Author: Muriel Bristol

By Muriel Bristol | November 21, 2021

Hiram Varney Wentworth was born in Milton (or Rochester), November 12, 1818, son of Ichabod H. and Peace (Varney) Wentworth. He was a namesake for his maternal uncle, Hiram Varney (1804-1855).

Ichabod H. Wentworth headed a Milton household at the time of the Sixth (1840) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 40-49 years [himself], one female aged 40-49 years [Peace (Varney) Wentworth], one male aged 20-29 years [Hiram V. Wentworth], one male aged 15-19 years [Eli Wentworth], one female aged 15-19 years, and one male aged 5-9 years. Four members of the household were engaged in agriculture. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of John Plumer, Jr., and William Wentworth.

Hiram V. Wentworth married, circa 1842, Mary J. Nute. She was born Milton, circa July 1820, daughter of John C. and Sarah A. (Varney) Nute.

Younger brother Eli Wentworth married in Milton, July 23, 1843, Mehitable Jane Howe, both of Milton. Jacob Davis performed the ceremony. She was born in Milton, in 1822, daughter of Jonathan and Mehitable (Twombly) Howe.

Son Henry Harrison Wentworth was born in Milton, December 3, 1843.

Hiram V. Wentworth was an officer on the regimental staff of the 39th NH Militia Regiment in 1846. He was its Adjutant. The 39th NH Militia Regiment was commanded by Col. Asa Roberts of Farmington, NH. His regimental staff included also Lt. Col. Samuel Jones of Farmington, NH, Major James Bodge of Rochester, NH, and Quartermaster Enoch Bunker of Farmington, NH.

The Militia of New-Hampshire, according to the returns made to the Adjutant General, is organized in four Divisions, eight Brigades, and forty-two Regiments; the 41st Regiment has never been organized. The number of Division and Brigade officers in June, 1845, was 52; Regimental, Field and Staff officers, 323; the number of companies – Infantry, 281; of Grenadiers, 8; of Light Infantry, 60; of Riflemen, 46; aggregate of officers, musicians, and privates, 26,117. Cavalry companies, 20; aggregate of officers, musicians, and privates, 740. Artillery companies, 35; aggregate of officers, musicians, and privates, 1,954. Grand total of the enrolled military force of the state, 28,863 (Claremont, 1846).

The 39th NH Militia Regiment was one of five regiments in the 2nd NH Militia Brigade, which was commanded by Brig. Gen. Alfred Hoit of Lee, NH. The 2nd NH Militia Brigade was one of three brigades in the 2nd NH Militia Division, which was commanded by Maj. Gen. Jeremiah Roberts of Farmington, NH. (Col. Enoch W. Plumer of Milton was commander of the 33d NH Militia Regiment; his officers were from Brookfield, NH, East Alton, NH, Sanborn[ville, Wakefield], NH, and Wakefield, NH. The 33d NH Militia Regiment was in the 7th NH Militia Brigade, which was also in the 2nd NH Militia Division).

Hiram B. Wentworth, a shoe manufacturer, aged thirty-one years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. His household included Mary J. Wentworth, aged twenty-nine years (b. NH), and Henry H. Wentworth, aged six years (b. NH). Hiram B. Wentworth had real estate valued at $350. They shared a two-family residence with the household of [his brother,] Eli Wentworth, a shoe manufacturer, aged twenty-nine years (b. NH). Their two-family residence appeared in the enumeration between those of Asa M. Dunnell, a farmer, aged eighty-one years (b. NH), and Ichabod Wentworth, a farmer, aged fifty-five years (b. NH).

Mother-in-law Sarah A. (Varney) Nute died in Milton, October 7, 1856.

The NH Agricultural Society awarded H.V. Wentworth of Milton its $20 second prize in the category of Stallions of 6 Years and Upwards for his Morgan horse stallion St. Laurence, in 1859. Enoch W. Plummer of Milton received the $5 third prize for his stallion Messenger (NH State Agricultural Society, 1859).

H. Wentworth, a shoe manufacturer, aged forty-one years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Mary J. Wentworth, aged thirty-eight years (b. NH), and H.H. Wentworth, a shoe manufacturer, aged sixteen years (b. NH). H. Wentworth had real estate valued at $1,000 and personal estate valued at $500. Their household appeared in the enumeration between John H. Varney, a shoemaker, aged twenty-eight years (b. NH), and Eli Wentworth, a shoe manufacturer, aged thirty-nine years (b. NH).

Younger brother Eli Wentworth enlisted as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 6th NH Vol. Infantry Regiment, October 18, 1861. The 6th Regiment fought at the Battle of South Mills (aka Camden), April 19, 1862. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant, July 4, 1862. The Sixth NH Regiment fought at the Second Battle of Bull Run, August 29, 1862; South Mountain, September 14, 1862; the Battle of Sharpsburg (or Antietam), September 17, 1862, and the Battle of Fredericksburg, December 11-15, 1862. Wentworth was assigned as regimental Quartermaster, March 19, 1863. The Sixth NH Regiment was sent with General Burnside to Kentucky, and from there, it participated in the siege of Vicksburg, MS, and the Mississippi campaign. Vicksburg fell on July 4, 1863.

The hardships which all [in his Ninth Corps] were obliged to endure were excessive. Water which the horses refused to drink, the men were obliged to use in making their coffee. Fevers, congestive chills, diarrhea, and other diseases attacked the troops. Many sank down upon the roadside and died from sunstroke and sheer exhaustion (Jackman, 1891).

Eli Wentworth died of a camp fever in Milldale, MS, July 18, 1863, aged forty-two years, and six months. (He left a widow, Mehitable J. (Howe) Wentworth, and two children, Clara M. Wentworth and Charles W. Wentworth). Milton’s GAR veterans’ post would be named for him.

Son Henry H. Wentworth married in Dover, NH, January 17, 1864, Louisa M. Hayes, both of Milton. He was a shoemaker, aged twenty-one years, and she was aged eighteen years. Rev. J.T.G. Colby performed the ceremony. She was born in Milton, December 12, 1846, daughter of Luther and Louisa A. (Bragdon) Hayes. (See South Milton’s High Sheriff Luther Hayes (1820-1895)).

H.V. Wentworth of So. Milton, was assessed $10 for his Class B horse dealing license in the U.S. Excise Tax of 1864. Ordinarily, the Federal government subsisted mainly on import duties. This series of Federal excise taxes were emergency wartime measures.

Granddaughter Anna Harrison Wentworth was born in Milton, March 31, 1866, daughter of Henry H. and Louisa M. (Hayes) Wentworth.

The NH State Treasurer paid H.V. Wentworth $100 in recruiting fees between June 1866 and May 1867 (NH Treasury Department, 1867).

Hiram V. Wentworth was one of the ten prominent Milton citizens who incorporated a private secondary school – the Milton Classical Institute – at Three Ponds Village in Milton, NH, in July 1867. The incorporators included also NH Governor’s Councilor (and ex-officio NH State Board of Education member) Charles Jones, Strafford Sheriff Luther Hayes, manufacturer William P. Tuttle, Dr. George W. Peavey, and others.

Milton voters sent John U. Simes and Hiram V. Wentworth to represent them in the NH House of Representatives during the 1867-68 biennium. Rep. John U. Simes occupied seat 5-33, and resided at G.L. Nutter’s boarding house; Rep. Hiram V. Wentworth occupied seat 2-42, and resided in the Eagle hotel (McFarland & Jenks, 1867).

Hiram V. Wentworth appeared in the Milton business directories of 1868, and 1869-70, as postmaster at South Milton. He appeared also in the latter year as a Milton manufacturer of boots and shoes.

AGRICULTURAL FAIRS. Strafford County, N.H. Fair at Great Falls, Sept. 11-16. The Journal says that the entries of Stock, Fruit, Vegetables, implements, manufactures, &c. were large and attractive. In the procession were town teams of eleven yoke of oxen each from Barrington, Somersworth, Rollinsford, and the County Farm; and ten yoke from Dover, drawing huge carriages, tastefully ornamented, and filled with singing children and other happy people. The Journal does not give the premiums awarded, but remarks that the exhibition is ahead of all previous ones, and all are perfectly satisfied. The receipts amount to about $5000, which will place the Society on good footing pecuniarily. On Wednesday morning the following board of Directors was chosen M.C. Burleigh, S.C. Chick, Great Falls; Noah Tebbetts, Joseph Nutter, Rochester; H.V. Wentworth, Milton; W.R. Garvin, Rollinsford; C.R. Meserve, Madbury; Wm. F. Jones, Durham; E. Bartlett, Lee; C.W. Davis, Farmington; A.G. Orne, Middleton; G.S. Gilman, New Durham; R.B. Peavey, Strafford, Elisha Locke, Barrington (New England Farmer, September 25, 1869).

Hiram V. Wentworth, a shoe manufacturer, aged fifty-one years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Mary J. Wentworth, keeping house, aged forty-eight years (b. NH), Henry H. Wentworth, a shoe manufacturer, aged twenty-six years (b. NH), Louisa A. Wentworth, a housekeeper, aged twenty-three years (b. NH), Anna H. Wentworth, at school, aged five years (b. NH), James M. Gage, a shoe cutter, aged twenty-four years (b. NH), James M. Corson, a shoe finisher, aged twenty-two years (b. ME), Charles L. Furber, a farm laborer, aged forty-six years (b. NH). Hiram V. Wentworth had real estate valued at $1,500 and personal estate valued at $1,654. Their household appeared in the enumeration between a vacant house (adjoining Theodore Lyman, a farmer, aged fifty-seven years (b. NH)), and Mehitable J. Wentworth, a farmer, aged forty-seven years (b. NH).

H.V. Wentworth appeared in the Milton business directories of 1871, and 1873, as a South Milton manufacturer of boots and shoes. His son, H.H. [Henry H.] Wentworth, appeared in his place in the Milton business directory of 1874, and 1875, as the South Milton manufacturer of boots and shoes.

Father Ichabod H. Wentworth made his will, presumably in Milton, October 28, 1871. He devised $200 and an undivided share in West Milton land to his son, Hiram V. Wentworth; $50 to Mary J. [(Nute)] Wentworth; $50 to Mehitable J. [(Howe)] Wentworth; $10 to Clara M. [(Wentworth)] Burley, wife of Daniel S. Burley; a life estate in all notes, bonds, money, and personal property to his wife, Peace [(Varney)] Wentworth; and, after her decease, the household furniture to Mary J. [(Nute)] Wentworth and Mehitable J. [(Howe)] Wentworth. He devised the remaining undivided share in the West Milton land to his grandsons, Henry H. Wentworth and Charles W. Wentworth, as well as any rest and residue not devised. (The land was bounded north by land of H.H. Pinkham, west by land of Joseph Horn, south by land of Joseph Barker, and east by land of David Furbush). John F. Hart, Ira S. Knox, and Ezra H. Twombly signed as witnesses (Strafford County Probate, 83:99).

Father-in-law John C. Nute died in Milton, April 26, 1872. Mary J. (Nute) Wentworth died in Milton, May 13, 1872, aged fifty-one years, ten months. Father Ichabod H. Wentworth died in Milton, July 19, 1872. Mother Peace (Varney) Wentworth died in Milton, August 14, 1873.

NEW HAMPSHIRE. FIRE IN SOUTH MILTON. Great Falls, July 24. Hiram P. Wentworth’s shoe manufactory at South Milton was totally destroyed by fire, with in contents, last night. Loss shout $30,000; partially insured. It is supposed to have been the work of an incendiary (Boston Evening Transcript, July 24, 1875).

AT SOUTH MILTON, N.H. Great Falls, N.H., July 24. Hiram V. Wentworth’s shoe manufactory, at South Milton, burned last night. Loss $30,000. Partly insured (Chicago Tribune, July 25, 1875).

H.H. [Henry H.] Wentworth appeared in the Milton business directories of 1876, as a South Milton boot and shoe manufacturer. (The directory publishers may not have awoken to the facts on the ground: the shoe manufactory had been destroyed in the previous year).

Henry H. Wentworth, a butcher, aged thirty-six years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included Louisa M. Wentworth, keeping house, aged forty-three years (b. NH), Annie H. Wentworth, at school, aged fifteen years (b. NH), and Hiram V. Wentworth, at home, aged sixty-one years (b. NH). Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Henry B. Scates, a farmer, aged thirty-seven years (b. NH), and Charles W. Wentworth, a farmer, aged twenty-seven years (b. NH).

H.V. Wentworth & Son, i.e., Henry H. Wentworth, appeared in the Milton business directory of 1880, 1881, and 1882, as lumber manufacturers.

REAL ESTATE TRANSFERS. H.V. Wentworth to D.S. Burley, land in Milton, $1,200 (Farmington News, July 27, 1888).

Sister-in-law Mahitabale [J. (Howe)] Wentworth, widow of 1st Lt. Eli Wentworth, appeared in the surviving Veterans Schedule of the Eleventh (1890) Federal Census.

Hiram V. Wentworth died in Milton, September 12, 1890, aged seventy-one years, ten months, and seventeen days. C.D. Jones, M.D., signed the death certificate.

Granddaughter Annie H. Wentworth married in Milton, April 21, 1891, Henry E. Chamberlain, she of Milton and he of Lakeside, NH. He was a stock grower, aged twenty-six years, and she was aged twenty-five years. Rev. John Manter performed the ceremony. Chamberlain was born in Union, [Wakefield,] NH, circa 1865, son of George W. and Emily E. Chamberlain.

Henry Wentworth, a truckman, aged fifty-six years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of thirty-five years), Louisa M. Wentworth, aged fifty-three years (b. NH). Henry Wentworth owned their house in Milton Village, free-and-clear. Louisa M. Wentworth was the mother of one child, of whom one was still living. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of George E. Wentworth, a butcher, aged thirty-two years (b. NH), and Daniel Corkery, a shoe shop hand, aged fifty-seven years (b. Canada (Eng.)).

Henry H. Wentworth, an odd jobs laborer, aged sixty-six 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 forty-five years), Louisa Wentworth, aged sixty-three years (b. NH). Henry Wentworth owned their house, free-and-clear. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Harry F. Whitehouse, an odd jobs painter, aged thirty-four years (b. NH), and Edward Costeau, a leatherboard beater-man, aged thirty-two years (b. Canada).

Louisa M. (Hayes) Wentworth died of throat and lung cancer in Milton, January 21, 1915, aged sixty-eight years, one month, and nine days. Edson M. Abbott, M.D., signed the death certificate.

Henry H. Wentworth, a widower, aged seventy-six years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. His household included his granddaughter, Louise E. Chamberlain, aged twenty-two years (b. NE). Henry H. Wentworth owned their house on Upper Main Street, in Milton Village, free-and-clear. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Grover C. Rines, a leatherboard laborer, aged thirty-one years (b. NH), and Fred B. Roberts, a lumberman, aged fifty-five years (b. NH).

Henry H. Wentworth died of chronic myelitis in Milton, May 9, 1920, aged seventy-six years, five months, and six days. M.A.H. Hart, M.D., signed the death certificate.

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References:

Claremont Manufacturing Company. (1846). New Hampshire Register and Farmer’s Almanac. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=5ucWAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA89

Find a Grave. (2012, June 2). Annie Harrison Wentworth Chamberlain. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/91246369/annie-harrison-chamberlain

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

Jackman, Lyman. (1891). History of the Sixth New Hampshire Regiment in the War for the Union. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=FFG5ulXEkKsC

McFarland & Jenks. (1867). Political Manual and Annual Register for the State of New Hampshire. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=13sBAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA58

NH State Agricultural Society. (1859). Transactions of the New Hampshire State Agricultural Society. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=CoQ5AQAAMAAJ

NH Treasury Department. (1863). Report of the State Treasurer for the Fiscal Year Ending June 1, 1863. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=bVNEAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA4-PA29

By Muriel Bristol | November 7, 2021

In his June 1882 report, NH Superintendent of Instruction J.W. Patterson provided some statistics regarding Milton.

Milton’s town school committee members were identified as being John U. Simes, and H.F. Pitcher, M.D.. (John U. Simes (1836-1927) of Milton Mills was a trader, i.e., a storekeeper; and Herbert F. Pitcher (1853-1924) was a Milton physican). (They would seem to have been short by one committee member).

Milton had 11 school districts and 13 schools in town, 2 of which were graded schools and none were district and town high schools. There were 11 schoolhouses, of which none that were unfit for use and none were built during the year. Maps and globes were available in 11 schoolhouses. The value of schoolhouses, furnishings and sites was estimated at $8,000, and the value of apparatus was estimated at $150. Only 2 of the district schools had an average of 12 scholars of less; and 1 had an average of 6 scholars or less. The average run of district school classes was 18.4 weeks. (The Strafford County average was 20.82 weeks).

Milton had 146 male and 138 female students enrolled. Of these, 31 were aged under six years, 233 were aged between 6 and 16 years, and 29 were aged over 16 years. There were 39 students pursuing higher branches, and there were 14 students aged between 5 and 15 years that were not attending any school. Average daily attendance was 201 students.

There were 4 male teachers, making an average of $40.00 per month, and 14 female teachers, making an average of $23.42 per month. Of these, 2 were teaching for the first time, and 10 had been teachers for more than one term. (One might infer that the remaining 16 had been teachers already for a single prior term). Of these, 2 of them had been to Normal school. Of 208 Strafford County teachers, only 30 (11.6%) had been to Normal school).

Under the heading Private Schools of a Higher Grade, Milton had its Classical Institute, which was situated at Milton Three Ponds. It had been chartered and organized in 1866. The value of its building, apparatus and grounds was $2,800. It had a 44-week school year, which began in September. It had no male teachers and 2 female teachers; and it had 17 male and 31 female students. Of these, 37 of them were NH residents, 18 of them were pursuing higher branches.

