towle, was later associated with him.
The business soon broke up, the par-
ties removing to Haverhill. In 1885
the firm of J. R. Towle & Sons re-
turned and began a very lively busi-
ness, which was rapidly increased.
The old factory was repeatedly en-
larged, and in 1887 a new one was
built. This was soon doubled in ca-
pacity and the old factory was fitted

lars a week. They removed to Man-
chester in 1 89 1, and a home company
was formed under the presidency of
E. S. Woodbury, which carried on
business for four years.

In 1892 Ira Blake of Pittsfield pur-
chased the Pillsbury factory and com-
menced to operate it. He soon en-
tered into partnership with William
Allen of Lynn, under the name of
Blake, Allen & Co. Mr. Blake died
in 1898 and the business has since
been under the management of Mr.
Allen. In 1899 it was removed to
the new factory built by the citizens.

In 1898 A. R. Hyde started a small

NORTH WOOD.

191

factory at the Narrows, which he
still operates, employing an excellent
class of workmen and making a ver}-
fine shoe.

Our shoe business has had many
fluctuations and some serious misfor-
tunes, the greatest being the loss of
J. R. Towle & Sons' new factory by
fire in 1895. This interrupted busi-
ness for two years. Since 1897 the
J. Arthur Towle Shoe Company has
been carrying on business in the old
factor}'. The hand work is still done
to a considerable extent, Rev. J. A.
Bryant doing most of the freighting.
The w^eekly wages of both factory and
hand work for the past winter have
been from fifteen hundred to two
thousand dollars, about one-fifth be-
ing paid for hand work, and the rest
about equally divided between the
factories at the Narrows and East
Northwood.

Agriculture has suffered from the
withdrawal of the young and from
the overshadowin-- interest in the
shoe business ; yet we have many
thrifty and prosperous farmers. One
of them, G. F. Hervey, has had the
enterprise to start a private creamery,
the "Hilltop," on Bennett's Hill.
He makes butter of a superior qual-
ity, which finds ready sale. Two
granges and two annual fairs are
now doing what can be done to re-
vive agricultural interest. We have
excellent soil, and butter and cheese
can be made as well here as any-
where.

The early settlers were people of
strong religious character ; but it is
remarkable that the orthodoxy of the
standing order was not the first pub-
lic worship to be established. Settle-
ment was most rapid at Hast North-
wood. Here the first store was

opened, the first blacksmith shop,
and the first school. Here as early
as 1772 the first church edifice was
erected. The people were mostly
Baptists. July 27, 1773, the Calvin
Baptist church was organized, and
Rev. Edmund Pillsbury was made
teaching elder. He continued to
minister to the spiritual needs of the
people till 1799, his congregation in-
cluding not only the people of East
Northwood but many from Notting-
ham and Barrington. He also taught
school, and seems to have been a man

Calvin Baptist Church.

of unusual intelligence and liberality.

Among the most eminent of later
pastors have been : Rev. Eliphalet
Merrill, 1805-182S ; Rev. G. B. Ash-
by, 1833-1840; and Rev. D. Ta3'lor,
1S77-1886. The pulpit is at present
supplied b}' Rev. J. E. Dame.

The present church building dates
from 1 8 16. It is the best equipped
in town, having bell, clock, and pipe
organ.

As early as 1780 effort was made to
establish Congregational worship at
the Center. The first meeting-house
there was built in 1781. Ministers
were employed for brief periods, the
Rev. Mr. Pillsbury preaching half of
the time one 3'ear. It was not till
1799, contemporaneoush' with the

ig:

NORTHWOOD.

Congregational Church.

close of Mr. Pillsbury's labors at East
Northwood, that the people were
ready to settle a minister. The Con-
gregational church was organized
Nov. 29, 1798, and on May 29 of the
following year Rev. Josiah Prentice
was formally installed as pastor. He
was at first employed by the town,
but the Baptists were never taxed for
his support. He was a man of great
piety and learning, commanding the
highest respect, and impressing a
strong influence on the community.
He was pastor forty-two years. Dur-
ing this time the church was greatly
prospered and became the strongest
in town. In 1840 a new church of
rare beauty was built on a new lot
near the lake, half of the expense be-
ing borne by Mr. and Mrs. Eben
Coe and Hon. John Harvey. It is
still in use. The front is in the form
of a Greek temple with Doric col-
umns, sumounted b}' a belfry in the
form of an altar.

Of the pastors since Mr. Prentice,
the longest in ofhce have been Rev.
E. C. Cogswell, 1842-1848 and 1865-
1876; Rev. Otis Holmes, 1850-1857;
Rev. H. C. Fay, 1 859-1 864 and 1882-
1885; Rev. F. E. Small, 1885-1890;
and Rev. W. A. Bushee, since 1896.

The Freewill Baptist church was

organized June 4, 1833, through the
agency of the Rev. Daniel P. Cilley.
It grew rapidly and is now much the
largest of our churches. Its edifice,
at the Ridge, was erected in 1838,
and provided with a very sweet-toned
bell, still in use. This building has
been several times enlarged and now
contains the largest audience room in
town. Brief pastorates have been

Free Baptist Church.

the rule, that of Rev. C. E. Pinkham,
1 879- 1 890, being the longest and per-
haps the most effective. Of earlier
pastors. Rev. E. H. Prescott, 1864-
1868, was influential in founding the
Seminary. Rev. E. P. Bickford,
1870-1875, is editor of the Morning
Star. The pastors since 1890 have
been Rev. R. E. Howard, 1891-1894;
Rev. F. E. Freese, 1894- 1897 ; Rev.
C. A. Buker, 1897-1899 ; Rev. F. E.
Carver, since 1899.

The Advent church at the Narrows
dates practically from 1854, when
Christians of that faith began to hold
regular meeting» in Union hall ;
though its formal organization was
not effected till Sept. 14, 18S1. Rev.
John Parsons, ordained in i860, was
regarded as pastor and was duly
elected to that office at the organiza-
tion. He preached generally once a
month for over thirty-five years.

NORTH WOOD.

193

Other ministers supplied on most of
the intervening Sabbaths and a large
liberty of prophesying was allowed to
the laity. On the death of Mr. Par-
sons, in 1896, Rev. J. A. Bryant was
chosen his successor. For the past
year Rev. C. W. Dockhara has been
employed on a salary, preaching
every Sunday.

A very pretty church was built in
1887, nearly half of the expense be-
ing borne by J. R. Towle «& Sons.

Of Northwood's ministers the most
remarkable was Rev. E. C. Cogswell.
He was a man of culture and natural
refinement, graduated from Dart-
mouth College in the class of '38, of
lively sympathy and social charm,
skilful in the management of young
and old, of great versatility and un-

.^.

Academy, besides managing a large
farm. His return to town in 1865
opened a new era in our educational
history.

We had always been keenly alive
to the fact that we had heads as well
as feet, and that the shoe business
was not the chief end, if the chief
employment, of man. Our first town
meeting had appropriated money for
schools and for public worship, — more
for the former than for the latter.
The district schools had been well
supported and there had been occa-
sional terms of select school. It was
admitted that we surpassed neighbor-
ing towns in the instruction given to
the young and in the general intelli-
gence of the people. A high school
had long been desired. For a gener-
ation efforts had been made at differ-
ent times to establish one, but the
question of location defied settlement.
The geographical center was thinly
populated. Interest and offers of aid
were not equally distributed. Parties
proposing to contribute heavily ex-
pected proportionate influence in de-
termining the site.

In 1866 Mr. Cogswell succeeded in
gaining the cooperation of enough
people to start the Acadeni}' at the
Center. The Congregational society

Advent Church.

tiring industr}^ unselfishly devoted to
the highest ends. Monuments of his
literary activity are his two large his-
tories, one of New Boston, the other
of the towns of Nottingham, Deer-
field, and Northwood. From the last
many of the facts of this article are
derived. For the last ten years of his
ministry he not only preached regu-
larly, but taught every day in the

Cogswell Hall.

NORTH WOOD.

195

gave the land on condition of having
the right to use the building as a ves-
Xxy. A modest building was erected
and a verj' flourishing school estab-
lished. At one time one hundred
pupils were enrolled. The Academy
soon found a munificent benefactor in
the person of Eben S. Coe of Bangor,
Maine, a native of North wood. He
gave it a new building on a beautiful
lot by the lake, also two boarding-
houses and wood lots to supply fuel,
and has left it an endowment suffi-
cient to ensure its permanence and
efficiency. E. K. Welch, A. B., is
the present principal.

Mr. Cogswell did not gain the co-
operation of all of our people in the
support of his school. Many in the
eastern part of the town were dissat-
isfied with its location and auspices,
and proceeded to establish another
high school at the Ridge under the
name of Northwood Seminary.

One of Chicago's early newspapers
declared that if that city ever did take
to culture she would make it hiiiii.
Some such phase seems necessary t(j
convey an idea of the educational en-
thusiasm that now pervaded the at-
mosphere.

The Seminary waS opened about
as soon as the Academy. Teams
were run giving free conveyance to
pupils to both schools, and the sur-
rounding country was scoured for
patronage. The town which had
hitherto been unable to start one high
school now had two large and flour-
ishing academies. The Seminary
too enrolled one hundred scholars at
one time. It is still maintained, has
a small endowment, has sent as many
students to college as the Academy,
and has its share of the patronage of
the people of this vicinity. E. G.

Williams, A. B., has been principal
for the last seven years.

Probably the two schools have had
more than twice as many scholars as
one would have had. Mr. Cogswell has
been called the founder of the Semi-
nary as well as of the Academy'. He
certainl}^ determined the date of its es-
tablishment ; and to him far more than
to any one else is due the credit for
the great educational stimulus that
we have felt for the last thirty-five
3'ears.

In the enthusiasm over the new
high schools it is to be feared that the

Northwood Seminary.

town schools at first suffered some
neglect If so, we have since returned
to the true point of view and now see
that the common schools are of first
importance. We have a school year
of thirty weeks. The schools are
well equipped and efficiently taught.
Primary and grammar schools are
maintained at the Narrows and East
Northwood, and we hope to unite the
two central districts in a school of two
departments.

In 1892 Northwood adopted the
public library law, and now has a li-
brary approaching a thousand vol-
umes. Albion Knowlton of Boston,
a native of Northwood, has also es-

196

NORTHWOOD.

tablished an independent library at
the Ridge, which is free to people of
this town and of parts of adjoining
towns. It has nearly a thousand vol-
umes, is extensively patronized and
greatly appreciated. It will soon be
doubled in size.

There will be no backward step in
the library movement. We look to
see two large, well housed, and well
managed libraries and reading-rooms
in the near future.

Of the various elements and inter-
ests of our life of to-day, much might
be written of matters very interesting
to us, but perhaps not sufficiently re-
markable to claim the attention of the
general reader. To enumerate our
lodges of Masons and Odd Fellows,
our granges, our W. C. T. U. and
our Y. P. S. C. E., and the various
societies connected with the churches,
would show that we are quite alive
socially and intellectually. We trust
we should not prove wholly unworthy
of the social consideration of .the
reader, should he ever honor the
town with a visit. Yet out of mod-
esty we will not urge our claims, but
will invite his attention to an aspect of
the town which we have found is in-
teresting to outsiders, namely the
scenery.

', = ^'

The peculiar charm of Northwood
scenery is not easy to define. That
it is felt, is proved by the multitudes
of people that visit us every summer,
enjoying our pleasant drives, staying
at our hotels and in our families, and
camping on the shores of our lakes.
It may be said to be beautiful rather
than sublime. It is lacking in those
overpowering aspects that come from
extremes of altitude or precipitous-
ness, but exhibits rather the smiling
features of a half-cleared, rolling
country, in which the water element
is everywhere present. Lake, field,
and forest mingle in every view, and
the lakes are gems of beauty.

Entering the town from the west,
the road winds along the north shore

Masonic Building.

Residence of W. M . Durgin.
Old Home of Eben S. Coe.

of Suncook lake, by Crescent beach,
to Berry's Grove. Here the traveler
will like to pause and take a stroll
through the little park, owned at
present by E. S. Berry, but destined,
we trust, to be sometime acquired by
the town and reserved for the perpet-
ual delectation of the public. In
front the hills of Deerfield roll up
from the opposite shore, while farther
west the Epsom mountains tower ma-
jestically. A mile to the south we
get glimpses of the cottages of Bick-

NORTHWOOD.

197

ford's Grove, not less beautiful than
Berry's. Further to the south we
see where the head of the lake with-
draws itself behind an island that
looks as if it had just escaped from
the jaws of the frowning cliffs that
open behind it. . Here is a region not
without sublimity, a narrow defile be-
tween a precipice hundreds of feet
high on one side and a rapidly de-
scending slope on the other. I will
take the liberty of calling this place
the Glen, since the name it has hith-

Former Residence of J. Arthur Toivle.

erto borne is unpleasantly suggestive
of other worlds than this. It is a
beautiful vale, following up a little
stream that enters the lake at this
point. It is now somewhat over-
grown with bushes and needs the ser-
vices of the landscape gardener.
Years ago a house and farm were lo-
cated in this secluded spot. That the
owner should have decided to emi-
grate is not so very surprising, con-
sidering his remoteness from other
human habitations and the character
of the highway. For some lover of
solitude who does not need too many
persons to whom to wdiisper that soli-
tude is sweet, who looks to nature
for spiritual rather than for material
food, whose " memory is like a cloud-

Residence of Frank Collins.

less air and conscience like a sea at
rest," here is one of the most eligible
of abandoned farms. The last occu-
pant was probably not of this descrip-
tion.

A mile beyond the Glen is Lake
Pleasant. By common consent this
is the queen of the lakes of this vicin-
ity. It is a center of attraction for
excursions from far and near. Its
lemon-colored waters rippling upon
its pebbly beach, which follows the
highway for lialf a mile, have long
been gazed on with delight, — a de-
light that has come to have commer-
cial value. House lots have prices
here and cottages and camps are in-
creasing in number every year.

A mile from Berry's Grove is the
village of the Narrows, so called be-
cause its business portion is built
upon a narrow neck of land between
two streams. It is an enterprising
place, whose people are considerably
after this world, although their pulpit
tells them that it is soon coming to
an end. This consununation the vis-
itor will not wish to hasten, whether
he tarries among the people of the
village or takes the beautiful drive
to the north around Jenness lake.
Charming outlooks are to be had
from Richardson's hill, a little off the

198

NORTHWOOD.

Harvey House.

road from Nathaniel Tasker's, and
especially from Fogg's hill, half a
mile above George W. Bartlett's.
From the latter place the view
stretches across our great forest tract
to the Blue Hills of Strafford, and
includes the sparkling waters of Bow,
Harvey, Little Bow, lyong, and Dnr-
gin lakes, besides the three last men-
tioned. Three or four miles to the
west the road leads over the cele-
brated Sunset hill in PittsSeld with
its grand outlook over the valley of
the Suncook. The return from Sun-
set hill should be by the northerly
route, down the long hill overlooking
Jenness lake.

Passing down the turnpike to the
center, Harvey lake is the center of
attraction. Lying in open ground,
it is spread out to view from all sides.
Harvey hotel is but a few rods from
the shore. The grounds of the acad-
emy contain some charming groves
and walks including one leading to
an island in the lake. Opposite
the academy is the house where
Lafayette was entertained, now the
home of Henry Veasy. It is still
possible to drink from the well from
which the tea was made. A drive
around the back of the lake and over
Blake's hill will be found rewarding.

Pause at the house of C. B. Leavitt
to get the very best view of Harvey
lake, and at the schoolhouse for the
view of the lake and mountains to
the west. Near the schoolhouse a
road diverges leading through the
Glen to Lake Pleasant.

The Ridge is a neatly kept village
situated on the watershed between
the streams flowing east and those
flowing west. It is the highest vil-
lage in Rockingham count}'. The
ocean is visible and the light at the
Shoals can be seen at night. The
great elm on the common, one hun-
dred and twenty years old, is said to
be used as a landmark at sea. A
ver}' extensive view to the east can
be had from the belfry of the Semi-
nary.

A mile north of the Ridge is Sunset
hill, the home of John E. Day. It
overlooks all of central Northwood
and commands two long vistas, one
down the Lamprey valley to the
south, ending with the top of Mount
Wachusett, Princeton, Mass., and the
other to the west down the Little
Suncook valley, and on to Kearsarge
and Sunapee mountains. A little
further on, just east of the house of
Henry Day, is obtained a grand view
to the east, including the higher por-
tion of the cit}' of Somersworth and

Elm Tiee at Ridge.

NORTHWOOD.

199

extending to Mounts Agamenticus
and Bauney Beg. The best return
is over Bennett's hill and by way of
the Center. At the house of G. F.
Hervey notice how magnificently the
mountains pile up in the north abov-e
the outspread waters of Bow lake.
The central peak is Gunstock in
Gilford. Over the flanking moun-
tains, on the right and left, the tops
of Sandwich Dome and Moosilauke
are visible on a clear day.

At East Northwood one encounters
our nearest approach to urban con-
ditions. Here are two hotels, the
Tasker House and the Exchange.
The street is broad, shaded, and
flanked by sidewalks. Some of the
people have an eminently respecta-
ble feeling, supposed to be due to
the slightly greater antiquitj' of this
village. The scenery has flattened
somewhat, as we are now approach-
ing the coastal plain, though on the
we.st Saddleback still rears its defiant
front, precipitous on this side, while
further south the smaller Pawtucka-
way mountains stand as the last out-
posts of New Hampshire's hilly sec-
tion.

An excursion to Saddleback may
be best taken by way of the Mountain
schoolhouse. With a strong wagon
it is possible to drive within half a
mile of the top. The mountain is of
considerable extent, contains many
picturesque situations, and is well
worthy of a day's ramble for any
lover of nature in her more rugged
aspects. From the summit the out-
look is clear to the north and west,
and if less beautiful than from some
of the hills, is of greater geographical
interest from the more distant points
included. The top of Mount Wash-
ington comes in sight over the right

flank of Ossipee, magnetic bearing,
north 9 degrees east ; but Ossipee
cuts off most of the Presidential
Range. South of Kearsarge, look-
ing down the Sunapee valley, a little
of the top of Ascutney can be seen,

Residence of J. E. Day — Sunset Hill.

north 61 degrees west. Moosilauke
is north 16 degrees west. The.'^e
are the most distant points visible.
Nearer are the Waterville peaks,
Passaconaway, north 3 degrees east,
Whiteface, north 2 degrees east,
Tripyramid, north, and Sandwich
Dome, r.orth 4 degrees west. East
of these appears the still nearer
Brookfield group, Cropple Crown,
Moose, and Bald. Other mountains
in the northwest are Sanbornton,
north 28 degrees west, Cardigan,
north 35 degrees west, Kearsarge,
north 54 degrees west, and Sunapee
north 65 degrees west. South of the
Ep.som mountains may be seen Mon-
adnock, south 78 degrees west, with
Crotched mountain on its right, and
Peterborough and Temple on its left.
Wachusett appears south 49 degrees
west.

The best view to the south and
east is from Lookout Rock, on a
southern spur of Saddleback over-
looking Deerfield. On the horizon is

XXIX— 1-1

200

NORTHWOOD.

the ocean aud the Great Bay, while
parts of Portsmouth, Dover, Somers-
worth, and Rochester may be dis-
tinguished. The nearer view is
mostl}^ made up of the blended hues
of forest foliage, very beautiful at
certain seasons of the year.

The visitor at East North wood will
not be allowed to miss the delightful
little picnic grove at North River
lake. This is another bit of land
that ought to be made a public reser-
vation. The lake is small but most
picturesquely located. Its island and
coves and steep-sloping, shaded banks
give it a singular beauty. Probably
he will also be taken to Stonehouse
pond, two miles beyond in Barring-
ton. This may be advisable if he
has been wicked. Lying in the
heart of the forest, a more dismal
pool of black water at the foot of a
more frowning precipice it would be
hard to find ; and yet it is more vis-

Residence of F. E. Trickey.

ited than any lake in this region.
Another favorite drive is that
around Bow lake. The route leads
through the village of Bow Lake,
where is located the massive stone
dam that controls the outlet. It is
used as a reservoir for the Cocheco
Manufacturing company of Dover.
When full it is the largest of the
lakes about Northwood. At its low-
est level it is contracted to less than
half its full size. Passing up the his-
toric Province Road, which follows

Elm at J. M. Berry's Residence.

NORTH WOOD.

20 1

the north shore, an interesting side
trip may be made by diverging near
the house of Daniel Hall and driving
two miles to the summit of the Blue
Hill road. Here without leaving his
carriage one gets a magnificent view
to the north including the White
Mountains, — a better view in this di-
rection than is obtained on Saddle-
back. The finest view of the lake is

■-•(

Residence of Dr. C. W. Hanson.

obtained in the afternoon near the
home of Mrs. Moses Piper.

Bow Lake lies mostly in Strafford,
but enters Northwood at the residence
of Charles Bennett. It is a favorite
resort for fishing, especially at the
great bridge near Mrs. Bennett's.
(Should the reader ever take this trip
he will wish to return by way of the
Knowlesschoolhouse, as it will enable
him to call on the writer of this arti-
cle and congratulate him on his high
veracity and the accuracy of his des-
criptions.)

If, after all this panorama, w^e may
be permitted to say a little more
about ourselves, we will venture to
hope that the spectacle of human na-
ture as exhibited in Northwood is not
in so very jarring contrast with the
beauty of its natural surroundings.
Many cultivated people from the
cities find us tolerable for months at

a time and even invite us to visit
them. Our culture may not equal in
richness the sunlit hues of our forest
foliage ; our spirituality may not be
as ethereal as the breezes that fan u»
from mountain and lake, yet we pre
test that we are not to be classed with
the place mentioned in the mission-
ary hymn, "where every prospect
pleases and only man is vile." A
high degree of self-respect is charac-
teristic of our people. The atmos-
phere is pervaded with it and there is
mingled with it sometimes a little
Pharisaical thankfulness that we are
not as other towns are. Possibly we
do not always see ourselves as others
see us, and so we will not insist on
the reader's adopting the locally pre-
vailing estimate of Northwood civili-
zation.

But not so with regard to our an-
cestors. Their struggles and achieve-

Residence of Dr. Pray.

ments are a matter of history, and
of that history we are proud. What-
ever may be the verdict on the pres-
ent generation, " the past, at least, is
secure." Our fathers laid founda-
tions of material prosperity and social
well being that have made North-
wood distinguished and eminently
desirable as a place of residence.
Local and sectarian jealousies have

202

NORTHWOOD.

sometimes retarded our development,
but this has been true for short pe-
riods only. A large and generous
rivalry has always soon prevailed
over jealousy and obstruction with
the result of intensifying public spirit
and of duplicating rather than defeat-
ing public enterprises. Undeniably,

the bright and enterprising character
of our people. There are some dark
lines on the picture, but considering
the natural difficulties the results are
remarkable. Have we not had
enough of the old Tory plea for cen-
tralization? Blessed is the town or
nation in which no one man, nor

Summer Residence of Albion Knowiton.

the tendency of the two ends of the
town to pull apart has been the most
peculiar fact in Northwood's history.
It has been much deplored, especially
b}' the people of the central section.
Doubtless if we had been more united
we might have fewer and bigger
things, but the interests of the peo-
ple would not have been so well
served. I^et the objector to this
statement tell us what ideally central-
ized town has more bravely defied the
influence of a location unfavorable to
business and striven more success-
fully for wealth, culture, character,
and religion. I^ook at our factories,
our trade, our well maintained
churches and academies, our libra-
ries, our common schools. Look at

place, nor interest, nor idea, gains
the ascendency to the discouragement
and repression of others, but which
maintains a free, vigorous, and emu-
lous life in all its parts.

In energy, enterprise, and public
spirit our present generation has not
shown' itself inferior to those of the
past. What the future may have in
store for us will depend on what in-
dustrial conditions in the country at
large, combined with natural condi-
tions here, will permit. The poet
has warned us of the late of nations

where wealth accumulates in few
hands and manhood decays. The
keys of destiny are not held b}^ the
small towns. Given a firm founda-
tion of social justice on which iudi-

NORTH WOOD.

203

vidual enterprise may safely build,
and we shall prosper in the future as
in the past.

Whatever misgivings regarding the
future may sometimes invade our se-
renity, we have not failed to honor
the pioneers of the past. Our centen-
nial celebration in 1873 was an event
never to be forgotten by any of the
multitude that attended upon its ex-
ercises. Fully two thousand people
assembled on the common at the Cen-
ter, w^here elaborate preparations had
been made for their entertainment.
A tent covering six thousand square
feet had been erected. This was
used as a dining hall the first da}^
and the second day for religious exer-
cises. At the east end of the com-
mon were seats and a canopied plat-
form, where was delivered the
historical address by Mr. Cogswell,
with the other addresses and poems.
The memorial poem, a beautiful and
worthy production, was b}^ Miss
Susan C. Willey of Kansas. Among
the speakers was Thomas J. Pink-
ham of Chelmsford, Mass., who had
distinguished the occasion b}^ pre-
senting a stalled ox, which had been
roasted whole for the centennial din-
ner. Addresses, poems, the reading
of letters, remarks and reminiscences

U ,1 ,,^

Residence of C. F. Gate.

Residence of H. K. Emery.

followed each other till late in the af-
ternoon ; and yet we are told that
" the day closed without weariness or
satiety on the part of the multitude,
delighted with what they had enjoyed
and anticipating equal satisfaction on
the morrow."

It had been arranged to hold the
first day of the celebration on Satur-
day with the purpose of reserving the
more solemn memorial exercises till
Sunday, when they could be appro-
priately combined with religious ser-
vices. The great tent was beauti-
fully decorated with evergreen and
flowers, while mottoes and memorial
tablets added to the impressiveness of
the scene. Of the latter, one bore
the following touching tribute to the
departed :

" But the first greetings over, you glance round

the hall ;
Your hearts call the roll, but thej' answer not

all ;
Through the green turf above them the

dead cannot hear ;
Name by name in the silence falls sad as a

tear."

Other lines equally beautiful were
inscribed beneath the portrait of the
Rev. Mr. Prentice. The tent was
filled. Church histories and memo-
rial papers, combined with exercises
of worship, occupied the forenoon.
In the afternoon was a praise service,
interspersed with remarks, the sing-
ing led by Prof. George Boody. The

204

GOLDENROD.

impression of the meeting can be best
summarized in the words of Mr. Cogs-
well's historj' : " The pen is power-
less to portray the interest telt in the
services of this day. A tender and
loving spirit seemed to pervade the
vast assembly. Not a word uttered
seemed to be inappropriate. The
dead seemed to live again and to
mingle with their living children,
who recounted their deeds and
made mention of their virtues ; and
the living had awakened in them a
new consciousness of the importance
of acting with reference to the future,
had a higher appreciation of friend-
ship and a warmer love for the old
homestead. And when the services
were closed, the assembly lingered
long, as unwilling to separate, each
saying to the other, ' It is good for
us to be here.' "

Most of the speakers and leading
spirits of that memorable day have
since passed to the silent majoritj'.
Many of the young people, educated
in our academies, have left us for the
larger opportunities of the cities.
Wages and the returns of agriculture
have declined, and there have been
serious reverses in business. And
3'et the visitor of twenty-seven years
ago, returning to-day, would receive
a strong impression of improvement.
Larger villages, new factories, better
houses, better streets, better schools,
better privileges of all kinds, would
greet him ; while the same lovely
lakes would smile on him as before,
reminding him that, though man
comes and goes and changes the face
of field and forest, they remain for-
ever.

GOIvDENROD.

By Eva J. Beede.

How beautiful the goldenrod,

The dusty roadside fringing !
Midst grasses tall its gay crests nod,

The fields with glory tinging ;
And fluffy blossoms manifold

The swampy meadows flecking,
A carpet weave of green and gold,

The earth with splendor decking.

Along the gloomy forest's edge

Are yellow pennants streaming.
And through the deep and tangled hedge

The golden wands are gleaming.
High on the river's bank aglow,

The yellow plumes are drooping.
Bright mirrored in the depths below,

In many a graceful grouping.

AT THE VILLAGE SMITHY.

By Clara Ain^^iista Trask.

Browu bees swinging over the blossoming clover,

Meadows white-starred with the daisies of June,
Squadrons of clouds, like great ships at anchor

In the up-arching depths of the sky's blue lagoon ;
West winds softly singing, sweet summer smells bringing,

From forest and river, and pine lands of balm,
And far in the north the sentinel mountains.

Lifting up to the sunlight their brows fair and calm.

A road cool with shadows, leading off through the meadows.

Winding white through the farms, past the ruined old mill.
Across the swift river green bordered with alders,

And round by the fells to the town on the hill :
Just at the Four Corners there stands the old smithy,

Above it the giant elm's boughs toss and swing,
It was planted two centuries ago by the settler

Who took up the grant when William was king.

Down the road steep and stony with horse white and bony.

The belle of the country comes driving to-day.
Her high yellow wagon is heavily laden

With butter, and eggs, and a baiting of hay ;
Beneath her white sun bonnet pure as a lily.

Her face shyly hides with eyes black as the sloe.
And her lips are for kissing, for fond lover's kissing.

And her hair of dun gold crowns her forehead of snow.

The old horse turns out and halts at the smithy.

The bashful apprentice, with bronzed cheek on fire,
Comes awkwardly forth, bareheaded and grimy,

And with heart beating wildly awaits her desire ;
And the world glows with splendor, supernal and tender.

This life is an idyl, and all things seem true.
For heaven has opened its glory upon him

As he looks in her eyes while he fashions the shoe.

The old horse looks down, demurely, discreetly,

The master 's at dinner, the forge fire is low,
Her lips are so near, and so red, and so tempting.

And only they two in the wide world to know —
Oh, story so ancient, told first in the ages

When the morning stars sang, and creation was new, —
The story he told in the warm golden sunshine,

That still summer noon, as he nailed on the shoe.

PETE."

By Anneile R. Cressy.

YING close to the east-
ern shore of Sunapee,
loveliest lake in the
world, is a little island,
on which stand two
summer cottages, from whose broad
verandas the happy owners may
watch the shifting panorama of the
glories of wood and water and sky,
from the wondrous play of light and
shade on Sunapee s heights up to the
blue distance of Croyden mountains,
and sweeping 'round to the familiar
double head of old Kearsarge — Sun-
apee's blue waters, now mirror-like
and still, now fretted by the North
wind into mimic billows with tiny
crests of foam, and again beaten fiat
and quivering by the lashing of the
rain, are a never-wearying delight, a
comfort, a charm, a rest.

The dwellers on the island never
tire of the quiet of their days and
nights, their aloofness from the
"crowded haunts of men," their
companionship with nature. Robins
sing their matin songs; "Bob
Whites" whistle in the bushes that
fringe the shore ; muskrats peep shy-
ly from the rocks and once an otter
showed his silky fur to admiring eyes.
Bees and butterflies jewel the day
with their brilliant hues. Sunsets of
untold splendor tinge cloud and wave
with crimson and golden glory, and
as the night shadows softly gather,
the hermit thrush chants the evening
hymn, and through the dim aisles of

the listening trees echo tlie tremulous
murmurs of the brooding night.

The closer we islanders came to
the heart of nature, the stronger
grew the subtle bond of kinship with
nature's children. The robins puffed
their red breasts at our feet, and
picked the berries from the low
bushes at our side. Red squirrels
bickered in the trees over our heads,
and chased each other along the paths
in conscious security from harm oi
fright. The woodpeckers tapped at
the trees against which we were lean-
ing, and cocked knowing eyes at us
while waiting the response from un-
der the bark. The chipmunks darted
inquisitively around us, as if to test
our merits as new comers, and soon
one progressive little fellow seemed
inclined to accept our credentials for
good behavior, and pattered across
the veranda while we were sitting
there. We accepted the friendly
overture with delight, and filled our
pockets with peanuts, that we might
hospitably entertain our bright-eyed
guest.

It took an incredibly short time to
establish in "chippie's" mind the
connection between people and pea-
nuts, and " Pete, " as his name proved
to be, became an intimate friend, not
to say member, of the family. If we
were indoors, the tiny patter of little
feet on the veranda called us and our
peanuts to supply his wants. If we
were in chair or hammock, on stone

'PETE:'

207

or tree-truuk, — a rustle — a leap, and
au eager rnmniagiug all over us for
the coveted nuts, and to and fro he
would go until the supply was ex-
hausted ; then after one fruitless trip,
he would go his own way for a while.
He never tarried for our blandish-
ments. "Strict attention to busi-
ness" was his principle, and when
peanuts were gone, so was Pete.
His trust was touching, and his con-

race would begin, over rocks, through
bushes, along the paths, in and out
of thickets, around and around the
island, until the inevitable clash came,
and a few sharp nips and attendant
squeals settled the question, and Pete,
almost invariably victor, would come
back alone and resume his regular
routine of peanut travel. This rou-
tine seldom varied and we always
watched it with interest.

fidence complete ; but his love was
not for us, but for what he got from
us. And it is painful to state, that
this mercenary disposition was not
the only flaw in Pete's character.
He was selfish as well as greedy.
Let another "chippie" show himself
on the outskirts of our acquaintance,
and Pete was instantly transformed
into a quivering bunch of remon-
strance, and with sharp, angry " chit-
tering " away he would fly after the
luckless intruder, and an exciting

A writer in "The Ladies' Home
Journal" for August, gives a charm-
ing account of his "Summer with
Some Chipmunks" in which he says
they never allow any one to see them
enter or leave their holes if they can
help it. His chipmunks must have
been more shy than ours, for Pete
made five holes in one summer within
a radius of twenty feet from our house,
and his entrances and exits were al-
ways in full view. Two of the holes
were directly in the path between the

208

''PETE:'

two houses, and necessitated careful
stepping not to disarrange the neat-
ness of his front door, where there
was never a sign of loose dirt or other
debris. What do squirrels do with
the dirt they dig out of their under-
ground homes ? After several days
of storing away peanuts in a chosen
retreat, all at once some fine morning
would find the "open door" closed,
without a sign of previous occupation.

boldly into some friendly lap and
search for the nuts he knew ouo;ht
to be somewhere. Under folds of
dresses, into pockets, along out-
stretched arms, he would speed until
he found the treasure, when he would
seize a nut, and sitting upright, tuck
it snugly into one of his pouches,
turning it this way and that, and
often taking it out and changing
ends until it fitted, and then diving

and within a few feet, another place
of business opened, sharp-edged and
clean, with no trace of labor or dis-
turbance.

Sometimes a slight change in the
peanut program was occasioned by
some special need of greater precau-
tion, or the advent of a new element
in the situation. Any addition to the
familiar family circle called for extra
skirmishing on Pete's part, before
beginning his collecting tour. Confi-
dence being restored, he would leap

for another nut which he would fit as
carefully into the other pouch ; then
he would snatch a third and put it
across his mouth, give a quick glance
around, jump down, and darting
under the veranda on one side of the
steps, would emerge from the lattice
work on the other side, take another
sharp outlook, and, assured of safety,
would scamper straight to his hole.
There would be a scurrying of tawny
little legs, the flirt of a vanishing tail,
and we would wait for the storing of

''PETE:'

209

the precious cargo and the reappear-
ance of the little head from the hole —
the swift surve)" — the flash and the
dash — and on our knee would sit
Master Pete, seeking " more."

We never saw him eat a nut. The
cracked and worthless shells he threw
aside, and the sound nuts he carried
away. Nor did we ever see him
looking for any daily food ; but some
red squirrels fed fearlessly from the

rule. One morning we heard a tre-
mendous ch-r-r-r-ing, and thinking
Pete was in some trouble, we hastened
to his rescue ; but he sat bunched up
on the veranda, watching with eager
interest a furious dispute between
two red squirrels a few feet away.
Pete fairly quivered with unmistak-
able delight, and when the quarrel
came to nips and bites, he seemed to
hug himself for joy. No Roman ever

blueberries close by, climbing the
higher bushes and filling their
pouches, and then silting upright on
the ground to eat them. Whenever
Pete saw a red squirrel, there would
be an immediate and eloquent chat-
tering on his part, and then a sudden
disappearance, and no temptation of
peanuts would avail to call him back
till the red took his departure, when
Pete would return unabashed and
alert as usual.

There was one exception to this

watched a gladiatorial contest with
keener zest, and when the fight ended
in flight, and the combatants vanished
among the trees, Pete looked around
at us, and if ever a chipmunk laughed,
he did then, and jumping up on our
.shoulder, gave his usual greeting,
" Good morning! have you a peanut
about you ? ' '

For three summers Pete has been
our welcome guest— our intimate
companion. Each autumn we bid
him good-by with misgiving, fearing

2IO

''PETEr

that his too-confitliug disposition may
lead him to an untimely end, or that
some foe stronger than himself may
compel a change of residence ; but
each summer he meets us on our
arrival at the island with a cordial
greeting and an immediate hunt for
nuts.

One thing about Pete puzzles us.
He will never visit us on rainy days.
In vain we call and coax and shake

ing of the rain on the roof, and the
crackling of the birch logs on the
hearth, as we look from the dripping
eav'es and the dented water to the
leaping flames and the "red hollows
down b}' the flare" where each de-
light enhances the other and rounds
the day to a dreamy, happy content?
Doubtless Pete has liis equivalent
for our fireside pleasures and enjoys
his respite from labor, for he travels

seductive peanuts. No Pete answers
the call. Does he not love the beau-
tiful gray days, when the silvery mist
veils the mountains, and the dun
clouds hang low over the waiting
water — when the hosts of the rain
advance and retreat — when the winds
are still, and the fog clings close to
the water's edge, shutting out island
and hill, and folding us in a soft,
white world all our own ?

Or has he some inner home-joy,
like to ours as we listen to the patter-

fast if not far, and must cover miles
some days, when peanuts are plenty,
and peanut holders have leisure.

Perhaps he takes the dull days to
tidy his storehouse and look over his
hoard. No small task that, for the
first summer he carried away, by twos
and by threes, fourteen quarts of pea-
nuts. Since then we have kept no
count, caring only to keep the larder
full, and to devote as much time and
as many nuts as possible to his insist-
ent demands.

THE IDLE DREAMINGS OF AN IDLE DAY. 211

This year Pete has made but one where, or — dreadful thought ! — is he

hole, but as it is close to the path and leading a double life, and are we

near the two he made there two years pandering to his deceit ?
ago, we suspect he may communicate Come, Pete ! Sit here in our hand

with the old storehouses. This hole and look at us with your bright black

is about fifteen feet from the veranda, eyes! Fold your dainty paws, and

in plain sight, and into it he goes let your little palpitating scrap of a

and out of it he comes in perfect free- body be at rest ! So, we are friends,

dom and confidence. A call " Come, are we not? and friends respect each

Pe-e-te ! " is generally answered by other's reserve. Live your life as

the popping out of a yellowish head, seems to you best, only keep your-

and a striped flash — a patter — a jump, self safe and warm through the long

and the pretty play is again rehearsed, winter that is coming, and when

"Generally answered" — but not al- returning spring breaks the icy bonds

ways. Sometimes .silence shrouds his and we come again to this home of

domicile for a week, and there is no our heart, may you greet us with

sign of life about his premises, and your dainty motions and your swift

then — he is here and ready for action, grace, and your peanuts shall be

Has he business to look after else- ready and your welcome sure !

THE IDLE DREAMINGS OF AN IDLE DAY.

By M. Oaknian Pattoii.

I love to lie upon the turf and dream the idle hours away ;

An idle chap, forsooth, I am, I glut in dreamland revelry.

I love to dream of lands that lie beneath a bluer, sunnier sky,

Where lotus blossoms filch their tints from sunset's gorgeous pageantry.

That land of classic art and song, where beauty reigned as Queen of earth.

That land impregnate (in the other days) with art that gave a Homer birth.

Or of the Holy Land that lies beyond the ocean's furth'est rim,

Blue Galilee, and Olivet, and all the places dear to Him.

Of Egypt's sands and groves of palm, where time's immortal secrets sleep.

Deep buried in the ageless dust where Sphinx's stony glances sweep.

The ageless past before me moves, as dream I there upon the ground,

And in the tvvink'ling of an eye I circle this great world around.

Lost, lost I am to place and time, with dreams my soul is swathed around, —

Lost, lost within my dreamland world,— eyes 'reft of- sight and ears of sound

But hark ! the thrush's fluted note — divinely sweet, up from the wood —

Breaks softly on my ear in song, — love sanctifying solitude.

My dreamings cease ; the twilight falls ; the wild flowers blink their eyes

and nod ;
The vesper sparrow hymns the night, as drops her mantle o'er the sod.
" Good night, good night," the sparrow calls, the stars come out their watch

to keep ;
The thrush's song is stilled,— and now, "God giveth His beloved sleep."

1^^ '^^

JAMES SCAMMON.
By C. F. Meady

HE recent death of James
Scammou at Kansas
City has removed from
the business, profes-
sional, and educational
circles of Missouri one of her strong-
est and ablest men.

As a native of the state of New
Hampshire, a descendant of one of
her earliest settlers, and as an ideal
example of that noblest type of men
that has been the gift of New Eng-
land for the upbuilding of the West,
a brief account of his career will
interest the readers of the Granite
Monthly.

James Scammon was the son of

' Member of the

Richard and Abigail (Batchelder)
Scammon, and was born at Strathani,
N. H., June lo, 1844, at the Scam-
mon homestead that has been a pos-
session of the family since 1642 and
is now owned by his brother. Col.
R. M. Scammon. The original tract
comprised nearly half a township,
and was first settled on by Richard
Scammon who married a niece of
Major Waldron of Dover. The fam-
il}^ has always been a substantial one
and actively identified with affairs.
The late J. Y. Scammon of Chicago,
president of the Marine bank and
founder of Hahnemann hospital, was
of this family, as was Gen. E. P.

Missouri bar.

JAMES SCAMMON.

213

Scammon of the United States army,
who was colonel of the famous
23d Ohio \'olunteers in the Civil War.
Until his eighteenth year, the sub-
ject of this sketch attended the public
schools; then entering Phillips acad-
emj' he remained there for three
5'ears, and afterwards graduated at
Brown university in 1868. He
taught school for a single year ;
graduated at the Albany law school,
and was admitted to the bar in 1870.
Shortly afterwards Mr. Scammon
removed to the West and opened a
law ofhce in Mechanicsville, Iowa ;
remaining there, however, but a few
months, he relocated at Davenport,
the same state, and from there trav-
eled farther West to Kansas City,
Mo., where in 1872 his active profes-
sional career may be said to have
commenced.

Entering at once into the active,
busy life of that young and growing
city, he rapidly rose to the highest
rank in his profession, becoming in a
few years one of the leaders of the
Missouri bar, a position which he
maintained with unyielding strength
and ability until his health failed him
some four years ago. As a trial
lawyer, in the earlier part of his
career, Mr. Scammon had no superior
in the state of Missouri, but as his
clientage enlarged and his business
interests diversified he was obliged to
leave more and more of this work to
his associates.

His increasing professional duties,
in his later years, brought him in
contact with large interests, and
much of his time was occupied in
the consulting rather than the litigat-
ing branch of his profession. Rail-
roads, banking, and manufacturing
enterprises came to occupy much of

his time. He became general solic-
itor for the Kansas City & Eastern
railroad, director and member of the
executive committee of the Kansas
City Light company and of the
Edison Electric Eight & Power com-
pany, president of the Sperry Asso-
ciate Electric company, secretary and
member of the board of directors of
the Kansas City Hay Press company,
president of the Franklin Savings
bank, and general Western counsel
for many Eastern financial institu-
tions; while at the same time con-
ducting and directing a large general
legal practice.

His activity and industry were
boundless, and while his ambition
was altogether professional his labors
in behalf of charitable and other pub-
lic interests were great, and for all
his work of this nature he generously
gave his services without compensa-
tion other than that which came from
the consciousness of having lightened
the burdens of the unfortunate among
his fellow men.

He was appointed by Governor
Marmaduke president of the Jackson
County Reform school ; was practi-
cally the founder, and from its foun-
dation was either the president or
chairman of the executive committee
of the Kansas City Humane society'.
He was one of the originators of the
first Unitarian church established in
Kansas City, and was president of its
board of trustees until the failure of
his health, when the office of presi-
dent emeritus for life was created for
him. He was also for many years
president of the Missouri Valley con-
ference of Unitarian churches.

His private charities were innum-
erable. Every field of beneficent
human activity excited his interest

214

NIGHTFALL.

and shared in bis labor and means
for its advancement. His only recre-
ation he found in his library, a
unique collection numbering over
seven thousand volumes, including
many rare editions.

A man of less mental and physical
strength would have fallen j^ears
before under the many tasks and
burdens that without a thought of
self were self-imposed ])y James
Scammon ; as it was, even his iron
constitution bent and finally broke
under the strain. Four years ago he
suffered a stroke of paralysis from
which he never finally recovered ;
always hopeful and unwilling to
recognize the inevitable, he never
allowed his industry or interest in his
many affairs to weaken even after his
affliction ; yet those who were asso-
ciated with him could see the burden
grow day by day too heavy for him
to carry. Something more than a
year ago he suffered a second attack
of paralysis which has now brought
him to the end.

Mr. Scammon never sought or held
ofhce ; indeed, during all his maturer
years, the legal interests in his care
made it hardly possible or desirable,
though had he turned his great
energy and ability to the channel of
public and official life he might well
have won national distinction. But
had he chosen these fields his mem-
ory could not have been held in
greater esteem than it is now within
that narrower but higher circle in
which his strong and energetic char-
acter found expression.

He enjoyed to the full measure
that high respect which great ability
coupled with unceasing industr3%
integrity, and a kindly regard for the
welfare of every human being always
brings wherever it is found.

Worn out by the burdens which he
voluntarily assumed, he died "while
the shadows still were falling towards
the West," but the work he accom-
plished was far greater in volume
and moment than is that of most of
those who stay the full span of life.

NIGHTFALI..

By Moses Gage Shirley.

The new moon wnth her silver bow

Hangs in the western sky,
Axid one by one the stars appear

lyike maidens coy and shy.

Within the distance faintly heard
Sings one lone whippoorwill

Whose plaintive numbers to us borne
Grow faint and fainter still.

A light wind rustles through the woods
And sways the branches green.

While silently the shades of night
Enfold the peaceful scene.

F B. SANBORN. I yuu

THE HARD CASE OF THE FOUNDER OF OLD HAMPTON.

WRONGS OF REV. STEPHEN BACHILER.

Read by /us descendant, F. B. Sanborn, of Concord, Mass., at the reunion of the Bachelder

family, Seabrook, N. H., August g, 1900.

[The immediate occasion of the following address was a desire to make available to the
people of the five towns originall}' founded by Rev. Stephen Bachiler, — Hampton, Hampton
Falls, North Hampton, Seabrook, and Kensington, all once included in his original colony, — the
facts of his life before his foes brought his name into scandal. Few persons are aware of
them, and the recent historian of Hampton Falls, Mr. Warren Brown (my cousin), was misled by
inadequate papers in his possession to revive the scandal in a manner verj' disagreeable to the
many descendants of Mr. Bachiler. With this exception, however, and certain errors almost
inseparable from a work so comprehensive as a town history being also excepted, Mr. Brown's
history (printed by the John B. Clarke Company, Manchester) is a very useful and commendable
volume. It contains much of the material of history, in the form of old records, antiquated doc-
uments, etc., and it gives a very satisfactory topography of the town in the account of the home-
steads from one side' of the boundaries to the other. Much more might have been written to
elucidate some of the matters touched upon, but that would have required another volume, — and
this one runs to 640 pages. The long list of marriages contains several interesting entries.
When Massachusetts lovers were married in Hampton Falls (i725-'28), they got a license from
Ivieut. Gov. John Wentworth ; two of these were Emersons — Daniel of Cambridge in 1726, and
Stephen of Ipswich in 172S. Daniel Webster's grandfather, Ebenezer, was married to Susanna
Bachelder, great-great-granddaughter of Rev. Stephen, at Hampton Falls in 173S; Dr. John
Goddard of Portsmouth was married to Mary I.angdon by her father. Rev. Dr. L,angdon, at
Hampton Falls in 1791; and Rev. Dr. Thayer of Lancaster, Mass., to Sarah Toppan (parents of
the wealth3^ Thayers of Boston) by Dr. Langdon in 1795. " His Excellencj-, John Taylor Gilman,
and Mrs. Charlotte Hamilton, both of Exeter," were married in Hampton Falls b5' Parson
Abbot, Dec. 29, 1814. Mr. Brown adds a few facts to what was otherwise known of the insurrec-
tion headed by Edward Gove in 168,^, and prints at much length the documents relating to
Meshech Weare and Rca'. Paine Wingate in the long dispute of 1762-1776 over ministers and
meeting-houses in Hampton Falls.— f. b. s.]

HE old Romans had a
saying, ' Bc7ic faccre et
male aiidire regiiini est:
"To benefit mankind
and get a bad name for
it is a Ruler's privilege." And the
good Bishop Fenelon notified his
princely pupil, the Dauphin of France,
to the same effect, thus: "Should it
be 5'our fortune to rule over men, you
must love them for the love of God,
without expecting to please them ;
nay, sacrifice yourself to benefit
them, — ^but be well assured that they
will speak ill of whoever governs
them with moderation and kindness."

xxix— 15

Seldoiu has a better illustration of
this unhandsome trait of human
nature been seen than in the case of
our ancestor, the venerable and
maligned Founder of this and the
neighbor-towns of Hampton, Hamp-
ton Falls, North Hampton, and Ken-
sington, — Stephen Bachiler of Eng-
lish Hampshire, who was one of the
most learned and distinguished plant-
ers of New Hampshire, — yet not
allowed to lay his aged bones here,
any more than was the patriarch
Moses permitted to be buried in
Canaan.

Stephen Bachiler was a boy of

2l6

REV. STEPHEN BACHILER.

four when Shakespeare was boru at
Stratford, and he outlived the poet
by forty-three years, dying at Hack-
ney, now a part of London, in 1660,
in his hundredth year. He belonged
to a social class much above Shakes-
peare's in the fanciful scale of Eng-
lish rank,— of a mercantile family,
perhaps, but turning to scholarship,
educated at Oxford in St. John's
college, of which his persecutor.
Archbishop Laud, was afterwards
graduate and Head, — and in 1587,
when Shakespeare was beginning to
write plays, after acting plays for
some years, Mr. Bachiler was settled
as vicar of the small parish of Wher-
well ("Horrell") on the " troutful
Test" river in Hampshire, — his
patron being a powerful nobleman,
IvOrd Delaware, from whom our
American state and river take their
name. Bachiler remained there, in
pleasant surroundings, for sixteen
years, and there his children were
mostly born,— his son Stephen hav-
ing entered at Oxford in 16 10, and
another son, Samuel, having been a
chaplain in Sir Charles Morgan's
English regiment in Holland so early
(1620) that he must have been born
before 1605.

In that year, the wretched James,
son of the infamous Mary of Scot-
land, having come to the throne, and
renewing the persecutions by the
bishops, which had been for a time
suspended, Mr. Bachiler was ejected
from his vicarage, and became one
among hundreds of wandering minis-
ters, who from 1604 onward were
harassed for their opinions, and often
severely punished. He was some-
times in England, sometimes perhaps
in Holland, where his religion was
tolerated ; sometimes he preached,

and from 1622 to 1630 owned land
and probably resided at Newton
Stacey, a hamlet near Wherwell.
In 1630 he joined with a compan)^ of
husbandmen and merchants, who had
obtained a patent for a tract of many
square miles in Maine, and he put
in a sum of money, large for those
times, to aid its colonization. His
kinsman, Richard Dummer, was also
interested in this " Plough Patent,"
which ran in the name of John Dj'e,
John Roach, Grace Hardwin, and
Thomas Jupe. Mr. Bachiler was to
be their minister, when they should
once be settled near Portland (then
called Casco) ; and how he was
regarded by his associates in this
venture will appear by their letter of
March 8, 1631-2, preserved among
the Winthrop Papers. They said, —

"First let us not forget to remember you of
your and our duty, — that we return humble and
hearty thanks unto Almighty God, that hath
filled the heart of our reverend pastor so full
of zeal, of love and extraordinary affection
towards our poor Societ}'. Notwithstanding
all the opposition, all the subtle persuasions of
abundance of opposers that have been stirred
up against us, yet he remaineth constant, — per-
suading and exhorting, — yea, and as much as
in him lieth, constraining all that love him to
join together with this Society. And seeing
the Company is not able to bear his charges
over, he, hath strained himself to provide pro-
vision for himself and his family; and hath
done his utmost endeavor to help over as many
as he possibly can, for your further strength
and encouragement. And although it may be,
if he had stayed one year longer, you might
have been better provided to have received
him, yet through his great care of all your good,
he will by no means stay longer from j'ou.
O let us never forget this unspeakable mercy
of God towards us ! We hope the I,ord will
make him an especial instrument to unite j-ou
all in true love to God and unto one another,
which will be our strongest walls and bulwarks
of defense against all our enemies. And we
hope you will not forget to show your love
unto him, and to take notice of the charges he
is now at, and to appoint for him or his, as he
shall desire, such shares or parts of shares as
shall belong unto him for the charges ; and

REV. STEPHEN BACHILER.

217

that his man-servant and his maid-servant ma}-
be received as members of the Company, and
have such shares or parts as in that case pro-
vided for every member. As for his neighbors
that now come with him, thej' promise all to
join with j-ou ; but because thej- do desire first
to see how you agree together in love, they are
not joined to our body ; and the Lord of his
mercj' grant that there may be no occasion on
your parts but that they may join with you.
Mr. Dummer's promise is also to join with you,
if there be any reason for it. The L,ord unite
you all together! then shall you put to shame
and silence man3- that do now shamefullj' rise
up against us."

What do we infer from this state-
ment? First, that the Society had
some bond of religion other than that
ordinaril}^ existing between Puritans,
and that Mr. Bachiler was the seal of
this bond, and the most important
person among them. Second, that
for some reason there was much hos-
tilit}' to the new colony, — partly on
account of the selfish interests of Sir
F. Gorges, Richard Bradshaw, and
others, who had land or claims in
Maine. This appears by another
passage in the letter :

"We gave you notice by Mr. Allerton' and
we hope you have long since received it, that
we have had much ado about our patent; and
that there was one Bradshaw that had procured
letters patent for a part (as we supposed) of
our former grant ; and so we think still, — but
he and Sir Ferdinando think it is not in our
bounds. He was frustrate of his first purpose
of coming over; but is now joined with two
very able captains and merchants, who will set
him over, and we suppose will be there as soon
as this ship (the William and Francis) if not
before. We cannot possibly relate the labor
and trouble we have had to establish our for-
mer grant; many rough words we have had
from Sir Ferdinando at the first ; and to this
hour he doth affirm that he never gave consent
that you should have above 40 miles in length
and 20 in breadth ; and saith that his own hand
is not to your patent, if it have an}' more. So

1 Isaac Allerton was a merchant, one of the May-
flower company, who in 1(130, as John Wiiithrop
was coming to port in Salem, met him, while on
his own voyage to Peniaquid, where he had trading
ventures. He was, therefore, a good person to
communicate with the Maine coast; but the Plough
colonists were no longer there, having come to
Nautasket, in July, 1631.

we have shown our good wills, and have pro-
cured his love, and many promises that we
shall have no wrong : we bestowed a sugar-loaf
upon him of some 16 shillings price, and he
hath promised to do us all the good he can.
We can procure nothing under his hand ; but
in our hearing he gave order unto INIr A3'res= to
write tinto Captain Neal of Pascatoway, that
Bradshaw and we might be bounded, that we
may not trouble each other ; and hath given
the captain command to search j'our patent, —
what it is 3'ou have under m}' Lord's hand and
his. This controvers}' must be ended between
yourselves and such Governors of Peniaquid as
they have appointed."

This letter was brought by Mr.
Bachiler himself, who landed at
Boston, June 5, 1632; his cousin
Dummer, with Rev. Mr. Wilson and
others, had landed from the Whale,
May 26. With Mr. Bachiler came
Edward Winslow, returning from
England to Plymouth, Rev. Thomas
Weld, the libeller of Mrs. Hutchin-
son, and about sixty passengers in
all ; in the Whale were thirty pas-
sengers and sixty-eight cows, — Cap-
tain Graves being shipmaster. In
the preceding year (July 6, 1831), the
Plough had reached Nantasket Roads,
near Boston, returning from Casco
with the first small company of col-
onists, who did not like the seacoast
of Maine well enough to sta5' there
and make their beginning. Governor
Winthrop, noting their coming, says:

"A small ship of 60 tons arrived at Natascot,
Mr. Graves, master. She brought ten passen-
gers from London. They came with a patent
for Sagadahock, but, not liking the place, thej-
came hither. Their ship drew ten feet, and
went up (the Charles river) to Watertown ; but
she ran on ground twice by the way. These
were the companj' called ' The Husbandmen '
and their ship called The Plough. "

Thus far the original entrj- in
Winthrop's journal; but a later hand
(perhaps his own in after years),
added this opprobrium, — " Most of

-Thomas Eyre, an agent of Gorges, as Neal was.

2l8

REV. STEPHEN BACHILER.

them proved familists and vanished
away." Some went, it seems, to
Virginia, among thera Brian Binckes
and Peter Johnson ; others may have
remained in Watertown ; that they
were ' ' familists ' ' in the offensive
German sense, we have no proof
except this entry, but perhaps this
term may give a clue to the special
religious organization w^hich should
have bound the Husbandmen to-
gether, but did not. Their small
ship, the Plough, after visiting Water-
town, dropped back to Charlestown,
started thence for the West Indies,
but returned after three weeks, "so
broke," Winthrop says, "she could
not return home." In fact, she was
almost worthless; the departure of
her company from Casco (Sagada-
hock) put a stop to the going thither
of Mr. Bachiler and his family ; and
he was left in New Town (Cam-
bridge) with many debts owing him
from the Plough Company, which
were only in part paid ; and his con-
siderable estate was thereby much
diminished. Of the total sum of
1,400 pounds sterling in the }oint
stock of this company, Mr. Bachiler
had contributed 160 pounds, or more
than a tenth part ; his time was
wasted, his parish failed to material-
ize, and he removed to I^ynn with
several of his grandchildren on his
hands to be supported until he could
make a position for himself ; and he
was seventy-one years old.

What then did this resolute old
Christian do ? Did he sit idly down,
to be supported by his son-in-law,
Christopher Hussey, a person of prop-
erty and standing, who for more than
forty years afterward lived in the old
town of Hampton? Far from it.
He began to organize a church in

Lynn (Saugus) where Mr. Hussey
was then living ; but his theological
opinions, or his ideas of church dis-
cipline, being different from those of
the Ivords Brethren about Boston and
Salem, the General Court made haste
to order, in October, 1632, that " Mr.
Bachiler forbear exercising his gifts
as a pastor or teacher publicly in
our patent, unless it be to those he
brought with him for his contempt of
authority." Like Roger Williams,
John Wheelwright, Marmaduke Mat-
thews, and other pious and learned
ministers, Mr. Bachiler wished some
freedom of conscience, — some escape
from the intolerance of England ; but
he was in the jurisdiction of Massa-
chusetts and had to obey. In 1635,
having continued to preach in Lynn,
he was again taken in hand, and
agreed to leave Lj^nn and be settled
elsewhere. He received a call to
Ipswich, but did not go, at least as
minister ; he was living there, how-
ever, when Rev. R. Stansby, a si-
lenced Puritan in England, wrote to
his friend Wilson in Boston, April 17,
1637, complaining, on the report of
others, "that many of the ministers
are much straited with you ; others
lay down the ministry and become
private members, as Mr. Bachiler,
Mr. Jenner, and Mr. Nathaniel
Ward. You are so strict in admis-
sion of members to your church that
more than one half are out of your
church in all your congregations ;
this may do much hurt if one come
among you of another mind and they
should join with him." From Ips-
wich, in the winter of i637-'38, Mr.
Bachiler, still seeking to found a
plantation, went on foot to what is
now Barnstable, six miles beyond
Sandwich on Cape Cod, — 100 miles

REV. STEPHEN B A CHILE R.

219

from his place in Ipswich. But, as
Winthrop says, " He and his com-
pau5% being all poor men, finding the
difficulty, gave it over, and others
undertook it." He then removed to
Newbury, where he and Mr. Hussey
owned land, and in October, 1638,
having permission from the Massa-
chusetts authorities to begin a plan-
tation at Hampton, he went there
with young John Winthrop and laid
out the town, of which he at once
became the pastor, receiving from the
settlers a grant of 300 acres of land.
A meeting-house was built, to which
he gave a bell, and he built himself a
good house and removed his library
thereto. He was> now seventy-eight
years old, and his troubles seemed to
be over ; he might hope for rest at
last under his own vine and figtree.

But in the seven j'ears since Mr.
Bachiler, with his grandchildren and
his wife Helen, had been seeking rest,
and finding none in New England,
before this happy colonization of
Hampton, much had been taking
place in the Massachusetts oligarchy
of ministers and magistrates. Their
disaffection to the Church of England
had been reported to King Charles
and his meddlesome prelate. Arch-
bishop I^aud ; efforts had been made
by Capt. John Mason, who began the
colonization of New Hampshire, and
by Gorges and others, to restrict the
power of Winthrop, Dudley, and their
little circle ; moreover, an enthusias-
tic sect of English Puritans, repre-
sented by Roger Williams, Sir Henry
Vane, Rev. John Wheelwright, and
Mrs. Anne Hutchinson, had come to
Boston, with certain mystical doc-
trines, at variance with the formalism
of Winthrop, Bulkeley, and the older
members of the Massachusetts oli-

garchy. There is no doubt that Mr.
Bachiler sympathized with these mys-
tics to some extent, how far we may
never know ; indeed, their own tenets
are much in doubt, from the anti-
quated and technical terms of theol-
og}'^ in which they were expressed.
They were put down in Massachu-
setts with a rigorous hand ; Williams
w^as banished to Rhode Island, Vane
returned to England, to pla}' his
great part there in the Revolution of
1640, Wheelwright and his followers
were disarmed, — that is, had their
carnal weapons taken away, and
withdrew first to Exeter, and then to
one of the many Maine colonies ; and
the privileges of the oligarchy in
Massachusetts were guarded with
careful jealousy. Evidence of this,
not often cited, is found in Governor
Winthrop 's comments on the effort
made by Rev. Nathaniel Ward Of
Ipswich, — then under suspicion for
some of his opinions, — to establish
equity and civil justice in the ecclesi-
astical colon5^ In 1641, June 3,
Winthrop saj'S, —

" Some of the freemen, without the consent
of the magistrates or governor, had chosen Mr.
Nathaniel Ward to preach at this court " (the
Election Sermon), "pretending that it was a
part of their liberty. Yet they had no great
reason to choose him, though otherwise very
able, seeing he had cast off his pastor's place
at Ipswich, and was now no minister, by the
received determination of our churches. In
his sermon he delivered many useful things,
but in a moral and political discourse, ground-
ing his propositions much upon the old Roman
and Grecian governments, — which sure is an
error. For if religion and the word of God
makes men wiser than their neighbors, . . .
we may better frame rules of government for
ourselves than to receive others upon the bare
authority of the wisdom, justice, etc., of those
heathen commonwealths. Among other things,
he advised the people to keep all their magis-
trates in an equal rank, and not to give more
honor and power to one than another, — which
is easier to advise than to prove, seeing it is

220

REV. STEPHEN BACHILER.

against the practise of Israel. Another advice
he gave, — that magistrates should not give pri-
vate advice, and take knowledge of any man's
cause before it came to public hearing.
Whereas, it is objected that such magistrate is
in danger to be prejudiced, I answer that if the
thing be lawful and useful, it must not be laid
aside for the temptations which are incident
to it ; for the least duties expose men to great
temptations."

Mr. Ward was a man of more gen-
eral learning, especially in law, than
either Winthrop or Bachiler ; he was
also a keen and witty author, which
if Bachiler had been, he would doubt-
less have cleared himself from the
vague charges which in this same
year Winthrop brings against him, in
connection with church troubles at
Hampton. Two years earlier (1639),
a younger minister had come over
from English Suffolk, bringing par-
ishioners with him, as was quite the
custom then, — one Timothy Dalton ;
he was made colleague of old Mr.
Bachiler, under the title of "Teach-
er." Trouble soon began between
them, and, as was natural, each had
his partisans ; by 1641 the quarrel
was very hot, and charges of immor-
ality were made against the pastor,
now eighty years old. He denied the
charge, in itself improbable ; but
Dalton persisted, and secured his ex-
communication, after the church had
forgiven his offense, whatever it may
have been ; for no names are given,
and no prosecution was ever made, un-
der the very strict laws then in force.
Winthrop, who entered gossip of all
sorts in his Journal, goes on to say :

" After Ihis Mr. Bachiler went on in a very
variable course, sometimes seeming very peni-
tent, soon after again excusing himself, and
casting blame upon others, especially his fel-
low-elder, Mr. Dalton (who indeed had not car-
ried himself so well in this cause as became
him, and was brought to see his failing, and
acknowledged it to the elders of the other

churches, who had taken much pains about
this matter). He was off and on for a long
time, and when he seemed most penitent, so
as the church were ready to have received him
in again, he would fall back again, and, as it
were, repent of his repentance. In this time
his house and nearly all his substance was con-
sumed by fire. When he had continued ex-
communicated near two years, and much agita-
tion had been about the matter, and the church
being divided, so as he could not be received
in, — at length the matter was referred to some
magistrates and elders, and b}' their mediation
he was released of his excommunication, but
not received to his pastor's office."

As it happens, we have among the
Winthrop Papers Mr. Bachiler's own
comments on his ill-treatment at
Hampton, so that we know from his
owm pen what defense he would have
put forward had his reasonable re-
quest for a public trial been granted
by the Massachusetts brethren whom
his free speech in former years had
offended. Writing to Governor Win-
throp late in 1643, he said :

" I see not how I can depart hence " (that is
from Hampton, to accept one of two calls he had
received, to Casco and to Exeter), " till I have,
or God for me, cleared and vindicated the cause
and wrongs I have suffered of the church I yet
live in ; that is, from the Teacher, who hath
done all'and been the cause of all the dishonor
that hath accrued to God, shame to mj-self, and
grief to all God's people, b5- his irregular pro-
ceedings and abuse of the power of the church
in his hand, — by the major part cleavingto him,
being his countrymen and acquaintance in old
England. My cause, though looked slightly
into by diverse Elders and brethren, could
never come to a judicial searching forth of
things, and an impartial trial of his allegations
and my defence ; which, if yet the j' might, I am
confident before God, upon certain knowledge
and due proof before yourselves. The Teach-
er's act of his excommunicating me (such as I
am, to say no more of myself), would prove the
foulest matter, — both for the cause alleged of
that excommunication, and the impulsive
cause, — even wrath and revenge. Also, the
manner of all his proceeding throughout, to the
very end , and lastly his keeping me still under
bonds, — and much worse than here I may men-
tion for divers causes, — than ever was com-
mitted against any member of a church. Neg-
lecting of the couiplaints of the afflicted in such

REV. STEPHEN B A CHILE R.

221

a State, — wherein Magistrates, Elders, and
brethren all are in the sincerest manner set to
find out sin, and search into the complaints of
the poor, — not knowing father nor mother,
church nor Elder, — in such a State, I say, — in
such a wine-cellar to find such a cockatrice,
and not to kill him, — to have such monstrous
proceedings passed over, without due justice, —
this again stirs up my spirit to seek for a writ
ad iiiclhis inqidrendum. Towards which the
enclosed letter tendeth, as you may perceive.
Yet if your wisdoms shall judge it more safe
and reasonable to refer all my wrongs (con-
ceived) to God's own judgment, I can submit
m j'self to be overruled by you To conclude, —
if the Apostle's words be objected, that this is
thanksworthy, if a man for conscience' sake
shall endure grief, suffering wrongfully, — and
therefore I ought to endure, without seeking
any redress or justice against the offender,— I
profess it was more absolutely necessary so to
suffer, when the Church had no civil power to
seek unto, than in such a land of righteous-
ness as our New England is."

