Milton Grocer Charles Ayer Varney (1834–1893)

By Muriel Bristol | October 1, 2023

Charles Ayer Varney was born in Milton, May 19, 1833, son of John H. and Elizabeth “Betsy” (Cloutman) Varney.

Father John H. Varney died of rheumatic fever in Milton, in January 1850, aged fifty-five years.

Betsey W. [(Cloutman)] Varney, aged forty-nine years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. Her household included Susan Varney, aged twenty-four years (b. NH), Lydia Varney, aged twenty-one years (b. NH), Ruth [(Varney)] Nutter, aged twenty years (b. NH), John H. Varney, a shoemaker, aged eighteen years (b. NH), Charles A. Varney, a shoemaker, aged sixteen years (b. NH), Betsey Varney, aged fourteen years (b. NH), Theron F. Varney, aged eight years (b. NH), James W. Nutter, a shoemaker, aged twenty-one years (b. NH), George Scates, a trader, aged twenty-four years (b. NH), John G. Drew, a manufacturer, aged twenty-nine years (b. NH), and John W. Nutter, a shoemaker, aged twenty-nine years (b. NH). Betsy W. Varney had real estate valued at $2,000. James W. Nutter had real estate valued at $1,000. George Scates had real estate valued at $2,000. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Ira Knox, a shoemaker, aged twenty years (b. ME), and Noah Warren, a shoemaker, aged twenty-four years (b. NH).

Future mother-in-law Sarah A. (Varney) Nute died in Dover, NH, in October 1850.

Charles A. Varney married, circa 1858, Sophia J. Nute. She was born in Milton, April 27, 1842, daughter of John C. and Sarah A. (Varney) Nute.

John H. Varney, a shoemaker, aged twenty-eight years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Nancy J. Varney, aged twenty-four years (b. NH), M.C. Blackwell, a shoemaker, aged twenty-four years (b. NH), George H. Staples, a shoemaker, aged twenty-one years (b. NH), Wallace Smith, a shoemaker, aged twenty-six years (b. NH), Mellissa Smith, aged twenty-seven years (b. NH), Samuel Clements, a shoemaker, aged twenty-six years (b. NH), Elisha B. Watson, a shoemaker, aged twenty-two years (b. NH), Charles E. Whitehouse, a shoemaker, aged twenty years (b. NH), John S. Varney, a shoemaker, aged twenty-five years (b. NH), John M. Brackett, a shoemaker, aged twenty-one years (b. NH), George W. Brackett, a shoemaker, aged nineteen years (b. NH), Daniel J. Chamberlin, a shoemaker, aged nineteen years (b. NH), John Robinson, a shoemaker, aged sixteen years (b. NH), Charles A. Varney, a shoemaker, aged twenty-six years (b. NH), and Sophia J. [(Nute)] Varney, aged nineteen years (b. NH). John H. Varney had personal estate valued at $300. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of George W. Tasker, a shoemaker, aged thirty years (b. NH), and H. Wentworth, a shoe manufacturer, aged forty-one years (b. NH).

Milton sent Charles A. Varney and Enoch W. Plumer to Concord, NH, as its NH State Representatives for the 1861-62 biennium. Rep. Varney of Milton was assigned the Committee on Education. (Rep. Plumer of Milton was assigned the Committee on Division of Towns).

On Tuesday, June 25, 1861, Rep. Lyman D. Stevens (1821-1909) of Concord, NH, moved that a bill regarding the Concord & Portsmouth Railroad be postponed to the next legislative session. Reps. Varney and Plumer voted with the majority of 210 representatives [71.2%] that opposed postponement, rather than with the minority of 85 representatives [28.8%] that favored postponement.

On Tuesday, July 2, 1861, the House resumed its consideration of “An act for remodeling the militia” (the Civil War having broken out only three months before). Democrat Rep. Harry Bingham (1821-1900) of Littleton, NH, moved that the bill be amended to insert the word “white” just before the word “able-bodied.” Reps. Varney and Plumer voted with the majority of 154 representatives [57.0%] that opposed the amendment language, rather than with the minority of 116 representatives [43.0%] that favored it.

