By Muriel Bristol | February 17, 2021
Milton’s original railroad station stood on the other side of the Salmon Falls River. It was within Milton still, but on that side of the river that was called the “Lebanon side.” The Portsmouth, Great Falls & Conway Railroad (PGF&C) corporation ran things initially from that original station that stood on the Lebanon side. (See Milton’s Railroad Line).
The railroad station depicted in the picture postcards, i.e., Milton’s second railroad station, was built on the Milton side over twenty years later in 1873.
There seems to have been a career progression, at least in later years, from telegrapher to freight agent and, finally, to station agent. At least some of those working “on the ground,” as opposed in the train crews, seem to have been managed by the station agent. These might include baggage handlers, flagmen, freight agent, telegrapher, and, possibly, section hands.
The Milton railroad station agents (or depot masters) of this period or, at least, those that have been identified so far were: Charles A. Sawyer, F.A. Crocket, Daniel Corkery, William T. Wallace, John E. Fox, and Hugh A. Beaton. (Whoever replaced Hugh A. Beaton, after his 1940 death and until the station closed, has not yet been identified).
Charles A. Sawyer – 185?-1874
Charles Augustine Sawyer was born in Wakefield, NH, March 1, 1825, son of William and Mehitable “Hettie” (Richards) Sawyer.
Charles A. Sawyer married in Farmington, NH, May 1, 1853, Amanda M.F. Horne, he of Wakefield, NH, and she of Farmington. Rev. D.D. Tappan performed the ceremony. She was born in Dover, NH, July 24, 1834, daughter of John and Tryphena (Perkins) Horne.
Son George E. Sawyer was born in Milton, in March 1858.
Charles A. Sawyer, a R.R. agent, aged thirty-five years (b. NH), headed a Milton (“Milton P.O.”) household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included A.M. [Amanda M.] Sawyer, aged twenty-five years (b. NH), E.A. [Ella A.] Sawyer, aged five years (b. NH), and George E. Sawyer, aged two years (b. NH). Charles A. Sawyer had real estate valued at $1,000 and personal estate valued at $500. His household was enumerated between those of Hazen Duntley, a blacksmith, aged fifty-five years (b. NH), and Stephen W. Dearborn, a box maker, aged forty-five years (b. NH).
Charles A. Sawyer of Milton registered for the Class II military draft, June 30, 1863. He was a depot master, aged forty-one years.
Daughter Ella A. Sawyer died in Milton, April 30, 1866, aged eleven years. (She is buried in Portland, ME).
Charles A. Sawyer, a R.R. station agent, aged forty-five years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Amanda M. Sawyer, keeping house, aged thirty-five years (b. NH), Anna M. Sawyer, at school, aged twelve years (b. MA), and George E. Sawyer, at school, aged ten years (b. NH). Charles A. Sawyer had real estate valued at $800 and personal estate valued at $650. His household was enumerated between those of William H. Jones, a shoe factory worker, aged thirty-one years (b. ME), and Robert Miller, a shoe factory worker, aged thirty-six years (b. MA).
Son John G. Sawyer was born in Milton, August 19, 1870, the third child of Charles A. and Amanda Sawyer. Charles A. Sawyer was a station agent.
C.A. Sawyer appeared in the Milton business directory of 1873, as the Milton express agent. (C.H. Looney appeared as the Milton telegraph agent).
Charles A. and Amanda M. (Horne) Sawyer, and family, left Milton for Portland, ME, circa 1874.
Chas. A. Sawyer, a confectioner, aged fifty-four years (b. NH), headed a Portland, ME, household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Amanda M. Sawyer, keeping house, aged forty-four years (b. NH), his children, George E. Sawyer, a confectioner, aged twenty-two years (b. NH), Anna M. Sawyer, at home, aged twenty-one years (b. MA), and John G. Sawyer, aged nine years (b. NH), his servant, Costella Ashlund, a servant, aged nineteen years (b. ME), and his boarders, Fred Sawyer, a confectioner, aged nineteen years (b. NH), and Elmer Spinney, an apprentice, aged nineteen years (b. ME). They resided at 321 Congress Street.
Charles A. Sawyer appeared in the Portland, ME, directory of 1883, as a confectioner at 419 Congress street, with his house at 321 Congress street. George E. Sawyer appeared as running a wholesale and retail confectionary at 309 and 315 Congress street, and 419 Congress street, with his house at 311 Congress street.
Charles A. Sawyer appeared in the Portland, ME, directory of 1886, as a confectioner at 419 Congress street, with his house at 11 Fessenden street, D. [Deering]. George E. Sawyer appeared as running a wholesale and retail confectionary at 309 and 315 Congress street, and 419 Congress street, with his house at 15 Fessenden street.
Charles A. Sawyer died of chronic nephritis in Deering, ME, February 11, 1893, aged sixty-seven years, eleven months, and eleven days.
Amanda M. Sawyer appeared in the Portland, ME, directory of 1897, as the widow of Charles A.,, with her house at 11 Fessenden street, Oakdale. George E. Sawyer appeared as a wholesale and retail confectioner, at 309 to 323 Congress street, and 465 Congress street, with his house at 14 Wilmot street. John G. Sawyer appeared as a salesman, at 315 Congress street, with his house at 11 Fessenden street, O [Oakdale].