The school committee had available to it $1,925.41; of which $1,092.00 came from the town tax for support of schools, $483.00 came from district school taxes, $120.62 came from the literary fund, $129.00 came from local funds and the dog tax, $100.79 came from the railroad tax, and $0.00 came from contributions.

Milton expended $0.00 for new buildings, $358.00 in interest, $25.00 in permanent repairs, $100.0o in miscellaneous expenses; and $1,223.71 in teacher salaries, for a grand total of $1,766.71. The average cost of salaries and miscellaneous expenses per scholar was $4.66. (The county average cost per scholar was $7.29).

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Previous in sequence: Milton in NH Education Report, 1881; next in sequence: Milton in NH Education Report, 1884

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References:

NH Superintendent of Public Instruction. (1882). Annual Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=qholAQAAIAAJ

By Muriel Bristol | October 24, 2021

The name “Centennial House” acknowledges its establishment during the U.S. centennial year of 1876.

The identified proprietors of Milton’s Centennial House during this period were John W. Prescott (1846-1927), and Benjamin Hoyle (1843-1923).

John W. Prescott – 1876-188?

John Wesley Prescott was born in Dover, NH, June 26, 1846, son of Ezekiel and Elzira F. (Fernald) Prescott.

Nathl. D. Farnsworth, works in shoe shop, aged thirty-two [i.e., forty-two] years (b. NH), headed a Wakefield (“Union P.O.”), NH, household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Ruth A. [(Almed)] Farnsworth, keeping house, aged thirty [i.e., forty] years (b. NH), Rosa B.H. [(Farnsworth)] Berry, at home, aged twenty-three years (b. NH), and John W. Prescott, dry goods & groceries, aged twenty-three years (b. NH). Nathl. D. Farnsworth had real estate valued at $500 and personal estate valued at $360. John W. Prescott had personal estate valued at $1,500.

John W. Prescott married in Dover, NH, September 17, 1870, Adelaide Sarah “Addie” Jewett, he of Brookfield, NH, and she of Milton. He was aged twenty-three years and she was aged twenty-one years. Rev. I.D. Stewart performed the ceremony. She was born in Milton, March 28, 1849, daughter of David and Susan M. (Fox) Jewett.

NEW ENGLAND. NEW HAMPSHIRE. The Sanborn House at Wolfeboro Junction is now open and kept by John W. Prescott (Boston Globe, September 24, 1872).

John Prescott appeared in the NH business directories of 1873 and 1874, as proprietor of the Sanborn House hotel at Wolfeboro Junction, in Wakefield, NH.

John W. Prescott opened the Centennial House hotel in Milton Mills in June 1876. One might suppose he named it for the U.S. Centennial, i.e., July 4, 1876. His advertisements highlighted features that might appeal to rusticators, i.e., tourists.

J.W. Prescott appeared in the Milton business directory of 1880, as proprietor of Milton Mills’ Centennial House hotel.

John W. Prescott, a stable keeper, aged thirty-two years (b. NH), headed a Milton (“Milton Mills Village”) household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Addie Prescott, a milliner, aged thirty-one years (b. NH). Their household appeared between those of William G. Lermond, a carpenter, aged thirty-five years (b. Scotland), and Oscar F. Marsh, works in felt mill, aged thirty-three years (b. NH).

J.W. Prescott appeared in the Milton business directories of 1881, 1882, and 1884, as proprietor of Milton Mills’ Centennial House hotel. He advertised his hotel in the Boston Globe in the summer of 1888 as being suitable for summer boarders.

SUMMER RESORTS. SUMMER BOARDERS looking for a place in the country where they can enjoy themselves quietly, can be accommodated at Centennial House, Milton Mills, N.H., P.O. box 113 SuTThS6t* jy22 (Boston Globe, July 28, 1888).

(The printers’ code that follows the actual advertisement notes that this advertisement should be printed in the Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday editions 6 times, i.e., for a period of six weeks, beginning July 22).

John W. and Adelaide F. (Jewett) Prescott relocated from Milton Mills to Union village, in Wakefield, NH, circa 1892-93.

WAKEFIELD. Mrs. John W. Prescott has opened millinery parlors at the Geo E. Hart House on Main street (Farmington News, October 14, 1892).

J.W. Prescott appeared in the NH directory of 1897, as proprietor of one of two livery stables in Union, Wakefield, NH. (Hotelier R.H. Pike was proprietor of the other).

MILTON. Mrs. Prescott and Miss Wallace have closed their millinery parlors for the season (Farmington News, July 9, 1897).

John W. Prescott received an appointment as U.S. Postmaster at Union village in Wakefield, NH, September 17, 1897. Such appointments were at this time political sinecures. As Prescott received his initial appointment during the presidency of Republican William McKinley, one might suppose that he too was a Republican.

The U.S. Register of July 1, 1899 recorded compensation of $439.51 having been paid to Union postmaster John W. Prescott.

Mrs. J.W. Prescott appeared in the Milton directory of 1900, as a milliner on Main street, near the P.O., with her house at U.V., i.e., Union Village in Wakefield, NH. (A milliner is one who designs, makes, trims, or sells women’s hats).

John W. Prescott, postmaster, aged fifty-one years (b. NH), headed a Wakefield (“Union Village”), NH, household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of twenty-nine years), Addie Prescott, a milliner, aged fifty-two years (b. NH), and Gertrude Nichols, aged ten years (b. NH). John W. Prescott owned their house, free-and-clear. Addie Prescott was the mother of child, of whom none were still living.

UNION. Mrs. J.W. Prescott is away visiting friends (Farmington News, June 14, 1901).

Mrs. J.W. Prescott appeared in the Milton directory of 1902, as a milliner, with her house at Union, [Wakefield,] NH.

UNION. Last Friday morning Mrs. J.W. Prescott met with a serious accident by falling on the ice, breaking her leg above the ankle. She is as comfortable as can be expected at this writing (Farmington News, January 24, 1902).

The U.S. Register of July 1, 1903 recorded compensation of $523.54 having been paid to Union postmaster John W. Prescott.

MILTON. Mrs. J.W. Prescott of Union was in town last Thursday (Farmington News, June 17, 1904).

The U.S. Register of July 1, 1905 recorded compensation of $552.40 having been paid to Union postmaster John W. Prescott.

UNION. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Prescott of Lawrence, Mass., who have been visiting his brother, John W. Prescott, returned home last week (Farmington News, October 1, 1909).

UNION. John W. Prescott is taking an outing in Boston this week (Farmington News, October 29, 1909).

John W. Prescott, postmaster at Union, aged sixty years (b. NH), headed a Wakefield, NH, household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of t[hir]ty-eight years), Adelaide Prescott, aged fifty-eight years (b. NH). John W. Prescott owned their house, free-and-clear.

UNION. Mrs. John W. Prescott and Mrs. E.O. Wiggin attended the sale at Sanbornville last week (Farmington News, December 23, 1910).

John W. Prescott, aged seventy-two years (b. NH), headed a Wakefield, NH, household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Adelaide Prescott, aged sixty-eight years (b. NH). John W. Prescott owned their house, free-and-clear. They shared a two-family resident with the household of tenant George Hawley, an excelsior mill presser, aged thirty-two years (b. NH).

John W. Prescott died of pulmonary edema in Union, [Wakefield,] NH, April 8, 1927, aged eighty-one years, ten months, and twelve days. He had been resident in Wakefield, NH, for thirty-three years.

A[de]laide Prescott, a widow, aged eighty-five years (b. NH). was one of fourteen “inmates,” i.e., residents, of the Gafney Home on Wakefield Street in Rochester, NH, at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. Herbert A. Hoffman, aged fifty-five years (b. NH), was its resident superintendent, and his wife, Mary Hoffman, aged fifty-one years (b. VT), was its resident matron. There was also a nurse, cook, and a maid. Twelve of the retired residents were female and two of them were male. (Two of the retired residents were a married couple). The home had a radio set.

Adelaide F. (Fernald) Prescott died of lobar pneumonia in the Gafney Home in Rochester, NH, April 29, 1936, aged eighty-eight years, one month, and two days. She had been a resident there for nine years, i.e., since the 1927 death of her husband. Edson M. Abbott, M.D. signed the death certificate.

UNION. George Morrill was quite pleased to find when he returned to Union for the winter that he could have the same box number which he has continuously since he had it of the late John W. Prescott forty-two years ago (Farmington News, October 23, 1936).

Benjamin Hoyle – 188?-1904

Benjamin Hoyle was born in Bowling, Yorkshire, England, November 1, 1843, son of Eli and Mary (Kemp) Hoyle.

Mary Hoyle, a widow, aged forty-eight years (b. Ossett), headed a Gawthorpe, Ossett, Yorkshire, household at the time of the UK Census of 1861. Her household included Thomas Hoyle, a woolen spinner, aged twenty-four years (b. Laster Dyke), Mary Hoyle, a worsted spinner, aged twenty-one years (b. Laster Dyke), James Hoyle, a worsted spinner, aged nineteen years (b. Bowling), Benjamin Hoyle, a worsted spinner, aged seventeen years (b. Bowling), Jane Hoyle, a worsted spinner, aged fifteen years (b. Bowling), Nancy Hoyle, a worsted spinner, aged thirteen years, and Hannah Hoyle, aged eight years (b. Ossett).

Benj Hoyle, works in woolen mill, aged twenty-five years (b. England), was one of thirty-one resident mill workers in the Haverhill, MA, household of Mary P. Jones, keeps house, aged forty-one years (b. ME).

Benjamin Hoyle married in Somersworth, NH, October 14, 1871, Abbie J. Witham, both of East Rochester, NH. He was a spinner, aged twenty-seven years, and she was aged thirty-one years. Rev. J.F. Smith performed the ceremony. She was born in Acton, ME, March 16, 1839, daughter of Amos/Amasa Witham.

Benjamin Hoyle, works in woolen mill, aged thirty-eight years (b. England), headed a Rochester, NH, household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Abbie J. Hoyle, keeping house, aged forty years (b. ME), his servant, Georgietta Merrill, a servant, aged twenty-two years (b. NH), and his boarders, Joseph Naylor, works in woolen mill, aged fifty-eight years (b. England), Norris Maddox, works in woolen mill, aged twenty-six years (b. ME), Annie Tenney, works in woolen mill, aged twenty-eight years (b. NH), Jennie Pollack, works in woolen mill, aged fifty years (b. Scotland), Emma Rankin, works in woolen mill, aged twenty-two years (b. ME), Lucretia Rankin, works in woolen mill, aged twenty-five years (b. ME), and Maggie Chalmers, works in woolen mill, aged thirty years (b. Scotland).

Benj. Hoyle appeared in the Milton business directories of 1887, 1889, as proprietor of Milton Mills’ Centennial House hotel.

Benjamin Hoyle appeared in an 1892 list of Summer Hotels and Boarding-Houses, as proprietor or landlord of Centennial House in Milton (NH Board of Agriculture, 1892).

Benj. Hoyle appeared in the Milton business directories of 1894, and 1898, as proprietor of Milton Mills’ summer boarding house.

Benjamin Hoyle appeared in an 1897 list of Summer Hotels and Boarding-Houses, as proprietor or landlord of Centennial House in Milton (NH Department of Agriculture, 1897).

Benjamin Hoyle appeared in the Milton directory of 1900, as a spinner at the W. mill, i.e., the Waumbeck mill, with his house on North Main street, W. road, in Milton Mills.

Benjamin Hoyle, a wool spinner, aged fifty-seven years (b. England), headed a Milton (“Milton Mills Village”) household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of twenty-eight years), Abby J. Hoyle, aged sixty-one years (b. ME). Benjamin Hoyle owned their house, free-and-clear. Abby J. Hoyle was the mother of no children. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Alby Merrill, a day laborer, aged fifty-four years (b. NH), and Charles S. Wentworth, a day laborer, aged forty-two years (b. NH).

Benj. Hoyle appeared in the Milton business directories of 1901, and 1904, as proprietor of a Milton Mills’ summer boarding house.

Benjamin Hoyle appeared in the Milton directory of 1902, as a spinner at the W. mill, i.e., the Waumbeck mill, with his house on North Main street, W. road, in Milton Mills. He appeared in the Milton directory of 1905-06, as a spinner at the W. mill, with his house at 106 North Main street, W. road, in Milton Mills.

Benjamin Hoyle, own income, aged sixty-seven years (b. England), headed a Milton (“Milton Mills”) household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of thirty-nine years), Abby J. Hoyle, aged seventy-one years (b. ME). Benjamin Hoyle owned their house, free-and-clear. Abby J. Hoyle was the mother of no children. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Freeman D. Stevens, a shoe factory cutter, aged sixty years (b. NH), and Alby Merrill, own income, aged sixty years (b. VT).

Benjamin Hoyle appeared in the Milton directory of 1912, as a spinner at the T. mill, i.e., the Townsend mill, with his house at 106 North Main street, W. road, in Milton Mills. Benjamin and Abbie J. (Witham) Hoyle relocated from Milton Mills to East Rochester, NH, circa 1912-13.

Abbie J. (Witham) Hoyle died of cerebral paralysis (and liver cancer) in East Rochester, NH, March 15, 1916, aged seventy-six years, eleven months, and twenty-one days. She had resided in East Rochester, NH, for three years, formerly residing in Milton Mills. Stephen Young signed the death certificate.

Benjamin Hoyle appeared in the Milton directory of 1917, as having removed from Milton to Rochester, NH. (This would have occurred at some time between the directory of 1912 and that of 1917). He appeared in the Rochester, NH, directory of 1917, as a retiree, making his home with J.W. Clark, on Summer street, in East Rochester, NH.

John W. Clark, aged seventy-three years (b. NH), headed a Rochester, NH, household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Lucy B. Clark, aged fifty-three years (b. ME), his children, Abbie E. Clark, aged twenty-nine years (b. NH), and Ardis C. Clark, aged seventeen years (b. NH), his grandson, Perley A. Clark, aged ten months (b. NH), and his boarder, Benjamin Hoil [i.e., Hoyle], aged seventy-six years (b. England). John W. Clark owned their farm on Summer Street. Benjamin Hoil had immigrated into the U.S. in 1869, and become a naturalized citizen in 1880.

Benjamin Hoyle appeared in the Rochester, NH, directories of 1921, and posthumously in 1924, as a retiree, boarding on Summer street, in East Rochester, NH. (He appeared in the directory of 1926, again posthumously, as a retiree, boarding on Broadway street.

Benjamin Hoyle died of apoplexy, i.e., a stroke, in East Rochester, NH, January 10, 1923, aged seventy-nine years, two months, and nine days. He had resided in East Rochester, NH, for ten years, formerly residing in Milton Mills. John H. Bates signed the death certificate.

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References:

Find a Grave. (2013, August 14). Benjamin Hoyle. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/115416845/benjamin-hoyle

Find a Grave. (2013, August 15). John Wesley Prescott. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/115526298/john-wesley-prescott

Keyes, George L. (1874). Keyes’ Hand-book of Northern Pleasure Travel. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=_h89AAAAYAAJ&pg=PA212

NH Board of Agriculture. (1892). Lakes and Summer Resorts in New Hampshire. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=85Y-AAAAYAAJ&pg=PA78

NH Department of Agriculture. (1897). Gems of the Granite State. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=c3MUAAAAYAAJ&pg=PP76

By Muriel Bristol | October 17, 2021

In his June 1881 report, the NH Superintendent of Instruction provided some statistics regarding Milton.

Milton’s town school committee members were identified as being C.D. Fox, and C.L. Plumer. (Charles D. Fox (1856-1916) of Milton Mills was then a school teacher; and Cyrus L. Plumer (1841-1910) was the Milton Free-Will Baptist minister). (This was one less than the usual three committee members).

Milton had 10 school districts and 13 schools in town, 2 of which were graded schools and 2 were district and town high schools. There were 11 schoolhouses, of which none that were unfit for use and none were built during the year. Maps and globes were available in 12 schoolhouses. The value of schoolhouses, furnishings and sites was estimated at $8,000, and the value of apparatus was estimated at $200. Only 1 of the district schools had an average of 12 scholars of less; and 1 had an average of 6 scholars or less. The average run of district school classes was 18.3 weeks. (The Strafford County average was 23.25 weeks).

Milton had 1 fractional school district. It paid $55.00 in superintendence. Some 75 students had no absences during the year. It had 6 students attending private schools.

Milton had 155 male and 139 female students enrolled. Of these, 30 were aged under six years, 241 were aged between 6 and 16 years, and 23 were aged over 16 years. There were 60 students pursuing higher branches, and there were 9 students aged between 5 and 15 years that were not attending any school. Average daily attendance was 247.73 students.

There were 5 male teachers, making an average of $37.50 per month, and 15 female teachers, making an average of $22.09 per month. Of these, 5 were teaching for the first time, and 6 had been teachers for more than one term. (One might infer that the remaining 9 had been teachers already for a single prior term). Of these, none of them had been to Normal school. Of 171 Strafford County teachers, only 20 (11.7%) had been to Normal school).

Under the heading Private Schools of a Higher Grade, Milton had its Classical Institute, which was situated at Milton Three Ponds. It had been chartered and organized in 1866. The value of its building, apparatus and grounds was $2,800. It had a 44-week school year, which began in September. It had no male teachers and 2 female teachers; and it had 17 male and 31 female students. Of these, 37 of them were NH residents, 18 of them were pursuing higher branches. [These would seem to be the same figures as those reported in the report of 1879].

The school committee had available to it $1,586.12; of which $1,050.00 came from the town tax for support of schools, $300.00 came from district school taxes, $120.62 came from the literary fund, $115.50 came from local funds and the dog tax, $0.00 came from the railroad tax, and $0.00 came from contributions.