This manly appeal ought to have
reached Winthrop's heart, — for he
had occasion, a few years later, to
stand up and clear himself in a Bos-
ton court, upon rather grave charges
of partiality in oflfice ; and he did this,
he said, that his posterity might not
blush for him when he was no more.

But, for politic reasons, doubtless,
— I can conceive of no other, — the re-
quest of the wronged old man for a
public inquiry was not granted. It
was just after Massachusetts had pa-
ternally taken the four New Hamp-
shire towns under her government,
and the IvOrds Brethren did not want
any more public wrangling than was
unavoidable in that part of their Mo-
saic despotism. They had trouble
enough from the free-spoken settlers
in Maine and New Hampshire, who
were not too well pleased to be " trot-
ting after the Bay Horse." At this
point we have an important testimony
to the high character of Mr. Bachiler
from a source naturally hostile to
him, — viz.: the Church of England

party in Maine, which was carrying
on a controversy with the Puritan
party, — the latter headed by George
Cleeve, an original Casco settler,
though not of the Plough Colon3\
Rev. Robert Jordan, a son-in-law of
John Winter, and an Oxford gradu-
ate, like Bachiler, was an Episcopal
clergyman originally, and continued
of the Cavalier party, like Gorges
and the Trelawnys. Writing to the
Parliament member, Trelawnj^ who
had a colony in Maine, Jordan said,
after mentioning the fact that Mr.
Bachiler had been chosen umpire in
the disputes between Trelawny and
George Cleeve :

" Mr. Stephen Bachiler, the pastor of a
church in the Massachusetts Bay, was, I must
say, a grave, reverend, and a good man ; but
whether more inclined to justice or mercj', or
whether carried aside by secret insinuations, I
must refer to your own judgement. Sure lam
that Cleeve is well nigh able to disable the
wisest brain."

Considering that this letter, writ-
ten July 31, 1642, is that of the de-
feated party in the suit where Mr.
Bachiler was umpire, and that Jordan
was well placed to know what his real
character was, a year after the slan-
ders against him, there could be few
testimonies more convincing. Soon
after this, Mr. Bachiler's old friends
in the Casco settlement, among them
this same wise and ancient George
Cleeve, invited him to resume his old
purpose of founding a church there.
Cleeve had obtained from Richard
Dummer the original Plough patent,
had induced Alexander Rigby, a
more influential member of the Long
Parliament than Trelawny, to pur-
chase it of John Dye and Thomas
Jupe, the leading grantees, and came
back from England in 1643 as Rig-
by 's deputy governor of the Province

222

REV. STEPHEN BACHILER.

of Lj'gonia, granted and named hy
Sir F. Gorges.^ One of his first acts
was to send to Hampton an invitation
for Mr. Bachiler to leave his warring
parishioners and slandering colleague,
and become the minister at Casco.
This shows, as does the commenda-
tion of Jordan, how little the Hamp-
ton squabbles affected the opinion of
persons at a distance.

The lo3^al and friendly old Chris-
tian, living with his grandchildren
across yonder meadows, after his own
house had been destroyed by fire,
and a malicious effort made to blast
bis good name, at once wrote to John
Cotton and his church in Boston (who
had been good friends of his friend
Wheelwright, until overborne by the
magistrates of Massachusetts Ba}^),
asking their advice in the matter of
accepting the Casco call. What he
said in this letter of Christmas time,
1643, is interesting, as rehearsing his
fortunes in the ministry since starting

' My son, v. C. Sanborn, of Kenilworth, 111., has
sent me certain facts about the grantees of the
Plough Patent, and its final absorption in the grant
of Rigby, which are worth recording. John Dye
lived in Philpot Lane, London, and Thomas Jupe
in Crooked Lane ; both seem to have been citizens,
and probably artisans. Grace Hardwinwasa man,
a wa.x-chandler in Crooked I<aiie,— his wife was a
friend of Mildred Hitch, who may have been akin
to Christopher Levitt, the first settler at Casco.
The three Binckeses were also from London.
Richard Dummer, who had the custody of the pat-
ent, was one of a family which sent many mem-
bers to Massachusetts. Archbishop Land was in-
formed in 163S by one of his spies in the Isle of
Wight (Oglander) that John Dummer of Swathling,
and his son Thomas, with Thomas Dummer of
Chickenwell, for his brother Richard, and Stepheu
Dummer of Townhill were all laying in provision
for emigration, and several of them came over.
Richard himself had come in i6;i2, but returned in
1638 to England, taking the patent with him; which
afterwards passed to Rigby. In 1674, Serjeant
Rigl)y, heir of Alexander, recited in his memorial
the grant to Bryan I3inckes, John Dye, and others,
(June 26, 1630) "of two islands in the river Sagada-
hoc and certain tracts of land ; " that in 1630 the
said Hinckes and his associates "settled them-
selves in Casco Bay. laid out cousiderable s\ims of
money in planting there, and made laws and con-
stitutions (or the government of said plantation ; "
that in 1643 the survivors of liinckes, etc., granted
their interest to Alexander Rigby ; that in 1644, the
earl of Warwick, Ciovernor-in-Chief of America
" ratified and confirmed sai.d laws and constitu-
tions for the territory aforesiiid, styling the same
the Province of Lygonia ; " and that in 1646 " the
said Karl and the Council decided the title to the
Province to be in the said Rigl)y and his heirs."

from London with his wife Helen and
some of his grandchildren in 1632 : —

vSaid I to my wife, considering what a call-
ing I had, some 14 years agoiie, by that Com-
pany of the Plough, there to sit down with
them, not as a Planter only, but as a Pastor
also ; and considering how the Lord shoved me
from New Town to Saugus (upon that disas-
ter which happened to the goods of the Com-
pany, by the false dealing of those entrusted
by us with the Plough Ship, and our goods
therein) — then from Saugus to Newbury, then
from Newbury to Hampton ; and now seems to
do the like from Hampton to the very place it-
self (Casco), — all the former shovings and re-
movings being still directly towards that place,
— this, I thought in my mind, might have some
resemblance to the Pharisees dealing with vay
Lord and Master."

This thought occurred to him, he
says, from a sermon of Brother Cot-
ton's, in which he argued that all the
proceedings of the Scribes and Phar-
isees " did but thrust and shove at
Christ, till they had thrust him into
that very place to which the Father
had appointed him." But then, he
proceeds, he could not be sure that
this was really God's purpose, — ■" see-
ing the intervenient callings were also
of God, and the last, to Hampton, not
least certain to me to be of God ;
also the last two removals not being
so properly from God, as from Satan
and some unjust instruments. This
now, from Hampton to Casco, may
be, after a sort, forced by like unjust
proceedings, as well as by an honor-
able calling from Casco, and like hon-
orable advice from you." He there-
fore desires the advice and good will
of Cotton, Winthrop, and the other
church members at Boston, and goes
on to say :

" I have sent them of Casco thi= answer
briefly, — I purpose, God willing, to come and
confer with them about the last week of the
next month, our first (January, 1644), and that
the will of God shall overrule me against all
the difhculties of the case. And indeed the
being of my dear brother Jenner and Mr.

REV. STEPHEN BACHILER.

223

Wheelwright established in those parts is not a
weak motive to drive, or a cord to draw me
that way."

Probabl}' this casual mention of
those punished heretics, Wheelwright
and his friend, then ministers at Saco
and Wells, on the way to Portland,
and out of the Massachusetts jurisdic-
tion, led the Boston brethren to dis-
courage his removal to Casco ; and
he gave it up. But in the meantime,
Wheelwright's colony at Exeter,
adjoining Hampton, and likely to be
fully informed about Mr. Bachiler's
record in his own colony, had in-
vited him to succeed Mr. Rashleigh
as their minister, — a fact which goes
to prove his innocence of anything
serious in the Hampton imbroglio. It
is to be remembered that Wheel-
wright and Bachiler founded their
colonies side by side in the same
years, when Massachusetts had not
extended her rule over New Hamp-
shire, and that, when this occurred,
in 1641, Wheelwright moved over
into Maine., His people invited Mr.
Bachiler, but the Bay influence had
divided Exeter, as Hampton was di-
vided ; and the Lords Brethren took
advantage of this fact to forbid Mr.
Bachiler's accepting the invitation.
Governor Winthrop's version of this
(dated Feb. 6, 1645) is as follows :

" Mr. Wheelwright being removed from Ex-
eter to Wells, the people remaining fell at va-
riance among themselves. Some would gather
a new church, and call old Mr. Batchellor
from Hampton to be their pastor ; and for that
purpose appointed a da3', and gave notice
thereof to the magistrates and churches ; but
the Court, understanding of their divisions and
present unfitness for so solemn and sacred a
business, wrote to them (by waj' of direction
onlj') to desist for that time. To this they sub-
mitted and did not proceed."

An earlier record made' by Win-
throp in July, 1644, lets light in upon

the situation and the motives of Mr.
Dalton, the persecutor of his pastor:

"The contentions in Hampton were grown
to a great height ; the whole town was divided
into two factions, one with Mr. Bachellor, their
late pastor, and the other with Mr. Dalton their
teacher, — both men very passionate, and want-
ing discretion and moderation. Their differ-
ences were not in matters of opinion but of
practice. Mr. Dalton's part}- being the most of
the church, and so freemen (voters) had great
advantage of the other, though a considerable
party, and some of them of the church also, —
wherebj- they carried all affairs both in church
and town, according to their own minds, and
not with that respect to their brethren and
neighbors which had been fit. Divers meet-
ings had been, both of magistrates and elders,
and parties had been reconciled, — but broke
out again presently, each side being apt to take
fire upon any provocation. Whereupon Mr.
Bachellor was advised to remove, and was
called to Exeter, whither he intended to go ;
but they being divided and at great difference
also, when one party had appointed a daj- of
humiliation, to gather a new church and call
Mr. Bachellor, the Court sent order to stop it."

Now let us see what Mr. Bachiler
himself, who acted in this matter
with entire moderation, so far as can
be seen, had to say about the Exeter
call (Hampton, May 18-19, 1644):

" Being clearly free from any engagement of
promise to Casco, and no one misliking mine
inclination to Exeter, — as the one, two or three
opposites had no one word to oppose further,
so were the whole residue of the plantation
(brethren and others) thoroughly satisfied and
encouraged to go forward. Upon mj- promise
to accept of their calling and desire, they
resolved to pitch upon the day of their consti-
tution and coming into order, and sending
forth their letters for help and advice unto the
churches. Whiles I desired to delay for some
further short time, ... I could see no
sound reason to desire further time, but freely
consented to their desire and calling: only
earnestl3- exhorting them to live in love and
peace, and so to redeem whatsoever ill opinion
the country had conceived of them. Where-
upon they called a meeting, and agreed upon
the persons and materials of their intended
church, and the day of the helpers' meeting,
which is the 18 of the next month succeeding
(June, 1644). Which if it shall please your
Worship (Gov. Winthrop) to communicate,
with this poor relation, to your Reverend

224

REV. STEPHEN BACHIEER.

Elders (to save me a little pains in writing), I
shall stand thankful to you ; and doubly thank-
ful to my brother Wilson (as the ablest to
travel) in case he would honor us with his
presence, — and make it a progress of recrea-
tion to see his old friend, and so to do me this
last service, save to my burial. For the estab-
lishment of a church-estate in Exeter, I have,
of my own accord, freely consented to allow 41
pounds, out of the wages which they purposed
to have allowed to Mr. Rashleigh yearly (and I
think paid), to the purchasing of Mr. Wheel-
wright's house and accommodations thereto, —
to be mine for my term only, and so to be left
at my end of term to such as shall succeed."

Is there not something pathetic as
well as truly Christian and gentle-
manly in this statement? In his
eighty-fourth year, after a troubled
and toilsome life, he desires his old
friend, one of the Boston ministers,
to come and ordain him where he
expects soon to be buried. Notwith-
standing the reputation for conten-
tion which his enemies would fasten
upon him, I could wish that they had
ever manifested so much Christiati
spirit. But the Lords Brethren, —
I must think against the wish of the
gentle Winthrop, — refused to permit
the Exeter heretics to gather a
church. Having advised the wronged
old man to leave Hampton for the
sake of peace, and he having taken
their counsel, — they now stepped in
and frustrated his good purpose, —

Keeping the word of promise to the ear.
But breaking it to the hope.

In the full faith that now he is to
find repose at Exeter, this aged Eear,
so ungratefully treated by his breth-
ren, not by his children, makes a
further request, modestly and pathet-
ically to this powerful "Court"
which assumes to regulate church
and state at once. The same letter
of May, 1644, goes on:

" I must expect that, so soon as I am trans-
lated to my new place, the people of Hampton

will lay what rates they can upon my lot and
estate in Hampton. Whether I may not obtain
favor from our Government, to be favored and
exempted, either for the short term of my life,
or for some certain years, as shall be thought
fit, from any rate? (i), For that I procured the
plantation for them, as your Worship knows,
and have been at great charges manj- ways
since, for the upholding and furthering of the
same. 2, For that I never had any main-
tenance from them hitherto. 3, I have had
great losses by fire (well known) to the value
of 20o«pounds, with my whole stud3' of books.
It is considerable, that I voluntarily remove,
for peace sake, and that my removing, though
to so near a place, cannot be but both trouble-
some and chargeable. And lastly it can detract
but a matter of 3 pounds or thereupon, — haply
a little more, I do not know, — from the
Teacher's maintenance, or otherwise ; which
yet may be a comfort and benefit to me.
I have, in effect, little or no other means and
maintenance to depend upon, but from my lot
in Hampton.

" Whether I may not lawfully and reasonably
desire such a favor from the state ? if not, in
your wise and conscionable judgment, and of
my brothers, your Elders, I sit down in silence.
If yes, then I shall beseech you as a friend and
father, to propound my humble suit to the
Court, as you best know how, with my reasons
and considerations,— and ca.st the success upon
the Lord above. And were it not that I know
your Worship respecteth' no trouble, so you
may do any service for God, or any of His poor
servants, I should not be so bold as I am thus
to trouble you with my letters of complaint
and advice. And even so I conclude, with my
wife's and my poor service promised to your
Worship and your Christian consort, mine
ancient friend, with our faithful prayers for
you and my reverend brethren. I cease and
rest in the Lord, yours to command. His most

unprofitable servant,

"Stephen Bachiler.

" Bear with my blotted paper,— my maid

threw down mine ink glass upon it, and I

had not rescribcndi Icuipus " (time to write it

over).

Here is the case truthfully pre-
sented; but whether the favor of
relief from taxation in his own col-
ony (" plantation ") was ever granted,
we may not know, for the imperfect,
town records of Hampton do not
show it. He afterwards sued the
town for ministerial services, and got
a verdict in his favor.

REV. STEPHEN BACHILER.

225

Having sacrificed some 400 or 500
pounds in his fifteen years' endeavors
to build up towns and churches in
New England, the old Puritan was
now compelled to sell his great farm
in Seabrook, near the Massachusetts
line, to maintain himself on the pro-
ceeds, without burdening his grand-
children, wdio by this time were
prominent citizens of Hampton. This
sale occurred during 1644, and was
in the interest of the town of Hamp-
ton, to W'honi the buyers (Thomas
Ward and William Howard) resold it,
for the benefit of Mr. Bachiler's friend
and successor, Rev. John Wheel-
wright, who seems to have been
chosen as a means of reconciling the
adherents of Bachiler and of Dalton.
The beginning of the contract with
Wheelwright is significant in this re-
spect ; it reads :

"The church of Jesus Christ in Hampton,
having seriously considered the great pains and
labors that the reverent and well-beloved Mr.
Timothy Dalton have taken among them in the
work of the ministry, even beyond his abilily
and strength of nater : and having, upon sol-
emn seeking of God, settled their thoughts
upon the reverent and well-beloved Mr. John
Wheelwright of Wells, as a help in the work of
the Lord with the said Mr. Dalton, our present
and faithful teacher," etc.

It seems to have been further
agreed to accept Mr. Bachiler's offer
peaceably to remove from Hampton,
where, in the meantime (1647), his
wife, Helen, had died ; he did in fact
remove in the spring of that j'ear,
(and before Mr. Wheelwright came) to
Strawberry Bank, as Portsmouth was
then called. Soon after so removing,
he conveyed (April 20, 1647) all his
remaining estate in Hampton, includ-
ing all grants not then appointed, to
his grand.son, my ancestor, Lieut.
John Sanborn, who gave bond to pay
the other three grandchildren in

America, Nathaniel Bachiler, Wil-
liam Sanborn and Stephen Sanborn,
20 pounds sterling each. The aged
sufferer still complained to Winthrop
of unredressed wrongs, and wrote to
him (May 3, 1647) reminding him of
a promise to open his case, when oc-
casion should serve, in these words :

" I can shew a letter of your Worship's, occa-
sioned by some letters of mine, craving some
help from you in some cases of oppression un-
der which I lay, — and still do, — wherein also
3'ou were pleased to take notice of those op-
pressions and wrongs ; that in case the Lord
should give, or open a door of, opportunity,
you would be ready to do me all the lawful
right and Christian service that any cause of
mine might require. Which time being, in my
conceit, near at hand, all that I would humbly
crave is this, — to read this inclosed letter to my
two beloved and reverend brothers, j-our El-
ders (Cotton and Wilson), and in them to the
whole Synod. Wherein you shall fully know
mj' distressed case and condition ; and so, as
you shall see cause, to join with them in coun-
sel, what best to do for my relief."

Here the allusion is, no doubt, to
the slanders against him in Hampton,
as well as to the pecuniary indebted-
ness of his ungrateful colony, for ser-
vices as pastor. What follows, in
the same letter, opens a new source of
affliction for the persecuted old man.
He had gone to Portsmouth, appar-
ently, upon a sort of engagement to
preach there, as successor to "that
godly man and scholar'' James
Parker, who had shortly before gone
to Barbadoes, after missionar}^ work
among the ungodh^ at Strawberry
Bank and Kittery Foreside for two or
three years. It was a trading and
fishing community, with little affinity
for the Puritan strictness, to which
Mr. Bachiler undertook missionary
service ; and he fell into the snares
of the wicked there. One of Satan's
shepherdesses, the Beck}- Sharp of a
sailor's paradise, — a widow and ad-
venturess, soon appeared on the

226

REV. STEPHEN BACHIEER.

scene, and the old man, now a wid-
ower, and weakened in mind, proba-
bly, as so often happens in extreme
age, became her victim. With his
persisting generositj' he thus opened
the sad chapter to the Winthrop fam-
ily :

" It is no news to certify you that God hath
taken from me my dear helper and yokefellow.
And whereas, by approbation of the whole
plantation of Strawberry Bank, they have as-
signed an honest neighbor, (a widow) to have
some eye and care towards my family, for
washing, baking, and other such common ser-
vices, ^it is a world of woes to think what ru-
mors detracting spirits raise up, that I am
married to her, or certainly shall be ; and cast
on her such aspersions without ground or proof,
that I see not how possibly I shall subsist in
the place, to do them that service from which,
otherwise they cannot endure to hear I shall
depart. The Lord direct and guide us jointly
and singularly in all things, to his glory and
our rejoicing in the day and at the appearing
of our Lord Jesus Christ ! And so, with my
humble service to your worship, 3'our blessed
and beloved yokefellow, (mine ancient true
friend) with blessing on you both, yours and
all the people of God with you, I end and rest
your Worship's in the Lord to command."

Except for petitions and pleadings
in court, these are the last written
words of our ancestor that have been
preserved, in that general loss of
manuscripts which includes almost
every line of Shakespeare's except his
will. But his chivalrous defence of
this later Mary Magdalen did not
hold good. She inveigled him into a
marriage early in 1648, without pre-
vious notice, as required by law ; and
he obtained for her, now Mistress
Mary Bachiler, — a title she coveted, —
a lot of land in Kittery, Feb. 14, 1648.

This woman was, of course, much
younger than her deluded husband ;
but her original name and age are
unknown. She soon passed over
into the jurisdiction of Gorges' col-
ony, living on her land in Kit-
tery, and used her married name

as a cover for vice. In October,
1650, she was arrested on suspicion
of adultery with one George Rogers,
and a year later the York records
show that she was convicted of the
offence, and sentenced to receive
forty stripes save one at the first
town meeting held at Kittery, six
weeks after her delivery, and be
branded with the letter "A." Not-
withstanding this notorious fact, the
Massachusetts authorities made the
following atrocious order upon the
petition of her husband for divorce,
then in his ninetieth year :

"That Mr. Batchelor and his wife shall live
together as man and wife, as in this court they
have publicly professed to do ; and if either
desert one another, then hereby the court doth
order that the marshal shall apprehend both
the said Mr. Batchelor and Mar5', his wife, and
bring them forthwith to Boston, there to be
kept till the next Quarter Court of Assistants,
that farther consideration thereof may be had,
both of them moving for a divorce : Provided,
notwithstanding, that if they put in 50 pounds
each of them, for their appearance, that then
they shall be under their bail to appear at the
next court ; and in case Mary Batchellor shall
live out of the jurisdiction, without mutual
consent for a time, then the clerk shall give
notice to the magistrate at Boston of her ab-
sence, that further order may be taken therein."

The only possible justification for
action like this must have been that
Mr. Bachiler was so infirm as to be
dependent on his false wife for daily
care, and was willing to pardon and
trust her further, — he then having a
residence in New Hampshire and she
in Maine. Nothing further is known
of these legal proceedings, except
that no divorce was granted ; but
after his return to England, with his
grandson, Stephen, to escape from
this woman and from the unjust
courts, she petitioned the Massachu-
setts authorities for divorce, with a
mixture of falsehood and truth in her
statement, as thus :

REV. STEPHEN BACHILER.

227

"Whereas, your petitioner having formerly
lived with Mr. Stephen Bachiler in this Colony
as his lawful wife, (and not unknown to divers
of you, as I conceive), and the said Mr. Bach-
iler, upon some pretended ends of his own, has
transported himself into old Kngland, for many
years since, and betaken him.self to another
wife, as your petitioner hath often been credi-
bly informed, and .there continues ; whereby
your petitioner is left destitute not only of a
guide to herself and her children, bu{ also
made incapable of disposing herself in the way
of marriage to any other without a lawful per-
mission. . . . And were she free of her en-
gagement to Mr. Bachiler, might probably so
dispose of herself as that she might obtain a
meet helper to assist her to procure such means
for her livelihood, and the recovery of her
children's health, as might keep them from
perishing,— which your petitioner, to her great
grief, is much afraid of, if not timely pre-
vented."

A.t this time she could not have
been more than> forty. Neither of
her children could have been her
husband's, who was b}^ this time
ninety- five, and had never married
again. Nor had he been in England
"many years," for he returned with
his grandson, Stephen Sanborn, who
not only signed the Hampton peti-
tion in favor of Robert Pike in 1653,
but was in Hampton in August,
1654. Upon leaving America, where
he had been so ungratefully dealt
with by all except his own kindred,
he turned over the last remains of
his American property to his son-
in-law. Captain Christopher Hus-
sey, ancestor of the poet Whittier,
as two of his old neighbors testified
later :

"They did hear Mr. Bachiler say unto his
son-in-law that in consideration the said Hussey
had little or nothing from him with his daugh-
ter, which was then married to the said Hussey ;
as also that this said son Hussey and his wife
had been helpful unto him both formerly and
in fitting him for his voya?-e, and for other con-
siderations ; he did give to the said Hussey all
his estate, consisting in cattle, household goods
and debts, for which his gift aforesaid he also
gave a deed in writing and delivered a copy
thereof to the said Hussey."

Released from the complications of
his old age in New England, and
returning to kindly and prosperous
descendants and kindred in old Eng-
land, Stephen Bachiler passed his
latest years in tranquility and died
peacefully at Hackney, now a part of
London, in 1660, nearly a century
old. His descendants in this country
alone must number 5,000, in Eng-
land perhaps half as many. His
rancorous opponent, Dalton, left no
posterity, and, in his penitent later
years, gave much of his property, as
did his wife, to the grandson of Mr.
Bachiler, Nathaniel, whose posterity
are before me to-day. It is, there-
fore, proper for us to pay the honor
to our common ancestor which his
character and services demand. A
less agreeable task is to censure and
correct the erroneous and injurious
terms in which the historian of
Hampton Falls has inconsiderately
spoken of the planter of these five
towns, which owe their existence to
his zeal and aged activit5^ It should
have been his pride, as it w-as his
dut)', to clear our Founder's name
from the aspersions of his oppon-
ents.

Instead of this, his account of Mr.
Bachiler will not stlnd judicial ex-
amination for a moment. It copies
carelessly and defectively from Win-
throp's secret journal, which did not
come to light till more than a centurj^
after Bachiler' s death, when all who
had direct knowledge of the facts
were also dead, and when its state-
ments must be tested by probability,
not taken as gospel truth. \'aluable
as Winthrop's manuscript journals
are, for facts within his own knowl-
edge, and where his judgment was
not warped by superstition or preju-

228

REV. STEPHEN BACHILER.

dice, there are numerous instances
where we now know his account to
be false or exaggerated ; many more
in which his credulity and bigotr}-
led him to the most ridiculous state-
ments. He tells a story of the mice
eating one of his son's volumes, in
which were the Greek Testament
and the book of Common Praj-er.
Disliking the latter, which Winthrop
reorarded as heretical or idolatrous in
parts, he gives us to understand that
his son John's mice acted under
God's direction in nibbling the
prayers and avoiding the Gospels !
He can nowhere speak of Anne
Hutchinson with moderation, and
after she had been unjustly banished
to Aquiday, near Rhode Island, he
set down this gossip against her :

"Mr. Collins and one Mr. Hales (a young
man very well conceited of himself and cen-
sorious of others) went to Aquiday ; and so
soon as Hales came acquainted with Mrs.
Hutchinson, he was taken with her, and be-
came her disciple. Mr. Collins was enter-
tained at Hartford to teach a school ; went
away without taking leave, and being com.e to
Mrs. Hutchinson, he was also taken with her
lieresies,and in great admiration of her. These
and the other like (things) before, when she
dwelt in Boston, gave cause of suspicion of
witchcraft ; for it was certainly known that
Haw^kins's wife (who continued with her and
was her bosom friend) had much familiarity
with the devil in England, when she dwelt at
St. Ives, where divers ministers and others
resorted to her and found it true."

Winthrop also recorded, a few
years after, and not long before his
own death, the wondrous evidence
upon which Margaret Jones was
hanged in Charlestown for a witch,
and how the presence of her widowed
husband in a loaded vessel in Charles
river caused the ship to heel and roll
until he was taken out and impris-
oned ! Now there is quite as much
evidence for these three persons being

in league with Satan, as for Mr.
Bachiler's alleged misconduct at
Hampton ; yet who believes now that
they were witches? Had the offence
charged, upon mere hearsay, by Win-
throp, been committed by Mr. Bach-
iler, or provable, it would have been
sharply prosecuted in the courts ; for
our ancestors were verj^ severe
against such offences, — whipping and
even hanging for their punishment.
That he made any confession is no
more likely than that Bachiler's
friend Wheelwright confessed the
heresies for which the Lords Brethren
unlawfully banished him to New
Hampshire ; his courteous expression
of some slight fault w-as doubtless
tortured into a confession, which he
ever afterwards denied, and asked to
have the matter brought to public
trial, ^ — not left in the secret conclave
of church discipline. Judge Bach-
elder and other careful lawyers who
have looked into the cases of Wheel-
wright and Bachiler, are unanimous,
so far as I know, in saying that noth-
ing could be proved, in a just court,
upon no better evidence than Win-
throp records. Nor would the scan-
dal have received any attention, prob-
ably, had not Mr. Bachiler, in his
failing old age, fallen into the hands
of the wicked woman who enticed
him to a wholly unfit marriage. His
two former marriages had been long
and undisturbed, so far as we know,
by an)' domeistic dissensions; his
wives were not so many as Win-
throp's (who married four times),
but equally worthy ; his children and
grandchildren were honored and re-
spected, and were much attached to
him. The charge of immorality was
the outgrowth of theological rancor,
than which nothing is more slan-

REV. STEPHEN BACHILER.

229

derous, or less to be credited in
accusation.

But it is also alleged by Winthrop
that Bachiler was so contentious that
there could be no peace in the
churches till he was sent away.
That he was stiff and passionate at
times is not unlikely, though his
extant letters do not indicate that ;
rather do they show courtesy and
moderation. But for a Massachusetts
Puritan to stigmatize a brother as
contentious was merely to say, ' ' Thou
art truly one of us " ; for Winthrop's
whole journal is the record of quar-
rels among the brethren ; and scarcely
a church or a prominent man or
woman escaped these squabbles, often
of the most childish origin. The
governor and magistrates were occu-
pied for years over a stray sow from
one of the Boston islands ; and the
colonial government came near break-
ing up over a trivial controversy in
Hingham, growing out of the arbi-
trary rule of the minister, Hobart.
The founders of Massachusetts were
men of strong character, but narrow
minds, and Bachiler was no excep-
tion, perhaps, — onl)* his views had
been enlarged by a more generous
nature, and a wider experience than

daughter of the murdered vSir John
Tyndal.

Even if these revived slanders had
more foundation in fact than we now
see they had, it was not the part of
a good historian to gloat over them.
Until he was eighty years old,
Stephen Bachiler, though much in
the Puritan agitations of England
and New England, bore an unspotted
name ; it would have been natural to
ascribe the events of 1641-1650 to
that decay or perversion of faculties
which W'C often see in the aged, and
for which they are hardly more
responsible than King Eear for his
insanity. He might have said, as
Lear does, —

I tax not you, you elements, with unkindness,
I never gave you kingdoms, called you children ;
You owe me nothing; here I stand your slave,
A poor, infirm, weak and despised old man : —
But yet I call you servile ministers,
That will with two pernicious daughters join
Against a head so old and white as this.

Tremble, thou wretch,
That hast within thee undivulged crimes,
Thou perjured and thou simular of virtue,
That under covert and convenient seeming
Hast practised on man's life ! I am a man
More sinned against than sinning.

But we have the right to withhold
this excuse for acts of weakness or
of generous trust ; for, judged by

most of them had, except Winthrop what is known of his wrongs, suffer-

and his son John. These two seem
to have remained on friendly terms
with Mr. Bachiler, who had been a
visitor at old Adam Winthrop's in
England, and always claimed ac-
quaintance with the whole family ;
particularly with Margaret Tyndal,
Governor Winthrop's third wife, a

ings, labors, and results, few of the
patriarchs of New England are more
worthy of praise and of sympathy
than this untiring toiler, this true
believer, — this intrepid friend of lib-
erty, faithful guardian of his family,
and deeply injured benefactor of
mankind.

Note. — In 1683, the son of Richard Dummer, Mr. Bachiler's kinsman, informed the General
Court of Massachusetts, which then controlled Maine, that his father "was wholly intrusted with
the Plough Patent and the management of sundry concerns relating to the same, by virtue of a
power derived from the patentees, and thereunder disbursed sundry sums of money ; and there-
after, the said Patent being ordered home for PIngland, the patentees granted him 800 acres and
more, laid out at Casco Bay." This is the latest mention of the Patent I have yet found.

TO AN OAK.
By James J. Rome.

O Sturdy oak ! Thou forest king !

The warbling birds thy glories sing.

For shelter by thy branches given,

In waking dawn or sombre ev'n,

The cattle browsing 'neath thy shade

Praise Him who all things good hath made.

The weary traveler, seeking rest.

Under thy spreading green is blest.

The zephyrs creeping through thy leaves,

A music song melodious weaves, —

In lightsome chant relate in song

The blessings scattered free among

All earth's inhabitants below.

Not with an ostentatious show,

But with a meekness all divine, —

An offering at L,ove's holy shrine.

Strengthen the faint and cheer the sad,

Making the drooping heart feel glad.

The weak look up at thy strong arms

Outstretched to battle with the storms,

And taking courage, face the fight.

And put their evil foes to flight.

Ah, noble tree ! rich blessings thou

On willing learners dost bestow,

Serene and calm, yet dost not fail

To breast the storm and meet the gale,

And gather strength from adverse winds.

Each branch in gladness yields and bends.

But still its beauteous form retains,

And harmony, serene, remains.

PICTURESQUE COOPERSTOWN.

By George W. Parker.

lOOPERSTOWN annu-
ally attracts thousands
of tourists from all
lauds, both because of
its picturesque locality
at the foot of Otsego lake and aiuong
the Otsego hills, and from the fact
that it is the resting-place of the
first distinctively American novelist.
Richfield Springs and Coopers-
town, to which might also be added
Sharon Springs and Howe's Cave,
make a delightftil side-trip for trav-
elers going to or returning from
Niagara or the Adirondacks. These
places are now on the direct line
with the Catskills and the Hudson.
Aside from its close proximity to
other summer resorts, Cooperstown
has a potent charm of its own in its
unique position on the Glimmerglass,
as Otsego lake is designated in
" Deerslayer," surrounded by moun-
tain, lake, and virgin forest. To the
artist's eye there is a permanent feast
in the mirrored lake set in a frame
of forest-clad hills. The admirer of
"Leather Stocking Tales," who,
standing by the monument of the
Indian hunter in Cooper park which
marks the site of the great novelist's
home, gazes northward over the
placid waters of Otsego lake, discov-
ers the mainspring of the novelist's
poetic fancy.

This silvery expanse, lying peace-
ful and transparent, and encircled by
even ranges of hills, is suggestive of
contentment and repose. The hut of
1760, built for the deputy superin-

sxix— 16

tendent of Indian affairs, has given
place to a flourishing village of over
two thousand inhabitants, and beauti-
fied by parks, libraries, public build-
ings, and modern improvements ; the
western hill-slopes have been partially
cleared and are now covered b}^ fer-
tile farms. Aside from these changes,
the view is the same as that which
met Deerslayer's eyes on emerging
upon the gravelly point.

"On a level with the point lay a
broad sheet of water, so placid and
limpid that it resembled a bed of
the pure mountain atmosphere, com-
pressed into a setting of hills and
woods. Its length was about three
leagues, while its breadth was irregu-
lar, expanding to half a league, or
even more, opposite to the point, and
contracting to less than half that dis-
tance more to the southward. Of
course its margin was irregular, be-
ing indented by bays, and broken
by many projecting, low points. At
its northern or nearest end it was
bounded by an isolated mountain,
lower land falling off east and west,
gracefull}' relieving the sweep of the
outline. Still the character of the
countr}' was mountainous; high hills,
or low mountains, rising abruptly
from the water, on quite nine tenths
of its circuit. The exceptions, in-
deed, only served a little to vary the
scene ; and even beyond the parts of
the shore that were comparatively
low the back-ground was high,
though more distant.

"But the most striking peculiari-

232

PICTURE SO UE CO OPERS TO J VN.

ties of this scene were its solemn
solitude and sweet repose. On all
sides wherever the eye turned noth-
ing met it but the mirror-like surface
of the lake, and the placid view of
heaven, and the dense setting of
woods. So rich and fleecy were the
outlines of the forest that scarce an
opening could be seen, the whole
visible earth, from the rounded moun-
tain top to the water's edge, pre-
sented one unvaried hue of unbroken

the balminess of June, and relieved
by the beautiful variety afforded by
the presence of so broad an expanse
of water."

On the shores of Otsego lake were
enacted the events narrated in " Deer-
slayer " and many of the historic
spots are designated by the names of
its characters. Thus Council Rock,
near the outlet, is the one from
which Chingachgook leaped to the
deck of the ark and escaped his pur-

Cooperstown and Otsego Lake.

verdure. As if vegetation were not
satisfied with a triumph so complete,
the trees overhung the lake itself,
shooting out toward the light ; and
there w^ere miles along its eastern
shore where a boat might have pulled
beneath the branches of dark Rem-
brandt-looking hemlocks, ' quivering
aspens,' and melancholy pines. In
a word, the hand of man had never
yet defaced or deformed any part of
this native scene, which lay bathed
in the sunlight, a glorious picture of
affluent forest-grandeur, softened by

suers ; Leatherstocking Falls, a little
back from the western shore, is the
scene of L,eatherstocking's rescue of
the Indian maiden, Swan, from the
panther ; Three Mile, or Wild Rose
Point, the place of Deerslayer's part-
ing from Judith Hutter ; Hutter's
Point, from which Deerslayer first
caught a glimpse of the Glimmer-
glass; Sunken Island, site of Hut-
ter's castle ; Gravelly Point, where
Deerslayer had his first combat with a
hostile Indian ; Point Judith, adorned
by Kingfisher's Tower, a handsome

PIC TURESO UE COOPERS TO WN.

233

medieval structure towering sixty
feet above the water's edge, and
Natty Bumppo's Cave.

The lake front offers every oppor-
tunity for boating, bathing, and fish-
ing. A fleet of three steamers, sev-
eral private launches, and innumer-
able skiffs and row-boats ply the
waters of Otsego lake. The outlet
of the lake is the stately Susque-
hanna which sweeps in a smooth
sheet east of the village. Broad and

pervades the region, for outside the
carefully-kept park with its diagonal
walks are the most elegant residences
and public buildings in Cooperstown.
Directly in front is the beautiful mar-
ble edifice occupied jointly by the
public library and the Young Men's
Christian Association, and the mar-
ble block belonging to Edward Clark
and Alfred Corning Clark ; on the
east is a brick cottage, the home of
Cooper's granddaughter, th'j bricks

Indian Monument in Cooper Park.

well-kept streets, flanked everywhere
by shady walks and beautiful lawns,
afford pleasant drives. Thanks to
the munificence of Mrs. Alfred Corn-
ing Clarke, a beautiful public park
has been laid out about the site of
the old Cooper house. In the cen-
ter a huge boulder of syenite, sur-
mounted by the bronze statue of an
Indian hunter, marks the spot where
stood Otsego Hall, the home of
Cooper, which was built in 179S, and
destroyed by fire in 1852.

An air of refinement and culture

used in its construction being brought
from the old Otsego Hall ; next, j'et
located at some distance from the
street in a shady vista of trees, is the
stone mansion of Mrs. Alfred Corn-
ing Clark ; to the rear of the park
is Christ church with its chapel in
front of which are the graves of the
Cooper family. About twenty-five
members and relatives of the novelist
here repose beneath the sod. In the
small cemetery of Christ church,
amongst the scenes which Cooper
loved and immortalized, lie the re-

?34

PICTURESO UE COOPERS TO WN.

-«Pfei.A-»'^

rj ..E.
!* f^

.-^jgf-JVr:W,

i^i,

cr-nr^:

f'i:-

Leatherstocking Monument in Lakewood Cemetery.

mains of America's great novelist.
It is quite fitting that he, who
through Hfe cherished the woods and
mountains, and gazed with rapture
on GHmmerglass's shining waters,
should be buried among the same
surroundings, shaded by native trees
and in solemn silence save for the
rustUng of the leaves, the gentle
murmur of the evening wind or the
Te Deiim sung in the neighboring
chapel by souls grateful for the rich
inheritance he has left them.

Among the half dozen tombs cov-
ered by large flat slabs of granite
are those of the novelist and his wife.
Though showing the marks of time,
one can clearly make out the simple
inscription :

James Feniniore Cooper
Born Sep. 15, 1789
Died Sep. 14, 1851.

And on the grave of his wife :

Susan Aujjusta, wife of

James Fenimore Cooper

and daughter of

John Peter I)el,ancey

Born Jan. 28, 1792
Died Jan. 20, 1852.

Many of the other inscriptions are-
scarcely discernible, but we notice
the names of William Cooper (1754-
1809) and his wife, Elizabeth ; Isaac
Cooper (i78:-i8i8) and Mary, his.
wife ; Richard Cooper and his sons,
Alfred, Charles Paul, James Feni-
more, and Richard Fenimore ; Mar-
maduke Cooper and William Cooper.

The slab that covers the remains
of Hannah Cooper bears an interest-
ing inscription :

" Adieu Thou Gentle Pious Spotless Fair
Thou more than Daughter of my Fondest care
F'arewell farewell till happier ages roll
And waft me Purer to thy kindred Soul
Oft shall the Orphan and the Widowd poor
Thy bounty fed this lonely spot explore
Here to relate Thj^ seeming hapless doom
More than the solemn record of the Tomb
By tender love inspired can tender love por-
tray
(Nor Sculptured Marble, nor the plaintive lay
Proclaim Thy Virtues through the vale of

time)
And bathe with grateful tears thy hallow'd
shrine."

ONLY.

235

Here, too, are to be seen the graves
•of the Metcalfs, Williamses, and other
Revolutionary families. An iron pal-
ing encloses the Cooper bvirying
ground, but a well-worn path leads
from the chapel to the grave of
James Fenimore Cooper, which is the
center of attraction for all visitors to
Cooperstown.

It is gratifying for all admirers of
Cooper to know that the home and
haunts of the great novelist no longer
lie in sad neglect, but that devoted
hands have laid out this beautiful
memorial park, erected the statue
and carefully raised fitting tributes of
love to the relatives of the deceased.
Leatherstocking monument in Lake-
wood cemetery,' erected in honor of
James Fenimore Cooper, remains to
be noted. It is of white marble,
twenty-five feet high, with square
granite base. The words " Fenimore
Cooper" are carved in front on the
base ; on the north, in relief, are

emblems illustrating his tales of the
sea; on the east, the titles of his
w^orks, with pen, inkstand, and urn
with incense rising ; on the south,
emblems illustrating his Indian tales.

Surmounting the marble shaft is a
Corinthian capital, and. crowning all,
is a statue of Leatherstocking, dressed
in hunting shirt, leggings, and deer-
skin cap, with powder-horn and bul-
let pouch slung over his shoulders,
his dog. Hector, crouching at his feet.

Here, amid the beautiful Otsego
hills, in sight of the crystal Glimmer-
glass and surrounded by grateful de-
votees, let us take leave of Cooper,
the first American novelist.

Fair Cooperstown by Glimnierglass,
Otsego's cherished guardian ward 1

Thy beauty was in ages past

B3' Cooper sung, the Indian bard.

To whom thou owest thy (air fame,
His ashes guard as sacred trust !

A nation's, thine are all the same,
Guard well his consecrated dust !

ONLY.

By Lait?a D. NicJioh.

It was only a loving, pitying look.

But it fell on a heart like needed rain ;

And, as flowers lean over a meadow-brook.
Its hopes unfolded and bloomed again.

It was only a gentle, hopeful word,
But it came to a wear}^ soul like dew ;

And to bravely bear and nobly dare.
It rose to its burden of life anew.

It was only the clasp of a trusting hand.
But it lifted a man from shame and fear ;

It helped him again erect to stand.
Redeeming his past by a record clear.

HILIvSBOROUGH COUNTY TOWNS.

THE ORIGIN OF THEIR NAMES, TOGETHER WITH THE DATE OF THEIR
SETTLEMENT AND INCORPORATION. ALSO THE DATE OF THE GRANTS.

By Howard M. Cook.

HE Granite Monthly
of September, 1898, con-
tained au article on
"The Origin of the
Names of the Towns in
Merrimack County Together with
the Date of their Settlement and In-
corporation." I thought it might be
of sufficient interest to continue the
investigation in reference to the
towns in Hillsborough county. The
same reason for the publication of
that article, might also apply to this
county, viz.: That while many of
the scholars in our public schools,
and people of an older growth ' as
well, could give a reason for the
naming of the states of the Union,
and the main circumstances of their
settlement, they might be at a loss to
know why their own town, or the
towns about them were so named.

The five original counties of New
Hampshire were Rockingham, Straf-
ford, Hillsborough, Cheshire, and
Grafton. They were all formed at
the same time, and the act of their
formation took effect March 19, 1771.
Previous to this time the province
of New Hampshire was a single
court or county for all financial and
judicial purposes. All business of
this character was transacted either
at Portsmouth, Dover, or Exeter,
and the most of it at Portsmouth, as
the royal executive officers resided

there, and it was practically the capi-
tal of the province, having a popula-
tion of about four thousand.

In 1767, John Wentworth, who had
recently been appointed governor,
brought forward a plan for the
division of the province into coun-
ties. It met with some opposition
from those who lived in what was
afterward known as Rockingham
county, on the ground that it would
increase the expenses without any
corresponding advantage. Governor
Wentw^orth was strongly in favor of
the measure, and he showed his faith
by his works in going into the wilder-
ness and erecting a mansion at Wolfe-
borough, near the shores of Eake
Winnepesauke, known to the Indians
as "the beautiful water in a high
place."

The measure finally passed the
provincial assembly and took effect,
as before stated, in the spring of
1771, though two of the counties,
Strafford and Grafton, by an amend-
ment of the act remained connected
with the county of Rockingham until
1773. Governor Wentworth had the
honor of naming the five counties, all
but one, after his friends in England.
Rockingham county was named after
the Marquis of Rockingham ; Straf-
ford, after the Earl of Strafford ;
Grafton, after the Duke of Grafton ;
Cheshire, after a county of that name

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY TOWNS.

237

in Kiigland, aud Hillsborough, after
the liarl of Hillsborough, one of the
members of the privy council of
George III.

Taking then the twenty-eight
towns aud the two cities that com-
prise this county in their alphabeti-
cal order, the following is the reason,
briefly told, of their names, date of
settlement, and incorporation. Some
of these towns, it will be seen, had
two grants, — one from the province
of Massachusetts and another from
the Masoniau proprietors. The rea-
son for this is too long to mention
here, but it can be ascertained by
consulting au}^ of the histories of
New^ Hampshire.

Amherst was granted by Massa-
chusetts, December 18, 1728. It was
first known as Narraganset No. 3,
and subsequently as Souhegan West.
The grant was confirmed by the Ma-
soniau proprietors, January 18, 1760.
The charter was renewed in 1762.
It was named in honor of lyord Jef-
fry Amherst, at that time commander-
in-chief of the British forces in North
America.

Antrim was a portion of a tract of
land called Society Ivand. It was
settled in 1744 by Philip Riley, a
Scotchman. It was incorporated
March 22, 1777, and was called An-
trim, from a town by that name in
Ireland. It signifies " habitation
upon the waters."

Bedford was granted by Massachu-
setts February 12, 1733. It was first
known as Narraganset No. 5. It
was first settled in 1737. The grant
was confirmed by the Masonian pro-
prietors November 9, 1748. It was
incorporated by the name of Bedford,
May 19, 1750, and was named in
honor of the Duke of Bedford.

Bennington was constituted from
parts of Greenfield, Franceslown,
Deering, and Hancock, and was in-
corporated by the legislature of New
Hampshire December 15, 1842. It
probably takes its name from Ben-
nington, Vt.

Brookline was formerly a part of
the old Dunstable grant, and was in-
corporated by the name of Raby,
March 30, 1769. A portion of Hollis
was annexed February 17, 1786. It
was named Raby, from a town of
that name in the count}' of Durham,
England, from which some of the
first settlers emigrated. It probably
takes its name from Brookline, Mass.

Deering was originally a part of
Society lyand, and was incorporated
January 17, 1774. It was named by
Gov. John Went worth in honor of his
wife, whose maiden name was Frances
Deering.

Francestown was first settled by
John Carson, a Scotchman, in 1760.
It was incorporated June 8, 1772.
This town included New Boston
"Addition," and a part of Society
Land. Ivike the town of Deering it
was named in honor of Frances Deer-
ing. In the old records it was writ-
ten " Frances Town."

Goffstown was granted by Massa-
chusetts, February 9, 1734, to sol-
diers aud sailors who served in the
King Philip War. It was first known
as Narraganset No. 4. The grant
was confirmed by the Masonian pro-
prietors, December 3, 174S. It was
also known as Shrovcbtown. It was
incorporated by the name of Goffs-
town, June 16, 1761, and the charter
was renewed April 15, 1763. It was
named in honor of Col. John Goffe,
a renowned Indian fighter in the
French and Indian War.

238

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY TOWNS.

Greenfield was coustituted from
Lyndeborough Gore and parts of
Society I^and, Peterborough, and
Ivyndeborough. It was incorporated
June 15, 1 79 1. The name was giv^en
to the town by Maj. Aaron Whitte-
more.

Greenville was formerly a part of
Mason, but was set off from that
town, and was incorporated June 28,
1872. The earliest settlement with-
in the limits of the town was in 1752.
The origin of the name is not given.

Hancock was formerly a part of
Society lyand, and was incorporated
November 5, 1779. Gov. John Han-
cock of Massachusetts w^as a large
owner of real estate within its limits,
and the town was named in his
honor.

Hillsborough was first known as
" No. 7," in the line of towns ex-
tending from the Merrimack to the
Connecticut. It was granted by
Massachusetts, January 16, 1736, and
also by the Masonian proprietors,
January 26, 1749. It was incorpor-
ated November 14, 1772, and was
named in honor of Col. John Hill,
one of the grantees.

Hollis was a part of the old Dun-
stable grant, and was set off by
Massachusetts as West Dunstable,
December 28, 1739. It was incor-
porated by the name of Holies, April
3, 1746, in honor of Thomas Pelham
Holies, Duke of New Castle. The
name was changed to that of Hollis,
in honor of Thomas Hollis, a bene-
factor of Harvard college.

Hudson was originally a part of
old Dunstable, and was incorporated
by Massachusetts, January 4, 1733,
under the name of Nottingham. It
was incorporated as Nottingham
West, July 5, 1746, as there was an-

other town of the name of Notting-
ham in Rockingham count3\ The
name was changed to Hudson, July
I, 1830, probably in honor of Hen-
drick Hudson, who discovered the
Hudson river.

Litchfield was originally a part of
old Dunstable, and was first known
as Natticott. It was granted by
Massachusetts, July 9, 1729, to John
Richardson and others. It was in-
corporated by the name of Litchfield,
June 5, 1749, and is probably named
for Litchfield, Conn.

Lyndeborough was granted by
Massachusetts, June 19, 1735, to
Capt. Samuel Ring and others, and
was first known as Salem-Canada.
It was also granted by the Masonian
proprietors, December 5, 1753, to
Benjamin Lynde and others, and was
named in his honor. It was incor-
porated, April 23. 1764.

Manchester was granted by Massa-
chusetts, April 17, 1735, to Capt.
William Tyng's " snowshoe men"
and was formerly known as Tyngs-
town. It was first settled by John
Goffe, Jr., Edward Lingfield, and
Benjamin Kidder. It was incorpor-
ated by the name of Derryfield, Sep-
tember 3, 1 75 1. The name was
changed to tbat of Manchester, June
13, 1810, as a compliment to Samuel
Blodgett, who constructed a canal
around Amoskeag Falls, and often
said that " the place would some day
be the Manchester of America."
The city charter was granted July
10, 1846. It is known far and near
as the " Queen City " of New Hamp-
shire.

Mason was granted by the Ma-
sonian proprietors, November i,
1749, to William Lawrence and
others. It was incorporated August

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY TOWNS.

239

26, 1768. It was named in honor of
Capt. John Mason, who had named
New Hampshire from a county in
I{ngland, where he resided.

]\Ierrimack was originally a part of
the old Dunstable grant. The first
settlement was made in 1673, and it
was incorporated April 2, 1746. It
was formerly known as Souhegan
East. As its eastern boundary is
the Merrimack river,— it is rightly
named from its contiguousness, and
of which Whittier has sung :

" Our Christian river loveth most
The beautiful and human ;
The heathen streams of Naiads boast,
But ours of man and woman."

Milford was constittited from parts
of Hollis and Amherst, and was in-
corporated January ir, 1794. It was
largely granted to the soldiers who
served in the King Philip War. It
probably takes its name from Mil-
ford, Mass.

Mont Vernon was originally a
part of Amherst, and was incorpor-
ated December 15, 1803. A por-
tion of Lyndeborough was annexed,
January 5, 1853. A stream of water
passes through the town to which
the Indians gave the name of
" Ouohquinapassakessanaunaguog. ''
The town was probably named for
the home of Washington.

Nashua was the first settled of the
inland towns of New Hampshire. It
was formerly a part of the old Dun-
stable grant. The town remained
under the Massachusetts charter till
April I, 1746, wdien it was incor-
porated by the General Court of New
Hampshire by the name of Dun-
stable. The name was changed to
Nashua, December 8, 1836. The
city charter was granted June 27,
1853, and the city has increased in

population, so that it is the second
city in the state. The Nashua tribe
of Indians had its headquarters along
the river that is identical with their
name, and it is said that more ro-
mance of histor}' clusters around this
locality than attaches to most others
in the state, filling with poetry the
memory of those days of war's
alarms :

" What time the noble Lovewell came.
With fifty men from Dunstable,
The cruel Pequot tribe to tame,
With arms and bloodshed terrible."

New Boston was granted by Massa-
chusetts, January 14, 1736, to John
Simpson and others. The grant was
confirmed by the Masonian proprie-
tors, February 2, 1749. Another
grant was made to Job Lewis and
others, December 24, 1751. It was
incorporated by the name of New
Boston, February 18, 1763. The
petitioners for the grant were Bos-
tonians, all men of wealth, and hence
its name.

New^ Ipswich was granted by
Massachusetts, January 15, 1736, to
John Wainwright, John Choate, and
others of Ipswich, Mass. A grant
was also made by the Masonian pro-
prietors to Reuben Kidder and
others. The first settlement was
made in 173S, and the town was in-
corporated March 6, 1776. As the
grantees were from Ipswich, Mass.,
they gave the town this name.

Pelham was constituted from por-
tions of old Dunstable and Dracut,
Mass. It was settled, according to
tradition, in 1721, and w^as incorpor-
ated July 5, 1746. It was probably
named for Thomas Pelham Holies, a
friend of Governor Wentworth.

Peterborough, formerly known as
vSouhegan, was granted by Massa-

240

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY TOWNS.

chusetts to Samuel Hayward aud
others, January 16, 1738. It was
incorporated January 17, 1760. It
was first settled in 1749. It prob-
ably takes its name from the Earl of
Peterborough.

Sharon was formerly a part of
Peterborough, and was incorporated
January 24, 1791. Sharon is a Bible
name, and there are four towns of
that name in New England situated
in New Hampshire, Vermont, Massa-
chusetts, and Connecticut. The
other Bible names of towns in the
state are Bethlehem, Canaan, Goshen,
Hebron, Lebanon, and Salem.

Temple was granted by the Ma-
sonian proprietors June 30, 1750, and
was first known as Peterborough Slip.
It was incorporated August 26, 1768,
and was named in honor of Hon.
John Temple.

Weare was granted by Massachu-
setts to Col. Robert Hale, June 19,
1735, and was known as Halestown.
It was also granted by the Masonian
proprietors, September 20, 1749. It
was incorporated by the name of
Weare, September 21, 1764, and was
so named in honor of Gov. Meshech
Weare.

Wilton was granted by the Ma-
sonian proprietors, October, 1749, to
Thomas Read and others. The first
settlers came from Danvers, Mass.
It was incorporated June 25, 1762,
and the name is derived from Wilton,
a manufacturing town in England.

When the question of the selection
of a shire town for Hillsborough
county was agitated there were three
towns named in this connection —
Amherst, Hollis, and Merrimack.
Amherst was selected, it being the
most populous town, and located near
what was then the center of popula-
tion. It was the sole shire town for
the present county limits until 1846,
when a term of the court was estab-
lished at Manchester, and in 1857
another term at Nashua.

In 1S23, Merrimack county was
formed from towns in the northern
part of Hillsborough and Rocking-
ham counties. Those taken from
Hillsborough county were as fol-
lows: Andover, Bradford, Boscawen,
Dunbarton, Henniker, Hooksett,
Hopkinton, Newbury, New Eondon,
Salisbury, Sutton, Warner, and Wil-
mot. Prior to the formation of Mer-
rimack county, or from the year
1792, the May term of the superior
court and the September and Decem-
ber terms of the court of common
pleas were held at Hopkinton, and
this town became a half-shire town
of Hillsborough county, and so con-
tinued till the year 1823.

For the facts in regard to the
towns in this count}', I am indebted
to the " New Hampshire State
Papers," the " History of Hillsbor-
ough County," and to the various
town histories that have been pub-
lished.

The Portcullis, Foit Constitution.

IN OLD FORT CONSTITUTION.

By L. E. C hell is Story.

The ancient walls were standing,
Grown o'er with lines of age,

Where guards patrolled the ramparts.
Far back on history's page.

Behind them semicircles

Lay rusted in the mold :
Where once the belching cannon

Upon each carriage rolled.

An inner fort of granite

Rose high above the bar.
Built to defend the harbor

Before the English war.

The heavy iron portals,

That closed the ancient gate,

Swung 'neath an old portcullis,
Whose teeth were grim with fate.

Yet there amid the ruins,
Beside the guns and shell,

Grew snowy white " immortals,"
And breathed a peaceful spell.

Where years of strife and tempest
Had rent the old sea wall, —

Those memory flowers were sounding
The fortress' last recall.

ir : v„ma\

HON. CHARLES J. AMIDON.

Charles Jacob Amidon, a prominent citizen and manufacturer of Hinsdale,
died suddenly at his home in that town August 21.

Mr. Amidon was the son of Otis and Nancy (Cook) Amidon, and was born in
Chesterfield, April 23, 1827. He was descended from Roger Amidon, a Hugue-
not, who settled in Salem, Mass., in 1636, and whose great-grandson, Jacob, a
Harvard student and a soldier at Bunker Hill, settled in Chesterfield in 1782, Otis
Amidon being his son. Mr. Amidon received his education in the schools of
Chesterfield, attending the academy in that town and afterwards being a success-
ful teacher for a time. In 1849 he formed a copartnership with Henry O. Cool-
idge, late of Keene, the firm doing business in Chesterfield Centre. In 185 i Mr.
Amidon moved to Hinsdale, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits for ten
years. He began the manufacture of woolen goods in 1862 in company with Dr.
Frederick Boyden and Sylvester Bishop, the firm being Bishop, Boyden & Ami-
don. On the death of his partners Mr. Amidon continued the business, asso-
ciating with himself later his sons, P. Frank and William O., the firm now being
C. J. Amidon & Son. The " Hinsdale Woolen mill " has long .been one of the
leading industries of the town. Cashmerettes were made for many years and
goods for the rubber trade are now principally manufactured. The firm also car-
ries on a large mill in W'ilton, manufacturing men's wear.

Mr. Amidon had for a long time been recognized as the most prominent and
influential citizen of Hinsdale, as well as one of the leading men in that part of
the state. He was postmaster of Chesterfield in i849-'5o ; postmaster at Hins-
dale, i86i-'72 ; state bank commissioner, i855-'57 ; representative to the legisla-
ture, i86i-'64, 1876 and 1877 and 1883; state senator in 187S, '79, and. '80, and
held numerous town offices, such as moderator, selectman, etc. He was one of
the committee to formulate plans for the new state library in Concord. He had
been a director in several banks, served for some time as president of the Hins-
dale Savings bank, and at the time of his death was a director in the Ashuelot Na-
tional bank and the Vermont National bank of Brattleboro.

He was originally a Whig in politics, but later became a Republican, in which
party his influence was for years prominently felt. He was prominent in all party
conventions and gatherings for many years; was a member of the Republican
State committee, and his name was prominently mentioned as a candidate for gov-
ernor and for member of congress. He never sought to press himself forward for
political honors, however.

Mr. Amidon was a charter member of Golden Rule Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of

NEW HAMPSHIRE NECROLOGY. 243

Hinsdale. He gave substantial aid and encouragement to many projects for bene-
fiting the town, took a prominent part in the erection of the handsome town hall
burned some months ago, and gave largely for charitable objects. In his reli-
gious views he was a Liberal.

In May, 1851, Mr. Amidon married Mary J. Harvey, of Chesterfield, who sur-
vives him. Four children, two sons and two daughters, were born to them. The
eldest daughter, Mary Elizabeth, grew to womanhood and died after her marriage
to Dr. R. B. Whittredge. The two sons, Philip Frank, of Wilton, and William
Otis, of Hinsdale, survive.

HON. HENRY G. BURLEIGH.

Henry Gordon Burleigh, born in Canaan, June 2, 1833, died at Whitehall,
N. Y., August 15, 1900.

The family of the deceased originally came frcim England. His grandfather,
Joseph Burleigh, was an officer in the Revolutionary army, and at the close of the
war bought an estate joining the Daniel Webster birthplace in what was then Sal-
isbury, which homestead is still in possession of the Burleigh family.

Mr. Burleigh received his early education in the common schools and at Con-
cord, and removed with the family in 1846, to Ticonderoga, N. Y. Upon attain-
ing manhood he engaged in the lumber, iron ore, and transportation business on
Lake Champlain, and was extremely successful, the firm of which he was the
head being composed of himself and his brother.

When the first Republican convention in Essex county was held, in 1855,
H. G. Burleigh was its secretary, and he was chairman of the supervisors of his
county in the Civil War, and aided in organizing the troops enlisted at Ticon-
deroga. In 1868 he removed to Whitehall, where he was elected a member of
assembly in 1875, ^'^'^^ ""^ 1882 he was elected to congress from the Eighteenth
district, formed of Washington and Renssalaer counties. He was reelected in
1884, and served on the river and harbor committee. Mr. Burleigh was active in
both state and national politics, and was a delegate to a number of National Repub-
lican conventions. In 1884 he was the leader of the Arthur forces, and moved to
make the nomination of Blaine unanimous when his candidate was defeated. He
was married, in 1869, to Miss Jennie E. Richards of Ticonderoga.

CHARLES H. WATERHOUSE.

Charles H. Waterhouse, New Hampshire's most prominent dairyman, died at
his home in Durham, where he had been for the last few vears at the head of the
dairy department connected with the State Agricultural college, August 25.

Mr. Waterhouse was a native of Barrington, the son of Joseph Waterhouse, a
farmer of that town, born September 17, 1836. In early life he was in the employ
of the Cocheco Manufacturing Co., at Dover, was subsequently connected with
the management of Tewksbury, Mass., almshouse, and later superintendent of the
almshouse at Charlestown, Mass. Returning to New Hampshire he went into
business at Dover, but on the breaking out of the Civil War enlisted in Co. K,
Eleventh New Hampshire regiment, serving for three years. Upon returning
from the war he purchased a farm in Barrington, engaging extensively in agricul-

244 NEJV HAMPSHIRE NECROLOGY.

ture and in business as a cattle dealer. Here, in 1876, he established the first
creamery ever put in operation in the state. Subsequently he had charge of the
creamery at Short Falls, and later of the Hillside creamery at Cornish, from which
was sent the butter which was given the highest score at the Chicago World's fair
in 1893.

Mr. Waterhouse was a Republican in politics, and a Free Baptist in religion.
He was a Free Mason, a Patron of Husbandry, and a member of the G. A. R.
While a resident of Barrington he filled nearly all the town oflices at diiTerent
times and served in the state legislature. He was twice married, first to Nancy I.
Caverly of Barrington, who died in 18S7, leaving two sons and a daughter; sec-
ond, to Ella Place of Strafford, who survives him.

GEN. EVERETT FLETCHER.

Everett Fletcher, born in Colebrook, December 23, 1848, died at Lancaster,
August 18, 1900.

He was the son of Hiram Adams Fletcher, long a prominent lawyer of Coos
county, and Persis Everett Hunking, daughter of Dr. Benjamin Hunking and
granddaughter of Hon. Richard C. Everett. He was educated at the Lancaster
academy and in the Michigan University Law school at Ann Arbor. After study-
ing law for a time with his father, he was admitted to the bar November 18, 1870.
He located first at Whitefield, but came to Lancaster three years later and entered
into partnership with his father under the firm name of Fletcher &: Fletcher. At
the death of his father in 1877, a partnership was formed with Hon. William S.
Ladd, M'hich lasted until the death of Judge Ladd in 1S91. Since that- time Judge
Fletcher had been associated with Fletcher Ladd, his nephew, and son of Judge
Ladd.

In 1883, he was appointed judge advocate general, upon the staft" of Governor
Hale, and served in this capacity for two years. In 1885, he was appointed judge
of probate for Coos county, which office he held until 1892, resigning in order to
devote his entire attention to his law practice.

In politics he was a Republican, and he had served efficiently as a member of
the Republican State committee.

STEPHEN DOW WYMAN.

Stephen Dow Wyman, a prominent citizen of Hillsborough, died in that town
on Wednesday, August 29, at his residence, which stood nearly on the spot where
he was born, July 31, 1821. He was a son of Timothy Wyman, and a descendant
of the Puritan, Francis Wyman, who settled at Woburn, Mass., in 1640. Mr. Wy-
man was active in business matters ; was one of the promoters of the Contoocook
railroad, and a director of the First National bank of Hillsborough. He was an
earnest Democrat, and a warm friend of President Franklin Pierce. He repre-
sented his town in the legislature in i853-'54.

HON. HARRY BINGHAM.
March jo, iSsi—Sefitemlu-r 12, iqoo.

Tnn CiFiANITC AONTMM,

Vol. XXIX.

OCTOBER, 1900.

No.

THE WOMAN'S CLUB OF HENNIKER.

Bjf Ida J. Graves.

XE of the niauy impor-
tant characteristics of
the last decade of the
nineteenth century is
the phenomenal growth
of women's chibs in the country.

While they did not have their birth
during this period, yet, from a few,
they have multiplied, grown, and
spread to such an extent that, to-
day, in all this fair land of ours there
is scarcely a cit}^ or town of any size

but has one or more of these com-
mendable organizations. In spite of
the fact that women's clubs had to
bear, at first, the laughter and ridi-
cule which always comes when there
is any departure from the ordinary,
they have moved bravely forward,
and to-day find themselves estab-
lished among permanent institutions.
More and more the progressive
women of the different towns see the
need and advantage of thus banding

Mrs. Laura R. Judd.
I'irst President.

Mrs. Emma J. Freston.
Second President.

248

THE WOMAN'S CLUB OF HRNNIKER.

Hattic H uiitiiigton, Brrtha Ihcxton, Helen Bunnell, Carrie Plnnnner, Flora Emery, Addie and-Maria Cogswell,

Ada Carr, Sue Cuttersoti, Nellie Preston, Ida Graves, Cora Huntington, Henrietta Fak'ey,

Ida Brown, Kate Ingalls, Ejnina Preston.

Some of the Members of Henniker Woman's Reading Club.

themselves together, and are taking friendship, culture,- and refinement,

the steps that will enable them to
reap the benefits of an organization
which history shows has promoted

Mr<. Coia E. Huntingtor.
President.

and has been a strong factor of the
best social life.

The Woman's Reading Club of
Henniker had its start through the
efforts of Mrs. Kate M. Ingalls.
Early in 1897, after giving the matter
much thought, she called on a friend
and made known her plans with the
result that before leaving the house a
constitution was drawn up. A few
days later (February 9) a meeting
was called at the residence of Mrs.
Emma J. Preston, and an organiza-
tion effected, Mrs. Eaura R. Judd
being the fitst president, with Mrs.
Helen J. Bunnell, secretary. After
the first year Mrs. Emma J. Preston
served two years as president, declin-
ing a third election. Mrs. Cora E.
Huntington followed as presiding

THE WOMAN'S CLUB OF HEN NIK ER.

249

officer. The present secretary, Mrs.
Ida J. Graves, has served since Feb-
ruary, iSgS. Mrs. Kate B. Woods
has been elected treasurer at every
annual meeting, but this year she
declined to serve, and Miss Addie F.
Cogswell faithfully performs the
duties of that ofifice.

The club was federated in 1S97.
The membership is limited to thirty,
and, on account of this, the club has
been charged with being too exclu-
sive, but, as the meetings are held at
the homes of the members, no change
from this rule has been deemed ad-
visable.