Amanda M. (Horne) Sawyer died of chronic nephritis at 33 Fessenden Street in Portland, ME, March 14, 1916.
F.A. Crocket – 1874
F.A. Crocket appeared in the Milton business directory of 1874, as the Milton express and telegraph agent.
Daniel Corkery – 1874-c1884
Daniel Corkery was born in St. John, New Brunswick, Canada, circa December 1842, son of Daniel and Mary (Blake) Corkery. (His parents were natives of Ireland).
Daniel Corkery came to the Milton area from California, in or around 1865.
Daniel Corkery married Martha E. “Lizzie” Felch. She was born in Reading, MA, circa 1848, daughter of John B. and Martha A. (Lewis) Felch. (Her parents married in Lowell, MA, February 1, 1847. Her father worked there as a mechanic for the Middlesex Manufacturing Co. woolen mill. Her mother died of consumption in Clinton, ME, in August 1849, aged twenty-eight years (after one year’s illness)).
Daughter Annie I. Corkery was born in Milton, circa 1866.
Daniel Corkery, a sawmill laborer, aged twenty-eight years (b. New Brunswick), headed a Wakefield (“Union P.O”), NH, household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Lizzie Corkery, at home, aged twenty-two years (b. NH), and his child, Annie I. Corkery, at home, aged four years (b. NH). His household appeared in the enumeration between those of James Tucker, engine house superintendent, aged forty-seven years (b. MA), and Edwin W. Junkins, freight master, aged thirty-two years (b. NH).
Daniel Corkery, then of Union, Wakefield, NH, was working as a freight conductor for the Portsmouth, Great Falls and Conway Railroad when he lost his right leg below the knee in a workplace accident.
NEW HAMPSHIRE. Daniel Corkery, conductor on the Portsmouth, Great Falls and Conway freight train, was seriously injured at East Wakefield, Saturday afternoon, by being run over by the engine of his train, which passed over the right leg below the knee. He was carried to his home in Union, and his leg amputated. There is very little doubt whether he will survive the operation (Boston Globe, February 3, 1873).
After recovering from his injuries, Daniel Corkery succeeded Charles A. Sawyer as the Milton station agent.
RAILROAD NOTES. The extension of the Portsmouth, Great Falls and Conway Railroad to connect with the Portland & Ogdensburg road, has been completed, and the cars are now run to Upper Bartlett. More than a thousand men are at work on the mountain near the Willey House (Vermont Journal (Windsor, VT), January 16, 1875).
Eliza M. Corkery was born in Milton, August 22, 1875, daughter of depot master Daniel Corkery and his wife, Lizzie M. Corkery. (She appears to have died prior to the Tenth (1880) Federal Census).
Daniel Corkery appeared in the Milton business directories of 1875, 1876, and 1880, as the Milton express and telegraph agent. He appeared in the Milton business directory of 1877, as a flour and grain dealer.
Two men from Great Falls, Somersworth, NH, stole flour and grain from Daniel Corkery at Milton Three Ponds, and a horse and sleigh from George H. Jones in which to escape.
NEW HAMPSHIRE. In default of $2000 bail, George Whitehouse and Richard Pine of Great Falls were committed to jail Wednesday to await trial for stealing a sleigh, harness and robes from George H. Jones, and a quantity of flour and grain from Daniel Corkery at Milton, Sunday night (Boston Post, [Thursday,] January 30, 1879).
Summary of News. George Whitehouse and Richard Pike, of Great Falls, N.H., were last week arrested for breaking and entering a storehouse at Milton Three Ponds, and stealing therefrom several barrels of flour, the property of Daniel Corkery. They also stole a horse and pung to carry away their plunder, but the heavy load broke down the pung, and hence their arrest (Argus and Patriot (Montpelier, VT), February 5, 1879).
The two thieves went to prison. George L. Whitehouse at least received a pardon from NH Governor Natt Head in the following December (Boston Globe, December 19, 1879).
Daisy G. Corkery was born in Milton, circa January 1880, daughter of Daniel and Lizzie Corkery.
Daniel Corkery, depot master, aged thirty-nine years (b. New Brunswick), headed a Milton household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Lizzie A. Corkery, keeping house, aged thirty-two years (b. MA), Annie I. Corkery, at school, aged fourteen years (b. NH), and Daisy A. Corkery, aged four months (b. NH (January)), and his helper, William T. Wallace, assistant station agent, aged nineteen years (b. NH). His household was enumerated between those of George Blake, a day laborer, aged sixty-seven years (b. NH), and Huon L. French, a shoe worker, aged twenty-seven years (b. NH).
Kate Corkery was born in Milton, January 25, 1881, daughter of depot master Daniel Corkery and his wife, Lizzie Corkery.
Daniel Corkery appeared in the Milton business directories of 1881, 1882, and 1884, as the Milton express and telegraph agent.
Daughter [Annie] Isabel Corkery died of consumption in Milton, December 28, 1883, aged seventeen years, and ten months. (Her death was recorded also in neighboring Lebanon, ME: Annie I. Corkery died in Milton, December 29, 1883, aged seventeen years, ten months, and twenty-three days. (She is buried in the Prospect Hill Cemetery, in Lebanon, ME)).
