Author: Muriel Bristol

By Muriel Bristol | March 14, 2021

Henry L. “Harry” Avery was born in Milton, January 28, 1864, son of Brackett F. and Susan (Varney) Avery. (A younger brother of the same name, for whom he was a namesake, was born and died in 1860; his father, Brackett F. Avery, enlisted in the NH First Heavy Artillery Regiment, in Dover, NH, August 25, 1864).

Brackett F. Avery, a farmer, aged fifty-one years (b. NH), headed a Milton (“Village of Milton 3-Ponds”) household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Susan V. Avery, keeping house, aged fifty-five years (b. NH), his children, Harry L. Avery, at school, aged sixteen years (b. NH), Sally C. Avery, at school, aged thirteen years (b. NH), and John W. Avery, at school, aged ten years (b. NH).

Harry L. Avery was installed as financial secretary of the Teneriffe Lodge’s United Endowment League, January 14, 1890. His brother was installed as vice president, his future wife, Hattie L. Pinkham, was installed as treasurer, and his future employer (and eventual partner), Charles D. Jones, was installed as both sentinel and medical examiner.

MILTON. Teneriffe Lodge, No. 5, United Endowment League, was successfully launched on its career Tuesday evening, January 14, by Supreme Organizer, Benjamin Holt of Lowell, Mass., and an efficient corps of assistants. The following list of officers was publicly installed for the term ending Dec. 31: President, Henry R. Johnson; vice president, John W. Avery; counsellor, A.C. Willey; secretary, Irving W. Tuttle; financial secretary, Harry L. Avery; treasurer, Hattie L. Pinkham; chaplain, Rev. G. Frank Durgin; guide, F.P. Jones; sentinel, Charles D. Jones, M.D.; medical examiner, Charles D. Jones, M.D.; guard, Hazen Plummer; trustees, Charles E. Lord, J.D. Willey, S.M. Bragden. This new comer among the fraternal orders of Milton has our best wishes (Farmington News, January 31, 1890).

The Teneriffe Lodge was the local branch of the Order of United American Mechanics (O.U.A.M.). The United Endowment League, which was a separate enterprise, was “one of a number of short-term endowment [insurance] benefit fraternals that were popular in the 1880s and 1890s and then went bankrupt.”

Harry Avery began working at Dr. C. Dana Jones‘ Milton store in or around July 1890. (Charles D. Jones appeared in the Milton business directory of 1895, as an apothecary).

MILTON. Harry Avery will be the doctor’s assistant at the drug store. Harry is a right good fellow and will please every one (Farmington News, July 4, 1890).

Henry L. Avery, d. [Democrat], ran for Strafford County Register of Deeds in November 1890. He ran against Frank S. Tompkins (1853-1916), r. [Republican], of Dover, NH. He received 173 votes [41.0%] in Milton, to Tompkins’ 249 votes [59.0%]; and 4,394 [49.6%] votes in the county, to Tompkins’ 4,467 votes [50.4%]. Avery did better in the county as a whole, but Tompkins won the election.

Harry L. Avery married in Milton, November 17, 1894, Hattie L. Pinkham, both of Milton. He was a clerk, aged thirty-one years, and she was a clerk, aged thirty-five years. Rev. Frank Haley performed the ceremony. She was born in Milton, January 28, 1859, daughter of Nathaniel G. and Emily (Corliss) Pinkham.

LOCALS. The wedding announcement of Harry L. Avery and Hattie L. Pinkham of Milton has been received. The marriage occurred November 17th. They have the congratulations of many friends, including those of the News (Farmington News, November 23, 1894).

Avery’s mother, Susan (Varney) Avery, died in Milton, January 2, 1895, aged seventy years.

Harry L. Avery won his first election as Milton town clerk in the “lively” election of March 1896 (calculated from 1936 marking his fortieth year in that office). He was then thirty-two years of age. (He replaced Charles D. Jones in that office).