In the second year of his two-year biennium, Rep. Varney was assigned to the Committee on Towns and Parishes. (Rep. Plumer was assigned to the Committee on Printers’ Accounts).

On Thursday, June 19, 1862, Rep. Varney filed a bill with the Committee on Incorporations, which was entitled “An act authorizing the sale of the Union Meeting House at Three Ponds in the village of the town of Milton.” The bill passed during the afternoon of Tuesday, July 1, 1862. (The Union Meeting House building would become the Milton Classical Institute several years later (after the Civil War)).

On Monday, June 30, 1862, the House considered whether or not Isaac Emerson (1825-1885) of Windham, NH, had a right to a House seat. (The remonstrance of R.B. Jackson and others asserted that he should not be seated). Rep. Emerson himself moved that the Committee on the Judiciary should investigate and report on the matter:

Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary be instructed to report, for the satisfaction of the “contestants” having the merits of this case in view, first, What constitutes a legal ballot? second, What votes should be counted by the moderator in determining the majority and the result of an election?

The House Committee on the Judiciary returned their opinion that Mr. Emerson should not be seated, as the necessary threshold of 69 votes would have been slightly higher if the six votes for “Charles Butrick” had been counted with those received for “Charles E. Butrick.”

At the annual town-meeting in Windham, in March last, after ten or more ballotings for representative, Isaac Emerson was declared elected. The whole number of votes, as declared by the moderator on that ballot, was one hundred and thirty-six (136); necessary to a choice, sixty-nine (69); and Isaac Emerson, having sixty-nine votes, was declared elected. On that ballot there was put into the ballot-box as votes, one piece of paper containing the name of an animal, another containing the name of a woman, and some six others on which was the name of Charles Butrick; but that there was one by the name of Charles E. Butrick. It was also admitted that some of those persons who voted for Charles Butrick intended to vote for Charles E. Butrick. The moderator excluded all these names from the ballots, and then declared the result aforesaid. The remonstrants claim that at least those pieces of paper containing the name of Charles Butrick should be counted as ballots, while the sitting member claims that they should not be so received, and claims that they were rightfully excluded. … The committee are also of the opinion that tickets containing the name of an animal, or inanimate things, or a woman, ought to be rejected in such computation of the whole number of ballots, as not being within the spirit of the statute defining that term, and as trifling with the right of suffrage, and tending to bring it into ridicule and disgrace. …

Rep. Varney voted with the 45 [25.3%] that agreed with the committee report and voted not to seat Mr. Emerson, rather than with the 133 representatives [74.7%] that went against the committee report and voted to seat him. (Rep. Plumer voted instead with those that sought to seat Mr. Emerson). So, Rep. Emerson was seated.

On Tuesday, July 8, 1862, Rep. Lewis P. Cushman (1824-1904) of Landaff, NH, introduced a resolution whereby House members and staff might forgo two days’ pay and spend that money instead on a soldiers’ hospital.

Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives, in General Court convened, That the Clerk, in making up the pay-roll of the members and officers of the House of Representatives, be instructed to deduct from the same Saturday and Sunday, July 5 and 6, and that the Governor is hereby authorized to expend the same in furnishing the hospital provided for by the present Legislature for the use of our sick and wounded soldiers.

Rep. Charles W. Woodman (1809-1888) of Dover, NH, moved that the resolution be indefinitely postponed. Reps. Varney and Plumer voted with the majority of 178 representatives [68.5%] that favored postponement, rather than with the 82 representatives [31.5%] that opposed postponement.

Rep. George Holbrook (1830-1927) of Manchester, NH, made an alternate motion:

Resolved, That a committee of one from each county be appointed to solicit a subscription from each member of this House and honorable Senate, the same to be applied to furnishing the hospital for the sick and wounded soldiers. 

(These hospital furnishings votes are somewhat reminiscent of a supposed discussion between one Horatio Bunce and then U.S. Congressman Davy Crockett, probably circa 1829, as collected by Bettina Bien Greaves (of which an audio version may be found in the References)).