Milton expended $0.00 for new buildings, $0.00 in interest, $250.00 in permanent repairs, $35.5o in miscellaneous expenses; and $1,543.95 in teacher salaries, for a grand total of $1,884.45. The average cost of salaries and miscellaneous expenses per scholar was $5.37. (The county average cost per scholar was $6.48).

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Previous in sequence: Milton in NH Education Report, 1879; next in sequence: Milton in NH Education Report, 1882

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References:

NH Superintendent of Public Instruction. (1881). Annual Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=qholAQAAIAAJ

By Muriel Bristol | October 10, 2021

Bard B. Plummer was born in the family farmstead on Plummer’s Ridge in Milton, June 18, 1846, son of Enoch W. and Orinda (Ayers) Plummer. (Bard B. Plummer’s great-grandfather, the Hon. Bard [or Beard] Plummer (1754-1816), a revolutionary soldier and one of Milton’s founders, had the same name, as did several of the current subject’s uncles and cousins).

Bard B. Plummer, after leaving the common schools, attended the Wakefield Academy and the Maine State College. When his education was completed he returned to the homestead, and he has since given his attention to general farming. He owns five hundred acres of excellent land, which is desirably located; and he makes it a point to avail himself of modern improvements in the practice of agriculture (Biographical Review, 1897).

Bard B. Plummer was an A.F. & A.M. Mason as early as 1870. A NH Grand Lodge abstract had him as secretary of Unity Lodge, of [Union,] Wakefield, NH, as of May 1870. A.M. Brackett was its Worshipful Master. The lodge had 75 members, who paid a total of $15.50 in dues. Their meetings took place on Thursdays on or before F.M. (the First Monday). (NH Grand Lodge, 1870).

In Masonry Mr. Plummer is [i.e., would be by 1897] well advanced, being a Past Master of Unity Lodge, A.F. & A.M., of Union, N.H., of which he was Secretary for nineteen years; a member of Columbia Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, of Farmington, N.H., and of St. Paul Commandery, Knights Templar, of Dover, N.H. He is also Past Dictator of Love [Lowell] Lodge, Knights of Honor [Husbandry], of Union (Biographical Review, 1897).

Bard Burge Plummer married in Milton, October 15, 1875, Eliza Dixwell Wentworth, both of Milton. He was a farmer, aged twenty-nine years, and she was aged twenty-four years. Rev. James Doldt performed the ceremony. She was born in Jamaica Plain, MA, December 13, 1851, daughter of John J. and Elizabeth (Currant) Wentworth.

Mr. Plummer married Eliza D. Wentworth, daughter of John J. Wentworth, of Jamaica Plain, Mass. They have four children, namely: Lucia C., Fanny W., Bard B., who is attending Durham College, and Orinda (Biographical Review, 1897). 

B.B. Plummer appeared in the Milton business directories of 1875, 1876, and 1880, as a Milton justice-of-the-peace.

Daughter Lucia C. Plummer was born in Milton, May 18, 1877. Daughter Fanny W. Plummer was born in Milton, July 28, 1878.

The Milton Board of Education for 1879 was J.V. [J.P.] Bickford, I.N. Lowell, and B.B. Plummer. (Jesse P. Bickford (1844-1910) was principal of the Milton Classical Institute; and John N. Lowell (1846-1903) was a Congregational minister).

UNITY LODGE, NO. 62, at Union Village, is my home Lodge. I have attended all of its communications for a long time, with very few exceptions. Formerly this Lodge had the reputation of closely adhering to all the proprieties of Masonry, and I hope it is not without its merits at the present time. Until recently the Lodge has had but little work to do so it was about impossible to make rapid progress in everything commendable, but now we have work and interest sufficient for perfecting ourselves, and if we are not as we should be, we have no good excuse. We are pleased to receive visits from any of the Craft, and invite criticism upon our proficiency. At our regular communication of May 1st, 1879, District Grand Lecturer, Brother L.M. Nute, visited our Lodge, and in his usual agreeable and impressive manner conferred the third degree which was much enjoyed by the brethren. Brother Nute paid us a compliment, by saying our work was the best he had witnessed for a long time. Our records are fully and properly kept by Brother B.B. PLUMMER, our Secretary of long standing. Financially, we are comfortably situated, having quite a fund at interest with monthly accumulations. … Respectfully submitted, CHARLES A. VARNEY, D.D.G.M. (NH Grand Lodge, 1879).  

Son Bard B. Plummer, Jr., was born in Milton, October 22, 1879.

UNION. The following officers of Unity No. 62 A.F.A. Masons were publicly installed by Right Worshipful District Deputy Grand Master, Charles A. Varney, assisted by Daniel S. Burley, as Grand Marshal, on Thursday evening last: Asa M. Brackett, W.M.; Chas. W. Horne, S.W.; John E. Scruton, E.W.; Chaplain L. Smith, Treas.; Bard B. Plummer, Sec.; Frank B. Drew, S.D.; Fred E. Stevens, J.D.; Rev. Geo. O. Jenness, Chap.; Jacob S. Adams, Mar.; A.H. Chamberlain, S.S.; G.B. Corson, J.S.; James W. Nutter, Organist; Geo. W. Dicey, Tyler; Charles C. Hayes, Rep to the G.L. At the close of the installation ceremonies, a supper and ball were in order, and a very pleasant time was enjoyed by all. The members of this Lodge have recently re-furnished their lodge room with a set of solid black walnut furniture, at an expense of nearly two hundred dollars which adds very much to the beauty of the room (Farmington News, March 5, 1880).

Bard B. Plumer, a farmer, aged thirty-three years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Eliza D. Plumer, keeping house, aged twenty-eight years (b. MA), and his children, Lucia C. Plumer, at house, aged three years (b. NH), Fannie W. Plumer, at house, aged one year (b. NH), and Bard B. Plumer, at house, aged seven months (b. NH (October [1879])). They shared a two-family residence with the household of [his father,] Enoch W. Plummer, a farmer, aged sixty-five years (b. NH). Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Joseph Plummer, aged sixty years (b. NH) and Enoch S. Mason, a farmer, aged thirty-nine years (b. NH).

B.B. Plummer appeared in the Milton business directories of 1881, 1882, 1884, 1887, and 1889, as a Milton justice-of-the-peace. He appeared also on the Board of Education in 1889; and as a manufacturer of mowing machines, horse rakes &c in 1887 and 1889.

UNION. On Thursday eve, Feb. 24th, the officers of Unity Lodge, No. 62 A.F. and Accepted Masons, were installed by Charles A. Varney, D.D.G. Master, as follows: W.M., Asa M. Brackett; S.W., Leroy J. Cooper; J.W., George W. Burleigh; Treasurer, Jacob S. Adams; Secretary, Bard B. Plummer; Marshal, Frank B. Drew; S.D., Charles A. Varney; J.D., Daniel S. Burleigh; S.S., Thomas C. Burleigh. The Chaplain, J.S., and Tyler were installed by proxy. The installation was a public one and was well attended. A supper was furnished by the fraternity at the close (Farmington News, March 4, 1881).

Plummer belonged also to the National Grange of the Order of Patrons [or Knights] of Husbandry. The Grange was an agriculturally-oriented social organization that sought also to promote farm interests. Its offices were patterned, or at least named, after those of a medieval English grange or farm estate.

UNION. Officers elect of Lowell Lodge, No. 1185, K. of H., are as follows: Dictator, C.W. Horne; A.D., J.E. Hayes; V.D., Geo. E. Drawbridge; Reporter, Frank B. Drew; Fin. Rep., Edwin W. Jenkins; Treas., John E. Scruton; Guide, Horace H. Moulton; Chap., Bard B. Plummer, Rep. to Grand Lodge, Chas. W. Horne; Alternate, Frank B. Drew (Farmington News, January 23, 1885).

Daughter Orinda Plummer was  born in Milton, June 9, 1886. She was a namesake for her paternal grandmother, Orinda (Ayers) Plummer.

This [Unity Lodge, No. 62, A.F. and A.M. of Union] lodge has been instituted nearly thirty-two years, yet all of its past masters are living, and only two of the charter members have died, Dr. William B. Reynolds and Joseph Sharpe. The membership is now one hundred and twenty-five. Bro. Bard B. Plummer has held the office of secretary for seventeen years, and Charles W. Horne has filled more chairs than any other member, having held every office except secretary, treasurer, and marshal. Brothers Asa M. Brackett and Charles A. Varney have each served several terms as district deputy grand lecturer, and as district deputy grand master for this (No. 6) district (Merrill, 1889).

As an active supporter of the Republican party he has figured conspicuously in public affairs. For five years he was a member of the School Board (Biographical Review, 1897).

The Milton Board of Education for 1889 was B.B. Plummer, Charles D. Jones, and William E. Pillsbury. (Charles D. Jones (1863-1908); and William E. Pillsbury (1845-1907) were both physicians).

UNION. The following officers of Unity Lodge, No. 63, A.F. & A.M., were installed by Past D.D. Grand Master, Asa M. Brackett, on Thursday evening: W.M., J. Frank Farnham; S.W., Frank H. Moore; J.W., Myran L. Johnson; treasurer, Fred E. Stevens; secretary, Bard B. Plummer; marshal, Frank B. Drew; chaplain, Charles W. Horne; S.D., Geo. W. Burleigh, J.D., John C. Penney; S.S., Joseph L. Johnson; J.S., A.H. Chamberlain; tyler, J.F. Moore; representative to grand lodge, Frank B. Drew (Farmington News, February 14, 1890).

The Milton Board of Education for 1890 was W.E. Pillsbury, Rev. Frank Haley, and B.B. Plummer. (William E. Pillsbury (1845-1907) was a physician; and Rev. Frank Haley (1835-1904) was a Congregational minister and husband of Plummer’s sister, Sarah (Plummer) Haley (1846-1931)).

The Milton Board of Education for 1891 was W.E. Pillsbury, B.B. Plummer, and I.A. Cook. (William E. Pillsbury (1845-1907) was a physician; and Ira A. Cook (1843-1898) was a farmer).

Bard B. Plummer ran in the election for Strafford County Sheriff in November 1892.

He was Sheriff of Strafford County from 1892 to 1894, during which time he had charge of the jail in Dover, and was appointed Deputy Sheriff by his successor, James E. Hayes (Biographical Review, 1897).

MILTON. Bard B. Plummer was elected sheriff by the republicans of Strafford county (Farmington News, November 18, 1892).

The NH Grange’s Worthy Secretary reported to its Worthy Master that twenty-six grange chapters had been organized during the year ending September 30, 1892. The Lewis W. Nute Grange, No. 193, in Milton was one of them. It was formed with Bard B. Plummer as Master, and thirty charter members. W.K. Norton was its Lecturer, and William A. Jones was its Secretary (NH General Court, 1893). (Plummer’s son, Bard B. Plummer, Jr., would be Master in his turn in or before 1905).

The office of Master corresponded roughly with that of a president in other organizations, the overseer with a vice-president, and the gatekeeper with a sergeant-at-arms. Lecturers were instructors and Stewards were responsible for a Grange’s property and effects.

MILTON. Lewis W. Nute grange organized Friday night, twenty-six members, by Frank P. Wentworth of Rochester. Officers elected and installed: B.B. Plummer, master; Fred P. Jones, overseer; C.A. Jones, secretary; Dr. M.A.H. Hart, treasurer; W.K. Norton, lecturer; Miss F.A. Ober, assistant lecturer; Miss Birdie B. Harte, chaplain; S.E. Twombly, steward; R.H. Shaw, assistant steward; Miss Sarah L. Benson, lady assistant steward; Mrs. B.B. Plummer, Ceres; Mrs. W.K. Norton, Pomona; Miss Minnie Woodman, Flora; L.C. Hayes, gatekeeper (Farmington News, December 23, 1892).

The female Grange offices of Ceres, Pomona, and Flora symbolized the mythological three Graces. The Ceres was responsible for ceremonially draping the Grange’s charter, and the other two for decorating with fruit and flowers, respectively. They sat at the head table with the other principal officers. (One might note that, in some cases at least, they were the wives of those principal officers).

Plummer won the November 1892 Sheriff election with 4,468 votes (50.2%), while William S. Hayes received 4,269 votes (48.0%), Alfred W. Jones received 162 votes (1.8%), and John G. Johnston received 1 vote (0.0%) (Farmington News, January 13, 1893).

THE OFFICIAL VOTE. The last official returns of the election for Strafford county officers was made to the county clerk Dec. 6 and he read them at the Law term the following day. The vote in the county was: For solicitor – Wm. F. Nason, 4533; Samuel D. Felker, 4266; Geo. W. Benn, 137; Geo. R. Renn, 8. For sheriff – Bard B. Plummer, 4468; Wm. S. Hayes, 4269; Alfred W. Jones, 162; John G. Johnson, 1. For treasurer – Geo. D. Nowell, 4390; Geo G. Nowell, 39; Ichabod B. Berry, 4228; Joseph P. Swasey, 149. For register of deeds – Frank S. Tompkins, 4797; Michael R. Sullivan, 3972; Wm. H. Courser, 110. For register of probate – Wm. W. Martin, 4379; Charles S. Clifford, 4284; John A. Fall, 126. For county commissioners – Wm. W. Cushman, 4510; John N. Haines, 4379; John B. Philbrick, 4462; Frank P. Reeve, 4111; John P. Hall, 4096; Henry J. Grimes, 4158; John Bartlett, 138; Nathan O. Sanborn, 122; Frederick R.S. Mildon, 125 ; F.R.S., Meldon, 3 (Farmington News, January 13, 1893).

One may note that Geo. W. Benn and Geo. R. Renn were alternate spellings of the same name, the second being a misspelling. The same was the case also with Geo. D. Nowell and Geo. G. Nowell; and with Frederick R.S. Mildon and F.R.S. Meldon.

UNION. At the annual meeting of Unity Lodge the following officers were elected for the ensuing year: W.M., Bard B. Plummer; S.W., Myron L. Johnson; J.W., William M. Lord; treasurer, Fred E. Stevens; secretary, J. Frank Farnham; representative to grand lodge, J. Frank Farnham. Bard B. Plummer, the master elect, has faithfully served the lodge as secretary for the past nineteen years, and he is well worthy of this promotion. The lodge has also done well in selecting the retiring master to succeed Mr. Plummer as secretary. The officers will be publicly installed Feb. 16 (Farmington News, February 3, 1893).

The following apprehension of a murder suspect sounded initially like a hopeful development for Sheriff Plummer but turned out to be a case of mistaken identity. (The forensic use of fingerprints, although on the horizon, lay still in the future).

HELD FOR HORSE STEALING. Man Arrested in Pulaski, Tenn., Who Is Believed to Be Julius H. McArthur, a New Hampshire Murderer. DOVER, N.H., Oct 22- Sheriff Bard D. Plummer of Milton has received a letter from the sheriff of Pulaski, Tenn., asking what reward was offered for the capture of Julius H. McArthur, alias Simpson, alias Dorsey, who murdered Deputy Sheriff Charles H. Smith of Barrington in Strafford, May 6, 1891. Gov. John B. Smith also has received a letter from J.M. McDonald, chief of police of Pulaski, Tenn., which gives an exact description of the much-wanted criminal. The letters are now in the possession of Atty. Gen. Edwin G. Eastman, who is in communication with the officials of Pulaski. Mr. Eastman has telegraphed the officials there to hold the man and to send him a photograph of the prisoner at once. The man is under arrest at Pulaski for horse stealing, under the name of Dorsey, and the attorney general is of the opinion, from the description received, that the man is McArthur. The McArthur ease was one of the most celebrated, and certainly one of the most sensational ever brought before a justice in New Hampshire. On May 5, 1591, Julius McArthur stole a team from near Rochester, owned by J.W. Kendall of Enosburg Falls, Vt. On the following day a posse was organized, and, headed by Deputy Sheriff Charles H. Smith, they followed the track of the thief into the town of Strafford, about seven miles from Rochester. Smith caught sight of McArthur, and immediately grappled with him, but not so effectually as to prevent McArthur from drawing a revolver, with which he fatally wounded the deputy sheriff with a bullet in the side. Smith, in spite of his wound, hung on to McArthur, and he was finally overpowered by the posse, and lodged in the Dover jail. The next day after his arrest McArthur tried to commit suicide by opening a vein in his right arm. The jailor discovered the attempt just in time to save the man’s life. The prisoner refused to eat his food, and appeared to be a very sick man. McArthur was then removed from the prison to the hospital. On the evening of July 7, 1891, a little while after jailer Libby had gone away in search of a physician for another prisoner. Mrs. Libby sent his little girl to McArthur’s cell to carry him an evening paper, when it was discovered that he had sprung the lock to the door and escaped. Telegrams were scattered broadcast throughout New England, and a reward of $100 was offered for his capture (Boston Globe, October 23, 1894).

B.B. Plummer appeared in the Milton business directories of 1894, and 1898, as a Milton justice-of-the-peace. He appeared also as a manufacturer of mowing machines, horse rakes &c in 1894 and 1898.

MILTON. Miss May Smart of Ossipee Centre is visiting Fannie Plummer (Farmington News, August 17, 1894).

Mr. and Mrs. Bard B. Plummer were raised or promoted to the NH Grange’s Sixth Degree at White’s Opera House in Concord, NH, on the second day of its convention there, December 19, 1894 (NH State Grange, 1894).

LOCALS. The following is the full list of deputy sheriffs, as appointed by Sheriff Hayes: George W. Parker and James H. Davis of Dover, Bard B. Plummer of Milton, Henry F. Walker and Frank I. Smith of Rochester, James S. McDaniel of Somersworth, and Jabez Stevens of Durham. … Sheriff James E. Hayes took charge of affairs at the jail at Dover, Monday. Saturday there was a revolt against Jailor Scales among a portion of the prisoners, which continued up to the time Sheriff Hayes took charge of affairs. He took the handcuffs from the prisoners, gave them something to eat, and soon had them on their good behavior (Farmington News, April 5, 1895).