The meetings, which are purely
literary, are held fortnightly. At
first the programmes were on such

Mrs. Ida J . Graves.
Secretary.

particular regard to any course of
study, but very soon the study of

topics as seemed of interest, without United States history was taken up.

Hattie Wyiiinit, Ahlue Dodge, Charlotte Rice, Kate Childs, Jeuiiie Dodge,
Beile Peaslcc, Susie Rice, iVettie Felelt, Anna Dow.

Some of the Membeis of Henniker Woman's Reading Club

250

B Y WINNIPESA UKEE.

adding, a little later in the year,
civil government. After a year of
this work, which has often been re-
ferred to since as most delightful and
profitable, it was thought best to
take up American literature, which
has been the work of the club up to
the present time. Current events
have a prominent place on each pro-
gramme. Lectures. mu.sic, and hu-
morous articles are interspersed, too,
so the meetings are never without
interest to any present.

Much credit is due Mrs. Jennie
Noyes Dodge, the present vice-presi-
dent, for her untiring efforts towards
making the programmes both inter-
esting and profitable. She has been
literary committee two thirds of the
time since the club was formed.

The popularity of the club is evi-
denced by the fact that there are
nearl}'- always applications waiting to
be acted upon as soon as a vacancy
may occur.

One of the much-looked-for social
events of the club is " gentlemen's

night." On these pleasant occasions
each club member invites her hus-
band, brother, or lover as the case
may be, and gives her best endeavors
towards his entertainment, with the
result that he goes home feeling
proud and happy that his wife, sis-
ter, or sweetheart is a member of
that delightful organization known
as the Woman's Reading Club.
"Ladies' day," too, has its attrac-
tions. Then the ladies who are not
members are invited to spend a social
afternoon with the club. A short
literary programme is carried out,
refreshments served, and the happy
afternoon passes swiftly away.

The club has its hard work and
responsibilities, but "the wise and
active conquer difficulties by daring
to attempt them," and the members
who work hardest in it enjoy it most.

With the advancement made in
women's clubs in the past years one
may easily believe that the future
will excel the past, as the present
surpasses the beginning.

BY WINNIPESAUKEE.

By Eva J. Beede.

A world of beauty, everywhere we go !

The mountains, gleaming through the hazy veil,

The deep blue sky, where fleecy cloudlets sail,

All imaged in the placid lake below.

Where white in little coves the lilies blow.

The giant pine trees and the flowerets frail

Their fragrance on the summer air exhale,

And beautiful the drifts of daisy snow !

The twilight dreamy, softly on us steals,

The fire-fly stars come twinkling in the green.

In distance dim, a plaintive voice appeals

To " Whip-poor-Will," who ever keeps unseen.

The moon comes up, across the lake's expanse.

The fairy beams in golden sandals dance.

THE SCOTCH-IRISH SETTLERS OF PETERBOROUGH.

By Jonathan SniitJi.

HE Scotch-Irish who

came to Londouderry,
in 1 7 19, aud those, al-
so, who came to Euueu-
burg, Mass., iu 1736,
Count}^ Antrim in the
In 1606,

were from

northeast corner of Ireland,
when, by the flight of the Earl of
Tyrone, the whole of Ulster at " one
full swoop," came into the hands of
the English crown, the Earl Ran-
dall McDonnell decided to cast in his
lot with the English, and was re-
warded for his fidelity with a grant
of the northern half of Antrim. He
proceeded to settle it with Scotch
families, as was being done in other
counties of Ulster. These people
were from Argyleshire, Scotland,
separated from Antrim by a channel
not more than twenty miles wide.
They were Lowland Scotch, of Cel-
tic origin, from the Scotch High-
lands, but had a large mixture of
Anglo-Saxon, Danish, and Norman
blood. In temper and traits of char-
acter they were thoroughly Scotch.

Between 1609 and 16 12 large num-
bers passed over to Antrim and lo-
cated in the northern part, and many
also settled in the southern portion, to
the north and west of Lough Neagh.
The southern half of the county was
chiefly settled by English, but they
never seemed to prosper like their
fellow-emigrants from Scotland, and,
in the course of a century the people
of the southern part, like those of the
northern, had become as completely

Scotch as any part of County Down.
At the time of this migration the
country had long been devastated by
civil war, and the earl, carrying out
King James's policy in the southerl}'
parts of Ulster, sought to tie the peo-
ple to the soil, which he did by let-
ting out the land, on long leases of
from 21 to 301 years. But Scotch
thrift and industry soon put a new
face upon the country. The sturdy,
economical, persevering Scotchman
developed the agricultural resources
of the land, cultivated the soil, and
raised large numbers of sheep and
cattle, which he soon began export-
ing to England. He cultivated the
flax and laid the foundations of the
linen industry, which soon became
profitable. On the revocation of the
Edict of Nantes, large numbers of
French Huguenots passed over to
northern Ireland, carrying with them
the woolen industry, which they in-
troduced there. Toward the close of
the seventeenth century these indus-
tries had developed to such an extent
as to attract the attention of the Eng-
lish people and parliament. Busi-
ness in England was at a low ebb,
and the people came to believe that
Ireland was a serious menace to their
business prosperity. Forthwith be-
gan a course of repression aimed at
the Scotch in Ulster, which finally
led to large migrations of this vigor-
ous and hardy race to America.

The first of these acts was a statute
forbidding the export of cattle from

252

SCOTCH-IRISH SETTLERS OF PETERBOROUGH.

Ireland to England. By fifteenth
Charles II, the country was brought
within the provisions of the Naviga-
tion act, under which the shipping of
Ireland was treated as the shipping
of foreigners in English ports. In
1699 a law was enacted preventing
the Irish from exporting their
woolens to England, and in the fol-
lowing year another forbidding them
to send their w^ool to any other coun-
try than England, thus enabling the
English manufacturer to buy it at his
own price.

It would seem as if these arbitrary
enactments were enough, but they
were followed by another in Queen
Anne's reign, which touched the
Scotch-Irish Presbyterian on the
nerv^e. This was the Test act, which
compelled every officer under the
government, whether in the military,
naval, or in the civil service, down
to the pettiest municipal official, to
become a communicant of the English
church or vacate his office. The
injustice and cruelty of this statute
are seen, when it is cited that it
emptied the town council of Lon-
donderry, which was largely com-
posed of men who had fought in the
terrible siege of the city and at the
peril of their lives and estates had
helped save it to the English crown.

The results of these cruel enact-
ments were destructive and far reach-
ing. Agriculture and the woolen in-
dustry were ruined, "and chronic
scarcity alternated with actual
famine." But the misery and indig-
nation of the people were increased
by other measures aimed at the Pres-
byterians, to whom all the Scotch-
Irish belonged. They had suffered
severely under the administration of
Eaud and the coronation of Charles

II had brought back Episcopacy.
In one year after the reestablishment
of the English church, of the sixty-
eight Presbyterian ministers in Ul-
ster, sixty-one had been driven from
their pulpits, while seven had re-
canted and joined the Episcopal
church, to the intense indignation of
their congregations. It was not in
the nature of the Scotchman, in-
heriting the political and religious
opinions of John Knox, to tamely
submit to these exactions. His
sturdy remonstrances brought some
modifications as the years went on.
But the seeds of discontent and bit-
terness were too deeply rooted for
easy removal, and in 1718, and again
in 1736, their leases about expir-
ing, they prepared for removal to
America.

The emigrants of 17 18 were from
that part of Antrim lying in the val-
ley of the River Bamm, on its An-
trim side, and chiefly from the
parishes of Coleraine, Ballemoney,
Balleymena, Ballywatick, and Kil-
nea. The)' filled five large ships and
numbered 750 men, women, and
children. On the eve of their de-
paiture, one of their ministers. Rev.
Daniel McGregor, preached them a
sermon in which he gave the follow-
ing as their reasons for coming to
America :

First, to avoid oppression and cruel
bondage ; second, to avoid persecu-
tion and designed ruin ; third, to
withdraw from the communion of
idolaters ; fourth, to have an oppor-
tunity of worshiping God according
to the dictates of conscience and the
rules of His inspired word."

They brought with them four
Scotch-Irish institutions : The pota-
to, the flax spinning wheel, a Pres-

SCOTCH-IRISH SETTLERS OF PETERBOROUGH.

253

byterian minister with a congrega-
tion to found and establish a Presby-
terian church, and a school to teach
even Bostonians how to spin. This
church was the Federal Street church
in Boston, where many of them set-
tled. They met with a chilling re-
ception from the Puritans of Massa-
chusetts, and the part of the com-
pany which went to Worcester were
soon compelled, on account of the
hostility of the people there, to re-
move further west, where they
founded the towns of Pelham, Pal-
mer, and Coleraine. About twenty
families, composing the congregation
of Rev. Daniel McGregor, reem-
barked on a brigautine, sailed for
Casco ba3% where they spent the
winter, and in the spring sailed up
the Merrimack river to Haverhill,
where they went ashore, and push-
ing on into the wilderness founded
the town of Londonderr3^

The emigration of 1736 was partly
from the same section of County An-
trim and partly from the country ini-
mediatel}^ north and west of Lough
Neagh. They reached the coast late
in the fall. The people of Boston
mistook them for Catholic-Irish, as
they did those coming in 171S, and
received them most inhospitably, so
much so that they had difficulty in
finding a place to pass the winter.
But they soon vindicated their right
to fair treatment, and when a Lex-
ington farmer was taken to task for
harboring "them low Irish," he re-
plied that he would like to live in a
neighborhood filled with just such
people. In the spring of 1737 many
of them went to Lunenburg, Town-
send, and other towns in that vicin-
ity, where they settled.

It was a marked trait of the Scotch-

Irish on their arrival in America, to
push immediatel}^ for the frontier —
they rarely remained in or near the
older settlements. This was true of
these emigrants to Londonderry and
Lunenburg, and it was equally true
of the Scotch-Irish who settled in
Maine, New York, Pennsylvania,
and in North and South Carolina
before the Revolution. They went
to the extreme northern and western
frontiers of those states, and they
wxre the first to cross the Alle-
ghenies and establish homes in the
great states of Ohio (with the excep-
tion of Marietta), Kentucky, Tennes-
see, and later still in the states of Illi-
nois and Iowa. It was not wholly a
love of adventure which led them on,
but was quite as much their resolute
and determined spirit to erect their
habitations and establish their insti-
tutions where, independent of all
other influences, they could work
out their peculiar religious and po-
litical ideas in their own wa5^

At the time of this last migration,
1736, Lunenburg and Londonderry
were frontier towns, and this trait,
above named, soon led the emi-
grants to advance still farther into
the wilderness. In 1737, certain
Massachusetts parties had a second
time been granted the township since
called Peterborough, which was sur-
veyed for the proprietors the follow-
ing year, and a portion of it laid out
in lots. The opening at once drew
the attention of the Scotch-Irish in
Lunenburg.

The first attempts at settlement
were by men from Lunenburg and
vicinity. Of the eight named by
Dr. Smith (see his history, page 39)
as the first pioneers, William Robbe
and Alexander Scott are known to

254

SCOTCH-IRISH SETTLERS OF PETERBOROUGH.

have gone there from Lunenburg ;
Samuel Stinson was probably from
the same place. The residences of
Hugh and William Gregg, William
Wallace, and William Mitchell are not
known, but probably in Lunenburg
or Townsend. William Scott was
from New Ipswich. Lunenburg was
much nearer Peterborough than Lon-
donderry, and much easier of access.
There was then a road from Town-
send to New Ipswich, and in 1738
the Peterborough proprietors had or-
dered a way, five rods wide, to be
cleared and made passable from New
Ipswich to Meeting House hill in the
centre of the new town. This was
what is now known as the "Street
Road." Those who went there in
1739, and in i742-'43, and 1744,
without doubt, entered the town over
this way. It is well established that
when the party of 1744 left they re-
turned to Townsend over the same
road.

The first permanent settlers of
1749 were also from Lunenburg, and
entered over this route. There is no
certain record of who they all were.
Capt. Thomas Morrison was the lead-
er of the enterprise. Going with him
were John Smith, William Smith,
and William Ritchie ; probably also
at the same time or very soon after,
were Gustavus Swan, Thomas Cun-
ningham, William Stuart, John Fer-
guson, John White, Alexander
Robbe, William McCoy, James
Mitchell, James Gordon, and Will-
iam Robbe. Of these, White, the two
Robbes, Mitchell, Gordon, and Will-
iam Scott were surely there in 1750
for they signed the petition to Lieu-
tenant-Governor Phipps and his coun-
cil for a fort. The petition is here-
inafter given. When a secure foot-

hold was made emigrants from Lon-
donderry began to join them, and
the settlement grew rapidly.

These people were admirably fitted
to found a new town. Like all their
race they were industrious, frugal,
accustomed to privations, and had a
courage which knew no fear. The
hardships they suffered did not vary
from those incident to all settling in
a new country, but they were cheer-
fully borne for they enjoyed two
privileges unknown to them in Ire-
land — the right to worship according
to the forms of their chosen faith,
and freedom from the arbitrary ex-
actions of royal authority. Their
one dread was the savages. In 1748,
the year before the permanent settle-
ment, the Indians had raided the
towns of Hinsdale, Keene, Charles-
town, and Penacook, burned the
dwellings of the settlers, and killed
or carried away many captives to
Canada. The war closed that 3'ear,
and while the Indian^ were frequent
visitors to the new settlement, they
showed no active hostility, but an-
noyed the people by petty thieving
and other depredations. The settlers
did not dare to retaliate for fear of
savage vengeance. The situation
was intolerable, and in 1750 they
drew up, signed, and sent the follow-
ing petition to Boston. The origi-
nal is in the Massachusetts archives :

To his honor Spencer Phips Esquire L,ieuten-
aiit Governor and Commander in Chief in
and over his Majesty's Province of Massa-
chusetts Bay, in New England, The Hon'ble
the Council and Hon'ble House of Represen-
tatives of said Province in General Court as-
sembled at Boston September 26th 1750
The Petition of the subscribers, Proprietors
and Inhabitants of a Township called Petter-
boro', for themselves and the other Proprie-
tors and Inhabitants of said Township
Most Humbly Shew

SCOTCH-IRISH SETTLERS OF PETERBOROUGH.

'■:iz>

That the said Township lyes exposed to the
Indians it being a Frontier Town and but
about six miles north from the line parting
this Government and that of New Hampshire.
And several Indians have appeared in said
Township and last Sabbath day some of them
broke open a house there and none of the
family being at home, rifled the same and car-
ried awaj' many things. And the Inhabitants
are put in great fear and Terror of their lives
by the Indians ; so that they must be obliged
to leave the town which is now very Consider-
ably settled unless they can have some Relief
from the Great Goodness of your honours.

And as for as much as the said Township is
so situated, that if the Inhabitants should leave
itTownsend Hollis Lunenburg I^eominster Lan-
caster would be exposed to the cruelty of the
Indians, and would become an early prey to
them. But if j-our petrs can be protected b3'
your Honours and have a number of men sent
to their assistance and a few block houses as a
Fort built for them, they make no doubt, with
the blessing of God they shall be able to de-
fend the said Township and to keep the In-
dians from making any attempt on the Towns
afore-mentioned which are all surrounded by
said Peterborough.

Your Petrs therefore most humbly pray 3'our
Honours would be pleased to take their dis-
tressed Circumstances into consideration and
allow them liberty, at the Charge of this Gov-
ernment to build Block houses or a Fort and
supply them with fifteen or -twenty men, for
such men for such a length of time as your
honours shall think proper, that so they may
defend the said Township against the Indians
and bj- that means secure the Province by se-
curing the other Towns aforesaid from falling
into the Indians hands or that j-our Honors
would grant them such other relief as in your
great Wisdom shall seem meet. And as in
duty bound will ever pray &C,

Boston, October 4, 1757

thomas Morison John Hill
James White James Gordon

Alex Robbe William Scott

James Mitchell thomas Vender

John Mitchell William Robbe

The fort was built on Ritchie Hill,
probably by the settlers, as would
appear from a subsequent petition to
the governor of New Hampshire,
hereafter given, for in their petition
they ask leave to build it, "at the
charge of this Government "; but so
far as known it was never garrisoned.
When an alarm occurred, the people

made use 01 it as a place of refuge.
The records in the Massachusetts
Archives do not show that the
prayers of the petition were ever
granted. The onl}' record endorsed
on the original is, — "October 6th,
1750. Read and sent down." "Octo-
ber 9th, Ordered to lie on the table."
It is interesting to note that in this
petition the place is called " Petter-
boro," and also "Peterborough,"
showing that within a year from its
permanent settlement the town had
received its name. This is earlier by
two years than its name elsewhere
occurs.

When the war of 1754 broke out,
the settlers' feeling of danger natu-
rally increased. Any unusual out-
cry or disturbance was at once attrib-
uted to an Indian raid. The fear
grew to such an extent that in 1755
the following petition was drawn up,
signed, and sent to the governor
of New Hampshire. It is found
in Volume VII of the Provincial
Papers :

To his Excellency Binning Wentworth Esqr
Capt. Genl & Governr in chief in and over
his Majs Province of New Hampshire and to
the Honl his Majs council & house of Repre-
sentatives Assembled att Portsmouth

The humble address & Petition of the Inhab-
itants of Peterborough — so called
Humbly sheweth

That by the Providence of God we are settled
under yo'r happy Government, & propose to
take Sanctuary under yo'r Protection, & to do
our utmost in Subjecting our Selves to your
authority upon every emergency ; and account
that we have just reason so to do ; from your
Care & Clemency to other new Settlmts ; and
Considering the present dangerous situation
of affairs, we have been using some means for
our Safety and Defence against the Heathen,
in raising one Considerable Garrison, in the
South part of the Town, of pretty Large
Demensions, with square Logs, Twelve Inches
thick, as the bearer can more fully Inform.
And we design to raise another more Large &
nearer the Centre, Contiguous to our Meeting

256 SCOTCH-IRISH SETTLERS OF PETERBOROUGH.

House, where it will best suite that will accom-
modate the most of the Inhabitants ; but this
we fier to undertake our Selves upon the
Accompt of the great Expense it will amount
to, we having laid out we may say. All our
Substance in Improving our Land for bread
corn & haj', to this purpose we have both
dedicated our time & money. So that we
Stand in need of help to build & Erect this
Intended ffort as well as assistance to Defend
it when thus built, and both with yo'r Excel-
lency &. Hours Concurrence and assistance ;
ffor if we should break up that our Barriers to
all the Towns below us, that is Dunstable &
Townsend they would be as much exposed as
we are, so that it would be their safety as well
as our own if we be Encouraged to continue.

May it therefore Please your Excellency &
Honrs to Consider the Premises & think what
a ruining thing it would be to yor Petitioners
if our time strength & Substance should be
lost & this valuable Settlemt break up; that
has been bless'd with Such Success, as non
Such for the time, the Loss would not be made
up in some years, if ever in our time. The
prevention of which we Esteem, is in yor
Excellency & Honrs power; not that we
would presume to Direct, not being skill'd in
Public affairs, the good Governm't that Provi-
dence hath Bless'd us with, you being our
Patrons ; But our present necessity & future
fears oblige us to Supplicate for help from you,
in whose power it is to Commiserate such As
we fier, for if we obtain our necessitous De-
mands, your Countinance & aid, we resolve to
Continue here, & by Divine assistance acquit
our Selves in the Cause of our lives & Interest
like Men, while life is granted ; and not only
Confiding but Depending on yor Excellency
& Honrs Compliance to our necessitous request
yor Petitioners as in duty bound will ever
Pray.

Harvey Charles McCoy

Hugh Wilson David Wallas

Thomas Morison Willm Mitchell

Jonath'n Morison Isaac Mitchell

John Swan William Nay

John Swan Jr. Joseph Caldwell

William Wallace John Taggart

Jeremiah Swan James Mitchell

John Smith Samuel vStinson

.Samuel Wallas James Stinson

Thomas Davidson Hugh gregg

John Davidson Thomas Bogle

William Smith John Furguson

William McCoy William Richey

John Graham Gustavus Swan

John Stuart

This petition seems to have been
either ignored or denied, for the fort

prayed for was never built on Meet-
ing House Hill.

A still more vivid story of the
people's fear of the savages is related
by Rev. Dr. Morison, in his centen-
nial address, which will bear repeti-
tion :

Late in the fall of 1754, the family of William
Smith were aroused at midnight by screams of
murder from the nearest house. Mr. Smith
and his wife got up, and without stopping to
dress each took a child, one aged about a year
and eight months, and the other about seven
months, and made their way down through
the woods to the house of Thomas Morison
near the south factory. Furnishing them with
some clothes and taking his own family with
them. Captain Morison led them oat into the
woods south of his house and concealed them.
He then started for the fort on Ritchie Hill, a
mile further south, declaring that if he should
meet the Indians they would know it for he
certainly would have time to fire and kill at
least one before he himself should be killed or
taken. Meanwhile the Swan family (living on
the Dr. Morison place) had taken the alarm
and also fled to the fort. A son of the family,
returning home very late from a call upon his
sweetheart, and finding his father's clothes and
boots by his bedside and the house deserted,
raised the alarm that they had been killed or
captured by Indians.

It proved to be a false alarm, but
shows in what terror from the sav-
ages the people lived. From William
Smith's house to Thomas Morison's,
was fully a mile and a half, and the
route lay down long, steep hills and
across a wide, swift- running stream,
through the primeval forest, without
road or path. The terrors and perils
of that journey by Mr. and Mrs.
Smith, each with a young child
in arms, unclad, and at midnight,
through dense woods, with the ex-
pectation that they were pursued by
Indians on murderous intent, brings
vividly to mind the fears in which
the settlers lived of their savage foe.

Their chief reliance, however, was
on the militia. When an alarm

SCOTCH-IRISH SETTLERS OE PETERBOROUGH.

^0/

occurred, a company would be has-
tily organized and march to the place
of threatened attack, and when the
danger was over it disbanded. There
is no official record of these com-
panies. But many men in town bore
military titles earned in this way,
and there is an authenticated in-
stance, where it had been reported,
about the year 1755, that the Indians
had attacked the village of Keene.
Capt. Thomas Morison raised a com-
pany and went to the assistance of
the people there. It proved to be a
false alarm, however ; and the com-
pany returned home, and was dis-
missed. With the close of the war in
1759, all fear of further trouble from
the Indians seems to have passed fin-
ally away.

One of the leading industries of
the settlement, and the one which
brought the people the best money
returns, was the culture of flax and
the manufacture of linen thread and
cloth. It was the one industry which
king and parliament had spared to
them in Ireland. The presence of
wolves prevented the development of
the wool industry until about 1790,
when those animals became practi-
cally extinct. But the new soil, with
its heavy coating of ashes — for the
forests were burned upon the ground
— made it excellent for growing flax,
and large attention was given to the
industry. In her "Home Life in
Colonial Days," Alice Morse Earle
has sketched in detail the various
steps of its seeding, care, and harvest,
and its manufacture into thread and
cloth. It was a laborious process,
requiring hard labor and much skill
and patience. It died out soon after
1800, but the tools used in its culture
remained about the premises of many

of the settlers' descendants until
within the memory of those now liv-
ing — the ripple comb, the flax brake,
the swingling block and knife, the
heavy beetle and the beetling trough,
the hackling teeth, the small spinning
wheel on which the flax was spun
into thread, the reel, and the loom on
which it was woven into cloth — all
these were pathetic reminders of the
now forgotten industry and the patient
labor and skill of the fathers.

These settlers were pure Scotch,
and had all the habits and charac-
teristics of that hardy and thrifty
people — their habits of living and
ways of thinking, their interest in
education, and loyalty to their reli-
gious faith. In his " L,ife of Thomas
Carlyle," Mr, Froude has drawn a
vivid sketch of family life in the
early home and neighborhood of the
Seer of Craigenputtock, at the begin-
ning of the present century. Eccle-
fechan (Carlyle's childhood home) is
in Dumfries, not far from Argyleshire,
from which the ancestors of the emi-
grants to lyondonderr}' and Lunen-
burg went to Ireland earl}^ in the
seventeenth century. It is the por-
trait of the Scotch peasant in his
native land, his industrious, hard
life, his pinching poverty, his fiery
temper, with a moral fibre of the
" toughness and springiness of steel."
"They were noted," says Froude,
" for their hard sayings, and it must
be said, also, for 'hard strikings.'
They were warmly liked by those
near them ; by those at a distance,
they were viewed as something dan-
gerous to be meddled with." Carlyle
himself, in speaking of his own
father, thus unconsciously describes
the t5'pical Scotchman in his mature
years :

258

SCOTCH-IRISH SETTLERS OF PETERBOROUGH.

"Sterling sincerity in thought,
word, and deed, most quiet, but cap-
able of blazing into whirlwinds when
needful, and such a flash of just
insight and brief natural eloquence
and emphasis ; true to every feature
of it as I have never seen in any
other."

Add to this description a keen wit
and a love of amusements, and we
have a perfect description of the early
settlers of Peterborough.

Their way of life was one unceas-
ing round of toil from January to
December. They had to clear the
heavy forests, build their houses
and barns, bring the new land into
cultivation, clear off the stones, fence
the fields, construct roads, and es-
tablish the school and church. Soon
as the season opened they went to
work seeding the ground and tend-
ing their crops, and when the harvest
was over they went into the woods
where they labored until the spring
came again. Laziness was esteemed
a sin next to Godlessness. Their
amusements were few and simple.
Within doors, dancing was the fav-
orite pastime. Card playing was
frowned upon by the church people,
still it was indulged in to some ex-
tent. In the fall of the year apple-
bees, evening parties, and huskings
drew the young people often to-
gether. Their out-of-door sports
showed a fondness for physical rath-
er than intellectual or moral powers.
Boxing and wrestling matches, foot
races, pitching quoits, and other ath-
letic exercises were popular amuse-
ments. "At all public gatherings,"
says Mr. Parker in his " History of
Londonderry," " a ring would be
formed and the contestants, in the
presence of the crowd, and even of

their own fathers and brothers, would
encounter each other at short range
or arm's length, giving and receiving
blows until face, limbs, and bodies
bore the marks of almost savage
brutality." The wrestling match at
public gatherings long survived, and,
as a boy, I remember the interest it
excited at town-meetings when the
ring was still formed and .the cham-
pions contended for the mastery on
the ground in front of the old town
hall on Concord street.

They were preeminently a social
people, and nothing pleased them
more than to do their work together.
The principal of cooperation, so often
and so learnedly discussed in these
latter days, never had a more practi-
cal and beneficent illustration than it
received from the early settlers of the
town. If a man had a clearing on
which the logs must be rolled togeth-
er and with the brush made ready to
burn, his neighbors were always on
hand to assist him. When a build-
ing was to be raised it was made a
public concern, and drew together
large numbers to help in raising and
putting the frame together. If a
family became ill, or if misfortune
befell the head of the house so that
his farm or other work fell behind,
the neighbors assembled b}^ appoint-
ment among themselves and did it
for him, or watched with the suffer-
ers and took care of the house until
health was restored, and all this with-
out money and without price. Some-
times it happened that a set of build-
ings was destroyed by fire. It was
before the days of fire insurance ; but
the people were themselves the insur-
ers, for they clubbed together and
gave their labor and skill to the suf-
ferer until his property was replaced.

SCOTCH-IRISH SETTLERS OF PETERBOROUGH.

259

Many of these gracious customs sur-
vived until within the memory of
those now Uving, and as a boy I
witnessed many examples of them.
I also recall a discussion between
two descendants of these early settlers
upon the uselessness of fire insurance ;
" because," said one of them, " when
a man loses his house by fire we
always take hold and give our time
and work to replace it."

Their social customs were those
of the Scotch-Irish of Ulster, which
with few modifications are still in use
among the people of the north of
Ireland, but which are now, in this
country, greatly changed. A recital
of some of them gives us a good
insight into the. habits and opinions
of the early settlers of the town. Mr.
Parker has given a detailed descrip-
tion of the marriage ceremony of the
first settlers of lyOndonderry, taken
from an eye witness, whose memory
went back to 1750. He says :

These occasions were celebrated with the
strongest demonstrations of J05'. When two
persons were about to be married it was cus-
tomary for the gentleman, in company with
the father of the lady, or some one of her near-
est connections, to go to the minister of the
town and request publishment ; this the n^in-
ister more usually employed the clerk of the
parish to perform, but sometimes did it him-
self. In the meantime, preparations for a
sumptuous entertainment were made. The
guests were all invited at least three days
before the wedding, it being considered an
unpardonable affront to receive an invitation
only the day previous. The bridegroom selected
one of his intimate friends for the " best man,"
who was to officiate as master of the ceremonj%
and the bride likewise one of her companions
as " best maid." The morning of the marriage
day was ushered in with the discharge of
musketry, in the respective neighborhood:! of
the persons who were to be united. This prac-
tice, it seems, originated in Ireland, in conse-
quence of the Catholics after the Revolution
having been deprived of the use of firearms.
The Protestants, proud of the superior privi-
lege which they enjoyed, made a display of

their warlike instruments on all public occa-
sions. Seldom was a respectable man married
without a sword by his side. At the appointed
hour, the groom proceeded from his dwelling
with his selected friends, male and female ;
about half waj' on their progress to the house
of the bride they were met by her select male
friends ; and on meeting each company made
choice of one of their number to run for the
bottle ! The champion of the race who re-
turned first with the bottle, gave a toast, drank
to the bridegroom's health, and having passed
round the bottle, the whole partj' proceeded,
saluted by the firing of muskets and answering
these salutes with pistols. When they arrived
at the bride's residence, the bridegroom's com-
pany were placed in an apartment by them-
selves, and it was considered an act of impo-
liteness for any one of the bride's company to
intrude. When the ceremony was about to
commence the '" best man " first introduced the
bridegroom ; then entering the bride's apart-
ments, led her into the room and placing her
at the right hand of her " intended," took his
station directly behind as did the " best maid."
The minister commenced the marriage service
with prayer ; on requesting the parties to join
hands, each put the right hand behind, when
the glove was drawn off by the best man and
maid. Their hands being joined the marriage
covenant was addressed to them, with appro-
priate remarks, on the nature and responsibil-
ities of the connection thus formed. Having
concluded with another prayer, he requested
the groom to salute his bride, which being
done the minister performed the same cere-
mony, and was immediately followed by the
male part of the company ; the females in like
manner saluted the bridegroom.

The ceremony being concluded, the whole
company sat down to an entertainment at
which the best man and maid presided. Soon
after the entertainment the room was cleared
for the dance and other amusements, " and the
evening," remarks our aged informant, kind-
ling at the recollection of bygone scenes, " was
spent with a degree of pleasure of which our
modern fashionables are perfectly igno)a>it."'

Not all marriages among the
Scotch- Irish were celebrated with the
formalities thus described. For some
years preceding the Revolution, the
colonial governor of New Hampshire
was authorized to grant licenses for
marriages as a means of increasing
his salary. He was allowed two
crowns for each license he signed.

26o

SCOTCH-IRISH SETTLERS OF PETERBOROUGH.

It afforded opportunity for clandes-
tine marriages which led to serious
evils. The ministers of Londonderry
were violentl}^ opposed to the method,
and the parties married by it sub-
jected themselves to discipline, as the
church records show. But some of
the clergy approved it and furnished
themselves with a supply of the gov-
ernor's licenses to be filled out as occa-
sion required. Of these Rev. Ebene-
zer Flagg of Chester was one, and to
him those who wished to marry with-
out publishment resorted from the
surrounding towns. William Smith
of Peterborough and Elizabeth Mor-
rison of IvOndonderry, were married
at the latter place Dec. 31, 1751,
according to the approved ceremony.
The best man and maid were Samuel
Moore and Margaret Morrison, sister
of Elizabeth. After the wedding of
Mr. Smith, Mr. Moore and Margaret,
who had not been "published,"
delighted, probably, at what they
had seen and heard, quietly left the
company, mounted their horses, and
rode over to Chester, where they
were married by Rev. Mr. Flagg
under the governor's license. That
day was said hy William Smith to
have been the coldest he ever knew.
But the long winter ride at night on
horseback and the biting cold did
not deter Mr. Moore and his bride
from the accomplishment of their
purpose. Such marriages were called
" Flagg marriages."

Their funeral observances were
definite and strictly followed. All
the relatives were invited, and to
omit any one, however distantly con-
nected, was a serious breach of pro-
priety. The neighbors came, and
the assembly was often quite as large
as the congregation at church on

Sunday. The minister opened the
service with prayer. Eiquors were
then served. An address followed,
after which intoxicants were again
passed. After the friends had taken
leave of the remains the whole com-
pany, mostl}^ on foot, followed the
body to the grave. On the return of
the friends to the house a sumptuous
repast was served, of which all par-
took. The coffin was borne from the
house to the cemetery on the hill by
four strong young men. It was an
onerous task when the house was far
from the cemetery. This custom
continued down to 1802, when the
town, after one or two refusals, voted
to buy a hearse and ' ' relieve the
young men from the burdensome
duty."

With the first generation of set-
tlers the "wake" was sometimes,
but whether universally cannot be
definitely stated, held the night be-
fore the funeral. This was an Irish
custom, adopted by the Scotch- Irish
during their residence in Ireland. It
never had a firm hold upon the peo-
ple, and died out with the genera-
tion which settled the town. The
near relatives and neighbors assem-
bled in the evening to watch through
the night with the body. The exer-
cises began with reading the Scrip-
tures, followed by prayer ; then words
of consolation were spoken to the
mourners, and the virtues and char-
acter of the deceased reviewed. Soon
stories of ghosts, witches, and de-
mons were exchanged ; tales of death
warnings to the deceased and his
friends were related. Eater intoxi-
cants were freely circulated. Before
morning there w^as eating as well as
drinking, "and," says Mr. Parker,
in describing the scene, "the affair

SCOTCH-IRISH SETTLERS Oh PETERBOROUGH.

261

often ended by shouts of laughter
and revelr}- breaking up the com-
pany."

The settlers were men of strong
minds and marked individuality.
Their intellectual powers were good
and their wills firm. Practical sa-
gacity and piety, keen common-
sense, shrewdness, caution, and te-
nacity of purpose were distinguishing
traits. They loved liberty, were
\0y21X to home and family ties, and
prompt and decisive in action. They
were independent in their opinions
and actions, and took .nothing at
second hand. It was not one of
them, but one of their race in the
southwest, who told those standing
by, as he lay dying, to write on his
tombstone "Let me alone." They
were slow to give their confidence
and unforgiving at its betrayal. To
love and friendship, to plighted faith,
to ideas and ideals when once adopt-
ed, and to the fixed and fundamental
verities of life, as they understood
them, they were true to a degree un-
surpassed by any other breed of men.
They were plain and straightforward
in their talk and dealings, and fought
their battles personally, without the
intervention of a substitute. If any
had a grievance, the offending party
was the first to hear of it from the
one wronged. Their tastes were sim-
ple, their carriage erect, their voices
were pitched in a high key, and their
mirth loud and boisterous. Their
wit and sarcasm spared neither age
nor idiosyncrasies of manner or tem-
per.

John Smith, Esq., better known
as " Squire John," was a great hec-
tor and a rank Federalist. He went
one day into the blacksmith's shop
of a near neighbor — a strong Denio-

xxix— 18

crat, and who had a fiery temper.
Finding some others there, he began
on the proprietor. "They say," he
remarked to those standing about
(it was just after President Jefferson's
inauguration), " that the new admin-
istration is going into the business
of raising geese. They are going to
keep them in Cunningham pond, an
excellent place, and they have ap-
pointed Mr. ," naming the pro-
prietor, "keeper of the geese, and a
better man cannot be found any-
where." The proprietor's temper
flew, and he angrily retorted, "You're
an old fool." And then the Squire
laughed at him.

If their usual demeanor was some-
what stern and dignified, they had,
during their residence in Ireland,
absorbed a large measure of the Irish
humor, making a combination neither
purely Scotch nor Irish, but partak-
ing, in part, of the severe, practical
nature of the one, and, in part, of
the impulsiveness and love of fun of
the other. Hence they were great
practical jokers, and exercised their
mirth and wit upon people of all ranks
and social conditions about them.

They were a people conscious of
their merits, self-reliant, always ready
to assert themselves, and to defend
their own rights and those of their
neighbors. Blunt in speech, and
venting their wit on friend and foe
alike, they were, nevertheless, hos-
pitable and faithful, and while often
severe and hard, were loyal friends
and kind and affectionate to those
who conciliated them. Their cour-
age was a prominent feature of their
character, and no vices so excited
their scorn and contempt as coward-
ice and meanness.

The political views of the Scotch-

262

SCOTCH-IRISH SETTLERS OF PETERBOROUGH.

Irish were a direct inheritance from
John Knox, and John Knox was
taught them by John Calvin. In his
famous " Counterblast," the great
Scotch reformer laid down these prin-
ciples — the logical conclusions of his
religious creed as defining the limits
of roj'al power and the rights of the
people.

ist. The authority of kings and princes was
originally derived from the people.

2d. That the former are not superior to the
latter collectively considered.

3d. That if rulers became tyrannical or em-
ploy their power for the destruction of their
subjects they may be lawfully controlled, and,
proving incorrigible, may be deposed by the
community as the superior power.

4th. Tyrants may be judicially proceeded
against even to capital punishment.

These propositions lie at the very
root of Democracy and were the basis
of .Calvinistic church government as
well as the teachings of its religious
faith. The iron creed of Calvin was
founded on three great religious ax-
ioms : ist, The sovereignty of God ;
2d, The supremacy of the Divine
law, to which princes and potentates
were subject equally with the hum-
blest citizen ; 3d, The grandeur and
dignity of a human soul. In prac-
tice it was a theology that elevated
man because it exalted God. Man,
so the creed ran, was originally cre-
ated pure and upright. He fell from
his high estate, and to restore him to
original innocence and integrity God
sent His Son into the world to die
for him. The church was the instru-
ment appointed of God through which
man's redemption was to be effected
and the church was composed of the
men and women redeemed from sin
and restored to original purity and
uprightness. The form of church
government was democratic to the
core. The officers were chosen by

its communicants, and the general
assembly had a large proportion of
lay members. It claimed supremacj'
over the civil power in all church
affairs, and did not shrink from defy-
ing the arbitrary will of the Stuart
kings when they sought to override
its decrees. Under its creed and dis-
cipline the humblest member of the
Kirk sought to know the Divine law,
which was to raise the temporal king-
doms of this world into the kingdoms
of Christ, and to that law he yielded
implicit obedience. Human ordi-
nances were to be respected only so
far as they conformed to the Divine
law, and, in case of conflict, the hu-
man law must and did give way. In
matters of faith he submitted to and
obeyed the word of God, " but, in all
other things, the greatest names in
the world would not lead him with-
out reason."

No people, once accepting such a
faith and theory of church govern-
ment, were ever kept in submission
to despotic power. In all those coun-
tries where it became the prevailing
faith the love first of religious free-
dom and then of civil liberty became
implanted too deeply ever to be up-
rooted. It established popular gov-
ernment in Switzerland ; drove the
Spanish power from the low coun-
tries ; 500,000 Huguenots refused
to live in France after the revocation
of the Edict of Nantes. It found its
fullest expression in the Independent
party in England and its army of
" Ironsides," which bent even the iron
will of Cromwell to its purposes, de-
stroyed the royal house of Stuart,
dispersed the parliament, and raised
the English nation to the first place
in Europe. It led the Scotch-Irish
from Ulster to America, where, in a

SCOTCH-IRISH SETTLERS OF PETERBOROUGH.

263

land unvexed by kings or bishops it
could logicalh' work out its problems
of religious and civil liberty in its
own way.

It was inevitable under the teach-
ings of such a faith that in the new
world the Scotch-Irish should be fore-
most in resisting the aggressions of
the English crown upon the rights of
the colonies. King George had no
foes so unyielding and implacable as
this people when the Revolutionary
struggle came on. The part of the
Scotch-Irish in the war for Indepen-
dence has received scant justice from
the historians, but this is not the
place to recount their ser\nces. It
may be said in outline, however, that
in the Continental Congress their dele-
gates were the most strenuous and
insistent for the passage of the dec-
laration ; their men formed a large
portion of the New Hampshire troops
at Bunker Hill ; under Stark they
won the Battle of Bennington, and
their courage and stubbornness
turned the tide at Saratoga. Under
the leadership of Campbell they de-
stroyed the British forces at King's
Mountain, and formed a large part
of the army of General Greene,
which drove Cornwallis from the
Carolinas to his doom at Yorktown.
Through the long war of the Revo-
lution their baj-onets glittered in the
forefront of every battle, and " in the
gloomy rear of every retreat was
heard their voice of constancj^ and
coujage." Had the colonies been
defeated they would have been the
very last to lay down their arms.
Seventy-six years later the descend-
ants of this same people met on
opposite sides in the battles of Shi-
loh, Stone River, and Chickamauga,
and the desperate and bloody char-

acter of these great struggles was am-
ple evidence that the courage and
fighting qualities of this warlike race
had not diminished with the present
generation.

In this struggle the settlers of
Peterborough fully sustained the
character and reputation of their
race, and for precisely the same rea-
sons and motives. They believed in
self-government, and like their coun-
trj^men elsewhere were ready to re-
sist the central power in the interest
of local authority. They entered
into the cause with a unanimity and
zeal not excelled b}^ the people of
any other township in the colonies.
Within a few hours after the news of
the Battle of Lexington was received
every able-bodied man of military age
was on the march for Cambridge,
armed with such weapons as could
be had. Some of them on learning
the issue of the Concord fight turned
back when they reached Groton, but
others kept on to Cambridge. Sev-
enteen days before the Declaration
was signed at Philadelphia, the peo-
ple issued a manifesto pledging their
lives and estates in resistance to Brit-
ish aggressions, which was signed
by every man in town then present.
Not a single Tory was known to live
in the place. Seventeen of its citi-
zens fought at Bunker Hill, twenty-
five at Bennington, and from first to
last the town furnished 146 soldiers
for the war, more than one in five of
its whole population.

The settlers came by their military
instincts as naturally as by their po-
litical views. Both were a Scotch
inheritance. During the French and
Indian War of i754-'59, the settle-
ment numbered about eight3' males,
between sixteen and sixty j^ears ; yet

264

SCOTCH-IRISH SETTLERS OF PETERBOROUGH.

the town furnished thirty-six soldiers
for that war, ahnost fifty per cent, of
its fighting population, of whom four-
teen perished, seven in a single bat-
tle, an Indian massacre near Lake
George.

The Scotch-Irishman's readiness
and aptitude for war was an inheri-
tance of the long and cruel conflict
between Scotland and England prior
to the union of the two kingdoms,
and the bloody rebellions and massa-
cres in Ireland before his emigration
to this country. When the war
ceased between England and Scot-
land, thousands of the Scotch wan-
dered forth upon the continent,
"seeking employment," says Har-
rison, " where fighting was to be had
and the pay for killing reasonably
good." Their life in the infant set-
tlement kept this inherited trait alive.
The first few years the}^ went to their
work and worship with arms in their
hands. When war came, as it did in
1754, and again in 1775, it was taking
up an old employment for them to
enter the military service, and their
readiness was stimulated b)^ their
political opinions and intense inter-
est in the questions staked in the
result.

When no war was on, their fond-
ness for controversy found a free field
in the long debates over questions of
municipal and church administra-
tion. The town- meeting was their
joy, for here they could air their per-
sonal views and exercise their lo-
quacity to its full extent. Opposi-
tion never annoyed them. They
were fond of public speaking, and
indulged their oratorical powers at
every opportunity. The town-meet-
ings did not always accomplish much
for this reason, and often were little

more than talking matches. In a
note to his Centennial Address, Dr.
Morrison tells this stor5% illustrating
their fondness for disputation :

An old man returiiing: from a meeting was
asked what they had been doing. " Oh," said
he, "there was George Duncan, he got up and
spakit a while, and Mathew Wallace he got up
and talkit a while, and Mathew Gray, he got
up and blathered a while, and then they dis-
missed the meeting.

But they often had before them
questions of a graver character than
those relating to mere local affairs.
Between 1779 and 1789 several revi-
sions of the state constitution were
made and referred to the several
towns for consideration. One of
these came before the voters in 1782.
The meeting appointed a committee
of its ablest men, to whom the instru-
ment was referred, with instructions
to report. This committee consid-
ered it for four days, and then told
the voters that they were unable to
agree. It was then sent to another
committee, which later reported the
constitution back with several amend-
ments, which the town accepted.
There is no record of the discussions
on these questions — the most serious
which ever came before a free peo-
ple. The thoroughness of their de-
liberations shows their keen interest
in political problems and their intel-
ligent grasp of the great principles
which underlie democratic govern-
ment. There were then man}'' strong,
able men in town, and it is a matter
of deep regret that their debates
have not been preserved for their
descendants.

But the distingui.shing trait of
these settlers was their "mighty
zeal " for religion, and for the forms
and discipline which their faith im-

SCOTCH-IRISH SETTLERS OF PETERBOROUGH.

26 =

posed. LoA'alty to their church had
brought them bitter suffering in
Ireland, but in their new home they
could worship God in their chosen
way. They were devout Presbyte-
rians, and accepted the five points of
Calvinism without a question. Their
first care was for a church, and three
years after the permanent settle-
ment, and when there could not have
been more than twenty or twenty-five
families in town, they built the first
church, of logs, on Meeting House
hill. The seats were wooden benches.
It had no floor and no glass windows
until 1763, and the building was
warmed by nothing but the zeal of
the worshipers. No services were
held in the winter season. They
had no settled minister until 1766,
but had constant preaching, while
the singing was b}'' the congregation
from some version of the Psalms, the
lines being "deaconed" off by the
acting elder, and sung after him by
the people.

Like true Scotchmen they were of
a metaphysical turn of mind, and
passionately loved discussion of theo-
logical themes. The doctrines of their
creed — of " Particular Redemption,"
" Irresistible Grace," and the " Final
Perseverance of the Saints" — afford-
ed an ample field for the exercise of
their colloquial powers, and had this
to delight them, — they never could
be settled to the satisfaction of all.
The Bible was their chief, almost
their only, book, and to it they went
for counsel, for inspiration, and their
guidance in things temporal as well
as spiritual. The}* read and pre-
ferred the Old Testament rather than
the New. They loved its sublime
imagery and its stories of Almighty
vengeance upon the persecutors of

God's chosen people. The}' com-
pared the afflictions and wanderings
of the Israelites with their own, and
found in their conquest of, and pros-
perity in, the land of Canaan a sure
prophecy of the final triumph and the
peace and joy which awaited them in
their American home. The harsh-
ness and severity of its decrees, the
rigid forms of the Mosaic law, and the
awful denunciations of the wicked by
the prophets were more in harmony
wdth their Scottish temper and iron
creed than the mild and gentle pre-
cepts of the Sermon on the Mount, or
the lessons in the parable of the
Prodigal Son. It was read aloud in
the family daily, and it was an impor-
tant part of family discipline that the
children should commit long passages
from it to memory. Both the longer
and shorter catechisms were com-
mitted and recited by parents and
children. The practice of annual
famil}' catechising was strictly ob-
served. The families to the number
of eight or ten assembled at the
house of some neighbor ; here the
minister by appointment met them,
and beginning with the youngest
and proceeding to the eldest class he
carefully examined each individual
as to his knowledge of Christian faith
and duty. Scripture proof texts were
also required. The rules of the
church were strict in regard to the
observance of daily familj' prayers.
Any omission in this was a matter
for prompt investigation. When a
case of neglect was reported, the
minister went to the delinquent's
house, and even compelled him to
rise from his bed in the middle of the
night, read a chapter, and offer
prayer. But this seldom happened,
for they were a devout people, and

266

SCOTCH-IRISH SETTLERS OF PETERBOROUGH.

their lonely, isolated life in the wil-
derness deepened their feeling of
dependence for safety and guidance
upon an Infinite Power. Nothing
could exceed the reverence and sin-
cerity with which it was performed.
Burns has sketched for us the scene
as it was dailj^ enacted in the primi-
tive homes of the early settlers :

" The cheerful supper done, wi' serious face,

They round the ingle form a circle wide,
The sire turns o'er with patriarchal grace

The big ha' Bible, once his father's pride.
His bonnet rev'rently is laid aside.

His lyart hafSts wearing thin and bare ;
Those strains that once did sweet in Zion glide

He wakes a portion with judicious care.
'And let us worship God,' he says, with sol-
emn air.

" Then kneeling down, to Heaven's Almighty
King,
The Saint, the Husband and the Father
prays ;
Hope springs exulting on triumphant wing,

That thus they all shall meet in future days.
There ever bask in uncreated rays,

No more to sigh or shed the bitter tear ;
Together hymning their Creator's praise,

In such society, yet still more dear,
While circling time moves round in one eter-
nal sphere."

Grace was said before every meal.
All meetings at which important
business was to be done were opened
with prayer and often with a sermon.
Thursday before Communion Sunday
was kept as a Fast Day, and its ob-
servance was rigidl)^ enforced. No
work could be done. One of the
Londonderry settlers ventured to
spread out his grain on this day to
keep it from spoiling ; but he was
promptly summoned before the Pres-
bytery and severely admonished for
his wickedness.

The Sabbath was strictly observed.
Church attendance was general, and
on part of the children required.
They held the minister in special

veneration, and many personal delin-
quencies were overlooked in him
which would not have been tolerated
in any other official. "It was the
supreme ambition of every Scotch-
man," says Harrison, "to breed one
son who would wag his pow in
the pu'pit." The character of the
preaching would hardly attract the
devout communicant of to-day. Dr.
Morison, in his Centennial address,
has quoted an example of it ; and
Mr. Parker relates this incident of
Rev. Matthew Clark, in the church
at Londonderry, who began his ser-
mon thus : " Phillipians 4 : 13, 'I can
do all things.' Ay, can ye, Paul?
I '11 bet ye a dollar o' that (placing a
Spanish milled dollar on the desk).
Stop ! let 's see what else Paul says:
' I can do all things through Christ
which strengthened me ' Ay, sae
can I, Paul; I draw my bet," and
he then returned the dollar to his
pocket.

They accepted the articles of their
creed as they did their Bible, without
doubt or hesitation. Its iron logic,
its metaphysical subtleties, its exalta-
tion of the Divine Law, and its dem-
ocratic spirit suited their Scotch tem-
per and harmonized with their expe-
riences both in Ireland and America.
They looked at life through the
shadows of its gloomy doctrines.
Death was the end, the grave the
final abode of all the living until the
great judgment day. To devout stu-
dents of the Old Testament — reading
and re-reading its tales of judgments
and awful retributions — rather than
of the New, with its teachings of
grace and mercy and of a future life
of joy and peace, this was both nat-
ural and consistent. Life was a long
campaign against the hosts of evil

SCOTCH-IRISH SETTLERS OF PETERBOROUGH.

267

from which there was no escape nor
intermission for mortals here below.
But they laced it with true Scotch
fortitude, and never sought to soften
its privations and hardships or com-
plain of their lot. They located their
church and cemetery on the top of
one of the highest hills in town.
When thej' chose it, it was neither
the centre of population nor the easi-
est of access, but it was the coldest
and bleakest. On the tombstones of
their dead they carved the weeping
w^illow. Death's head, and the skull
and crossbones, and inscribed the
words, ' ' Memento mori ' ' and ' * Alor-
ze?id7(?Ji est oiunibiis.''''

If they indulged in poetry to ex-
press the conclusions of that religious
faith by which their lives had been
modeled, it was not in selections
which served to cheer or comfort the
hearts of those left to mourn. Here
are some stanzas which seem to give
their opinion of the whole matter :

" Death, like an overflowing flood,
Doth carry us away ;
The young;, the old, the middle-aged.
To Death become a prey."

Here is one from the stone of two
young children :

" So fades the lovely blooming flower.
Frail solace of an hour ;
So soon our transient comforts fl3',
And pleasure only blooms to die."

This is from the stone of a man

dying at the age of eighty-seven

years, one of the pioneers of the
town :

" Draw near, my friends, and take a thought.
How soon the grave may be your lot ;
Make sure of Christ while life remains,
And death will be eternal gain."

This is from one of the oldest
stones in the larger cemetery :

" Dry up your tears, surviving friends.
Weep not for me but for your sins ;
Die to the world, live unto God,
The grave will soon be j-our abode."

The following is from the stone of
one for many years a leader in the
church :

" How lov'd, how valu'd, avails thee not,
To whom related, or by whom begot ;
A heap of dust is all remains of me ;
T is all thou art and all ye proud shall be.''

No tender, loving words for the
souls of those who sleep below ; no
tribute of the living to the virtues
and moral worth of the dead ; no
expression of hope in a better life
beyond, — only, " Remember death ; "
"It is for all to die; " this was the
final summing up of their religious
philosophy. Read the names and
inscriptions and you see why there is
nothing of the " tender grace to mark
the higher, nothing of tinsel to mark
the lower, side of Irish character, — "
John Todd, James Ferguson, Charles
Stuart, David Steele, Thomas Mori-
son, Samuel Mitchell, William Moore,
William McNee — names, travelers tell
us, which can still be found on the
stones in the old cemeteries of Ulster
and Argjdeshire, reminders of the
stormj^ times in Ireland and Scotland
in which their fathers battled for civil
and religious freedom and endured
hardship and persecution for con-
science's sake. That sacred but
wind-swept spot is not one which
their descendants would choose for
their last resting-place, but it was a
fitting one for them, who had suffered
persecution, braved the perils of the
deep, and endured the pinching pov-
erty and dangers of the wilderness
for the right to worship God accord-
ing to the forms of their beloved
faith. Why should they indulge in

268

A PATHETIC MONUMENT.

sentiment in death who had only
known toil and suffering in life?
Why should thej^ look forward to a
life of unending joy and rest and
peace who had only known pinching
poverty, warfare, and self-denial on
earth ? It was enough for them that
the}^ had done their work here, and
facing the King of Terrors with a true
Covenanter's courage, they went to
their graves

" L,ike one who wraps the draperies of his
couch about him
And lies down to pleasant dreams."

But they were better and happier
than their religious creed, and they
laid the foundations of their beloved
municipality more wiselj- than they
ever dreamed. It is not within the
scope of this paper to point out the
fruits of their labors. In their lives
they typified the three cardinal vir-
tues of American citizenship — intelli-
gence, morality, and obedience to
law. In their death thej^ bequeathed
to their children a heritage of civic
virtues which has been a controlling
influence in the towni down to the
present da}'.

A PATHETIC MONUMENT.

By Mary M. Din-gin Gray.

Li.st to the tale of a Einden tree ;

A Einden of great renown ;

Out in the pure, sweet countr}' way.

Far from the noise of the town.

Nestles an oldtinie homestead,

And close to the wide porch door

Has this Einden stood, like a sentinel.

For a centur}^ and more.

Tradition says that in days agone,

When the homestead walls were new,

Its builder, though a farmer, was

At times a blacksmith too,

And where the E adjoins the house.

In earlier days stood low,

A shop in which burned a glowing fire

For the anvil, long ago.

And here one day, on a sprightly steed,

A stately youth rode in,

A PATHETIC MONUMENT. 269

Saj'ing, " Ho, new shoes for my horse, good sire,

The old ones are getting thin,

And I, meanwhile, will disport myself

On the green without ; ah, me,

But the sun is hot and no shade is here,

I will plant you a Linden tree."

And playfully forcing the switch he held,

Down into the yielding sod,

He murmured, " I pray when I halt again

This twig, by the grace of God,

May be firmly rooted and lending shade

Which all underneath shall bless."

The blacksmith replied, in a jovial mood,

" May )'t?«r shadow never grow less."

Then away rode the youth on his well-shod horse ;

The procession of daj'S passed on,

Till prosperous weeks and months and years

To the smithy had come and gone.

At last he retired with coffers well filled.

In the service grown old and gray ;

Then he called the builders an L to build

And the shop was moved awa}^

The roof to the porch was the Linden tree

Which up from the twig had sprung ;

Its branches like long protecting arms,

Over the homestead hung ;

And the smithy's wife grew to fanc}' that

When the leaves were murmuring low

They repeated benedictions

Over all who passed below.

Be that as it may, generations three

Were born and lived and died

'Neath the friendly roof while the Linden tree

Like a sentinel stood beside ;

Three generations to good old age

Attained and in turn, like fruit

Well ripened, were gathered and laid away,

Ere the Linden tree was mute.

Mute with its branches leafless and dead ;

Its shade is needed no more ;

Its final benedictions are said

And wide swings the latchless door,

Yet, a ghost of the past, its hovers still

As if it would guard the spot.

While the crumbling walls shield the lone hearthstones

And the tenants that were, are not.

GEORGE F. PUTNAM.

By Henry H. Metcalf.
A paper read before the Grafton and Coos Bar Association, at Woodsville, September i8, 1900.

EORGE FREDERICK
PUTNAM, born at
Croydon, N. H., No-
vember, 6, 1841 ; died
at Kansas City, Mo.,
May 30, 1899,

Mr. Putnam was the son of John
and Almira (French) Putnam, and
grandson of Dea. David Putnam, the
latter a Revolutionary soldier and
one of the early settlers of the rug-
ged little town of Croydon, from out
whose borders there have gone in
5'ears past, as from most of our New
England mountain towns, men who
have won distinction in the varied
walks of life, among those prominent
in the legal profession being Hon.
Jonas Cutting, of the supreme court
of Maine, Hon. William P. Wheeler,
long the leading practitioner at the
Cheshire county bar, and the late
Hon. Eevi W. Barton of Newport.

John Putnam was one of the best
specimens of the sturdy New England
farmer. The town historian, writ-
ing before his decease, said of him :
"He is one of the most intelligent,
respected, industrious, and energetic
farmers in town. He has reared a
large and one of the most thoroughly
educated families in Croydon." He
was a man of strong traits of charac-
ter, firm in his convictions, and pos-
sessing the courage thereof in the
fullest measure. He was thrifty and
prosperous, yet not parsimonious,

teaching his children that labor is
honorable and diligence essential,
but that manhood and self-respect
are more to be valued than mouej'-
or aught that money can bring. No
man stood higher in the estimation
of his townsmen, by whom he was
honored with the highest offices in
their gift, and whose trust and confi-
dence he never betrayed. Four of
his sons were liberally educated, two
entering the ministry and two the
legal profession, while a daughter
became an accomplished and suc-
cessful teacher, and is remembered
b}^ this writer as one who gave him
his first lessons in orthography.

George Frederick was John Put-
nam's 3'oungest son ; the pride of his
heart, the hope of his declining
years. He was reared to honest toil,
taught to hate h3'pocrisy and sham,
to love the truth, respect honest man-
hood and virtuous womanhood, to
form convictions upon due delibera-
tion, and to stand fearlessly by those
convictions. The spirit of manly
independence, with which he was
endowed at birth, was developed and
strengthened through all the years
of childhood and youth spent upon
that rugged Croydon farm, and by
that typical New England fireside.

Blessed with good physical health,
an active mind, and an ambition to
succeed, he made the best of the
educational advantages which the

GEORGE F. PUTNAM. 271

brief terms of the district school B. Page, Esq., who had then re-
afforded, and, encouraged hy his moved to Concord. He was located
father, as his brothers had also been, at Warren nearly eight years, until
sought further knowledge through March, 1877, when he returned to
attendance at Thetford, Vt., academy Haverhill, taking the office of his
and Norwich university, completing old preceptor, Mr. Felton, and there
his course at the latter institution in continuing until his removal to Kan-
1863, the expense of his education sas City in May, 1882.
being met in part by money earned During his fifteen years at the
teaching in the winter season, after Grafton county bar it is safe to say
the usual manner of the enterprising that Mr. Putnam established a repu-
youth of New England in those tation and achieved a measure of pro-
days, fessional success beyond the average

Having determined upon the legal of lawyers of his age. He was dili-

profession as the most congenial field gent, faithful, conscientious, true to

of labor, he immediateh' commenced his clients, courteous to his brethren

studying therefor in the office of that at the bar, reasonably deferential, but

learned, industrious, and methodical never obsequious to the court. His

attorne}- and safe, and wise counselor, cases were well prepared and clearly

the late Nathan B. Felton, Esq., at and forcibly argued. He made no

Haverhill Corner, then, as it had pretensions to oratory, and indulged

been for more than half a century in no flights of rhetoric, but for sim-

previous, the principal seat of legal plicity of statement and cogency of

life and activity in this county of reasoning he took high rank.

Grafton. While studying here, as And here it may be said, and that

previousl}^ he taught school in win- to his credit, as I am sure will be

ter, to aid in meeting his necessary generally conceded, that of the strong

expenses. coterie of eminent lawyers at this

After two or three years with Mr. bar who were at their prime during

Felton, who took a strong interest in most of the years of his service here,

his progress, Mr. Putnam went to including such men as Harry and

Manchester, upon Mr. Felton's ap- George A. Bingham, Edward D. and

proval and advice, where he com- Charles W. Rand, and Alonzo P.

pleted his studies in the office of the Carpenter, there was one — the first

late Hon. Charles R. Morrison, being named and "noblest Roman of them

engaged also for some time in assist- all " — who was his chosen beau-ideal

ing Judge Morrison in preparing his of the lawyer and the man. No

Digest for the press. great and gifted leader in profes-

He was admitted to the bar in sional or political life ever had a

Manchester in January, 1867, and in more ardent admirer, a more loj^al

the spring of that year he established follower, a warmer or a worthier

himself in practice at Haverhill, friend than had Harry Bingham in

where he met with good success, George F. Putnam. And if there

remaining till August, 1869, when he be a life beyond, and we be permitted

removed to the town of Warren, tak- to believe the disembodied spirits on

ing the office and practice of Samuel the other shore may know and greet

272

GEORGE F. PUTNAM.

their kind, what glad greeting was
that, indeed, which awaited the soul
of the " grand old man of the North "
when it went out across the dark
waters on that sad, recent day in
Littleton.

In politics Mr. Putnam was an
ardent Democrat from youth, and he
believed it to be his patriotic duty to
advance the interests of his party by
all honorable means as the most
effective manner of serving his coun-
try. He became, immediately after
establishing himself in practice, a
recognized leader among the Demo-
crats of his town and section, and
as the candidate of that party was
elected to the legislature from Haver-
hill in 1868 and 1869, and from War-
ren in 1870, 1871, and 1872, serving
as a member of the committee on
division of towns in 1868, the judi-
ciary in 1869 and 1870, national
affairs in 1871, and railroads in 1872.
During the memorable parliamentary
contests which characterized the ses-
sion of 1 87 1, when the two parties
were almost evenly balanced in
strength, Mr. Putnam was one of
the younger leaders upon whose sa-
gacity, firmness, and courage great
reliance was placed by his party as-
sociates, and he never failed them in
any emergency. In 1872 he was the
Democratic nominee for speaker of
the house, and during his entire
legislative service was ever alert in
the promotion of his party's inter-
ests ; but none the less zealons in the
furtherance of all measures essential
to the material welfare of the state
which came before the legislature
for consideration, and in opposition
to every scheme or project which he
regarded as inimical to the public
good.

In 1874, he was appointed by Gov-
ernor Weston solicitor for Grafton
county, serving faithfully and effi-
ciently for two 3'ears.

He was chairman of the Demo-
cratic state committee for the 3'ears
i873-'75 and i877-'8o, and the per-
formance of his work in this capacity
was characterized by the same zeal
and fidelity and the same system and
method which were noticeable in his
professional labors. He was chair-
man of the New Hampshire delega-
tion in the National Democratic con-
vention at St. lyouis, in 1876, which
nominated Tilden and Hendricks,
and was one of the strongest support-
ers and most ardent admirers of Mr.
Tilden both before and after the
convention.

His devotion to his profession and
his interest in politics did not cause
him to forget or neglect the general
duties of citizenship. He was ever
alive to all the interests of town and
community, and never failed to re-
spond to any legitimate call for
service. In educational matters he
was specially interested, and served
efficiently upon the school board both
in Haverhill and Warren.

His removal to Kansas City in
1882 was deeply regretted, not only
by his associates at the bar, but by
his fellow-citizens generally through-
out the county and state ; but he felt
that a broader field and greater op-
portunities in professional and busi-
ness lines were there presented, and,
yet in the early prime of manhood, at
the age of forty years, he left the
state of his birth (which, neverthe-
less, ever retained a strong hold upon
his affections), and made his home
in the growing j^oung city on the
Missouri border, familiarly known as

GEORGE F. PUTNAM.

273

the "Gate of the Southwest," at-
tracted thither undoubtedly b)' the
fact that an older brother, Francis
Putnam, also a lawyer, had been
located there in successful practice,
where he had died a few years pre-
viously.

He entered at once into active
practice in Kansas City, and shortly
acquired prominence as a lawyer,
gaining no little reputation by the
outcome in the trial of one of the
first causes in which he was there
engaged, it being the defence of a
man charged with murder, whose
acquittal he secured.

As he became familiar with the
business life and activities of the
ambitious metropolis wherein he had
made his home, he came to realize
the opportunities presented in the
field of financial and general business
operations, particularly along the line
of real estate development, and he
soon turned his attention largely in
that direction. In 1886 he became
president of the International Loan
and Trust company, organized to
handle city real estate, and devoted
his labors, in the main, for some
years, to the furtherance of its op-
erations. Subsequently, when the
marked decline in real estate, expe-
rienced throughout the country, but
more particularly in the Western
cities, and culminating in 1893, made
it imperative that the American
National bank of Kansas City reduce
its capital and reorganize in order
to avert failure, Mr. Putnam was
selected to take charge of its affairs,
and became its president, continuing
in that position until some six mouths
before his decease, when he resigned,
proposing to devote his entire atten-
tion to his private investments, prom-

inent among which was that in the
Independent Telephone Co., an enter-
prise just then being organized.

Mr. Putnam took an active part in
advancing all measures and projects
for developing the business prosperity
and promoting the growth of his
adopted city, was a leading spirit in
its wide-awake Commercial club, and
for a time its president. He was also
strongly interested in church affairs,
along the liberal line, in his later
years, and was an active member and
earnest worker in the ' ' Church of
this World," Unitarian, organized
some two years before his death. He
was prominent in Masonry, being a
charter member of Ararat Temple,
Mystic Shrine ; past eminent com-
mander of Oriental Commandery,
No. 35, Knights Templar, and a
member of Orient Chapter, No. 105,
R. A. M.

On December 22, 1868, Mr. Put-
nam was united in marriage with
Mary Rebecca Reding, daughter of
the late Sylvester Reding of Haver-
hill, in whom he found a true and
sympathetic helpmeet, and by whom
he is survived, without children.

Death came to George F. Putnam
in the very zenith of his physical and
intellectual powers; and the "grim
messenger" came, too, all unher-
alded. No wasting disease bore him
down ; no protracted bodil}- suffering
sapped the springs of his life, but, in
the full splendor of royal manhood,
he was touched by the swift apoplec-
tic stroke and the obedient spirit
bade eternal farewell to the mortal
form. His ashes rest in the soil of
his native state, at Haverhill, amid
the scenes of his early professional
labors, near by the old home of her
he loved, and where the happiest

274 CLOISTER MAR SABA.

3'ears of his life were spent. His in this county and state, I do not
name and memory are but an added hesitate to say that God in his infinite
leaf in the garland of glory which wisdom has rarely made a more fully-
New Hampshire's worthy sons have rounded man than George Frederick
woven in her honor. Putnam. Endowed with mental grasp
In what has been presented I have and moral fibre fully complement-
essayed no critical estimate of Mr. ing the sturdy, handsome physique,
Putnam as a lawyer. Our relative which some here present so delight
situations were such as, naturally, to to remember; with a warm, human
leave me unqualified for the perform- heart shining forth from a frank,
ance of such duty. But, born as I open countenance ; honest, just, and
was in the same year, and within courteous in his relations wath others ;
three miles, as the crow flies, of the kindly considerate of the poor and
very spot where he first saw the light the weak ; yielding nothing of right
of day ; familiar as I was with the to the rich and the strong, — a faith-
scenes and influences which shaped ful husband, a loyal citizen, a true
and developed his character in early friend — his was, indeed, the ideal
life; knowing him intimately as I type of American manhood,
did, as a man, a citizen, and a friend, May God grant us more of his kind
during the years of his active career in the days that are yet to be !