Some Railroad Literature. CONCORD. N.H., June 9. – The secretary of state has received for record in the office, a copy of the proceedings of the meeting of stockholders of the Boston & Maine railroad relating to the purchase of the roads, franchises and properties of the Eastern, and of the Portsmouth, Great Falls & Conway railroad, together with certificates of sale (Boston Globe, June 10, 1890).
Daniel Corkery appeared in the Milton directory of 1900, as a shoe beater out, with his house on Main street, near the Post Office. (A shoe “beater out” was one that tended a shoe leveling machine. It shaped and smoothed leather insoles and outsoles, especially imperfections arising out of other assembly operations). Daughter Daisy G. Corkery appeared also as a milliner on Main street, near the Post Office, boarding at the same location.
MILTON. Daniel Corkery, who has been on a trip to Roxbury, Mass., has returned home (Farmington News, April 6, 1900).
Daniel Corkery, a shoe shop hand, aged fifty-seven years (Canada (Eng.)), headed a Milton (“Milton Village”) household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of thirty-five years), Martha Corkery, aged fifty-one years (b. ME), and his children, Daisy G. Corkery, a milliner, aged twenty years (b. NH), and Katy D. Corkery, aged seventeen years (b. NH). Daniel Corkery owned their house, free-and-clear.
MILTON. Kate Corkery is home from a month’s visit in Boston (Farmington News, September 6, 1901).
MILTON. Miss Daisy Corkery is remodelling her house. The upper rooms will be used for millinery. A large bay window is to be added to the lower part for the display of goods (Farmington News, September 27, 1901).
Daniel Corkery died of pyaemia in Milton, September 15, 1902, aged fifty-nine years, eight months, and sixteen days. He was then a flagman (M.A.H. Hart, M.D., signed the death certificate).
Martha E. Corkery of Milton made her last will, apparently in Milton, December 1, 1903. After the payment of her just debts, if any, and funeral expenses, she devised all the rest of her estate, both real and personal, to her two daughters, Daisy J. Corkery and Kate D. Corkery, who she named as joint executors. Harry L. Avery, Henry H. Wentworth, and Louisa M. Wentworth signed as witnesses (Strafford County Probate, 134:25).
Daughter Daisy G. Corkery married in Milton, August 28, 1905, Harry A. Perkins, both of Milton. She was a milliner, aged twenty-five years, and he was a salesman, aged twenty-seven years. Rev. Myron P. Dickey performed the ceremony. Perkins was born in Kenduskeag, ME, circa 1877,son of Charles B. and Abbie (Wentworth) Perkins.
Harry A. Perkins appeared in the Lynn, MA directory of 1907, as a salesman, with his house at 19 Allen avenue. His sister-in-law, Catherine Corkery, appeared as a shoemaker, boarding at 19 Allen avenue; and his mother-in-law, Elizabeth Corkery, widow of Daniel, appeared as having died there January 21, 1907.
Martha E. “Lizzie” (Felch) Corkery died of valvular heart disease in her home at 19 Allen Avenue in Lynn, MA, January 21, 1907, aged fifty-nine years. (She was buried in Milton, NH).
Daughter Catherine D. Corkery married in Lynn, MA, February 21, 1909, Douglas W. Hendry, both of 19 Allen Ave., Lynn, MA. She was at home, aged twenty-five years, and he was a machinist, aged twenty-five years. Rev. Mary E. Miars performed the ceremony. Hendry was born in Boston, MA, circa 1883, son of George and Mary (Tweedie) Hendry.
[WOMAN PASTOR TO WED. Reported in Lynn That Rev. Mary A. Miars Will Be a June Bride and Leave Friends’ Church. LYNN, May 3 – Several weeks ago it was announced that Rev Mary A. Miars, pastor of the Friends’ church, Silsbee st., was to sever her connection with that church. It is now understood that she is to be a bride in June, and will probably never enter the pastoral field again in Lynn. Miss Miars refuses to affirm or deny the report of her coming marriage, and will only say that everything will be made known when the proper time arrives. It is said that the man she is to wed is a resident of Ohio, which is also her native state. Miss Miars has been connected with the Silsbee-st., church for the past 10 years. A few years ago Miss Miars became prominent when she interested herself in Edgar Meikel, the Lynn boy who was arrested on the charge of killing his father, but who was subsequently acquitted. It is understood that when Miss Miars closes her engagement with the Lynn church she will go directly to her home in Washington, O. [Ohio] (Boston Globe, May 4, 1909)].
The last will of Martha E. (Felch) Corkery was proved in a probate session held in Farmington, NH, August 16, 1910 (Strafford County Probate, 134:25).
William T. Wallace – c1884-1891
William T. Wallace was born in Middleton, NH, circa 1861, son of John and Dorothy (York) Wallace.
Daniel Corkery, depot master, aged thirty-nine years (b. New Brunswick), headed a Milton household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Lizzie A. Corkery, keeping house, aged thirty-two years (b. MA), Annie I. Corkery, at school, aged fourteen years (b. NH), and Daisy A. Corkery, aged four months (b. NH (January)), and his helper, William T. Wallace, assistant station agent, aged nineteen years (b. NH). His household was enumerated between those of George Blake, a day laborer, aged sixty-seven years (b. NH), and Huon L. French, a shoe worker, aged twenty-seven years (b. NH).