MILTON. The retiring board of selectmen at Milton have remarkable records in serving that town. Geo. Lyman has served in that capacity for 29 years, John U. Sims for 18 years and George Plummer for 12 years. They are republicans. There was a cat-a-cornered fight this year against the “old board” – the “Milton Tammany” its opponents called it – and the following board, also republicans, were elected: Samuel H. Wallingford, Joseph H. Avery, Freeman H. Loud. Luther Wentworth was foremost in the battle, and though there were four candidates against him, it required three ballots to defeat him for second place on the ticket. Evidently there were lively times at Milton town meeting (Farmington News, March 13, 1896).

[Ed.: We may note the circumstance that all three selectmen – each a member of long tenure – was replaced by an entirely new board. The Milton town government of that time apparently felt no pressing need for staggered terms in order to ensure “continuity”].

MILTON NEWS LETTER. The work on Henry L. Avery’s new house on Charles street is being pushed rapidly. It will be one of the finest houses in town when completed (Farmington News, July 16, 1897).

MILTON NEWS LETTER. Harry L. Avery has resumed his place in C.D. Jones‘ drug store, having been absent a few weeks while at work on his new house (Farmington News, August 18, 1897).

Avery, Jones & Roberts appeared in the Milton business directory of 1898, as builders, and as manufacturers of  lumber, shingles, and clapboards. H.L. Avery appeared also as town clerk, and as one of fifteen Milton justices-of-the-peace.

MILTON. Harry Avery, town clerk, and formerly clerk in Dr. Jones‘ drug store, has removed to the shoe store of his father-in-law, N.G. Pinkham. All the town records were found uninjured in the safe (Farmington News, February 25, 1898).

(Nathaniel G. Pinkham appeared in the Milton directory of 1900, as a merchant of boots and shoes, as well as newspapers, on Main street, with his house on Silver street).

The Milton Water Company was incorporated by the NH General Court, July 19, 1899, with Harry L. Avery as its treasurer (NH Secretary of State, 1901).

Harry L. Avery appeared in the Milton directories of 1900, 1902, 1905-06, and 1909, as town clerk and partner in Avery, Jones & Roberts, lumber, etc., on Main street, opposite the bridge, with his house on Charles street. His brother, John W. Avery, appeared as a shoe cutter, with his house on Charles street, on the hill; and their father, Brackett F. Avery, appeared as a farmer and milkman, with his house at 21 So. Main street.

Harry L. Avery, a storekeeper, aged thirty-six years (b. NH), headed a Milton (“Milton Village”) household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of six years), Hattie L. Avery, aged forty-one years (b. NH), and his children, Theron W. Avery, aged five years (b. NH), and Louise P. Avery, aged three years (b. NH). Harry L. Avery owned their house, free-and-clear. Hattie L. Avery was the mother of two children, of whom two were still living. Their household was enumerated between those of William C. Hall, a storekeeper, aged forty-one years (b. ME), and [his father-in-law,] Nathaniel G. Pinkham, a storekeeper, aged sixty-six years (b. NH).

Avery, Jones & Roberts appeared in the Milton business directory of 1901, 1904, 1905-06, and 1909, as builders, and as manufacturers of  lumber, shingles, and clapboards. H.L. Avery appeared also as town clerk, and as a Milton justice-of-the-peace.

[LOCAL.] The offer of a gift of a town clock for Milton, by an out of town citizen, if the people will raise money for a bell, has stimulated an effort to this end, and an organization was effected at a meeting Saturday evening, Dr. M.A.H. Hart being president, Harry L. Avery, secretary, and N.G. Pinkham, treasurer. It is proposed to place this clock and bell in the tower of the Congregational church as the most conspicuous place in the village (Farmington News, November 29, 1901).

The new town clock was started officially at noontime on Saturday, August 30, 1902, as a part of Milton’s centennial celebration. (See Milton’s Centennial). Several cannonades were fired over the course of the day from the Avery family farm. (His father being a veteran of a heavy artillery regiment).

LOCAL. The order of exercises for the Milton centennial of next Saturday begins with bell ringing and the firing of cannon on the Brackett Avery mountain. Field sports at 8 o’clock, with prizes; at 10 o’clock there will be a procession of trades, orders, and school children. Dinner will be served from 11 o’clock to 2 o’clock in a tent on the Nute school grounds, and the literary exercises will begin at 2 o’clock. Hanson’s American band will be in attendance during the day and evening. The new bell and clock at the Congregational church will be ready for sounding (Farmington News, [Friday,] August 29, 1902).