CIvOISTER MAR SABA.

[Translated from the German of Karl Zettel.]
By Laura Garland Carr.

Mar Saba rears its walls and towers
High over Kedron's dry, rock bed.

It is not jarred by tempest powers
Nor beat by billows fierce and dread,

Yet ghastly death chills and appals

lyurking about Mar Saba's walls.

Out through the ghostly silence pealing
Sweet bell tones stir the midnight air.

And chanting voices are revealing

That monks keep watch with song and prayer,

Through rifts of rock the voices swing

And weirdly out the darkness ring.

Then Dead Sea boatmen — praying — lightly
Will turn their prows back through the night,

Shunning the cliffs, gleaming so whitely
In that uncanny, pallid light.

Then, half in dream, will further roam

Cleaving the phosphorescent foam.

HANNAH EASTMAN'S CAPTURE.

By Guy S. Rix.

AVERHIEL, Mass., was
first settled in 1640. It
was the thirtieth town
within the limits of the
state of Massachusetts,
thirty-second in the list of incorpo-
rated towns, and forty-ninth in the
New England list. It w^as a frontier
town for more than seventy years,
and there are few of the New Eng-
land towns that suffered so severely
from the depredations of the Indians.
Its early history is one long record of
blood and misery.

The early colonies suffered from
six wars : First, the Pequot war ;
second, King Philip's war; third,
King William's war ; fourth, Queen
Anne's war; fifth, the Three Years'
war or Eovewell's war ; sixth, the
second French war.

Hannah Eastman's capture oc-
curred during Queen Anne's war,
which commenced in 1703 and ended
in 1 7 13. The foes with whom the
colonists contended were the Indians
and the Canadian French.

It would be hard for the present
generation to conceive of the suffer-
ing of the inhabitants of that time.
Haverhill village in those days con-
sisted of about thirty houses, and it
was rare to find a family that had
not lost some of its members at the
hands of the Indians. The men
went armed to their daily labors,
and to church with a Bible in one
hand and a loaded gun in the other.

They were safe from Indian attacks
nowhere. Their fields, their dwell-
ings, and their churches were alike
subject to their stealthy and fiendish
raids. It was really an "Age of
Terror" for those hard and cour-
ageous men and women, and history
can show none more heroic and none
that exhibited a more fearless and
undaunted spirit.

At this period Jonathan Eastman
and his young wife, Hannah, made
for themselves a home in Haverhill.
Jonathan was born in Salisbury,
Mass., Jan. 8, 1680, and was married
April 8, 1 701, to Hannah Green,
born Dec. 20, 1677, on the historic
" Dustin Hill," in Haverhill, Mass.,
daughter of Peter and Elizabeth Green.
Jonathan's first child (Thomas) was
born March 17, 1702; their second
child (Abigail) was born Feb. i,
1704.

The Indians seldom made their
appearance before the opening of
spring, and on this account less care
was taken to guard against surprises
during the winter months. But, as
a means of defense, the selectmen
had appointed six garrisons and four
"houses of refuge." These were
either built of brick or had a single
layer of brick between the outer and
inner walls. They had but one out-
side door, often so small that but a
single person could enter at a time.
The buildings were of two stories,
with windows two and a half feet

276

HANNAH EASTMAN'S CAPTURE.

long and eighteen inches wide, se-
cured inside by iron bars. There
were two rooms on the lower floor, and
the entrance to the chambers above
was by a ladder, that could be drawn
up should the lower floor be taken by
the enemy. The fireplaces were of
enormous size, and wood of sled
length was often burned in them.

Late in March, 1704, Jonathan
removed with his wife to the fifth
garrison, which was owned and com-
manded by Joseph Bradley. It was
situated in the northerly part of the
town, and has long since been torn
down, but a trace of it remaining.
In one of the upper chambers of this
garrison their little daughter Abigail
was born Feb. i, 1704. Eight days
later (Feb. 8th) Jonathan left the
place to attend to some necessary
duties at their old home, intending
to return before nightfall. Before
leaving he stopped for a moment at
the bedside of his wife. He was not
a demonstrative man, but he bent
down and kissed her and turned
away, carefully drawing the covers
over the dimpled hand of his tiny
daughter, Mrs. Bradley was in
the lower room boiling soap. He
stopped only to inform her when he
expected to return, and passed out-
side.

It was a lovely day ; the air was crisp
and keen ; the sun shone brightly ;
the snow was deep upon the ground
and drifted in many places quite
deeply. During the winter the set-
tlers had grown secure and careless
of danger ; the sentries were absent
from their stations, and even the
gates were open. Little did Jonathan
think as he rode forth that he was
being watched by cruel eyes ; far
less did he think that he was never

again to see his infant child, or that
many weary months would pass be-
fore he would again meet his beloved
wife.

Why the Indians allowed Jonathan
to escape will never be known. His
powerful frame and commanding
presence may have deterred them.
However, they let him pass on, and
waited until between three and four
o'clock in the afternoon before at-
tacking the garrison. They then
cautiously approached, and, find-
ing the way clear, rushed through
the open gates before they were dis-
covered. Jonathan Johnson, a sen-
tinel, who was standing inside the
house, shot at and wounded one of
them, but the savage, infuriated by
the pain, made the air ring with ter-
rific yells as he pushed forward into
the house. With great presence of
mind, Mrs. Bradley filled her ladle
full of boiling soap and threw it over
him, burning him so severely that he
soon died. The rest of the party
rushed forward and killed Johnson,
and made Mrs. Bradley and some
others prisoners. (Only three per-
sons escaped of the entire garrison.)
They then mounted the ladder and
entered the room where Mrs. East-
man was alone with her child. Af-
frighted, she sat. up in the bed, but
the movement disturbed the child
and it began to cry, when she took
it in her arms, pressing it to her
wildly-beating heart. With a fiend-
ish yell the foremost savage snatched
it from her clinging hands and bru-
tally dashed it against the door-post,
beating out its brains, when, with a
satisfied grunt, he threw it into a
corner and ordered Mrs. Eastman to
arise and prepare to go with him.
The poor woman was so stunned and

HANNAH EASTMAN'S CAPTURE.

277

horrified by seeing her child mur-
dered before her eyes that she could
not move. The savage then seized
her hy her long hair, and brandish-
ing his tomahawk over her head,
compelled her to obey.

The party hastily collected their
prisoners and plunder and com-
menced a hurried retreat toward Can-
ada. The captives were separated,
some being taken in one direction
and some in another. Night was
coming on, the weather was cold,
the snow quite deep, and the wind
blew keenly over the hills, yet Mrs.
Eastman was compelled to rise from
her sick bed ; her yearning eyes were
fastened upon the little heap in the
corner, and her arms ached to clasp
again the tiny form, but it was not
allowed. Her captors were in a
hurry, forcing her down the ladder
with threatening words and gestures,
and compelled her to go forward on
her weary march towards Canada.
She was first taken to Ossipee lake,
where she remained until spring,
when they went on to the " Ox Bow,"
in Newbury, Vermont. Here they
planted corn, and remained until it
was in the second hoeing. One day
they were visited by another party
of Indians, who probably informed
them that a scouting party in
search of them was near, for they
soon abandoned camp and left for
Canada.

Pen cannot describe the tortures
endured by Mrs. Eastman during
that terrible journey. Weak and
weary she dragged through the long
days and the still longer, lonely
nights. Often she tried to escape,
but her captors guarded her so
closely that she found no opportu-
nity. The memory of that journey to

xsix— 19

Canada remained with her through
life. It was a deep, unbroken, and
seemingly inexhaustible wilderness
that dail}'' grew between her and her
beloved home and friends. Pathless-
mountains, swollen and almost im-
passable rivers, lay behind and before
her ; no friendly smoke curled from
the chimney of a white inhabitant,
but she sometimes saw the red flames
leaping heavenward — flames kindled
by her savage captors, — telling the
fearful story of other wrongs. When
within a few miles of their destina-
tion Mrs. Eastman was too exhausted
to go on ; she was therefore left be-
hind to spend the night in the wil-
derness. A kind squaw gave her a
piece of punkwood, set on fire, to
ward off the mosquitoes. Their poi-
sonous bites had caused her face to
swell so badly that the Indians called
her " Fat Hanner." The next morn-
ing they sent a squaw to find her.
The swelling had subsided so as to
show her extreme emaciation, and
the squaw, seeing her thus, pitifully
exclaimed, "Why, Hanner!"

The tribe were encamped at Three
Rivers in Canada on the St. Francis
river, near a French settlement, and
soon after their arrival there a French
woman became interested in Hannah,
seeing she was a captive, and was very
kind to her, often giving her salt to
season her food. She finally pro-
posed tiiat Mrs. Eastman make her
escape and offered to secrete her
from the Indians. Mrs. Eastman
gladly accepted the offer, but was
obliged to keep out of sight, lest she
again be captured.

Winters pa.ssed with their snows
and wind. Springs succeeded with
their early buds. Summers followed,
filled with flowers and sunshine.

278

HANNAH EASTMAN'S CAPTURE.

The autumns brought forth their
abundant harvests, but the heart of
the lonely woman grew sick with
hope deferred. For nearly three
years she had been held a captive,
but she well knew that if Jonathan
were living he would search for her,
but she fully understood how small
his chance was for finding her.

A plan for escape began to take
form in her mind, for she felt an in-
tense desire to return home. The
thought grew upon her and finally
took definite shape. She shuddered
as she remembered the fearful jour-
ney through trackless forests, in-
fested by fierce wild beasts and ruth-
less savages. Could she hope to pass
such dangers alone ?

One day she stood beside her cham-
ber window, thinking deeply on her
plan of escape, when her attention
was attracted to a man who was
passing the house. Her breath came
faster as she gazed upon the tall,
deep- chested, broad-shouldered man,
with a strong serious face. In the
whole settlement there was not as
splendid a specimen of manhood. He
was fully six feet four inches in
height, and of powerful frame. He
was dressed in a long jacket, or what
was called a " flycoat," made some-
thing like a surtout, reaching half
way to the thigh ; a striped jacket
under a pair of small clothes, like the
coat, made of flannel cloth ; a flannel
shirt buttoned loosely at the throat ;
woolen stockings, and thick leather
shoes, and a broad brimmed fur hat.
But his unusual height, broad
shoulders, and erect carriage seemed
strangely familiar. She was almost
certain that it was her husband that
was passing, and she called him by
name, "Jonathan," when he stopped

and looked around, but seeing no
one, passed on. She called again,
but this time he did not hear her.
She flew down stairs and informed
the French woman, who immediatel}'
sent a little girl to call him back.
The child could speak no English,
but by motions and pulling his coat,
she persuaded him to return with
her. There were many changes in
Hannah's appearance, caused by ex-
posure and hardship, and at first
Jonathan did not recognize her, but
it was the happiest moment of his
life when he again clasped her in his
arms. He had passed the house be-
fore but could get no trace of her,
though he had heard of her.

Jonathan redeemed his wife and
started for Haverhill, their home.
Their journey was of long duration,
for they had to walk the entire dis-
tance. But despite its necessary
hardships the journey was a delight-
ful one, and left in their minds im-
pressions destined ' to bear future
fruit.

We have no record of their stay in
Haverhill, but in 17 10, we find Jona-
than Eastman enrolled as a "snow-
shoe man." The general court (June
19, 1 7 10) having ordered that a large
company of soldiers under the com-
mand of Lieutenant-Colonel Salton-
stall be kept constantly armed,
equipped and exercised in the town,
and we find Jonathan Eastman en-
rolled in that company. In April,
1723, the pastor of the first church in
Haverhill, finding that the church
records were lost, or that there had
never been any, requested all mem-
bers then living to give their names
to him. Among the members was
Hannah, wife of Jonathan Eastman.

It is a tradition that Jonathan lived

HANNAH EASTMAN'S CAPTURE.

279

at one time iu Andover, Mass., but
there is no record of it. In 1746,
they lived in Concord, in a fort at
"St. Paul's School," about two miles
west of the city on what is known as
the "Mill Road." It was for this
fort that the party were destined
when massacred by Indians August
10, 1745, about one mile out of Con-
cord.

March 2, 1747, Jonathan executed
a will, appointing his son Amos exe-
cutor, which will was admitted to
probate in Exeter, May 30, 1758.
The following year (1759), Amos re-
moved to Mollis, taking his mother
with him. Mr. Eber Eastman, a
great-grandson of Jonathan, said,
when living, that his mother had
seen Hannah, when an old lady, rid-
ing horseback behind her son, Amos,
in Mollis.

The date of the deaths and the place
of burial of Jonathan and Mannah
Eastman are unknown, but as we trace
the life and character of this devoted
couple, we can not fail to observe
that the}^ possessed to a notable de-
gree the true pioneer spirit. We
find the tribe ever the leaders, but
never the followers, of civilization.

Was it simply a coincidence that
along the line of that fearful journey,
where Mannah Eastman once trudged
a miserable captive, where the path
had been marked by fire and the
tomahawk of the savages, that with
her devoted husband, she should re-
turn to plant the seeds of civilization
and religion ?

Where the Indian once hunted and
fished and lived his savage life pretty
villages now cluster among the trees
and hillsides, and well filled barns
and storehouses attest to the fruitful-
ness of the country and the industry
of the inhabitants.

Mard, indeed, would it be to find a
hamlet, however small, that did not
contain one or more of the descend-
ants of Jonathan Eastman and wife,
Mannah. From the Massachusetts
line to Canada, they have left the im-
press of their lives upon the laud, and
upon the people.

The descendants of Jonathan East-
man show on the New Hampshire
Revolutionary rolls their loyalty to
the colonies in 1778. Five brothers,
grandsons of Jonathan Eastman,
served in the War of the Revolution.
Another, Daniel Eastman, served in
the same war in a Maine regiment.
Taking the Eastmans as a whole the
writer has found them extremely
patriotic, and all, with the exception
of one onl}', very fond of their coun-
try.

No costly granite nor sculptured
marble marks the resting-place of
this devoted couple. Mournfully
and sweet the breezes chant a re-
quiem over those lonely graves hid-
den among the granite hills, but in
the heaits and memories of their de-
scendants, they will ever be held in
honored remembrance, until that
"East Great Day" when each hill-
side grave shall give up its dead,
" Touched by God's Right Maud."

Note.— Mr. Rix is compiling a "Genealogy of the Eastman Family," and the information
contained in this article came to him in the course of his labors upon the same.

BEYOND THE VEIL.

By C. L. Tappan.

Beyond the still flowing river,

Beyond the impenetrable veil,
Where dark clouds can never gather

Where neither winds, nor storms prevail ;

Where the fragrant flowers are blooming,
Touched by heaven's own bright rays ;

Where the joyous birds are singing
Jubilant songs and chants of praise ;

Where the clear, life-giving waters

Flow on with mirth and song ;
Where animals from all quarters.

Mingle peacefully in the throng ;

Where the redeemed in love abide.
From every land, from everj^ clime.

With them the Saviour glorified.
Elder brother, human-divine.

Here my darling, through God's goodness,
Is crowned with dazzling, golden light,

Clothed in the Saviour's righteousness,
In robes of pure and spotless white.

Here now she awaits my coming.
With open arms and loving heart ;

And we shall be, at my coming,
United, never more to part.

Then our love and gratitude will

Be perfect for the Crucified ;
His promises He will fulfil,

We shall be fully satisfied.

We shall not sit in idleness,

Nor find our joys in dreani}' rest ;

But, doing our " Father's business,"
In deeds of love, at His behest.

m iSv

By Joseph B. Walker

HERE was no discount
bank in the central part
of New Hampshire until
1S07. Previous to this
time, there had been but
seven in the whole state, viz. : The
New Hampshire Bank at Portsmouth,
incorporated in 1792; the New
Hampshire Union Bank at Ports-
mouth, in 1802 ; the Portsmouth
Bank at Portsmouth, the Exeter
Bank at Exeter, the Strafford Bank
at Dover, the Cheshire Bank at
Keene, and the Coos Bank at Haver-
hill, in 1803.

In answer to petitions of citizens
of Concord and several neighboring
towns, the New Hampshire legisla-
ture, at its June session in 1806,
granted a charter for the first dis-
count bank established in Concord to
the following individuals, viz. :

To Timoth}' Walker, John Brad-
le3^ Robert Harris, Richard Ayer,
William A. Kent, and John Chand-
ler of Concord ; Thomas W. Thomp-
son of Salisbury ; Caleb Stark of
Boston ; John Mills of Duubarton ;
Baruch Chase and Joseph Towne of
Hopkinton ; Joseph Clough of Can-
terbury ; Joshua Darling of Henni
ker ; Aquilla Davis of Warner ; Ebe-

nezer Peaslee and William Whittle ;
in all sixteen. Of these, John Brad-
le}' was a member of the senate that
year, and William A. Kent, Joshua
Darling, John Mills, and Aquilla
Davis were members of the house.

The proceedings under this charter
were unprecedented, inasmuch as two
distinct banks, each bearing the same
name and claiming to be the lawful
institution, did a successful business
in Concord for twenty years, until the
charter under which the^^ claimed
to act expired by limitation. As a
specimen of the New Hampshire
bank charters, an hundred years ago,
a copy of this one is here introduced :

State of New Hampshire,

151

In the jear of Our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and six.

An Act to incorporate sundrj- persons by the
name of the President, Directors and Com-
pany of the Concord Bank.

Sec. ist. Be it enacted by the Senate and
House of Representatives in General Court
convened that, Timothy Walker, Caleb Stark,
John Bradley, John Mills, Robert Harris, Ebe-
nezer Peaslee, Richard Ayer, William V/hittle,
William A. Kent, Joshua Darling, Thomas W.
Thompson, Aquilla Davis, John Chandler,
Baruch Chase, Joseph Towne and Joseph
Clough and their associates, and those who
may hereafter associate with them in said
Bank, their successors and assigns, shall be

282

THE FIRST BANK IN CONCORD.

and hereby are created and made a corporation,
by the name of the President, Directors and
Company of the Concord Bank, and shall so
continue from the first day of July next until
the expiration of twenty years next following,
and by that name may sue and be sued, plead
and be impleaded, defetid and be defended, in
any court of record having competent jurisdic-
tion, and also to make, use and have a com-
mon seal, and the same at pleasure to break,
alter and renew; and also to order, establish
and put in execution such bye laws, ordinances
and regulations as to them shall appear neces-

ACT

IKCORPORATK
SUNDRY PERSONS

PRESIDENT, DIRECTORS,

AJJD

COMPANY,
or Ttts

CONCORD-BANK.

Printed by noyr fe' tuttle.

Fb.0 .jsor.

Title-Page of Charter and By-Laws.

sary and convenient for the government of said
corporation and the prudent management of
their affairs ; provided such bye laws, ordi-
nances and regulations shall in no wise be
contrary to the laws and constitution of this
State. And the said corporation shall be
always subject to the rules, restrictions, limita-
tions and provisions herein described : —

Section 2d. And be it further enacted that,
the capital stock of said Bank shall consist of a
sum, not less than fifty thousand dollars nor
more than two hundred thousand dollars, in
specie, and shall be divided into one thousand
shares, and the stockholders, at their first
meeting shall, by a majority of votes, deter-
mine the amount of the payments to be made
on each share and the time wlien the same

shall be made, and also the mode of transfer-
ring and disposing of the stock and profits
thereof, which, being entered in the books of
said corporation, shall be binding on the stock-
holders, their successors and assigns ; Provided
that, no stockholder shall be allowed to borrow
at said Bank until he shall have paid in his full
share or proportion of said sum of fiftj' thousand
dollars, at least. And said corporation are
hereby made capable in law to have, hold, pur-
chase and receive, possess, enjoy and retain to
them, their successors and assigns, lands, rents,
tenements, and hereditaments, to the amount
of ten thousand dollars, and no more at any
one time, with power to bargain, sell and dis-
pose of the same lands, tenements, and here-
ditaments, and to loan and ntgociate their
monies and effects, by discounting on banking
principles, on such security as they shall think
advisable.

Section 3d. And be it further enacted that
the following rules, limitations and provisions
shall form and be the fundamental articles of
the corporation.

First. That said corporation shall not issue
nor have in circulation, at any one time, bills,
notes or obligations to a greater amount than
twice their stock actually paid in, in addition
10 the simple amount of monies deposited in
said bank for safe keeping ; and, in case of any
excess, the President and directors under
whose administration it shall happen shall be
liable for the payment of the same in their
private capacity, but this shall not be con-
strued to exempt said corporation or any estate,
real or personal, which they may hold as a
body corporate, from being liable for and
chargeable with such excess.

Second — That said corporation shall not vest,
use nor improve any of their monies, goods,
chattels, or effects in trade or commerce, but
may sell all kinds of personal pledges lodged
in their hand bj- way of security, to an amount
sufficient to reimburse the sums loaned.

Third. None but a member of said corpora-
tion, being a citizen of this state and a resident
therein, shall be eligible for a director, and the
Directors shall choose one of their own num-
ber to act as President. The Cashier, before he
enters on the duties of his office, shall give
bonds with two sureties, to the satisfaction of
the board of directors, in a sum not less than
ten thousand dollars, with condition for the
faithful discharge of the duties of his office.

Fourth, That for the well ordering of the
affairs of said corporation, a meeting of the
Stockholders, from and after the time of the
first meeting, shall be held at such place as
they shall direct, on the first nioiiday of Sep-
tember, annually, and at any other time during
the continuance of said corporation, at such

THE FIRST BANK IN CONCORD.

283

place as shall be appointed by the President
and directors for the time being, by public
notification being given for at least three weeks
previous thereto, at which annual meeting
there shall be chosen by ballot five directors,
to continue in office the j'ear ensuing their
election ; and the number of votes to which
each stockholder shall be entitled shall be
according to the number of shares he shall
hold, in the following proportion ; that is to
sa}-, for every one share, one vote, and ever3-
two shares above one share shall give a right
to one^'ote more, provided that no one mem-
ber shall have more than ten votes ; and absent
members may vote by proxy, being authorized
in writing.

Fiflh. Not less than three directors shall
constitute a board for the transaction of busi-
ness, of whom the President shall be always
one ; except in case of sickness or necessary
absence, in which case, the directors present
may choose a chairman for the time being in
his stead.

Sixth. No director shall be entitled to any
emoluments for his 'ser\'ices, but the stock-
holders may make the President such com-
pensation as to them shall appear reasonable.

Seventh. All bills issued from the bank afore-
said and signed by the president shall be bind-
ing en the corporation.

Eighth. The directors shall make half yearly
dividends of all profits, rents, premiums and
interest of the bank aforesaid.

Ninth. The directors shall have power to
appoint a Cashier, Clerk and such Officers for
carrying on the business of the bank, with such
salaries as to them shall seem meet.

Section 4th. And be it further enacted that
said bank shall be established and kept in the
town of Concord.

Section 5th. And be it further enacted that
the persons herein before "named, or any three
of them are authorized to call a meeting of the
members and stockholders of said corporation
as soon as maybe, at such time and place as
they may see fit, by giving public notice there-
of, at least three weeks prior to the time of
meeting, in the Farmers Cabinet, printed at
Amherst, and in one of the papers printed in
the County of Rockingham, for the purpose of
making, ordaining and establishing such bye-
laws, ordinances and regulations for the orderly
conducting the affairs of said corporation, as
the Stockholders shall deem necess <ry ; and
for the choice of the first board of Directors
and such other officers, as they shall see fit to
choose.

Section 6th. And be it further enacted that
any person or persons specially appointed by
the Legislature of this State for the purpose,
shall have a right to examine into the afl ,irs of

the bank, and at all times, when the bank is
open, have access to the bank books.

State of New Hampshire.
In Senate June 11, 1806. The foregoing bill,
having had three several readings, passed to
be enacted.

Sent down for Concurrence,

Clement Storer ^ .^^''L^^"*,
( of the Senate.

In the House of Representatives, June 17th,
1806.

The foregoing bill, having been read a third
time, was enacted with the following amend-
ment: And be it further enacted that if said
corporation shall at any time hereafter divide
their stock, previous to the payments of all
their bills, or shall refuse or neglect to pay any
of their bills when presented for payment in
the usual manner, the original stockholders,
their successors and assigns, and the members
of said corporation shall, in their private capac-
ities, be jointly and severally liable to the
holder of any bill or bills issued by .said cor-
poration, for the payment thereof; and any
such member or members who shall be com-
pelled to make payment, as aforesaid, shall
hereby be authorized to recover of the remain-
ing members of said corporation, their propor-
tion of the sum or sums paid as aforesaid ; to
be estimated according to their respective
shares in said Bank incorporation.
Sent up for concurrence,

Samuel Bell, Speaker.

In Senate, June 17th, 1806.

Read and concurred,

Clements Storer, President.

Approved June i8th, 1S06,

John L,angdon, Govr.

The grautees met for organization
at the inn of David George, in Con-
cord, on the 17th day of July, 1806,
and chose Timothy Walker moderator,
and William A. Kent clerk of the
meeting. Mr. Walker was at this
time seventy years of age. still active
and in close touch with all the inter-
ests of his town and state. Mr. Kent,
then in the prime of his life and
about forty years of age, had been a
citizen of Concord some seventeen
years, and was then and ever after-
wards, so long as he lived, one of its
most prominent citizens.

284

THE FIRST BANK IN CONCORD.

The business of Concord was then
confined to Main street, extending
then, as now, from Horse Shoe pond
to the gas works, a distance of about
one mile and a half. Original!}' most
of the business of the town was trans-
acted at the north end of this street,
but had now begun to move south-
ward, causing a spirited rivalry be-
tween the two sections, which con-
tinued for .many years, until the
growth of the town and broader
views had obliterated it. Prominent
among the leaders of the North End
was Judge Walker, and equally so
among those of its rival was Colonel
Kent. With this explanation, the
proceedings in the meetings held for
organizing Concord's first bank will
be easily understood ; the efforts of
each party being exerted to gain
control of its location and manage-
ment.

At this first meeting of the gran-
tees, it was moved by the Kent party
that the Concord and Hopkinton pe-
titioners ' ' who are not grantees of

the Concord Bank have each

shares, provided They make applica-
tion for the same within days." ^

This proposition exceeded the gen-
erosity of the other party, who were
in a majority of about two to one.
It was admired, but respectfully
declined.

The grantees then voted to com-
plete the subscriptions to the stock
of the bank, and appointed a com-
mittee of five to devise a scheme for
doing so. One is a little surprised
that the majority should have allowed
three of the minority to be placed on
that committee. It may possibly
have been for the reason that they

1 Mss. records of meeting.

preferred that the report should be
partial to that interest, inasmuch as
its rejection would be more sure.

This committee soon afterwards
reported, recommending, —

ist. That the '' icliole number of
shares become common stock, to be dis-
posed of by a majority of the gran-
tees who may be present."

2d. That each grantee take a sub-
scription paper and give to each of
the petitioners, '■'■ particularly the peti-
tioners on the Concord and Hopkinton
Bank petitio?i, an opportunity to sub-
scribe for such number of shares as
They may wish."

3d. That the subscription papers
be returned at an adjourned meeting,
and that it be there determined by
a majority of the grantees present,
"which of the subscribers shall be-
come stockholders, and in wdiat pro-
portion the shares shall be held by
those gentlemen who shall have so
subscribed."

Whether the majority of the gran-
tees were most surprised or most
amused by this ingenious scheme of
the minority to control future meet-
ings in their interest the record does
not state. "This report was con-
sidered b}' paragraphs and negatived.
The yeas and nays were then taken
on the whole report as follows :
Yeas, — Ayer, Darling, Thompson,
Chandler, Kent; nays, — Walker,
Bradley, Towne, C. Stark, Whittle,
Peaslee, Clough, Davis, — 5 yeas, 8
nays."

This vote disclosed the personnel
and the strength of each of the two
contending parties, as well as the
further fact that the minority could
win the organization of the bank
only by its transfer to a body of
stockholders in their interest, secured

THE FIRST BANK IN CONCORD.

285

as yet but in part. To the attain-
ment of this end it .2:ave earnest
efforts.

After passing two important votes
and reconsidering the same, the gran-
tees finally "Voted, That the grantees
who were on tli« Hopkinton petition
furnish the Hopkinton petitioners and
other gentlemen in that vicinity with
such number of shares as they shall
reasoiiai)ly desire, and that the gran-
tees who were on the Concord petition
do the same with respect to the Con-
cord petitioners and other gentlemen
in that vicinity."

Having passed this vote, the meet-
ing was adjourned to the fifth day of
the next August (Aug. 5, 1806),
when the grantees again assembled
and voted thrit, no share shall be held
in the Concord bank until subscribed
for, and that every share shall be
made transferable to the president,
directors, and company of the Con-
cord bank only, provided the bank
will pay the oaner thereof the first
cost of said share. The grantees also
voted that the sum payable on each
share at the time of subscription
should be three dollars, and ad-
journed their meeting to the first day
of September (Sept. i, 1806).

Pursuant to adjournment, the gran-
tees met for the fourth time on the
first day of September, and the final
contest for supremacy by the two
parties ensued. It was moved, in the
interest of the minority, "That the
petitioners on the Hopkinton peti-
tion and the petitioners on the Con-
cord petition be admitted to act with
the grantees named in the act of in-
corjioration, provided neither set of
petitioners assume more than five
hundred shares." This motion was
negatived liy a vote of eight to five;

Messrs. Walker, Bradley, C. Stark,
J. Stark for Mills, Peaslee, Ayer.
Whittle, and Davis opposing ; and
Messrs. Towne, Thompson, Chand-
ler, Darling, and Kent sustaining
the motion ; while Messrs. Chase and
Clough refrained from voting.

None of the debates at these meet-
ings appears upon the records. The
majority seem, at length, to have
become tired of the contest, and have
determined to end it. In its interest,
it was moved and carried, " That the
grantees named in the act proceed to
organize the bank," by a vote of ten
yeas to five nays, viz. :

Yeas, — Messrs. Walker, Bradley,
C. Stark, J. Stark for Mills, Peaslee,
Ayer, Whittle, Davis, Chase, and
Clough.

Nays, — Messrs. Towne, Thomp-
son. Chandler, Darling, Kent.

To this action the following pro-
test was presented by the minorit}' :

The sutDscribers protest against and dissent
from the last vote, because, in their opinion
the sssuniption of the right to choose the offi-
cers of the Banlc by the grantees named in the
act, to tlie exclusion of their associates and the
stockholders, who maj- be admitted to sub-
scribe to the original stock, is contrary- to the
letter and spirit of said act.

Joseph Towne.

William A. Kent.

Joshua Darling.

D. Webster, Atlorne5- to T. W. Thompson.

Isaac Chandler,

Attornej- to John Chandler, Jr.

The minority seem to have taken
no farther part in the meeting, at
which Timothy Walker and John
Bradk-y of Concord, Caleb Stark of
Boston,' Baruch Chase of Hopkinton,
and Joseph Clough of Canterbury
were elected directors, the first four

1 Caleb Stark of Boston, ineligible under the
cliaitcr, prohatily did not a-sinne to act as a direc-
tor, althonsfh his name appears as such in the
N. n. Register of 1*^07.

286

THE FIRST BANK IN CONCORD.

receiving eight, and last one seven,
votes, respectively.

Several votes were subsequently
passed to which no opposition seems
to have been made, one of which
directed the clerk to "deliver over
the records to the first director as

Concord's First Banking House— I 806- 1 826.

soon as convenient after directed."
The meeting was then adjourned to
the twenty-ninth of the following
December (1806).

At this a new clerk was chosen,
and measures were taken to start
upon its career the first discount
bank organized in the central part
of New Hampshire, whose doors
were opened for business in Febru-
ary, 1807.

But the contest so vigorously waged
in the meetings of the grantees did
not end there. The minority trans-
ferred it to the court of common
pleas, where separate actions of debt
qui tarn, against the directors were
entered at the August term of 1807,
by Nehemiah Jones, plaintiff, against
Timoth}^ Walker, John Bradley, and
Joseph Clough, and by William Star-
rett, plaintiff, against Baruch Chase
and Caleb Stark.

The first action seems to have been

made a test case, and the others were
continued from term to term until
its final determination was reached,
when they were similarly disposed of.
At the first and second terms,, this
case was continued, saving all ad-
vantages to the defendant, who filed
his plea in abatement January 9,
1808, and, at the August term of that
year, was given leave to withdraw it
and plead double, which he did, and
filed his plea August 8, 1808.

At the January term of 1809 the
case was again continued, and the
plaintiff was ordered to file his repli-
cation by the first of July, 1809. At
the July term of this year, the action
was again continued, and the plain-
tiff farther ordered to file his answer
to the defendant's plea by the first of
the next November, or become non-
suited. The last entrj^ upon the
docket of the January term of 18 10,
regarding this case of "Dismist,"
closes the second chapter of this
peculiar contest. A. tradition has
been preserved that Mr. Jeremiah
Mason, who was of counsel for the
plaintiff, and saw the uncertainty of
success, intimated to his client "that
as he had got into gentlemen' s com-
pany, he must expect to pay gentle-
men's prices," and he chose to with-
draw.

While these suits were pending, a
second Concord bank was organized
under the charter before mentioned,
by parties in the interest of the mi-
nority. The exact time of its com-
mencing business does not appear.
Its name is found for the first time
upon the list of banks given in the
New Hampshire Register of 1808,
where Joseph Towne is published as
president and director, and Wm. A.
Kent as cashier. A full list of direc-

THE FIRST BANK IN CONCORD.

287

tors does not appear in that publica-
tion until 1810; but a notice dated
December 19, 1808, and signed by
Wm. A. Kent, cashier, informing
the stockholders "that the instal-
ment of ten dollars, voted at their
annual meeting, in September last,
must be paid on or before the first
day of January next," may be found
in the American Patriot of December,
1808.

Thus, as before stated, two dis-
count banks went into operation in
Concord, bearing the same name and
doing business under the same char-
ter. Wh}^ this was allowed by the
state authorities is a matter of con-
jecture. At the expiration of this
charter, which was limited to twenty
years, the stockholders of the original
bank closed up its business, and hav-
ing obtained a new charter, organized
a new bank, known as the Merrimack
Count}^ Bank, which under two char-
ters of twenty years each, subse-
quently did a successful business
until 1 866, when, at the expiration
of its third charter, it closed up its
affairs and returned to its stockhold-
ers their unimpaired capital, accom-
panied by a surplus of forty-three
and one-half per cent.

The second Concord Bank obtained
a renevyal of the original charter in
December, 1824, and continued in
operation until 1840, when serious
financial embarrassments removed its
name from the list of New Hampshire
banks. During the first twenty years
of its existence, the first bank in
Concord lived in Spartan simplicity
in the northwest front room of the
house of its cashier, Mr. Samuel
Sparhawk. This stood upon the site
now occupied b}^ the hou.se of Mr.
John C. Thorne, on North Main

street.^ Whether it was desirous or
not of outdoing its rival, which owned
and occupied a two-story brick build-
ing, does not appear. Certain, how-
ever, it is that in 1826. it erected the
three-story structure, now owned and
occupied by the New Hampshire His-

The Bank's Second Building— I 826- 1 866.

torical Society, and there installed
itself under its new charter on the
first floor of the north portion thereof.
Here it had its home for' the next
forty years. This and Hill's brick
block, both probably erected under the
direction of John Leach, "^ at about the
same time, were for many years the
most imposing business structures in
Concord. The latter was burned
some thirty years ago. The former
still stands, without external altera-

1 The hank occupied the northwest corner room
on the first floor of this house. The vault, which
opened out ol it, was built on the outside of it. pro-
jecting from its north wall. It was removed some
years ago to the east side of Jackson slreet where
it now stands divided into two tenements num-
bered 26 and 28.

= The name of John Leach should be kept in re-
membrance. His name appears in Concord's first
Register, in 1S50, and in its successois down to
1S61. He was the arcliitect of two of the finest
buildings erected in this town, in his time; the
first being the First Hai)tist church, built in 1S25 ;
and the second, the Merrimack County Bank, in
iS2f>, at a cost of thirty-eight hundred dollars. He
was donbtles.s the architect of Leach's block atid.
probably, of Hill's block, which formerly stood at
the coriier of Main and Capitol streets. He was
also the master builder of the first I'nitarian
church, erected in 1S29.

288

THE FIRST BANK IN CONCORD.

tion, a good specimen of a fine build-
ing of the period of its erection.

The officers of the Concord Bank
under its first charter were :

Presidents, Timothj- Walker, 1806-1S15.

Baruch Chase, 1815-1818.

Charles Walker, 1818-1826.
Cashiers, Samuel Sparhawk, 1807-1S10.

Charles Emery, 1810-1812.

Joseph Walker, 1S12-1814

Samuel Sparhawk, 1814-1826.

The portions of ihis buildini; not
occupied for its own use were leased,
from time to time, by the l)ank to
differt-ut tenants. For manv vears,

do business, the whole building was
purchased for that institution.

The volume of business done by
the early banks of New Hampshire
seems ver}' small, in contrast with
that of to-day. This contrast is strik-
ingly maniffst upon a comparison of
the published statement of the joint
condition of the two Concord banks,
in 1820, when the population of the
town was 2,393, with that of the
three national banks now doing busi-
ness in the city in this year of Our
Lord 1900, when the city's popula-
tion is supposed to be some 20,000.

Capital
stock.

Loans and
discounts.

Deposits.

circulation.

Joint condition of Concord's two State Banks in
1S20 *

$89 600.00
S500 000.00

$115,188.54
51.595-300.72

$6,664.08

$1,618,137.32

$50,831.50
S274.500.00

Joint condition of Concord's three National
Banks in i8qo t

* New Hampshire Bank Returns, 1820. tU. S. National Bank Returns, 1899.

tile south half of the first story was
occupied by the New Hampshire
SH\-ings Bank and by the Merrimack
County Fire Insurance Company.

In the second story, Gen. Charles
H. Peaslee had a law office, which
was subsequently occupied by ex-
President Pierce and by Judge Asa
Fowler. Other apartments upon the
same floor were rented for different
periods, by the Register of Deeds for
Merrimack County, by the select-
men of Concord, and by various other
parties. For several years, the Rev.
Dr. Bouton occupied one of them for
a study.

In the hall of the third story, pub-
lic gatherings of various kinds were
held until 1840, when it passed to the
occupancy of the New Hampshire
Historical Society. Some years later
(1869), when the bank's third char-
ter had expired and it had ceased to

The writer's personal touch with
the affairs of Concord's first bank
embraces a period of- a little more
than twent}' 3'ears ; beginning a year
or two before the expiration of its
.second charter, in 1846, and extend-
ing on to the end of its third —
when, as before stated, it terminated
its career.

Its banking-room, now occupied by
the librarian of the New Hampshire
Historical Society, w^as about twenty
feet square. To it was attached a
small directors' room, some ten feet
long and six feet wide, and a stone
vault about seven feet square and
six and a half feet high, guarded
by two heavy, wrought-iron doors and
rude, ponderous locks which a .skilful ;
up-to-date burglar might pick in fif-
teen minutes. It should, however,
be said of them that they sufficed at
the time, inasmuch as this profes-

THE FIRST BANK IN CONCORD.

289

sional had not then reached his pres-
ent development.^

These rooms were furnished with
Spartan simplicity. A pine table,
painted red, and a few straight-
backed, hard-wood chairs, of the
same color, with a small stove, con-
stituted the entire outfit of the room
occupied by the directors.

The same economy of furnishing
was also apparent in the public bank-
ing room. This was divided into
two unequal parts by a pine counter,
covered with oil cloth and running
across it from east to west ; the lesser
section being occupied by the cashier
and the larger by the customers of
the bank. In addition to this main
article of furniture, should be added
a long table and three high, pine
desks, one of which rested upon the
west end of the counter, having its
top divided longitudinally by a par-
tition into two equal sections, one
for the use of the cashier and the
other for that of the public. These
articles, with the addition of a few
chairs, a box stove, and a set of
banker's scales in a pretentious case
of wood and glass, completed the
entire equipment of this room. Tra-
dition says that it was once pro-
posed to buy some more comfortable
chairs, but that it was waived aside
upon the ground that such a depar-

' The entrance to this vault, which was seven feet
square and six and a half feet hii^h, was guarded
by two wrought-iron doors, faljricated, evidently,
by a local blacksmith. Each of these, si.K feet high,
and two feet three inchts broad, was riveted to
heavy hinges and fastened by a large lock, about
fourteen inches long, ten wide, and two and a quar-
ter thick. The two, with their keys and bolts,
weighed thirty-eight jiounds, eacli large key being
:-even inches long and weighing nine ounces. To
these fastenings were added a large padlock and
two inside steel bars, moved horizontally by con-
cealed cog-works.

The interior of this vault was divided into two
sections by a brick partition, and an iron door
fastened by a lock somewliat less cumbersome
than those just mentioned. The first was for the
use of the cashier. In the second, the president
kept bills and other papers of which he was the
speical custodian.

ture from the bank's traditions might
cause its failure ; and that the old
ones having proved good enough in
the past, would answer well enough
in the future.

The affairs of Concord's first bank
were managed by the directors and
the cashier. The latter had imme-
diate charge of its property and was
its chief executive officer. It was
open for bu.siness five and a half
days each week, from sev^en and a
half o'clock each morning to five in
the afternoon during the longer daj »
of the year. As the daylight tiimiii-
ished, the period was proportionately
shortened.

Loans and discounts were made \>y
the directors. These met for that
purpose in their room every Monday
morning. At these meetings all
propositions for loans or discounts
were laid before them b}" the cash-
ier, together with a statement of the
bank's available funds ; entend in a
book kept for that purpose. They
were always confidential, and each
application was considered in iis or-
der and disposed of in accordance with
its supposed merits and the bank's
present means. If decided objection
was made to any application by one
or more members of the board, it was
almost always declined, the mnjority
yielding to the minority.

This practice, a continuance, doubt-
less, of that of an earlier day, pre-
vailed during the entire period per-
sonally known to the wiiter. It kept
the directors in current knowledge of
the bank's condition, and relieved
the cashier of much unwelcome re-
sponsibility. To it ma}- be attri-
buted in no small measure the insti-
tution's uniform prosperity.

And it may be proper to slate here

290

THE FIRST BANK IN CONCORD.

(MSSBIimCK COUNTY BMR ')

Facsimile of the Bank's Twenty-Dollar Note, Issued under its Third Charte

and now that while the directors dif-
fered in personal characteristics, as
well as in political and other opinions,
they were of one mind as to the inter-
ests of their trust, continually realiz-
ing their duties and their responsi-
bilities. ''Mentor et Fidelis,^' mind-
ful and faithful both, was the motto
each unconsciously adopted, and in
the spirit of which he uniformly
acted. The position of director, hon-
orable in itself alone, was made
doubly so by the fidelity which ac-
companied its acceptance.

Two kinds of loans were made by
this bank. The first upon personal
notes, signed by the principal and
sureties, payable on demand, with
interest in advance every four
months. Such notes often ran by
sufferance for long periods.

The second kind were made upon
time notes, given for merchandise
sold, and were endorsed by the bor-
rower. The former were most in
vogue down to the middle of this
century, when they began to be sup-
planted by the latter.

Originally, the bank mainly de-
pended for its profits, over and above
the interest on its capital, upon the
circulation of its bills. These, by

its first charter, it was allowed to is-
sue to double the amount of its capi-
tal stock paid in. They were made
redeemable in specie, at its counter,
on demand. To keep them afloat at
times required care and some effort,
particularly if specie rose to a
premium or interested parties were
collecting them for redemption. As
a consequence, loans were sometimes
made with that end in view.^

The bank issued its circulating
notes in different forms under its suc-
cessive charters. Under the first
these were simple promises to pay to
bearer, on demand, the sum desig-
nated, printed from engraved copper
plates on plain white paper, dated
and signed by the president and
cashier. The second, of similar im-
prints, were printed from general
plates, known as the " Perkins
plates," containing slots for the in-

'■' Gentlemen Directors of Concord Bank,

" I have 410.00 specie to exchange for your bills
— provided j'ou will discount a note for me of one
thousand dollars — & if discounted I will pay 20
Pr. cent each 60 days, ^i one half or 500 00 shall be
p.iid in specie or Boston money — or pay the pre-
mium.

John Mann Jr.
"I also present a note from Bethuel Cross &
Darius L. Morey which I have signed for them —
they authorized me to engage one half of the pay-
ment to be made in specie or Boston money if the
money could not obtained without

John Mann Jr.
17th Nov. 1S07."

THE FIRST BANK IN CONCORD.

291

sertion of any particular bank which
might use. Bills printed from these
plates were made difficult to counter-
feit by covering the blank spaces on
their faces with repetitions of their
denominations in very fine letters.

The bank's last issue under its
third charter was ornamented with
prints of finely engraved portraits,
classical figures, and scenery. On
the preceding page is a half tone
copy of one of the $20 bills :

In the redemption of its bills this
bank was eminently successful. Dur-
ing the panic of 1837, the severest, per-
haps, all things considered, this coun-
try has ever encountered, it was the
only one in New Hampshire which
continued their redemption in coin.

lyong experience gave to the
managers of this old bank a faculty
of judging almost intuitively of the
financial responsibility of parties ap-
plying for loans. Back in the fifties
or early sixties, when the hack ac-
commodations of Concord were lim-
ited to two one-horse cabs, and most
people went about town on foot, one
of the aforesaid vehicles backed up
one day to the curb in front of the
bank. Immediately afterwards, a
stranger, dressed in furs and fine
clothes, and profusely bedecked with
jewelry, entered the banking room,
at which several of its directors
chanced to be present. Handing to
the cashier a promissory note, he
asked its discount. A faint and in-
stanteous change of expression hard-
ly discernible flashed over the faces
of these officials. Having read the
note, the cashier immediately re-
turned it, with a civil remark, that,
as the bank's discount day was some
time away, he would do well to apply
elsewhere. Had he come on foot

and in plain clothes, his application
would, doubtless, have received con-
sideration.

In strong contrast with this inci-
dent, on another occasion, when the
cashier was alone in the bank,^ an old
patron entered, in a state of some
mental perturbation, and said to
him, "Our mill went up in flames

.,A

E. S. Towie, Cashier, 1832-1858.

last night, but there is enough left to
secure our indebtedness to the bank
if it will attach it immediately." To
the cashier's reply, "Do you think
we had best sue you ? '" he inquired,
' ' How else can the bank secure its
claim?" In answer, said the cashier,
" By our lending you some more
monej', with which to build a new

1 One of the ablest and most methodical of the
hank's later cashiers was Capt. Ebeuezer S.
'I'owle. As he went to and from his house to the
bank, persons living on his route and keeping in
mind the season of the year could, by watching
his passings, tell quite accurately the time of day.
He held the office of cashier from 1S32 to 1S58.

292

THE FIRST BANK IN CONCORD.

mill." The debtor looked at him in
silence, with tears in his eyes. The
new mill was built and has since ex-
panded into one of the most im-
portant manufactories of the state.
This limel}' offer evinced, on the part
of the cashier, not only Christian be-
nevolence, but keen business sagacit^^
as w^ell.

The old time usages in banking
differed somewhat from those now
practiced. While the books and
papers of Concord's first bank show
a nicety and correctness not since
surpassed, the relations between it
and its patrons were less formal than
those of modern times. The volume
of business was small, and the cashier
had time to show them social atten-
tions. The straight-backed chairs in-
dicated a welcome reception and
leisurely methods of business.

More or less of its friends could be
found there at certain hours on al-
most any day ; present primarily for
busintss, perhaps, but quite often
tarrying for friendly converse. Mem-
ory readily recalls the presence of
many of these on such occasions.
Most distinctly does the writer re-
memi)er Richard Bradley, possessed
of much rare common sense and the
best town-meeting orator in Concord ;
his near neighbor, the venerable Abiel
Walker, uncle to everybody, a man
of few words and excellent judgment;
Sanuitl Cofhn, slow of speech, brus-
que, honest, "who would not flatter
Neptune for his trident nor Jove for
his power to thunder; " Francis N.
Fisk, for many years the bank's
president, mild in manner and cour-
teous ; John George of positive con-
victions and unimpeded utterance ;
Moody Kent, often the bank's largest
private depositor, of ponderous per-

son and declamatory speech, an ad-
mirer of Dr. Johnson, and not unfre-
quently quoting from Horace.

While these two last named gentle-
men were friendly it can hardly be
said that they were mutual admirers
of one another. The^' w^ere sitting
in the bank one daj' while it was
raining quite hard. Presently, the
latter, addressing the former, in-
quired, " Is it likely to stop rain-
ing, Squire George?" Quick as
the lightning's flash came the reply,
"Yes, sir." Thereupon the interro-
gator, in some apparent surprise,
stalked across the room to the win-
dow, and looking out, again inquired,
"When, Squire George?" Imme-
diately thereafter came the answer,
" I have no idea, sir."

Besides those above mentioned,
memory also recalls the frequent pres-
ence of Kendall O. Peabody, of Frank-
lin, hearty in disposition and highly
successful as a manufacturer of paper ;
Ira Perley, impulsive, learned, for
many years the ablest lawyer at the
New Hampshire bar ; Matthew Har-
vey, at one time governor of the
state, and later a justice of the Dis-
trict Court of the United States, ever
affable and prudent ; Worcester Web-
ster, of Boscawen, an old-fashioned
country trader, nervous, polite, keen.
To this partial list of the bank's habi-
tues, the limits of this paper will only
allow the addition of the name of
George W. Nesmith, of Franklin,
a particular friend of Daniel Web-
ster, well known in the legislative,
legal, and business circles of the
state.

On the first day of January, 1866,
the bank's third charter was to ex-
pire by limitation. Its stockholders,
few in number, were mostly well

COM PENS A TION.

293

advanced iu years. The national
banking act, then recently enacted,
rendered its continuance under a
state charter out of the question, and
they did not care to reorganize it
as a national bank. Measures were
therefore taken to call in its loans
and circulation, sell its building, and
divide its assets.

In the execution of this purpose a
question arose extraneous to the mat-
ter in hand, which temporarily caused
the directors some solicitude. When,
in 1840, the New Hampshire His-
torical Society, a body at that time
eminently respectable but embarrass-
ingly poor, was obliged to leave its
quarters in the hall of the Blazing
Star lodge, it found shelter in the
upper story of the bank building.
Here it had since lived for twenty-
six years. In the meantime its mem-
bership, books, manuscripts, and pub-
lications had increased in number,
but, while it had attained a high
reputation and fair prosperity, it was
without endowment. In case the
building which sheltered it was sold,
whither should it go ? The bank
directors were among its members,
and shared this anxiety the more
fully as they might be the unwilling
agents of its removal.

This dark cloud, which had for

some month'b obscured the society's
future, was at length summarily dis-
sipated. Four of the bank directors
met one afternoon to devise, if possi-
ble, some means for its relief. Soon
after assembling, one of them sug-
gested that the building be bought
and presented to the society, empha-
sizing his proposition with the re-
mark, "towards its purchase I will
give two hundred dollars." "So
will I," at once responded a second,
and, in turn, a third, and anon a
fourth. Thus eight hundred dollars
was secured in less than eight min-
utes, lyater, other friends joined in
the enterprise, and this first sum was
more than quintupled.

In due time the building was pur-
chased, essentially modified, and pre^
sented to the Historical Society,
which has ever since had a perma-
nent home. Which party to the
transaction — the donors or the recipi-
ent — was mo.st gratified, it is neither
possible nor important to determine.
Fit was it, however, that at the end
of its career, when its activities
ceasing passed into the quiet realm
of history, this ancient bank should
transfer its local habitation to this
old and cherished neighbor, whose
companionship it had enjoyed so
long and loved so well.

COMPENSATION.
By Moses Gage Shirley.

From grief and sorrow oft we find

Our rarest blessings flow.
And where the deepest snow was piled

The sweetest violets blow.

xxix— 20

THE McCLARYS OF EPSOM.

By Warren Tripp.

N a ship leaving Port Ruch,
Ulster, Ireland, on Aug. 7,
1726, came Andrew McClary
with his family, reaching
Boston, Oct. 8. He seems to have
passed the winter in Haverhill and
reached the Scotch-Irish settlement
at Londonderry on April 19, 1727,
and immediately after to have located
at Nottingham.

The McClary family at this time
consisted of Andrew McClary, his
wife, and son John, who was seven
years of age. Here the family
remained for eleven years, during
which time there were born to them
another son, Andrew McClary, Jr.,
and three daughters, Margaret, Jane,
and Ann.

In 1738 they moved to Epsom and
settled upon a rising knoll of beauti-
ful land on which now stands the
old McClary house, where he reared
his family to habits of industr}^ and
thrift, and was himself a competent
business man, as well as a brave
pioneer. The records show that he
was chosen selectman for eight years
prior to 1756. The family was not
large and never became so ; at no
time were there more than four, and
most of the time but two or three,
eligible to public office. Yet the
records show that from 1743 to 1804,
a period of sixty-one years, they filled
the office of selectmen of Epsom for
thirty-one years; that from 1796 to
18 19 the)'' served ten terms in the

New Hampshire senate, and that
one of them, " Hon. John," was a
delegate from the senate to the pro-
vincial congress in 1775; that all
through the French and Indian and
Revolutionary wars they were promi-
nent members of the New Hampshire
Committee of Safety, which for twenty
five years held its sessions at the
McClary house ; that they were ac-
tive and influential in the organiza-
tion and support of the state militia,
one of them holding the position of
adjutant-general for twenty-five years,
and two of them holding at different
periods the office of brigadier-general ;
that one of them, "General Michael
McClary," was tendered the nomina-
tion of governor of the state, but
refused it ; that for eightj^-three con-
secutive years they held important
positions of trust and honor in the
state.

At the beginning of the Revolu-
tionary war the family comprised the
old emigrant, probably about eight}'
years of age; his two sons, John,
about fifty-five, and Andrew, about
forty-five ; also three daughters, Mar-
garet, who married Dr. Samuel Wal-
lace, Jane, who married John Mc-
Gaffy, and Ann, who married Richard
Tripp. There were also two grand-
sons, aged twenty-one and twenty-
three, making onl}^ three men of
proper age for army life.

These three men promptly enlisted
at their country's first call, and one

THE McCLARYS OF EPSOM.

295

onl}' returned. Andrew McClary,
.who held the rank of major under
Stark, was killed at Bunker Hill.
John McClary, with rank of lieuten-
ant in Whipple's brigade, was killed
at Saratoga in 1779. Michael Mc-
Clary, who served in Dearborn's
company as ensign at Bunker Hill,
was promoted to a captainc)' in Scam-
mell's brigade, and served four years.
He lived to be seventy-two years old,
and died at Epsom. So influential
was he in all local affairs that it
became a trite saying among the
mothers that if their children would
obey them as readil}^ as the people of
Epsom obeyed General McClary, they
would be fully satisfied.

Major Andrew McClary of Revolu-
tionary fame was the second son of
Emigrant Andrew McClary. For ten
generations his ancestors had lived
in an atmosphere of danger, and ex-
ercised that eternal vigilance which
was to them the price of safety as
well as liberty. The earliest recol-
lections of his childhood must have
been of the gatherings at the block-
house, where in times of danger the
mothers took their little ones for
safety. The stories of his youth were
the recitals of adventure from the
lips of brave scouts, who made his
father's house a common resort.
Thus we find him at an early age
acting as scout himself, and later an
officer in Rogers's famous company
of New Hampshire Rangers. He
was also a leader in all local expedi-
tions against the Indians. While he
possessed in full measure the true
Scotch-Irish thrift, he could not be
classed with the Presbyterian con-
gregation, for tradition says he was
open-handed and generous and much
given to hospitality.

It is more than possible that the
innkeeper's comments on a Scotch-
Irish settlement that "they were a
people who would praise good whis-
key and drink it and damn bad whis-
kej^ and drink that with equal rel-
ish," may have included the major,
for it cannot be denied that he was
somewhat given to conviviality.

He was a favorite officer, nearl}^
six and one-half feet in height, with
a herculean form in perfect propor-
tions, a voice like Stentor and
strength of Ajax, never equaled in
athletic exercises and unsubdued in
single combat. Whole bodies of men
had been overcome by him, and he
seemed totally unconscious that he
was not equall}' unconquerable at the
cannon's mouth. We find record of
his visiting Portsmouth, and while in
an argumentative state of mind enter-
ing into discussion with six British
officers, who, not being pleased with
his sentiments, undertook to eject
him from the room, with the result of
themselves being thrown through the
window by this doughty patriot.

As an officer, he was the idol of his
troops, "hail fellow well met," but
whose kind heart would give him no
rest until ever}^ wounded soldier was
personally looked after. A true his-
tory of all his adventures would be as
thrilling as Cooper's tales, but if he
kept any record of his work, which is
improbable, it was burned with his
house and other effects while he was
fighting at Bunker Hill.

At the beginning of the Revolu-
tionary war he was at Epsom, culti-
vating his large and productive farm.
On April 20, 1775, while he was
ploughing the parade ground, which
is the field now belonging to Joseph
Lawrence, a messenger came with

296

THE McCLARYS OF EPSOM.

news of the Battle of Lexington.
Within twenty-four hours he was at
Medford, seventy miles away, ready
to take his part in the impending
conflict.

Cogswell's "History of North-
w'ood " gives an account of this
forced march ; of his being chosen
captain of a company of eighty
heroes, who traveled on foot from
Nottingham square to Medford in
the short time of about twelve hours,
a feat unparalleled in the Revolution-
ary war. His being chosen major of
the regiment, his cool judgment and
daring feats in the battle are mat-
ters of history with which we are
familiar.

He was killed by a random shot
from one of the British frigates that
was stationed at a point in the
Charles river, now known as the cen-
ter of Cragie's bridge. The shot
which passed through his body put
to flight one of the most heroic souls
that ever animated man. He leaped
two or three feet from the ground
and fell dead upon his face.

At the dedication of Bunker Hill
monument, the orator of the day,
Daniel Webster, in mentioning the
important part taken in the battle by
Major McClary, closes in words as
follows :

"Thus fell Major McClary, the
highest American officer killed at the
battle, the handsomest man in the

army and the favorite of New Hamp-
shire troops. His dust still slumbers
where it was laid by his sorrowing
companions in Medford, unhonored
by any adequate memorial to tell
where lies one of the heroes who
ushered in the Revolution wiili such
auspicious omens. His death spreads
a gloom not only over the hearts of

his men, but all through the Sun-
cook valley ; his sun went down at
noon on the day that ushered in our
nation's birth."

James Harvey, the oldest son of
the major, succeeded to his father's
business of taverner, storekeeper, and
manufacturer. He served one or
more terms in the senate, and was
for several years brigadier-general of
the state militia. He built the house
and kept store where Charles Steele
now lives. Andrew and John be-
came military men and died in pub-
lic service. William, the youngest
son, emigrated to Canada. One of
the daughters married Mr. Heseltine,
the first settled Orthodox minister in
Epsom.

John McClary, the oldest son of
Michael, was born in Ireland in 17 19,
settled in Epsom with the family in
^738- John became industrious, me-
thodical, and exacting, a stern Pres-
"byterian, very different from his
jovial, rough, impulsive, convivial
brother, Major Andrew. He early
became one of the leading men in
Epsom ; was chosen moderator, and
for over forty years was one of the
principal officers and advisers in
town affairs. He was justice of the
peace under the provincial govern-
ment, and all cases of litigation in
this vicinity came before Esquire
John McClary for trial.

He was called out to do scouting
duty in the French and Indian war ;
was captain of the militia at that
time and rose to the rank of colonel
before the Revolution.

While his brother represented the
military spirit of the Suncook Valle)',
lisquire John represented the civil
authority. The towns of Epsom,
Allenstown, Chichester, and Pitts-

THE McCLARYS OF EPSOM.

297

field were classed together and Es-
quire John McClary was annually
chosen to represent them in the con-
vention at Exeter.

Esquire John McClary was a promi-
nent member of the first convention
to organize a colonial government,
and afterwards in framing our state
government, and was an active mem-
ber for twenty years. He was treas-
urer of the Committee of Safety from
1777 to 1783. This committee had
power to call out troops at such time
and in such numbers as they deemed
necessary.

In 1780 he was elected to the coun-
cil, and annually for the four suc-
ceeding years. In 1784 he was
chosen to the council and also to the
senate, and served as member of that
honorable body for three years.

He was tall, erect, commanding,
dignified, and made an excellent pre-
siding officer. In early life he was
married to Elizabeth Harvey of Not-
tingham. When she came to this
town with him they rode on horse-
back, she having for a whip a willow
stick which she stuck in the ground
near the entrance of the driveway
leading to the McClary house. The
tree is now standing which grew from
the twig placed there by the hand of
the bride, 161 years ago.

They had four children, — the oldest
son, John McClary, Jr., was killed at
the battle of Saratoga in 1779. They
had but one daughter, Mollie, who
married Daniel Page of Deerfield.

The McClarys owned a very large
landed estate which was divided into
several valuable farms for the sons
and daughters. In 1741, Esquire
John built a one story house on the
south side of the road. This house
was enlarged at various times and

became the venerable looking man-
sion it now is. For twenty-five years
it was the headquarters of the New
Hampshire Committee of Safety, and
the Society of Cincinnati, of which
he was president, met here three
times. Many of the schemes influ-
encing the early history of New
Hampshire were concocted within its
walls. In it great men have been
born and have lived. In its dining hall
famous men have sat at the board.
In its chambers distinguished states-
men, jurists, and heroes have slept.
Before the wide fireplace in the re-
ception room have gathered the wit
and beauty of a time when men were
strong, and women fair, and wine
was red. No wonder that the echoes
of long lost and forgotten music are
said to return at night when dark-
ness and silence reign.

Alone in this great guest chamber
one might fancy he had for com-
panions the shades of Daniel Web-
ster, Jeremiah Mason, General Sulli-
van, and other distinguished men,
who have in other da3's slept within
its walls. It is at present owned
and occupied by Michael McClary
Steele, of the fifth generation of the
McClarys, and great grandson of
Esquire John. This is the most his-
toric place in all southern New
Hampshire, and a visit here will be
found very interesting. The present
owner is a gentleman of ability and
will receiv^e you most cordially.

General Michael McClary, second
son of Esquire John, married Sally
Dearborn, daughter of Dr. Dearborn
of North Hampton. They had five
children. The oldest, John, born, in
1785, was of great personal beauty
and accomplishments. He was rep-
resentative, senator, and held a clerk-

298

THE McCLARYS OF EPSOM.

ship at Washington. He was killed
by a falling timber while assisting to
raise a shed, when but thirty-six
years of age. The funeral was said
to be the largest ever held in the
Suncook valley.

The second son, Andrew, born in
1787, sailed for Calcutta and was lost
at sea. General McClary also had
three daughters of rare attraction.
The oldest, Nancy, married Samuel
Lord of Portsmouth. A son of theirs,
Augustus, once purchased a part of
the McClary estate and improved it
for some years. Elizabeth Harvey
married Jonathan Steele, a lawyer
from Peterborough. They settled on
the homestead now owned and occu-
pied by their son, Michael McClary
Steele. The third daughter, Mary,
married Robert Parker of Fitzwilliam.
After the marriage of Ann McClary,
the youngest daughter of the old emi-
grant, to Richard Tripp, they settled
on the farm now owned by Samuel
Quimby, where he cleared a small
place and erected buildings thereon.

The country being new and they
being poor, they were subject to
many hardships, but being Scotch-
Irish they were strong and muscular
and enabled to endure the hardships
which circumstances compelled them
to pass through. Tradition says she
was able to pick up a barrel of cider
from the ground and place it in the
cart. And at one time she traveled
on foot seven miles through the woods
to visit a neighbor, carrying a child
in her arms, and the cloth to make a
shirt. After making the shirt, she
returned home the same day. There
are many other instances that might
be related that go to show the w-on-
derful muscular power which this
woman possessed.

In the year 1781, they, with their
two sons, Richard and John, moved
on the place now occupied by the
writer at Short Falls, they having
cleared a few acres previously. At
this time their nearest neighbor lived
where Benjamin Fowler now resides.
They afterwards built a sawmill,
just above where the Short Falls
bridge is, where they sawed out four-
inch white oak plank and sold them
for one dollar and fifty cents a thou-
sand, delivered on the hill near the
house where Hiram Holmes now re-
sides, where they were purchased by
parties from Durham for shipbuild-
ing, using the money to pay for the
land, the price of a thousand of lum-
ber paying for an acre of land.

D. H. Hurd's history of New
Hampshire says : " The town of Ep-
som has furnished many worthy men
during the past one hundred and fifty
years who have held positions of
trust and honor in the state and na-
tion, but none stand put in such bold
relief or are more worthy of remem-
brance than the McClarys. In fact
no family in the Suncook vallej' fills
so large a space in its history or the
hearts of its people. For nearly a
century they were the leading influ-
ential men in all our civil, political,
and military affairs, and were identi-
fied with all the important events
and measures that received the at-
tention and governed the acts of the
successive generations during that
long period of time. We know of no
instance in our state where history
has so sadly neglected to do justice to
a family which has rendered so effi-
cient service in defending the rights
and promoting the interests of our
commonwealth and nation, as in this
instance."

SEA-DREAMS.

By E)nil\' E. Cole.

I love to lie at ease,
Where I smell the salt sea-breeze,
And note the gulls sail by.
And hear their piercing cry :
To watch the waves below
In their rhythmic ebb and flow,
And see the shore slip down
To catch their foamy crown,
As they fling it in their play
On the shingle, bare and gray ;
To scan the farther main —
A level, shining plain,
Where distant sails flit by.
Like ghosts 'twixt sea and sky.
And fancy they beckon me
To join them as they flee,
To seek some golden clime
Where we take no thought of time
Where the rose is without a thorn,
And Life is new each morn.

KEARSARGE IN AUTUMN.
By Eugene R. Musgrove.

Oh, noble Kearsarge, would I could speak
The simple grandeur of thy wind-swept peak !
In early morn thy beauteous form doth rise
Serene and graceful 'gainst the sunlit skies

Out in the peaceful west ;
Thou art the first the rising sun to greet.
Yet while the sunbeams play about thy feet
I think thou art in grandeur most complete —

Thou art the loveliest.
But when the setting sun enwreathes thy head
With matchless tints of scarlet, crimson, red ;
When sunset splendors slowly fade away,
And twilight bids farewell to parting day

And kisses it to rest ;
With fondness, yea, with rapture do I gaze
Upon thy misty robes of purple haze
And dream once more of autumn's golden da5'S-

'T is then I love thee best.

IS THE NORSE CLAIM AUTHENTIC?

By George If. Parker.

N determining the valid-
ity of any nation's claim
to discovery, political
conditions, national life,
maritime enterprise, and
colonial settlement are important con-
siderations. A turbulent and chang-
ing government, unrest at home, an
adventuresome and commercial spirit,
are the greatest incentives to emigra-
tion, discovery, and settlement. Es-
pecially is this true in the case of the
Norsemen whose preeminent charac-
teristics were adventure, discovery,
and colonization. Norway and
Sweden have a much greater sea-
coast than almost any other country
of equal area. Their maritime situa-
tion had early invited the Norse to
commerce and sea-faring. These
were further stimulated by the bar-
renness of the soil, which provided a
scanty subsistence and drove many
either to traffic with foreign nations
or to plundering. Emigration was
also caused by political revolutions.
The usual effect of a change in the
government was the exodus from the
country of numerous jarls with their
followers.