William T. Wallace married in Milton, May 20, 1885, Sarah F. Downs, both of Milton. He was a station agent, aged twenty-four years, and she was a lady, aged twenty-eight years. Rev. Frank Haley performed the ceremony. She was born in Milton, June 2, 1856, daughter of James and Abigail “Abby” (Ware) Downs.
William T. Wallace appeared in the Milton business directories of 1887, and 1889, as the Milton express and telegraph agent.
William T. Wallace appeared in the Milton business directory of 1892, as a Milton grocer.
Burglars invaded the Three Ponds grocery store of William T. Wallace, as well as the clothing store of Henry F. Mason, in April 1898.
Burglars at Work in Milton, N.H. MILTON, N.H., April 19. The stores of H.F. Mason and W.T. Wallace were entered by burglars last night. At Mason’s a quantity of boots, shoes and clothing was taken, and at Wallace’s a small amount of change from the money drawer (Boston Globe, April 19, 1898).
MILTON. Deputy Sheriff William T. Wallace is attending the supreme court in Dover this week (Farmington News, March 23, 1900).
William T. Wallace, a grocer, aged thirty-nine years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of fifteen years), Sarah F. Wallace, aged forty-three years (b. NH). William T. Wallace owned their house, free-and-clear. Sarah F. Wallace was the mother of no children. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Frank S. Lee, a housepainter, aged fifty-four years (b. NH), and Frank Thompson, a day laborer, aged twenty-four years (b. MA).
The NH General Court authorized incorporation of the Milton Water Works Company, March 21, 1901, with initial board members Malcom A.H. Hart, Charles H. Looney, S. Lyman Hayes, Charles D. Jones, Fred B. Roberts, Harry Avery, George E. Wentworth, Joseph H. Avery, Ira W. Jones, Arthur W. Dudley, Everett F. Fox, Henry F. Townsend, Freeman H. Lowd, William T. Wallace, Frank G. Horne, Charles A. Jones, and Nathaniel G. Pinkham. It established itself July 19, 1899, with Harry L. Avery as its treasurer (NH Secretary of State, 1901).
Red Men Meet. Last Wednesday night at the regular council of Chocorua Tribe No. 6, I.O.R.M., a class of eleven palefaces was admitted to membership in the order, the work being exemplified by the degree staff of Madokawando Tribe No. 21 of Milton, which is considered one of the leading teams in the state, and certainly does first-class work under the direction of Charles A. Gilmore, formerly a resident of this town and a member of the tribe here. At the conclusion of the ceremonies attending the conferring of the degrees, all marched to the banquet hall to do honor to “corn and venison” prepared and waiting, and to listen to speaking by men prominent in the affairs of the order, and among them were George F. Hersey of Dover, grand sachem of the state, and William T. Wallace of Milton, a chief of the great council of New Hampshire, the sachem and several past sachems, of the Milton tribe, George H. Demeritt, sachem, and other members, old and new, of Chocorua tribe. At an early hour in the morning the company dispersed, each feeling that much had been accomplished in the fostering of good fellowship, and the raising of the local organization towards regaining the eminent position once maintained in the community. It is hoped that soon this tribe can boast of a degree team which will do credit to the order and its home town (Farmington News, April 5, 1907).
William T. Wallace, a shoe factory bookkeeper, aged forty-eight years (b. NH), headed a Milton (“Milton 3-Ponds”) household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of twenty-eight years), Frances Wallace, aged fifty-three years (b. NH). William T. Wallace owned their house, free-and-clear. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Edward Cestrau, a leatherboard mill beater man, aged thirty-two years (b. Canada), and Charles W. Evans, a shoe factory picker, aged forty-two years (b. NH).
Installation. Officers of Minnehaha Council, D. of P., were duly installed by District Deputy Grand Pocahontas Hattie Palmer of Rochester, assisted by past deputy Mrs. Allen of the same city. The ceremonies took place in Grange hall last Thursday evening in the presence of a large attendance of members a delegation of 18 members from the Milton council, including Past Great Sachem William T. Wallace and Past Grand Pocahontas Ina Drew. Chiefs who were raised up are as follows; Prophetess, Melissa Corson; Pocahontas, Edna Hanson; Wenonah, Addle Ham; Powhatan, Ernest Blaisdell; K. of R., Mamie Gate; K. of W., Jennie Marston; C. of W., Nellie Sanders; third trustee, Emma Bradshaw; first scout, Rosa Fall; first warrior, D.W. Cate; second warrior, Everett Corson; third warrior, C.W. Marston; fourth warrior, George Ham; guard of tepee, Emma Bradshaw; guard of forest, C.W. Whitehouse. A social hour, with banquet, concluded a most enjoyable affair (Farmington News, January 19, 1917).
William T. Wallace, a leatherboard shipper, aged fifty-eight years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Frances S. Wallace, aged sixty-three years (b. NH). William T. Wallace owned their house on Upper Main Street in Milton Village, free-and-clear. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of George F. Downs, a meat market owner, aged sixty-three years (b. NH), and Edward A. Connell, a Milton Ice co. laborer, aged twenty-nine years (b. MA).