Henry L. Avery, d. [Democrat], ran for Strafford County Register of Probate in November 1902. He ran against William W. Martin (1853-1934), r. [Republican], of Dover, NH, and David E.C. Duffie (c1873-1904), soc. [Socialist], of Dover, NH. Martin won the election with 4,271 (59.2%) votes county-wide, while Avery received 2,682 (37.2%) votes, and Duffie received 264 (3.7%) votes.

Hattie (Pinkham) Avery nursed her maternal aunt, Julia (Corliss) Dorr, during an illness. 

MILTON. Mrs. Julia Dorr is quite ill at the home of her niece, Mrs. H.L. Avery (Farmington News, January 29, 1904).

Dorr’s daughter (and Hattie L. Avery’s cousin), Miss Hattie A. Dorr, came up from her Boston home as soon as possible (Farmington News, February 5, 1904).

MILTON. Town meeting passed off quietly, and the following officers were elected to serve the town for the ensuing year: Selectmen, Warren Jewett, Joseph H. Avery, and Charles A. Jones; town clerk, Harry L. Avery; constables, H.W. Downs and Hartley Nutter; school board, Frank G. Howe, Forrest L. Marsh, and Dr. M.A.H. Hart (Farmington News, March 1904).

The lumber firm of Avery, Jones & Roberts, of Milton, NH, was reported as having a portable sawmill (NH Labor Bureau, 1910).

STREET IMPROVEMENTS. Milton, N.H. The Town has appropriated over $2,500 for the repair of highways and bridges. Harry L. Avery, Town Clerk (Municipal Journal and Engineer, March 27, 1907).

Partner Charles D. Jones died of typhoid fever in Milton, July 2, 1908, aged forty-four years, nine months, and ten days. The firm of Avery, Jones & Roberts continued as Avery & Roberts.

Harry L. Avery, a fancy goods salesman, aged forty-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 sixteen years), Hattie Avery, aged fifty years (b. NH), his children, Theron W. Avery, aged fourteen years (b. NH), and Louise Avery, aged twelve years (b. NH), and his mother-in-law, Emily Pinkham, a widow, aged seventy-one years (b. NH). Harry L. Avery owned their house, free-and-clear. Hattie Avery was the mother of two children, of whom two were still living. Emily Pinkham was the mother of three children, of whom two were still living. Their household was enumerated between those of John W. Avery, a shoe shop foreman, aged forty years (b. NH), and Conrad Corson, a leather-board machineman, aged thirty-nine years (b. Canada (Eng.)).

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. Harry L. Avery was named as a member of its board.

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).

Avery’s father, Brackett F. Avery, died in Milton, May 30, 1911, aged eighty-two years.

Avery & Roberts appeared in the Milton business directories of 1912, and 1917, as builders, and as manufacturers of  lumber, shingles, and clapboards. H.L. Avery appeared also as town clerk, and as a Milton justice-of-the-peace.

Harry L. Avery appeared in the Milton directory of 1912, as town clerk and partner in Avery & Roberts, lumber, dry & fancy goods, etc., on Main street, opposite the bridge, with his house at 11 Charles street, on the hill. His brother, John W. Avery, appeared as the foreman [shoe] cutter for the M.S. company, with his house 15 Charles street, on the hill. (Their father, Brackett F. Avery, appeared in 1912, as having died May 30, 1911, aged eighty-two years).

Harry L. Avery appeared in the Milton directory of 1917, as town clerk, and as a partner in Avery & Roberts, merchants of lumber, dry & fancy goods at 28 Main street, opposite the Bridge, with his house at 11 Charles street, on the hill.

WEST MILTON. The town meeting at Milton drew out a big vote as a result of a 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 15, 1918).

Harry L. Avery of Milton received his appointment as a notary public, January 28, 1919 (NH Secretary of State, 1919).