The adventuresome spirit of the
inhabitants of Norwa}^ and Sweden,
and the discoveries and settlements
hitherto made, are seen in the fact
that from an early time these sea-
rovers had made their way to almost
every maritime country and to the
islands of the sea. Depredations on
the coasts of Northumberland and
Scotland were made by the Norse in
787 and again in 793 and 794. After

the eighth century these free-booters
continually preyed upon Scotland,
Ireland, England, Flanders, and Nor-
mand)'. In the Danish invasion of
England large numbers of the Norse
took part. From an earlj^ time Norse
influence was felt in the Shetlands,
Hebrides, and Orkney islands, where
considerable numbers had settled.
The neighboring island of Iceland
was found by them in the tenth cen-
turj'. After the victory of Harold
Fairhair in the battle of Hafrs Fjord,
many of the leading jarls and nobles,
with their families and dependents,
sailed to Iceland and the Scottish
isles. Erik the Red, being driven
out of Iceland, discovered Greenland
and made the settlement of Brattah-
lid.

Nautical knowledge was developed
among the Norse to a high degree,
and was more complete with them
than among any other people. First
and last the Northmen were seamen.
They were equally at home whether
on land or sea. In their crude, open
boats they would spend weeks on the
sea, often without chart or compass,
guiding their course by the stars.
Some have doubted the possibility of
the Norse making trans-Atlantic
voyages in the simple, open boats
they then used. To remove this
doubt. Captain Anderson, with a
small crew and a boat modeled after
the Viking ships of the tenth and
eleventh centuries, successfully
crossed the Atlantic Ocean in 1893.
Furthermore, repeated voyages to all
northern British and Baltic regions

IS THE NORSE CLAIM AUTHENTIC?

301

had perfected their knowledge of sea-
manship as well as their acquaintance
with the sections visited.

The story of the Norse voyages to
America is contained in certain Ice-
landic historical writings, chief of
which are the Sagas in the Arna
Magnean collection and the Plate}-
book. Here are recorded four expe-
ditious of considerable size and sev-
eral smaller ones. The first of these
was about 985 when Bjarni Herjulfs-
son, on a journey from Iceland to
Greenland, was driven out of his
course until he sighted a low-lying
wooded land. Leif, son of Erik the
Red, was stimulated by this news to
fit out an expedition for the explora-
tion of this new land.

Accordingly in the year 1000, with
thirty- five men, he set sail for
America. The land they first saw
was barren and covered with flat
rocks. To this they gave the name
Helluland, and, without tarrying
long, set sail southward. The next
land reached was level and densely
wooded, hence the}' called it Mark-
land. After continuing a southerly
direction, they at last entered a land-
locked bay and sailed up a river
which ran from west to east. Sal-
mon abounded in that region and on
the shores vines and grapes were
found, whence they called the land
Wineland.

It seemed to Leif that this was a
goodly place, so he built a house and
passed the winter in Wineland. On
his return to Greenland the following
spring, Thorwald, Leif's brother, went
to Wineland with a company of thirty
men. They spent the winter in Leif's
house. In a battle with the Skrell-
ings (a name given the natives),
Thorwald was mortally wounded and

the rest hastened home. In 1003
Thorfinn Karlsefin and Snorri Thor-
brandson resumed the exploration
with sixty men, five women, and sev-
eral kinds of cattle. The}'' remained
two winters in Wineland and bar-
tered considerably with the natives,
until the latter were frightened at
the bellowing of a bull and waged
battle. The next expedition was
conducted by Freydis, Helgi, and
Finnbogi, who had two ships and
sixty-five men. During the winter
in Wineland Freydis instigated a
merciless slaughter of the party of
Helgi and Finnbogi, after which she
and her company returned to Green-
land. Various other expeditions
were undertaken to Wineland after
this date. Thus in 1121 another
voyage was made, and in 1347 Mark-
laud was revisited by certain seamen
from the Icelandic colony of Green-
land. That the regions explored
were on the North American coast,
and not elsewhere, is conclusively
proved by the descriptions of the
courses taken and the lands visited.
It is stated in the sagas that all
the expeditions sailed in a southwest-
erly direction from Greenland. The
description of the climate, natives,
and regions explored applies best to
the eastern coast of North America,
and Wineland corresponds with
known localities on the New Eng-
land coast.

The main line of evidence for the
substantiation of the Norse claim is
to be found in the historical sagas
contained in the Arna Magnean col-
lection and the Flatey book. While
some of the sagas of Icelandic litera-
ture are mythical and unreliable as
historical evidence, the credibility of
the saga of Erik the Red is generally

302

/S THE NORSE CLAIM AUTHENTIC?

considered as based on sound histori-
cal data. Other Icelandic records of
the same period confirm the main
statements made concerning the dis-
covery and settlement of Wineland.
In a manuscipt of 1334 we have
the earliest account of the discov-
ery of Wineland. In this the
narrative as it appears in saga of
Erik the Red is preserved. In an-
other manuscript written between
1370 and 1390 the chance discovery
made by Bjarni is assigned as the
stimulus to Leif's journey. Wine-
land is referred to in the books of
Priest Ari Thorgilsson, who was
born in 1067. These books are " Is-
lendingabok " (" loelander's Book "),
" Landnamabok " ("Book of Settle-
ment"), and "Kristni- Saga" ("Nar-
rative of the Introduction of Chris-
tianity into Iceland"). Another of
the Arna Magnean collection mak-
ing mention of Wineland is the ' ' Co-
dex Frisianus." In the saga of
" Olaf Tryggoason " further reference
is made to Wineland. Besides the
literary evidence cited, there is a col-
lection of Middle Age wisdom litera-
ture known as numbers 194-800 of
the Arna Magnean library ; also
numbers 736-4 to and 764-4 to.
The mention of Helluland is also
made in certain fabulous writings of
the eighth and ninth centuries, show-
ing that the discoveries of L,eif Erik-
son had become a matter of common
knowledge. References to Hellu-
land are made in several sagas,
among which are the " Saga of Ar-
row Odd," the "Saga of Halfdan
Eysteinsson," the " Saga of Halfdan
Bransfasterling," and the folk-tale of
" Bard the Snow-fell-god."

Numerous attempts to locate defin-
itely the regions visited by Eeif have

been made with little success. That
these efforts should be unsuccessful
is due to the rash choice of sites be-
lieved to have historical connection,
and the over credulity of enthusias-
tic devotees in the questionable evi-
dence afforded. Thus we see -that
the "Norse Tower" at Newport,
R. I., was long proclaimed to be the
work of Norse hands. Eater and
better evidence shows it to have been
an old stone mill built in 1676 by
Gov. Benedict Arnold after the pat-
tern of mills then common in Eng-
land. Some years ago, at New Bed-
ford, was found a "skeleton in ar-
mor," which many attributed to the
time of the Norse settlement. This
has also fallen into disfavor with his-
torical critics. The inscription on a
rock near Dighton, Mass., for a long
time baffled deciphering, and this
was claimed to be the writing of the
Northmen. Now these hieroglyphics
are known to be the work of Indians.
Of the more recent attempts at lo-
cation and verification may be men-
tioned the painstaking labors of Eben
Norton Horsford to establish the lo-
cation of Eeif's Landing as identical
with Gerry's Landing on the Charles
river, and Leif's house near that spot.
The "Norse Stone" at Yarmouth,
Nova Scotia, is also to be classed
among the much- disputed historical
evidences. Such idle attempts as
these do little toward establishing
the validity or falsity of the Norse
claim. Even admitting that there is
little or no historical evidence in
these much-disputed relics, the ab-
sence of any Icelandic remains makes
neither for nor against the credibility
of the Norse discovery. During the
brief period of their occupation of
Wineland they would not leave be-

/S THE NORSE CLAIM AUTHENTIC?

303

hind them any building or imple-
ments which would survive the rav-
ages of nine centuries. If runic in-
scriptions or archaeological remains
were demanded as proof of the dis-
covery of Iceland the case would be
insoluble. Like several other coun-
tries, its discovery does not rest upon
relics but documentary evidence, and
so the Norse claim to the discovery
of America depends upon the histori-
cal facts furnished in the " Icelandic
Sagas."

A ver)^ common objection met with
is that the validity of the Norse claim
may be questioned since " no practi-
cal benefit" resulted. Even if the
Northmen did visit America, theirs
is an empty title, many say, because
it is barren of results. They will tell
you that in the case of Columbus'
discovery the news was heralded
throughout Europe, and the Euro-
pean nations pushed the exploration
and colonization of America. The ex-
ploration and colonization of America
by England, France, Spain, and the
Dutch are mentioned as quickly follow-
ing the news of Columbus' discovery.
On the other hand, the Norse settle-
ments in America were but of short
duration and none permanent. In-
ternal discord or hostilities with the
natives compelled the settlers to re-
turn to Greenland without having
explored the country extensively.

Notwithstanding these objections,
the Norse discovery was sufficiently
extensive and productive of results to
entitle it to primary consideration.
We know that four expeditions ex-
plored and spent the winter in that
region known as Wineland, also that
three others sailed within sight of
land. The expedition of Leif visited
America at three points ; Helluland,

Markland, and Wineland. The com-
pany of Thorfinn also explored the
country to a considerable extent as
did also that of Thorwald. Nearly all
carried away proofs of their dis-
covery. The record of these discov-
eries was preserved in Icelandic lit-
erature, and other visitors outside of
Iceland knew of it. That the news
of the discovery of America was
somewhat commonly known is shown
by the fact that several writers refer
to Wineland. By its very geogra-
phical position Iceland was not so
favorably located for the spread of
intelligence concerning discoveries as
was Spain. The introduction of
gunpowder and firearms by the time
of the permanent settlement of New
England immensely aided its colo-
nization. The Norse had only
spears, axes, and shields, and could
not cope successfully with the supe-
rior numbers of the Skrellings.
Columbus visited Iceland about 1470,
and he could scarcely have failed to
learn at that time of the earlier voy-
ages of Leif and his followers. In
the light of this fact, his positive
conviction in the existence of a
western land has a peculiar signifi-
cance.

The Norse claim to the discovery
of America should be recognized as
authentic because the Northmen
were a sea-faring people whose pre-
eminent characteristics were adven-
ture, discovery, and settlement ; Ice-
landic historical writings record four
expeditions made from Greenland to
the shores of North America : the
validity of these documents can be
historically proven both by internal
and external evidence, thus making
unnecessary any attempts at location
of the regions explored.

r- -^/M 1 ... , ,^, .

HON. HARRY BINGHAM.

Hon. Harry Bingham, known for forty years as the ablest lawyer in New
Hampshire, died at his home in Littleton, September 12, having been in failing
health for some time previous.

Mr. Bingham was born in Concord, Vt., March 30, 182 1, being the third
child of the late Hon. Warren and Lucy (Wheeler) Bingham. His father was a
substantial farmer, and he was reared to farm life, but early developed a strong
love for study, and determined to secure a liberal education. He labored so
diligently in this direction that his common school privileges, with a few weeks
attendance upon select schools, had so far advanced his preparation for college at
the age of seventeen, that it was completed by a year's attendance at Lyndon
academy, and he entered Dartmouth college, graduating with the class of 1843.

Immediately after graduation, having determined to enter the legal profession,
he commenced the study of law in his native town, borrowing books for this pur-
pose from the office of David Hibbard, Esq., father of Harry Hibbard. Subse-
quently he pursued his studies for some time in the office of Hon. George C. and
Edward Gaboon at Lyndon, Vt., and completed the same with the Hon. Harry
Hibbard at Bath. While studying for the bar, as during his preparatory and
collegiate course, he taught a term of school each year.

He was admitted to the bar at Lancaster at the May term of court in 1846,
after passing a rigorous examination. At that time Littleton was, as it has ever
since remained, a leading business and commercial town in the northern part
of the state. Gertain of its citizens applied to Mr. Hibbard to recommend some
promising Democratic lawyer of ability and integrity to settle in the town, and he at
once named Mr. Bingham, then hardly twenty-five years of age, thus conclusively
proving that Mr. Hibbard had discovered in his student evidence of that com-
manding ability and those Sterling qualities of which he and all others subse-
quently had such abundant confirmation. He located in Littleton in the fall of
1846, and entered upon the professional career, which ultimately won him first
place among the distinguished lawyers of a state whose bar has always compared
favorably in character and ability with that of any other in the Union.

He was for six years without a partner in practice, and then formed a partner-
ship with his brother, the late Hon. George A. Bingham, which continued until
1874, ex-Ghief Justice Andrew S. Woods and his son, Edward Woods of Bath,
also being associated with them for several years during the time. In 1874 the
firm was formally dissolved, and Mr. Bingham formed a partnership with Hon.
John M, Mitchell, now of Concord, Mr. Mitchell having received his legal edu-

NEW HAMPSHIRE NECROLOGY, 305

cation in his office. In July, 1879, the Hon. Albert S. Batchellor was admitted to
the firm, the style of the firm being changed to Bingham, Mitchell & Batchellor,
In July, 1 88 1, Hon. William H. Mitchell, who had been a student with Mr.
Bingham, was admitted to the firm, the new firm being Bingham, Mitchells &
Batchellor. In 1880 John M. Mitchell removed to Concord and opened an office
there under the firm name of Bingham & Mitchell. Mr. Bingham's name was
connected with each firm at the time of his death, although he had for some time
previously ceased to take an active part in the transaction of the business of
either.

Space forbids detailed mention in this connection, but it is safe to say that Mr.
Bingham was engaged in a great majority of all the important trials, civil and
criminal, coming before the courts in northern New Hampshire for at least a third
of a century during his active career; while his advice on all matters of much
importance was sought by clients from all parts of the state. Not only were his
services required in his own state, but he frequently appeared before the courts of
Vermont, Massachusetts, New York, the Federal courts, and occasionally before
the supreme court of the United States at Washington.

While preeminently noted as a lawyer, he was no less conspicuous in politics,
through his earnest devotion to the principles of the Democratic party, and his
long recognized leadership in that organization in the state. He was first chosen
to the legislature in 1861, when, although a new member, he took a foremost
position in the house and was accorded the leadership among the Democrats, a
position which he held by common consent and by force of intellectual preemi-
nence for more than thirty years. He was reelected to the house in 1862, when he
was a candidate for speaker, in 1863, 1864, 1865, 1868, 1871, 1872, 1873, 1874,
1875, 1876, 1877, 1878, 1879, 1881, 1889, 1891 ; and he was state senator for two
terms, 1883- 188 7. Upon the floor of the house, as well as in the judiciary com-
mittee, of which he was a member during each year of his service, and of which
he was chairman in 1871 and 1874, when the Democrats were in the supremacy,
he occupied a prominent position, commanding the respect of both parties and
impressing his personality upon all important legislation. His party has testified
to his standing and ability as a statesman and party leader by giving Jiim the
Democratic nomination for congress, first in 1865 and again in 1867, and seven
times making him the choice of his party for the United States senate. He was
nominated by Governor Weston for chief justice of the supreme court in 1S74, but
petty jealousy defeated his confirmation by the council, and in 1880 he declined a
nomination to the bench at the hands of Governor Head.

Mr. Bingham was a delegate to the famous Philadelphia Peace convention in
1866. He was a member of the Democratic National Convention of 1868, and
was chosen as the New Hampshire member of the Democratic National com-
mittee, serving four years. He was also a member of the New Hampshire delega-
tions in the National conventions of 1872, 1884, and 1892, and was a Democratic
candidate for presidential elector in 1864 and 1888, and presided over Democratic
state conventions in 1870, 1872, 1878, and 1896.

He received the degree of doctor of laws from Dartmouth college in 1880.
For the last seven years of his life he was president of the Grafton and Coos Bar

3o6 NEW HAMPSHIRE NECROLOGY.

Association, and had long been a member of the New Hampshire and American
Bar Associations. In the latter years of his life Mr. Bingham devoted much
attention and labor to constructive literature, being the author of numerous
addresses and essays on general topics covering a wide range. His contributions
to the literature of histor}', biography, sociology, and the living questions of race
movement, government, religion, and jurisprudence disclose vast erudition, clear
and well-reasoned opinions and profound convictions. They are the product of
the study and the reflections of a thinker who has always been in close contact
with practical affairs.

REV. SAMUEL C. KEELER.

Rev. Samuel Crofut Keeler, pastor of the Bethany M. E. church at East
Rochester, and a prominent clergyman of that denomination in this state for many
years past, died at his home in that village, September i8.

Mr. Keeler was a native of Reading, Conn., son of Munson and Mabel
(Crofut) Keeler, born April i, 1828. He was reared in Danbury and Bethel,
Conn., and was educated at the public schools and at Aremenia seminary. New
York, a Methodist institution. He was licensed to preach in 1852, and joined
the New York Conference, with which he remained connected twenty-four years,
twelve of which were spent in New York city and Brooklyn pastorates, one of
which was that of the historic John Street church, the oldest Methodist church in
the country.

In X877 he was transferred to the New Hampshire conference and has since
served as pastor of churches in Suncook, Sunapee, Laconia, Keene, Concord,
Bethlehem, Epping, and East Rochester. He was presiding elder of the Concord
district for a period of six years, beginning with 1890. In 1892 he was elected
delegate to the Quadrennial general conference, which met at Omaha, Neb., and
was the leading member of the delegation. He was recognized as one of the
ablest clergymen of the denomination in the state, and was a poetical writer, and a
lecturer of no little merit.

In 1852 he married Miss Lydia Williams by whom seven children survive.
These are Mrs. E. S. Edmunds of North Andover, Mass., Edward C, of Denver,
Col., Miss Emma A., a teacher in Brooklyn, N. Y., Frank E., of New York city,
Charles P., of Attleboro, Mass., manufacturer, Miss Harriet T., of Andover,
Mass., and I. Eugene Keeler, correspondent of the Boston Globe at Concord.

HENRY C. MOSES.

Henry C. Moses, born in Exeter, September 26, 1828, died in that town,
September 17, 1900.

Mr. Moses was the son of Deacon John F. and Mary (Pearson) Moses, and
spent his life in Exeter, becoming in youth a partner with his father in the firm of
John F. Moses & Son, wool pullers and tanners of sheepskin, with a large plant
on Academy street which was burned about twenty years ago. For many years,
and especially during the war, the firm's operations were very extensive, and it
was always a leader in its field. Upon his father's death in 1877, Deacon Moses
closed the Exeter business, and he has since been a leading wool dealer in

NEW HAMPSHIRE NECROLOGY. 307

Boston, latterly with quarters at 560 Atlantic avenue. He was admittedly one of
the best judges of wool in the city, and at his death was probably the oldest
dealer actively identified with the trade.

He was a Republican in politics and served in the legislatures of 1864
and 1865. He was for seven years a trustee of Robinson seminary, and for
some time president of the board. His interest in the school was manifested by
the gift of $1,000, with which was purchased the superb collection of casts and
photographs illustrative of architecture and sculpture, and of $500 to endow the
Moses Normal Scholarship. He was a charter member of the Union Five Cents
Savings Bank, and had been a director of the Machine Works and president of
the Exeter Building Association. He was one of the senior members of Star in
the East lodge, A. F. and A. M., which he joined in 1862.

The two institutions, however, to which he gave most liberally of his means
and effort were the Baptist church and Sunday-school. He united with the church
in 1842. and since 187 1 had been a deacon. He recently resigned the superin-
tendency of the Sunday-school, an office he had filled for more than twenty-five
years.

He married Miss Lucy Hoyt of Exeter, daughter of Ira D. Hoyt, long time
clerk of court o,f Rockingham county, who survives him, as does one son,
Herbert H. Moses.

ELEAZER C. CONVERSE.

Eleazer C. Converse, born in Lyme, June 2, 1827, died in Newport, September
2 1, 1900.

Mr. Converse was a son of Theron and Miriam (Carpenter) Converse, and a
grandson of Joel Converse, one of the early settlers of Lyme. He located in
Newport in 1849, and for several years was engaged as a clerk in the store of
Mudgett & Higbee, and later with Richards & Co. In 1859 ^^ established him-
self in the drug business in Newport and was engaged in the same most of the
time there until 1893, except a short residence at Ypsilanti, Mich.

Mr. Converse w^as a Democrat in politics, and for many years was the nominee
of the party for moderator, serving in that capacity in the years 1867, ^875' 1876,
and 1878. He was town clerk in 1861 and 1862, and in 1873 represented this
town in the state legislature. He was also a candidate for register of deeds for
several years on the Democratic ticket. He became postmaster of Newport under
President Cleveland in 1894, serving four years, to the general satisfaction of the
people.

In 1848 Mr. Converse was married to Amanda Tibbetts of Syracuse, N. Y.,
and to them were born five children : Alzira, who died at the age of fourteen
years; Hattie C, who became the wife of E. B. Temple, and died in 1894;
Annie M., wife of Dr. David M. Currier; Sarah, wife of David A. Leach, and
Eleazer C, who resides in Boston, Mass.

LEMUEL M. BROCK.

Lemuel M. Brock, a prominent citizen of Lynn, Mass., who died there Septem-
ber 18, was a native of the town of Strafford, born in the year 1837. He was

3o8 NEW HAMPSHIRE NECROLOGY.

educated at the South Berwick (Me.) academy. He went to Massachusetts when
about twenty years of age, where he taught school, kept a hotel, engaged in the
grocery business, dealt in real estate, and engaged extensively in the manufac-
ture of patent medicines, also buying a large tract of land on the Saugus border
when the Thomson-Houston Electric company established itself in Lynn, and
building extensively thereon. He owned the formula for Mrs. Dinsmore's cough
medicines, had an extensive laboratory at West Lynn, jtnd spent vast sums in
advertising.

Politically he was a Democrat and quite active in politics. He was twice
elected to the legislature from the Twentieth Essex district, and was the party
candidate for mayor and state senator. He was associated with the Masons, Odd
Fellows, Red Men, Knights of Pythias, and Elks.

HON. GEORGE F. DREW.

Hon. George F. Drew, a native of the town of Alton, seventy-eight years of
age, died suddenly at Jacksonville, Fla., his home, September 26, from heart
disease, his death following, in half an hour, that of his wife, who was ten years
his junior, and had been stricken with paralysis. Mr. Drew went South many
years ago and settled first in Alabama but subsequently removed to Florida,
where he was long and successfully engaged in lumbering, retiring in 1878, when
he was elected governor of the state. Afterward he engaged in the hardware
trade at Jacksonville with his two sons, who have recently carried on the business.

REV. H. W. L. THURSTON.

Rev. H. W. L. Thurston, born in Hartford, Vt., November 20, 1823, died in
Wilmot, September 21, 1900.

Mr. Thurston was a farmer and mechanic in early life, and was afterward for
many years a clerk in G. W. Worthen's store in Lebanon, and subsequently in
the grocery business himself. It was not until 1S75 that he engaged in the
ministry, being ordained in the town of Goshen, August 25 of that year, where
he preached two years, and was subsequently located in Harrisville, Sullivan, and
Chichester. In 18S5 he became pastor of the Congregational church in Bos-
cawen, but in 1891 removed to Wilmot and was pastor there until failing health
compelled him to retire in 1895. He was twice married, surviving both wives but
leaving'a daughter, Mrs. Ellen Walker of West Lebanon.

Z)
CO

_l
in

cil

Tnn CiRARlTC AVONTMOT.

Vol. XXIX.

NOVEMBER, 1900.

No.

SOME "LAKE CITY" MEN AND INDUSTRIES.

By E. ]\\ Forrest.

HE city, of Laconia, other-
wise known as the Lake
city or the City on the
Lakes, was originally
incorporated as a town,
Jul}' 14, 1855, it being the lower por-
tion of the old town of Meredith, in-
cluding the lively and enterprising
village of " Meredith Bridge," or
that portion thereof located on the
north side of the Winnipesaukee
river, and which constitutes the cen-
tral portion of the present city. The
portion of the village on the other
side of the river, in the town of Gil-
ford (originally Gilmanton), was an-
nexed to Laconia by the legislature
in 1874, and when the city charter
was granted in 1893, the village of
Lakeport, formerly known as Lake
Village, was also taken from Gilford
and annexed to Laconia, which thus
became the sixth city in the state in
population and business importance ;
and, although it has since given
place to one or two others in regard
to population, it is safe to sa}' that
as an industrial center it retains the
same relative rank.

Located geographically at the cen-
ter of the state in the midst of the
most delightful scenic region in New
Hampshire, in a rich agricultural
section, and favored with abundant
water power, this fair young city cer-
tainly enjoys marked advantages,
and the character and success of her
enterprises, and the reputation and
standing of her public and business
men are in entire keeping therewith.
Her churches, schools, and public
institutions ; her electric railway,
streets, parks, and general public
improvements, are such as would do
credit to a city of far greater popula-
tion, and in which her citizens natur-
ally take no small measure of pride.

The hosier}' business has been a
prominent industry in town for a
long series of years, being exten-
sively carried on by several firms,
making Laconia one of the leading
places in the country in this line of
enterprise. At the front of the
hosiery manufacturing establish-
ments in town is that of J. \V. Busiel
& Co., whose business was estab-
lished by the late John W. Busiel,

312

SOME ''LAKE CITY'' MEN AND INDUSTRIES.

a native of Moultonborough, born
March 28, 18 15, who in early life
learned the woolen manufacturing
business of his great uncle, I,ewis
Flanders of London ; was then en-
gaged for a time in a mill in Ames-
bury, Mass., and finally started for
himself in the manufacture of knit-
ting yarns, satinets, etc., in a mill at
Meredith, removing ten years later.

fancy. The sons grew to manhood
and became partners with their father
in business, continuing it under the
same firm name after his decease.
They are Charles A., John T., and
Frank E., the two latter remaining
in active charge of the enterprise to
the present time.

Charles Albert Busiel, eldest
son of John W. and Julia M. (Til-

Belknap County Court House.

in 1846, to the "Bridge," now La-
conia, where he established the J. W.
Busiel hosiery mills, continuing and
increasing his operations until his
decease in 1872, and winning for
himself and his establishment a first-
class reputation throughout the coun-
try, and at the same time gaining the
confidence and respect of his fellow-
citizens, for his public spirit and un-
selfish devotion to the welfare of the
community.

Three sons and a daughter were
born to John W. and Julia M. (Til-
ton) Busiel, the daughter dying in in-

ton) Busiel, was born in Laconia,
November 24, 1842. He received his
education in the public schools and
at the old Gilford academy, and after
completing his studies entered his
father's hosiery mill, where he ac-
quired a thorough knowledge of the
business in all its details, and was
actively engaged in the same, until
his increasing interest in public,
financial, and railroad affairs largely
commanded his attention in other di-
rections. He was one of the active
promoters of the Lake Shore railroad
and largely instrumental in securing

^.A/oi^u^/

ii4

SOME ''LAKE CITY'' MEN AND INDUSTRIES.

The Busiel Hosiery Mills.

its construction, and was for some
time a managing director of the Con-
cord & Montreal road. He is also
prominently identified with the bank-
ing interests of the city, being presi-
dent of the I^aconia National bank
and of the City Savings bank. For
some years past he has been an ar-
dent champion of the extension of
electric railways, and was the mov-
ing spirit in the organization known
as the New Hampshire Development
association.

In politics he was orginally a
Democrat, and as such was a rep-
resentative from Laconia in the legis-
lature in 1 878-' 79, and was a dele-
gate to the National Democratic con-
vention in Cincinnati, in 18S0. Disa-
greeing with the bulk of his party on
financial and tariff questions he sub-
sequently affiliated with the Republi-
cans, by whom he was elected mayor
by a large majority, upon the organi-
zation of the city government in
1893, though I^aconia had previously

Residence of Hon. Charles A. Busiel.

SOME ''LAKE CITY'' MEN AND INDUSTRIES.

315

/TTtC^

been strongly Democratic, and was
reelected for a second term by a still
increased majority. In 1S95 lie be-
came the Republican candidate for
governor of New Hampshire, and
was elected by a majority far in ex-
cess of any ever before given a can-
didate of the party. In his adminis-
tration of the office he pursued a
course so thoroughly independent as
to surprise party bosses and the peo-
ple generall}', and since his retire-
ment to private life his position upon
all questions has been in perfect ac-
cord with the reputation he estab-
lished while governor.

Mr. Busiel is prominent in Mason-
r}', the order of Knights of Pythias,
and other fraternal and benevolent
organizations. He attends the Con-
gregationalist church and contributes
generously to the support of its work.

In 1S64 he was united in marriage
with Miss Eunice Elizabeth Preston.
They have one daughter, Frances E-,
wife of Wilson L,ongstreth Smith, of
Germantown, Pa.

Another extensive hosiery manu-
facturing plant, figuring prominently
among the industries of the Lake
city, is that of the Oriental mills,
H. H. Wood & Co., proprietors, of

3i6

SOME ''LAKE CITY'' MEN AND INDUSTRIES.

Residence of Horace H. Wood.

;^>

'S^-f'^-f.

Lakeport, whose buildings, appurte-
nances, and 5^ard occupy about two
acres of ground. These mills run lo
sets of cards, 2,200 spindles, and em-
ploy 150 hands in the manufacture of
seamless, ribbed, and plain hosiery,
which is marketed all over the coun-
try, the New York office being at 51

Leonard street. B. S. Wadleigh is
the superintendent.

Horace H. Wood, head of the
firm of H. H. Wood & Co., is a
native of the town of Hillsborough,
fifty-eight of age. He was edu-
cated in Henniker, and has been
engaged in hosiery manufacturing at

Hosiery Mills of H. H Wood & Co.

—

**"

:^-

a
o

--r

-t5

.>—

;• ;

^^*^

:^.

r-i

3i8

SOME ''LAKE CITY'' MEN AND INDUSTRIES.

Lakeport since 1870, developing a
successful business and establishing
a superior reputation as a business
man. He is a prominent thirty-sec-
ond degree Mason. He married Miss
Mary J. Lovejoy of Meredith, but has
no children. Their residence is in
Ivakeport.

An important industry, and one of
no little prominence throughout the
state also located in the Ivakeport
section, is that of the Cole Manufac-
turing Company, of which the late
Hon. Benjamin J. Cole was the head
for nearly half a century, having
bought, in 1S36, the foundry estab-
lished here b}^ his father in 1827, and
ultimately developed an extensive
business, including a large iron and
wood machine shop, the buildings for
which were erected in 1852. In 1872
the concern was incorporated and a
year later a .steam forge was added
and the manufacture of car axles
commenced, which line of business
has since been prosecuted with great
success. The concern produces hosi-
ery, needle, bobbin, and sawmill
machinery, and all kinds of forgings,
castings, and iron work generally,
including Worrall's friction clutches,
shafting, pulleys, and hangers.

Mr. Cole was treasurer and mana-
ger until 1883, but resigned the lat-
ter position at that date, when he
was succeeded by his son-in-law,
Henry B. Quinby, retaining the
treasurership until his death in Janu-
ary, 1897, when Mr. Quinby suc-
ceeded to that, also.

Henry Brewer Quinby was born
in Biddeford, Me., June 10, 1846,
vSon of Thomas and Jane K. (Brew-
er) Quinby. He comes from good
old New England stock on both
sides of his family. Through his

father he is a direct descendant of
John Rogers, fifth president of Har-
vard college, of Maj.-Gen. Daniel
Dennison, the famous colonial officer,
of Gov. Thomas Dudley of the Massa-
chusetts colony, and of many other
colonial celebrities. On his mother's
side, Colonel Quinb}^ is descended
from Maj. Charles Frost, the famous
Indian fighter, and numbers among
his great-great-great- grandmother's
two sisters of Sir William Pepperell,
the colonial baronet, who won renown
at the siege of Ivouisburg, and is a
direct descendant of Reverend Jose
Glover in the ninth generation, at
whose charge the first printing press
was established in America. He at-
tended the Biddeford schools and
Nichols' lyatin school at lycwiston, as
well as Bowdoin college, Brunswick,
Me., being graduated from the latter
in 1869. He received the degree of
A. M. in 1872, and in 18S0 was
graduated in medicine at the Na-
tional Medical college, Washington,
D. C. He is manager and treasurer
of the Cole Manufacturing Company,
with which he has been connected
since 1869. Colonel Quinby is a Re-
publican in politics. He was a mem-
ber of Governor Straw's staff in
1 872-' 73, a member of the legislature
of i887-'88, state senator in i889-'9o,
member of the governor's council in
i89i-'92, being chairman of the state
prison board, delegate-at-large to the
Republican National convention at
Minneapolis in 1893, and president of
the State Republican convention in
1896. He was appointed a member
of the board of trustees of the New
Hampshire Asylum for the Insane in
1897.

He was made a Mason in 1871,
and is junior grand warden of the

HON. HENRY B. QUINBY.

COL. EDMUND TETLEY.

SOME ''LAKE CITY'' MEN AND INDUSTRIES.

;2i

Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted
Masons of New Hampshire, Right
Eminent Grand Commander of the
Grand Commandery of Knights Tem-
plar of New Hampshire, and an ac-
tive member of the Supreme Council
of the Scottish Rite of the Northern
Masonic Jurisdiction of the United
States of America. He is vice-presi-
dent of the Laconia National bank

years. At fifteen, when his parents
were residing in Gaysville, Vt., he
left home to make a living for him-
self.

He first went to Lowell, and from
there to Lexington, Mass., where
he obtained employment, thence to
Cherry Valley, Mass., where he re-
mained during the winter of 1859-
'60 ; thence to Amesbury, where he

Residence of Col Edmund Tetley.

and the City Savings bank of La-
conia.

Colonel Quinby married, on June
22, 1870, Octavia M., daughter of
the late Hon. B. J. Cole of Lakeport.
He has two children, — Henry Cole
Ouinby, a lawyer in New York city,
and Candace Ellen, wife of Hugh N,
Camp, Jr., of New York city.

Col. Edmund Tetley, who has
been an active factor in Laconia busi-
ness life for over twenty years past, is
a native of England, born October
26, 1842, removing to this country
with his parents at the age of twelve

was located until September, 1861,
when he enlisted in the United States
Marine Corps at Portsmouth. He
participated in the attack on Forts
Jackson and St. Philip at the capture
of New Orleans by Admiral Far-
ragut, being on board the United
States sloop of war, Portsmouth,
which was subsequently stationed at
New Orleans for more than three
years. He was made first sergeant
in 1863, and was in command of the
Marine Guard on the Tortsmoi/th
from that time until the ship came
home in September, 1865 (the Marine

322

SOME ''LAKE CITY'' MEN AND INDUSTRIES.

Cook's Lurrber Woiks.

officer having been ordered home
previously). He was discharged at
Brooklyn Barracks in September,
1865, by reason of expiration of terra
of service, having served four years.

At the close of the war he returned
to Amesbury, Mass. L,ater he w^ent
to Appleton, Wis., thence to Utica,
N. Y., thence to Olneyville, R. I.,
from there to Amesbury, and then to
Lowell, where he engaged in the
paper box business. On leaving
Lowell he obtained a situation in a
paper box factory in Methuen, Mass.,
from there he went to work in Hav-
erhill, and thence came to Laconia
to work for F. P. Holt in the paper
box business. Five years later he
succeeded Mr. Holt and has since
carried on a successful business on
his own account.

When Co. K, Third regiment, N. H.
N. G., was organized, he became a
member of it, and in 1878 was made a
lieutenant. Two years later he was
made captain and served as such until

his resignation in 1SS3. Previous to
1892, Co. K having been disbanded,
he organized a new company at La-
conia in the same regiment and was
_ chosen captain. May 8, 1894, he was
promoted to the rank of major. In
1898, at the call of the president for
troops he enlisted with his regiment,
the First New Hampshire volunteers,
being promoted to the rank of lieu-
tenant-colonel, June 30, 1898, and
serving with the regimeiit until it
was mustered out. March 7, 1899,
he was made colonel of the Third
regiment, N. H. N. G., now the
Second, which position he still holds.
In politics Colonel Tetle}^ is a Re-
publican. He served on the board of
selectmen in Laconia in 1883, and
was a representative in the legisla-
ture in 1895. He was chosen sheriff
of Belknap count}' in 1888, and re-
elected in i8go. In March, 1899, he
was elected mayor of Laconia by a
large majority, and is now serving
his second term in that office.

SOME ''LAKE CITY'' MEN AND INDUSTRIES.

323

Colonel Tetley is a thirty-second
degree Mason, an Odd Fellow, Red
Man, Knight of Pythias, and member
of the G. A. R.

December 9, 1S68, he was united
in marriage with Ella F. Merrill of
Lowell, Mass. Of their seven chil-
dren, five are living: Edmund B.,
now a student in theology ; Guy M.,
superintendent of the Tetley box fac-
tory ; Gertrude, a resident of Lowell,
Mass.; Blanche and Charles, now at
school in Laconia.

Laconia is a city of varied indus-
tries, and not the least important
among those which contributed to
the city's prosperity and development
is the plant of the Wardwell Needle
Company, which was established
nearly forty years ago by C. P. S.
Wardwell, and was carried on with
moderate success under various luan-
agements until 1885, when the pres-
ent owners came in charge, erected
new buildings, put in modern im-
proved machinery, and brought the

establishment into the present su-
perior condition, which enables the
company to take a leading position
in the manufacture of the celebrated
Excelsior needles for all kinds of
hosier}'^ machinery, which are used
exclusively by many of the large.st
mills in the countr^^

The reputation and excellence of
these needles is such, indeed, that
this company makes and sells more
each year than any other concern in
the world. A liberal policy toward
employes, of whom there are a large
number, and weekly payments have
contributed to the general prosperit3^

The mechanical departments are
under the personal supervision of Mr.
S. A. Whitten, an expert needle
maker, and the whole business is
managed by Mr. Julius E. Wilson,
the treasurer, who came to Laconia
with the parties now owning the con-
cern, and has devoted himself to the
building up of a large permanent in-
dustry.

Wardwell Needie Company.

324

SOME ''LAKE CITY'' MEN AND INDUSTRIES.

Julius E. Wilson.

Julius E. Wil.son, manager and
treasurer of the Wardwell Needle
Co., was born in Swanzey, July i6,
1849. His early life was spent upon
a farm, and he acquired his educa-
tion in the public schools and acade-
mies of that section. In 1867, after
completing a course in the Bryant &
Stratton Business college in Man-
chester, he entered the employ of the
Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance
Co., at Manchester, and was engaged
in the insurance business for many
years. Later he became manager of
a large clothing house, where he re-
mained until he came to I^aconia in
1885, to take charge of this business.

In politics Mr. Wilson is a Repub-
lican. He was elected a member of
the first Laconia city council in 1893,

and has served constantly since in
that body, being the oldest member
of the city government in point of
service. He has served upon impor-
tant committees, and much reliance
is placed in his judgment.

Mr. Wilson is connected with the
Masonic and Odd Fellows fraterni-
ties, and he is also a member of the
Home Market club of Boston. He is
an enthusiast in all matters pertain-
ing to hunting and fishing, and was
one of the organizers of the Belknap
County Fish and Game League, of
which he has been president from the
start. He is also president of the
Lakeport Mutual Building and Loan
Association, and a trustee of the City
Savings bank. In religion he is a
Unitarian. He married Morgia M.

SOMli ''LAKE CITY'' MEN AND JMWSTRJES.

325

Porter of Manchester, well- known in
musical circles throughout the state.

Laconia has been the home of many
able representatives of the legal pro-
fession. The names of Bell, vSteveus.
Hibbard, and Whipple are among
the mo^t brilliant in New Hampshire
jurisprudence, and at the present daj^
the Lake city lawyers compare fav-
orably w ith their brethren at the bar
in other sections of the state.

Col. vStephen Shannon Jewett,
of the firm of Jewett & Plummer, is
one of Lacouia's best known lawyers
at the present time, and has also a
state wide reputation as a politician
and Republican leader. He is a son
of John G. and Carrie E. (Shannon)
Jewett, born in that part of Laconia
formerly belonging to Gilford, Sep-
tember 18, 1858. He comes of Revo-
lutionary stock, his great-grandfather,
Samuel Jewett, who resided for a
time in the town of Hollis, being one
of the patriots who fought at Bunker
Hill, and who subsequently estab-

lished his home in Laconia or Gil-
ford (then a part of Gilmanton), being
one of the first settlers of the locality.
Colonel Jewett was educated in the
Lnconia schools, and under the pri-
vate tuition of his father, who was
an old time school-teacher, and com-
menced the study of law in the office
of Hon. Charles F. Stone at the age
of seventeen years. He was prepared
for admission to the bar before he
was twenty-one years of age, but had
necessarily to wait for admission un-
til that time. Being admitted at the
March term in 1880, he at once en-
tered upon practice in Laconia, con-
ducting an independent business un-
til 1889, when William A. Plummer
became his partner. During the
twenty years of his practice but few
important cases have appeared on the
Belknap court docket without his
name in connection, either for plain-
tiff or defendant. In 1884, he ac-
cepted the position of clerk of the su-
preme court for Belknap county, as

Residence of Hon. Stephen S. Jewett.

ixix— 22

SOME ''LAKE C/7Y'' MEN AND INDUSTRIES.

327

an accommodation for the conveni-
ence of the court, and served for a
short time. He drafted and secured
the passage of L^aconia's city charter,
was the first city solicitor, and has
held the position ever since. He is
actively interested in numerous local
enterprises outside of his professional
duties. He is a director in the La-
conia National bank, in the Laconia
Building and Loan Association, in
the Laconia Land and Improvement
company, the Standard Electric Time
company, the Masonic Temple asso-
ciation, etc.

Colonel Jewett first actively en-
gaged in politics in 1876, when a
youth of seventeen, and was soon
recognized as a leader in political
matters. He conducted the affairs
of the Republican Town committee
from i88o-'90, and becoming a mem-
ber of the Republican State com-
mittee in 1884 was elected secretary
of that body in 1890. His capacity
has been tried in several hard-fought
campaigns, he having served as
chairman and manager of the Re-
publican canvass in 1892 and 1894.
He has served as engrossing clerk,
assistant clerk, and clerk of the New
Hampshire house of representatives,
was chosen a member of that body
from Ward Two, Laconia, in 1894,
and elected speaker upon the organi-
zation of the legislature, filling the
office with signal ability.

Colonel Jewett gained his military
title from service as a member of
the staff of Gov. David H. Goodell in
i889-'9o. He was a member and
chairman of the New Hampshire
delegation in the Republican Na-
tional convention which nominated
President McKinley at St. Louis in
1896. He is still a member of the ex-

ecutive committee, of the state com-
mittee, and the executive committee
of the Republican National league.

At the state election in 1898 Colo-
nel Jewett was elected to the New
Hampshire senate from the sixth dis-
trict, and was a leading member of
that body during the session. He is
a thirty-second degree Mason, has
been an officer in all of the local Ma-
•sonic bodies, and grand master of the
Grand Council of New Hampshire.
He is also a member of various other
social and fraternal organizations.

June 30, 1880, he was united in
marriage with Annie L. Bray of
Bradford, Eng. They have one son,
Theo S.

Erastus p. JeweIvL, of the pres-
ent firm of Jewell, Owen & Veazey,
is among the oldest lawyers now in
active practice at the Belknap County
bar, and likewise among the ablest.
He has devoted himself almost exclu-
sively to the work of his profession,
never dabbling in politics, though an
earnest Democrat, and an uncompro-
mising supporter of the principles of
his party. He is a safe counsellor, a
sagacious manager in the conduct of
causes, and a particularly strong and
convincing advocate.

Mr. Jewell is a native of the town
of Sandwich, born March 16, 1837,
and entered the office of the late Col.
Thomas J. Whipple as a student in
1859. Completing his studies he
was admitted to the bar in Laconia
and has since been in active practice
here — far.st as a partner with Colonel
Whipple, and subsequently with
Hon. Charles F. Stone and others,
his connection with Mr. Stone ceas-
ing when the latter was naval officer'
of the port of Boston.

Mr. Jewell's diversion, if he may

328

SOME ''LAKE CITV MEN AND LYD ['SERIES.

Hon Erastus P. Jewel

be said to have any, is state and local
history, particularly that pertaining
to the Indians or aborigines of this
section of New England, with which
he is probably more familiar than
any other man in New Hampshire.
Edmund Eittlk, treasurer of the
lyaconia Savings bank and cashier of
the People's National bank, is one of
the most substantial residents of the
city, and has a high reputation as a
sagacious financial manager. He is
the eldest son of Otis Warren I^^ittle
of Merrimac, Mass. (president of the
Merrimack Savings bank, a promi-
nent citizen and lifelong resident of
that town). He was born in West
Amesbury (now Merrimac) in 1856,
and received his education in the
public schools of that place.

Mr. Little is a direct descendant,
in the ninth generation, from the
founder of the faniil}^ of that name in
this country, George Eittle, who
came from London, Eug., in 1640,
and settled in Newbury, Mass., en-
gaging in agricultural pursuits. He
has been a resident of Laconia since
1874. He was made treasurer of the
Laconia Savings bank in 1886, and
cashier of the People's National bank
at its organization in 1889. He has
also been for fourteen years treasurer
of the Laconia Water company, is
treasurer of the Board of Trade, a
director of the Citizens' Telephone
company, and of the Laconia Street
Railway company, of which latter he
was also, for some years, treasurer.

Mr. Little is a Past Grand of Win-

SOME ''LAKE CITY'' MEN AND LVD US TRIES.

329

^^^

O-XAA^

nipiseogee L,odgt\ and a member of
Laconia Encampnant, I. O. O. F.,
and a member (if Mt. Lebanon Lodge,
A. F. & A. M., of Union Chapter,
Pythagorean Council, and of Pilgrim
Commander5^ K. T. In politics he
is a Republican. Pie married Dora
Inga Saunders in 1894, and ihej"
have one daughter, Inga., Their
home is on Harvard street.

Albert G. Folsom has been a
leading citizen of Laconia, prominent
in social, financial, and general busi-
ness circles, for more than half a cen-
tury. He is the son of Jonathan and
Sarah (Rowe) Folsom, who were early
residents of " Meredith Bridge," and
was born October 12, 1816. He was
educated in the common schools, but
on account of poor health was sent,

330

SOME ''LAKE CI TV MEN AND INDUSTRIES.

at an early age, by liis parents, to
Portsmouth, where he went into a
store kept by an older brother, with
the hope that the change might be
beneficial, as proved to be the case.
His brother eventually went West and

an ex-mayor, to whom he sold out in
1869, retiring from mercantile busi-
ness.

Mr. Folsoni has been identified with
the Laconia Savings bank for nearly
sixty years, and its president for more

jnA/i^

he was left in charge of the store,
but when twenty years of age he re-
turned to Laconia, and three years
later went into business for himself,
George F. Bosher subsequently be-
coming his partner, which firm con-
tinued till i860. Afterward he was
in partnership with S. B. Smith, now

than a quarter of a century. He has
also been pre.sident of the People's
National bank since its organization.
He was a prime mover in the organi-
zation of the Laconia street railway.
He opened the Folsom opera house
in 1862. He is a prominent Mason
and Odd Fellow, being the oldest

LlJ
5

UJ
UJ

332

SOME ''LAKE CITY'' MBA' AND INDUS'! RIBS.

Dr. J. Alonzo Greene.

member of the latter fraternity in the
city.

Mr. Folsom has been twice mar-
ried. His first wife was Olive B.
Robinson of Gilford, and of four chil-
dren only one now survives, Mrs.
Samuel B. Siniih. His second wife
was Miss Imogene F. Harris of Fran-
conia, and they have one daughter.
Miss Alberta.

Simeon Cheney Frye, city clerk
of lyaconia, was born in vSanbornton,
April 26, 1865, a son of Jonathan J.
and Ruth H. (lycavitt) Frye, and is a
lineal descendant of Thomas Dudley,
second governor of Massachusetts

Bay colony. Two of his great-grand-
fathers were Revolutionary soldiers.

He was educated at the New
Hampton institution, and came to
Lacouia in January, 1887, as book-
keeper in O'Shea Bros.' store and
hosiery mill. He left this firm in
March, i8go, to engage in the " ice
harvest," caused by a famine of frozen
water down country, which resulted
in a boom in this industry in Laconia
and vicinity. From January i, 1891,
he was with Coburu & I^eavitt as
bookkeeper until the firm went out of
business, and then entered the oflFice
of the Crane Manufacturing Co., Sep-

SOME ''LAKE CITY'' MEN AND INDUSTRIES.

333

teniber, 1893, as bookkeeper, and re-
mained with them until elected city
clerk March 29, 1894. Mr. Fr\ e has
been reelected city clerk at each sub-
sequent election and still holds the
position, in which he has served with
great efficiency. His books and
records are models of neatness and
correctness, and in the discharge of
his official duties he has no superior
in New Hampshire. He was auditor
of state treasurer's accounts in 1897,
appointed by Governor Busiel.

Mr. Frye is connected with several
of the secret and fraternal orders.
He is a member of Mt. Lebanon
Lodge, No. 32, A. F. & A. M., of
which at the present time he is junior
warden. He is also a member of
Chocorua Lodge, No. 51, I. O. O. F.,
and of Granite Lodge, No. 3, An-
cient Order of United Workmen, of
which latter organization he has
been recorder since 1892.

In the very midst of the lake region

of New Hampshire, Laconia is favor-
ably located with reference to the
summer boarding interest, which has
been of so much advantage to the
state in recent years. There are
man}' popular resorts in this line in
the vicinity, that at " The Weirs,"
which is located within the city lim-
its, of course, taking the lead.

It is here that the celebrated 1)k. J.
Alonzo Greene of Nervura fame,
who has done so much for the de-
velopment of the state in other direc-
tions, has been giving free course to
enterprise of late, he having pur-
chased Hotel Weirs, and greatly en-
larged and improved the same, mak-
ing it one of the largest and finest
summer hotels in the state. It is
equipped in first-class order in every
respect, and under the management
of the popular and experienced land-
lord. Col. Freeman C. Willis, has al-
ready established a reputation second
to none.

«•*--

3^1-

•^^

-^m--

Liconia, from Vue de I'Eau Hotel,

IvIFE'S PATH.

By Onnsby A. Court.

Fair fringed the path that strays through meadows lush,
Sun-kissed and echoing the linnet, lark, and thrush,
Caressed b}' vines that tenderly embrace.
Embowered with greens that intertwining, lace.

Up, up the hill the path now turns and twists
'Midst boulders huge and everblinding mists,
'Neath suns that glare and storms that fiercely beat.
On twines the path, still threatens grim defeat.

Now on the crest the path rests, sighs, and weeps.
Then plunges downward in long, graceful sweeps,
'Neath shading trees, through grasses sweet and tall,
'Neath suns that smile and rains that gently fall.

Amongst the trees that skirt the wooded deep.
The path now winds with steps that, lagging, sleep ;
The sun sinks low ; the night-birds silent loom —
The sun has set. — The end is lost in gloom.

AN OLD HOUSE AND ITS TRADITIONS.
By A N'ew Hampshire Girl.

HE bar room was a large,
square room, with win-
dows facing south and
west, an old-fashioned
fireplace extended half
way across one side, and on the other
side was the entrance into a spacious
hall. It was wainscoted from floor
to ceiling, and painted in Spanish
brown. This was grandmother's
room, and her room was the chil-
dren's room. Her presence was its

constant light, for the infirmities of
age had deprived her of the use of
her limbs, and she left it only once a
5'ear for a brief visit to a daughter
who lived half a mile away. Then
she was lifted in her chair upon a
stone drag, which was drawn by
oxen. Grandmother's room was a
place of refuge to which the little
folks of the house could flee when
childish troubles vexed them else-
where. Here they always found

AN OLD HOUSE AND ITS TRADITIONS.

335

solace and sympathy. Here they
could indulge in sports that were
prohibited in rooms where the house-
hold duties were perforn:ed. Nothing
ever disturbed the tranquil old lady's
■equanimity, and around her hearth-
stone many were the arrows shaped
to shoot imaginary Indians, many the
leaden bullets molded to kill make-
believe bears. This room was not
•only a safe retreat and a play-ground,
but it was also a story depository.
It was a group of eager listeners that
gathered about the cheerful fire of
logs, while grandmother beguiled
the hours of the long winter evenings
by relating incidents of the Revolu-
tionary War, Indian traditions, and
stories of pioneer life.

The "bar room," modernized, is
in a large farmhouse, situated in a
rural town of central New Hamp-
shire ; the town borders upon the
Merrimack river. The main house
is a square, three-storied, substan-
tial building. The Iv is one storied.
Large elms and maples on the east,
south, and west afford grateful shade
from the summer's heat, while on the
north side of the house a double row"
of firs breaks the force of the winter
storms. The house stands on the
brow of a hill at the foot of which
runs a charming brook. This, when
swollen by the melting snows of the
springtime, rushes along with the
force of a torrent, but in midsummer
is often dried to a purling rill.

The Iv is one of the first frame
iiouses built in the town, and is more
than a century and a half old. It has
three rooms, kitchen, "meal room,"
and " cheese room." The main
house was added about thirty years
later for a "tavern stand." Situated
on the stage route from Concord to

Plymouth, and at a convenient dis-
tance from the former place, the
house had a liberal patronage, and
the arrival of the stage three times a
week bringing the mail, the news
from the outside world, and "travel-
ers," who lodged for a night, was an
event of no slight interest. But the
railroad came, the stage-coach disap-
peared, the tavern closed its doors.
The bar room, however, retained its
name long after the tavern sign was
taken down.

A mile to the west of the house,
across an interval or meadow, is the
site of an old fort. Here, until 1865,
stood the original garrison house of
the town, a square, two-storied build-
ing, with loop holes through which
guns could be fired. In case of an
alarm of Indians the inhabitants re-
paired to the fort.

The traditions of the old house or
L, date back to the time of the French
and Indian wars. To the original
inhabitants of this place the war-
whoop was a not unusual sound, and
the tomahawk and scalping knife not
unfamiliar sights. It was a frontier
town, an unbroken forest extending
to the north and northeast. What
wonder then that the early settlers
gave it a name which signifies
"Stronghold of the woods." The
extensive forests were not only good
hunting ground, but there was ex-
cellent fishing in the many ponds
and brooks. For this reason In-
dians were accustomed to frequent it.
So troublesome did they sometimes
become, and so much were the farm-
ers interrupted in their work, that
they were compelled to call in help
from neighboring towns ; armed men
standing sentinel while the fields
were being plowed and planted. In

33^

AN OLD HOUSE AND IIS TRADITIONS.

the year 1757 the red men were an
unusual terror, the war in which
they were then engaged as alHes of
the French, rendering them especially
hostile to Englishmen.

The family, which at this time oc-
cupied the house we have described,
consisted of Mr. Thomas and his wife
Mary, five children, the youngest a
boy four years old, a boy by the name
of Jackson, nephew of Mr. Thomas,
and two negro slaves, Pomp and Dor-
set. The house stood near the fron-
tier, and was especially exposed to an
enemy. Mrs. Thomas on returning
home one day, after a brief absence,
found, a formidable looking Indian in
her cellar drinking milk from a pan.
He was evidently greatly in fear of
detection, for he was much agitated,
his hands trembling violently as he
held the pan to his lips. He did
not see Mrs. Thomas, and she very
wisely preferring her safety to an In-
dian's scalp quietly left the house.
Several Indians were, discovered one'
evening lurking about the premises
of a neighbor, without doubt, in-
tending to kill or capture the inmates
of the house, while asleep. To es-
cape to the garrison was impossible.
Some plan to rout them must be de-
vised. They were equal to the emer-
gency. Equipped with tin pans, din-
ner horns, pails, kettles, and other
kitchen implements, they went to the
door. At the signal " Stand to your
arms," all rushed out of the house
and beat their pans and kettles with
the energy of men whose lives were
at stake. This put the reds to flight,
and the family was not again mo-
lested. In another quarter of the
town, two men had been fired upon
by the Indians who were lying in
ambush behind a large log. One

escaped uninjured, the other received
a wound from a poi.soned arrow, and
died in great agony. Scouts often
came upon beds of coals, where the
enemy had roasted, corn and cooked
their game. The red men were be-
coming bold, and the inhabitants
thought it prudent to retire to the
fort. Here a close watch was kept
for .some time. No Indians were
seen. Provisions were getting short,
the men were growing weary of con-
finement, and were desirous of re-
turning to their fields.

Mrs. Thomas, believing that the
enemy had left the place, went one
morning to her house to make prepa-
rations for the return of her family.
Upon opening her meal chest she dis-
covered that a considerable quantity
of meal had been taken in her ab-
sence. It was apparent who had
committed the theft. Indians might
then be concealed in or about the
house. No time must be lost. She
must make her escape, hasten to the
fort, and put the inhabitants again
on their guard. Going to the door
she called loudly, "Boys, boys.
Come, come quickly," and continu-
ing to call thus she passed along the
frontier, where she narrowly escaped
falling into an ambuscade, crossed
the meadow, and reached the garri-
son in safety.

Dorset and Jackson had gone from
the fort early the same morning to
the Thomas farm to hoe corn in a
field in the rear of the hou.se. This
field was enclosed on two sides by a
high log fence, on another side was a
dense forest. Glad of their relea.se
from confinement the boys were in
fine spirits, and work, this bright
June morning, was more a pastime
than toil. Jackson was at intervals

AN OLD HOUSE AND ITS TRADITIONS.

337

whistling a lively time, the sharp
stroke of the hoes as they cut the
rocky soil forming a not unpleasant
accompaniment. The negro, mean-
while, giving full pla}^ to his imagi-
nation was relating stories of his life
in Africa. He told of how he was
wont to hunt the lion in his native
jungle, of savage encounters with
these lords of the forest, of marvel-
ous escapes from the infuriated
beasts. He boasted of his athletic
accomplishments, claiming that he
could outstrip all his dusky com-
panions in leaping, jumping, and
running. He told of wounds re-
ceived in wars, which his race had
made upon other black races, of de-
feats and victories. As the hours
wore away they neared the fence.
Suddenly, with a shrill warwhoop,
four Indians bounded over it, and
swooped down upon them. So un-
expected was the attack, that it was
impossible to defend themselves with
their guns. Two of the men seized
the lad, who became an easy prey ;
not so Dorset. The reds grappled
with him, but after a fierce struggle
he tore away and escaped to the for-
est. Here he made a brave and stub-
born resistance. It was a hand to
hand fight, and a savage fighting
savages. Taking advantage of his
knowledge of the woods, Dorset
fought from behind great trees, and
from this point of vantage he dealt
heavy blows right and left with his
powerful arms. In turn, he received
severe wounds on the face and head.
His cries of " Murder ! '' " Indians ! "
were heard by some boys who had
been sent on errands to the meadow,
and they ran to the garrison to give
the alarm. Scouts were immediately
sent out to search the woods and

other retreats of the savages, but they
found no trace of captives or captors.

Meantime Dorset and Jackson were
taken on the march, the negro bound
by a wicopy cord to one of the men.
This band was soon reinforced by
other Indians of the same tribe, the
St. Francis, all on their way to Mon-
treal, to dispose of their winter har-
vest of furs. It was a motley and
picturesque company, this strolling
band of men, women, and children,
the Indians tall and lank with skins
so intensel}^ copper colored as to give
them a just title to the name of red-
skins, the chiefs hideous with war
paint, the squaws, large and squat,
some with their papooses strapped
vipon their backs ; Dorset, broad-
shouldered, muscular, and black as
midnight darkness; the lad, fair-
faced, slender, and delicate.

Having gone a considerable dis-
tance from the settlement, the pris-
oners received their initiation into a
life of captivity with the Indians.
Their hands were tightly tied behind
them, and bundles of booty that the
red men had taken from houses they
had plundered were fastened upon
their backs. Marching under their
heavy loads was difficult, but if they
lagged behind the rest of the band
they were goaded to greater exer-
tion. The hours of the afternoon
dragged on slowly, and they were
weary and footsore when the com-
pany halted for the night. Their
supper consisted of a little pounded
corn. When they lay down to sleep
their hands were so tightly bound
with cords that they were benumbed,
and they were surrounded by Indians
in order that they might not escape.

At the end of the second day's
journey the negro and the "pale

338

AN OLD HOUSE AND ITS TRADITIONS.

face" were asked to point toward the
place from which they had come.
Expecting this test they were both
prompt to indicate the wrong direc-
tion, and no longer apprehensive that
they would escape, the reds relaxed
their vigilance. This was our cap-
tives' opportunity, and when all were
asleep they stole away. They had
observed carefully objects which they
had passed on the way, but traveling
in the darkness of night was bewil-
dering, and after a long day's march
fatiguing, especially to the lad, and
they had not gone far before he was
overcome by exhaustion, and both
lay down to sleep. They fell into a
heavy slumber from which they did
not waken till startled at daybreak
by the yell of the savages. Again
the wretched captives were com-
pletely at the mercy of the most mer-
ciless of foes, but there was no release,
and the}'- were hurried back to the
encampment. Their condition now
was more intolerable than before.
First, they were compelled to run the
gauntlet. They were forbidding-look-
ing men that formed the lines between
which the captives must pass, armed
as they were with whips and clubs,
but to show reluctance or hesitation
would only add to their torture, and
affecting Indian bravery they boldly
accepted their fate. Dorset being
wary and a swift runner, escaped
without serious injury ; his com-
panion fared worse, receiving many
cruel blows. The labor that they
must perform in the encampment, be-
fore considerable, was now made ex-
cessive. They were obliged to pound
the corn, to heat stones and put them
into the kettles for cooking the veni-
son, to assist the squaws in bringing
the slain bear and deer to the camp.

As a precaution against another at-
tempt to escape, the captives were
not permitted to be together.

In a few days the Indians reached
their fish weirs, on the borders of
the beautiful lake which they desig-
nated as the " Smile of the Great
Spirit." At this famous rallying
ground and banqueting place of In-
dian tribes they halted and prepared
for a stay of several days, their ob-
ject being to feast upon the shad then
so abundant at this place. Every-
thing here was novel to our captives.
They had never before seen fishing;
on so grand a scale, for the red men
had built great stone dams over
which they stretched their fish nets,
and at this season of the year the}'-
caught great quantities of shad.
The rude implements with which
the red men dressed their fish, the
many fires over which they cooked
it, the company spread out upon the
grass for the feast, some sitting,
others lying down, the jargon of the
Indian language, the indolence and
greediness of the men, the weary
patience of the women while serving
their lords and masters, all contri-
buted to the picturesqueness of the
scene, and made their stay here a
respite, at least, from the weariness
and hardships of the march. They
had suffered from hunger on the way,
having had only two meals a day, if
indeed the meager allowance doled
out to them morning and evening
could be called a meal, but now they
shared in the feasts, and in a meas-
ure recovered their strength and
spirits.

The banqueting over, the company
resumed their journey. The Indians
were astir early in the morning lead-
ing their captives, an addition hav-

AN OLD HOUSE AND ITS TRADITIONS.

339

ing been made to their number by
trading with other tribes. A short
march brought them into the valley
of the Pemigewasset river or " Place
of Crooked Pines," the course of
which river they followed many
miles. Where the water was deep
and smooth they paddled up in their
canoes, where it was rough or shal-
low they followed along the bank,
careful always to retreat into the for-
ests whenever they approached a set-
tlement. They usually tarried a few
days when near a frontier town and
sent some of the men for booty and
captives. These often returned with
milk, poultry, corn, and other grain.
Their trail lay through the Fran-
conia Notch, and as northern New
Hampshire was at this time an un-
broken wilderness from here it turned
west, crossed northern Vermont to
Lake Champlain and passed into
Canada.

It was several weeks before they
reached their destination, and al-
though the captives did not know
what fate more dreadful awaited
them here, they were glad that their
journey was at an end. For long
weeks their only bed had been the
bare earth, sometimes made a little
softer by spreading down hemlock
boughs ; in heavy dews or drenching
rains their only covering was the
open sky. Some days their food was
reduced to a few berries or even
acorns.

In Montreal the captives were im-
prisoned for several weeks while the
Indians were disposing of their furs
and skins. Jackson was then sold to
a Frenchman, with whom he passed
a somewhat eventful captivity of four
years. He was then redeemed and
returned to his home. The negro

was retained by the Indians. Being
a good hunter and a skilful trapper
they found him a valuable assistant
when they were in pursuit of game
or fur-bearing animals. Resenting
the abuse he had received from them,
he could not, however, alwaj's be re-
lied on. Once when the band to
which he belonged was lying in wait
about an English settlement, near
Montreal, to make captives, he be-
trayed them into the hands of the
English. They would have been
mercilessly put to death had it not
been for the intercession of a friendly
Indian. At his entreaty they were
returned to their tribe without pun-
ishment. For this act of treach-
ery Dorset was put to torture. He
was driven barefoot over sharp stones
being goaded to the greatest speed,
was tormented by hunger and thirst,
was deprived of sleep, was suspended
by his arms to a tree and lashed with
rawhide.

The led men decided to part com-
pany with their captive, after three
years' trial. Accordingly they sold
him to an Englishman for trinkets of
jewelry and firearms. He was little
valued by his new owner, and in the
year 1763, Mr. Thomas received in-
telligence that for a moderate sum he
could redeem his slave. Desirous of
recovering him he set out with a
companion to make the journey to
Canada. It was winter, the snows
were deep, the roads almost un-
broken, and the weather severe. Af-
ter a tedious journey, they reached
Montfeal. Dorset was found and his
freedom purchased. He was much
rejoiced to see his master, and to
know that his captivity was at an
end. Next day they started home-
ward. Owing to the bad condition

340

AN OLD HOUSE AND ITS TRADITIONS.

of the roads one of the party must
walk. In the vicinity of Lake Cham-
plain, Dorset, while taking his turn,
lagged behind. He was urged to
keep up and for a time no other no-
tice was taken of his behavior. He
loitered farther behind till, at length,
Mr. Thomas lost sight of him. They
waited, but he did not appear; they
turned back, but he was not on the
road over which they had come. Af-
ter a long search they found him on
a wood road, cold and bewildered.
Taking him to the nearest shelter, a
w'oodman's shanty, they administered
such restoratives as the inmates could
furnish, and in a few hours they were
able to proceed on their way.

On arriving home the slave was
kindly cared for, but his feet had
been so badly frozen that amputation
was necessary. In explanation of his
strange conduct in leaving the res-
cuing party he acknowledged that he
loved a pretty Indian girl, then in an
encampment near Montreal, and that
he had tried to find his way back to
the city in the hope of inducing her
to accompany him. As he was not
able to work on the farm he became
a house servant, learning to perform
many household services with much
cleverness. He could sew, knit, card
wool, and make boots and shoes.
Grateful that he had been rescued
from captivity, he rendered willing
service to his master's family. His
eventful life with the Indians had
lionized him in the estimation of the
Thomas children, and they always
treated him with consideration. He
bore to the grave the scars of the

wounds received in his affray with
the red men.

At his death, which occurred at an
advanced age, he was buried beside
his fellow slave, Pomp, in a field near
the house. A mound of earth and a
rude stone were all that for many
years marked the spot. In course of
time a gooseberry bush sprang up
upon the grave, and grew to large
proportions. Grandmother told it,
and credence was given to the tradi-
tion that Dorset had gooseberries in
his pocket when he was buried, and
from the seeds came this bush. It
was commonly believed by the chil-
dren that there was something un-
canny about the berries, and they
were never relished. This was the
only monument to Dorset, but he
slept, where, as often as the spring-
time came, Nature decorated his
grave with flowers from her own
hand, where the roses of June gave
sweetest perfume to the air, where
from lofty elms the birds sang their
most joyous notes.