Milton Leatherboard employee, William T. Wallace, was seriously wounded in a freak accident there on October 31, 1928. He died that same day in the Rochester hospital following an operation there, aged sixty-seven years, and nine months. His Rochester death certificate (signed by Dr. M.A.H. Hart of Milton) explained that he had been …
Struck by a flying blade from a heavy steel fan in the drying room of the Milton Leatherboard mill on the side of his abdomen causing the bursting of a section of the intestines. He was taken to the Rochester Hosp. and died after his operation before recovering from the anesthetic.
LOCAL. Many local friends, and especially the orders of Red Men and Pocahontas throughout the state, regret the tragic and untimely death of William S. Wallace of Milton, who died at the Rochester hospital last Monday as the result of injuries while at his employment at the Dawson paper mill last week. Mr. Wallace was a past great sachem of the Red Men of New Hampshire. For many years he was an employee of the Boston and Maine R.R. as the station master at Milton Also he was a former business man of Milton (Farmington News, November 9, 1928).
S. Frances Wallace, a widow, aged seventy-two years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. She owned her house on North Main Street, which was valued at $1,400. She had a radio set.
Sarah F. (Downs) Wallace died of an intestinal obstruction (and bowel cancer) in Milton, January 2, 1939, aged eighty-two years, and seven months. M.A.H. Hart, M.D., signed the death certificate.
John E. Fox – 1891-1904
John E. Fox was born in Tuftonborough, NH, May 30, 1845, son of George and Drusilla E. (Hersey) Fox.
John E. Fox married in Brooklyn, NY, December 25, 1872, Abbie Frances “Frances” Woodman, he of Tuftonborough, NH, and she of Brooklyn. The ceremony took place “at her Father’s house.” John L. Page and N. Hubbard Woodman, Jr., appeared as witnesses. She was born in Tamworth, NH, circa 1847.
George Fox, a farmer, aged seventy-three years, headed a Tuftonborough, NH, household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Drusilla E. Fox, keeping house, aged sixty-nine years, his son, John E. Fox, works on farm, aged thirty-five years, his daughter-in-law, Abbie F. Fox, works in house, aged twenty-six years, and his grandchildren, Alice E. Fox, aged three years, George N. Fox, aged two years, and Sadie M. Fox, aged three months.
John E. Fox was a Tuftonborough, NH, Selectman in the years 1880-85.
MILTON. Station Agent John E. Fox is proving a very popular man in that capacity (Farmington New, September 4, 1891).
Daughter Lillian E. Fox was born in Milton, July 13, 1893, fourth child of John E. Fox (station agent, aged forty-three years (b. Tuftonborough, NH) and Abby F. Woodman (aged forty-one years, b. Tamworth, NH).
John E. Fox appeared in the Milton business directories of 1894, and 1898, as the Milton express and telegraph agent.
NEWS AND NOTES. Mr. John E. Fox, station agent at Milton, who had his leg broken two or three months ago, has had to have it amputated (Farmington News, September 14, 1894).
MILTON. Men are at work on the railroad repairing damages done by the freshet. No trains went north of here for two days. The track was a foot under water and washed away in some places. The smaller dam at the shoe shops was blown up to prevent the water from rushing through the shop. It was a question whether even that would keep the shop from being washed away (Farmington News, April 26, 1895).
John E. Fox, a R.R. station agent, aged fifty-five years (b. NH), headed a Lebanon, ME, household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of twenty-eight years), Frances A. Fox, aged forty-seven years (b. NH), his children, Alice E. Fox, a teacher, aged twenty-three years (b. NH), Sadie N. Fox, a milliner, aged twenty years (b. NH), and Lillian E. Fox, aged six years (b. NH), and his brother, Henry L. Fox, a paper mill laborer, aged sixty-four years (b. NH). John E. Fox owned their house, but with a mortgage. Frances A. Fox was the mother of four children, of whom three were still living.
John E. Fox appeared in the Milton business directories of 1901, and 1904, as the Milton express and telegraph agent.
MILTON. The New England Telephone Company is to place long distance telephones at the store of Avery, Jones & Roberts, and the meat market of G.E. Wentworth, and the residences of H.B. Amey, Hazen Plummer, D.A. Whitehouse, H.F. Whitehouse, Station Agent J.E. Fox, and D.W. Beede the miller. This will make an appreciable addition to the Milton exchange (Farmington News, October 25, 1901). (See also Milton Gets the Telephone).
MILTON. John E. Fox has returned to his duties as station agent, after a vacation of two months (Farmington News, March 4, 1904).
MILTON. John E. Fox sold his house to Mrs. Belle Penney, and is to move to Derry (Farmington News, May 6, 1904).
John E. Fox was a Wolfeboro Selectman in the years 1906-08.
John E. Fox, a home farm farmer, aged sixty-four years (b. NH), headed a Wolfeboro, NH, household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of thirty-seven years), Frances A. Fox, aged fifty-seven years (b. NH), his children, Alice E. Fox, a day school teacher, aged thirty-three years (b. NH), Sadie M. Fox, a bedding company bookkeeper, aged thirty years (b. NH), Lillian J.E. Fox, aged sixteen years (b. NH), and his boarder, Julia C. Dore, aged seventy-one years (b. NH). John E. Fox owned their house on North Main Street. Frances A. Fox was the mother of four children, of whom three were still living. Julia C. Dore was the mother of five children, of whom three were still living.