Mother Orinda P. (Ayers) Plummer died of a liver abscess in Milton, April 18, 1895, aged seventy-seven years, eight months, and twelve days. M.A.H. Hart, M.D., signed the death certificate.

MILTON. The funeral of Mrs. Enoch Plumer occurred Saturday afternoon. She leaves a husband and five children (Farmington News, [Friday,] April 26, 1895).

Father Enoch W. Plummer died of cirrhosis of the liver in Milton, June 18, 1896, aged eighty-one years, two months, and fourteen days. M.A.H. Hart, M.D., signed the death certificate.

HERE AND THERE. Mr. and Mrs. John S. Roberts attended on Sunday the funeral of deacon Enoch W. Plumer of Milton, who was a citizen truly well known (Farmington News, June 26, 1896).

John S. Roberts’ first wife had been Enoch W. Plummer’s youngest daughter, Susan (Plummer) Roberts (1854-1878). (He married (2nd) in Farmington, NH, December 26, 1883, [Mary] Ella Pearl [(1848-1905)], both of Farmington, NH).

MILTON NEWS-LETTER. Misses Lucy and Fannie Plummer of Plummer’s ridge are entertaining their friends Misses Marion and Martha Ober of South Natick, Mass. … A pleasant social gathering of young people occurred at the house of B.B. Plummer, Monday evening (Farmington News, August 20, 1897).

He is [in 1897] a member of the Board of Trustees of the Nute High School of Milton (Biographical Review, 1897).

NH Governor Frank W. Rollins invented and promoted Old Home Week reunion celebrations throughout New Hampshire in 1899. B.B. Plummer was president of Milton’s committee and C.H. Cole was its secretary (NH Department of Agriculture, 1901). (Charles H. Cole (1852-1936) appeared in the Milton directory of 1900, as a shoe burnisher, with his house on So. Main street, at its corner with Toppan street).

Bard B. Plummer, a farmer, aged fifty-three years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of twenty-four years), Eliza D. Plummer, aged fifty-one years (b. MA), his children, Lucia C. Plummer, aged twenty-three years (b. NH), Fannie W. Plummer, aged twenty-one years (b. NH), Bard B. Plummer, Jr., aged twenty years (b. NH), and Orinda Plummer, at school, aged twelve years (b. NH), and his boarder, Christie L. Jones, a farm laborer, aged fifty-eight years (b. NH). Bard B. Plummer owned their farm, free-and-clear. Eliza D. Plummer was the mother of four children, of whom four were still living. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Fred P. Jones, a farmer, aged forty years (b. NH), and Joseph Plummer, a farmer, aged eighty years (b. NH).

WEST MILTON. Miss Elfrida Peacock is spending the week at Milton Ridge, as the guest of her friend Miss Orinda Plummer. Miss Peacock, a graduate this June of Nute high school, expects to take an extended course at a Normal school this fall (Farmington News, July 20, 1900).

B.B. Plummer appeared in the Milton business directories of 1901, 1904, 1905-06, and 1909, as a Milton justice-of-the-peace. He appeared also as a manufacturer of mowing machines, horse rakes &c in those same years.

Mrs. B.B. Plummer donated $1.00 to the Pennsylvania Prison Society, at sometime between March 1, 1902, and February 28, 1903 (Pennsylvania Prison Society, 1903).

Milton sent Bard B. Plummer as its delegate to New Hampshire’s Eighth Constitutional Convention, which met in Concord, NH, December 2, 1902. The convention drafted ten proposed amendments to the NH Constitution, which then went on the statewide ballot for approval. Four of them were passed in 1904 by the electorate at large, while six of them were rejected. The summary titles of the proposed amendments were: 1) Educational qualifications for voting, 2) Examination of military officers, 3) Appointment of Commissary General (rejected), 4) Extension of taxation, 5) Extension of police court jurisdiction (rejected), 6) Elimination of “Protestant,” etc., from Bill of Rights (rejected), 7) Woman’s suffrage (rejected), 8) Regulation of trusts, 9) Reduction of legislature (rejected), and 10) Voting precincts (rejected) (NH Constitutional Convention, 1918).

B.B. Plummer was one of the “promoters” of the Milton & Lebanon Building Association, when it was incorporated in February 1904.

Maine Corporations. Milton & Lebanon Building Association, Lebanon – Capital, $10,000. Promoters, F.H. Thayer, Boston; Joseph H. Avery, B.B. Plummer, J. Gardner Alden, Milton; Ira W. Jones, Lebanon (Boston Globe, February 29, 1904).

B.B. Plummer of Milton bought a thoroughbred Guernsey bull named Johnnie Bull (H.R. No. 9013) from Montgomery Rollins in 1904 (American Guernsey Cattle Club, 1904). This was perhaps the beginning of the stock farm he ran in 1917. Montgomery Rollins was a Boston banker, with his house at Chestnut Hill.

MILTON. Miss Lucia C. Plummer is in Boston, Mass., for a visit (Farmington News, April 1, 1904).

Lewis W. Nute Grange. A special meeting of Lewis W. Nute grange, Milton, was held June 18. A very interesting entertainment was given by the children under the direction of Mrs. Annie O. Willey, Miss Fanny W. Plummer and Mrs. Catherine Dove. At the regular meeting of the grange, June 22, the third and fourth degrees were conferred upon two candidates (Farmington News, July 2, 1904).

Lewis W. Nute Grange. A very instructive as well as entertaining meeting was held Aug. 10. The subject was New Hampshire. The various natural features of the state were taken up by essays, as was also its noted men and musicians. Selections were read from New Hampshire poets, and the music composed by New Hampshire composers was rendered (New England Farmer (Boston, MA), August 27, 1904).

MILTON. Miss Orinda Plummer has accepted a position in the office of Spaulding Bros. (Farmington News, September 16, 1904).

The Milton selectmen of 1906 were J.H. Avery, B.B. Plummer, and E.A. Wentworth. (Joseph H. Avery (1844-1937) was then postmaster; and Edgar A. Wentworth (1856-1932) was a teamster).

Son Bard B. Plummer, Jr., married in Sanbornton, NH, August 20, 1906, Ruth L. Fall, both of Milton. He was a farmer, aged twenty-six years, and she was a teacher, aged nineteen years. Rev. Elisha H. Wright performed the ceremony. (Rev. Wright would be elected to the NH House of Representatives several months later (Hartford Courant (Hartford, CT), November 8, 1906)). She was born in Milton, circa 1886, daughter of George G. and Lizzie (Lyman) Fall.

PERSONAL. Hearty good wishes attend the marriage, on August 19th, of Miss Ruth Lyman Fall to Bard B. Plummer, Jr., both of Milton (Farmington News, August 31, 1906).

MIDDLETON. Mr. and Mrs. Bard B. Plummer gave a reception last Saturday evening from 8 until 10 o’clock at their home in Milton, in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Bard B. Plummer, Jr., who were recently married. The house was filled to overflowing, and the young bride looked very lovely in her bridal gown. They were the recipients of many beautiful presents. Punch was served in the dining room throughout the evening and refreshments of cake and ice cream were served at the close of the reception. Guests were present from Milton, Milton Mills, Brookfield, Wakefield, Union, Middleton, Dover, Massachusetts and other places. The evening was much enjoyed by all (Farmington News, [Friday,] September 21, 1906).

Daughter Lucia C. Plummer married in Milton, September 20, 1906, George E. Fox, she of Milton and he of Acton, ME. He was a widowed farmer, aged thirty-seven years, and she was a teacher, aged twenty-nine years. Rev. Myron P. Dickey performed the ceremony. George E. Fox was born in Acton, ME, circa 1870, son of Henry L. and Sarah A. (Moulton) Fox.

The Milton selectmen of 1907 were B.B. Plummer, E.A. Wentworth, and H. Plummer. (Edgar A. Wentworth (1856-1932) was a teamster; and Hazen Plummer (1866-1935) was an inspector for the United Shoe Machinery Company).

B.B. Plummer of Milton bought Holstein-Frisian stock from Ashton Rollins in 1909 (Houghton, 1909).

Bard B. Plummer, a general farm farmer, aged sixty-three years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Eliza D. Plummer, aged fifty-eight years (b. MA), his son, Bard B. Plummer, Jr., a home farm farmer, aged thirty years (b. NH), his daughter-in-law, Ruth L. Plummer, aged twenty-four years (b. NH), his daughter, Orinda Plummer, aged twenty-four years (b. NH), his granddaughter, Elizabeth Plummer, aged one year (b. NH), his sister-in-law, Fannie Littlefield, aged sixty-two years (b. MA), his nephew, Roscoe Littlefield, aged thirty-four years (b. CA), and his servant, John M. Smith, a general farm laborer, aged twenty-two years (b. VT).

In March 1911, the NH General Court approved the incorporation of the Nute Charitable Association (as set forth in the last will of Lewis W. Nute.

Section 1. That Everett F. Fox, Charles A. Jones, M.A.H. Hart, Harry L. Avery, Walter E. Looney, Charles D. Fox, Moses G. Chamberlain, and their successors are hereby made a body corporate by the name of the Nute Charitable Association, and shall have and enjoy all the powers and privileges and be subject to all the liabilities incident to corporations of a similar nature, and by that name may sue and be sued. Harry L. Avery or Charles A. Jones may call the first meeting of said association by letter mailed to each member of said association at least seven days prior to the date set for said first meeting (NH General Court, 1911a).

Section 1 was amended by the NH Senate to add the names Bard B. Plummer, and Joseph H. Avery after the name Harry L. Avery (NH General Court, 1911b).

B.B. Plummer appeared in the Milton business directories of 1912, and 1917, as a Milton justice-of-the-peace. He appeared also as a selectman in 1912, manufacturer of agricultural implements in 1912 and 1917, and proprietor of a stock farm in 1917.

Personal. Mr. and Mrs. Carl Thomas and Mrs. and Mrs. Leo Gilman motored to Milton Three Ponds Monday night and attended the dance given by the “Three of Us” club of that town. The Misses Susan Haley, Maud Carter and Orinda Plummer were hostesses (Farmington News, August 16, 1912).

WEST MILTON. The town went substantially republican in spite of a small vote. Selectmen elected were: Forest T. [L.] Marsh, Milton Mills, Bard B. Plummer, Milton, Fred Reynolds, West Milton; Everett F. Fox, town treasurer; Harry L. Avery, town clerk; Robert Page, member of school board for three years (Farmington News, March 16, 1917).

WEST MILTON. The town meeting at Milton drew out a big vote as the result of the sharp contest for the selection of the third selectman. The old board was re-elected, as follows: Selectmen, Forrest L. Marsh, Bard B. Plummer, James F. Reynolds; town clerk, Harry L. Avery; treasurer, Everett F. Fox. School meeting was held at the close of town meeting and Dr. M.A.H. Hart and Everett F. Fox were unanimously re-elected as member of the board of education and school treasurer, respectively (Farmington News, March 18, 1918).

Daughter Fanny W. Plummer married in Oakland, CA, January 4, 1919, Burge P. Littlefield. Rev. F.G. Van Horn performed the ceremony. Littlefield was born in CA, October 12, 1878, son of Charles A. and Mary F. (Wentworth) Littlefield. (His very name, Burge Plummer Littlefield, certainly suggests some prior connection to the Plummer family).

LOCAL. At the annual meeting Tuesday, the town of Milton unanimously elected a republican board of officers, as follows: Selectmen, Bard B. Plummer, Forrest L. Marsh, Fred Chamberlin; town clerk, Harry L. Avery, town treasurer, Everett F. Fox (Farmington News, March 14, 1919).

Bard B. Plummer died of lobar pneumonia on Plummer’s Ridge in Milton, October 22, 1919, aged seventy-three years, four months, and four days. James J. Buckley, M.D., signed the death certificate.

LOCAL. Deep regret is expressed throughout this community over the death of Bard B. Plummer, Sr., which occurred at his home on Plummer’s Ridge, Milton, Wednesday evening, following an attack of pneumonia. He was a native and lifelong resident of the town where his death occurred, having been born there 73 years ago. During his lifetime he was active and influential in the affairs of his community and had held and discharged honorably and faithfully the duties of most of the offices within the gift of his townspeople. The deceased was prominent in Masonic circles and possessed a wide and devoted acquaintance throughout the state. Sympathy from all quarters is tendered the bereaved widow, three daughters and one son, who survive. For many years the deceased was a member and deacon of the Congregational church at Milton. Funeral will be held from the home Saturday afternoon at two o’clock (Farmington News, October 24, 1919).

Daughter Orinda Plummer married in Manhattan, New York, NY, April 19, 1921, William G. Lyttle. He was born in Killoran, Sligo, Ireland, December 15, 1877, son of Robert and Frances “Fanny” (Burns) Lyttle. (He died in Rochester, NY, January 3, 1925).

Orinda P. [(Plummer)] Little, an electrical bookkeeper, aged forty-three years (b. NH), headed a Sharon, MA, household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. Her household included her twin sons, William G. Little, aged eight years (b. MA), and Robert A. Little, aged eight years (b. MA), her mother, Eliza D. [(Wentworth)] Plummer, retired, aged seventy-eight years (b. MA), and her sister, Fanny W. [(Plummer)] Littlefield, a private family housekeeper, aged fifty-one years (b. NH). Orinda P. Little owned their house at 11 Crest Road, which was valued at $8,500. They did not have a radio set. All three women were widows, Orinda P. Little having married at thirty-four years of age, Eliza D. Plummer at twenty-three years of age, and Fanny W. Littlefield at forty years of age.

Eliza D. (Wentworth) Plummer died in Sharon, MA, March 12, 1931, aged seventy-nine years.

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References:

American Guernsey Cattle Club. (1904). Herd Register. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=MNJIAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA1-PT442

Biographical Review Publishing. (1897). Biographical Review: Containing Life Sketches of Leading Citizens of Merrimack and Sullivan Counties, New Hampshire. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=C2sjAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA157

Find a Grave. (2017, October 19). Enoch W. Plumer. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/184409140/enoch-w-plumer

Houghton, Frederick L. (1909). Holstein-Frisian Register. Retrieved from

Merrill, Georgia D. (1889). History of Carroll County, New Hampshire. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=xmMKyZxlU5MC&pg=PA196

NH Constitutional Convention. (1918). Manual of the Constitutional Convention of 1918. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=jshGAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA215

NH Department of Agriculture. (1901). Report of the Board of Agriculture. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=BYgZAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA200

NH General Court. (1893). State of New Hampshire Annual Reports for 1893. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=P2obAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA241

NH General Court. (1911a). Journals of the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=vmQ3AQAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA726

NH General Court. (1911b). Journal of the House of Representatives of the State of New-Hampshire. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=iT8tAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA317

NH Grand Lodge. (1870). Journal of Proceedings of the M. W. Grand Lodge of the Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons, of the State of New Hampshire. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=smUtAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA83

NH Grand Lodge. (1879). Journal of Proceedings of the M. W. Grand Lodge of the Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons, of the State of New Hampshire. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=EGQtAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA39

NH State Grange. (1894). Journal of Proceedings of the New Hampshire State Grange. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=nmkkAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA5-PA87

Pennsylvania Prison Society. (1903). Journal of Prison Discipline and Philanthropy. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=7vI_AQAAMAAJ&pg=RA5-PA89

Wikipedia. (2021, July 30). National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Grange_of_the_Order_of_Patrons_of_Husbandry

By Muriel Bristol | October 3, 2021

In his June 1879 report, the NH Superintendent of Instruction provided some statistics regarding Milton.

Milton’s town school committee members were identified as being J.V. [J.P.] Bickford (1844-1910), I.N. [J.N.] Lowell (1846-1903), and B.B. Plummer (1846-1919).

Milton had 11 school districts and 12 schools in town, 1 of which was a graded schools and 1 a town high school. There were 12 schoolhouses, and none that were unfit for use. Maps and globes were available in 2 schoolhouses. The value of schoolhouses, furnishings and sites was estimated at $8,000, and the value of apparatus was estimated at $100. Only 2 of the district schools had an average of 12 scholars of less; and none had an average of 6 scholars or less. The average run of district school classes was 16.5 weeks. (The Strafford County average was 22.64 weeks).

Milton had 1 fractional school district. It paid $51.00 in superintendence. Some 30 students had no absences during the year. It had 5 students attending private schools.

Milton had 180 male and 140 female students enrolled. Of these, 20 were aged under six years, 277 were aged between 6 and 16 years, and 23 were aged over 16 years. There were 40 students pursuing higher branches, and there were 6 students aged between 5 and 15 years that were not attending any school. Average daily attendance was 230 students.

There was 1 male teacher, making an average of $50 per month, and 17 female teachers, making an average of $25.00 per month. Of these, 2 were teaching for the first time, and 8 had been teachers for more than one term. (One might infer that the remaining 8 had been teachers already for a single prior term). Of these, 1 of them had been to Normal school. Of 242 Strafford County teachers, only 19 (7.6%) had been to Normal school).

Under the heading Private Schools of a Higher Grade, Milton had its Classical Institute, which was situated at Milton Three Ponds. It had been chartered and organized in 1866. The value of its building, apparatus and grounds was $2,800. It had a 44-week school year, which began in September. It had no male teachers and 2 female teachers; and it had 17 male and 31 female students. Of these, 37 of them were NH residents, 18 of them were pursuing higher branches.

The school committee had available to it $3,980.17; of which $1,392.89 came from the town tax for support of schools, $2,234.68 came from district school taxes, $116.45 came from the literary fund, $159.00 came from local funds and the dog tax, $77.05 came from the railroad tax, and $0.00 came from contributions.