Many changes have occurred since
roving bands of the red men were
accustomed to resort to this place.
From a frontier town it has become a
center of population, surrounded on
all sides by thriving towns and vil-
lages ; the old fort has given place to
a substantial set of farm buildings ;
Dorset's grave, by successive plow-
ings of the field, has been nearly ob-
literated ; the gooseberr}' bush had its
brief day and perished ; the old house
remains, the only witness of the
events that were so often rehearsed
at grandmother's fireside.

GRAMMA'S HOLLYHOCKS.
By Moses Gage Shirley.

An old-time garden full of bees
And sweet with old-time flow^ers,

I have in mind when I recall
My childhood's happy hours.

There were the pinks and marigolds,

The hone3'Suckles tall,
The morning-glories, blue and red,

That clambered o'er the wall.

There were the roses, all in bloom,

The lilies and the phlox.
But dearer than them all to me.

Were gramma's hollyhocks.

I see them now just as they stood
With blossoms pink and red,

And snowy white, high o'er the flowers
Within the garden bed.

I hear the drowsy bumblebees,
That used to stay and sup

Within the fragrant blooms till night
Would come and close them up.

That dear old garden long ago,
How sweet and cool it seems ;
• But gramma she is now asleep.
And all I hold is dreams

Of those old scenes I loved so well,

Of faces and of flowers.
Where, in my childhood's days, I passed

So many happy hours.

Since then my pilgrim feet have strayed
Through many pleasant ways.

And many golden afternoons
Have crowned my passing days.

But ever will abide with me

The lilies and the phlox,
And the old garden full of bees

And gramma's hollyhocks.

xxix— 23

The Dr. Dana Meeting-house.

THF DANA MEETING-HOUSE, NEW HAMPTON.

By A: C/i ester Clark.

f EMOTE from the village,

in the town of New
Hampton, stands the
Dana Meeting-house
which reaches the one
hundredth year of its age this fall,
and which is truly a relic of by-
gone days. It is located in a wild
and romantic place, surrounded by
the ancient homesteads of its build-
ers, and where even the roadside
and the forests seem to impress one
with a sense of the antiquity of the
place.

The exterior of the building itself
is of ancient design. Three en-
trances, one from the front and one
from each end, admit to the building.
Over the front entrance juts a jDor-
tico of rude workmanship. The win-

dows are placed high as if to confine
the attention of the worshiper with-
in instead of allowing his thoughts
to revert to the affairs of the world
without.

One must go inside, however, to
see this ancient edifice under the
most favorable circumstances. Here
everything except the simple means
for lighting and heating is of an
ancient pattern. The pews are large
spaces enclosed b)' rails which are
supported by rounds standing on a
more substantial base of old growth
pine boards. Around these enclos-
ures, on all sides except where
entrance is made through a gate,
run rude seats of uncushioned pine
boards. Thus the backs of the seats
are rigidly perpendicular. These en-

THE DANA MEETING-HOUSE, NEW HAMPTON.

343

closures were originally designed for
separate families and a few mani-
festly for very large families. Some
kindly disposed person of late has
obtained the names of those who
occupied these enclosures in the
past and has tacked a card with the
name of its former occupant on each
pew for the information of those who
now visit the place.

Among these names are those of
many of the oldest and best-known
families of the town. These names
are as follows: Daniel Smith and
Caleb Ames, Joseph Young, Robert
Huckins, Deacon John Huckins,
James Flanders, Page Smith, Zebu-
Ion Gordon, Benjamin Hanaford, Dr.
Simeon Dana, Elder Samuel Thomp-
son, Deacon Nathaniel Drake, Simeon
Smith, John Smith, Daniel Randlett,
Jonathan Dow, Joseph Smith, Darius
G. Drake, James Howe, Stephen S.
Magoon, Ira Gordon, Jacob Drake,

Winthrop Y. Hanaford, Ebeu Howe,
Benjamin Magoon, John Gordon,
Elder Josiah Magoon, Samuel P.
Smith and Timothy Dalton, Rufus
Prescott, Henry Y. Simpson, Abra-
ham Drake, Eevi Smith.

The pulpit is raised to be above
the heads of the congregation, and is
a long, narrow enclosure, reached by
a flight of stairs from the front.
Immediately in front of the pulpit is
a seat facing the congregation, de-
signed to be occupied by the ruling
elders.

The story of the establishment of
this church is an interesting one.
New Hampton was originally a part
of that gore of land, including also
Centre Harbor, purchased by Gen.
Jonathan Moulton in 1765 of Gov-
ernor Wentworth, the purchase price
being an ox fattened for the purpose
and decorated with a British flag.
Ten years later the first inhabitants

Interior of the Dr. Dana Meeting-house.

344

THE DANA MEETING-HOUSE, NEW HAMPTON.

came, and in 1777 the town was
incorporated. These earh^ settlers
were Congregationalists, and June
8, 1789, began the erection of the
first church building. Funds not
being available the town came to the
rescue and finished the edifice on
condition that it should be used for
town purposes. This building still
stands. The denomination wdiich
began its erection has ceased to ex-
ist as a working factor in the town,

bers. The Congregationalists were
now fully aroused, and. at the town-
meeting held March 20, the town
voted to settle the Rev. Mr. Hibbard
as the first regular minister in the
town. The Freewill Baptists voted
against this, but being outnumbered
they entered the following protest at
an adjourned meeting held May 5 :

To the Selectmen of New Hampton :

Whereas, j-ou have latelj- called a meeting
and voted to raise a certain stun of mone3' to

The Old Town House.

but the town- meetings are still held
in the old building each year.

There were some, however, among
the early settlers who were not
pleased with the idea of a paid
ministry; and when, in 1799, Rev.
Winthrop Young, of Canterbury, a
preacher of the then recently formed
denomination of " Freewill Antipedo
Baptists," came to town and preached
to them the}' readily accepted his
doctrines, and January 6, 1800, or-
ganized a church of sixty-four mem-

hire preaching in said town, this is, therefore,
to certify that we, the subscribers, have no
fellowship with raising money to pay those
who preach for hire, or divine for money ; and
as the constitution we live under gives liberty
of conscience, w'e wish to continue a free peo-
ple, and desire you not to tax us with any part
of such sum or sums, as may be raised for such
use, as we are determined not to paj- it.

This protest, couched in such
strong language, was granted.

The new organization, however,
had no regular place in which to
hold their services. For a number of
months meetings were held at private

THE DANA MEETING-HOUSE, NEW HAMPTON. 545

houses and even in ]:)arns, as was
oftentimes the custom with the early
settlers. The town verj' reluctantly
granted the use of the meeting-house
for a session of the New Durham
Quarterly Meeting with which the
new church had united. The re-
ligious flame now raging beyond the
control of the established church was
undoubtedly fanned by the zealous
preaching of the early fathers who
met there on this occasion. The
church grew, and, at about this time,
the question of building a new
meeting-house began to be agitated.
In the fall of 1800 another church
edifice was begun. This edifice is
the old Dana Meeting-house. Al-
though in Maj^ of this same year,
when an assessment was made on all
the churches of the denomination.
New" Hampton paid an amount ex-
ceeded by only two other churches,
yet the new organization was poor
and for four 3''ears the building was
without seats other than those made
from a few pine boards placed around
the walls. After the lapse of this
time the present unique pews were
put into place. The building was
now complete, and was dedicated in
1805.

The accounts of the meetings held
here in the early days are very
interesting. The following from Rev.
I. D. Stewart's Histor}" of the Free-
will Baptists tells of the session of
the New Durham Quarterly meeting
held here May 20, 1801 :

About forty Christian friends, on their way
through Laconia, had fallen into the company
of each other, and arrived at the farm house of
Samuel Crockett just before noon. He kept
"pilgrim's tavern" and would have them all
stop and dine. Two hours were spent in either
cooking, eating, singing, prayer, or devout
conversation ; when man and beast being re-

freshed, they journeyed onward to the Mere-
dith church where a meeting was held in the
orchard of Deacon Pease. By the time they
were ready to depart the next morning, the
procession numbered one hundred strong, all
on horseback, constituting an imposing and
holj' cavalcade. Kandall led the van and a
couple of hours' ride brought them to the place
of meeting. As thej- approached, all united in
a song of praise. The hills and woods re-
sounded with the song and the effect upon
themselves and those at the house of God, who
bade them welcome, was peculiarlj- impres-
sive. The meeting of business soon com-
menced, and " the most beautiful order was ob-
served through the whole audience," of five
hundred in number. As they reassembled the
next da3% it is said that "the glory of God so
filled the house that there was no room to
enter upon business for the space of two hours
and upwards. The scene was indescribabl}-
glorious."

Elder Benjamin Randall, who was
the founder of the denomination,
came here again in January, 1S05, to
attend the quarterly meeting. So
great was the power of his preaching
that the congregation listened " until
dark." Here also came, in iSii,
John Colby, the young and talented
itinerant. David Marks, whose
travels in the interest of the church
encompassed many states, was at the
yearly meeting held here in 1832,
and preached in a nearby grove.

Other preachers of note have come
here from time to time but none has
left a deeper impression than those
who spent their lives in this town.

First and foremost among these
stands Simeon Dana, the preacher-
physician, whose name has been per-
petuated by being attached to the
church. Dr. Dana was a native of
Lebanon, having been born there in
1776. Unlike a large per cent, of
the Freewill Baptist clergy of that
time, he was well educated, having
been a student at Dartmouth. When
a young man of twenty-two years he
came to New Hampton to take up

346 THE DANA MEETING-HOUSE, NEW HAMPTON.

the practice of his professson, or, " if
the people desired it, to teach a dis-
trict school, singing school, or danc-
ing school." Soon afterwards he
was converted under the labors of
Elder Young, and December 8, 1803,
was ordained in company with Josiah
Magoon. From this time until his
death in 1S53, a period of fifty years,
he continued to minister to the spir-
itual needs of this and surrounding
communities. Wherever he went,
whether to nurse the sick or preach
the gospel, he was looked upon as a
model of true manhood by his large
circle of acquaintances. One of Dr.
Dana's sons, John A. Dana, became
a noted physician, practising at Ash-
land, and was also quite closely iden-
tified with the P'ree Soil movement
and well known in musical circles.
Inheriting this latter talent, his
daughter, Mrs. Martha Dana Shep-
ard, is now one of New England's
best known pianists.

Rev. Josiah Magoon, mentioned
above, was eighteen years the senior
of Dr. Dana, having been born in
Kingston, January 23, 1758. He
fought gallantly through the War for
Independence, and among other en-
gagements was present at the capture
of Ticonderoga. In 1793 he settled
at New Hampton. Being ordained,
he preached in turn with Dr. Simeon
Dana and Rev. Thomas Perkins at
the home church, and also itinerated
in the neighboring towns of New
Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine.
At the close of his life he was in his
eighty-third year.

Rev. Thomas Perkins was well
known not only in New Hampton
and vicinity, but throughout the
state. For eleven years he was a
member of the New Hampshire legis-

lature, where he gained a reputation
as a man of sound judgment and of
the highest integrity. The town
also honored him with seventeen
elections to the board of selectmen.
Elder Perkins was a native of Haver-
hill, Mass., where he was born Feb-
ruary 22, 1783. On his thirteenth
birthday he came, with his father, to
New Hampton. Here under the
preaching of Elder Young he was
converted but was not ordained until
1S16, although he had been preach-
ing for a number of years. Habitu-
ally in the various quarterly and
yearly meetings of the denomination
his thoughtful countenance was
looked upon with confidence, and
his well-w^eighed words of counsel
carried a deep and lasting influence.
Six times he was called to act in the
general conference of the denomina-
tion, and here also he was looked upon
with the same high esteem. Modest
and unassuming in his manner, " his
light was unlike that of the blazing
comet, but very like the clear, pure,
silver star that is never dim."

Another of the converts of Elder
Young in the memorable revival of
1799, was Samuel Thompson. He,
too, afterwards became a preacher,
being ordained in 1836. He was in
the legislature of 181 r and 1812, rep-
resenting New Hampton. After-
wards he represented Holderness, his
native town, for two terms.

For many years after its organiza-
tion the Dana church was remarkably
prosperous for one located in a farm-
ing community. Many years saw a
large annual addition to its member-
ship, but as the first three quarters
of a century drew to a close it had
suffered much b}^ the death of many
of its most staunch supporters and

THH DANA MEETING-HOUSE, NEW HAMPTON.

347

the removal of others to a different
part of the country. Therefore, in
the early seventies it transferred its
membership to the Freewill Baptist
church, organized at the village when
New Hampton Institution passed from
the control of the Baptists to that of
the Freewill Baptists.

Yet services are still held here each
Sunday, sometimes conducted by the
pastor of the village church, some-
times by a student from the Institu-
tion, or often by a visitor in the town.
Among these last was the late Rev.
Adoniram Judson Gordon, D. D., the
lamented pastor of the Clarendon
Street Baptist church of Boston, who
returned here to his native town each
summer to breathe the pure air of its
hills and vales. As a boy he had
visited the sacred edifice, and as age
grew upon him he loved to gaze upon
its antique architecture. Here he
preached sermons such as thousands
came to hear in his city church.
Nor was he lacking in auditors at
this place, for from miles around the
citizens came to listen to the noted
divine. But the burden of years was
resting on the building erected under
such great difficulties by the devout
Christians of early days and lest no
other should take the work of repairs

Rev. A. J. Gordon.

in hand Dr. Gordon himself contri-
buted his money and influence to its
preservation. It was newly clap-
boarded and shingled and otherwise
repaired, but the individuality of the
building was preserved in every de-
tail. It now stands with all the im
pressiveness that a hundred years can
give to greet the traveler who comes
from far and near to view this ancient
home of religion.

GOODMAN KEYZAR.

By George Roby Bcniictte.

The streams of old Peiitucket flow

By bend and grove and nook.
The waters dance in wild Hoghill,
Fair Darby laughs to turn its mill,

But not like these Deep brook.

With movement slow and silently,

It glides between its banks.
Through smiling meadows sweet with hay,
Or alders dark, where wild things stray,

And trees in statelj^ ranks.

It winds about the wooded slope

Of Misery's lonely hill.
And flows through Barcelona's wood.
By bend where crooked oak once stood,

And on by Kimball's mill.

The speckled trout once loved full well

Its shady woodland springs.
And where it shifts the meadow bright,
The wild duck tarried in its flight

To rest its tired wings.

Two hundred years or so ago.

No white man's foot had stirred
Those lonely woods ; nor paused to dream
Beside the darkly flowing stream ;

No English voice been heard.

The redman knew its sylvan depths,

Where hid the startled deer,
Wild game birds through its shadows played.
The lone wolf to its coverts strayed,

His savage whelps to rear.

To its lone banks one bright spring day,

A sturdy wanderer came,
With store of leather, russet brown,
And last and hammer weighted down,

John Keyzar was his name.

GOODMAN KEYZAR. 349

On southern slope of Misery's mount

A canvas tent he reared ;
And as he labored day by day,
He passed the lonely hours away

In peace, and nothing feared.

His leather, moistened in the stream,

Upon his knee he wrought.
The folks in old Pentucket town
Wore shoes that Keyzar brought them down,

With woodland fancies fraught.

And as he worked the leather round,

And handled awl and thread,
'Neath sturdy blows the lapstone rang,
While many a stirring hymn he sang

Woke echoes overhead.

A Canty man was Goodman John,

And famed for feats of strength ;
'Tis said he jumped an oxcart o'er.
And seized a man b}' his own door

And threw him twice his length.

From old Pentuck to Boston town

He ran in one short night,
And back again, before the dew,
On grass that by the wayside grew,

Had dried in morning's light.

A man of curious fancy, he

Had many a saying quaint.
He loved the shady forest's gloom,
Its sunny dells where wild flowers bloom.

Its freedom from restraint ;

The gentle winds of summer time.

The crashing thunder loud,
Faint rosy tints that morning's flush,
The midday's heat, and twihght's hush.

The sunshine and the cloud.

The speckled rovers of the pools

Were by his cunning w^ooed,
And hill and wood gave many a thing,
With sparkling water from the spring.

To furnish dailv food.

350 GOODMAN KEYZAR.

One morning in late summer time,

Long ere the sun appeared,
He left his tent beside the stream,
And, guided by the moon's pale beam,

For far Pentuck he steered.

He strode across the timbered ridge,

And skirted round the crown
Of Sweetser's height. Crossed Darby's brook,
Up Pecker's hill, where he could look
Down on the sleeping town.

He passed the lonely garrison,

All rapt in slumber deep,
And reached the river's wooded shore.
When night is darkest, just before

The day began to peep.

About him stretched the forest dim,

Filled full of sleepy life ;
The hush of morning's early hour
Lay over tree and bush and flower.

With woodland incense rife.

On his right hand the waters ran,

Swift flowing to the sea ;
Below, the sleeping village lay
Beside the river's winding way.

From fear and. caution free.

What 's this that checks his swinging stride,

A sudden sense of fear.
Foreshadow of impending woe.
The coming of an unseen foe.

Or footsteps drawing near ?

He glides behind a sheltering tree

And sees with straining eye
A hundred shadowy forms appear.
Their every look a thing to fear.
As, one by one, pass by.

With painted face, and scalplock grim,

In single file they stride ;
Keen tomahawk and gun in hand.
And scalping knife in each waistband.

They through the forest glide.

GOODMAN KEYZAR. 351

From their far land beyond the lakes,

A French and Indian band,
Down through the summer, winding came.
To bring disaster, death, and flame, '

Upon the English land.

On hellish errand they were bent.

To find it sleeping sound,
With fiery torch and murderous hand.
To strike Pentucket from the land.

Their old time hunting-ground.

Now Goodman John, the time has come

To test your vaunted speed,
Below you stand a score of homes,
Unconscious that the foeman comes.

Now haste thee in their need !

lyike hunted deer he speeds along.

Until the town he spies ;
From house to house with flying feet
And hurried knock, nor paused to greet,

" The Indians come," he cries.

And when a little later on

The savage foe alarmed,
And painted forms with warwhoop loud,
About the little village crowd.

They found it fully armed.

Each log-built house a fortress was,

By sturdy yeoman manned ;
And answering yell and death-winged ball.
Caused many a red-skinned foe to fall,

And drove the murderous band.

Back to their homes behind the lakes

Returned the savage crew.
And for a time Pentucket town.
Beside the river nestled down.

In peace and plenty grew.

In gratitude to Goodman John,

They gave a vote of thanks,
Of common land a goodly store,
A hundred acres less or more.

Near Deep brook's shady banks.

352 GOODMAN KEYZAR.

For many years he lived thereon,

With children half a score,
And his descendants to this day
About the lonely hillside play,
Where stood his tent, of yore.

A century and a half has flown

On time's relentless wing.
The Indians wuth the years have fled.
And murmuring pine trees overhead
Their lonely requiem sing.

But still his well-remembered fame,

In song and stories taught.
The quaint and wondrous things he told.
His journeys long and actions bold,
The warning that he brought.

On Misery's mount the lonely winds

About his hearthstone moan,
Deep brook flows by with silent rush.
From out the wood the bird songs gush,
But human life has flown.

Pentucket town still stretches down

Beside the river clear.
But it is now a city proud.
With streets in which the busy crowd

No more the savage fear.

About it still the sheltering hills

In smiling beauty stand.
While stately buildings rising nigh,
With beauteous homesteads make it vie
With fairest in the land.

Beyond the hills lie smiling fields.

And sweet wild waters dance.
The quaint old names about them cling,
And over lake and hillside fling
A glamour of romance.

COUNT RUMFORD.

By Charles R. Coming.

M?IMID the austere environ-
ments of a simple village
in Colonial Massachu-
setts, just as the eigh-
teenth century had half
run its course, was born a child of
Puritan parents, who in after life was
to become one of . the famous men of
all history. So wonderful and so va-
ried were the characteristics of that
child that we may well believe that
the Graces stood around his cradle.
Surely if there ever was an occasion
summoning the fairies from ideal re-
treats, that occasion might have been
seen at Woburn March 26, 1753.

In a laud with never a castle and
never a knight, in a community as
primitive as it was lovely, the fabled
spirits played as pretty a drama as
ever the storied and illuminated East
had ever seen. Out of the wild en-

' An address before the Colonial Uanies of New
Joseph B. Walker at Concord, June 17, 1S99.

tanglement of the forest the fairies
constructed a palace and within its
walls of fantasy they brought their
favored offspring. Gifts precious to
the gods, they lavished on the sleep-
ing bo}^ and in unseen train they filed
about the favorite, each whispering
in his ear the secret of human achieve-
ment.

Never in the Western Empire had
fate shown more prodigality or be-
.stowed its gifts more becomingl5^
Rarely indeed, have the attractions
of mind been more closely allied with
the beauties of body than in the case
of this genius. No wonder then that
qualities so rare should have been
displayed so earl}- and that the career
of Benjamin Thompson should have
been marked with brilliant achieve-
ment. Childhood had scarcely given
way to youth before we see the mani-

Hanipshire, convened at the residence of the Hon.

354

COUNT RUM FORD.

festatioiis of that superb mentalit}^
Whether that impetuous current of
intellect could have been turned
aside or partly confined by circum-
stances and environments need not
give us trouble. Happily it was that
the barriers of his early days were so
easily overcome and that despite the
discouragement of poverty, his soul
w^as not chilled nor his ambitions
dulled. The education common to
that period was undertaken, then fol-
lowed a brief experience in mercan-
tile life, his entrance into the ofhce of a
prosperous merchant of Salem. In
1769 we see the young man enter the
counting-house of Hopestill Capen,
one of the pillars of Boston commerce.
It is evident that the apprentice was
by no means negligent of personal
appearance and becoming accom-
plishments, for he purchases small
clothes, owes for a seat in church, and
begins taking lessons in French.

Two years later, with personal-
means somewhat enlarged through
school teaching, Thompson sets his
mind seriously towards the profession
of medicine by enrolling himself as a
student in the office of Dr. Hay of
Woburn. It was at this time that
his friend, lyoammi Baldwin, secured
permission not only for himself but
for Thompson as well to attend lec-
tures on chemistry at Harvard, given
by Prof. John Winthrop. This was
surely another manifestation of the
Graces' favor, and all through the
summer of 1771 the two young men,
both destined to add new lustre to
science, walked blithely over the
eight miles of intervening highway
from Woburn to Cambridge. If
bread was ever cast on the waters to
return weighted with gifts in years to
come, it was in this instance.

With becoming gratitude for this
privilege of his 3'outh, Count Rum-
ford in after times made that splendid
donation to Harvard which exists to-
day in fulness of purpose. As a
punctuation mark in his career let us
stop to read a set of brief rules which
the young student prescribes for his
own observance. The date of this
self-inflicted discipline is not clear,
but 1772 would not be far amiss.

"From eleven to six, sleep. Get
up at six and wash my hands and
face. From six to eight exercise one
half and study one half. From eight
till ten, breakfast, attend prayers,
etc. From ten to twelve, study all
the time. From twelve to one, dine,
etc. From one to four, stud}^ con-
stantly. From four to five, relieve
my mind by some diversion or exer-
cise. From five till bedtime, follow
what my inclination leads me to ;
whether it be to go abroad or stay at
home and read either anatomy, physic,
or chemistry, or any other book I
want to peruse."

It would not be incorrect to accept
this code of action as true of his whole
life. His vigorous mind like his ath-
letic body needed constant exercise
and one may search in vain to find a
single mental waste spot in his long
career. Even as a school boy, not
alone by the kindly traditions of the
time but by the more authoritative
records, he is described as full of in-
ventions and experiments, putting to
the test those hidden powers which
were soon to charm the world. As a
strange coincidence, too, we are told
of how narrowly he escaped disfigure-
ment by the sudden explosion of some
fireworks he had made in honor of the
repeal of the stamp act.

Ambition urges him on and he be-

COUNT RUM FORD.

355

comes a schoolmaster at Bradford, uear
Haverhill ; but he is scarcely identi-
fied with that village when a siren
call from the wilderness sounds in his
ears and fate has set its trap. A little
frontier settlement bursting into life
on the graceful uplands between the
winding Merrimack and the dark zone
of untouched forest is in need of a
teacher, and Timothy Walker, son of
the first minister, sets out to find one.
To him the name of young Thompson
is not unknown, they are relatives,
and soon thej'^ are to be more closely
bound. They meet, a bargain is
made, and all unconsciously Concord
soon welcomes her most illustrious
citizen. Truly the Graces must have
presided at his cradle. A splendid
study of manhood he presents. Nearly
six feet in height, handsome in regu-
lar features, with bright blue eyes
and dark auburn hair. Lithe, mus-
cular and graceful, fascinating in
speech, polished in manner, agreea-
ble, cultured, and winning. May we
not see him now standing on the meet-
ing-house green conversing with Colo-
nel Walker, who points out to him the
perplexing boundaries of old Rumford
and explains the meaning of the new
name, Concord. May w^e not imagine
the warm welcome as the young stu-
dent paused on the threshold of the
parsonage and took the hand of his
venerable patron and friend.

May we not, indeed, discern in this
ancient dwelling, more than one hun-
dred and twenty- eight years ago,
more than a parsonage, more than a
home, and may it not have seemed to
the young stranger the ideal of that
perfect structure called by the poet,
" love's fev'rous citadel."

In this mansion, so changed in
everything save its unbroken line of

distinguished and hospitable owner-
ship, came young Benjamin Thomp-
son at the age of barelj^ nineteen
years. It was a period of public
peace and social happiness ; the con-
troversy with Massachusetts over the
Bow charter had been lately adjusted
and in token of its conclusion a new
and attractive name had been given
to the old plantation.

Rumford had yielded to Concord in
the official nomenclature only to be
rescued and transmitted on in brightest
significance by the handsome young
schoolman from down the river.

Concord village in 1772 presented a
pictvire of pastoral beauty, watched
over by the little aristocracy of spirit-
ual teaching and intellectual leader-
ship already impressive in their sim-
plicity.

Singularly acceptable must have
been the coming of this bright-eyed
stranger to a scene like this, and that
the stranger felt it is proved by his
reminiscences in after 3"ears. Fate
was at his side and whispered the old,
old story in his willing ears. And
now begins Concord's first romance.
Those bright eyes soon rested on a
daughter of the house of Walker, a
lady in lonely but not inconsolable
state, a widow but recently bereaved.
On a larger stage and amid a more
ceremonious community, Mrs. Rolfe
might have aspired to the hand of
the proudest leader, for she was
young, rich, and socially the peer of
any within even the charming vice-
regal circles of Portsmouth. In No-
vember, 1772, Benjamin Thompson
and Sarah Walker Rolfe were mar-
ried.

Proud of her handsome husband,
the curricle of amusing history is
brought forth and away they go to-

356 COUNT RUM FORD.

wards the magnet spot of Colony Nor indeed was this feeling con-
times, Strawberry Bank by the sea. fined to the militia. To the people
Benjamin Rolfe, the lady's former at large, unable to comprehend intel-
husband, was a social and political lectual gifts so dazzling or to estimate
leader, a royal councillor and an inti- correctly a deportment so manlj- and
mate of John Wentworth, governor of so polished, Thompson was looked
the Province. What then could be upon as a pretender and as the very
more fitting than a revisit to the Ports- vanit}^ of vanities,
mouth court with circumstances so But events soon rushed like storm
pleasing. The governor himself had clouds to cover the land and to leave
had his love exploit with fair widow wreckage everywhere. As the gale
Atkinson and perhaps he saw some- first smites lofty turrets and imposing
thing similar in the newly wedded oaks, so that storm of passion and
pair that stood in his presence on a revolution sweeping with resistless
late day in November, 1772. John sovereignty caught in its mighty
Wentworth, one of the lovable char- arms those that sought to stay it.
acters of our prerevolutionary period, Benjamin Thompson was in the path
was fascinated at once by the niani- of the tempest and it overwhelmed
fold attractions of the young bride- him. Yet no evidence impeaches his
groom, nor did he hesitate to signify integrity or stains his birthright,
his appreciation by a most unusual The jealousy of the times struck at
mark of favor. him and drove him from home and

If we all believed in the tenets hearth. The Committee of Safety

vouchsafed by predestination, as in- ransacked his papers, interrogated

deed some of us do believe, we should- him face to face, sought in every way

discern in that gracious official act a to prove him a traitor, and failed,

distinct and irrevocable influence on I do not believe that Benjamin

Benjamin Thompson. From that Thompson did aught to injure his

hour the die is cast and the blushing native land. He begged that defin-

teacher is moulded into the man of ite charges should be made, yet none

the world, of the world and for the was offered, but we see now that

world. Governor Wentworth forth- nothing could have saved him. Re-

with commissioned Thompson as lentless hatred hatched from jealousy

major in the second regiment of the and suspicion had done its work and

King's Militia, a proceeding wanting the tyrant, public opinion, decreed

precedent, an honor surpassing favor- his banishment.

itism. Not 3'et of age yet ranking In August, 1775, a tender letter

more than one officer that had fought passes from him to his respected

with Abercrombie and Wolfe, and father-in-law, and shortly after he

ranged with Robert Rogers. who was to confer such undying

From that hour Thompson became fame on America had quitted his na-
the full fair target of jealousies and tive land. What is meant for the
heartburnings, for to the rough soldiers world cannot be kept from the world,
of the day, the new major seemed a sober seclusion soon becomes selfish-
courtier, a fop, and a strutting up- ness, and in Thompson's case as in
start. Franklin's, opportunity and liberty

COUNT RUMFORD.

357

were indispensable to mature and em-
phasize his rare gifts of intellect.

Again Fate points the waj' and
Europe not America becomes the
theater of his splendid capacities.
Born to fascinate and possessing the
golden key and password neither
portals nor society withstand his ad-
mission. Like a bright light across
the darkness of night was his entrance
into the cabinet councils of King
George. Stupidity was relieved by
his presence, but a thousand like him
could not lessen the bigotry or the
blunders of the ministry. And so the
war went on.

Thompson was now a lieutenant-
colonel in the English Army, and as
an under secretary he entered the office
of his friend, Eord George Germaine,
Colonial secretary in charge of the
war. During these years Thompson
pushed forward numerous experi-
ments in gunnery and gunpowder,
testing cannon ranges on board royal
frigates, and receiving everywhere
the respectful attentions of men of
rank and influence. In this interest-
ing portraiture we are more than
once perplexed with certain blem-
ishes hardly superficial and with
lines too hard to suggest mere acci-
dent. Let us pass over that strange
abandonment of wife and child in
1775, let us vouchsafe no explanation
of that sustained silence which a
stroke of his pen might at au)^ mo-
ment have broken, nor let us make
fruitless search for any message of
endearment entrusted by Thompson
to the willing medium of acquaint-
ances and of prisoners of war passing
constantly to and fro between London
and the Colonies. Explanation has
lost its force after all these years and
promises no help.

How much more attractive would
be that unique personality if we could
forget that return to America in 1782.
He comes to the land of his fathers
not in quest of the abandoned, not as
a bearer of conciliation, nor yet as
one seeking to adjust burning differ-
ences. Alas ! he comes not as friend
but as foe, in the bright uniform of
the King's Own, his breast glittering
with royal decorations, and with
sword unsheathed. Cornwallis had
surrendered, but the war drags on.
British opinion is at last correcting
British blunders and the end is in
sight. Yet we find our Concord
schoolmaster high in favor and strik-
ing blows for his king first in Caro-
lina and then along the Jersey coast.
He is now colonel of the King's
American Dragoons, and in August,
1782, receives from the hands of
Prince William Henry, afterward
King William IV, a set of colors
for his regiment. Early in 1783
Colonel Thompson returns to Eng-
land, hostilities having ceased. He
remains an officer of the army, and
the king's permission permits him to
visit the continent. Already his
fame as a philosopher is abroad, and
even then he is poised an arrow's
flight above the heads of his con-
temporaries. His intercourse with
casual men of travel is like the track
of a meteor. Gibbon meets him and
is straightwaj^ made captive ; at
Strasburg he attracts the instant at-
tention of Prince Maximilian of
Bavaria, then a field marshal in the
French army, who gives him a letter
of introduction to his uncle, the elec-
tor. Again we behold Kindly Fate
leading him onward. Charles Theo-
dore, elector of Bavaria, was charmed
with his guest, nay more, he saw

xxix— 24

358

COUNT RUM FORD.

with surpassing intuition the talents
and accomplishments of the young
officer, and soon suggested to him a
position at the court in Munich. To
accept that honor Thompson must
ask permission of King George III.
The English king was pleased at
such preferment, and not only gave
his royal permission but added to it
a patent of knighthood. With half
pay as colonel, and with his title,
Sir Benjamin was in easy circum-
stances, and presented the courtliest
figure in all the court of fortune.
At the age of thirty-one he entered
the service of the elector between
whom and himself, till the death of
the former in 1799, there subsisted-
the closest of relations and the
proudest of friendships.

Seldom indeed has there been a
genius combining in the highest de-
gree the speculative and the practi-
cal, but in this rare man we find it
as perhaps never before. Rulers in
time of war look to the man of action
not to the philosopher, yet in this
case the elector found both person-
alities in a single man. Bavaria in
those days was an important state in
Europe, autonomy was one of her
attributes, and her ruler was vicar of
the holy Roman empire. Munich
not then, as now, famed for magnifi-
cence and ornamentation, was, never-
theless, among the principal capitals
of the continent, and was through
circumstances arising from the French
Revolution, of great weight in the
uncertain balance of power. There
amid surroundings wholly foreign,
confronted with problems hard and
untried, among a people strange in
language, and stranger still in ra-
cial characteristics, the gifted New
Englauder, never flinching, called

forth those extraordinary powers of
intellect and will, and made himself
literally the ruler of the country.
His achievements at this period of
his career constitute one of the most
remarkable and interesting chapters
of human biography. With a touch
like magic he reformed the army,
organized schools, started founderies
for ordnance, reclaimed swamplands,
introduced sanitary dwellings, pointed
the way to industrial development,
made homes for artisans, laid out
public gardens, and stopped the curse
of begging by process so thorough as
to startle philanthropy with its suc-
cess. And all these were accom-
plished in years so few as to seem
incredil)Ie. If Sir Benjamin had
died in the hour of these triumphs,
history would still have accorded to
him a unique and dazzling station.
He had already done enough to es-
tat)lish his fame, yet during these
years of ceaseless and successful
achievements he continued those ex-
periments in science which then and
forever afterward made the whole
woild his debtor. No wonder his
name was wafted to the uttermost
Cf)nfines of civilization, and that the
proude.st societies felt honored with
his membership. On this lofty emi-
nence, surrounded by all that was
agreeable and inspiring, this singular
unity of Buckingham and Richelieu
remained for eleven years the petted
and respected leader of his peers.
Honors and titles were lavishly
bestowed on him, the order of Saint
Stanislaus from the king of Poland,
a meml)ershi]) in the Academy of
Berlin, the office of priv}' councillor
of state, a major-general's commis-
sion, and finally, in 1791, the rank
of a count of the Holy Roman em-

COUNT RUM FORD. 359

pire. With becoming fidelity to the gers and difficuhies almost insuper-

far away village in New Hampshire, >able ; we are to see how completely

where first he had lighted the lamp the fairies that stood near his cradle

of success, he chose the name of did their mysterious work by mixing

Rumford as his titular right, and as with their gifts the courage of the

Count Rumford he walks the ages. hero and the spirit of the true ruler.

In September, 1795, Count Rum- In the spring of 1797 the flames of

ford left Munich for a time and took the French uprising had scorched

up his residence in England. He nearly all central Europe ; Napoleon

was now without a rival in the realm was just coming on the stage, but the

of science and honors, and degrees Directory was supreme, and under

were conferred upon him almost with- the Directory Moreau was leading a

out number. During this period he vast army through Germany. The

visited Italy, meeting with princely strange texture of the Holy Roman

welcome wherever he journeyed. Empire was tested as never before.

Ireland also had him for a guest and Austria, the leader of the empire, was

sent him away crowned with social at war with France and sought to

laurels. It was also at this period embroil Bavaria in the common

that we behold the end of that long cause. Bavaria in her turn was

separation between father and daugh- striving mightily to maintain that

ter, and see them at last reunited. neutrality which was soon to quit

Sarah had now reached the age of the continent for a whole generation,

twenty-one years and was about to Munich was the vantage point of

undergo as interesting an experience both combatants. The' French were

as any j'oung lady of her time and a advancing rapidl}^ to seize the city,

far more picturesque one than had while from the opposite direction

ever befell an American maiden of came the Austrians bound on captur-

her years. Father and daughter re- ing it with the object of checking

mained together at the first visit for Moreau and of compelling the elector

five years, Sarah returning to America to declare war against France,

in 1799. Chaos was impending. The elector

Affairs in Europe were rapidly fled into Saxony, flinging back the

gathering for turmoil and revolution, appointment of a council of regency

and the condition of Bavaria com- with Rumford as its president. Rum-

pelled the count to quit the agreeable ford was at the same time made com-

life he was then leading and hurry mander-in-chief of the army ; in fact,

towards Munich. Up to this point he was virtual dictator. For months

we have seen Rumford fulfilling he was not only the absolute ruler of

every promise made by his fairy god Bavaria ; he was the most powerful

mothers. We have seen the student, man in Europe. France and the

the lover, the friend of Governor whole empire were bidding for his

Wentworth, the under secretary in favor. Yet as in every juncture of

the office of Lord Germaine, the colo- his career, his head was unturned,

nel in the Carolinas, and withal the his mind clear, and his resources in-

man of science. We are now to see exhaustible. He shut the gates of

him in a station surrounded by dan- Munich and compelled the Austrians

36o

COUNT RUMFORD.

to leave his territorj^ ; he threatened
death to any French trooper who
came within the sacred zone. The
danger was averted, the city was
saved, the elector returned full of
gratitude to his American savior.

A-U}^ gift was at his feet. There
was one honor high above all others
that he craved ; it was the ambassa-
dorship to London. He was now
forty-five years of age, and bore one
of the most illustrious names in
Europe. A residence in Loudon as
a member of the diplomatic corps
would assure him a distinguished
consideration while his fame as a
man of science would attract to his
house the choicest company of the
capital. But King George III re-
fused to receive Count Rumford as
Bavarian ambassador on the ground
that he was still a British subject.
The decision was arbitrary, unjust,
and insolent, but it was irreversable.
If the truth be known jealousy and
envy of Rumford's preeminence were
the cause of his rejection. Humilia-
ting as this treatment was it passed
as a summer's cloud Rumford now
became a citizen of the world, his at-
tainments and his achievements were
too superb lor one country, so he
scattered them over all. In 1799,
this wonder master of the age gave
to mankind that magnificent home of
science, known as the Royal Institute
of Great Britain. Splendid as its
work has been, its array of alumni
has been even more splendid. Hum-
phrey Davy, Michael Faraday, and

John Tyndall were students in this
institution. Davy, in fact, was a
protege of the count.

In this same year, 1799, John
Adams, president of the United
States, instructed Rufus King, our
minister at London, to offer the
superintendenc)' of the newly organ-
ized military academy at West Point
to Count Rumford. This was the
atonement made by the American peo-
ple to their most famous exile. In
honors, achievements, and fame,
Rumford was without a peer. Mu-
nich, London, Paris, were his homes,
and in each he enjoyed the intimacy
of the highest in rank and station,
even Bonaparte was an ardent ad-
mirer and an intimate. Two hemi-
spheres recognized his claims, the
whole world offered him a home.
Nature had yielded to him her se-
crets ; mankind had given to him
its boundless devotion. Four great
countries profited by his attainments
— England, France, ' Germany, and
the United States.

Bavaria sees him in living reform.
Great Britain knows him in her
Royal Institute, the United States
beholds him in his generous deeds
for education. He was king in
thought and deed. His scepter was
the magic wand of mind ; his subjects
were the children of men and their
children's childen. His realm grows
in extent and influence year by year.
His reign shall continue for it is
founded on doing good to his fellow
men.

— x^^s/A0?/^j^

TRUTH.

" Great is Truth — and viii^hty above all things. Ask 'what thou zcili, Zerubbabel, and it
shall be granted thee because thou art found wisest among t/iy companions.'' — Darius, King of
Persia.

Bv Henry O. Kent .^

I 'm asked to start again the mill,

Grown rusty quite by long disuse ;
To bid its product come at will

An offering to my slighted muse.

'Tis years ago since, last its crank

Moved round at poesy's decree.
The flowers that then bespread each bank,

And blossomed on life's morning lea,

, In memory's gardens blossom still ;
But the dull cares of dail)^ life
Have banished far my rhyming mill,
As little useful in the strife.

But kindly bid, I '11 try anew

If aught of former store remains ;
And yet perchance the grist, when through,

Will poorly paj^ the miller's pains.

The peasant bard, ere yet his pen

Had bade the words his thoughts determine,

Said they might frame a song, and then
With equal livelihood — a sermon.

So I, without a chosen theme

To which to beg my muse's attention.

E'en let her spur my halting brain
To heed the subject she may mention.

Perhaps few words are ever new

That tell of honor, faith, and right,
That place the record of the true

Plain in the walk of daily life.

Perhaps, my verse may tell of Truth,

The noblest attribute and best ;
The pregnant source of happy youth,

The peaceful cause of aged rest.

1 Written July, iS66, in response to the request of a local society of ladies, to be produced in a MSS.
publication, and read on a gala night.

362

OLD MEETING-HOUSE AT SOUTH SUNAPEE.

Truth in all things, in broadest sense
Abhorrence of low art and fraud,

That strips the mask from vile pretense
And brings in time a sure reward !

Truth is a jewel that outshines

The garish tinsel of deceit ;
That in the labyrinth of life's mine

Illumes the path for honor's feet.

Truth is a maiden — radiant, fair,

Whose presence tests the murky soul

As diamonds by prescience sure
Reveal the poison in the bowl.

Based upon Truth, the life conformed
To her, its patron, will succeed —

As bars of sunshine rend the storm,
Revealing glories overhead.

Take my poor rhyme, an humble strain,
And twine it as a votive wreath

Around the brow of Truth, whose name
Is pledge of honor, gage of faith !

THE OI.D MEETING-HOUSE AT SOUTH SUNAPEE.

By George Bancroft Griffith.

JHE old meeting-house is
in the past. No stout
timber of its frame has
a visible form, for each
sound piece has been
carted to another locality. A few
stones of its foundation remain to
mark where it stood, and we can
still trace the boundary of those
walls reared with so much care and
pride by the Puritan fathers of the
beautiful hamlet. Soon, however,
the tempest and other leveling in-
fluences will also destroy the few
sacred vestiges that remain.

But the little enclosure of "God's

Acre " within the grounds, where
lie the peaceful sleepers, some of
whom are so dear to me and mine,
is still intact, and loving hearts and
willing hands will long give it faith-
ful care.

The chemist. Nature, will work to
memorialize yet a little longer the
spot once sacred to holy ministra-
tions, and a tracery of more luxuri-
ant grass on the little common will
mark the site of the old fane. The
rural structure will vanish utterly to
the eye of sense, but will it be really
gone — completely annihilated ?

It is a law of the material world

OLD MEETING-HOUSE AT SOUTH SUN A PEE.

363

that nothing dies. The wreath of
smoke that ascends like the phantom
of the burning pyre is only the re-
solving of that pyre into other ele-
ments, and each particle of the mass
re-appears in other forms. The rain
that bathes the plant in beauty has
coursed its way through innumerable
ages, and may have listened to the
morning stars singing in the dawn of
time. There is no death amongst
the changes of material being — no
death to the soul, passing along the
stages of its immortality. Is then the
old meeting-house, almost for a cen-
tur}^ overlooking the lake that now
shines in autumnal beauty, — is that
edifice perished and gone forever?

The men and women of old Suna-
pee, who worshiped there in earlier
days, have long since departed, and
the gray heads of its latter time are
laid asleep in yonder burial place.
The last funeral I attended in the
old church was that of a sturdy
patriot, who, with his devoted com-
panion, is resting near by until the
trump shall sound. Mid-age, with
its struggles and toils, has laid them
down on that calm, green field, and
those who were young now bear the
silvery ensigns of the closing war-
fare, and the few children of this
quiet locality are passing rapidly
along the same path. To these last
two classes the old meeting-house is
a reality. To them it is there, at
times, lifting its head in the tranquil
sunlight, still braving the storm and
the thunderbolt, and there it will be
until a few more eyes are closed —
and then all trace of it will have
vanished.

All trace of it will have vanished
from the earth — but in the realm of
the immaterial life, in the world

where mind is not fettered and
clouded by mortal vesture, will not
that old temple be one of the mem-
ories that even that higher life will
not divide from the spirit ? Has no
sin been so rebuked within its walls
that it cowered and fled, and left its
victim "in his right mind," andean
that soul forget the circumstances of
its awakening to the repudiation of
that sin ? Amidst thanksgiving that
it was permitted to know and ex-
piate its errors upon the earth, will
there glide before it no shadow of
the old fane that witnessed the peni-
tent tear, and the turning to a better
life ? Has no hymn from that New
Hampshire choir a power to rever-
berate through that world where
mortal ear is not, but where each
hallowed emotion of the soul finds
perpetuity and exaltation ? Have
no sacred sympathies of kindred
hearts, blended in lifelong harmony,
endeared the scene of their holiest
companionship in the land whose
portal onl}^ debars the false and the
unholy ? And will not these pure
and gentle reminiscences perpetuate
the old temple, now gone, like all
material things, to assume new
phases in the circle of ever-changing
forms ?

Though a native of another state,
I loved this house of worship built
b\' the early settlers. Though it was
but a humble one, it stood near the
shore of 5'onder lake where the lovely
trees lift their low, billowy tones in
unison with the rippling waves, and
full in sight was the roof of the old
home-farm so dear to my wife, and
which I first saw from the top of the
lumbering yellow stage-coach years
before the railroad to Newport was
laid in the adjacent valley.

364

OLD MEETING-HOUSE AT SOUTH SUN A PEE.

And now, of all the voices that
rose in prayer, in warning and in
rebuke from the seats of the old
meeting-house, and from that high
pulpit with its quaint sounding-
board, no echoes resound through
our j^ears. hX. the last, occasional
ministrations supplied the humble
pulpit, or the devoted Deacon Lear
with a little band of godly men ex-
horted within its walls.

The old building had a colossal
frame, broad aisles, and spacious
pews. It was near the center of a
well-tilled district of believers, scat-
tered among the openings in the
forests and upon the breezy hill-
sides.

No obstinate questioning of creeds
in those times disturbed the peace of
the church. No rebellious reason-
ings " like stumbling-blocks stood
in the path of the believer." All,
we think, was plain, and harmony
dwelt among the faithful.

Near each door there was an in-
clined platform of solid Sunapee
granite, probably taken from or near
the present fine quarry at the " Har-
bor." Each stone rose to a con-
venient height for mounting a horse
at one end, and ascended at the other
by good broad steps. In those early
days the population were all eques-
trian or pedestrian and "horse-
blocks" were common.

But we must not linger upon the

past. The dear old meeting-house
has disappeared, and no fond greet-
ings can sound again at its open
doors. We lingered a few days since
near the site where it stood, and
nature had half veiled the scene with
wild raspberry and other vines grace-
fully bending in the wind, while the
long luxuriant grass partly hid the
debris and made a pleasing feature
in the landscape.

In fancy I heard words of sadness
float upon the air, which seemed like
an imploring appeal of mortal man to
his Creator. "Thy years are one
eternal day, and must thy children
die so soon?" And the vast space
seemed to echo, " So soon ! "

A bright star twinkled in the
fading splendors of the western skies
as we turned away. Farewell, old
temple of the past ! Thy glory has
melted and gone. The strong hands
that reared th}^ substantial frame
are dust in yonder burial-ground.
Would to God that their firm faith,
their earnest devotion, and their sim-
ple habits had a firmer place in the
hearts of their descendants. Oh, that
we all believed less in Mammon !
that we refrained from bowing to
success — that we did not love splen-
dor so much !

Those who worship in gorgeous
temples and listen to costly music, —
do they always heed as the)' should
the God of spirits ?

MEIvINDA RANKIN.

By yane Hobart Tut tie.
Scripture revised. — "Let us now praise famous women."

N the 2istof March, iSii,
in an isolated but beau-
tiful section of the west-
ern part of the town of
Littleton, a child was
born into the world — a little girl
baby who was destined to carv^e an
honorable name atnong her fellow
men and win the crown of a life well
spent.

She w^as born into an harmonious
environment. Her cradle song was
the babble of a brook, while the trees
whispered tender things of the future,
and the lofty hills guarded her pro-
tectingly from the knowledge of a
greater and a more inharmonious
realm, where the sphere of action
was man made and not God con-
structed, as all things would seem
to hint within the. little maid's nar-
row range of outlook.

Nature sang songs and told secrets
to the little lassie of the woods, and
the juvenile recipient of the great
dame's favor merited the confidence
and imbibed something of the sturdy
strength of nature in her own tem-
perament, becoming a true nature
lover and walking the devious paths
of nature's grand cathedral with un-
derstanding in her heart and rever-
ence for the great ordered Cosmos in
her soul.

Ask the survivor of a bygone
day to picture this maid of the wild

woods for you and he will draw a
vivid representation of what Melinda
Rankin was in later years when the
child had grown to girlhood and the
maiden had drawn near the point
"where the brook and river meet."
In this picture there will always be
two strong characteristics depicted.
One is self-reliance — the other sturdi-
ness of purpose — qualities that go
hand in hand and support each other
in the nature of man and woman.
This strength of will seems to have
been inborn in Melinda Rankin, and
femininity in certain w^ays was couu-
ter-balanced by almost masculine ten-
dencies in others.

Historic records handed down from
early time show that the Rankins
were prominently identified with lo-
cal life. General Rankin, father of
Melinda, owned mills on Rankin
brook, the ruins of which are a fa-
miliar landmark which the traveler
of to-day meets on the road to Part-
ridge lake, a favorite drive with the
tourists who frequent the mountains
during summer days. This General
Rankin was a son of James Rankin,
the pioneer representative of the
name who came over from Glasgow
the year the British blockaded Bos-
ton harbor.

Here amid the granite hills Me-
linda Rankin passed the formative
period of life, when impressions and

.-^66 MELINDA RANKIN.

influences shed their light upon her Why should not she, too, become a

strong and resolute nature, and missionary ?

the sturdiness of purpose mentioned It was not a case of the Hotten-

above entered into the guiding spirit tots abroad getting attention paid to

of her life and aims. their stockings while the stockings

From the outset circumstances of the Hottentots at home lay for-
were against her, for books were gotten and neglected, for Melinda
limited and schoolhouses were few, Rankin in her aspirations toward the
and it was hardly deemed necessary work of an outside world did not
for education to descend with its allow home duties and cares to be
leavening inspiration upon woman- forgotten. She was faithful in much ;
kind. There are in the world rare .she was also faithful in little. She
natures that are great enough to was a missionary in the neighbor-
rise above environment, and Melinda hood. One finds her proving in
Rankin's was one of these. She many a case of dire and distressing
pos.sessed within a facility for gain- need a good Samaritan ; the mark of
ing knowledge despite obstacles, and her hand is traced in Sunday-school,
at the age of fourteen 5'ears she was in day school, in manj^ a home
given a teacher's certificate. Her throughout the community,
father's library was limited, but she In the year 1840, General Rankin
devoured every book on the shelves, met with reverses and lost his prop-
and like Abraham I^incoln she read erty. His daughters came to the res-
and re-read, grasping the matter from cue and resolved that they would en-
cover to cover and retaining it. deavor to mend the fallen fortunes of

In those days the accomplishments the family by seeking the lucrative

of woman were along domestic lines', field of the West.

A woman must know how to make One next finds Melinda Rankin
bread light and white ; she must with her two sisters in a Western
know how to spin, to weave, to sew school-room where all three earned a
a seam with proficiency, to knit ; to reputation as teachers of ability. In
do all the things which come under time Melinda was left alone in this
the head of good housekeeping, educational work, her sisters marry-
Woman in those days was unknown ing and resigning the positions which
in the public world, and rarely held they had successfully filled,
an ofhce, but Melinda Rankin, in After teaching in Kentucky and
reading the memoirs of Harriet New- Mississippi Miss Rankin accepted a
ell, learned how useful one of her position at Barton Institute, Ala-
sex might become by leading a life bama, that being in those early days
of devotion to the missionary cause, the most popular educational institu-

This book seems to have had a tion in the South. While acting as

guiding influence on Melinda Ran- instructress in this institute, .she

kin's career. She pondered it in the made the turning point of her life.

quiet of the lonely mountain home. Reports of the war between Mexico

and more and more it was borne in and the United States came to her

upon her that what one woman could and made cognizant for the first time

do another could perform as well, of the terrible condition of the Mexi-

ME LIN DA RANKIN.

367

can people, their moral servitude and
benighted state, her heart was touched
by the story and she longed to help
them.

Unable at that time to render any
personal aid she wrote to missionarj^
boards and urged upon them the nec-
essity of help for the country, the
nearest neighbor of the United States,
but as a reply came the answer, " We
can do nothing for the people of Mex-
ico until her laws are changed and a
liberal government is established
within her domains."

Failing in this attempt, she wrote
various missionary societies beseech-
ing their aid for the unhappy coun-
try, offering to undertake the mission
herself and asking help to carry out
the enterprise.

At last disheartened at the prospect
of receiving outside aid, she deter-
mined to depend upon her own re-
sources and enter the missionary field
on her own responsibility.

Without any definite idea of what
she would do, she took a steamer at
Vicksburg and sailed down the Miss-
issippi, it seeming to her strong and
prayerful nature that God's voice was
calling her to Mexico. This was in
the 3'ear 1847. She met on the
steamer a gentleman who was seeking
a teacher for the female academy at
Huntsville, Texas, and at his sugges-
tion, and with the thought that the
unsettled condition precluded her
from entering the country of Mexico
at that time, she accepted the posi-
tion.

The years of her life at this time
were uneventful. Huntsville was a
quiet place and tranquility rather than
excitement ruled. The chief event in
her career at this point was the writ-
ing of a little book which was called

"Texas," and in which she set forth
the need of evangelical labors in
Texas both for its own sake and on
account of the adjacent country,
Mexico.

The book gives one an admirable
idea of life in Texas at that period
and is written wnth lucidity of des-
cription and clearness of detail.

It was not until 1852 that oppor-
tunity was given her to enter the
country which for so many years she
had longed to help.

" How slow the time

To the warm soul that in the very instant
It forms, would execute a great design."

At Brownsville, on the Rio Grande,
she opened a school for children.
Protestant missionaries were pre-
vented by Mexican laws from taking
up their abode within the country's
precinct and this strategy was need-
ful. Bibles were distributed among
the adults and in quiet but necessarily
unostentatious ways. Miss Rankin
sought to spread through the commu-
nity the light and message of the
Christian gospel.

About this time when it seemed as
though the desire and ambition of
her life were to be realized, there ap-
peared at Brownsville a disturbing
force in the shape of several nuns and
priests wdio came from merr)' France
with the idea of erecting in Mexico a
French convent. The soil chosen by
the newcomers was unfortunately
within the town of Brownsville
where already a sturdy seed had been
implanted which promised a ripe har-
vest.

The seed- sower was undaunted
by this sudden encroachment upon
her field of activity and fired by
characteristic zeal and energy of pur-
pose, she resolved to maintain her

368

ME LIN DA RANKIN.

ground and battle for Protestantism.
It was necessary to gain proper
funds for the maintenance of a school
which should in its strength of sup-
port fully equal its rival in order to
be successful. With this idea as an
inspiring guide, Melinda Rankin left
the town, allowing the French pro-
moters to think she had been routed
from the field, and sought the United
States. From state to state she went
soliciting financial aid and in four-
teen months again entered Browns-
ville. She found the convent erected
and the French missionaries in full
power.

With an undaunted front and serene
temper, this determined woman hired
several apartments as school-rooms
and opened a Protestant institution.
In two months all the pupils who
were formerly enrolled in her ranks
had left the convent and returned to
their old instructress, and in time
many new students joined the classes.

Mexican parents were desirous of
having their children learn the Eng-
lish language, which branch of study
was rigorously taught in Miss Ran-
kin's school but which was not a part
of the curriculum of the French con-
vent.

Persecution from the latter institu-
tion naturall}^ followed but this cea.sed
within a short time, the Father Su-
perior losing his life in a rough gale
off the Mexican coast, and the con-
vent after this tragic occurrence sub-
siding into a non-ambitious state with
power departed.

When, in 1857, came the revolu-
tion for religious freedom in Mexico,
the people of the country began to
call for Protestant literature. Then
Melinda Rankin came forward.
Books on the Protestant religion

were in great demand, and from the
states she obtained the current liter-
ature on t]ie subject, acting as the
agent for its distribution through
Mexico.

With the exception of occasional
towub through Mexico, Miss Rankin
remained at Brownsville until 1862.
In the month of September of that
year there came the command from
the ruling board, — " You are in sym-
pathy with a country called the
United States, and are not in sym-
pathy with the Southern Confed-
eracy, and no teachers not in sym-
pathy with us can be allowed to
occupy that institution."

From the seminary which she her-
self had founded, from the two hun-
dred girl students whom she had
reared with faithful zeal, she was
obliged to part. A sin committed in
the name of a mistaken patriotism.
It was a grievous wrench, as a num-
ber of time-worn letters testify. Just
over the river to the town of Mata-
moras the exile departed, teaching
in this town until the year 1863,
when owing to civil disturbances she
sought the safety of the Federal
lines, entering first the city of New
Orleans. Here she found that Union
women were sadly needed as nurses ;
nearly every home in the city was a
hospital for wounded soldiers, and
Melinda Rankin, with vigorous con-
stitution, clear head, and gentle
hands, stepped into the breach.

For two years she served in the
capacity of ministering angel, solicit-
ing delicacies for the fevered soldier,
administering medicines, watching
the couch of pain, and going from
bedside to bedside wath cheerful and
unwearying patience.

When the need of this work had

ME LINDA RANKIN.

369

ceased Miss Rankin again entered
the educational field, taking a posi-
tion as principal of one of the first
schools in the countr}' opened for
freedmen, but her first love was not
forgotten, and in 1865, when the
French invasion had been overcome
and the countr}^ had again been
opened for missionar}^ work, she re-
signed the lucrative position which
she was then holding, and sought
Brownsville, the scene of her early
labors.

The seminary had been materially
injured by explosions and was de-
molished past recognition.

Beset by the old longing for mis-
sionary work, she expended $200 in
repairs and opened her old school,
sixty pupils joining the ranks.

In the year 1865 she gave up the
work of teaching and went to Mon-
terey as representative of the Ameri-
can and Foreign Christian Union,
where she purchased a building
suited to mission needs, with slight
remodeling, and inaugurated a mis-
sionar}^ enterprise on a large scale.
The entire cost of the establishment
was $10,000, and bible work and
school routine \yere carried on, a
number of the natives cooperating
with Miss Rankin in the proclaiming
of the Protestant faith. The funds
were obtained through the latter' s
indefatigable efforts.

In 1873, owing to failing health,
she was compelled to give up the
arduous labors which the position
involved, but she did not give up
Mexico and the furthering of its
interests.

On her return to the United States
she went about among the churches
awakening an interest in the Mexi-
cans, visiting in the course of the

tour every state in the Union from
the Atlantic ocean to the Missouri
river. At the age of sixty-one she
went to Bloomington, 111., where she
made her home during the last years
of her full and rounded life.

For twenty years this woman was
the ruling Protestant power in all
Mexico. For twenty years she fought
for its moral freedom and by her
hand was instigated the beginning
which was destined to reach out with
kindling force in the years to come.

The American Board received as
proof of the labors of this remarkable
woman a valuable and extensive prop-
erty' consisting of more than a dozen
schools, numerous Sunday-schools,
and six evangelical churches.

To literature she contributed be-
sides the little book on "Texas"
another very readable creation,
"Twenty Years Among the Mexi-
cans," which has passed through
several editions and is not only in-
teresting reading matter but is also
valuable as an historic record of an
important mission.

The old mills where first she saw
the light are deserted now and the
scene is a lonely one ; but to the
passer-by who has within his soul a
strain of reminiscence, the rippling
brook babbles a tale of the long ago
when the present ruins represented
a populous neighborhood, and men
made their abode within the pic-
turesque but now solitary ways.

A long stretch of imagination and
the traveler sees the little maid of
the mills — a sturdy, self-reliant little
miss with a thin face and resolute
eyes, standing by the brook ponder-
ing the grave and weighty issues of
life. The whole world is within
reach of the encircling arms of the

370

NEW HAMPSHIRE NECROLOGY.

maid with the resolute e3'es. She
is very happy among the flowers,
with the song of the brook in her
ears, and the hum of the birds sound-
ing near and the mountains and
trees, yonder, that say such sweet

Hsten. She is very happy but she '11
be happier still when she grows to
womanhood and becomes a servant
in the service of her brothers and
sisters.

Thus thinks the little maid. Her

and tender things if one will only e^^es grow very resolute.

HON. JOSIAH C. BLAISDELL.

Josiah C. Blaisdell, born in Campton, N. H., Oct. 22, 1820, died at Fall River,
Mass., Oct. 4, 1900.

Mr. Blaisdell attended the district school in his native town, and later attended
the Literary and Scientific Institute at Hancock, N. H. While he was still a
youth, he removed with his parents to Methuen. From that town he went in 1843
to Fall River, residing there continuously until his death.

During the earlier years of his life in Fall River, Mr. Blaisdell was engaged in
business, being a shoe dealer. He had an excellent voice, and a good knowledge
of music. He formed a singing class which he conducted for several years.

From a youth he was inclined toward the study of law, and not long after lo-
cating in Fall River he began the study of that profession in the office of the late
James Ford, Esq. After completing his studies, he engaged in the practice of
law, continuing for the remainder of his life. He was always interested in public
affairs, and was called to several offices of responsibility, besides that of presiding
justice of the second district court, in which position he was best known.

In 1858 he was elected to the House of Representatives. In 1864 he was ap-
pointed by Gov. John A. Andrew to be a member of the Board of State Charities,
to fill two years of an unexpired term. In 1866 Gov. Alexander H. Bullock reap-
pointed him to the same office for a term of seven years, of which he served two
years. He was elected a member of the State Senate in 1865, and a representa-
tive again in 1866. During the years 1858 and 1859 he served the city as mayor.
In 1845 Judge Blaisdell was united in marriage with Miss Sarah C. Eddy, daughter
of the late John Eddy of Fall River. From this marriage four children survive,
John, Mary E., Jesse, and William Blaisdell, all residing in Fall River. Mrs.
Blaisdell died while her children were still quite young. In 1880, Mrs. Annie W.
Mitchell, formerly Miss Wilcox of Fall River, became his wife, and survives him.

NEW HAMPSHIRE NECROLOGY. 371

JOHN F. FRENCH.

John Farrar French, a prominent citizen of North Hampton, died at his home
in that town from paralysis, Oct. 2, 1900.

Mr. French was the seventh of eleven children of Rev. Dr. Jonathan and Re-
becca (Farrar) French, born Feb. 10, 18 18. The salary of his father, who was
pastor of the Congregational church at North Hampton for fifty-five years, was
meagre as compared with the wants of so large a family, and at an early age John
F. commenced to look out for himself. His opportunities for education were
limited, but in his youth he taught school for seven winters, devoting all time not
thus occupied to farm work, which to the last claimed much of his attention. He
was a fine type of the intelligent, progressive, and successful farmer, and his North
Hampton estate, with its handsome and commodious buildings, has long been one
of the largest, best managed, and most productive farms in that section.

He was one of the first men to contract for the sale of milk by the can for the
Boston market. He began to sell milk nearly fifty years ago, and had long made
it his leading business. In 1877, at the earnest solicitation of fellow farmers who
had suffered through a contractor's incompetency, he began to run a milk car be-
tween North Hampton and Boston, and the business rapidly expanded to great
proportions. He established a Boston creamery and stores for the sale of milk,
butter, ice, cream, eggs, and like products of the farm, and his sales have long
been very large.

He had been an active member of the Congregational church for sixty years.
In politics he was originally a Whig,' then a Democrat, and of late a Republican.
He never sought office, but had served two terms as selectman of North Hamp-
ton, and had declined an appointment to the state board of agriculture. He had
made himself a remarkably well informed man and had written and spoken much
of value and interest upon agricultural and miscellaneous topics.

Mr. French was married on Nov. 8, 1843, to Lemira, daughter of Simon and
Dolly Leavitt. She survives him, as does one daughter, Mrs. Newell W. Healey
of Hampton Falls. He had lost two sons, and another daughter, Mrs. Joseph O.
Hobbs, died only last spring. Mr. French left a brother, Sperry, of Exeter, and
three sisters, Mrs. Sarah T. Abbott and Miss Lucy A. French, of Andover, Mass.,
and Mrs. J. W. Farrar, of Lincoln, Mass.

HENRY CHANDLER.

Henry Chandler, born in Bedford, October 30, 1830, died in Manchester,
October 20, 1900.

Mr. Chandler was the eldest son of Adam and Sally Chandler, and was edu-
cated in the district schools, at the institute at Reed's Ferry, and at Gilmanton
academy. At the age of twenty-one he went to Nashua, where he was engaged
for a time in the grocery and hardware business, but in 1854 he removed to Man-
chester and entered the employ of John Plumer, a tailor. Later he formed a
partnership with Henry Plumer, in the tailoring business, continuing until 1870,
when he sold out and became a member of the firm of Libby, Cumner & Co., of

372 NEW HAMPSHIRE NECROLOGY.

Boston, wholesale dealers in tailors' trimmings, where he continued till 1879,
though holding his residence all the while in Manchester.

Concluding his relations with the Boston firm, he entered the Amoskeag
Savings bank, at Manchester, of which he became treasurer in 1884, continuing
in that capacity till death, and in which position he displayed great financial
ability. He also held various other responsible positions, being a director and
member of the executive committee of the Manchester Mills corporation, director
of the New Hampshire Fire Insurance company, director of the Manchester Gas
Light company, director of the Pemigewasset Valley Railroad company, treasurer
of the Manchester «!s: Lawrence railroad, in which position he succeeded his
brother, G. Byron Chandler, and president of the Brown Lumber company of
Whitefield. He was also a member of the board of water commissioners of the
city of Manchester, and the oldest director in point of service of the Amoskeag
National bank of that city.

He was a Democrat in politics and a Unitarian in religion, and was a member
of the various Masonic bodies in Manchester, up to and including Trinity Com-
mandery, K. T. He is survived by a widow, one son, and three daughters.

JOSEPH C. BURLEY. . .

Joseph Cilley Burley, born in Epping, January 13, 1S30, died in that town
October 4, 1900.

He was the only son of Captain Benjamin and Elizabeth (Cilley) Burley. He
received the best education that the schools of Epping afforded, and on coming
to legal age was chosen superintending school committee. In 1854 he assumed
charge of the Boston & Maine station at Newmarket, but upon his father's
death in 1861 he was recalled to take charge of the homestead, which was first
occupied by his great-grandfather.

It is one of the finest and most productive farms in this section, and its man-
agement and improvement claimed much of Mr. Burley's attention. Many years
ago he became the partner of Col. Winthrop N. Dow in lumbering operations on
a large scale. In a single winter the firm has operated five steam sawmills,
cutting upwards of 5,000,000 feet of lumber. Messrs. Burley and Dow never
severed their business relations, and large tracts of woodland in all sections of
the country still stand in their name.

Mr. Burley had been identified with many business enterprises. He was
prominent in the promotion of the Worcester, Nashua & Rochester railroad, and
long served it as director. He was for many years a director of the Newmarket
National bank, and president of the Epping Savings bank. His counsel in all
business matters was highly valued and often sought. An active Republican, he
had served the county as commissioner and his town as selectman, representa-
tive, and otherwise. He was a member and liberal supporter of the Universalist
church at Nottingham.