Abbie F. (Woodman) Fox died June 15, 1915, aged sixty-two years.
John E. Fox, a widower, aged seventy-four years (b. NH), headed an East Kingston, NH, household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. He rented his house on Depot Road.
John E. Fox died October 3, 1923, aged seventy-eight years.
Hugh A. Beaton – 1904-40
Hugh Arthur Beaton was born in Jefferson, OH, October 8, 1873, son of Charles and Eliza A. (Hill) Beaton.
Hugh A. Beaton married in Lancaster, NH, August 19, 1894, Myrtle F. Hartshorn, both of Whitefield, NH. Rev. R.T. Wolcott performed the ceremony. Beaton was a laborer, aged twenty-one years, and she was a domestic, aged nineteen years. She was born in Lunenburg, VT, circa 1875, daughter of Vernon E. and Edith (Tyler) Hartshorn.
Daughter Ione Edith Beaton was born in Lunenburg, VT, December 30, 1894, daughter of Hugh Arthur Beaton, a telegraph operator, aged twenty-one years, and Florence Myrtle Hartshorn, aged nineteen years. (The record was amended in 1952 to correct the mother’s name from “Abbie” Beaton to Florence Myrtle Hartshorn).
Hugh A. Beaton, a telegrapher, aged twenty-six years (b. OH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of seven years), Myrtle Beaton, aged twenty-five years (b. VT), and his children, Ione Beaton, at school, aged five years (b. VT), and Hazel L. Beaton, aged three months (b. NH). Hugh A. Beaton rented their house in Milton Village. Myrtle Beaton was the mother of two children, of whom two were still living.
Daughter Hazel Leola Beaton was born in Milton, February 4, 1900. She died of cholera infantum in Milton, September 21, 1900, aged seven months, and seventeen days. (M.A.H. Hart, M.D., signed the death certificate).
FITZDALE. Mrs. Hugh Beaton of Milton, N.H., is visiting her mother, Mrs. V.E. Hartshorn (St. Johnsbury Republican, February 25, 1903).
Daughter [Gladys Marjorie] Beaton was born in Milton, June 17, 1903, daughter of Hugh A. Beaton (telegraph operator, aged twenty-nine years, born Jefferson, OH) and Myrtle Hartshorne (aged twenty-seven years, born Lunenburg, VT).
MILTON. Mrs. Hugh Beaton started Monday for a visit to her old home in Vermont (Farmington News, April 8, 1904).
H.A. Beaton appeared in the Milton business directories of 1905-06, and 1909, as agent for the American Express Company.
RAILROAD NOTES. An extra eastbound freight passed through here [Portsmouth, NH] on Tuesday with fifty empty cars for the Conway branch, to be used for ice shipments (Portsmouth Herald, May 23, 1906).
Hugh Beaton, a B&M Railroad station agent, aged thirty-six years (b. OH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of fifteen years), Mirtle F. Beaton, aged thirty-six years (b. VT), his children, Iona Beaton, aged fourteen years (b. VT), and Gladis Beaton, aged five [six] years (b. NH), and his boarder, James Hayes, aged eighteen years (b. NH). Hugh Beaton owned their house, free-and-clear. Mirtle F. Beaton was the mother of three children, of whom two were still living. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Joseph Avery, postmaster, aged sixty-five years (b. ME), and Charles Houston, a B&M freight agent, aged twenty-eight years (b. NH). (Next beyond Houston was The Sampson hotel).
CONCORD. Ione Beaton of Milton, N.H., is visiting Miss Grace Smith (St. Johnsbury Republican (St. Johnsbury, VT), July 27, 1910).
Rochester Div., No. 65. Bro. H.A. Beaton, agent at Milton, has just recovered from a severe attack of blood poisoning. He was relieved by Bro. C.L. Beaton, while incapacitated for duty (Order, 1910).
Union brother C.L. Beaton was Hugh A. Beaton’s actual brother, Charles L. Beaton of Portsmouth, NH.
The case of Myrtle G. Bodwell vs. the Boston and Maine railroad, which was tried at the February term and resulted in an $1800 verdict for the plaintiff, then opened for retrial, the verdict having been set aside because of newly, discovered evidence. The plaintiff seeks $5000 damages for injuries alleged to have been sustained from being thrown from a platform at the Milton station through the sudden starting of a crowded train, Aug. 12, 1910 (Portsmouth Herald, October 3, 1911).
H.A. Beaton appeared in the Milton business directories of 1912, and 1917, as agent for the B&M Railroad and the American Express Company.
Rochester Div., No. 65. Bro. H.A. Beaton, Milton, has a new Ford runabout. Wish we all might “of-ford” an auto this year (Order, 1912).
Hugh A. Beaton of Milton had a 22½ horsepower Ford automobile registered (as #2182) between January and August 1912.