Harry L. Avery, an owner, aged fifty-five years (b. NH), headed a Milton (“Milton Village”) household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Hattie L. Avery, aged sixty years (b. NH), his child, Louise P. Avery, a retail grocery bookkeeper, aged twenty-two years (b. NH), and his sister, Sallie C. Avery, aged fifty-two years (b. NH). Harry L. Avery owned their house on Charles Street in Milton Village, free-and-clear. Their household was enumerated between those of Herbert R. Duntley, a leather-board laborer, aged thirty-eight years (b. NH), and John W. Avery, a shoe shop shoe-cutter, aged forty-nine years (b. NH).

Hattie L. (Pinkham) Avery died of pleuro-pneumonia in Milton, December 21, 1922, aged sixty-three years, ten months, and twenty-three days. (Dr. M.A.H. Hart signed the death certificate; her husband, Harry L. Avery, recorded her death in the Milton town records).

Avery & Roberts appeared in the Milton business directories of 1922, 1927, and 1930, as builders, and as manufacturers of lumber, shingles, and clapboards. H.L. Avery appeared also as town clerk, and as a Milton justice-of-the-peace.

WEST MILTON. Owing to the bad traveling, the attendance at town meeting from West Milton was very slim, and would have been slimmer had not Abbie Bennett, pastor at Nute chapel, and Elvah Kelley announced they were going if they went on snowshoes, which instilled courage in some of the men. Town clerk, Harry L. Avery, and treasurer, Everett F. Fox, were elected without opposition. Fred M. Chamberlin was elected a member of the board of selectmen for three years. Fifty dollars was appropriated to make the spring on Silver street suitable and sanitary for public use. One hundred dollars was appropriated to beatify the grounds near the railroad station at Milton, the work to be done under the direction of the Womans’ club (Farmington News, March 23, 1923).

In that same election Milton voters rejected the use of the “Australian” ballot, i.e., the secret ballot, rather than the customary show of hands. They also opposed waiving the poll tax for women voters.

Avery & Roberts appeared in a list of three hundred forty-nine larger NH timber operators in 1925. 

This list of the larger operations in the State of New Hampshire was prepared by the State Forester, Mr. John H. Foster. It includes all those who cut 50 M [million] feet or more during the year 1925, their total production being 246,808,000 feet (Cline, 1925).

(F.J. Cathcart of Farmington, NH, Giles & Langley of Farmington, NH, M.H. Eaton of Union, NH, and the Plumber Lumber Company of Union, NH, as well as a number from Rochester, NH, appeared also in the list).

Harry L. Avery appeared in the Milton directory of 1930, as a partner in Avery & Roberts, with his house on Charles street. Avery & Roberts appeared as merchants of dry goods, wood and lumber, on Main street. Son Theron W. (Emma P.) Avery appeared as a Spaulding Fibre Co. employee; and daughter Louise P. Avery appeared as residing in the home of H.L. Avery, on Charles street.

Harry L. Avery, a dry goods retail merchant, aged sixty-six years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. His household included his daughter, Louise P. Avery, aged thirty-two years (b. NH). Harry L. Avery owned their house on Charles Street, which was valued at $1,600. Their household was enumerated between those of Clemence Dixon, a U.S. Government mail messenger, aged forty-one years (b. MA), and John W. Avery, a shoe shop shoe-cutter, aged sixty years (b. NH).

TOWN MEETING IN  MILTON. A good percentage of the local check list was represented at the town house Tuesday. The various articles in the town warrant were acted upon excepting the article relative to the adoption of the Municipal Budget Act. In the contest for the office of selectman, the vote was as follows: Ford, 236; Blaisdell, 192; Blair, 107. Roy Pike was elected town treasurer; Herman Horne, tax collector; Harry Avery, town clerk; Robert Page of Milton Mills was reelected as a member of the school board in which capacity he has served for the past 20 years (Farmington News, March 15, 1935).

Younger brother John W. Avery died in Milton, March 5, 1936, aged sixty-seven years.

Henry L. Avery died of a sudden cerebral hemorrhage in Milton, September 30, 1936, aged seventy-two years, eight months, and two days. (Dr. M.A.H. Hart signed the death certificate; Avery’s deputy clerk, Ruth L. Plummer, recorded his death in the Milton town records).