Milton expended $910.15 for new buildings, $1,327.13 in interest, $150.00 in permanent repairs, $0.oo in miscellaneous expenses; and $1,341.85 in teacher salaries, for a grand total of $3,780.13. The average cost of salaries and miscellaneous expenses per scholar was $4.37. (The county average cost per scholar was $7.55).

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Previous in sequence: Milton in NH Education Report, 1878; next in sequence: Milton in NH Education Report, 1881

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References:

NH Superintendent of Public Instruction. (1879). Annual Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=eiQlAQAAIAAJ

By Muriel Bristol | September 29, 2021

Continued from Milton’s N.B. Thayer & Co. Shoe Factory – 1890-09

No indication has come to hand of any activity at the N.B. Thayer factory in Milton after 1909. But the company did persist for twenty years at its East Rochester, NH, and Roxbury, MA, locations under Noah B. Thayer’s son, Frank H. Thayer, and then, after him, for some few years under new management (that included some of N.B. Thayer’s grandchildren).

STATE NEWS. N.B. Thayer Co., of East Rochester, is making preparations for the manufacture of the paper cartons that they use in the sale of their shoes and they have already received the machinery and it is being installed (Farmington News, May 6, 1910).

James B. Edgerly, a bank cashier, aged seventy-six years (b. NH), headed a Farmington, NH, household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his daughter, Annie Thayer, aged thirty-nine years (b. NH), his son-in-law (of four years), Elmer Thayer, a shoe manufacturer, aged forty-eight years (b. MA), his grandson, James E. Thayer, aged three years (b. NH), his servant, Nellie V. Tufton, a private family housekeeper, aged nineteen years (b. NH), and his lodger, Charles L. Osgood, a hotel hostler, aged fifty-four years (b. NH). James B. Edgerly owned their house on North Main Street, free-and-clear. Annie Thayer was the mother of one child, of whom one was still living.

Frank H. Thayer, a shoe factory manager, aged forty-six years (b. MA), headed a Boston, MA, household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of eight years), Alice W. Thayer, aged thirty-nine years (b. IL), his children, Louise Thayer, aged five years (b. MA), Richard W. Thayer, aged three years (b. MA), and Robert T.B. Thayer, aged one year (b. MA), his brothers-in-law, George A. Waterman, a neurological physician, aged thirty-seven years (b. IL), and William E. Waterman, a cigar manufacturing company president, aged thirty-five years (b. IL), and his servants, Lizzie A. Hennessy, a cook, aged twenty-seven years (b. Ireland (Eng.)), Nora F. Kennelly, a 2nd maid, aged twenty-eight years (b. Ireland (Eng.)), and Sarah M. Keeley, a nursemaid, aged thirty-one years (b. CT). Frank H. Thayer rented their house at 395 Marlborough Street. Alice W. Thayer was the mother of three children, of whom three were still living.

Carrie McBride, own income, aged forty years (b. MA), headed a Weymouth, MA, household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. Her household included her children, Marjorie McBride, aged eighteen years (b. MA), and Edwin McBride, aged sixteen years (b. MA). Carrie McBride owned their house at 11 Central Avenue, free-and-clear; she was the mother of two children, of whom two were still living.

Frank E. Fernald appeared again in the Boston directory of 1911, as a superintendent, with his house at 312 Warren street, in Roxbury. By the 1912 directory, he had again “rem. to E. Rochester, NH.”

LOCAL. James Crotty, foreman of the N.B. Thayer Shoe factory, will take a similar position with the H.B. Reed Company of Manchester, and his place is taken by Berthold Demeritt of Milton. Prior to leaving, Mr. Crotty was presented by his employes with a solid gold pen. Another change in the corps of foremen at the factory is the selection of John Fyfe of St Louis, Mo., foreman of the packing room (Farmington News, October 6, 1911).

(Berthold I. Demerritt appeared in the Milton directory of 1909, as a shoe operative in East Rochester, with house at 34 Silver street, corner of Church street. (See also Mrs. DeMerritt’s Arbutus)).

The N.B. Thayer & Co. lasters in East Rochester, NH, went out on strike briefly in December 1911. Quality control procedures and policies seem to have been at issue.

State News. The strike of the lasters at the N.B. Thayer shoe factory in East Rochester has been settled and the employees have returned to work. The company is to have an inspector examine the shoes before they leave the lasting room and any defect noticed can be remedied there before the shoe is entirely made. The company has also removed the edict of the employees buying the shoes that they damage. The wage system remains as it was before the strike (Farmington News, December 15, 1911).

Frank E. Fernald married (2nd) in Rochester, NH, April 17, 1912, Lula A. Tuttle, he of Milton and she of Farmington, NH. He was a shoe factory superintendent, aged forty-six years, and she was a houseworker, aged thirty-four years. Rev. Frank H. Libby performed the ceremony. She was born in Farmington, NH, circa 1877, daughter of Charles E. and Justina (Ham) Tuttle.

LOCAL. A marriage solemnized April 24 was made public this week, that of Frank E. Fernald of Milton, superintendent of the N.B. Thayer shoe factory at East Rochester, and Lulu A. Tuttle of Farmington. The ceremony was performed in Rochester by the Rev. Frank H. Libby. The newly wedded couple have taken up their residence at Hotel Glendon, East Rochester (Farmington News, May 3, 1912).

Frank E. Fernald appeared in the Rochester, NH, directories of 1912, and 1917, as superintendent at N.B.T. & Co., boarding at Glendon House, in East Rochester. GLENDON HOUSE, John W. Tebbets, proprietor, was at 58 Main street (“Three Minutes’ Walk from Railway Station”), in East Rochester.

NEWS OF THE BOYS. E. ROCHESTER, N.H. Frank W. Walsh has returned to his old post as foreman of the making room of the N.B. Thayer Co. (Shoe and Leather Facts, May 1917).

NEWS OF THE BOYS. E. ROCHESTER, N.H. The room of the N.B. Thayer Company will be in charge of Frank Walsh (Shoe and Leather Facts, June 1917).

(Frank W. Walsh appeared in the Rochester, NH, directory of 1917, as a shoe operative in Farmington, NH, – i.e., prior to his return to N.B. Thayer’s making room – boarding on the Lebanon, ME, side, in East Rochester. By 1920, he resided in Cambridge, MA).

NEWS OF THE BOYS. E. ROCHESTER, N.H. L.J. Stewart, former stitching room machinist, has been promoted to the position of foreman of this department in the factory of N.B. Thayer & Co., East Rochester, N.H. (Shoe and Leather Facts, November 1917).

(Lloyd J. Stuart appeared in the Rochester, NH, directory of 1917, as a machinist for N.B.T & Co., boarding at 10 Summer street, in East Rochester).

PERSONAL. C.C. Butler has entered the employ of the N.B. Thayer Shoe Co., at East Rochester (Farmington News, November 30, 1917).

(CHARLES C. BUTLER appeared in the Farmington, NH, directory of 1917, as a Goodyear welter for the T.&O. [Thayer & Osborne, i.e., Thayer-Osborne] Co., with his house at 12 Glen street).

Frank H. Thayer’s second son, Robert B. Thayer, died in Boston, MA, October 17, 1918, aged ten years.

N.B. Thayer’s granddaughter, Marjorie M. McBride, married in Weymouth, MA, in November 1919, Stanley Heald, both of Weymouth. He was born in Weymouth, MA, June 8, 1891, daughter of Arthur C. and Charlotte B. (Tower) Heald. (Her brother would marry his sister in the following year).

PERSONALS. Miss Priscilla West has returned to her home on Cottage street after spending a few days in South Weymouth, Mass., where she attended the wedding of Miss Marjorie MacBride and Stanley Heald of South Weymouth (Rutland Daily Herald, November 20, 1919).

Elmer F. Thayer, a shoe factory partner, aged fifty-eight years (b. MA), headed a Farmington, NH, household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Annie E. Thayer, aged forty-nine years (b. NH), his child, James E. Thayer, aged twelve years (b. NH), and his father-in-law, James B. Edgely, aged eighty-five years (b. NH). Elmer F. Thayer owned their home at 55 North Main Street, free-and-clear.

Frank H. Thayer, a shoe manufacturer, aged fifty-six years (b. MA), headed a Boston, MA, household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Alice U. Thayer, aged forty-nine years (b. IL), and his children, Louise Thayer, aged fifteen years (b. MA), and Richard W. Thayer, aged thirteen years (b. MA). Frank H. Thayer rented their suite at the Charlesgate Hotel, at 535 Beacon Street in Boston, MA.

Carrie T. Mcbride, a widow, aged fifty years (b. MA), headed a Weymouth, MA, household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. Her household included her son-in-law, Stanley Heal [Heald], a shoe shop assistant superintendent, aged twenty-six years (b. MA), and her daughter, Marjorie Heal [Heald], aged twenty-four years (b. MA). Carrie T. McBride owned their house at 40 Fogg Road, fee-and-clear.

Edith M. Varney, a widow, aged fifty-five years (b. NH), headed a Rochester, NH, household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. Her household included her son, Edgar G. Varney, shoe factory supply man, aged twenty-six years (b. NH), and her boarders, Ellen Bean, a widow, aged seventy-seven years (b. NH), and Edwin T. Mcbride, shoe factory [supply man?], aged twenty-six years (b. MA). Edith M. Varney owned their house, free-and-clear.

The NH Bureau of Labor reported in 1920 that N.B. Thayer & Co. of East Rochester, NH, had 255 employees, 155 of them male and 100 of them female. They manufactured men and boys’ shoes (NH Bureau of Labor, 1920).

N.B. Thayer’s grandson, Edwin T. McBride, married in Weymouth, MA, June 12, 1920, Dorothea Heald, both of Weymouth, MA. Rev J. Weston Atwood performed the ceremony. She was born in Weymouth, MA, February 10, 1898, daughter of Arthur C. and Charlotte B. (Tower) Heald. (His sister had married her brother in the preceding year).

MISS HEALD, WEYMOUTH, BRIDE OF E.T. MACBRIDE. WEYMOUTH, June 13 – In the presence of guests from Orange, N.J.; Nyack-on-Hudson, N.Y.: Boston, Farmington, N.H.; Cohasset, Abington, Hingham, Newton, Rochester, N.H.; Greenville, Me.; the Weymouths and nearby towns, Miss Dorothea Heald, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur C. Heald of Main st., South Weymouth, and Edwin Thayer MacBride, son of Mrs. Edwin P. MacBride of Rochester, N.H., were married last night at the home of the bride’s parents. The ceremony was performed at 7 o’clock by Rev J. Weston Atwood of Abington, the double ring service being used. The bride was given in marriage by her father. Mrs. Albert Vinal of South Weymouth, a sister of the bride, was matron of honor. Miss Louise Sanders of Greenville, Me., the maid of honor and Charlotte T. Heald, a niece of the bride, the flower girl. The ushers were Richard H. Gould of White Plains, N.Y., Charles T. Heald, Stanley Heald and Albert Vinal of South Weymouth. The wedding marches were played by Donald T. Gammons and Burgess C. Tower of Cohasset, cousins of the bride, while an orchestra provided music during the reception. The bride was gowned in white tulle over silver cloth, wore a veil and carried lilies of the valley. The matron of honor wore blue satin, the maid of honor pink satin and they carried pink sweet peas. The flower girl was dressed in pink tulle over pink silk. A reception followed the ceremony from 7:30 to 9 o’clock, with the parents of the bride and mother of the groom assisting. A wedding lunch was served (Boston Globe, June 14, 1920).

Shoe Factory Buyers of the United States. Complete List of Buyers of Upper Leather, Sole Leather, Supplies and Other Materials, in the Shoe Industry, Arranged Alphabetically by States, Cities and Towns. NEW HAMPSHIRE. N.B. Thayer & Co., Inc., East Rochester. S.B. Stearns, supt.; E. Thayer McBride supplies; F.H. Thayer, leather. … Thayer-Osborne Shoe Co., Farmington. D.V. Osborne, pres’t; E.F. Thayer leather; Geo N. Osgood, Fremont. Geo N. Osgood, supt. and buyer (Shoe and Leather Reporter, May 18, 1922).

The NH Bureau of Labor reported in 1924 that N.B. Thayer & Co. of East Rochester, NH, had 236 employees, 168 of them male and 68 of them female. They manufactured men and boys’ shoes (NH Bureau of Labor, 1924).

N.B. Thayer’s second daughter (and youngest child), Carrie M. (Thayer) McBride, died in Weymouth, MA, April 16, 1924, aged fifty-four years.

ROBIN IS SEEN IN EAST ROCHESTER. EAST ROCHESTER, N.H., Dec. 21 – Local weather sharps were somewhat perplexed today by the unusual appearance of a robin at the shoe factory or the N.B. Thayer Company, here, shortly before 3 o’clock. Employees of the packing room were surprised on looking out the window to see the bird standing on the snow on the roof of the office. Shortly after the robin made its appearance a telephone call was received from Concord endeavoring to learn the bird’s whereabouts (Boston Globe, December 22, 1925).

N.B. Thayer’s third son, Elmer F. Thayer, who was a partner in the Thayer-Osborne Co. of Farmington, NH, died in Boston, MA, May 14, 1926, aged sixty-four years, eight months, and thirteen days.

DEATHS. THAYER – In Boston, May 14th, Elmer Francis Thayer, aged 64 years, 8 months, 13 days. Funeral services at his late residence, Main street, Farmington, New Hampshire, on Sunday, May 16th, at 1:30 p.m., Standard time. Relatives and friends invited (Boston Globe, May 14, 1926).

In August 1929, The Boston Globe published what appears to have been N.B. Thayer & Co.’s last advertisement seeking shoe workers for its East Rochester, NH, factory.

MALE HELP WANTED. VAMPERS on men’s and boys’ high-grade shoes – no labor trouble. Apply N.B. THAYER & CO., East Rochester, N.H., dSu3t au2 (Boston Globe, August 3, 1929).

Just over a month later, Frank H. Thayer, retired – he was not a well man – and new management took over.

BOSTON MAN TO QUIT E. ROCHESTER SHOE PLANT. ROCHESTER, N.H., Sept. 25 – A new organization is being formed to take over the firm of N.B. Thayer & Co., shoe manufacturers at East Rochester. The firm name will be continued, but announcement has been made that the new concern will take over the business on Nov 1. Frank H. Thayer of Beacon st., Boston, whose father originally started the company and who has been the active head of the company, will retire, and his place will be taken over by Herbert Posner of the large firm of Dr. A. Posner & Co., of New York and Brooklyn, whose shoes tor several years have been manufactured at East Rochester. Stock to the amount of $150,000 is being issued and will be taken by Roy M. McQuillen of East Rochester, the president of the company, Mr. Posner and the salesforce and employes of the company in equal amounts. No change is to be made in the executive personnel of the company. The capacity of the East Rochester factory will be greatly increased, following the reorganization after Nov 1 (Boston Globe, September 26, 1929).

ROCHESTER SHOE EMPLOYES GIVEN SHARES IN FIRM. Under a cooperative plan of manufacture and distribution of Thayer shoes, announced Tuesday at the offices of the N.B. Thayer Shoe Co., men who have been associated with the firm 30 years are taken into the company. Under the plan Frank Fernald, factory superintendent for many years, becomes vice president (Farmington News, October 4, 1929).

WEYMOUTH. Mrs. E. Thayer McBride of Main st., South Weymouth, entertained friends at whist yesterday afternoon (Boston Globe, November 2, 1929).

N.B. Thayer’s fourth (and youngest) son, the recently retired Frank H. Thayer, died in Boston, MA, December 7, 1929, aged sixty-five years.

FRANK H. THAYER. Frank H. Thayer, treasurer and general manager of N.B. Thayer & Co., Inc., shoe manufacturers of East Rochester, N.H., died at his home, 282 Beacon st, Saturday afternoon, after an illness of five weeks. He was born at South Weymouth, Mass., Jan. 4, 1864, the son of Noah Blanchard and Lucy (Newcomb) Thayer. His father was one of the pioneer shoe manufacturers of this country and he himself was very widely known in the shoe and leather trade. Surviving him are his wife, Alice (Waterman) Thayer; a son, Richard W. Thayer, and a daughter, Mrs. Francis Tilden Nichols (Boston Globe, [Monday,] December 9, 1929).

FRANK H. THAYER. Private services for Frank H. Thayer, treasurer and general manager of N.B. Thayer & Co., Inc., shoe manufacturers of East Rochester, N.H., were held yesterday. Burial was in Mt. Auburn cemetery. Mr. Thayer died at his home, 282 Beacon st., Boston, after an illness of five weeks. He was born in South Weymouth, January 4, 1864, the son of Noah Blanchard and Lucy (Newcomb) Thayer. His father was one of the pioneer shoe manufacturers of this country. Surviving Mr. Thayer are his wife, Alice (Waterman) Thayer; a son, Richard W. Thayer, and a daughter, Mrs. Francis Tilden Nichols (Boston Globe, December 10, 1929).

IN MEMOBIAM. Frank Thayer. Frank Thayer, widely known shoe manufacturer, formerly of Milton, whose large industry in more recent years has been prominently identified with East Rochester, died suddenly at his home in Boston last Saturday, December 7. He was 65 years of age and had been in failing health for some time. Complications of the heart hastened the end. He was recognized as one of New England’s foremost manufacturers and had followed the shoe Industry all his life, and with the associations of his father and brother, had wrested success from the many vicissitudes of the business. He is survived by his wife and two children, a daughter, Mrs. Francis Nichols of Great Neck, L.I., and a son, Richard Thayer, a student at the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration. Funeral was held from the chapel in Mt. Auburn cemetery Monday at noon and was private to the family. Mrs. B.F. [E.F.] Thayer of this town and her son, James E Thayer, attended (Farmington News, December 13, 1929).