WRECKERS BUSY ON RAILROAD. Mixup in Local Yard and Another in Milton on Conway Branch. After working for four hours or more to replace a 125-ton locomotive on the rails near the Green street crossing on Thursday Afternoon, the wrecking crew of the Boston & Maine railroad were ordered to Milton on the Conway branch where they worked all night to clear the tracks of two ice cars, one of which tipped over after leaving the rails. They arrived back at 8.30 this morning (Portsmouth Herald, December 12, 1913).
LOCAL. A fine time was enjoyed at the Thanksgiving ball given under the auspices of Charity Temple No. 44, Pythian Sisters, at A.O.U.W. hall, Milton, Tuesday evening of last week. About 75 couples were in attendance. The grand march was led by Mr. and Mrs. E.A. Hodgdon, the next in order being Mr. and Mrs. E.A. [H.A.] Beaton. Music was furnished by Peerless orchestra of Rochester. A fine supper was served and all in all a good time was enjoyed by everybody. About $64 was cleared, which fund is to be used for the new shoe firm which is to locate in Milton. Ralph Whitehouse was the successful contestant in the silver service contest. The committee of arrangements consisted of Mrs. E.A. Hodgdon, Mrs. H.A. Beaton and Mrs. S.G. Blaisdell (Farmington News, December 4, 1914).
Daughter Ione E. Beaton married in South Berwick, ME, March 18, 1915, Edward A. Connell, she of Milton and he of Littleton, MA. He was an iceman, aged twenty-three years, and she was a house worker, aged twenty years.
Hugh Arthur Beaton of Milton registered for the WW I military draft in Milton, September 12, 1918. He was a B&M R.R. station agent & operator, aged forty-four years of age (b. October 8, 1875). (For some reason, he clipped two years off of his age). His nearest relative was Myrtle F. Beaton of Milton. He was of a medium height, with a stout build, blue eyes, and brown hair.
EAST CONCORD. Mr. and Mrs. Vern Hartshorn have returned home from an extended visit with their daughter, Mrs. Hugh Beaton at Milton, N.H. They were accompanied home by Ed. Cornell (Caledonian Record (St. Johnsbury, VT), September 3, 1919).
Hugh A. Beaton, a Boston & Maine R.R. station agent, aged forty-six years (b. OH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Myrtle F. Beaton, aged forty-four years (b. VT), and his child, Gladys M. Beaton, aged sixteen years (b. NH). Hugh A. Beaton owned their house on Lower Main Street (at its intersection with Silver Street), free-and-clear.
RUNAWAY HORSE STOPS TRAIN. Becoming frightened when his heels hit the sleigh behind him, a horse belonging to Edward Hammond of Rochester ran away down the Boston & Maine railway tracks in that city toward Milton yesterday afternoon. At the Milton station a north-bound passenger train was about to start, and word was sent to the engineer to look for the horse and sleigh. The animal had become entangled in a culvert cover however, and had a broken leg, before the train approached it, the engineer stopped the train and the horse was shot (Portsmouth Herald, January 24, 1923).
WEST MILTON. … one hundred dollars was appropriated to beautify the grounds near the railroad station at Milton, the work to be done under the direction of the Womans’ club (Farmington News, March 23, 1923).
PERSONAL. Mrs. H.H. [H.A.] Beaton and family party were in [Farmington] town from Milton Tuesday (Farmington News, August 24, 1923).
WRECKING CREW SENT TO MILTON. The local wrecking crew of the Boston & Maine Railroad were sent to Milton, on the Conway branch, today, to replace a buggy and one freight that became derailed on a siding (Portsmouth Herald, October 4, 1923).
BRING IN TWO B&M WRECKED ENGINES. The two locomotives No. 919 and 1376 which were wrecked in a collision between a snow plow train and a passenger train on the Conway branch near Milton last Wednesday were hauled to Portsmouth by the Portsmouth wrecking train and are now on a side track in the roundhouse yard. They will be held here until orders are received from the motive power department to send them to shop at Billerica, Concord or Somerville. The front end of both engines is badly damaged (Portsmouth Herald, February 24, 1924).
Daughter Gladys M. Beaton appeared in the Portsmouth, NH, directory of 1928, as a teacher at the West Junior High School in Portsmouth, with her residence at Milton. Her paternal uncle, Charles L. (Annie H.) Beaton, appeared as a ticket agent for the B&M R.R., with his house at 50 Orchard street. (In 1930, she resided with her uncle and aunt at 50 Orchard street (See Milton’s Hare Road Teachers, 1890-26 for a fuller account of Charles L. and Annie J. (Horne) Beaton).
Hugh A. Beaton, a railroad station agent, aged fifty-six years (b. OH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of thirty-five years), Myrtle F. Beaton, aged fifty-four years (b. VT). Hugh A. Beaton owned their house on South Main Street, which was valued at $1,300. They had a radio set.
Daughter Gladys Marjorie Beaton married in Chocorua [Tamworth], NH, June 27, 1931, Edgar Brown Bruce, she of Milton and he of Lebanon, ME. He was a teacher, aged twenty-four years, and she was a teacher, aged twenty-eight years.
Hugh A. Beaton was assessed for Milton property in 1932, which was valued at $1,100, and for which he was taxed $27.52 (Milton Town Report, For the Year Ending January 31, 1933). (A mil rate of $25.02 per thousand).