Charles A. Varney, dry goods & groceries, aged thirty-six years (b. NH), headed a Wakefield (“Union P.O.”), NH, household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Sophia J. [(Nute)] Varney, keeping house, aged twenty-nine years (b. NH). Charles A. Varney had personal estate valued at $2,075.

Father-in-law John C. Nute died in Milton, April 26, 1872. Mother Betsy W. (Cloutman) Varney died in Milton, March 18, 1879.

Charles A. Varney, an excelsior manufacturer, aged forty-six years (b. NH), headed a Wakefield, NH, household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Sophia J. [(Nute)] Varney, keeping house, aged thirty-eight years (b. NH). (Excelsior was wood shavings used as a packaging material, as Styrofoam “peanuts” are in our own time).

Charles A. Varney and Charles H. Hayes (1849-1916) moved to Haverhill, MA, in 1884, and there formed a box-making company under the name Varney & Hayes. (Hayes was a son of Luther and Louise A. (Bragdon) Hayes (see South Milton’s High Sheriff Luther Hayes (1820-1895))).

He [Charles H. Hayes] came to Haverhill in 1884 with Charles Varney, also of Milton, and together they bought the George W. Wentworth Wood and Paper Box factory and power plant on Granite street. The business was at that time located in the wooden building, which was destroyed by fire some years ago, and built originally for Gardner Brothers as a shoe factory. The firm name of Varney & Hayes was adopted and the two townsmen in business together for eight years, when Mr. Varney retired and Mr. Hayes, buying his share, continued in business alone (Paper Box Maker, September 1916).

Chas. A. Varney (Varney & Hayes) appeared in the Haverhill, MA, directory of 1885, as a box mnfr. at 30 Granite street, with his house at 375 Washington street. The firm of Varney & Hayes (Chas. A. Varney and Chas. H. Hayes) appeared as mnfrs. of paper and wooden boxes, at 30 to 36 Granite street. Partner Charles H. Hayes appeared as having his house still at Milton, N.H.

LOCALS. Charles A. Varney, of the firm of Varney & Hayes of Haverhill, Mass., was in town, Tuesday, renewing old acquaintances. Mr. Varney came to Farmington in 1863, and filled the position of assessor’s clerk for four years for the late Captain Herring [a nickname for shoe manufacturer Israel Hayes]. In ’67 he went into trade at Union, continuing in the same about 14 years, run the excelsior business (purchased of S.H. Buzzell) three years – clearing from the same about $12,000. Three years ago Mr. Varney and Charles Hayes of Milton bought Wentworth’s wood and paper box factory at Haverhill. The venture, thus far, has proved a financial success, the last inventory showing a profit of $45,000 for the three years, and this from an investment of less than $20,000. The firm’s success is a matter of congratulation to their many friends both here and in Milton. Mr. Varney is a prominent Mason, having been a member of the Fraternal lodge [since] about ’71. (Farmington News, July 22, 1887).

Varney & Hayes appeared in a list of the 20,000 “rich” New Englanders that had paid the highest taxes in 1888. They paid $594 in that year (Luce & Bridge, 1888).

Charles A. Varney (Varney & Hayes) appeared in the Haverhill, MA, directory of 1889, as a box mnfr. at 30 Granite street, with his house at 325 Washington street. Partner Charles H. Hayes had his house at 22 Franklin street.

MALE HELP WANTED. WANTED – a good man to fit wooden boxes; also a good first-class nailer on shoe boxes; apply at once. VARNEY & HAYES, Haverhill, Mass.” Sud7t my4 (Boston Globe, May 5, 1890).

Box Factory Damaged $1000. HAVERHILL, Mass., June 4. – Fire at Varney & Hayes’ wooden and paper box manufactory, Granite st., this afternoon, caused loss of $1000. The chimney in the boiler room was being burned out, and overheated bricks set the woodwork in the vicinity on fire. About 25 of the 75 people employed were obliged to quit work. Loss covered by insurance (Boston Globe, June 4, 1890).