TOWN CLERK FOR 40 YEARS, DEAD. Milton, Oct. 1. – The many friends of Harry A. Avery of Milton will be sorry to learn of his sudden death at his home here Wednesday night at the age of 72. Mr. Avery was serving his 40th year as town clerk of Milton and is one of the oldest town clerks in point of service in the state. For many years he was a member in the business firm of Avery-Roberts company. He is survived by a son, Theron, a daughter, Louise, with whom he lived, and a sister, Miss Sally Avery, all of Milton. He was a member of Masonic bodies (Portsmouth Herald, October 1, 1936).

Avery’s daughter, Louise P. Avery, served as town clerk in her own right from the March 1937 election until her own death from a cerebral hemorrhage in Milton, May 12, 1942, aged forty-four years, eleven months, and twenty days. (Dr. M.A.H. Hart signed the death certificate; Louise P. Avery’s deputy clerk, Ruth L. Plummer, recorded her death in the Milton town records).

IN MEMORIAM. Miss Louise Avery. Members of Fraternal Chapter, O.E.S., are grieved to learn of the sudden death of Miss Louise Avery of Milton which occurred Tuesday afternoon. Prominent in the social and civic life of her native town of Milton, she was suddenly stricken ill at her office and survived but a short time. She had been town clerk of Milton since 1936 [1937]. Besides holding this office she served as collector of water rents, clerk of the school district, organist at the Community church and treasurer of the Nute High school alumni. She was a member of the Milton Woman’s club, Community church and also a member of Fraternal Order, O.E.S., of Farmington. Funeral services will be held Friday afternoon at the Milton Community church and burial will be in Milton (Farmington News, [Friday,] May 15, 1942).

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References:

American Lumberman. (1907). American Lumberman. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=iC4iAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA13-PA45

Cline, A.C. (1925). The Marketing of Lumber in New Hampshire, 1925. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=NBLxAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA9-PA69

Find a Grave. (2020, August 18). Brackett F. Avery. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/214558859/brackett-f-avery

Find a Grave. (2020, August 18). Harry L. Avery. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/214557733/harry-l-avery

Find a Grave. (2020, August 18). Louise P. Avery. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/214558537/louise-p-avery

Find a Grave. (2013, August 13). William W. Martin. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/115395147/william-w-martin

Find a Grave. (2014, August 23). Frank S. Tompkins. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/134747123/frank-s-tompkins

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 Labor Bureau. (1910). Directory of Manufacturing Establishments, Arranged by Industry. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=sjFLAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA186

NH Secretary of State. (1901). Abstract of Annual Returns of Corporation, 1900. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=R3U9AQAAMAAJ&pg=RA4-PA13

NH Secretary of State. (1919). Annual Report of the Secretary of State. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=GL5LAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA137

Wikipedia. (2020, July 27). Order of United American Mechanics. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_United_American_Mechanics

Wikipedia. (2021, February 20). Secret Ballot. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secret_ballot

Wikipedia. (2021, February 21). Tammany Hall. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tammany_Hall

By Muriel Bristol |March 7, 2021

Charles Powers was born in Greenwich, Hampshire County, MA, February 1, 1762, son of Capt. Jeremiah and Elizabeth “Betty” (Cooley) Powers.

Charles Powers was a Revolutionary soldier. He served in Capt. Moses Montague’s Company, of Col. Israel Chapin’s Regiment of Hampshire County, MA, militia, in October-November 1779. He served also in Capt. Oliver Coney’s Company, in Col. Sears’ Regiment of MA militia, in 1781.

Charles Powers married, probably in Greenwich, MA, in 1786, Silence Rogers. She was born in 1761, daughter of William and Silence (Wright) Rogers.

The children of Charles and Silence (Wright) Rogers were: Lois M. Powers, born Pomfret, VT, January 18, 1788; Lucius Powers, born Greenwich, MA, November 18, 1791; Silence Powers, born Acton, ME, May 25, 1793; and Eliza Powers, born Lebanon, ME, March 19, 1795.

The first Physician that settled in [Acton, ME] town was Dr. Charles Powers, who commenced about the year 1791. For many years he did a good business. He continued until about 1825, but practiced occasionally in town afterwards (Fullonton, 1847).