N.B. Thayer & Co., Inc., of East Rochester, NH, registered (No. 298,915) their Thayer Shoe Combo-Arch trademark with the U.S. Patent Office, April 15, 1930 (U.S. Patent Office, 1930).

Annie E. Thayer, a widow, aged sixty years (b. NH), headed a Farmington, NH, household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. Her household included her son, James E. Thayer, aged twenty-three years (b. NH). Annie E. Thayer owned their house at 65 North Main Street, which was valued at $80,000. They did not have a radio set.

Alice Thayer, a widow, aged fifty-nine years (b. IL), headed a Boston, MA, household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. Her household included her son, Richard W. Thayer, aged twenty-three years (b. MA), and her servants, Mary A. Gallagher, a private family waitress, aged twenty-eight years (b. Irish Free State), Annie Murray, a private family cook, aged forty-five years (b. Irish Free State), and Belle Donegan, a private family maid, aged forty-three years (b. Irish Free State). Alice Thayer owned their home at 282 Beacon Street, which was valued at $30,000. They had a radio set.

Edwin T. Macbride, a shoe factory sales manager, aged thirty-six years (b. MA), headed a Weymouth, MA, household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of nine years), Darthea H. Macbride, aged thirty-two years (b. MA), his children, Thais Macbride, aged eight years (b. NH), Edwin T. Macbride, aged five years (b. NH), and Jean Macbride, aged two years (b. MA), and his servants, Katherine Flavin, a private family maid, aged twenty-six years (b. Ireland), and Elva Derusha, a private family maid, aged eighteen years (b. MA). Edwin T. McBride rented their house at 816 Main Street, for $125 per month. They had a radio set.

N.B. Thayer’s grandson, Richard W. Thayer, died from a nine-story fall in Albany, NY, November 2, 1932, aged twenty-six years.

BOSTON MAN JUMPS TO DEATH IN ALBANY. R.W. Thayer Prominent at Harvard. ALBANY, N.Y., Nov. 2 (AP) – Richard Waterman Thayer, 26, Harvard graduate and member of a prominent Boston family, jumped to his death from a ninth-floor room of the DeWitt Clinton Hotel today. His leap was witnessed by a man who lives on the opposite side of Eagle st. from the hotel. This witness, Harry Smith, said he saw Thayer climb out of his room and cling to the window casing for a few seconds, looking down. Two men were walking below. After they had passed, Thayer leaped. He died a few minutes later in Memorial Hospital. Shortly before plunging to his death, Thayer telephoned to the manager of the hotel, John J. Hyland, and asked that the house physician be sent to his room. He complained of sickness and dizziness. Thayer was the son of Mrs. Frank H. Thayer of 1282 Beacon st., Boston. His father was a shoe manufacturer. The son was graduated in 1929 from Harvard, where he had attained prominence in athletics. Last June he was graduated from the Harvard School of of Business Administration. He left Boston for Albany a few day ago. In his baggage was found a bill for accommodations at the Capitol Hotel. Albany, dated Oct 31. He left no written message in his room. Bank books and about $80 in cash were found in his effects (Boston Globe, November 2, 1932).

ROCHESTER, N.H., Nov. 2 – Richard W. Thayer was a director of the N.B. Thayer Shoe Company of this city. He was the son of Frank H. Thayer, who for years was owner of the factory here. Young Thayer visited the local factory here about one week ago (Boston Globe, November 3, 1932).

The coroner, after a discussion with the mother, Alice A. (Waterman) Thayer, brought in a verdict of accidental death (Glen Falls Post-Star, November 3, 1932).

FUNERAL SERVICES HELD FOR RICHARD W. THAYER. Funeral services were held in Mt. Auburn Cemetery chapel this noon for Richard Waterman Thayer, Harvard graduate and member of a prominent Boston family, who was killed in Albany, N.Y., after falling from the ninth floor of a hotel. Rev. Robert L. Bull, Jr., assistant rector of Trinity Church, Boston, officiated at the services. Thayer, the son of the late Frank H. Thayer of 282 Beacon st, Boston, was a graduate of Harvard in the class of 1929 (Boston Globe, November 4, 1932).

PERSONALS. Mrs. Elmer F. Thayer and son, James E. Thayer, were called to Boston last week by the funeral of Richard Waterman Thayer, whose tragic death occurred in Albany on November 2. Richard Thayer was the son of the late Frank H. Thayer, who for years was owner of the N.B. Thayer Shoe Company in Rochester, and the young man was a director of the concern (Farmington News, November 11, 1932).

Adopts Shorter Week. East Rochester, Aug. 4–Ten per cent increases in piece work prices, and the same pay for day help for 40 hours as for 48 hours a week previously, were announced last night by the N.B. Thayer Shoe Company, first industry in the city to display the blue eagle of the National Recovery Act (Portsmouth Herald, August 4, 1933).

ROCHESTER SHOE FACTORY HEAD DENIES REPORTS. East Rochester, Aug. 17 – Despite many rumors, announcement has been made by Ross Harrison of the N.B. Thayer shoe factory at East Rochester, that it is not about to shut down. He made the following statement: “The Thayer Shoe Company is busier now than it has been for some time. We are producing more shoes than ever. Because we are producing a cheaper grade of shoes than we have heretofore, the sales force has been found to be unnecessary. We are, though, employing more people than at any time since before 1930. We are here to stay.” The announcement was highly pleasing to local shoemakers, who for many years have held excellent positions at this factory (Portsmouth Herald, August 17, 1934).

N.B. Thayer & Co. closed its doors in East Rochester, NH, and went out of business in September 1934.

SEVERAL SEEK SHOE FACTORY. Rochester, Sept. 21. – Representatives of several shoe firms from Massachusetts and New Hampshire have inspected the shoe factory of the former N.B. Thayer company at East Rochester with the idea in view of moving to East Rochester, and to manufacture shoes. It is understood that the factory will go to the highest bidder when it is disposed of by the court. One of the companies yesterday made an announcement that they wished to interview the Thayer employes at the factory Saturday morning, September 22, at 11 o’clock Eastern Standard Time (Portsmouth Herald, September 21, 1934).

SEE WHAT’S FLYING IN ROCHESTER. East Rochester, Dec. 19. – With winter but four days away, according to the calendar, a butterfly was found yesterday morning near the boiler house of the N.B. Thayer Shoe Co., by workmen (Portsmouth Herald, December 20, 1934).

NEARLY READY TO OPEN FACTORY AT ROCHESTER. East Rochester, Jan. 9 – Manufacture of men’s shoes will commence soon at the factory of the former N.B. Thayer Company here, which has been closed since last September, when the Thayer Company went out of business. The factory was purchased last November by Samuel J. Katz of Rochester, owner of the Hubbard Shoe Company. William S. Fraser of Dover, for many years connected with the Farmington Shoe Company there, has been engaged as superintendent and is now preparing the factory for the resumption of activities by Feb. 1 and possibly sooner (Portsmouth Herald, January 9, 1935).

Former N.B. Thayer & Co. Milton boss laster, Roxbury foreman, and East Rochester superintendent Frank Fernald died of an apparent heart attack in Milton, December 14, 1944, aged seventy-eight years. M.A.H. Hart, M.D., signed the death certificate.

IN MEMORIAM. Frank Fernald. Frank Fernald, aged 78, well known resident of Milton, died suddenly last Thursday morning at his home in that town. Mr. Fernald was born in Melrose, Mass., January 3, 1866, the son of Eli and Eliza A (Felch) Fernald. During his active life he was identified with shoe making. For several years he was employed by the N.B. Thayer Shoe company in Roxbury and for a good many years afterward was employed as superintendent with this company at its East Rochester plant. While thus employed he lived in East Rochester. Following his retirement from this work, he removed to Milton, where he had lived since. He leaves his wife, Mrs. Lucy Fernald. Funeral services were held at the Norman L. Otis funeral parlor last Sunday afternoon, with Rev. Ralph Townsend, pastor of the Milton Community church, officiating, and the remains were taken to Farmington cemetery (Farmington News, December 22, 1944).

Annie M. (Edgerly) Thayer died in Farmington, NH, May 16, 1957, aged eighty-six years.

DEATHS. THAYER – Mrs. Annie Edgerly, widow of Elmer Francis Thayer, died in Farmington, N.H., May 16; mother of James E. Thayer, grandmother of Miss Sylvia Thayer of Wellesley College and James E. Thayer, Jr., of Yale College and Richard Perkins Thayer. Funeral will be Sunday, May 19, at 2 o’clock in the First Congregational Church, Farmington (Boston Globe, May 18, 1957).

Mrs. Annie Thayer Dies in 87th Year. A brief, simple service, marked by the poetry of Robert Brown, which she loved, was conducted by Rev. Linwood Potter for the funeral of Mrs. Annie Edgerly Thayer Sunday in the Congregational Church. Organist Elton Young played musical selections she had liked. The church seemed one mass of flowers, remembrances of hundreds. Burial, arranged by the Otis funeral home, was in the local Pine Grove cemetery. Mrs. Thayer, 86, succumbed last Thursday night at her home on No. Main street. She had suffered a stroke the previous Sunday, but had been in ill health the past two years. Interested in a variety of present-day and historical activities, Mrs. Thayer remained active, and attended out-of-town events only a few days before her death. Her husband, Elmer Francis Thayer, died in 1926. She leaves her son, James Edgerly Thayer, president of the Farmington National Bank, a granddaughter, Sylvia, now a junior at Wellesley college, Wellesley, Mass., and two grandsons, James E. Edgerly, Jr., a freshman at Yale university, New Haven, Conn., and Richard Perkins Thayer, Jr., a pupil in local schools. Mrs. Thayer was born in Farmington, Nov. 14, 1870, the daughter of James Bartlett and Maria (Fernald) Edgerly. She graduated from local schools in 1889. She became associated with the local bank, and has continued as a stockholder. She was in the middle of a 5-generation group connected with the bank. She was wed to Mr. Thayer in 1905. Mrs. Thayer was noted for her many and varied philanthropies, many of which were given in the guise of anonymous donors. During the years she helped organize such groups as the Eastern Star, Woman’s clubs and Garden clubs, and retained active interest to serve repeatedly as an officer. Her far-flung associations and friendships were cemented further during a world cruise some years ago. Her memberships included: Farmington, Alton and Rochester Woman’s clubs; Haven Hill and Farmington Garden clubs; Farmington-New Durham, Wakefield-Brookfield, and New Hampshire Historical societies; Mary Torr Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution; Farmington and Boston Browning societies; Pewter Collectors club of America; Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America; Daughters of Colonial Wars in America; Fraternal Chapter, O.E.S.; Piscataqua Pioneers; the board of Children’s Aid society; First Congregational church and Ladies aid; trustee of the Goodwin Public library; Frisbie Hospital aid association; Society for Preservation of New England Antiquities; the Rushlight club of Boston; Colonial Dames of America in New Hampshire; local and state Republican clubs. Bearers were Carl Thomas, Norman Fall, Everett Emerson, Dr. George Quinn, Eugene Nute, and Norman Hartfield (Farmington News, May 23, 1957).

Alice A. (Waterman) Thayer died in Boston, MA, May 16, 1965, aged ninety-four years.

DEATHS. THAYER – In Boston, May 16, in her 95th year, Alice Waterman Thayer, resident of Brooklin, Me., widow of Frank Herbert Thayer. Survived by her daughter Mrs. Francis T. Nichols. Funeral service at Bigelow Chapel, Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, on Wednesday. May 19 at 11 a.m. (Boston Globe, May 17, 1965).

N.B. Thayer’s grandson, Edward T. McBride, died in Hingham, MA, August 17, 1965, aged seventy-two years.

E. Thayer MacBride, 72, Shoe Industry Leader, Dies. E. Thayer MacBride. 72, shoe industry leader, died today at his home, 13 Clark rd., Hingham. Born in South Weymouth, he attended schools there, the Chauncy School, Boston, and graduated from M.I.T. in 1915. He served as a pilot in World War I. He was former president of the N.B. Thayer Shoe Co., Rochester, N.H., first President of the Kiwanis in Rochester, member of the Masonic Temple in Rochester, and the recently retired president of the Stetson Shoe Co., South Weymouth. He is survived by his wife Darthea (Heald) MacBride, two daughters, Thais, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Mrs. Robert O. Hoss, of Hingham, a son Edwin T., Jr., of Braintree, a sister, Mrs. Marjory Heald of Hingham, and 11 grandchildren (Boston Globe, August 17, 1965).

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References:

Find a Grave. (2016, May 8). Carrie M. Thayer McBride. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/162351856/carrie-m-macbride

Find a Grave. (2015, August 7). Frank Herbert Thayer. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/150294761/frank-herbert-thayer

Find a Grave. (2008, October 5). Frederick Nicholas Thayer. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/30325265/frederick-nicholas-thayer

Find a Grave. (2008, October 5). Noah Blanchard Thayer. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/30324570/noah-blanchard-thayer

Find a Grave. (2015, August 7). Richard Waterman Thayer. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/150294778/richard-waterman-thayer

McDuffee, Franklin. (1892). History of the Town of Rochester, New Hampshire, from 1722 to 1890. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=rL0yAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA500

MA District Police. (1901). Report of the Chief of the Massachusetts District Police. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=ACcrAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA101

NH Bureau of Labor. (1920). Biennial Report of the Bureau of Labor of the State of New Hampshire. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=J8JMAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA161

NH Bureau of Labor. (1924). Biennial Report of the Bureau of Labor of the State of New Hampshire. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=B8cFoLudq0IC&pg=PA54

NH Supreme Court. (1911). The New Hampshire Reports, June 1908-December 1910. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=TtRIAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA592

Scales, John. (1914). History of Strafford County, New Hampshire and Representative Citizens. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=nGsjAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA734

U.S. Patent Office. (1911). Annual Report of the Commissioner of Patents. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=x4enZnlxHJ0C&pg=PA687

U.S. Patent Office. (1930). Official Gazette of the United States Patent Office. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=DdVF8AmFQOIC&pg=PA739

Wikipedia. (2021, September 24). Kidskin. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kidskin

Wikipedia. (2021, May 4). National Industrial Recovery Act of 1933. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Industrial_Recovery_Act_of_1933

Wikipedia. (2021, August 2). Panic of 1893. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panic_of_1893

By Muriel Bristol | September 26, 2021

Noah Blanchard Thayer was born in Weymouth, MA, January 26, 1830, son of Nicholas and Thais (Shaw) Thayer.

(An Athenian woman named Thaïs accompanied Alexander the Great’s army in Persia. She married one of Alexander’s generals, Ptolemy Soter, and was mother to a line of Egyptian Pharaohs).

Nicolas Thayer, a boot & shoe manufacturer, aged forty-nine years (b. MA), headed a Weymouth, MA, household at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. His household included Thais Thayer, aged forty-nine years (b. MA), Noah B. Thayer, a trader, aged twenty years (b. MA), George R. Thayer, aged ten years (b. MA), Augustine Loud, boot business, aged twenty-seven years (b. MA), Samuel C. Wade, shoe business, aged twenty-one years (b. VT), Lorenzo Lewis, a bookkeeper, aged twenty years (b. ME), John Mehan, boot business, aged twenty-four years (b. Ireland), and Margaret Slaherty, aged nineteen years (b. Ireland). Nicolas Thayer had real estate valued at $3,250; Augustine Loud had real estate valued at $60.

Noah B. Thayer married in Hingham, MA, September 19, 1852, Lucy M. “Marilla” Newcomb, both of Weymouth, MA. He was a clerk, aged twenty-two years, and she was aged twenty years. Rev. Joseph Richardson performed the ceremony. She was born in Randolph, MA, August 8, 1832, daughter of Samuel and Lucy (Blanchard) Newcomb.

Son Charles Everett Thayer was born in Randolph, MA, January 5, 1853. Son Frederick Nicholas Thayer was born in Weymouth, MA, December 14, 1854.

Noah Thayer, aged twenty-five years (b. MA), headed a Randolph, MA, household at the time of the MA State Census of 1855. His household included Marilla Thayer (b. MA), aged twenty-three years, Chas E. Thayer, aged three years (b. MA), and Frederick Thayer, aged eight months (b. MA). They shared a two-family residence with the household of Charles H. Farmer, a bootmaker, aged thirty-one years (b. NH).

Thayer’s eldest son, Charles F. Thayer, died on Warren street in Randolph, MA, May 11, 1856, aged three years, eleven months. He was buried in Weymouth, MA.

N.B. Thayer, a boot manufacturer, aged thirty years (b. MA), headed a Weymouth (“Quincy P.O.”), MA, household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Lucy M. Thayer, aged twenty-eight years (b. MA), and Frederick Thayer, aged five years (b. MA). N.B. Thayer had real estate valued at $1,000 and personal estate valued at $100.

Son Elmer Frances Thayer was born in Weymouth, MA, September 1, 1861. Daughter Chloe Thayer was born in Weymouth, September 13, 1862. Son Frank H. Thayer was born in Weymouth, MA, January 4, 1864.

Noah B. Thayer, a clerk, aged thirty-six years (b. MA), headed a Weymouth, MA, household at the time of the MA State Census of 1865. His household included Lucy M. Thayer, aged thirty-two years (b. MA), Frederic N. Thayer, aged ten years (b. MA), Elmer F. Thayer, aged three years (b. MA), Frank H. Thayer, aged one year (b. MA), I.D. Howe Pettes, a pedlar, aged twenty-six years (b. VT), and Mary E. [(Howe)] Pettes, aged twenty-four years (b. MA).