BATCH OF SMILES. “Aunt Sarah Shapleigh,” a jolly old soul, once well known to Milton people and who resided for some years in the house now owned and occupied by station agent Hugh Beaton, once told this little anecdote: A young girl who was deficient in her orthography was one day studying her spelling lesson and called to her mother in an adjoining room saying, “Marm, what does t-h-e spell?” Her mother impatiently answered, “Dod zounds, Suzette, ain’t I told you a thousand times and more that t-h-e spells feledelfy’?” – Rochester Courier (Boston Globe, April 10, 1933).
The former occupant of Beaton’s residence, “Aunt” Sarah (Bragdon) Shapleigh, widow of Richard Shapleigh, died in Milton, December 26, 1893, aged eighty-seven years, one month, and twenty-six days.
MILTON. Mrs. H.A. Beaton is in Springfield, Mass., visiting her daughter [Ione E. (Beaton) Connell] (Farmington News, November 30, 1934).
Station Agent James A. Reed of Wakefield, NH, received a visit from Station Agent Hugh A. Beaton of Milton.
UNION. Hugh Beaton, station agent at Milton, called on James Reed, Sunday (Farmington News, September 25, 1936).
Hugh A. Beaton, station agent at Milton, NH, appeared in the B&M Railroad employee’s magazine of December 1937, as being on the sick list.
ALTON AND ALTON BAY. Mrs. and Mrs. Charles [Hugh A.] Beaton of Milton are guests this week of their daughter and husband, Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Bruce (Farmington News, February 24, 1939).
Hugh A. Beaton died suddenly at the B&M railroad station in Milton, at 3:30 PM, February 12, 1940, aged sixty-six years, four months, and four days.
Strafford County medical examiner Forrest L. Keay, M.D., viewed the body and determined that Beaton had died from “Some form of heart disease. He had walked up the R.R. track about 50 yards from the station and dropped to track and died there.”
Was Brother Of Local Man. Hugh A. Beaton, 67, station agent at Milton for many years, and brother of Charles L. Beaton, agent at the Boston & Maine station in this city, dropped dead Monday while at his work (Portsmouth Herald, [Tuesday,] February 13, 1940).
IN MEMORIUM. Hugh A. Beaton. Announcement of the sudden death of Station Agent Hugh A. Grant at Milton on February 12 brings sorrow to many friends and acquaintances in this locality. Mr. Beaton dropped dead while about his duties in the B&M railroad yard at Milton, Monday afternoon. The deceased was 67 years of age, and had been in the employ of B&M for about 45 years. For nearly 40 years he had held the position of station agent, freight agent and telegraph operator at Milton, and was widely known among his townsmen and to the traveling public. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, a brother Charles Beaton, also a railroad man of Portsmouth, and one sister, for all of whom much sympathy is expressed. Funeral was held Wednesday morning at the Baptist church in Milton, with services in charge of Fraternal Chapter, No. 71, A.F. & A.M., of which he was a member (Farmington, February 16, 1940).
Edward Connell, a paper company beater engineer, aged forty-nine years (b. MA), headed a West Springfield, MA, household at the time of the Sixteenth (1940) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Ione Connell, aged forty-five years (b. VT), his children, Maynard Connell, a mail clerk for a magazine paper company, aged nineteen years (b. NH), and Shirley Connell, aged seventeen years (b. NH), and his lodger [and mother-in-law], Myrtle Beaton, a widow, aged sixty-four years (b. VT). Edward Connell rented their house at 23 Church Street.
Myrtle Florence (Hartshorn) Beaton died in 1955.
See also Milton’s Railroad Line
References:
Find a Grave. (2013, July 25). Hazel L. Beaton. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/114383725/hazel-l-beaton
Find a Grave. (2013, July 25). Hugh A. Beaton. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/114383726/hugh-a-beaton
Find a Grave. (2014, April 18). Marjorie G. Bruce. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/128165539/marjorie-g.-bruce
Find a Grave. (2011, July 7). Jane E. [Ione E.] Connell. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/72972420/jane-e.-connell
Find a Grave. (2014, July 1). John B. Felch. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/132138904/john-b.-felch
Find a Grave. (2015, January 9). John E. Fox. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/141122102/john-e-fox
Find a Grave. (2016, January 9). Katherine “Kate” Corkery Hendry. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/156883697/katherine-hendry
Find a Grave. (2016, January 9). Dayse G. Corkery Perkins. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/156882515/dayse-g.-perkins
Find a Grave. (2013,October 20). Charles Augustine Sawyer. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/119019275/charles-augustine-sawyer
Find a Grave. (2011, February 26). Sarah Bragdon Shapleigh. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/66176250/sarah-shapleigh
Order of Railroad Telegraphers. (1910). The Railroad Telegrapher. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=6VmjAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA69
Order of Railroad Telegraphers. (1912). The Railroad Telegrapher. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=L44tAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA897
Wikipedia. (2020, November 20). Portsmouth, Great Falls and Conway Railroad. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portsmouth,_Great_Falls_and_Conway_Railroad
Willis Henry Auctions. (2018, December 2). Lot 124A: Historic and Rare Railroad Lantern. Retrieved from www.willishenryauctions.com/catalogs/antiques-estates-auction-sunday-december-2-2018/lot-124a-historic-and-rare-railroad-lantern/
Milton Observer 