In 1855 he married Sarah E. Haley, by whom he had five children, Nannie,
wife of Harry W. Burleigh of Franklin ; Harry B. ; Alice, wife of Dr. Curtis of
WoUaston, Mass. ; Jennie C, and Benjamin T., all of whom survive him.

NEW HAMPSHIRE NECROLOGY. 37s

JOSEPH N. CILLEY.

Joseph X. Cilley, born in Nottingham, February 15, 1834, died in that town
October 2, 1900.

He was a son of Col. Joseph Cilley, a veteran of the War of 18 12, once a
member of the United States senate, and a member of the order of the Cincinnati,
to which membership Mr. Cilley succeeded on his father's death, as the oldest
male heir. He received his early education at Pembroke academy and Reed's
Ferry, and later studied law with Hon. Daniel M. Christy of Dover, and Green-
leaf C. Bartlett of Derry, being admitted to the New Hampshire bar in 1S71.
Owing to the ill health of his father. Col. Joseph Cilley, he never engaged
actively in the practice of his profession. He was prominently identified with the
business interests of his native town, and his counsel and assistance were fre-
quently sought by the people of his own and neighboring towns. He represented
the town in the legislature of 1876, and for several years had been chairman of
the board of selectmen. He was also president of the Newmarket National
bank, which position he held at his death. He was a prominent member of the
Universalist church in Nottingham, and a generous contributor to its material
needs. He was also a member of St. Marks Lodge, F. &: A. M., of Derry.

In 1874 he married Mary B. Butler, daughter of James H. Butler of Notting-
ham, by whom he had two children, Elizabeth W. Cilley and Joseph Cilley,
both of whom survive him.

WINGATE N. ILSLEY.

Wingate Newhall Ilsley, born in Portsmouth, July 6, 1824, died in that city,
October 18, 1900.

He received a common school education, and at an early age entered the
bookstore of the late Nathaniel March of Portsmouth, where he remained several
years. Later he went to Boston for a brief interval, but returned and learned the
dry goods business with the late Stephen Simes, and a few years after started in
the same business for himself, and carried on a store until 187 1, when in con-
junction with the late Joseph P. Morse he purchased the insurance business of
the late John S. Harvey, and has ever since carried it on, for fifteen years in asso-
ciation with Mr. Morse, later with W. H. Moore, and for the past six or seven
years with Mr. Fred L. George.

Mr. Ilsley was a thirty-second degree Mason, and a member of the Sons of
the Revolution, being a grandson of Corporal Jewett Ilsley of Newbury, ^lass.

In early manhood he married Miss Mary Pickett, daughter of Captain Pickett
of Portsmouth, who with one daughter, Mrs. William A. Hall, Jr., of North
Andover, Mass., survives him.

OLIVER G. CRITCHETT.

Oliver G. Critchett, a prominent shoe manufacturer, head of the firm of
Critchett, Libby & Co., of Belfast, Me., who died in that city September 21, 1900,

374 NEW HAMPSHIRE NECROLOGY,

was a native of the town of Candia, born February 8, 1831, being a son of Moses
and Nancy Gordon Critchett.

He commenced to learn the shoe maker's trade at eleven years of age, and in
early life became a member of the firm^of C. C. Dike & Co., shoe manufacturers
at Stoneham, Mass. Subsequently he carried on business himself in Candia.
In 1866 he formed a co-partnership with Sumner Richardson under the firm name
of Richardson & Critchett, at Stoneham, building up a good business and fur-
nishing employment to about 150 men and women. In 1872 the firm went to
Belfast, where a factory had been erected by the citizens of the town and they
were induced to come and settle there. From the start the firm was prosperous,
employing from two to three hundred hands, and doing a business of over
$400,000 each year. Mr. Critchett married Mary A. Smith of Candia, who sur-
vives him, their only child, Frank O., dying in the spring of the present year.

REV. WILIvIAM II. AIvDEN, D. D.

Rev. William H. Alden, D. D., died at his summer residence on Islington
street in Portsmouth, on Tuesday evening, October 2.

Dr. Alden was born in Middleboro, Mass., April 14, 1825. He was a gradu-
ate of Brown university and Newton Theological seminary, having early in life
determined to enter the Baptist ministry. His first pastorate was at North
Attleboro, Mass., the second at Lowell, Mass., and third at Albany, N. Y. He
came to Portsmouth in March, 1868, accepting a united call from the society,
succeeding the late Rev. Henry F. Lane, and continuing an eminently successful
pastorate in that city for the period of. nearly twenty-one years, having resigned
his pastorate July 29, 1888.

Since resigning this pulpit service, he had been settled over no church but
preached nearly every Sunday until last spring when failing health demanded
retirement. He had supplied for four years at Westborough, three years at
Sharon, one each at Nashua and East Boston.

20 MINUTES A DAY SAVED.

Is a gain of fifteen working days per year. Busy people are always looking
for means of saving time, and Bible students are no exception to this rule. By
marking the Sunday Bible lessons with the Universal Adjustable Index, all the ref-
erences may be turned to instantly and as often as desired during the week. To
adjust the Index it takes but two or three minutes longer than to look up the
references with no marker, and once adjusted the minutes used in finding the
references may be saved daily, or each time the lesson is studied. Buy one your-
self and make your Church Readers, your Clergyman, or your friends a holiday
gift of one or two sets. The advertisement may be seen in this issue of The
Granite Monthly.

•f -^^

HON, GEORGE A. RAMSDELL.
March //, iSj4 — A'rir'cw/v'r jb, rooo.

Tne Granitc Aonrnm.

Vol. XXIX.

DECEMBER, 1900.

No. 6.

THE EVOLUTION OF A CHURCH.

By JonatJian Smith.

HE first church in Peter-
borough, founded in
1751 or 1752, was Cal-
vinistic in faith, and or-
ganized upon the Pres-
byterian model. In the course of
seventy-five years it became Unita-
rian. It will be interesting to trace
the causes of this change, and the
successive steps by which the revolu-
tion was wrought out.

Its founders were of Scotch- Irish
ancestry, with a small mixture of
English blood, but they were thor-
oughly Scotch, and had all the traits
of that brave and hardy race. They
accepted the five points of Calvin,
election, total depravity, particular
redemption, irresistible grace, and
final perseverance of the saints, with-
out doubt or question. It was a
creed suited to their stern democratic
natures, their logical cast of mind,
and the circumstances amid which
they had grown up in Ireland. It
harmonized, too, with their life of
toil, their pinching poverty, and the
threatening dangers from their sav-
age foes in their new home in the

wilderness. If their natural charac-
teristics and temper, and the environ-
ment of their lot in Ireland and this
country, could have evolved for them
a theological creed, the Presbyterian
code of that day would have been the
inevitable result.

But Calvinism contained elements
which eventually repudiated and, in
the end, overthrew it. The changes
wrought by these destructive forces
were slowly made, and were hardly
perceptible to the people while going
on. But when, after the close of the
Revolutionary War, the members of
this society came to inventor}- their
religious opinions, a large majority
found themselves far away from their
original position on points of doc-
trine. Presbyterian forms and cere-
monies were still used, but the self-
destructive principles of that iron
creed had done their work upon the
articles of its faith, and the people
waked up to the fact that they were
no longer Calvinists.

A few leading causes of this change
ma}^ be briefly sketched. Calvinism
was a creed suited to a despotic gov-

378

THE EVOLUTION OF A CHURCH.

ernment in a cruel age. It could not
have originated in a democratic re-
public, nor could it long maintain its
integrity in an atmosphere of free in-
quir\^ Its fundamental principles
were diametrically opposed to those
of Rome. The Catholic church said
" Believe." Calvinism commanded
"Examine — Hold fast only to that
which is good." Under the old faith
man was made for the church, which
was everything ; under the new the
church was made for man ; he was
the supreme value, and the church

throne, come down to earth and suf-
fer, bleed, and die for worthless, insig-
nificant creatures of a day. The
Calvinistic doctrine of an eternal hell
led its inquiring believer to ask
whether the pit with all its fiery hor-
rors could have been created just to
punish a mere worm of the dust. If
man, even a sinner, deserve such an
abode, surely the awful Sovereign
of the Universe must think him a
creature of great possibilities for
good or evil to banish him to it for
all eternity for disobedience. "Why,"

Old Log Church.

was but an instrument to help him.
The creed taught him that he was
created by an Infinite Power ; that he
was responsible to it alone, and it
would finally judge him. In the
quaint language of Robert Brown, it
" made every one of the church a
king, a priest, and a prophet under
Christ to uphold and further the
kingdom of God, and to break down
and destroy the kingdom of anti-
Christ and Satan." It admitted 'of
no hierarchy and denied the right of
any man or body of men to lord it
over another. It could not be possi-
ble, it led thinking men to say, that
the Son would leave his Father's

men came to inquire, " if I am a per-
son placed on this earth by an Infin-
ite Power, have I not some rights
which must be respected on earth and
in heaven, too?" An infinite sacri-
fice could have been made only for
beings " a little lower than the an-
gels." This supreme offering, the
Presbyterian said, was for me; I am
responsible for rejecting it. By such
questionings did Calvinism exalt the
self-respect of its believer, and make
him conscious of his own dignity and
importance. The spirit of individual-
ism to which it led was moie marked
among the Scotch of the seventeenth
and eighteenth centuries than among

THE EVOLUTION 01 A CHURCH.

379

any other people, and it was in Scot-
laud, and among that race in this
country, that the true Calviuistic
spirit reached its highest perfection.
But in the free air of America it was
one of the forces which first under-
mined and in the end destroyed the
faith which strenuously cultivated it.
But a more potent element of de-
struction than individualism was the
obligation laid by the creed upon
every church member to read the
Bible. "All sorts of people," runs
the Catechism, " are bound to read
it apart by themselves and with their
families, with diligence and attention
to the matter and scope of them, with
meditation, application, and prayer."
No article of the faith was more de-
voutly obeyed. They were to seek
the meaning of its different texts in
the book itself. While they might
consult the minister in their search
for light, in the last resort their own
reason and conscience were to be the
final interpreters. But " God alone
is Lord of the conscience, and hath
left it free from the doctrine and com-
mandments of men which are in zwy-
thing contrary to His Word in mat-
ters of faith and worship." To the
thoughtful, disputatious vScotchman
nothing gave keener delight than to
discuss its texts and apply them in
proof or disproof of the different arti-
cles of his creed. The abstruse,
metaphysical character of the confes-
sion, its iron logic, and the constant
study of the Bible and catechism with
the continual effort to think out their
meaning was in the highest degree
stimulating to the mind and strength-
ened and developed the reasoning
powers. It made of its disciples
strong and independent thinkers. It
developed in them, especially after

they came to America, " the itch for
inquiry," not only into matters theo-
logical, but into things scientific and
historical also. "I am resolved,"
wrote Jonathan Edwards in his diary,
at the age of twenty-three, "that I
will be impartial to hear the reasons
of all pretended discoveries, and re-
ceive them, if rational, how long so-
ever I have been used to another way
of thinking." Nothing was farther
from the thought of Calvin than that
the honest inquirer would find any-
thing in the Bible which would raise
a doubt upon the articles of the creed.
But such were found, and the honest,
hard-headed Scotch Irishman pon-
dered them and discussed them wdth
his neighbors and minister. The great
reformer and his disciples did not
once think what influence further
discoveries in the fields of science
and history would have, nor what
changes life in a country where rea-
son and conscience were free would
bring. The settler's whole civil and
industrial life stimulated this inquir-
ing, independent spirit. He had es-
tablished and maintained the town
government, and had discussed, and
accepted or rejected, constitutions of
the state which had been submitted
to him. He had discovered that he
could live and prosper without the
protecting arm of kings and bishops.
His fear of the general assemblies
and synods of his' church was gone, '
and he came to regard them as of
minor importance. The fearlessness
and self-reliance developed by these
experiences could not be kept from
application to the problems of faith
and duty. Once applied, there could
be but one outcome.

While these influences were silentlj^
at work, the Revolution came. War

i8o

THE EVOLUTION OF A CHURCH.

causes as many changes in churcli
creeds as in the constitutions and stat-
utes of states. Into the fiery furnace
of all great struggles like those of
1775 and 1 86 1, all political and social,
all economic and religious platforms
and creeds pass and are fused togeth-
er ; they never emerge in the same
form in which they entered. "We
may say," Dr. E. E. Hale recently
remarked, "that the war of the Rev-

service, shrivel all differences of party
and sect, and the cause for which the
soldier fights becomes the one great
thought and purpose of all. It be-
comes, too, the one thought and pur-
pose of the people at home who sus-
tain the armies in the field. In the
great English Civil War, there were
no distinctions of Presbyterian and
Independent in Cromwell's army when
his Ironsides got fairly down to busi-

.«.-. "jCi.w>^:J.?*..s4 ;ar.jr. .ja.< :»r»»3KAi^

Second Meeting-house in Peterborough. Erected, 1777. Removed, 1829.
I'iciv looks toiuard soutliiijest corner of bnildDig.

olution knocked tlie doctrine of Total
Depravity out of the working creeds
of Christendom." He might have
added, also, that the war of the Rebel-
lion expunged the doctrine of Ever-
lasting Punishment from the working
creeds of Protestantism. In the mili-
tary camp, on the wearj^ march, and
around the camp-fire, every shade of
political and religious opinion is rep-
resented and debated. The comrade-
ships of the camp, cemented by the
sufferings and dangers of the militarj^

ness ; and in the Union armj^ of our
Civil War, after one campaign, there
were no democrats, republicans, or
abolitionists, only one great body of
men determined to save the Union
and destroy slavery. This sense of a
common danger, this sharing of com-
mon hardships, and this making of a
common sacrifice ; and the terrible
sorrows and bereavements of a com-
mon loss, break down all sectarian, as
they do all party, walls both in the
army and at home, which are never

THE EVOLUTION OF A CHURCH.

381

re-established on the same lines nor
as rigidly as before.

These experiences, all for a pur-
pose of mutual concern, bring men
together, and teach them to be more
tolerant, more charitable, more hu-
mane. They come to see that behind
the accidents of religious belief and
political opinion is the man himself,
infinitely greater and better than
either. Church creeds, like the laws,
are silent amid the clash of arms, and
the)" never resume their former place
when the struggle is over.

Before the Revolution the specula-
tions of Rousseau and the French
philosophers had obtained some foot-
hold in the country, though less in
New England than elsewhere. With
the French alliance these opinions
became more widely circulated. The
presence of French troops spread
them through the Continental armies.
When the forces were disbanded,
these ideas were carried into every
village and hamlet of the nation.
People did not accept them, but they
debated and ceased to fear them.
The discussions tended to still further
soften and otherwise modify existing
views, and helped prepare the people
for the coming change.

It is not probable that the great
awakening of 1 735-1 745, nor the sub-
sequent reaction from its excesses, had
any influence here. The church was
not organized until after the Revival
had spent its force, and the town was
too remote from the centres of its in-
fluence to feel the effects of either the
excitement or the reaction which fol-
lowed. Hence, this factor, which had
such powerful results in many of the
churches of Massachusetts, was wholly
absent here.

These causes, working quietly but

steadily for many years, prepared the
ground for what was soon to come.
The church clung to the old forms,
but a majority had ceased to regard
them of any importance, and only tol-
erated their continuance from lack of
a good opportunity to cast them aside.
They called themselves Presbyterians
still, though privately they challenged
the five points of Calvin or openly re-
jected them. There was only needed
an opportunity for the new faith to
assert itself to get embodied in public
action. The chance soon came and
was promptly employed.

It was hastened and made easier by
another circumstance, always a pow-
erful influence in the progress of every
religious society. Soon after the close
of the Revolution a new and younger
set of men came upon the stage and
began to take part in town and church
affairs. When a younger generation
assume the lead there is always a
change from the older forms and faiths
to newer and better, and then every
society takes a stride forward. This
new class had taken active part in the
war, had heard, or participated in,
the debates over the many questions
of local and state governments whicli
grew out of it. It was a stranger to
the passions and prejudices stirred by
the religious wars of Scotland and
Ireland. These j^ounger citizens were
better educated than their parents,
were more intelligent, better talkers,
and as a whole, were an abler class of
men. They wanted better homes than
their fathers had, more of the comforts
of life, and better schools. The}' de-
manded, also, newer and more attrac-
tive forms of religious worship. A
small minority, as did many of the
older generation, still held to the old
faith, but a majority of both insisted

;/v, •

I-

O
CO

Q
UJ
Z
(5
(/)

LU
Q

Q
LU
h-
O
LJ

I
o

Z)
X

I-

THE EVOLUTION OF A CHURCH.

38:

upon a chauge. Naturally enough
the first bolts of the rising tempest
struck in that storm-centre of every
religious society — the music.

Prior to 1788 the singing had been
conducted in the old way practised
in Scotland aud Ireland, the elder or
deacon reading a line of the Psalm
and the congregation singing it after
him. In that year, against the stren-
uous opposition of the conservative
members, an edition of Watts' s hymns
was introduced. This led to the
organization of a choir among the
young people, by whom the singing
was afterward conducted. The feel-
ing against this innovation grew so
strong that the question was at last
brought into town-meeting, that altar
on which the fathers laid all their
grievances. After a warm debate,
the town, in April, 1792, voted "that
Jonathan Smith, John Gray, Oliver
Felt, and Samuel Smith pitch the tune
and invite such other young people to
assist them as they think best." It
was also voted "that a committee be
chosen to procure seats in the breast
of the gallery, decent and comfort-
able, to accommodate a sufficient
number of singers to carry on the
singing in as good order as the cir-
cumstances of the congregation will
allow." That this radical departure
was stoutly opposed is shown by the
following memorial :

"Whereas, for a number of years past our
churcli rules have been contrary to the Presbyte-
rian order, by which means a considerable num-
ber, both of men and women, have been drawn
away from the Word and Ordinances : first in
March 1788, Doct. Watts' Psalms, against which
version we protest, was brought in contrary to
order, and human invention used in prais-
ing God, and a number of boj's and girls
tolerated to carry on the praises of God,
find not reading the line, by which means
the mouths of the congregation are shut, and

singing at noon practiced, we fear more for
recreation than the glory of God ; and also that
unaccustomed way of ordering church affairs
by a vote of the town at large ; and also, not
complying with the Rev. Synod's advice last
spring ; and also the underhanded manner of
taking the Presljytery from the meeting house
under a tree to settle the affair of Psalmody ;
and also the uncommon tunes used in praising
God ; therefore, we being very desirous to
avoid all the foremen tioned grievances, and
desirous also not to be partakers of other mens'
sins, we do hereby protest that our keeping
communion in said church shall not be con-
structed as any the least approbation of any of
the forementioned grievances, and we humbly
crave that this our protest maj- be recorded in
the session book of this town, for exoneration
of our consciences, and that we maybe allowed
extracts thereof accordingly.
Peterborough, Sept. 17, 1792.

Mathew Templeton
Samuel Gordon
Eleanor Gordon."

Others signed this protest, but
their names are crossed off. We
may well inquire what these peti-
tioners would say if they could re-
visit the earth and listen to the music
of a modern church service.

These innovations paved the way
for other and more radical changes
which were to follow wathin the next
ten years. The society had been un-
fortunate in its first settled minister
and still more so in its second, Rev.
David Annan, who was installed in
1778. In 1788 Mr. Annan was tried,
before the Presbytery on charges of
gross and immoral conduct. The
outcome of the trial is not recorded.
But he continued to preach until
1792, when he retired. From that
date until near the close of 1799 the
society was without a pastor.

The church had originally belonged
to the L,ondonderry Presbytery. After
Mr. Annan's settlement, and through
his influence, it severed its connec-
tion with the Presbytery at London-
derry and joined the one at Walkill,

384

THE EVOLUTION OF A CHURCH.

N. J., to which Mr. Annan himself
belonged. About 1790 this Presby-
tery became extinct, and the church
never joined any other. It was thus
left an independent society, though
not until it called Mr. Dunbar did it
entirely ignore the Londonderry
Presbytery.

These were critical years, and in
the events above narrated lies the
secret of the society's future course.
Mr. Morrison and Mr. Annan were
men of good attainments but were
not capable of leading the progres-
sive men of the church, and their
character was such as to destroy all
influence they might otherwise have
had. By 1792 the society had be-
come honeycombed with doubts of
the Calvinistic creed, and innova-
tions upon the Presbyterian forms
and ceremonies had crept in. Many
of the younger generation were men
of marked ability and strong indivi-
duality, who demanded a faith and
forms in harmony with the progres-"
sive ideas of the times.

Probably a wise and scholarly
leader could have controlled these
elements and kept the church in the
Presbyterian fold. As it was, the
society simply drifted along under
the aggressive leadership of its
stronger men and by 1800 it found
itself too far away from its old moor-
ings ever to return. Herein is the
reason why it eventually became
Unitarian while other Scotch Irish
Presbyterian societies in the state,
organized about the same time, re-
mained loyal to their old faith.

In this condition of affairs other
and more radical changes came to be
agitated, and the propriety of chang-
ing to the Congregational form was
openly discussed. This drew the

line more sharply between the tw^o
wings and intensified the debate over
creeds and methods. In 1795 the
society invited Rev. Abram Moore to
settle in the Presbyterian mode, but
he declined. Two years latter it ex-
tended a similar call to Zephaniah
Swift Moore, which was also de-
clined. The society then asked him
to settle as a Congregationalist.
This, too, was declined on account
of divisions in the society. Mr.
Moore says in his letter, " I cannot
consistently agree to adopt any mixed
mode of church government which
has been mentioned. Whatever
offers they make to me in Peter-
borough or any other place, they will
have no influence so long as unani-
mity, harmony and agreement be
wanting." The committee still
pressed their suit and replied that
they were in favor of settling him
in the Congregational way, as they
"did not look upon the differences
between the two modes as among the
essentials of religion." But it did
not avail. In 1799 Rev. Elijah Dun-
bar preached as a candidate and was
promptly invited to become the min-
ister. He was asked to settle as a
Congregationalist, and the London-
derry Presbytery was entirely ignored
in extending the call, which was at
once accepted. By such act the
society signified that it had ceased
to be Presbyterian and had become
Congregational. This outward
change was not more radical than the
revolution which it indicated had
taken place in the religious opinions
of a majority of the people. But the
decisive step had not been taken
without vigorous objections. The
ecclesiastical council was composed
of ministers of the neighboring

THE EVOLUTION OF A CHURCH.

385

churches, and before them the Pres-
byterians laid a formal but earnest
protest. The first ground was that
the church was a Presbyterian church,
had never been dismissed from the
Londonderry Presbytery, and that it
was wrong to adopt the Congrega-
tional mode without such dismissal.
Second, That they were dissatisfied
with Mr. Dunbar's preaching, and
that he disavowed the doctrines held
by Calvinistic churches. The pro-
test was signed by twent^^-two men
and women. But it was overruled
by the council, and the candidate
was ordained and installed over the
societ}'.

Mr. Dunbar was a young man,
born in 1773, and graduated at Har-
vard College in 1794. He was an
excellent mathematician and classical
scholar, a good writer, and for many
years his sermons gave satisfaction.
In belief he was an Armiuian and
not a Calvinist. Under the leader-
ship of a young man in full sympath}^
with the best liberal thought of the
day, the society made rapid strides
toward the liberal faith, and leading
the way, Mr. Dunbar had no difh-
culty in carrying a majorit}' of the
people with him. Before he had
been here two years he persuaded
them to revise the church creed,
and on June 21, 1801, they adopted
the following statement of faith. It
is a mixture of arminianism in the
Apostle's Creed, and show^s how far
the society had now swung off from
its ancient anchorage :

"You believe in God, the Father
Almighty, Maker of heaven and
earth, and in a humble sense of your
unworthiness and dependence on His
grace in Jesus Christ do give your-
self up to Him in au everlasting

covenant, not to be forgotten, and
with yourself your seed after you in
their several generations. In like
manner you believe in the Lord Jesus
Christ, who is the only begotten Son
of the Father, the image of the Invis-
ible God — Immanuel — God manifest
in the flesh, who was conceived by
the power of the Holy Ghost, born
of the Virgin Mary, suffered under

Interior View of Unitarian Church in I860.

Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead
and buried, continued in the state of
the dead and under the powder of
death until the third day, when he
rose again, and having ascended into
heaven doth sit at the right hand
of God the Father Almighty, from
whence he will come to judge the
quick and the dead at his appearing
and kingdom. You give yourself up
to Him as the great Head of the
Church and Mediator of the New

386

THE EVOLUTION OE A CHURCH.

Covenant ; acknowledging Him as
the Prophet, Priest, and King of your
salvation ; relying on Him, the only
Savior, for pardon and justification,
remission of sins and acceptance with
God. You also believe in the Holy
Spirit of God as the Guide, Com-
forter, and Sanctifier of the saints ;
you give yourself up to Him, and
trust in Him to lead you in the way
of truth and holiness. In the firm
belief of the great doctrines of our
holy religion contained in the Sacred
Writings you heartily embrace them
as the rule of your faith and prac-
tice ; and you sincerely purpose and
resolve, by divine assistance, to live
as the grace of God, that bringeth
salvation, teaches; denying ungodli-
ness and every worldly lust, living
soberly, righteously, and godly in
this present world."

Here follow the mutual covenants
of the church and candidate. This
new confession says nothing of total
■depravity, election, nor the other,
points of Calvin, and it was formal
notice that the society no longer be-
lieved them. Far as the church
records show this statement remained
the creed of the church down to
1898. I am quite sure a new one
was adopted under the ministry of
Mr. Ferry between i860 and 1869,
but it cannot be found on the rec-
ords.

Some entries in the records of the
church about this time show that
there were divisions over what was
called the "Half-way Covenant," that
is, the right of parents not them-
selves church members to present
their children and have them bap-
tized. In 1799 the church committee
on rules had passed the following
vote :

"As we disapprove of what has been called
'the Half-way Covenant,' it is expected of all
such as wish for the baptism of their children,
in future, that they enter into covenant with
the church and submit themselves to its watch
and discipline. Nevertheless, the church will
not insist on such persons partaking the sacra-
ment of the supper as have scruples of con-
science till such scruples be removed."

On the day the new creed was
adopted the church voted to exclude
children from baptism unless one or
both parents were full communicants.
To-day this seems a minor matter,
but it was then a burning issue,
and in Massachusetts it rent many
churches in twain. Some opposed
the Half-way Covenant and went
over to Unitarianism, others accepted
it and remained Orthodox. This
church finally rejected it and came
into the Liberal Fold, but the final
outcome was not the same in ev^ery
case. There is no evidence that
it had au}^ influence on the future
course of the society, however warmly
it was debated at the time.
Soon after this change from the
Presbyterian to the Congregational
faith another question of great im-
portance arose. The dissatisfaction
of the Presbyterians had been inten-
sified by the form in which the com-
munion was observed under the new
order of things, and at last they
carried their grievances before the
town. In 1804 the voters passed a
resolution that thereafter the Presby-
terians should be allowed the use of
the church one Sunday in the year
in which to have the rite adminis-
tered in their way. All Congrega-
tionalists in good standing were to be
allowed to unite with them in its ob-
servance. This was virtually a di-
vision of the church, and drew the
lines more sharply between the two

THE El'OLUriON OF A CHURCH.

387

wings

It bouud the conservatives
more closely to their iron creed, and
it left the Congregationalists freer to
follow their opinions in religious be-
lief. This custom was followed down
to the year 1821. Until 1818 it was
usually administered on those Sun-
days by Rev. Dr. William Morrison
of Londonderry. It was his habit to
come to town a week in advance,
visit among the people, baptize their
children and hold protracted revival
meetings. On Communion Sunday
intense interest was manifested and
the church was thronged. The table
extended the whole length of the
broad aisle and was several times
filled by the communicants of both
denominations. At the Sacramental
lecture, always given the Thursday
previous, each member obtained from
the minister a token — made of leather,
pewter, or other substance — which he
brought with him to the table. It
was to identify the holder as a
church member and entitled to re-
ceive the Sacrament. Just before the
service began, and when all were
seated at the table, the elder or dea-
con passed down the aisle and gath-
ered them up. Dr. Morrison stood at
the head of the table. He was a tall
man, with long white hair and beard,
and in manner dignified and devout.
Nothing could exceed the awe which
fell upon the assembly as he stood
before the people and in solemn and
reverent tones began the administra-
tion of the rite in these words, ut-
tered in a broad Scotch dialect : "I
debar from this table of the Laird all
liars, all adulterers, all drunkards,"
etc. The impression of the scene
made upon the young people was
profound and never forgotten.

The question of the communion

settled, no farther differences became
the subject of official action for more
than sixteen years. But beneath the
surface great changes in religious
thought were going on. The minor-
ity clung fast to its old faith, and
continued to accept it as the final
statement of religious truth. Among
the majority the spirit of inquiry had
got abroad. They had found new
light and were sure that more still

Pulpit of Unitarian Church, as it was draped foi the

Memorial Service for President Lincoln,

April 16, 1865.

was 5^et to dawn upon all questions-
of theology and morals. At the time
of his settlement Mr. Dunbar's views
were in advance of his people, but
within a few years he ceased to grow
intellectually and his congregation
passed ahead of him. His salary was
small and soon a growing family with
its accompaniments of sickness and
misfortune absorbed all his income.
He had few books, and was unable
to increase his library. He found no
time for study and self- improvement,
and failed to keep up in the religious
literature and thought of the time.
The period between 1S05 and 1820-

388

THE EVOLUTION OF A CHURCH.

was oue of intense theological in-
terest and discussion. Newspapers
were rapidly finding their way into
the homes of the citizens. A small li-
brary established in 1792 had brought
many books within the reach of the
people. The preaching of Dr. Chan-
ning attracted wide interest. Large
numbers of his sermons, and many
by Dr. Henry Ware, Jr., Rev. Noah
Worcester and other prominent min-
isters in Massachusetts, were printed
and circulated. Some of the society
had business relations with Boston
merchants, and in this way at first,
and afterwards through the mails,
these sermons found their way into
the society. They were eagerly read
and passed around among the people,
who gave to the doctrines set forth a
cordial approval. I have often heard
Dr. Albert Smith relate that when
his father, Samuel Smith, received
one of Dr. Channing's sermons he
would forthwith summon his brothers
to his counting-room. They always
came at once and then in business
hours one of them would read it
aloud, and at the conclusion all
would unite in the warmest expres-
sions of sympathy and commenda-
tion. Through such influences the
Congregationalists of the church
steadily advanced until 1820, when
i^ausing to take a reckoning of their
theological position they found them-
selves to be no longer Orthodox but
Unitarian.

The first public admission of the
fact came in September of that year,
when the society chose Mr. Dunl)ar
and Deacons Nathaniel Holmes and
Jonathan Smith delegates to the in-
stallation of Levi W. Leonard over
the Dublin parish. Mr. Leonard was
called and settled as a Unitarian, and

Mr. Dunbar gave the charge to the
people. This frank admission of their
real position led the Presbyterians to
decisive action. Hitherto they had
clung to the old church ; but now
they could no longer do so, and they
determined to separate entirely. On
the Sunday after the installation of
Mr. Leonard the communion was ad-
ministered in the Presbyterian mode
for the last time. A petition, ad-
dressed to the Londonderry Presby-
tery, for leave to form a new society
was drawn up and signed. The Pres-
bytery met at the house of General
John Steele June 19, 1822, to hear the
parties. Thej^ were waited upon by
a committee of six from the Congre-
gationalists, who invited them to hold
their meetings in the church. The
Presbytery declined to accept, but ad-
mitted the committee to the hearing
to make objections to the petition if
they saw fit. The petition set forth
that the signers had always been
Presbyterians, and that the Congre-
gational church which had settled
Mr. Dunbar were a minorit}^ of the
Presbyterian church and went off from
the Presbytery without dismission ;
that though they were admitted to the
Congregational communion they did
not consider themselves in any way
bound or obligated to it ; that they
had become dissatisfied with the con-
nection ; that Mr. Dunbar had chang-
ed his views, and the}' wished to be
embodied into a new society. The
committee denied these statements
and appealed to the record for a proof
of their position ; and as to the charge
of heresy, they said, Mr. Dunbar was
present and could answer it. The
Presbytery declined to consider
whether there had been a breach of
contract between the two wings of the

THE EVOLUTION OF A CHURCH.

389

society, dismissed the charge of heresy
against Mr. Dunbar on the ground
that they had no right to hear it,
and granted the petitioners' prayer.
Thereupon the Presbyterians with-
drew and left the old church securel}^
anchored to the Unitarian faith.

"Within the previous twenty years
the many changes in the statutes of
the state had made a reorganization
of religious societies necessary. It

town clerk before the assessment, that
he was of a different persuasion from
the minister of the town, he was ex-
empt, and no person should be com-
pelled to join, support, or be classed
with any church without fir.st obtain-
ing his con.sent. Whether this law
had any influence in prompting the
action of the Presbyterians cannot be
stated. It did, however, reconcile the
Congregationalists to the seceders'

Interior View of Unitarian Church in 1900.

was the town that had settled Mr.
Dunbar and contracted to pay his sal-
ary, the money for which was raised
by general taxation. Prior to 1S19
different sects had procured the pass-
age of special laws exempting their
followers from the burden of this
assessment. In 18 19 a general toler-
ation act was placed in the statutes,
by which towns already under con-
tract with a minister could levy and
collect taxes for his support. But if
any person filed a certificate with the

action, though they formally pro-
tested against it. ^

Between 1820 and 1825 another
generation of young men came for-
ward and began to take part in church
affairs. Tlie}^ held advanced opinions
upon theological questions, and their
first move was to get rid of the old
minister. Mr. Dunbar was at this
time but little over fifty years of age —
in the prime of life. But the younger
people pronounced him to be behind
the times, too conservative, and dull

390

THE EVOLUTION OF A CHURCH.

aud uninteresting as a preacher. The
building of a new meeting-house in
this village gave them their opportun-
ity. Under the leadership of James
Walker, John H. Steele, Timothy K.
Ames, and others, a new Congrega-
tional society was organized. Nomi-
nally the old church was still a town
institution, for the town had never
cast it off, and was still responsible
for the minister's salary. Under the
changes in the law, aud the with-
drawal of other sects this movement
may have been advisable, to place the
society in a safe and clearly defined
position and in harmony with the ob-
vious intent of the law. But its real
purpose was to secure the dismissal of
Mr. Dunbar. If he did not resign,
they said, they would call a minister
for the new society, and so break the
old one in pieces. Mr. Dunbar's
friends advised him to take a dismis-
sion, and accept in place a stated sal-
ary. He rejected the salary offered
but resigned his office, and on Febru-
ary 25, 1827, preached his farewell
discourse. The new society, now in-
dependent of all town control, at once
called Rev. Dr. Abiel Abbott, who
was duly installed in the following
April. He was a Unitarian, and was
settled as such. None but Unitarian
churches were invited to take part in
^the installation services, for its posi-
tion, as a Unitarian body, was now
openly and clearly defined.

But its Unitarianism was very dif-
ferent from the Unitarian faith of to-
day. In many respects it was much too
conservative for the average Evangel-
ical church of the present. It rejected
the doctrine of the Trinity, but held
fast to the plenary inspiration of the
Bible. It denied that the Son was
equal to the Father in power and

glor}^ ; but it strenuously insisted
that "Christ was specially sent to
effect a moral and spiritual deliver-
ance of mankind, to rescue men from
sin and its consequences, and to bring
them to a state of everlasting purity
and happiness." It accepted as lit-
erally true the account of the creation
as told in the first chapters of Genesis,
the story of the miraculous birth, and
in the credibility of the miracles of
both the Old and New Testaments.
A large majority believed in the ever-
lasting punishment of the sinner, and
in a hell as hot and lurid as the one
Milton depicts in Paradise lyost.

But it had other elements, too. It
exalted the worth and dignity of hu-
man nature, which was a legacy to it
straight from the Calvinistic faith of
the fathers. It held that Reason was
the ultimate interpreter of the Scrip-
tures, another inheritance from the
same great testator. And better than
all, it cultivated the teachable spirit
and held its eyes and ears wide open
to the new light which was yet to
break from every avenue of human
inquiry. The changes from 1752 to
1826, and from 1826 to the present,
may seem revolutionary, but after all
they were natural and came in a per-
fectly natural way. Calvinism was
the religious expression of stern, harsh
men in a hard and cruel age. It could
not flourish nor maintain its doctrinal
integrity in a republic where all ob-
stacles to the growth of knowledge
were removed, and where, under im-
proved social conditions and a broader
culture, the human mind and con-
science were free. In its new environ-
ment this once Calvinistic church de-
veloped by strictly normal methods
into its present religious form, and its
present Unitarianism is the legitimate

A MEMORY, 391

child, in direct line of descent, of its ual and spiritual insight than they

Calvinism of one hundred and fifty ever knew, the fathers caught the true

years ago. Its change of theological meaning and spiritof their harsh faith,

opinion is not greater than the change and followed where it led them. At

wrought by Nature and man upon the the proper time they dropped the old

face of the hills and valleys of the form and took on the new as naturally

town, in the modes of living of its as the chrysalis drops the body of the

people, in the character of its society, worm and blossoms into the butterfly,

or in the social and political ideas of They never closed their eyes to the

its men and women. All these have truth nor turned a deaf ear to the

their roots deep down in the situation, voice of science and discovery. This

the customs, the habits and ideas of after all is the great honor of this

the fathers of i749-'5o. Perhaps it is church, and is the true secret of its

true that an aggressive, talented min- beneficent growth, its mighty influ-

ister could in the critical years of the ence in this community, and its tri-

society have changed the direction of umphant reign over the minds and

its growth. But happily it suffered hearts of its people. So long as it is

no such restraint and was permitted to true to this guide, which the fathers

develop on natural lines in a healthy, so loyally and so lovingly followed, it

natural wa3^ With a keener intellect- has nothing to fear in the future.

A MEMORY.

By M. Oak man Patton.

A wild bird sings in the beechnut tree.

Just over the porch of my cabin, here
In the wild wood lone, so merrily,

I could almost think 't were the " sweet o' the year."

But no, 't is the full o' the Autumn time.

When the beechnuts fall, and the leaves are sere,

And the morning fields are white with rime.
And the nights are cool and the days are clear.

Still the wild bird sings in the beechnut tree, —
As the sun steals in through my window pane.

His love song waking the memory.

And bringing the past to my thought again.

Then, stealing back, o'er the year's long space, —
As the bird sings sweet in the beechnut tree, —

Comes a vision rare of a bright young face
With eyes love- lit and a smile for me.

And her eyes meet mine with a glance as sweet

As they did in the days when our hearts were young ;

But alas, for the days I shall no more greet.
And the love-songs never to be re-sung !

xxix— 16

- ""ifSd

Pack Monadnock.

PACK MONADNOCK.
By jr. P. Elkins.

fONADNOCK Mountain,
called by Emerson "the
dark flower of Cheshire
garden," is often styled
Grand Monadnock, in
distinction from a smaller mountain
of a similar name. This peak, or
more accurately this ridge with two
peaks, is named Pack or Petit Mon-
adnock. Thoreau referred to it as
the Peterboro Hills. The inhabi-
tants of the surrounding districts gen-
erally refer to the southern peak as
Temple Mountain, while the northern
•is spoken of as Peterboro Mountain.
These local names indicate roughly
the location of Pack Monadnock. It
lies chiefly in the eastern part of
Peterboro and the northwestern por-
tion of Temple, although spurs of it
extend into Sharon on the southwest,
and into Greenfield on the northeast,

the so-called Peterboro summit lying
in the latter town.

The altitude of Pack Monadnock
is, in round numbers, 2,300 feet. It
is the highest elevation in Hillsbor-
ough county, not excepting the Un-
canoonucs or Crotchett Mountain. It
is loftier than Ragged Mountain in
Andover, and nearly as high as
Moore Mountain in Hanover. It can
be seen from the peaks in the north-
ern part of the state, while it is a
prominent and beautiful landmark in
the southwestern counties.

It is the most important portion of
the watershed between the Contoo-
cook and Souhegan rivers. Seen
from the valleys to the north and east
it is very imposing, but from the
higher valley and hills on the west, it
loses in contrast with Grand Monad-
nock, and seems less elevated than it

PACK MONADNOCK.

393

is, partly because of the fact that its
sides are nearly treeless. The moun-
tain pastures which extend to the
summits are comparatively smooth,
and present a picture said by tourists
to resemble bits of Scotland. On the
western side, in Peterboro, near the
base of the central ridge, nestles a
cute little pond, near which are
woods and a grove sometimes used
for picnic purposes.

A portion ol the southern or ' ' Tem-
ple peak" was the first state park
created and opened in New Hamp-
shire, and is called General Miller
Park, in honor of General James
Miller, a noted officer in the War of
1812. The Act of the General Court
providing for it was passed in 1891,
and the park was opened in June,
1892, Governor Tuttle and many
noted men being present. A house
about half way up the mountain road
w^as erected in 1892, but this hostelry
iound small patronage and was soon
abandoned.

The road to the summit of Miller

Park or " Temple Mountain "
branches from the old " mountain
road " that was once the main line of
travel from Peterboro and Keene and
other towns to Nashua and thence to
Boston. One can easih^ drive to
within a very few rods of the sum-
mit. The rocks of this mountain are
schistose, but not so ferruginous as
those of peaks farther north. Here
are ledges, of course, and broken
blocks of rock with which active
climbers have erected the stone-stacks
or monuments, such as one sees on
nearly every high hill in this part of
the country ; but grass flourishes
clear to the top of both peaks, and
cattle thrive in pastures which ex-
tend nearly to the summits. The
ridge connecting the two peaks is a
beautiful wall of rock, furrowed by
ice and water, and beautified by the
storms and sunshine of ages.

The altitude of the peaks is about
equal, though that of Miller Park is
said to be a little more. But the view
from the Greenfield end is finer, be-

Half-way House, Miller Park, on Pack Monadr\ock.

394

PACK MONADNOCK.

cause it is wholly treeless, the valley
to the north is more abrupt, and be-
cause the .spurs south of the Peter-
boro end constitute practically a con-
tinuation of the mountain. To people
who live in mountainous regions,
and who are not especially fond of
the peaks, the most interesting sight
afforded the climber is that of a city.

In Miller Park, Pack Monadnock.

a village, or some other result of
man's industry and evidence of his
presence. How often are we told, in
proof of the excellence of a view,
that it includes so many towns !
Now, he who stands upon Pack
Monadnock in a clear day can see
numerous villages, the cities of Man-
chester and Nashua, and, it is said,
lyowell and a bit of Boston and of its
harbor.

But he who loves the mountains
ascends one in order to cultivate an
acquaintance with that particular
peak, and also in order to behold
other mountains from its summit.
Such a man generally prefers real
climbing to driving. He would en-
joy the wild, open pastures on the
.sides of " Peterboro Mountain." The
view thence embraces a wide val-
ley to the west, terminating in old
Monadnock, which shows to such an
observer his real size and beaut5^
Those dry old New England past-
ures, infested with hardback and
bushes, and affording scant herbage
for which the patient cattle have to
work long days, are yet very inter-
esting and beautiful. Birds are rare,
wild animals rarer, and seldom does
the pilgrim see a man in them. But
his feet press countless specimens of
wild and tangled vegetation, the
rocks catch the sunshine and show
to the admirer of nature's simpler
forms what beauty and variety lie in
those high altitudes. There the
rocks form gardens, and, save the
pure, crisp, and measureless air, are
the reigning glor}' of the peaks. It
must have been in some such place
that the spirit of the great Scotch
writer exclaimed, according to Mr.
Ruskin : "I, Waller Scott, am noth-
ing ; but these rocks and hills, how
great are they ! ' '

But even more glorious than the
spirit of the rocks and atmosphere is
the view afforded by a mountain. It
was one among countless visions of
that sort that doubtless inspired
Emerson to utter the words: "The
stupendous glory of the universe."

North of Pack Monadnock, and
very near it, is the low, broad
crest of Crotchett Mountain, in Fran-

PACK MONADNOCK.

395

cestown, which looks smooth and
arable from this point. Directly over
this, at a distance of perhaps forty
miles, stands the dome-shaped Kear-
sarge, the highest point of Merri-
mack county. Looking to the north-
east one sees Joe English, New
Boston's fascinating hill. Far in the
distance appear Ossipee's notched
sum 111 it and the numerous blue
mountains in and around the Sand-
wich region.

To the east the eye can follow the
valleys and hills far into Rocking-
ham and count up the villages by
the railroad from quaint lyyndebor-
ough to prosperous Milford. The
southeastern quadrant of the view
embraces the low hills and apparent
plains of Massachusetts and the New
Hampshire towns nearest her line.
Southward the body of Pack Monad-
nock itself obstructs the vision, but
Wachusett appears, a very near and
respectable neighbor. West of the
ridge in Temple and Sharon the
ascending valley of the Contoocook
shuts off the view by the nearer
heights.

In the wxst is Grand Monaduock,
the pride of southern New Hamp-
shire, one of the two mountains be-
low the southern border of the north
country that exceed the height of
3,000 feet. It presents its finest side
to these east hills, and lifts its noble
crest of rocks nearly 2,000 feet above
the hills at its base. Its form is ex-

quisite, resembling craggy Lafayette
more than Moosilauke or Washing-
ton, yet unlike either. Near its base
is the noted summer resort called
Dublin, which, as well as the vil-
lages of Hancock and Francestown,
is plainly visible from this emin-
ence.

In the northwest stands Sketuta-
kee, a bold, high hill of nearly 2,000
feet altitude. Between this peak and
Crotchett the view embraces the
wild hills to the northwest, and the
mountains in Antrim, Stoddard, and
Washington. None of these is lofty,
but their forms and situations are
such as to make this scenery the
most beautiful in the entire sweep
of vision from the summit of Pack
Monaduock. Those hills are bold
and are so massed as to give a won-
derful variety of shading and of out-
line. Beyond their rugged masses
rises Ascutney's blue peak, and I am
inclined to think that, in a clear
day, Killington can also be seen.

Of course neither Pack Monaduock
nor the view it affords can compare
with Grand Monaduock, — much less
with the giants of New Hampshire's
wonderful "North Country." But it
is picturesque and beautiful ; its sum-
mits are easy of access, and either
one is real vantage ground for the
man or woman really alive to the
charms of New England scenerj^ and
to the " stupendous glor}- of the uni-
verse."

THE SOUTH AFRICAN TRAGEDY.

O England, Christian England, is it right?

On Boerish battle-fields what say thy slain ?
What say their loved ones clad in weeds of night ?

Will large success at last bring ample gain ?

Can richest mines a single life outweigh ?

Make worthy recompense for floods of tears ?
The gnawing pangs of bitter heartaches stay,

Fill darkened homes with light of bygone years ?

What though thy many sons have gone for gold
And flashing diamonds in yon Afric sands ?

What right have they untaxed to sums untold
From hidden wealth of jewel-laden lands ?

Must nations shape their laws with fawning hands
To suit thy will and at thy feet bow low, —

Surrender tamely to thy stern demands.
Or in thy sight be deemed a hostile foe ?

If laws oppress thy sons are free to go.

Seek goodly fortunes where they wish or will ;

In fields of promise other nations know

Find fitting sphere to test their cunning skill !

Were gleaming Kloudikes found on Britain's soil,
Golcondas all ablaze with sparkling gems,

And other lands sent sturdy sons of toil
To delve for gold or stones for diadems.

Would not thy loyal armies, large and strong,
As one with zeal resist encroaching bands ?

With crushing might avenge the burning wrong ?
Guard long and well the treasure of thy lands ?

Who then can blame the Boers for guarding well
Rich mines of wealth in their own native land.

As they have need, with. flaming shot and shell,
Till hostile armies stay their iron hand ?

So far what gain has come ? A larger host
To raid and dare the fire of Boerish guns,

Of brave men .standing firm at duty's post —

The bud and bloom of England's noblest sons ; —

THE SOUTH AFRICAN TRAGEDY.

397

A Crouje vanquished, Botha held at bay,
All sieges raised, imprisoned hosts set free,

As leaders will to join once more the fray,

A storm-swept way to Peace, ere Peace shall be !

But when shall come the end to bloody strife,
Though flushed with victory thy remnant rest,

What worthy prize for all the loss of life

And treasure shall reward thy glory's quest?

What added lustre will thy banner wear?

What new accord of praise the nations give ?
What larger witness of thy love and care

To help the weak a better life to live ?

Can glory hallow grasping hands of greed ?

Make right the fixed and stubborn might of will ?
W^ilt thou be proud to face the finished deed?

Recall thy worse than wasted martial skill ?

Will not the ghosts of Boer and Briton slain
In gory conflict by the thousands, live

To haunt thy future, shame thy sordid gain, —
The sin the great world will not soon forgive ?

The glaring sin lies chiefly at thy door.

Thy breach of faith the hounds of war let loose.
Made hells of earthly heavens, dyed fields with gore,

Until thine end was gained allowed no truce !

Bethink thee, England, of thy Christian creed,
And stay thy crimsoned, crushing hand of wrong.

Make Peace and fill with blessed word and deed
To speed the day of Time's millennial song !

wm- ':^^'^'-

is*"':f^ffc!.:- ■■"'^ 'i' ^

AIvEWIVES AND THE DIP-NET PROCESS.

By H. \V. Brown, M. Sc.

F the many interesting
phenomena which to the
'longshoreman are al-
ways common enough,
none, it seems to me,
can be more worthily marvelous than
those grand movements of gregarious
and migratory fishes which occur
annually all along our coasts.

Vast schools of porgies, for exam-
ple, appear off New England in mid-
summer ; and I have seen a single
greasy, old, black fishing steamer
hoisting aboard three hundred and
fifty barrels of this oily treasure as
the result of but two average hauls
of her huge, purse-like, seine net.

Shad, cod, mackerel, menhaden, and
the like, also go in schools, and each

suggests to the observer its own par-
ticular features of interest, as it does
to the ever- dependent fisherman of
our banks and bays its own peculiar
methods of capture.

But there is one annually return-
ing visitant to our shores and streams
of exceptional interest. Concerning
it, however, very little seems thus far
to have been written, and I suppose
man}^ intelligent people, especially
such as live far inland, may possess
hardl}' more information about it
than is implied by one of its several
suggestive names. Some, perhaps,
have never even heard of it. I refer
to the plain, the old-fashioned, albeit
the somewhat oversavory, alewife.

This common and very interesting

'Vf strii^giiiig, glistciitiig, mass of aleivivcs.''''

A/.EIVI\'ES.

399

^^ All alavh'cs tnkhig the right-hand course are permitted to pass into the happy sf'aioiu'iig' ground aln'Z'e."

food fish is ofien confused in thought
with the sea-herring, a species which
it does somewhat resemble ; but the
former is of larger and, as fish go,
more corpulent proportions, hence,
probably, the origin of the name ;
besides the alewife is anadromous in
its habits. The sea-herring (clupea
liarengus) never enters fresh w^ater,
even for spawning.

Tliere are but two species of ale-
wife along our coast, the so-called
" branch herring " (Pomolobus pseu-
doharengus) and the "glut herring"
(Pomolobus aestivalis), species that
are much alike both externally and
internall}', differing mainly only in
the color of the peritoneal lining —
pale in the one case, black in the
other.

When first taken from the water
an alewife is of bright, silvery gray
color, darker upon the back, without
special markings, ten to twelve inches
long, flattish, having a fair comple-
ment and spread of fins and a homo-

cereal tail. It weighs from two-fifths
to one-third of a pound, rarely one
half, and is exceptionally muscular.
That it needs must be an unusually
athletic fish we may presently have
good occasion to show.

Every state along our seaboard,
from Maine to Florida, with the pos-
sible exception of Georgia, engages
more or less in the alewife industry ;
but of the New England states Mas-
sachusetts surpasses her sisters, both
in the number of men employed and
in the value of her catch. Various
appliances for this sort of fishing are
in common use — pound-nets, trap-
nets, gill-nets, seines, weirs, fykes,
and, in New England, dip-nets. In
New Hampshire, the Newmarket
and Exeter rivers sustain a few nets,
while the Merrimack, Taunton, and
some other rivers of Massachusetts,
use the seine chiefly. In both Mas-
sachusetts and Maine the dip-net
process of catching is used very
largely. In Connecticut, Rhode

400

ALE WIVES.

Island, and New Hampshire the
seine also is used, while in each of
the New England states where ale-
wife fishing is carried on pound-
nets, trap-nets, and weirs are em-
plo3^ed.

Of all the rivers of New England,
the one from which most alewives
are annually taken is the Damaris-
cotta in Maine. From this small
river nearly two and one half mil-

the branch-herring in inland ponds
or lakes connected with the sea.
The warm shallows of these places
are the Mecca of their summer pil-
grimage. Hither they swarm in \ast
numbers, remain a few weeks, de-
posit the spawn and the milt, and
then go straggling back to the sea.

It is observed that such fish always
return to leave their eggs upon the
identical spawning ground where

".i perpendicular fall of fifty or more feet.''''

lions of fish have been secured in a
single season, weighing more than
a million pounds (1,390,612 pounds
in 1896), an amount larger than that
from any other stream of our entire
Atlantic border, I believe, with the
exception of the Potomac. The total
weight of alewives taken from New
Hampshire rivers (say) in 1896 was
269,734 pounds.

Unlike the cod, herring, and so
forth, the alewife, although its habi-
tat is the ocean, prefers to deposit
her eggs in fresh water ; the glut-
herring not far from tidal water ; but

they were themselves brought forth.
Doubtless it is chiefly due to some
functional disturbance of ovaries and
spermaries that migratory fishes are
led to seek a spawning place some-
where every year, but by what unerr-
ing sense they are enabled to return,
season after season, to the same
stream for that purpose one is scarcely
able to conjecture.

The dip-net method of catching
alewives is peculiar to New England.
My own observations in connection
with this process have been made
chiefly at the principal fish way of the

ALE WIVES.

401

little river already mentioned — the
Damariscotta, in Maine. Damaris-
cotta Mills is the seat of the business
for the section. Here the fishing
season affords for the people one
good — almost the only — opportunity
for really lively work which those
ease-loving citizens seem able to
enjoy for a full twelve-month, and
they make the most of it.

The name Damariscotta is one of

near by, holding brackish w^ater), is.
well supplied with smelts and eels,
and formerly had its oysters. The
name of the region, then, may have
had a somewhat more than local
significance to the mind of the early
savage.

"The Mills," at the thoroughly
picturesque fishway of which the
greatest catch is annually made, is
a small village about fifteen miles

' ll'it/i long-handled nets, several bra7i.'!iy di/'/'crs draw forth the fish incessantly."

the many Indian words which we
find written upon our New England
landscape, and it is said to signify
' ' The place of little fishes. ' ' Doubt-
less this fact should suggest a very
remote beginning for the alewives
of Damariscotta. Some enthusiastic
genealogist might here discover a
source of perpetual pleasure in being
able to trace an unbroken, if onl}- a
piscatorial, line to a point so far
back in human — who knows if not in
geologic — time ! Damariscotta Bay,
however (a small inland tidal sea,

from the sea. It is reached by ale-
wives and sea tourists alike by means
of the beautiful winding river which.
is the only outlet for the tidal waters
of the bay.

The bay itself receives fresh water
mainly from a short, rock3^ tumbling
stream which all the year round
drains a twelve- mile pond, fully sixty
feet above. This elevated lake is
the spawning place of the millions of
fish that come up the river, and it is
at the time of their ascent that they
are taken in enormous quantities and

402

ALE WIVES.

" They flip and flop, spatter and splnttrr."

shipped abroad as an important arti-
cle of commerce.

Late in April or early in May the
iish appear at the foot of the falls, al-
though at first in small numbers — a
warm southerly wind and flood-tide-
proving favorable. Soon larger
schools arrive ; then for nearly a
month, in a good season, the stream
is almost packed with them — a mov-
ing, struggling, glistening mass of
alewives, all heading one way in a
frenzied advance over shoals, rapids,
and cascades, and all intent upon one
object, that of gaining the shallow
spawning grounds of the lake above.
Day and night alike the anxious pro-
cession crowds on. No bait, at this
time, can tempt them to eat ; yet the
:fish are fat and inviting, and the fe-
male bears hundreds of eggs.

It is after they have ascended the
winding river from the sea, and while
hurrying in from the head of the bay
that a narrowing creek crowds the
:School into the still narrower stream,

which quickly divides into two main
branches. Of these, one passes
toward the right hand and is called
the lock-stream. All the way up
along the rapids of this branch are
built of stone frequent locks alternat-
ing from side to side. Into each of
these locks the torrent from above
pours, and swirls, and boils, and
eddies; yet into each, in spite of all
— even of the greatest force of the
rushing stream — the alewife. by a
quick muscular flip of tail and fin, is
able to throw himself. Often he
makes a momentary white foamy
streak up through the dark of the
waterfall. But safely there he is
quite willing to eddy and float and
rest, preparatory for another venture
and a still higher lock.

All alewives taking the right hand
course are held by the fishermen as
sacred and safe, and are permitted
to pass into the hnppy spawning
ground above ; but those that take
the left-hand branch — alas for them !

ALE WIVES.

403

their way to the lake is blocked by a
perpendicular fall of fifty or more
feet, having at its base a deep, dark,
ominous pool, from which the luck-
less and unwary victims are soon to
be ruthlessly scooped, then thrown
into vats, sold to farmers and trades-
men, salted and smoked, and at last
made to serv^e as meat during the
long, barren months of winter. But
it certainly presents a sight never to
be forgotten — this eager, crowding,
writhing mass, thousands upon
thousands, tons upon tons, for they
fill the stream at times from surface
to bottom. So full is the water-way,
often, that one can pluck them out
by hand alone and fill his basket
without the aid either of hook or net.
Gamins along the stream pilfer many
a string, and at night poachers are
kept at bay by vigilant guards hav-
ing the right to shoot.

With long-handled nets, several
brawny dippers draw forth the fish
incessantly, lifting them a good full
bushel at a dip ; and these, all alive,
thrown into broad vats or traps, flip

and flop, spatter and splutter, gasp
and writhe, all the while throwing
water and scales, slime and gurry in
every direction, — and this, amid the
roar of the falls, the shouts of the
workmen, the glinting and gleaming,
presents a scene of activit)', confusion,
shine, and slipperyness, such as one
may rarely look upon.

The widows of the neighborhood
are first given by the authorities a
generous allowance, after which, from
far and near, with vehicles of every
sort, the farmers, rich and poor alike,
are supplied with fish for their an-
nual hoard. Sometimes it is long
into the night before the latest order
of the day is filled ; but early in the
morning the supply is resumed.

At the stream thirty-five cents per
one hundred is the usual selling-
price for them fresh and clean, and
from two hundred to five hundred
are commonly called for. From the
trap the ordered fish are shoveled
into tubs, hung suspended between
two poles, and are loaded into the
wagons at hand.

" Tht' oriii'ri'd fish arc shoveled into tii/'S.'"

404

WHITE CHRYSANTHEMUMS.

But vastly more than are thus dis-
posed of are taken from the stream.
All such extra fish are contracted for
in advance with the adjoining towns,
the contract covering five years, and
at the uniform rate of a dollar and
a quarter per barrel. Mr. A. R.
Nickerson of Boothbay, Me., an en-
terprising business man, has pur-
chased the over-plus for many years,
and has shipped them to the West
Indies largely.

During a lull in the filling of small
orders, surplus fish are lifted into in-
clined troughs or sluices down which
a small stream of water is always
flowing. By this means they are con-
veyed to a considerable distance and
dropped upon sieves made of narrow
slats, from which a man proceeds to
shovel them, although they may be
still alive, into barrels prepared. An-
other man throws in layer after layer
of rock salt, until the cask is nearly
full, when it is set aside for more
careful packing.

The farmer carries his treasure

home, pickles the fish for two days
and two nights in strong brine, then
strings them upon slender rods, ten
to the stick, and smokes them for sev-
eral days, in a close out-building,
over a smothered wood fire. The ad-
dition of a little saltpetre to the
brine gives a reddish color to the
flesh and, to some tastes, greatly im-
proves the flavor.

Let no one suppose that smoked
alewives thus caught and cured are,
as a matter of food, either common
or unclean. The writer approves of
them from the memories of childhood,
and still regards a fat smoked ale-
wife as an epicurean morsel worthy
of any table. Let them be roasted in
a piping hot oven, the head and en-
trails having been previously re-
moved, then quickly relieved of their
thick, scaly skin, and served whole.

The return of the alewives to the
sea, after two or three weeks of so-
journ in fresh water, is a quiet, unor-
ganized matter, and usually attracts
but little attention.

WHITE CHRYSANTHEMUMS.

By C. Jennie Swaijie.

After the birds have flitted

Away from the winter blast.
After the days of summer

And the time of flowers is past,
Thick, in the dark green holly.

White, as the drilted snow,
With a smile like summer sunshine.

The Christmas roses blow.

The Autumn has had its glory
In gorgeous forests and flowers;

The Summer has had its lilies,

And the Spring its budding bowers ;

WHITE CHRYSANTHEMUMS. 405

But these Noel-roses have hidden

Under the frost and rime,
And kept the white of their garments

For the beautiful Christmas time.

When we sorrow for golden lilies

That faded away like dreams ;
When we miss the murmuring zephyr,

And the laughter of the streams,
Then, like stars peeping through the darkness,

The Madonna roses appear,
With a tender message for us.

And a smile for the dying year.

They bloom in the sunny windows

Of the cottages of the poor.
And the children forget their hunger,

Counting these flower-gifts o'er ;
Like the love of the blessed Christ-child,

They blossom ever the same
In hovel as in palace.

So we give them a Christmas name.

We gather the sacred blossoms

And bear to the darkened room.
Where our shrouded dead are sleeping

In the curtained Christmas gloom ;
And the flowers, with tender whispers.

Pierce the doubt and the mystery, —
" If we out of death have blossomed

Oh, how much more shall ye."

Fair on the happy bridal

The sweet chrysanthemums smile,
And away to the land of summer

Our visions of love beguile ;
Swept by the wintry tempest,

With never a drop of dew.
They twine amid orange blossoms,

As they twined amid the rue.

Then with rich, ripe, holly berries.

Bring these tufted blooms of white ;
And with star and cross entwine them

For our happy Christmas night.
For the time of year held sacred.

And sweetest with tender thought.
The Hand that painted the roses

Hath these Noel offerings brought.

THE OLD NORTH CEMETERY OF CONCORD, N. H.

By Joseph B. Walker.

HE mortal remains of
most of the earliest
actors in Concord's
history repose in this
ancient burying-ground.
It is the oldest in the central part of
New Hampshire, and was established
before the "Plantation of Penny
Cook ' ' had become the town of
Ruraford (1733).

It appears by their records that
at a meeting of the proprietors of
Penny cook, holden on the 31st day
of March, 1730, it was "Voted that
Henry Rolfe Esq. Mr. John Pecker
and Mr. John Chandler be a commit-
tee to lay out a suitable place for a
burying place, in the township of
Penny Cook ; and if said burying
place should happen to be on any
man's lot, and the owner willing for
the same, that the committee are
hereby empowered to lay out an
equivalent in undivided lands in
some other place, to his satisfac-
tion."

A century later, March 10, 1842,
the town (Concord) " Voted that
Josiah Stevens Jr. Joseph Eow,
Robert Davis, Euiher Roby, and
William Restieaux be a committee
to purchase so much land as may be
necessary for a cemetery or burying
ground in connection with the one
near the North Church, and be au-
thorized to fence and ornament the
same ; and that the sum of five hun-
dred dollars be appropriated for that

purpose, to be laid out under the
direction of that committee the pre-
sent year."

The addition made b}^ this commit-
tee comprises that part of the present
cemetery lying between Bradley
street and the west line of the Minot
inclosure extended to the cemetery's
south line. Thus enlarged this an-
cient graveyard remained the only
one in the central part of Concord,
with the exception of a very small
one of the Quakers, until i860, when
Blossom Hill was purchased and con-
secrated to a like purpose.

This ancient "God's Acre" con-
tains all that was mortal of the first
generation of Concord's dead. Their
remains were placed there when New
Hampshire was a British province,
and the French and Indian wars
rendered perilous a life upon the
frontiers. It is not strange, there-
fore, that with a very few exceptions,
these all rest in unmarked graves.
Yet, the turf has ever been green
above their narrow beds and upon
these the sun has beamed as brightly
as if it had shone through many-hued
cathedral windows and Gothic arches
had been reared above them.

The memorial stones in this ceme-
tery may be divided into six classes :

First Class. The oldest inscribed
stone in this ancient graveyard was
erected by the town minister (1730-
1782), Rev. Timothy Walker, to per-
petuate the memory of his first child.

THE OLD NORTH CEMETERY.

407

It was made from a thin sheet of
granite, roughly shaped, and bears
the following inscription :

DIED

ANNO 1736

SARAH WALKER

X, 4 YEARS

& 6 m"'*

This, and a few others of like char-
acter, still standing but generall}' un-
inscribed, are doubtless the oldest and
constitute the first class of memorial
stones erected in Concord. As just
stated, most of the earliest graves
were unmarked by monuments of any
kind, a fact by no means strange as
the early inhabitants had little means
with which to procure monuments to
their dead. However much they may
have desired them, they could not be
manufactured in the township, where
neither the materials nor the skill re-
quired in their construction were to
be found. If had at all they must
have been procured from some of the
Massachusetts towns, the nearest of
which was forty miles away.

While, therefore, it is not a sur-
prising fact that most of the graves of
inhabitants who died before the Revo-
lution were never marked by desir-
able monuments, it is satisfactory to

xxix— 27

know that individual plots were as-
signed to individual families, and that
in some instances these remain the
burial-places of those families to this
time. Most of the fifteen to sixteen
hundred monuments in this cemetery
were erected during the present cen-

According to the late David
George, who lived nearly or quite
all his life on a lot adjoining it and
died April 21, 183S, at the age of
seventy, it contained but six properly
finished gravestones in 1790: those
of Doc. Ezra Carter and James Os-
good, who died in 1757, those of
Jeremiah Stickney and of the two
children of Thomas Stickney, Mary
and Jeremiah, and that of Jeremiah
Hall, who died in 1790/

In Memory of Doc. Ezra Carter.

Second Class. The.se are yet in
a good state of preservation and the
inscriptions upon them are clearly

^ To this list should be added the gravestone of
Rev. Timothy Walker, and probably that of his
wife, Sarah Walker.

4o8

THE OLD NORTH CEMETERY.

legible. All but those of the children
above mentioned are of similiar ma-
terial and design, being of a coffee
colored, silicious slate, short and
quite broad in proportion to their
height. Their faces are neatly and
peculiarly ornamented with borders
of geometric figures. Each has the
outline of a heart on its right hand
upper corner and that of a coffin
standing perpendicularly upon its
head upon the opposite one. The
inscriptions are plainly incised in
shallow Roman capitals of various
sizes and attest the desirability of
slate as a memorial stone.

Three of them have the appear-
ance of having been made by the
same party and erected at about the
same time. They are unlike any
others in the cemetery, are the old-
est with the exception of the rude
stones before mentioned, and may be
said to constitute the second class of
mortuary monuments in Concord.

Third Class. As belonging to a
third class may be mentioned the

dark slate stones standing at the
graves of Dolly Hutchins, wife of
Capt. Gordon Hutchins of Revolution-
ary fame; of Sarah Walker, wife of
Rev. Timothy Walker ; of Rev. Tim-
othy Walker, himself ; of Mary Wil-
son, the first wife of Thomas Wilson ;
of Dea. Joseph Hall, Sen'r; of Mary
Wilson, the second wife of Thomas
Wilson, and of IvOt Colby ; all of
whom died between 1773 and 1807.

Fourth Class. By 18 10, or there-
abouts, marble slabs and slabs of

A Good Example of Class I//.