Noah Blanchard Thayer was initiated into the Orphan’s Hope Lodge, A.F. & A.M., in Weymouth, MA, May 2, 1867. He was passed there, May 29, 1867, and raised there, July 10, 1867.

Daughter Carrie Marilla Thayer was born in Weymouth, MA, June 7, 1869.

Noah B. Thayer appeared in the Weymouth, MA, directory of 1870-71, as a bootmaker on Main street, with his house on Pleasant street, near Main street, in South Weymouth. Nicholas Thayer appeared as a farmer, with his house on Main street, near Pleasant street, in South Weymouth.

Noah B. Thayer, works in boot factory, aged forty years (b. MA), headed a Weymouth, MA, household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Lucy M. Thayer, keeping house, aged thirty-eight years (b. MA), Frederic N. Thayer, attending school, aged fifteen years (b. MA), Elmer F. Thayer, attending school, aged nine years (b. MA), Frank W. Thayer, attending school, aged six years (b. MA), and Carrie M. Thayer, at home, aged eleven months (b. MA), and Cornelia Howe, a domestic servant, aged twenty years (b. MA). Noah B. Thayer had real estate valued at $1,900 and personal estate valued at $1,000.

Noah B. Thayer (N.B. Thayer & Co.) appeared in the Weymouth, MA, directory of 1873, as a boot manufacturer in Columbian square, with his house on Pleasant street, near Main street, in South Weymouth. N.B. Thayer & Co. (N.B. Thayer & John S. Fogg) appeared as boot manufacturers in Columbian square in South Weymouth, with their offices at 66 Hanover street in Boston, MA. Nicholas Thayer appeared as a farmer, with his house on Main street, near Pleasant street, in South Weymouth.

Upon the dissolution of the firm of Fogg, Houghton & Coolidge, in 1878, Mr. Fogg formed a copartnership with N.B. Thayer, which was continued until March, 1882, when the firm of Fogg, Shaw, Thayer & Co. was formed. At the death of Mr. Shaw the firm of J.S. Fogg & Co., was formed March, 1888, with factories at South Weymouth and Concord, Mass., and Farmington, N.H. About eight hundred man are employed by the concern (Boston Evening Transcript, May 17, 1892).

Noah B. Thayer, a boot and shoe manufacturer, aged fifty years (b. MA), headed a Weymouth, MA, household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Lucy M. Thayer, keeping house, aged forty-eight years (b. MA), his children, Fred N. Thayer, works in boot shop, aged twenty-five years (b. MA), Elmer T. Thayer, works in boot shop, aged eighteen years (b. MA), Frank N. Thayer, works in boot shop, aged sixteen years (b. MA), and Carrie M. Thayer, at school, aged eleven years (b. MA), and his wife’s cousin, L. Maria Howe, a servant, aged thirty years (b. MA).

N.B. Thayer (of Fogg, Shaw, Thayer & Co.) appeared in the Boston, MA, directory of 1883, as having an office at 27 Lincoln street, with his house at South Weymouth. Fogg, Shaw, Thayer & Co. appeared as dealers in boots and shoes at 25-29 Lincoln street. (The partners were John S. Fogg (1817-1892), and his son, John A. Fogg (1850-1914), Josephus Shaw (1832-1888), Noah B. Thayer (1830-1909), and with Irville Waterman (1849-1924), and Charles S. Bates (1856-1938) being the “company”).

News Notes. Charles Rawson, foreman in the sole-leather room at Fogg, Shaw & Thayer’s boot factory in Westborough, Mass., dropped dead this noon at his work (Boston Evening Transcript, June 23, 1884).

(Charles H. Rawson died of heart disease in Westborough [registered in Upton], MA, June 21, 1884, aged forty-five years, four months, and three days. He was a foreman).

BRIEF LOCALS. A contract for labor at the Reformatory Prison at Concord has been awarded to Fogg, Shaw, Thayer & Co., boot and shoe manufacturers, of Boston (Boston Evening Transcript, April 13, 1885).

Here we find Noah B. Thayer, of Fogg, Shaw, Thayer & Co., of Boston, MA, receiving an “assignment” from a bankrupt wholesale shoe dealer.

A Heavy Shoe Failure. Fellows, Shaw & Raymond, wholesale dealers in boots, shoes and rubbers, 159 and 161 Pearl street, have made an assignment to N.B. Thayer, of the firm of Fogg, Shaw, Thayer & Co. of this city. The liabilities amount to about $100,000, and the assets are nominally in excess of that amount. There are contingent liabilities of $15,000 or $20,000. A meeting of the creditors has been called for Saturday, April 18 (Boston Globe, April 15, 1885).

The shoe factories of South Weymouth, MA, including that of Fogg, Shaw, Thayer & Co., experienced labor difficulties, including both strikes and lockouts, in 1886 and 1887.

LATEST! THEY STEP OUT. Trouble Among the Lasters at South Weymouth. Employes of Fogg, Thayer & Co. Strike Because of a Cut and Alleged Unfair Treatment. South Weymouth, January 15. The lasters in the employ of Fogg, Shaw, Thayer & Co., have struck on account of wages paid for lasting, and on account of the treatment of one of their number by one of the firm. According to the statement of the lasters, the difficulty began by the firm reducing what was known as fourth quality of work to the fifth, the price of lasting being reduced from sixty-five cents to fifty-five cents a case of twelve pairs. A short time ago a committee of the lasters waited upon Irving Waterman, a member of the firm, and asked him for an advance in the price paid for that quality of work. Mr. Waterman agreed to call the matter to the attention of the other members of the firm. A few days ago he gave his answer to the lasters’ committee, and stated that the firm had decided to advance the price for this quality of work from 55 cents to 62½ cents a case, the same price as is being paid by other shoe firms in the neighboring towns. The committee informed Mr. Waterman that his answer would be laid before the Masters’ Protective Union for its consideration. This was done, and it was voted to accept the firm’s offer at a meeting held Wednesday evening. Yesterday morning, Arthur Cushing, a member of the Lasters’ Union, went to Frank Tower, foreman of the bottomers’ department, and informed him that the Masters’ Union had decided to accept the firm’s offer. This came to the ears of Mr. Thayer, who, it is alleged, informed Cushing that the firm had no boots for him to last at the price named by the Lasters’ Union, and discharged him from the employment of the firm and at once employed a non-union man to fill his place. In consequence of this action on the part of Mr. Thayer all the lasters, with two exceptions, left the factory. The matter was laid before the executive committee of the Lasters’ Protective Union in Rockland last evening, and it voted to sustain the action of the men leaving the firm. The trouble also was brought to the attention of the local assembly of the Knights of Labor last evening, and they voted to uphold them in the cause. All the men employed in the bottomers’, stitching, cutting and sole-leather departments are out, but a few remain in the edging department to finish up some boots on hand, but they probably will leave tomorrow (Boston Globe, January 15, 1886).

Both Lasters and Firm Satisfied. SOUTH WEYMOUTH, January 27. – The difficulty has been adjusted at the shoe factory of Fogg, Shaw, Thayer & Co. of this place. The men will return to work in the morning, and seem to be satisfied as the matter now stands. Mutual concessions were made by both parties, and a basis arrived at which is as near the Brockton standard of prices as possible for the grade of work which the firm in question manufactures. The firm speak in the highest terms of their treatment at the hands of the conference committee sent by the union (Boston Globe, January 28, 1886).

Noah B. Thayer appeared in the Weymouth, MA, directory of 1888, as a boot and shoe manufacturer, with his house at 5 Central street, in South Weymouth. His son, Frank H. Thayer, appeared as a book agent, with his house also at 5 Central street, in South Weymouth. Another son, Frederick N. Thayer, appeared as laborer, with his house on Union street, in South Weymouth. Noah B. Thayer’s widowed mother, Mrs. Thais (Nicholas) Thayer, appeared as having her house at 5 Middle street, in South Weymouth.

Josephus Shaw, one of the Fogg, Shaw, Thayer & Co. partners, died in a railroad accident in Bradford, MA, January 10, 1888, aged fifty-five years, three months, and twelve days. (He was one of nine that were killed in the accident).

A Prominent Citizen of Braintree. Josephus Shaw, one of the victims of the railroad accident, is one of the most prominent citizens of Braintree. He was a member of the firm of Fogg, Shaw, Thayer & Co., doing a thriving boot and shoe business at South Weymouth. He was a representative to the Legislature seven or eight years ago. He was an active member of the First Congregational Society and superintendent of the Sunday school of the above society. He was 58 years old and leaves a widow and five children, three sons and two daughters (Boston Globe, January 11, 1888).

N.B. Thayer & Co. acquired and opened for a time a shoe factory (apparently a branch or secondary one) in Gonic, Rochester, NH, in 1888. This would have been an entirely separate and distinct enterprise from his partnership with Fogg, Shaw, Thayer & Co.

M.A. Hanson, à native of Madbury, after having been in business for a time in Maine, came to Gonic in 1881, and started a shoe manufactory on the Barrington road. He employed about fifty hands with a pay roll of about $1,000 per month, and an annual production of twelve hundred cases, valued at $50,000. In October 1888, he sold to N.B. Thayer & Co., and removed to Charlottesville, Va., the following April. Thayer remained only a short time and went to Milton (McDuffee, 1892). 

REAL ESTATE TRANSFERS. J.A. Hanson to N.B. Thayer, Rochester, $1 (Farmington News, October 12, 1888).

N.B. Thayer & Co. opened also another branch shoe factory in Milton in or around 1890. In September 1890, the Boston Globe published what was apparently its first advertisement seeking N.B. Thayer & Co. shoe workers at Milton.

MALE HELP WANTED. WANTED, McKay channeler; also competent man to take charge of small stock room, on misses’ and children’s work; must understand fitting from the side. N.B. THAYER & CO., Milton, N.H. 2t* s17 (Boston Globe, September 17, 1890).

N.B. Thayer & Co. appeared in the Milton business directories of 1892, 1894, 1898, as a Milton shoe manufacturing firm.

Daughter Carrie M. Thayer married in Weymouth, MA, March 4, 1891, Edwin P. McBride, both of Weymouth. He was a salesman, aged twenty-two years, and she was at home, aged twenty-one years. Rev. W.H. Bolster performed the ceremony. McBride was born in Brooklyn, NY, circa 1869, son of Henry and Jane (Cassidy) McBride.

MILTON. Business is improving at the shoe factories. The daily output at N.B. Thayer Co.’s is larger than ever before. Burley & Usher are receiving large orders every day and the outlook for the summer is good (Farmington News, May 6, 1892).

Former partner John S. Fogg died of Bright’s Disease in Weymouth, MA. May 16, 1892, aged seventy-five years, one month.

RECENT DEATHS. John S. Fogg. Mr. John S. Fogg, one of the oldest and wealthiest citizens of South Weymouth, died last night, aged seventy-five years. Mr. Fogg, well known as a local banker and a boot and shoe manufacturer, was horn in Meredith, N.H., April 16, 1817. He came to Boston in 1836, and in 1840 began business for himself as a boot and shoe “crimper” in South Weymouth. About the first of the year 1841 he bought stock and made a few cases of best quality boots, brought them to Boston and sold them to retailers, and in 1842 he built his first factory – a large one in those days – at Columbia square. In July, 1851, he associated himself with W.S. Houghton, under the firm name of Fogg & Houghton. They did a large and rapidly increasing business. About 1861 A.L. Coolidge was admitted as a partner, and the firm became Fogg, Houghton & Coolidge. They began to manufacture goods for the California trade, and in 1866 they did a business of more than $1,000,000, and were at that time quoted as the largest boot and shoe manufacturers in the United States. Upon the dissolution of the firm of Fogg, Houghton & Coolidge, in 1878, Mr. Fogg formed a copartnership with N.B. Thayer, which was continued until March, 1882, when the firm of Fogg, Shaw, Thayer & Co. was formed. At the death of Mr. Shaw the firm of J.S. Fogg & Co., was formed March, 1888, with factories at South Weymouth and Concord, Mass., and Farmington, N.H. About eight hundred man are employed by the concern (Boston Evening Transcript, May 17, 1892).

MALE HELP WANTED. GOOD LASTERS wanted on misses’ and children’s Fargo tipped shoes. N.B. THAYER & CO., Milton, N.H.*3t my19 (Boston Globe, May 19, 1892).

MALE HELP WANTED. LASTERS – Wanted, 3 lasters on misses’ and children’s Fargo tipped shoes. N.B. THAYER & CO., Milton, N.H. 2t Je2 (Boston Globe, June 2, 1892).

N.B. Thayer & Co.’s shoe business expanded and it began even to outgrow its physical plant in Milton. The firm began to consider alternate locations for either expansion or relocation.

MILTON. Rumored that N.B. Thayer is to move his shoe business away (Farmington News, December 23, 1892).

MILTON. N.B. Thayer is to remove his shoe business from Milton next spring (Farmington News, February 17, 1893).

Joseph H. “Howard” Avery apparently forestalled the proposed removal by an expansion of his factory building, which he was renting to N.B. Thayer & Co.

MILTON. Howard Avery is to build an addition of seventy feet to his shoe shop for N.B. Thayer’s use. The stones for the foundation are being hauled (Farmington News, March 24, 1893).

MILTON. Mr. Hayes, foreman of the stitching room at N.B. Thayer’s, has resigned his position on account of ill health (Farmington News, August 24, 1894).

MILTON. Benjamin Edgerly finished work for N.B. Thayer Co. Monday (Farmington News, October 12, 1894).

(Benjamin W. Edgerly died of pulmonary tuberculosis in Rochester, NH, August 26, 1899, aged thirty-six years, four months, and eighteen days. He was a shoemaker).

MILTON. There is some talk of N.B. Thayer & Co. using the Burley shop Farmington News, October 19, 1894).

In 1884, an organization composed of citizens of the town erected a shoe factory 160 x 40 and four stories high, with other accessories, at Milton, at a cost of $12,000, which was leased to Burley & Usher in 1885, who were afterwards succeeded by N.B. Thayer & Co., the present occupants. Misses’ and children’s kid and Dongola spring heel slippers are manufactured, and employment is given to 100 or more hands. Steam and water are used for power, and the firm is not exempt from taxation (NH Bureau of Labor, 1897).

MILTON. N.B. Thayer & Co. purchased the Burley & Usher shop, Saturday, and will have a part of their work done there, connecting the two shops by a covered bridge. The cutters and stitchers will stay in the Avery shop, and the other work done in the other shop (Farmington News, October 26, 1894).

MILTON. N.B. Thayer & Co. were shut down for repairs the latter part of last week (Farmington News, December 7, 1894).

Lucy M. (Newcomb) Thayer died of diabetes in Holbrook, MA, February 28, 1895, aged sixty-two years, six months, and twenty-six years.

MILTON. Rena Wentworth  of Farmington is working at N.B. Thayer & Co.’s (Farmington News, March 8, 1895).

(Miss Rena Wentworth appeared in the Milton directory of 1900, as a vamper, boarding with Mrs. W.C. [William C.] Hall, on Charles street).

N.B. Thayer & Co.’s lasters went out on strike briefly in September 1896. A shoe laster stretches leather shoe uppers around a “last” with a lasting machine – a last being a foot-shaped form.

N.B. Thayer & Co. placed the following advertisement seeking replacements for some sixteen striking shoe lasters.

Male Help Wanted. LASTERS wanted, 6 non-union lasters on boys’ shoes, 10 on misses and childrens, must be good workmen and responsible men. Apply to 103 Bedford st., Boston, or Milton, N.H. N.B. THAYER & Co. 2t s2 (Boston Globe, September 2, 1896).

The Milton lasters’ strike committee bought their own competing advertisement, which was placed immediately below that of N.B. Thayer & Co.’s advertisement.

LASTERS are requested to keep away from Milton, N.H., as there is a strike on. Per order committee. 3t* s2 (Boston Globe, September 2, 1896).

The trouble between the lasters and N.B. Thayer & Co., Milton, was settled last week and work in all departments was resumed Monday (Farmington News, September 18, 1896).

(See also Milton Mills Shoe Strike of 1889).

Son-in-law Edwin P. McBride died of typhoid fever in Weymouth, MA, December 10, 1896, aged twenty-eight years, and thirteen days.

DIED. McBRIDE – On Thursday, December 10, at South Weymouth, Mass., EDWIN P., husband of Carrie Thayer McBrlde and youngest son of the late Hugh and Jane McBrlde, of Brooklyn N.Y. (Brooklyn Daily Eagle (Brooklyn, NY), December 12, 1896).

N.B. Thayer & Co. appeared in the Boston, MA, directory of 1897, as shoe manufacturers at 103 Bedford street, with N.B. Thayer having his house at South Weymouth, MA.

MILTON. Town Visited by a Small Cyclone Last Friday Afternoon. A small cyclone visited this place last Friday, [June 18, 1897,] and although very little damage was done it gave people quite a scare while it lasted. It came from the northwest and was in the form of a tunnel. Those that saw it sweeping across the pond say it looked like a large white cloud of dust, and that much damage would have resulted had any boats been in its path. Following down the river the cyclone struck the tin roof of N.B. Thayer’s shoe shop, tearing it very badly. Besides the damage done to the roof, the cupola was somewhat injured (Farmington News, [Friday,] June 25, 1897).

The “dull times” mentioned below, as having been avoided generally by N.B. Thayer & Co., is an allusion to the extended economic depression that followed the financial Panic of 1893.

MILTON. Business is very good at the present time. The daily output at N.B. Thayer’s shoe shop averages 35 cases. Business has been good at this shop all through the dull times and now is steadily increasing (Farmington News, July 2, 1897).

MILTON. W.R. Stacey, bookkeeper at N.B. Thayer’s shoe shop, is enjoying a two weeks’ vacation in Boston accompanied by his family (Farmington News, October 1, 1897).