Varney & Hayes expanded their Haverhill building, in September 1890, in order to make space for an auxiliary motor.

SEPTEMBER [1890]. Varney & Hayes, Haverhill, began extending their box factory building for the purpose of introducing a new engine of 450 horse power. … NOVEMBER. The largest engine in Haverhill put in the box factory of Varney & Hayes, 500 horse power, Corliss pattern (MA Bureau of Statistics, 1891).

Charles A. Varney (Varney & Hayes) appeared in the Haverhill, MA, directory of 1891, as a box mnfr. at 30 Granite street, with his house at 325 Washington street. Partner Charles H. Hayes had his house at 266 Washington street. The firm entry now included their steam power source.

Varney & Lane experienced a boiler explosion in their new engine, February 27, 1891.

BOILER EXPLOSIONS. BOX FACTORY (46). About 3 o’clock on Feb 27th one of the boilers at the works of Varney & Hayes, on Granite street, Haverhill, Mass., burst, causing a suspension power in their box factory and in the places depending upon their engine. The direct damage was slight. The engineer was badly scalded about the face by the escaping steam (The Locomotive, April 1891).

Varney & Hayes suffered a serious fire that completely gutted its building on Saturday, April, 30, 1892.

HAVERHILL’S BIG FIRE. Four Alarms, one False – Loss $28,000 – Caleb Hersey Drops Dead. HAVERHILL, April 30.- Flames burst from the basement window of Varney & Hayes’ box factory tonight at 8.30 o’clock. An alarm was sent in and the department quickly responded. Chief Charlesworth at once ordered a second alarm and a few minutes later a third. A few minutes after another fire started in the stable of A.S. Dinsmore on Essex and a part of the apparatus was sent there. The flames were soon under control, and when completely conquered the damage was found to be only about $800. Soon after the third alarm another was sounded, but it was soon found to be false. Dinsmore’s stable was in the centre of a lot of dilapidated wooden buildings, but fortunately they were not ignited. Among others who started for the scene was Caleb Hersey, a well-known and prominent citizen and an ex-shoe manufacturer. He was hurrying through Oak st., when he fell dead probably from heart disease. At 10.30 the fire was under control and at 10.45 was “all out.” The Varney & Hayes building was completely gutted and the loss on building and contents will be about $25,000. At 11 o’clock firemen were called for the second time to the Dinsmore stable, the fire having broke out again. All of the hay was removed and the flames quickly extinguished. The protective wagon was also called to J.H. Winchell factory on Locust for a slight fire (Boston Glober, May 1, 1892).

Charles A. Varney retired from Varney & Hayes in 1892. (Partner Charles H. Hayes bought his share). Likely he was not interested in participating in the rebuilding of their box factory. Varney planned instead to start a sanitarium, i.e., a rehabilitation facility, at Berwick, ME.

NEW CORPORATIONS. The Massachusetts Sanitarium Co. been organised at Berwick to establish sanitariums and maintain treatment for persons addicted to liquor, morphine, etc., with $10,000 capital stock, of which $5700 is paid in. The officers are: President, Charles A. Varney of Haverhill, Mass.; treasurer, Horace E. Bartlett of Haverhill, Mass. Certificate approved March 18, 1893 (Lewiston Sun-Journal (Lewiston, ME), March 20, 1893).

Brother John H. Varney, Jr., died of “suicide by shooting in head” in Haverhill, MA, January 28, 1893, aged sixty years, ten months. He was a shoe manufacturer.

MILTON. John H. Varney, a former resident of Milton, shot himself twice in the neck at Haverhill, Mass., Saturday, and died after a few days. His body was brought here for burial (Farmington News, February 3, 1893).

Charles A. Varney died of a cerebral softening and cerebral hemorrhage in Haverhill, MA, June 2, 1893, aged fifty-nine years, thirteen days. He was a manufacturer.