A Marble Slab.

slate of more modern patterns began
to appear as the forerunners of a
fourth class. Among the more com-
mon adornments of these were etch-
ings of funereal urns and weeping
willows. To this class belong the
monuments of Mehitable Kimball
(1805), Judith Walker (1808), Su-
sannah Kneeland (1809), James John-
son (1804), and Capt. Joshua Abbot

(1815)-

Fifth Class. To this class suc-
ceeded, as this century neared its
middle, monuments of more massive
proportions resting upon bases, and

THE OLD NORTH CEMETERY.

409

if^'.

A Row of Tombs.

plain obelisks, which gradually de-
veloped into the multifarious styles
of the present time. Specimens of
the latter may be seen in the monu-
ments erected to the memory of Presi-
dent Franklin Pierce, of Gen. Albe-
marle Cady, of the deceased mem-
bers of the Stickne}^ family, and
many others.

Sixth Class. About the middle
of this century tombs began to ap-
pear, but inasmuch as neither sani-
tary nor sentimental reasons com-
mended their use, their construction
was soon arrested. All told, these
number but seven, half of which are
unoccupied. Advanced civilization
calls for the burial of the dead, and
the committal formula in the burial
service of the English Church, " Earth
to Earth, Ashes to Ashes, Dust to
Dust," expresses conformity to the
Creator's will that, when man's tab-
ernacle of flesh shall have served its
temporary purpose, it shall enter the
great progression of Nature's changes
and be resolved to the elements from
which it was constructed.

The obsequies of persons of marked
importance in their individual locali-

ties have not infrequently been at-
tended with pomp and large expense.
While no instance of this would be
sought in a little New Hampshire
town such as Concord was in 1782,
yet it is a matter of history that, when
their minister died, its citizens sought
to honor his memory with a funeral
which, considering the time and
locality, may be deemed somewhat
elaborate.

He had served them with fidelity
for more than half a century (1730-

The Franklin Pierce Monument.

4IO

IHE OLD NORTH CEMETERY.

1782'^, and, by this last service on
their part, they desired to manifest
the sincere respect and affection with
which they had regarded him. The
Rev. Joseph Woodman, pastor of the
church in Sanbornton, at whose in-
stallation eleven 3'ears before the
deceased had given the charge,
preached the sermon usual on such
occasions. The Rev. Abiel Foster of
Canterbury, the Rev. Samuel Wood
of Boscawen, the Rev. Elijah Fletcher
of Hopkinton, the Rev. Jacob Rice of
Henniker, and the Rev. William Kelly
of Warner, pastors of the churches in
these towns, acted as pall bearers.
To each of these, agreeably to a
somewhat commoti custom of the
time, was given a gold ring, com-
memorative of the occasion.

Judge Samuel Sewall records in
his diary, February, 1698, a list of
twenty-nine funerals at which he had
officiated as a pall bearer, and been
presented with eight gold rings, three
pairs of gloves, and twenty-three
mourning scarfs. What use he made
of these valuable articles he has
omitted to say. That it was a good
one his thriftiness makes certain.

Mr. Weedeu, in his "Economic
and Social History of New England,"
says, " Rings were the most common
article of jewelry, and the gift of
these, with scarfs and gloves, became
as general and inapposite as the use-
less custom of bridal gifts in our day.
At the funeral of Governor Belcher's
wife, in 1736, over 1,000 pairs of
gloves were given away. In 1742 an
act forbade the giving of rings, scarfs,
or gloves at funerals, except six pairs
of the latter to bearers, and one pair
to the pastor ; it did not stop the
practice, however."

Considering the time, and the

number and wealth of his people,
the provisions made for Mr. Walk-
er's funeral and for marking his
grave were creditable and ample.
These have come down to us in de-
tail in the report of the committee of
arrangements, made to and accepted
by the town, on the 21st of October,
1782, which sets forth the several
charges of this funeral as follows :

To eight rings ----- 4

" two gallons wine - - . i

" a coffin ------ o

" beers ------ o

" a horse to Sanbornton - - o

" do to Gilmanton - - - - o

" do to Warner - - - - o

" digging the grave . . . o

" provisions ----- i

" grave stones - - - - 4

12 70

An examination of this report
shows that nearly three fourths of
the whole expense incurred was for
rings presented to the pallbearers
and for gravestones, (nine pounds),
and that the cost of the entertain-
ment furnished to the guests (two
pounds, six shillings, and three
pence), w^as nearly double that of
all the other outlays.

In this old cemetery have been
laid to rest, from time to time,
numerous representatives of all the
generations, which from its very be-
ginning have peopled Concord ; some
when the warwhoop of the Indian
was heard in the surrounding wilder-
ness and the men went out armed
and in companies from their garri-
sons to their work in the fields ; some
during the struggle for national in-
dependence ; some during later wars
on sea and land ; some during the
civil strife which threatened the dis-
ruption of our Union ; some in re-

THE OLD NORTH CEMETERY.

411

cent mouths, while the leaves now
sere and falling were verdant.

Here were interred in one grave
three of the five victims of the Indian
massacre of August 11, 1746, Obadiah
Peters, John Bean, and John L,ufkin ;
and nearby, in the Bradley Plot,
the two]^ others, Samuel Bradley and
Jonathan \ Bradley. They were all
brought in a cart from the scene of
the ambush on the Hopkinton road
to the village by a guard sent out for
that purpose.

Here also, in an iinmarked grave,
was laid to rest the stalwart form of
Capt. Ebenezer Eastman, one of the
most energetic of Concord's earliest
settlers, who came from Haverhill,
Mass., accompanied by six hardy
sons. He was prominent as an en-
terprising farmer, and in town affairs ;
and at Louisburg, whither he went
twice as a soldier, he gained renown
as a man of valour. He died in 1748.

Thirtj'-three years later, was buried
in this ancient cemetery the body of
Col. Benjamin Rolfe, who was for a
generation one of Concord's most
prominent citizens. He was gradu-
ated at Harvard college in 1727, and
shared with the town minister the
honor of being what in early times
was designated ' ' a liberally educated
man." He served as clerk of the
commission to determine the bound-
ary line between the provinces of
New Hampshire and Massachusetts
in 1740, and also as clerk of the
proprietors of the township of Con-
cord from 1733 to 1770. His house,
erected in 1764, forms a part of the
Rolfe and Rumford Asylum struct-
ure. He seems, in his day, to have
been Concord's only capitalist, and
died possessed of a very large landed
estate.

In the Stickney lot, near the south-
east corner of the cemetery, may
be seen the grave of Col. Thomas
Stickney of Revolutionary fame. He
was an ardent patriot, and his regi-
ment stormed the Tory battery at the
battle of Bennington. He was ever
a useful citizen and "served his town
in various official capacities for many
years. He died in 1800, at the ma-
ture age of eighty years.

Here also was buried in 1798 Ma-
jor Daniel Livermore, who began his
military career at Bunker Hill and
followed the fortunes of the Revolu-
tionary War to its close. He was in
the battles of Trenton and^of Prince-
ton, and at Valley Forge in the dole-
ful winter of 1777 and 1778. In 1779,
he was in General Sullivan's expedi-
tions against the Indians in north-
eastern Pennsylvania and western
New York. In his orderly book may
be found a graphic record of the in-
cidents of that destructive raid (N.
H. Hist. Soc. Col., vol. 9, pp. 200-
244). He subsequently remained in
the Northern army until it was dis-
banded, in 1783. Thereafter return-
ing to Concord, he there discharged
important civil duties and enjoyed
the honors of a valued citizen until
his decease, at the early age of fortj-
nine years.

In the Walker family lot, a plain
slab of Dorset marble marks the grave
of Hon. Timothy Walker, an ardent
patriot throughout the Revolutionary
period, a member of the fourth and
fifth provincial congresses, and for a
time, of the New Hampshire Commit-
tee of Safety. Upon the formation of
national parties, he was selected l)y
the Republicans of New Hampshire
as their first candidate for governor of
the state. He was also a justice of

412

THE OLD NORTH CEMETERY.

the court of common pleas for the
county of Rockingham, from 1783 to
1809, and for many its chief justice.
He died in 1822, in the eighty-fifth
year of his age.

Near its entrance and just south of
the central avenue of the cemetery,
lie the mortal remains of the Rev. Dr.
Asa McFarland, Concord's last town
minister, whose salary, as was that of
his predecessors, was raised by a tax
upon the polls and estates of its citi-
zens. He had a ministry of twenty-
seven years. He was prominent
among the New Hampshire clergy-
men of his day, was a trustee of Dart-
mouth college during the great con-
troversy in which that institution was
a party. He was an able writer, and
in 1806 published a work entitled,
"An Historical View of Heresies and
Vindication of the Primitive Faith."

Beside the remains of Dr. McFar-
land rest those of his wife, Mrs. Eliz-
beth McFarland, whose name is syn-
onymous with all that was best in
Concord for a generation. She was
the founder of the New Hampshire
Female Cent Society, in 1804, and of
the Concord Female Charitable So-
ciety in 1812; both of which institu-
tions, still in vigor unimpaired, have
ever rendered important service on
important lines for nearly a century.
She went to high reward in 1 838, at the
age of fifty-eight years, the exact
measure of years attained by her hus-
band.

The modest obelisk of Italian mar-
ble near the northern entrance to the
cemetery marks the grave of the
Countess of Rumford, who, after long
and repeated sojourns in FyUrope, re-
turned in the early forties to her na-
tive town, and resided upon her ma-
ternal estate until her death in 1852,

at the age of seventy-eight years.
She founded the Rolfe and Rumford
Asylum, was a liberal patron of the
New Hampshire Asylum for the In-
sane, of the Concord Female Charita-
ble Societ}^ and of sundry other be-
nevolent institutions in Massachusetts.
Near the grave of the Countess of
Rumford stands the cenotaph of Mrs.
Susan Walker Morse lyind, daughter
of Prof. S. F. B. Mor.se, who, in her
early life, was a frequent visitor in
Concord, and a favorite in its society.
She was lost at sea, off the coast of
Cuba, in December, 1885, while on a
voyage from her home in Porto Rico
to her native country. To her, with
slight change, may be applied the
lines written at sea by Nathaniel H.
Carter, Concord's ablest poet, in antici-
pation of near death and a burial in
the waters of Mediteranean :

"Nor forgotten shall be our cherished one,
Though she sleep in the watery waste alone."

In the southerly part of the ceme-
tery, his associates of the New Hamp-
shire bar have erected a plain stone
to the memory of Hon. Philip Carri-
gain, who died in 1842, at the age of
seventy years. He was long a prac-
titioner of law in Concord, was for
four years secretary of state (1805-
'09), and author of the largest map of
New Hampshire, which he published
in 1816.

Near b}^ stands another stone which
bears the name of Hon. Thomas W.
Thompson, for eleven years one of
Concord's foremost citizens. He was
a valued member of the New Hamp-
shire bar. From 1805 to 1807, he was
one of New Hampshire's representa-
tives in congress, and from 18 14 to
1 81 7, one of her United States sena-
tors. It was he who, on behalf of his

THE OLD NORTH CEMETERY.

413

fellow-townsmen, gave to La Fayette
the address of welcome upon his visit
to Concord in 1825.

Under the oaks, on the west side of
the Minot inclosure, is interred the
body of Hon. Franklin Pierce, for
many years a resident of Concord, a
leading member of the New Hamp-
shire bar, a brave officer in the Mexi-
can war, and the fourteenth president
of the United States.

A man of very great versatility of
genius was the Hon. David U. Morril,
who died in 1849, and was buried in
the northwest section of this ancient
ground. Dr. Bouton says of him,
' ' Few men in the state sustained more
numerous, various, and important
offices than Governor Morril." He
was first a prjactitioner of medicine.
Relinquishing this, he studied theol-
ogy and was admitted to the brother-
hood of the ministry. Subsequently
returning to his first profession, he
represented his town of Goffstown in
the general court, at its sessions from
1808 to 1817, and in 1816 was the
speaker of the house of representa-
tives. He also held the office of
United States senator from 18 16 to
1822 ; was president of the New
Hampshire senate in 1823, and gover-
nor of the state from 1824 to 1827.

In the burial lot of his ancestors,
reposes Charles Walker, one of the
noblest of Concord's sons. He left
his native town soon after his gradu-
ation at Harvard college in 18 18, and
was for a time an instructor in Tran-
sylvania University, in Kentucky.
He subsequently studied his profes-
sion in the office of Thomas Addis
Emmet in New York city, and upon
admission to the bar, began there the
practice of law which he pursued un-
til declining health caused his re-

moval to the milder climate of Key
West. Here, he held for a time the
office of U. S. district attorney, but
subsequently made a more permanent
settlement near Guayama, in Porto
Rico, where he bought an estate and
became a sugar planter. He made
his last visit to Concord and here
died in 1843.

The chaste marble monument, sur-
mounted by an urn wreathed with
ivy, near the northeast corner of the
Minot enclosure, was erected to the
memory of Uewis Downing, E.sq.,
who introduced to Concord the manu-
facture of stage-coaches in 18 13 ;
thereby initiating a business which
has since grown to large proportions
and sent its carriages to all sections
of the United States, Canada, Mexico,
South America, and Africa.

In the western part of the ceme-
tery, in October, 1846, without min-
isterial aid or presence, was placed,
in a grave yet unmarked, all that was
mortal of Nathaniel P. Rogers. He
was a lawyer of brilliant talents who
left his profession to devote all his
energies to the cause of the abolition
of American slaver3^ He came to
Concord in 1838, and for eight years
was the editor of the Herald of Free-
dom. A volume of his writings attest
his high power as a writer.

Near the south line of the ceme-
tery, about half way from front to rear,
a horizontal tablet, supported upon
a firm sub- structure of brick, marks
the grave of " George Hough, Esq."
who died Feb. 8, 1830, at the age of
seventy-two years. He came to Con-
cord in 1789, and here introduced for
the first time the business of printing,
and shortly after published the first
book printed in the county of Merri-
mack ; a work entitled "Christian

414

THE OLD NORTH CEMETERY.

Economy." In 1790, he established
Concord's first newspaper, The Cour-
ier of Nc7c Hampshire. Two years
later he was appointed Concord's
first postmaster.

The students of history and geneal-
ogy read with profound respect, upon
the east side of the marble shaft in
the burial lot of Gen. Joseph Low, a
chaste inscription which tells them
that "John Farmer died August 13,
1838," while, a few feet away, a low-
stone bearing the letters "J. F." in-
dicates the exact spot of his inter-
ment. Dr. Farmer was one of the
» founders of the New Hampshire His-
torical Society, an important con-
tributor to its published " Collec-
tions," and occasionally to those of
its kindred society in Massachusetts.
He was also the author of many his-
torical and genealogical works, among
which was " A Genealogical Register
of the First Settlers of New Eng-
land."

Near the south side of the north
avenue, opposite the Minot enclosure,
a rugged granite obelisk tells the visi-
tor that here was interred, in 1898,
the tall form of Albemarle Cady,
brevet brigadier-general, U. S. A.
He was all his life a soldier. At its
close he was gathered to his kindred
at the ripe age of 81 years.

The temptation to continue this
list of worthies would be irresistible
did not space forbid. Six genera-
tions of men and women who were
once participants in the activities of
Concord repose peacefully in this
quiet inclosure, a part of

" The innumerable caravan, which moves
To that mysterious realm, where each
Shall take his chamber in the silent halls of
death."

All of the inscriptions upon the

memorial tablets in this ancient ceme-
tery, to the number of two thousand,
were accurately copied, verbatim,
literatim, lineation et punctuation
in 1895. These, together with a
map of the ground and a careftilly
prepared index, have been firmly
bound in six small folio volumes
and placed for safe keeping in the
library of the New Hampshire His-
torical Society, where they may be
consulted by any one desirous of in-
formation which they can impart.
They afford, by a little reading be-
tween the lines, much of the contem-
poraneous history of Concord.

So imperfect has heretofore been
the preservation of our town records,
that the.se brief memorials in stone
have oftentimes become of incalcul-
able value to the genealogist and the
historian. Could such a work as has
been done for this ancient burial-
place be done for every cemetery in
New Hampshire, and the transcripts
placed for general consultation in the
state library, it would be applauded
and welcomed by every person called
to delve among the imperfect records
in the offices of our town clerks and
in tire to the more accurate writing of
our local history'.

It is to be regretted that the forlorn
condition of many New Hampshire
cemeteries renders them amenable to
unfavorable criticism. Gravestones
blackened by the weather and tilted
in all directions by the frost ; some of
them half buried in wild vines, weeds,
and bushes, awake the feeling that
such a burial-place itself needs burial,
and that the sentiment of a commun-
ity which tolerates such neglect makes
neither life nor death desirable therein.

In cheering contrast is the thought
that tenderest care and constant

THE FOREST IN WINTER.

415

watchfulness guard this ancient
burial-ground of the fathers from
neglect ; keeping its turf green and
attesting by kindly adornments the
loving regard of the living for their
beloved dead.

As one approaches the end of his
earthly career and his sun sinks near
the western horizon, he is apt to turn
in remembrance to his departed kin-
dred, and wherever he may chance
to be, on land or sea, to desire that

his final rest may be with thertl.
When, full of years and in Egypt,
Jacob was about to die he said to his
sons,

" Bury me with nij' fathers in the cave that
is in the field of Ephron the Hiltite. . . .
There they buried Abraham and Sarah his
wife ; there they buried Isaac and Rebecca his
wife; and there I buried Leah. . . . And
his sons did unto him according as he com-
manded them; and buried him in the cave of
the field of Machpelah, which Abraham bought
with the field for a possession of a burying
place of Rphroii the Hiltite, before Mamee."

THE FOREST IN WINTER.

By Sa?iinel Hoyt.

Strange, on this winter day.

That the heart of the forest beats

With a pulse that burns and throbs
Eike the pulse of the city's streets !

I thought it were silent here.

With a stillness like that of death,

Where the snow lay like a shroud.
And fled was the violet's breath ;

But I feel the warm earth move

'Neath the folds of its winding sheet.

And the brook has burst its bonds.
And bubbles here at my feet ;

And, piercing the woodland through.
Sounds a startled crow's harsh cry,

And I hear the soughing pines
And the answering sea, hard by.

A rabbit scurries away

At the sound of my alien feet.

The forest I thought so dead
Throbs like the city's street.

Colebrook, Coos County, N. H.

COLEBROOK.

By Raymond J. Roach.

Colebrook ! Ah, fair Colebrook !

In the wilderness of Coos,
Lying near the flowing river,

May your beauty never loose.

Progress be thy motto ever ;

" Ever on " thy watchword be,
lyike the river's flowing waters,

Onward, southward to the sea.

May the history and traditions

Clustered round thy hills and vales

Be remembered and repeated,
Dear and never-dying tales.

May thy sons all true and noble,
And thy daughters pure and fair,

Guard thy name and cherish ever,
Colebrook sweet with mountain air.

PRISON SCIENCE versus PRISON DISCIPLINE.

REMINISCENCES OF SIX-AXD-THIRTY YEARS.
Ly F. B. Sauboyn, of Concord, Massacliitsetts.

HE elders of Troy in Ho-

mer's matchless poem,
sat on the walls over-
looking the plain of con-
flict, "chirping like
crickets," and no doubt talking of the
good old times when thej^ could hurl
the spear and capture handmaids.
Such is the pastime of age, to which
reminiscence is as natural as the de-
lusions of hope to the young. But
when Dante and his Roman guide
came upon Francesca and her com-
panion, "doing time," — or rather,
eternity — in that congregate prison
under the earth, they were reminded
by the poor lady that

No woe could reach her
INIore woeful than in misery to remember
Her happiest da3's — for that, consult thy
Teacher.

I could not say that of my recollec-
tions of the prison discipline which I
found in the penitentiaries of the
United States and Canada, during
the years from 1864 to 1868, when I
was general Prison Inspector of Mass-
achusetts, and made the tour of the
states to see what each had to offer in
the betterment of those miserable
conditions which some of us remem-
ber as almost universal. Dismal and
deplorable were then the relations of
convict life nearly everywhere ; the
era of Prison Science had but faintly
dawned, on this side the Atlantic,
and we were still in the darkness of

Prison Discipline, — a verj- different
thing, though an indispensable stage,
I doubt not, in our progress towards
the purgatorial state which our best
prisons now so hopefully represent.

I used to wonder what turned my
youthful thoughts toward the inspec-
tion of prisons, for I was not then
aware of the hereditary incidents I
have since learned, which might ac-
count for the bias. It is well for a
prison reformer to have suffered im-
prisonment himself ; in that way Ma-
conochie, the grandfather of our pres-
ent Prison Science, was fitted to un-
dertake his remarkable work at Nor-
folk Island ; for he had been confined
for months in a French prison at
Verdun during the wars of Napoleon,
against whom he fought in the Brit-
ish navy. But I had no such expe-
rience, my only confinement having
been by handcuffs in the public street
of Concord for some ten minutes, un-
der the unlawful arrest of certain
minions of the federal senate (then
controlled, as it has been occasionally
before and since, by the enemies of
Anglo-Saxon liberty), until the great
writ of personal replevin, issued by
ni}' neighbor, the late Judge Hoar,
and served by the sheriff and posse of
Middlesex, took me forcibly from
their hands. Indeed, my appearance
before our Massachusetts supreme
court, the next day (April 4, i860),
to have my kidnapping declared law-

4i8 PRISON SCIENCE VS. PRISON DISCIPLINE.

less, was my first visit to any court, I nicall}^ a traitor, and spared his life;
think, except when, as a boy, 1 heard but kept him a prisoner in the Tower
the 3'oung and handsome Franklin till his own death in February, 1685.
Pierce, afterwards president, plead- James II coming to the throne, desir-
ing in defense of one of ray father's ous of conciliating the dissenters, and
neighbors in New Hampshire accused well advised by I^ord Halifax ; willing
of a felony. also to save the /"3 a week that Gove
I have since learned, however, that was costing him in the Tower, soon
the first ancestor of my name in New pardoned him out, and ordered his
England, Lieut. John Samborue of New England governor and council
Hampton, N. H., did spend a few to restore his lands. Now I take it
hours in the rude prison of that town, that the obscure influence of ancestry,
which his maternal grandfather found- stimulated by Edward Gove's thirty
ed, for refusing to pay quit-rents to months' confinement in the Tower,
the little tyrant of the New Hamp- nearly two centuries before, did really
shire fields, in 1 683-' 88. He might turn my mind towards the condition
have lain longer had not his neigh- of poor prisoners.

bors thoughtfully set up a ladder Being appointed by our Massachu-
against the roof of the blockhouse setts Governor Andrew (who had
jail, upon which he descended and pleaded my rights before the court
went home to his farm, after quietly in i860, in the habeas corpus case)
going upstairs and pushing his way as secretary of the first American
through the roof of the ill-constructed Board of State Charities, in October,
dungeon. His son-in-law, however, 1863, I found myself also inspector of
Edward Gove (also my ancestor), had prisons; and set to work to qualify
a longer experience in the same cause for the duty by studying' books, cor-
of resistance to feudal tyranny, which responding with authorities, and vis-
threw into prison half the leading iting all prisons within reach. In
planters and merchants of the little 1864 this brought me into acquain-
province of New Hampshire. Riding tance by letter with Recorder Hill of
at the head of a small troop of young Birmingham, Miss Mary Carpenter
men, to rouse the people against of Bristol, and with the widow of
Charles Stuart's governor, he was ar- Captain Maconochie in England, — all
rested, hastily tried by a special court, favorers of the then new system of
convicted of "levying war against convict discipline in Ireland. I read
His Majesty " (which was high trea- the stimulating essays of Maconochie,
son), sentenced to be hanged, drawn sent me by his widow, and by the
and quartered, and sent to the Tower widow of Horace Mann, our educa-
of Eondon to be executed at the tional reformer, who had corres-
King's pleasure ; the governor, mean- ponded with Maconochie ; I studied
time, who wanted money, having sold and transcribed the English and
his forfeited estate, and put his share Irish reports on graded prisons and
of the proceeds in his own pocket, conditional liberation, and made
But Charles II, though despotic, was them, in part, the basis of a long
good-natured and sensible ; he saw special report to the Governor and
that my ancestor was not even tech- General Court of Massachusetts, in

PRISON SCIENCE VS. PRISON DISCIPLINE.

419

Februaiy, 1865. In this document,
(probably for the first time in Amer-
ica) the principles of Maconochie and
Crofton, the British originators of
what we now call prison science,
were rather fully set forth ; and ni}^
recommendations, though sometimes
rather too rhetorically stated, were,
substantially, those which have since
been adopted in most of our states, —
at least in part.

American prisons, except in Can-
ada, were then in a condition never
since repeated. The Civil War,
nearing its close, had reduced the
number of convicts among men to
well-nigh its lowest point ; for war,
which furnishes opportunity for every
crime, had drkwn into the fighting
and looting ranks criminal as well
as patriotic men ; while the strong
necessity of crime in cities had made
feminine convicts more numerous
than ever before, and the absence or
death of parents had much increased
juvenile crime. For the latter. State
reformatories existed ; but most of
them were little better than prisons ;
while the prisons themselves, except
a few in Pennsylvania, were congre-
gate, with very little classification of
inmates, or attempt at reformation.
Instruction was almost lost sight of,
except in those mechanical trades
which brought profit to the contrac-
tor or to the prison ; even in the
Pennsylvania prisons, where separa-
tion was much more feasible than
now, from the small number of con-
victs, little was done to teach them ;
and in the congregate prisons schools
were practically unknown. There
was no separate prison for women in
the country, except a small one at
Sing Sing ; and no asylum for insane
convicts except a small and back-

ward one in the prison buildings at
Auburn, N. Y. Punishments were
of the old, useless kind ; the only
stimulus to good conduct was the
"good-time" law, existing in sev-
eral states, by which sentences could
be shortened by a fair record ; but
there was no wa}^ of marking con-
duct which put it beyond the reach
of whim, prejudice, or bribery in the
officer. Indiscriminate pardons, often
for political use, vitiated the effect of
the good-time laws ; the prison cells
were small, ill-ventilated, often dark
and damp, and the prison diet had
no careful regulation in most cases.
Partisan politics governed most of
the appointments of officers, whether
high or low ; the use of blows and
other brutality was common ; and
when the war ended, there followed
a great increase of crime among the
discharged soldiers, and a great push
of retired officers for prison appoint-
ments. x\ few of these military offi-
cers proved to be good prison man-
agers, — Major McClaughry, whom I
found directing the Illinois peniten-
tiar}' at Joliet, and who now is re-
forming the military prison in
Leavenworth, being a marked in-
stance. But generally we learned
Maconochie's profound remark to be
true, — that militar}^ discipline and
prison discipline, — and still more,
prison science, — are essentially un-
like and antipathetic ; one dealing
with men in the mass, and the other
individualizing to the finest possible
point.

To increase the difficulty of reform-
ing our prisons, 35 years ago, —
although the reduced number of con-
victs would seem to have made it
eas)', — there was an almost complete
indifference in the public mind to the

Z. R. BROCKWAY. 1900.

PRISON SCIENCE VS. PRISON DISCIPLINE.

421

consideration of the subject. Prison
discipline had commanded the atten-
tion of thinkers and practical men
20 ^^ears before, — Sumner and Way-
land, Howe and Gray, and Lieber, —
to name no others, — had written and
agitated for a better system. But the
questions involving the existence of
the nation, and a complete reversal
of its domestic and foreign policy,
had subordinated all minor topics ;
our financial system, basis of suf-
frage, relations with England and
France, reconstruction of the South,
etc., made prison discipline look like
a small interest. The older societies
for debating it had lapsed into silence,
mostly ; only one, the New York
Prison Association, whose secretary.
Rev. Dr. Wines, was an energetic,
though rather theoretic, reformer, was
carrying on systematic w^ork. Inevi-
tably', the similarit)^ of our aims
brought Dr. Wines and myself to-
gether, in spite of a wide difference
of age, training, and religious opin-
ions ; the religion of humanity proved
a stronger tie than doctrinal differ-
ence could break. As Wordsworth
said of his companion :

We talked with open heart, and tongue

Affectionate and true ;
A pair of friends, though I was young,

And Enoch seventy-two.

Whether it was Dr. Wines, or his
friend, and Mr. Brockway's old in-
structor. General Pilsbury of the
Albany penitentiar}', who first told
me of that remarkable prison con-
structor and prison reformer, Mr.
Z. R. Brockway, I cannot now be
sure ; but probably Dr. Wines sent
me to General Pilsbury, who was
managing his prison on the good,
old silent plan, and Pilsbury sent me
to Mr. Brockway, who was then at

Detroit, working out his problems in
his own wa}', in the fourth prison he
had entered, and the second he had
built. He had gone into the Weth-
ersfield state prison under Amos Pils-
bury ; then removed with him to
Albany ; gone through the lower
grades of employment, and been rec-
ommended by his chief for the head
of a district prison at Rochester,
N. Y. ; from there been invited to
build and manage another district
prison for short-sentenced convicts at
Detroit, where, at the age of forty, I
found him in 1867. What Dr. Howe,
Dr. Wines, and myself had learned
by the inspection of prisons and the
.study of books — though Howe had
also had the experience of solitary
imprisonment in a Prussian dungeon
as a political suspect in 1831 — Mr.
Brockway had found out by long
practice among convicts, and more
or less study of such literature as
came in his \\a.y. Most of all was he
aided by that indefinable quality we
term g-fiiius, — the gift, in any spe-
cialty, of reaching conclusions by
insight rather than b}^ reasoning ; or,
rather, a swift process of reasoning,
apt to be unmindful of the steps by
which it is achieved.

However it may be explained, here
was the mind, the head, and the
hand which were to make prison
science take the place of mere prison
discipline and revive the fallen hopes
of those who, before our Civil War,
had believed in the possibility of a
reformator}' discipline for criminals.
With no ambition to create a system,
but only desirous of doing his duty
in the station to which he was called,
Mr. Brockway was, in fact, establish-
ing a system on the only sure founda-
tions, — those of practical effort, pro-

422

PRISOA' SCIENCE ]'S. PRISON DISCIPLINE.

ceeding step by step, learning by
mistakes, guided by high purpose,
and leaving no opening for those
failures which had thus far attended
every sound theoretic attempt to
make reformatory treatment perma-
nent and contagious. Maconochie
was right in principle, but lacked
something of everyday wisdom ; Crof-
ton had succeeded brilliantly in Ire-
land, but tlie day was coming when
political and social influences, co-
operating with that singular fatality
which makes it impossible to pursue
any direct course towards permanent
good government in Ireland, would
take away half the prestige of the
once famous Irish convict S5^stem.
The peculiarity of the Elmira system
of prison science, — which, when the
personal jealousies and controversies
of the present day are gone b3^ will
be known as the Brockway system, —
its crowning merit, I say, is that it
has come to stay. Improvements
will be made, as they have been in-
the forty years (more or less) that it
has been forming and formulating ;
but in essentials it has already shown
itself contagious and fertilizing, like
every great advance in that complex
of conditions that we call "civiliza-
tion." Prison science zvas the vision
of theorizers, among whom Dr. Wines
and myself may modestly be named ;
it is now an accomplished fact, be-
cause it has been planted firmly in
practical conditions at Detroit, El-
mira, Sherborne, Concord, Hunting-
don, Mansfield, and elsewhere. In
some of these, and in other places,
it will be weakened or abandoned,
doubtless, just as general civilization
deserts some of its ancient homes ;
but it will thrive elsewhere, and be
handed down uninjured.

From the combinations formed be-
tween 1864 and 1870 among the
friends of Prison Reform in the
United States and Canada, of which
Dr. Wines, Professor Dwight, and
J. S. Gould, of New York, ex-Gov-
ernor Haines of New Jersey, Mr,
G. S. Griffith of Maryland, Mr.
Brockway, then of Michigan, and
Mr. Meredith of Toronto were im-
portant members, grew the first
National Prison Congress at Cin-
cinnati in October, 1870, which I
attended. It so happened that the
shaping of the platform to be laid
down by the congress was left mainly
to a sub-committee of three — Dr.
Wines, Mr. Brockway, and myself.
We had a long manuscript of Dr.
Wines as our basis, Mr. Brockway 's
great practical knowledge as its cor-
rective, and I was the intermediary
and mutual friend to bring theory
and experience together — not always
an easy task. As it finally stood,
while somewhat abundant and ex-
uberant in its phrases, this platform
did contain, thirty years ago, nearly
everything, either in germ or in form,
which has since been changing the
rude and disjointed mass of prison
laws and rules of that period into the
present system, to which Mr. Eugene
Smith of New York, some five years
since, gave the happy name of
"Prison Science." This change
has been the work of many persons
in all parts of the United States and
Canada, acting through the agencies
open to them, — sometimes the legis-
latures, sometimes the offices of ad-
ministration, sometimes special socie-
ties like the American Social Science
Association, the National Prison As-
sociation, the New York Prison Asso-
ciation, the Conferences of Charities,

PRISON SCIENCE VS. PRISON DISCIPLINE.

423

etc., and often through newspapers
and public meetings. I have partici-
pated, off and on, in many of these
agencies, but it would be tedious and
unprofitable to dwell on the slow
progress of amelioration in this life-
time of a generation. The result is
now visible everywhere, varying in
degree according to the extent of the
evil to be remedied, but nowhere
complete or wholly satisfactory. We
have a right to say, however, — and
I was glad of this opportunity to say
it lately in Canada — that the worst
ancient defects of prison disci-
pline have been supplied, and its
greatest enem)^ public indifference,
has been overcome. The new prison
science goes forward in its work of
classification, instruction, physical
training, the acquirement of trades
for self-support, and the general re-
modeling of the convict character, in
a way which must appear wonderful
to those who vividly recall, as I do,
the old order of things. True, the
necessity for this work is greater
than ever; the criminal classes are
increasing, and their easy passage
from one country or region to an-
other multiplies the danger from
them.

One special help, in the progress
made from the old state of things
to the new, should be particularly
mentioned, — the activity of women
in the work of prison reform. So
far as Massachusetts is concerned,
little could be done there in a practi-
cal way until the demand made by
women for a separate women's prison
drew attention to the whole situation,
and overcame the indifference and re-
luctance of the legislature. First we
had a home for discharged female
prisoners, organized by women about

1865, and heartily favored by Gov-
ernor Andrew, who went out of office
at the end of that year. This led to
a request for an advisory board of
women to aid the new prison com-
missioners, established in 1870, and
relieving me of the necessit)' of prison
inspection. No sooner were these
women in office than they pressed
actively for a women's prison ; it was
voted by the legislature in 1874, and
opened at Sherborne in 1877. Two
years later women were added to the
reorganized board of prison commis-
sioners, — among them was Mrs. Ellen
C. Johnson, whose remarkable record
as head of the Sherborne prison is so
well known. Accepting the Brock-
way methods of prison science, but
modifying them to meet the different
requirements of women, Mrs. John-
son achieved a success at Sherborne
as noteworthy in its way as that in
the Elmira Reformatory, which was
opened but little more than a year
before our Massachusetts Reforma-
tory for Women. The success of the
latter made it easier to obtain and
organize the Concord Reformatory for
men some years later, which also
adopted, with slight modifications,
the Elmira methods, and has proved
their efficiency under its two super-
intendents, Colonel Tufts and Mr.
Scott. The county prisons of Mas-
sachusetts benefited by all this ex-
perience, although the great increase
in the number of their inmates, anrl
the unwise changes in our law regu-
lating prison labor, have interfered
with the best arrangement and con-
trol of these minor prisons. At pres-
ent Mrs. R. C. Eincoln, associated
with other ladies, and favored by the
leading frien<ds of prison reform in
Massachusetts, is agitating for desira

xxix— 28

424

PRISON SCIENCE VS. PRISON DISCIPLINE.

ble changes in their classification and
management ; but the report of her
thorough inspection shows that most
of the defects which I found there in
1864 are long since remedied.

There still remains in the manage-
ment of these and other American
prisons, more or less attenuated by
the advance in public sentiment, that
crying evil of our country, the in-
fluence of partisan politics where it
ought never to be allowed. To this,
combined with other causes, I have
heard attributed the recent changes
at Elmira, where the originator of
what we may justly call the " Ameri-
can Convict System" in its present
form has been dismissed to make
way for officers of small experience,
and no special fitness discernible at
this distance. Mr. Brockway's fame
will not suffer by this ; it is more
likely to be increased l)y the contrast
between the prison under his control
and its subsequent history. Among
my reminiscences of prison affairs for
thirty-six years, none is more satis-
factory than those connected with
Mr. Brockway's building up of his
firm edifice of prison science during
the past twenty-four years at Elmira.
I saw him there in his first year,
(1876) ; hardly a year has passed

since, if I were in America, when
I did not visit his expanding prison
university, which I last examined in
May of the present year. I can,
therefore, speak of it and of him with
the assurance of positive knowledge.
The proverb says " Seeing is believ-
ing," and I am but one of hundreds,
somewhat fitted by expeiieuce to
judge rightly of prison management,
who have come away from Elmira,
year after year, with increased ad-
miration for the mind that framed,
and the unwearied hand that exe-
cuted, the vast design of that training
school for the degenerate body and
the misguided mind of convicts. Eet
no one believe that the task was
easy, or that its performance has
failed of momentous results. They
have been grand, and they are per-
manent ; they have opened a new
chapter in the long story of human
achievement and divine guidance.

I praised this bold mariner when I
saw him, thirty years since, launch-
ing forth on a voyage often tried but
seldom accomplished ; I praise him
none the less now that the shor-e for
which he sailed is in view.

The port, well worth the cruise, is near,
And every wave is cliarmed.

LITTLE BROWN MITTENS.

By Alice D. O. Greenwood.

Little brown mittens worn and old,

Vain are your fleecy folds to-night,
The poor little hands, so white and cold,

Are shut forever from warmth and light.
Sacred are you to me for aye,

Nothing your empty space shall fill,
Though it is years since she went away,

Bearing the print of her fingers still.

There on the tip of the tiny thumb.

Just where it with the finger met.
As in years now gone, through the years to come,

Will linger a trace of her candy yet.
I see the mirth in her winsome eyes,

The sunlight falling upon her hair.
Dark as the pool where the shadow lies.

Soft as the down that the thistles wear.

And I feel the weight ot her slender form,

As oft I have in days now flown.
And the little cheek so soft and warm,

Closely nestled against my own.
Strange that a winsome little child,

Just in the rosy light of dawn,
When friends surrounded, and fortune smiled,

Should be thus taken, and / live on.

I who am weary, hand and feet,

I who have seen hope's promise fade,
I, alone, in the rain and sleet.

Amid the ruins the years have made.
I who have heard the siren sing.

Until my heart will no more respond.
And to life's grim farce no longer cling.

Nor hope, nor fear, for the life beyond.

But she was so trustful, so young and fair,

So sweet and pure, so warm and bright,
It is strange to think of her now out there,

Alone in the wind and rain to-night.
But there are storms she will never know,

Fiercer than those of wind and rain.
God is merciful. Be it so.

I would not call her back again.

THE CHILBLAIN CURE.
By Doris L. Burke.

NE snowy afternoon in
December Ezra Spol-
lett drew his chair up
to the kitchen stove
for the third time.

" I dunno what I 'm going to do
with my chilblains," he said fretfully.

Mrs. Spollett looked up from her
squash parings with anxious sym-
pathy.

" Don't the heat seem to help 'em
any, to-day? she inquired.

" It eases 'em off for the minute,
of course, but I can't be setting
around the stove all winter. You
aint got fire enough here to warm a
midget through, anyhow."

Olive set her pan on the floor. •

" I '11 see to it," she said. " I was
hoping you wouldn't have 'em this
winter, Ezra."

" That 's what you're always say-
ing. I dunno why I should n't have
'em this winter, seeing they 've paid
me a visit pretty regular for the last
'leven years. But I dunno what I
shall do with the pesky things this
time," he said again.

Mrs. Spollett glanced out of the
window as she went back to her work.

"Here's Lyddy Jane, Ezra, just
coming in the gate. Hiram 's brought
her over. Just as likely as not she '11
know of something new, being as she
has visited around so much lately."

Olive fastened her apron in a tidier

knot and hastened to admit Ezra's
sister.

"I'm proper glad to see you,
Eyddy Jane," she exclaimed warmly.
" Harvey was just saying you 'd got
back. Let me put away your
things."

Mrs. Peverly bustled out of her
wraps cheerfully.

"I shan't feel the good of my
shawl if I don't get it off for a spell,
but I can 't stay. I told Hiram I
guessed I would go back to-night if
he 'd stop on his way home from the
store, the doing is so bad — nothing
but slump and splosh."'

" I guess I should smile," observed
Olive. "Tomorrow's Saturday and
Harvey can carr}' you back in the
morning just as well as not — if you
must go then. Ezra 's used up."

Lydia looked at her brother inquir-
ingly.

" I supposed you 'd wet your ftet,
Ezra," she said.

"No, I ain't wet my feet. T
wouldn't dare to now, nohow. It's-
my old trouble."

Ezra's manner was so serious that
Lydia was momentarily startled ; but
her brow speedily cleared.

"Oh," she said hghtly, "chil-
blains?"

Ezra moved his toes uneasily. The
oven was very hot now.

"I shouldn't suppose chilblains

THE CHILBLAIN CURE.

427

was anj'thing from the way you talk.
Well, folks that aint had 'em do n't
know nothing about 'em."

" Wh}^ Ezra, I guess I know what
chilblains are. Did n't I always hav^e
them when I was a girl ? "

" Did you ? " asked Olive eagerly.
" What remedies did you mse ? "

" Oh, so long as I could get to the
ash barrel I was well enough. Did
you ever try wood ashes, Ezra ? Tie
your feet right up in them."

"Yes, I 've used 'em. They fixed
me up three winters ago. The same
thing won't cure mc twice. I 've
tried everything T ever heard of, and
I guess there 's nothing for me to do
now but to grin and bear it. But

your Aunt Olive do up the barn
work if the skin does come off. It 's
all I can stagger under to get my
boots on now."

Ezra drew on his sock with ex-
treme caution.

"And you say she was helped,"
he resumed. " I wisht your memory
was as much as an inch and a half
long, Eyddy Jane. Harvey, you
hand me my chilblain book. It 's
hanging under the almanac. I '11
just run over the things I 've used,
and if I come to the one that cured
Marthy's girl I suppose you '11 know
it."

Harvey took down a thin little
blank book. Its covers were protected

Olive thought maybe yoii 'd know of by brown paper and a loop of faded
something, seeing you 'vebeen around pink twine was threaded through the
considerable much since Andrew top.

died."

Mrs. Peverly became thoughtful.

"Samuel's Tommy used cranber-
ries when I was there."

"I 've tried ihem — two years ago.
They ditl n't do me any good."

Lydia reflected again.

" I was trying to think what cured
Cousin Martha's hired girl. She had
them bad — worse than anybody I
ever saw. Her heels swelled up and
turned purple. Then the skin peeled
off and left them all raw."

" Sho ! " remarked Ezra with solic-
itude.

" Its mighty lucky I've kept the
run o' the receipts I 've used — first
and last. I should n't know where I
was if I hadn't," said Ezra as he
opened the book. " The first time I
was afflicted was in the winter of '86.
I set the dates down and I remember
just how it was. I 'd been getting
out my summer's wood. 'Twas
sploshy in the pastur and I got my
feet sopping — had on leaky boots.
Saleratus and water cured me — first
time I used it too. The next year
they come on again, just about the
same time. I used saleratus then but

The painful possibilities of his chil- it didn't help 'em. Then I tried pig's

blains were a matter of constant con- foot oil, alum, and some liniment the

cern. He removed a stocking and Widow Curtis fixed for me. It was

anxiously inspected the great toe of turpentine, though, that did 'em up

his left foot. for that winter — turpentine and copal

" Tlie skin is master tender on that varnish mixed. I marked the things

toe, and right there on the top it Mdiicli cured with a red cross."

looks as if it was going to crack open
before long. You '11 have to stay at
home from school, Harvey, and help

Ezra paused to turn a leaf.
" I had 'em twice that year for they
set in again in December, Turpen-

428

THE CHILBLAIN CURE.

tine didn't do any good that time,
but kerosene oil did. I do n't find no
record of '88."

Ezra scowled at the page for a min-
ute.

"I see how 'twas, now," he con-
tinued. "The kerosene helped 'em
in December of '87, and they did n't
trouble me again till January, '89.
That year I soaked my feet in boiled
potato water. The next thing I tried
was hot salt and water. Then I put
on carbolic acid. After that I rubbed
'em with snow, and at last I tried
beef's gall. The beef's gall cured
'em, and the next year I used it
again. Like all the rest it want no
good but once. Olive thought maybe
bean water would be good, seeing po-
tato water had been recommended. I
tried that, likewise turnip water and
parsnip water. Then I got some of
Old Lady Green's home-made salve.
Next I smoked 'em over thatch. After
that I put 'em into pork pickle. That
eased 'em off after a spell, and the'
next winter I didn't have 'em at all.
I thought I 'd got rid of the tarnal
things but first of February, '92, they
set in lively. I thought I 'd better
give the pickle another try being as
I'd skipped a year. But it didn't
work. Then I bound on onions cut
up in salt. Next the tin peddler told
me to poultice 'em with soft soap.
My remedies got kinder played out
about that time, and Olive was pos-
sessed for me to have Dr. Sloper to
'em. So I did. He give me some-
thing — a lotion he called it. It did n't
help my feet any. I knowed it
would n't. Fact is I believe it made
'em worse for I wasn't free from
chilblains all that winter. I kept
right on trying one stuff after another
thoujjh — cold tea, copperas, warm

mutton tallow, skunk cabbage leaves,
iodine, vinegar curds" —

"There!" interrupted Lydia.
" That was what Ellen used. It was
vinegar curds that cured her."

Ezra gave his chair a disappointed
hitch.

"I thought 'twould be some fool
of a thing. Vinegar curds did n't do
me so much good as a cat's foot.
Sho ! If I aint been setting here with,
my feet clear out of the oven ! Olive,
why did n't you speak of it ? As like
as not I 've given 'em a chill. Now
I shall have to heat 'em up again be-
fore going to milking. Harvey,
can 't you stir up this fire a mite ? "

Ezra turned another leaf in his
book. "As I was saying I tried
most everything that year. But that
doctor's lotion was worse than the
Old Nick, and you know the feet are
chockful of pores. I did n't get it
out of my system for six weeks, and
of course nothing else would cure till
I 'd got rid of it."

Harvey winked for his Aunt Ey-
dia's exclusive benefit.

" After trying all the things you 've
read off, Uncle Ezra, there must have
been considerable in your system be-
side Dr. Sloper's lotion."

"There's a difference between
these old-fashioned remedies and doc-
tor's stuff. I said then I should n't
fool no more with that. I suppose
I 've got to crawl out now and see to-
the critters. I shall try to get around
just as long as I can. I wisht you
could think of something, Eyddy
Jane?" he added wistfully.

" I guess you 've had over every-
thing I ever heard of — and more, too.
But possibly I can find a recipe at
home."

P>.ra pulled on his boots, painfully.

THE CHILBLAIN CURE.

429

" You be sure to have a good fire
when I come in from milking, Olive,"
he said. "If they get rampant I
shall have to heat 'em up as soon as I
get back. And I guess you 'd better
have that hunk of corubeef for sup-
per. I 've got to have something to
keep me up."

He limped slowly away. Olive fol-
lowed him with gentle concern in her
eyes.

"You mustn't mind him, Lyddy,
if he don't speak just so. He 's all
wore out with them dretful blains."

"You coddle him altogether too
much, Olive," returned Lydia. "Of
course we know chilblains are aggra-
vating things and Ezra means well
enough. But he aint used to being
sick and thinks he 's going to die if
he has a toothache."

Mrs. Spollett replied with unusual
spirit, "I'm afraid you don't know
much about the kind of chilblains
he has, Lyddy Jane. You can't al-
ways tell b)^ the looks how things
really are. We might have gone in-
to the setting-room. There 's a fire in
the airtight, but I did n't think of it.
I am so worked up over him all the
time I ain't good for nothing."

"Aunt Ivydia, suppose we have a
game of backgammon before I go out
to help Uncle," said Harvey. " We
shall have time enough."

"I'm going to help Olive about the
supper, Harvey. She looks awful
picked."

"There ain't nothing you can do.
I 've got it all cooked. You go along
and play wdth Harvey. I '11 shut the
door between. The heat goes in there
so fast, and I want to have the room
warm for him when he gets in from
his chores."

"What is the matter with your

Aunt Olive, Harvey?" Lydia asked
as Harvey opened the board. " She
looks as if she had been through a fit
of sickness."

"I guess it's losing her sleep so
much nights," responded Harvey
grind}'.

" Losing her sleep ! Don't she rest
well?"

" She might if she had the chance,
but Uncle Ezra is afraid he may
wake with his chilblains. (They
never have troubled him at night but
he says its best to be on the safe
side.) So Aunt Olive comes down
three or four times to keep the fire
running. If he doesn't hear of a
new cure prett}^ soon I do n't know
what he and Aunt Olive will do, and
I 've got a scheme, Aunt E^'dia,
which I 'm going to submit to your
superior judgment."

Harvey went into the kitchen and
returned with the chilblain book.

" Saleratus cured Uncle the first
winter he was ' afflicted.' The next
3^ear he used turpentine and copal
varnish."

Harvey ran his finger down the
narrow pages, pausing whenever he
came to a red cross.

" Kerosene, beef's gall, pork pickle.
That's as far as Uncle got this after-
noon, but there are several pages
more. Camphor, balm gilead buds
and gin, carrot poultice, witch — "

At this point Mrs. Spollett came in
to get a fresh table-cloth, and inad-
vertently left the door ajar. Where-
upon Harvey discreetly lowered his
voice.

Lydia was buttoning her overshoes
the next morning when she said,

" Olive, do you happen to have
any beef's gall about the house ?
I' ve been out sometime."

430

THE CHILBLAIN CURE.

" Yes," answered Olive. " There 's
a quart bottle full in the cellarway.
I '11 turn you out some."

Ezra was toasting his toes by the
stove — his customary occupation
when in doors.

"Beef's gall is a great thing,"
said he. "It cured my chilblains
once."

"Don't you fret, Ezra," returned
his sister, cheerfully, "I'm going
to see if I can't find something
that '11 help you just as soon as I
get home."

' ' Could you send it back b}^ Har-
vey ? "

"I shouldn't wonder," replied
Eydia.

" You be sure to be home by noon,
Harvej^ I shall want you to water
up if my chilblains keep a acting."

It was one o'clock, however, before
Harvey drove into the yard. Ezra
was still sitting by the fire when he
came in.

" Seems to me you' ve been gone a
good while, Harvey, being as you
had the mare. That horse sold for
three hundred once and there want
no call for your being so long on the
road. Did Eyddy Jane send that
remedy ?"

Harvey produced a large bottle
which contained a harmless looking
liquid of undecided color, Ezra re-
ceived it doubtfully.

"I don't like the looks of this
amazing — nor the smell. Did n't
Lyddy Jane send along the recipe ? "

"I didn't hear her say anything
about it, Uncle."

"That's pretty works when she
knows how particular I have to be
about what I put on my feet."

"This is a great thing, though.
Uncle. It has probably cured more

people than any dozen other remedies
put together."

" Sho ! " remarked Ezra, looking
upon the bottle more kindly.

" I do n't suppose you know what
there is in it ? "

"Of course he don't know what
there is in it, Ezra, but maybe I can
tell," said Olive.

Mrs. Spollett held the bottle to the
light and surveyed it critically. She
took out the cork and smelled of it
gently.

"I should say," she at last an-
nounced cautiously, " that there was
spearmint in it for one thing."

Harvey chuckled silently and Ezra
looked relieved. Olive still sniffed.

"It smells of something else, too.
Why, I 've smelled that smell hun-
dreds of times. It 's queer that I
can't place it. 'T ain't catnip and it
don't seem to be running camomile
flowers neither. I shouldn't wonder
if it was rose water."

" I guess she must h^ve struck the
beef's gall that time," thought Har-
vey.

" Let me smell again, Olive," said
Ezra.

After a prolonged sniff Ezra avowed
that the mixture contained saltpetre.

Olive held the bottle in front of the
window once more.

" There 's grease of some kind in
it. I can see the oil on top.

" Kerosene," mentally ejaculated
Harvey.

Mrs. Spollett shook the bottle vig-
orously and took another whiff.

" I miss my guess if it ain't mut-
ton tallow. Mutton tallow 's real
healing and soothing. It smells
camphory too, yet I won't be sure
about the camphor."

" I wisht to goodness Lyddy Jane

NEW HAMPSHIRE NECROLOGY.

431

"had sent the recipe," said Ezra,
moodily. " I should think j'ou
might have had gumption enough
for that, Harvey. It ain't policy to
be putting everything on your chil-
blains."

"I guess you 're safe enough in
using this, Ezra," said Olive. " As
near as I can make out there ain't
anything in it that would hurt you."

Two weeks later Lydia came to
spend another night with the Spol-
letts. She found Ezra rejoicing over
her cure for chilblains.

"That remedy of yours was gay,
Lyddy Jane. It fixed me up as fine
as a kite. What was the name of
it? "

While Lydia hesitated Harvej' men-
tally tnumerated, " Saleratus, tur-
pentine and copal varnish, kerosene,
carrot poultice, witch hazel, pork
pickle, balm gilead buds and gin,
beef's gall, ashes and camphor."

He looked up and said, "That
remedy, Uncle, was the Great Com-
posite, Complex, Compound Chil-
blain Composition."

— ^

HON. GEORGE A. R.A.MSDELIv.

Hon. George A. Ramsdell, ex-governor of New Hampshire, died at his home
in Nashua, November 16, from apoplexy, at the age of sixty-sijc years.

George Allen Ramsdell was born in Milford, March 11, 1834. His earliest
ancestors in America on both sides were English emigrants and among the first
settlers of Massachusetts. In 18 15 his grandfather, Capt. William Ramsdell, then
of Salem, Mass., purchased the farm in Milford, which descended to the second
Capt. William Ramsdell, and was the home of the family for more than seventy-
five years. His mother was the eldest daughter of Rev. Humphrey Moore, D. D.,
who was pastor of the Congregational church in Milford for a third of a century.

After a course at Appleton academy, now McCoUom institute, Mont Vernon,
Mr. Ramsdell completed a year at Amherst college, but was compelled by reason
of delicate health to retire. He continued his studies independently, however, and
in 1857 he was admitted to the Hillsborough county bar. Soon after he was
located at Peterberough, where he remained six years in active practive. In 1864
he was appointed clerk of the supreme court of Hillsborough county and removed
to Amherst, where he resided till 1866, when the records were moved to Nashua
and he became a resident there. In 1S87 he resigned the office and resumed
the practice of his profession.

After three or four years Mr. Ramsdell became identified with the City Guar-

432 NEW HAMPSHIRE NECROLOGY:

anty Savings bank as its treasurer, at the same time being president of the First
National bank. As a lawyer he was considered able and far-seeing, and many
times in the past twenty-five years he had been appointed referee and auditor in
important and perplexing civil actions.

His honorable record was recognized by Gov. John B. Smith, who, on the
death of Judge Allen, in 1893, tendered Mr. Ramsdell a seat on the supreme
bench. The offer was reluctantly declined. Meantime Dartmouth college had
conferred on him the degree of A. M.

Mr. Ramsdell's public career included ten years' service on the board of edu-
cation, twenty years as trustee of the public library, and many other places of trust
and responsibility. In 1870, 187 1, and 1872 he was a member of the legislature,
where he won an enviable reputation as a debater. Many of his constituents
remember with pride his staying qualities in the great struggle in the house in
1 87 1, when Brainbridge Wadleigh, having spoken on the previous question till his
voice failed, and needing a substitute to hold the floor till morning, Mr. Ramsdell
stepped into the breach and spoke six hours with scarcely an intermission.

He was a working member of the constitutional convention of 1870, and repre-
sented the third district in the governor's council in 1891 and 1892. In the Re-
publican gubernatorial convention of 1894, composed of nearly eight hundred
delegates, he received a flattering vote, and in the convention of 1896 he received
the distinguished honor of being nominated by acclamation, without a dissenting
vote. In the election that followed, he was chosen governor by the heaviest plu-
ralities ever given a candidate in this state.

Governor Ramsdell had served the people of Nashua in many important posi-
tions, and many times he was earnestly solicited to stand as the Republican candi-
date for mayor, but he declined to permit the use of his name. He had been
identified with the temperance movement in the state. He was a director in the
Wilton Railroad Company, in the Peterboro Railroad Company, in the Jackson
Manufacturing Comoany, and in the Nashua Manufacturing Company. He also
was a prominent member of many fraternal and social orders.

He was a member of the First Congregational church in Nashua, and for
many years has been prominent in this denomination in the state; he was one of
the promoters of the erection, in 1893, of the stone church of his parish, which is
not excelled by any structure of the kind in the state. He was also a thirty-second
degree Scottish Rite Mason.

Governor Ramsdell was married November 29, i860, to Eliza D. Wilson of
Deering, a descendant on both sides from charter members of the Londonderry
colony. Four children have been born to them: Harry VV., February i, 1862;
Arthur D., August 2, 1863; Charles T., July 6, 1865, and Annie M., December
8, 1873.

VERY REV. JOHN E. BARRY.

Very Rev. John E. Barry of Concord, vicar-general of the Catholic diocese of
Manchester, was instantly killed by a cable car on Broadway, New York, on the
afternoon of Wednesday, November 14.

Father Barry was born in Eastport, Me., August 11, 1836. He was educated

NEW HAMPSHIRE NECROLOGY. 433;

in the Academy of St. John in New Brunswick, at Holy Cross college, and the
Montreal seminary. He was ordained to the priesthood at Portland in 1864, and.
was appointed resident pastor at Concord the following year.

Seeing the great need of his people, Father Barry looked about for a site upon
which a church should be erected. He purchased a lot on South Main street in
1866, and March 14 of that year a handsome edifice was dedicated by Bishop
Bacon of Maine. The church from that day to the present has experienced a con-
stantly increasing era of prosperity. In 1877 ^ spacious lot adjacent to the
church, which was named St. John's, was purchased by the good father's direc-
tion, and a rectory built. In 1883 the church edifice was enlarged, and the build-
ing rededicated by Bishop Bradley of the New Hampshire diocese. In 1875 a
tract of land adjoining Blossom Hill cemetery was purchased, and in 1876 was
consecrated by Bishop Healy of Maine.

Father Barry's next move in behalf of his people was the purchase of land and
erection of the Sacred Heart school and convent, and the school doors were thrown
open in September, 1888. In 1893 an imposing memorial arch was erected at the
entrance to Calvary cemetery, the burial-ground purchased earlier by Father
Barry. Within this sacred enclosure rest the mortal dust of Rev. Father O'Reilly,,
first pastor of St. John's church, and a monolith was erected over the grave.

The magnificent property of St. John's parish was long ago entirely free from
debt, owing to the good management of this leader and the hearty cooperation
which he received from his people. His last important church work was the con-
duct of a two weeks' mission, in which he was assisted by the Passionist fathers of
New Jersey. He visited Europe in 1874.

From the time of Bishop Bacon's death in 1874 until June, 1875, Father Barry
administered the affairs of the diocese of Portland, and until Bishop Healy was
appointed. The title of vicar general was bestowed upon him after his temporary-
active bishopric in Maine, when Bishop Healy was consecrated as the successor of
Bishop Bacon. His silver jubilee of consecration was celebrated July 2, 1889, in
Concord. Pontifical high mass was sung on this occasion by Archbishop Wil-
liams of Boston. Father Barry received as a gift from his people at this time a
purse of $1,200 in gold.

Father Barry was an American citizen in every fibre, and manifested much
interest in public affairs. He was for a number of years a member of the Con-
cord school board, was three times appointed a trustee of the New Hampshire
Asylum for the Insane, and was prominent in the advancement of the interests of
the New Hampshire Historical Society. He was the first Catholic priest to min-
ister to unfortunates at the state prison.

It is safe to say that no clergyman in New Hampshire, of any denomination,
has been more widely known or more highly esteemed, both in his own commu-
nity and in the state at large, than was Father Barry, and his sudden and almost
tragic death occasioned universal mourning.

CHARLES H. HOYT.

Charles Hale Hoyt, playwright and theatrical manager, died at his home iik
Charlestown, November 20, from paresis, after a protracted illness.

434 NEW HAMPSHIRE NECROLOGY.

Mr. Hoyt was the son of George W. Hoyt, who was for some time engaged in
the hotel business in Concord, and subsequently connected with the United States
railway mail service. He was born in Concord, July 26, i860, but removed with
his parents in childhood to Charlestown, where the family residence was ever after
maintained, and which town his father subsequently represented in the legislature.
He received his education in a private school in Charlestown and in the Boston
Latin school, and studied law for a time with the late Chief Justice Edmund L.
Cushing, but abandoned the pursuit of the legal profession for journalism in which
he was engaged for some time, first with the St. Albans (Vt.) Advertiser, and sub-
sequently with the Boston Post, with which latter he was connected several years,
in charge of the spicy "All Sorts " column, and as dramatic, musical, and sporting
editor.

It was while on the staff of the Boston Post that he developed his talent as a
playwright. The first productions of his pen were " Gifford's Luck " and " Le-
zalia." These plays were most successful on the local stage. A short time after,
in 1883, Mr. Hoyt wrote "A Bunch of Keys." This play was so successful that
the author of it gave up journalism and devoted himself exclusively to play writing.
He formed a partnership with Charles W. Thomas of Portland, Me., which was
contmued up to the time of Mr. Thomas's death, in 1893, when Mr. Hoyt asso-
ciated himself with Frank McKee, who had, for a number of years, been the busi-
ness manager for Hoyt & Thomas.

Mr. Hoyt's dramatic work included "A Rag Baby," "A Tin Soldier," "A Hole
in the Ground," "A Brass Monkey," "A Midnight Bell," "A Texas Steer," "A
Trip to Chinatown," "A Temperance Town," "A Milk White Flag," "A Black
Sheep," "A Contented Woman," "A Stranger in New York," "A Day and a
Night in New York," and '-A Parlor Match." This last play was written spec-
ially for Evans & Hoey. The last play written by Mr. Hoyt was "A Dog in a
Manger."

Mr. Hoyt was twice married. In 1878 he wedded Flora Walsh, who died in
1893. His second wife was Caroline Miskel, who died in 1898.

In 1894 he was unanimously elected the representative in the New Hampshire
legislature from Charlestown, and during his service in that capacity made himself
extremely popular with the members. Politically, like his father before him, he
was a pronounced Democrat, and was at one time seriously talked about as a can-
didate for governor ; but as the cares of his theatrical business increased his inter-
est in politics lessened and in his later years he gave the subject little thought.

REV. NEWELL T. DUTTON, D. D.

Rev. Newell T. Dutton. who died at Damariscotta, Me., November 5, was
born in Claremont, November 5, 1840. He was graduated at Brown univer-
sity in the class of 1870, and from Newton Fheological seminary in 1873. He
was ordained to the Baptist ministry in Warren, Me., August 19, 1873, and was
pastor of the Warren church ten years. Later he settled in Houlton, where he
remained for ten years, and was in Fairfield from 1893 to 1896, when he was
elected financial secretary of Colby college. He was also a trustee of Coburn
Classical institute and of Ricker Classical institute.

NEW HAMPSHIRE NECROLOGY. 435

Dr. Dutton served as sergeant-major of the Ninth New Hampshire volunteers,
enlisting August 18, 1862, and was mustered out with the regiment, February i,
1865. He served in the Maryland, Virginia, Mississippi, Kentucky, and Tennes-
see campaigns. He was a member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity.

He married Miss Maria Dunklee of Claremont, who, with an adopted daugh-
ter, Bessie, and a brother, L. H. Dutton, master of the Hancock school of Boston,
survives him.

REV. JAMES H. FITTS.

Rev. James Hill Fitts, for twenty years pastor of the Congregational church in
Newfields, died there suddenly, from heart disease, November 22.

Mr. Fitts was born in Candia, March 3, 1829, the oldest of three children of
John and Abigail Lane Fitts. In 1858 he was graduated from the Bangor, Me.,
Theological seminary and in 1859 was ordained to the Congregational ministry.
His successive pastorates had been at Boxboro, West Boylston, and Topsfield,
Mass., and at South Newmarket, now Newfields, where he was installed in 1880.
He was a zealous, faithful minister and an ideal citizen. He represented South
Newmarket in the legislature of 1895, and was the principal agent in effecting its
change of name to Newfields. He had long been chairman of the school board of
Newfields and a trustee of its public library.

He had long found his chief recreation in historical'* and genealogical re-
searches, and in these lines of work had won reputation. He wrote the excellent
sketch of South Newmarket in the " History of Rockingham and Strafford Coun-
ties ; " had been a co-laborer with Rev. Jacob Chapman in genealogical work, par-
ticularly with reference to the Lane family. He compiled volume 2 of the " Lane
Genealogies," published in 1897, and save for the index had completed and sent
through the press another volume of genealogies of this large family. His his-
torical sketches and reviews had been many. He was a man of imposing pres-
ence, of great kindness of heart, and was beloved by the entire body of his towns-
men.

He leaves a widow, who was Miss Mary C. French of Candia, their marriage
having occurred January i, 1862, and a brother, J. Lane Fitts, Esq., of Candia.
A sister. Miss Hannah Fitts, who recently died in Newfields, had been very promi-
nent in work for the freedmen in the South.

MAJ. ENOCH G. ADAMS.

Major Enoch George Adams died at his home in Berwick, Me., Sunday morn-
ing, November 4. He was born in Bow, February 20, 1829. He graduated at
Yale in the class of '49. He served in the Civil War from 1 861 -'64 in Company
D of the Second New Hampshire Regiment. He served as captain, and after the
war was brevetted major. He also served on the frontier in 1865.

He went West again in 1866, and for a number of years was lecturer for the
Independent Order of Good Templars in Washington and Oregon. He afterward
edited the Vancouver Register and later the Coliimbiaii at St. Helens, Ore. While
there he held many public offices. He came East to Berwick in 1887. He was a
very prominent figure among the Masons, being a member of St. John's Lodge

436 NEW HAMPSHIRE NECROLOGY.

and a Royal Arch Mason. He was also a member of Littlefield Post, G. A. R.,
of Somersworth.

Major Adams was a son of Reformation John Adams. He claimed descent
from seven Colonial governors of Massachusetts, also from some of the Pilgrims
•who came over in the Mayflower. His grandfather Sanderson fought in the bat-
tles of the Revolution at Concord and Lexington.

AUGUSTUS D. MERROW, M. D.

Dr. Augustus D. Merrow of Freedom, one of the foremost physicians of Carroll
-county, died at his home October i6.

He was born in Newfield, Me., August 8, 1827, attended the North Parsons-
field academy, graduated from the medical department of Bowdoin college, and
-commenced the practice of medicine at Acton, Me., in 1854, and continued in
practice there until 1867, when he removed to Freedom, where he thereafter lived
and practised.

His skill as a physician was marked, and his practice extended not only
throughout Freedom and surrounding towns, but he was often called in consulta-
tion outside of his adopted state.

In politics he was a staunch Democrat, and was prominent in the councils of
his party, both during his residence in Maine and New Hampshire. He was
elected representative to the Maine legislature in 1865, and to the state senate in
1866.

He was twice married, first to Miss Jane Topliff, daughter of the late Dr. Cal-
vin Topliff of Freedom, who died many years ago, and by whom he had two
-children, Edward T. and Edith L., the former now a druggist at Freedom, and the
latter the wife of Dr. George W. Lougee, also of Freedom, and secondly to Miss
JRose Topliff, who died in March, 1899.

Durham Library Association.

-J"^^

¥'' 1

jt'.^'m

a«J

, 1

. ^

7 ^'j

^ 4