(William R. Stacey had married in Milton, September 23, 1893, Georgiella R. Marston, he of Milton and she of Deerfield, NH. He was a bookkeeper, aged twenty-three years, and she was a shoe stitcher, aged nineteen years. Rev. Myron P. Dickey performed the ceremony).

MILTON. The flag raising at Thayer’s shoe factory, was deferred for unavoidable reasons. Suitable exercises which have been prepared will be given on the occasion some time the present week (Farmington News, May 13, 1898).

PERSONAL. Charles M. Crosby has taken a position at the Thayer shoe shop in Milton (Farmington News, February 3, 1899).

LOCALS. John J. Earle, formerly at the Edgerly factory and later at Thayer’s in Milton, has taken the position of foreman at the Exeter Boot & Shoe company’s factory at Exeter (Farmington News, April 14, 1899).

(JOHN EARL appeared belatedly in the Milton directory of 1900, as a shoe vamper, with his house on Maple street, near So. Main street).

LOCALS. Henry I. Edgerly of Dover, formerly of Farmington, is connected with the Thayer shoe manufacturing business in Milton (Farmington News, May 26, 1899).

(Henry I. Edgerly appeared in the Dover, NH, directory of 1900, as a shoe cutter, with his house at 8 Maple street).

STRAFFORD CORNER. William H. Cater has secured a position in N.B. Thayer & Co.’s shoe shop in Milton (Farmington News, October 6, 1899).

(Willis H. Cater appeared in the Strafford, NH, directory of 1900, as boarding with A.H. Cater. Alonzo H. Cater appeared as a farmer, at Strafford Corner).

LOCALS. Charles Crosby, who has been employed with the N.B. Thayer shoe firm in Milton, is at his home in Farmington, the Thayers being about to move their business to their Roxbury, Mass., buildings (Farmington News, December 29, 1899).

N.B. THAYER & CO., Inc., appeared in the Milton directory of 1900, as shoe manufacturers, with their factory near Milton depot, and their Boston, MA, offices at 103 Bedford street. N.B. Thayer was its president, and his son, F.H. Thayer, was its treasurer.

Elmer F. Thayer appeared in 1900 as a clerk for N.B.T. & Co., boarding at the Milton Hotel, and his brother, Frank H. Thayer, appeared as treasurer for N.B.T. & Co., with his house at L.S., i.e., on the Lebanon Side of the river.

Many people appeared in the Milton directory of 1900 as shoe-workers of one kind or another. But apart from those already mentioned, those specifically identified as employees of N.B.T. & Co. were Robert Brown, a fireman; Downing V. Osborne, overseer of cutting room; William R. Stacey, a bookkeeper; and George H. Staples, a night watchman. (Overseer Osborne would become in 1904 the partner of Elmer F. Thayer in the entirely separate Thayer-Osborne Shoe Company).

Noah B Thayer, a shoe manufacturer, aged seventy years (b. MA), headed a Weymouth, MA, household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his daughter, Carrie Mcbride, a widow, aged thirty years (b. MA), his grandchildren, Edwin T. Mcbride, at school, aged six years (b. MA), and Margorie Mcbride, aged four years (b. MA), and his servant, Julia Keefe, a servant, aged twenty-four years (b. MA). Noah B. Thayer owned their house, free-and-clear. Carrie McBride was the mother of two children, of whom two were still living.

Elmer F. Thayer, a shoemaker, aged thirty-eight years (b. MA), lodged in the Boston, MA, household of Samuel W. Rorke, superintendent of a piano factory, aged sixty-two years (b. NY), at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census.

MILTON. J.M. Gage has gone to Roxbury to work for N.B. Thayer (Farmington News, July 27, 1900).

(JAMES M. GAGE appeared in the Milton directory of 1900, as an insurance agent and shoe cutter, with his house on Main street, opposite Silver street).

PERSONALS. One of the sons of the senior member of the N.B. Thayer firm of shoe manufacturers, formerly of Milton and now of Roxbury, Mass., was in town over Sunday (Farmington News, July 27, 1900).

MILTON. Fred Sleeper has secured a position in the shoe shop of N.B. Thayer Co., Roxbury, Mass., and commenced work Tuesday of last week (Farmington News, October 26, 1900).

(Fred B. Sleeper had married in Milton, August 29, 1896, Stella Dicey, both of Milton. He was a shoemaker, aged twenty-one years, and she was a shoe stitcher, aged nineteen years. Rev. R.M. Peacock performed the ceremony. Fred B. Sleeper appeared in the Milton directory of 1900, as a shoe finisher, with his house at 42 South Main street).

Frank E. Fernald appeared in the Milton directory of 1900, as boss laster, with his house on Main street, at its corner with Silver street. (He had formerly kept a drug store at Milton Three Ponds. (See also The Preacher and the Druggist – 1897)).

PERSONAL. Walter L. Randall has gone to Roxbury, Mass., to work for the N.B. Thayer Co. (Farmington News, February 1, 1901).

(Walter E. Randall had married (2nd) in Acton, ME, 1898, Maud W. Gray, he of Milton and she of Wells, ME. He was a shoemaker, aged twenty-seven years, and she was a shoe stitcher, aged twenty years. Rev. E.M. Churchill performed the ceremony. Walter E. Randall appeared in the Milton directory of 1900, as a shoemaker, resident at Milton Mills).

Downing V. Osborne [(1864-1941)] appeared in the Milton directory of 1900 as overseer of the cutting room at N.B.T. & Co., with his house on Charles street, on the hill. He evidently went on to perform for a time the same function at N.B. Thayer & Co.’s factory in Roxbury, MA,

MILTON. Downing Osborne spent last week at Fred Hartford’s. Mr. Osborne, formerly a resident of Milton, is superintendent of one of the rooms at Thayer’s factory in Roxbury (Farmington News, September 26, 1901).

Boss laster Frank E. Fernald transferred to the Roxbury plant; and appeared in the Boston, MA, directories of 1901, and 1903, as a foreman, with his house at 119 Dale street, in Roxbury.

The Boston, MA, police sent an inspector to N.B. Thayer & Co.’s Roxbury shoe factory. The plant has 95 male employees and 70 female employees; none of them were aged 14-16 years, and none of them were aged under-14 years. He rated their sanitary conditions as being “good.”  He recommended a guard or rail be installed by the wheel, i.e., a driving wheel, and that a time notice be posted (MA District Police, 1901).

N.B. Thayer & Co. paid Massachusetts a $15 foreign corporation fee in 1901. They were “foreign” in the sense that they were an out-of-state corporation (MA Department of State, 1901).

Thayer’s second son, Frederick N. Thayer, died of acute tuberculosis in Boston, MA, October 26, 1901, aged forty-eight years.

Thayer’s fourth (and youngest) son, Frank H. Thayer, married in Malden, MA, December 5, 1901, Alice A. Waterman, he of Boston, MA, and she of Malden, MA. He was a manufacturer, aged thirty-eight years, and she was at home, aged thirty-one years. Rev. Henry A. French performed the ceremony. She was born in Viola, IL, December 11, 1870, daughter of Arthur O. and Sarah L. (Morrison) Waterman.

PERSONAL. Frank H. Thayer, treasurer of the N.B. Thayer Shoe Co. of Roxbury, Mass., formerly of Milton and well known in Farmington, was married on Dec. 5 to Miss Alice A. Waterman of Malden (December 13, 1901).

NEWS OF THE STATE. The Rochester Foundry & Machine Co. are doing a big heating and piping job for N.B. Thayer Co., at Milton (Farmington News, January 23, 1903).

N.B. Thayer & Co. appeared in the Milton business directories of 1904, 1905-06, and 1909, as a Milton shoe manufacturing firm. (Their address was listed as being on Charles street in 1905-06 and 1909).

MILTON. Business is rushing at the N.B. Thayer shoe factory, a large portion of the help working by night (Farmington News, January 22, 1904).

Here we learn that N.B. Thayer & Co. generated their own electricity for lighting at this time.

MILTON. The shaft which runs the dynamo at N.B. Thayer’s shoe factory broke Thursday, so they had to use kerosene for lighting purposes for a few nights (Farmington News, January 29, 1904).

PERSONALS. Elmer Thayer of Milton was present at the entertainment on Monday night (Farmington News, January 29, 1904).

MILTON. Michael Mack has returned to his work in the N.B. Thayer shoe factory (Farmington News, March 4, 1904).

(Michael Mack appeared in the Milton directory of 1900, as a shoe laster, with rooms at 6 Silver street).

Son Elmer F. Thayer and former N.B. Thayer & Co. cutting room foreman, Downing V. Osborne, formed their own shoe manufacturing partnership in Alton, NH, in March 1904. It was called the Thayer-Osborne Co. (Scales, 1914).

MILTON. Elmer Thayer and Downing Osborne have started in shoe business at Alton (Farmington News, March 12, 1904).

MILTON. Workmen have been engaged at Thayer shoe factory, for a few days, connecting the main shaft with the engine, so that in case of low water, and of too high water, the machinery can be operated with steam power (Farmington News, April 1, 1904).

MILTON. N.B. Thayer employes are to have a half holiday Saturdays, commencing this week (Farmington News, June 3, 1904).

Frank E. Fernald appeared in the Milton directory of 1905-06, as superintendent of N.B. Thayer & Co., with his house at 22 So. Main street.

Son Elmer F. Thayer married in Farmington, NH, June 28, 1905, Annie M. Edgerly, he of Alton, NH, and she of Farmington. He was a shoe manufacturer, aged forty-three years, and she was a bank clerk, aged thirty-four years. Rev. Edward D. Disbrow performed the ceremony. She was born in Farmington, NH, circa 1870, daughter of James B. and Maria J. (Fernald) Edgerly.

LOCAL. The N.B. Thayer Co. of Milton has engaged room in the G.A. Jones factory in this [Farmington] village, for the cutting of upper leather, which is found impracticable to do in necessary quantity in Milton, it being next to impossible to get cutters enough who are ready to live in that neighborhood, while they are available in Farmington. It needs hardly be said that we are very glad both to accommodate the firm named and to have an increase of work in our village (Farmington News, August 11, 1905).

Son Elmer F. Thayer’s Thayer-Osborne Co. purchased the disused Nute factory building in Farmington, NH, in late 1905, and removed their shoe machinery from Alton, NH, to Farmington, NH, in early 1906 (Farmington News, December 21, 1905).

LOCAL. Edwin E. Hill has a position as foreman of the heel room at the Farmington Shoe Mfg. Co., and E.A. Gross, formerly employed here, has accepted a position with N.B. Thayer & Co. of Milton (Farmington News, May 18, 1906).

N.B. Thayer & Co. took a lease on the former Fogg & Vinal shoe factory in East Rochester in May 1906. (Fogg & Vinal were principally based in Springvale, ME). Within a few years this East Rochester location would eclipse their Milton operation.

LOCAL. N.B. Thayer & Co. of Milton have taken a five years’ lease of the Fogg & Vinal shoe factory at East Rochester. The business will not be removed from Milton, hut it seems that the demand for this firm’s shoes is so great that it is obliged to increase the output. The factory at East Rochester is to be wired for electric lights, new floors laid, and the office enlarged. This work is to be done by the citizens. It is understood that this factory will be headquarters for the firm. They expect to begin manufacturing about September 1 (Farmington News, May 18, 1906).

In September 1906, the Boston Globe published what was apparently its first advertisement seeking N.B. Thayer & Co. shoe workers at East Rochester, NH.

MALE HELP WANTED. CUTTERS WANTED – Two outside cutters on vici and box calf. N.B. THAYER & Co., East Rochester, N.H. 2t s20 (Boston Globe, September 20, 1906).

Vici was “a trademark for high quality chrome-tanned kidskin with a soap and oil finish” (Wikipedia, 2021). Box calf was a process by which the leather was pre-dyed prior to working.

Some Short News Notes of Doings in the Trade. The large shoe factory at East Rochester, N.H., recently purchased by citizens, who have as a tenant, N.B. Thayer & Co., started up for business for the first time last week after years of idleness. It is the intention of the company to add inexperienced hands daily, until the full quota for stitching department is filled. The Thayer Company also has a large factory at Milton, N.H., and a large amount of stock that has been cut at this factory has arrived at East Rochester (Boot and Shoe Recorder, September 26, 1906).

Frank E. Fernald appeared again in the Boston Directory of 1907, as a superintendent, with his house at 23 Greenville street, in Roxbury. (He was superintendent at N.B. Thayer’s Roxbury plant). By the 1909 directory, he had “rem. to E. Rochester, NH.”

N.B. Thayer & Co., Inc., of Milton, NH, manufacturers of leather boots and shoes, registered (No. 59,842) their trademark with the U.S. Patent Office, January 22, 1907 (U.S. Patent Office, 1911).

TWO MODERN NEW HAMPSHIRE FACTORIES. The factories of N.B. Thayer & Co., Inc., illustrated herewith, are at East Rochester and Milton, respectively. Both of these commodious structures are devoted to the exclusive manufacture of the Thayer shoe for boys. The makers of this shoe have recently issued a remarkable illustrated catalogue showing latest styles in Thayer shoes, and reproductions of some of their interesting advertising helps furnished to dealers who sell these shoes. The line includes both McKays and welts in high cuts and oxfords. The following is an extract from their catalogue: “Specialization must be the rule of every manufacturer who attempts to produce the best in any article, and in nothing is it more true than in the manufacture of shoes. We are manufacturers of shoes for boys exclusively and during twenty years of continuous specialization we have acquired an experience in the manufacture of boys’ footwear which is evidenced in our product” (Shoe Retailer, February 16, 1907).

In August 1908, the Boston Globe published what appears to have been N.B. Thayer & Co.’s very last advertisement seeking shoe workers for its Milton factory.

FEMALE HELP WANTED. WANTED – Cylinder vamper on boys’ and youths’ fine shoes. Apply to N.B. THAYER & Co., Milton, N.H. SuM (Boston Globe, August 10, 1908).

N.B. Thayer & Co. lost their April 1909 appeal of the September 1908 negligence verdict against them in the case of Eva Warburton versus N.B. Thayer & Co.

Strafford, April 6, 1909} WARBURTON v. N.B. THAYER Co. CASE, for negligence. Trial by jury before Wallace, C.J., at the September term, 1908, of the superior court, and verdict for the plaintiff. The defendants manufactured shoes at East Rochester. The plaintiff was employed by them as a stitcher and was injured in consequence of her dress being caught upon a shaft revolving under the bench at which she worked. One ground of negligence was the absence of a skirt-guard or board. Subject to exception the plaintiff was permitted to offer evidence that skirt-boards were generally provided in the factory. The order was, Exception overruled. Felker & Gunnison, for the plaintiff. Kivel & Hughes, for the defendants (NH Supreme Court, 1911).

The plaintiff, Eva M. Warburton (1882-1959), was a daughter of Edward H. and Mary E. (Shorey) Warburton. She was a shoe factory vamper, aged twenty-seven years (b. NH), residing in the Rochester (“East Rochester Village”), NH, of her widowed mother at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census.

Nothing further has come to hand regarding N.B. Thayer & Co.’s Milton plant. Their factories at Roxbury, MA, and Rochester, NH, continued for another twenty years or so.

WILL GIVE AWAY SHOE SHOP. Rochester, March 17. – The East Rochester Improvement association, consisting of about forty residents of the village and the owners of the large shoe shop at that place, occupied by N.B. Thayer and company has voted to present the shop to the Thayer company, under the conditions they will pay the debt of $5,000, [which] is on the shop against the association. This move was brought about at a meeting, at which the association was asked to place a new boiler and engine in the factory. As yet, no action has been taken by the Thayers on account of the head officials being out of the city. An answer, however, is expected by the middle of the week. At the present time over 250 are employed there. The shop is said to be worth $30,000, but it has a long record and has cost the association more than that amount (Portsmouth Herald, March 18, 1909).

COMES TO PORTSMOUTH. Man From Rochester Takes Charge of Packing Room at Gale Shoe Company. Benjamin Garrett, for several years connected with the N.B. Thayer Shoe Co., at East Rochester, has taken the place as foreman of the packing room of the Gale Shoe Company (Portsmouth Herald, June 19, 1909).

(Benjamin F. Garrett appeared in the Rochester, NH, directory of 1909, as a shoe operative, boarding at 11 Highland street, in East Rochester).

Noah B. Thayer died of paralysis agitans, i.e., Parkinson’s Disease, in his residence at Central Street in Weymouth, MA, June 29, 1909, aged seventy-nine years, five months, and three days.

LOCAL. Mr. N.B. Thayer, father of Elmer F. Thayer of this town, died at his home in East Weymouth, Mass., last Tuesday, June 29 (Farmington News, July 2, 1909).

WILL OF NOAH B. THAYER. Weymouth Man Leaves Bequests of $3000 for Son and Daughter. DEDHAM, July 10 – The will of the late Noah B. Thayer of Weymouth has been filed with the Norfolk registry of probate. The will was drawn April 27, 1906, and an accompanying codicil was drawn Sept 6, 1906. By the will $3000 is left to one son, Frank H. Thayer. To one daughter, Carrie M. McBrlde, is left $3000, and all the household goods and furniture. The remainder of the property is left to the children, Frank H. and Elmer F. Thayer and Carrie M. McBride. Frank H. Thayer is suggested for executor (Boston Globe, July 10, 1909).

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Continued in Milton’s N.B. Thayer & Co. Shoe Factory – 1910-34

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References:

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Find a Grave. (2015, August 7). Frank Herbert Thayer. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/150294761/frank-herbert-thayer

Find a Grave. (2008, October 5). Frederick Nicholas Thayer. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/30325265/frederick-nicholas-thayer

Find a Grave. (2008, October 5). Noah Blanchard Thayer. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/30324570/noah-blanchard-thayer

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