FROM APOPLECTIC SHOCK. Charles A. Varney Dies at His Home in Haverhill. Mass. Haverhill, June 2. Charles A. Varney, aged 59 years, died last night from the effects of apoplexy, sustained last Wednesday evening. Deceased was born in Milton, N.H., where, in early life, he was engaged in the grocery business. Later he was in a similar business at Union, N.H. About nine years ago he came to Haverhill. and in company with C.W. Hayes engaged in shoe box manufacturing, in which business he continued until a year ago, when he retired. Mr. Varney was a member of Unity Lodge of Masons at Union, N.H. He leaves a wife but no children (Boston Globe, June 2, 1893).

Funeral of Charles A. Varney. Milton, N.H., June 5. The funeral of Charles A. Varney, who died in Haverhill, Mass., was held at the Congregational church this afternoon. The services were conducted by Rev. Mr. Dickey, and were largely attended. Unity lodge of Freemasons was present and escorted the remains to the Milton cemetery, performing their burial service previous to the interment (Boston Globe, June 6, 1893).

Sophia J. (Nute) Varney had removed from Haverhill, MA, to Salmon Falls, i.e., Rochester, NH, before 1899. She had also a summer cottage at York, ME.

ALL THEY CAN ACCOMMODATE. York Beach Monopolized for at Least Two Months by Summer Visitors – Arrivals Past Week. … Mrs. Charles A. Varney of Salmon Falls opened her cottage on Long beach this week (Boston Globe, July 2, 1899).

Sophia A. [(Nute)] Varney, aged fifty-eight years (b. NH), headed a Rochester, NH, household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. Her household included her niece, Ethel G. Nute, aged seventeen years (b. NH), and Hilmer Sanson, at school, aged eleven years (b. NH). Sophia A. Varney rented their house at 12 Heaton Street.

Mrs. Sophia J. [(Nute)] Varney (Charles A.) appeared in the Rochester, NH, directories of 1902, 1905, and 1909, as having her house at 12 Heaton street.

Sophia [(Nute)] Varney, own income, aged sixty-seven years (b. NH), headed a Rochester, NH, household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. She owned her house at 12 Heaton Street, free-and-clear.

Mrs. Sophia J. [(Nute)] Varney, widow of Charles A. Varney, appeared in the Rochester, NH, directories of 1912, and 1917, as having her house at 12 Heaton street.

Sophia J. [(Nute)] Varney, a widow, aged seventy-seven years (b. NH), headed a Rochester, NH, household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. She owned her house at 12 Heaton Street.

Mrs. Sophia J. [(Nute)] Varney, widow of Charles A. Varney, appeared in the Rochester, NH, directories of 1921, and 1924, as having her house at 12 Heaton street.

Sophia J. (Nute) Varney died of valvular heart disease at 12 Eaton Street in Rochester, NH, July 12, 1927, aged eighty-five years. two months, and fifteen days. Edson M. Abbott, M.D., signed the death certificate.

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References:

Find a Grave. (2015, July 25). Charles H. Hayes. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/149749219/charles-h-varney

Find a Grave. (2016, November 13). John C. Nute. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/172705709/john-c-nute

Find a Grave. (2020, October 20). Charles Ayer Varney. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/217522900/charles-ayer-varney

Find a Grave. (2020, October 20). John Hanson Varney. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/217515882/john-hanson-varney

Greaves. Bettina Bien. (2009, May 7). Davy Crockett: Not Yours to Give. Retrieved from mises.org/library/not-yours-give

Luce & Bridge. (1888). Twenty Thousand Rich New Englanders: A List of Taxpayers who Were Assessed in 1888 to Pay a Tax of One Hundred Dollars Or More. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=aAkPAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA33

MA Bureau of Statistics. (1891). Annual Report on the Statistics of Manufactures. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=VoMkAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA398

NH General Court. (1861). Journals of the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the State of New Hampshire. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=zt43AAAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA146

NH General Court. (1862). Journal of the House of Representatives of the State of New-Hampshire. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=MQ8tAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA5

Wikipedia. (2023, April 18). Corliss Steam Engine. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corliss_steam_engine