One must be aware of several anachronisms present in accounts of Dr. Powers. What would later be the Acton village of Shapleigh was first settled in 1779, the whole being first called Hubbardstown Plantation. Maine was then a province of Massachusetts. Shapleigh – including what would later be Acton – was incorporated in 1785. Dr. Powers is said to have settled there in or shortly after 1791. (His son Lucius was said to have been born in Greenwich, MA, November 18, 1791, and, if that is accurate, it seems unlikely that he and his family would have moved so late in the year). The Province of Maine was set off from Massachusetts as its own U.S. State in 1820, and Acton was set off from Shapleigh as its own town on March 6, 1830.

Chapter 64. RESOLVE ON THE PETITION OF CHARLES POWERS AUTHORIZING THE PARISH IN SHAPLEIGH TO CONVEY THE LAND MENTIONED. On the Petition of Charles Powers, agent for and in behalf of the First Parish in the Town of Shapleigh, in the County of York, praying that said Parish may be authorised to sell to the Revd. Joseph Brown, the present minister thereof, twenty acres of the Parsonage belonging thereto. Resolved, for reasons set forth in said Petition that the prayer thereof be granted, and that the said Parish be and hereby are authorised and impowered to sell and convey to the said Joseph B[r]own, twenty acres of land situate in the southwest corner of the parsonage lot in said Parish, said lot being numbered five, in the seventh range in the first division of lots in said Town; and to make and execute a good and sufficient deed of conveyance of said twenty acres to said Brown accordingly. January 16, 1800 (MA General Court, 1897).

Charles Powers headed a Shapleigh, ME, household at the time of the Second (1800) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 26-44 years [Charles Powers], one female aged 26-44 years [Silence (Rogers) Powers], one female aged 10-15 years [Lois M. Powers], one male aged 10-15 years [Lucius Powers?], and two females aged under-10 years [Eliza Powers and Silence Powers]. His household appeared in the enumeration between those of Daniel Cook and Jeremiah Gilman.

Daughter Lois M. “Mercy” Powers married in Shapleigh, ME, October 26, 1806, Major Aaron Hubbard.

Charles Powers was a surgeon’s mate in the York County militia in 1807 (Emery, 1901).

Doctr. Charles Powers headed a Shapleigh, ME, household at the time of the Third (1810) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 45-plus years [himself], one female aged 26-44 years [Silence (Rogers) Powers], one female aged 16-25 years, and one female aged 10-15 years. His household appeared in the enumeration between those of Jotham Brackett and Joseph Door, Jr.

Daughter Silence Powers married, circa 1812, Zebulon Gilman. Son Lucius Powers married, in 1813, Martha Hubbard.

Daughter Eliza Powers married in Lebanon, ME, in 1818, Deacon John Moody.

PHYSICIANS. Dr. Charles Powers, of Greenwich, Mass., established himself at the western border near Milton Mills, as early as 1791, and practiced with good success till 1825. He then removed to New Hampshire and finally died in Shapleigh in 1847 [1844] (Loring, 1854).

Son Lucius Powers headed a New Durham, NH, household at the the of the Fifth (1830) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 30-39 years [himself], one female aged 30-39 years [Martha (Hubbard) Powers], one female aged 10-14 years, one male aged 5-9 years, one female aged 5-9 years, two males aged under-5 years, two females aged under-5 years, and one female aged 60-69 years.

Silence (Rogers) Powers died September 25, 1839, aged seventy-three years, eight months.

Samuel Gilman headed a New Durham, NH, household at the the of the Sixth (1840) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 50-60 years, one female aged 40-49 years, one male aged 16-19 years, one female aged under-5 years, and one male aged 70-79 years. The male aged 70-79 years was identified as Revolutionary pensioner Charles Powers, aged 78 years. One member of the household was engaged in a learned profession, i.e., Dr. Charles Powers, while a second was engaged in manufacture and the trades, and the third in agriculture.

Charles Powers died at Shapleigh, ME, January 12, 1844, aged eighty-one years.

Dr. Charles Powers, the first Physician of this [Acton, ME] town, was a native of Greenwich, Ms. [Mass.]. He came here in 1791, and practiced most of the time more than 30 years. He died at Shapleigh, early in 1844, aged 81 (Fullonton, 1847).

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References:

Emery, Edwin. (1901). The History of Sanford, Maine, 1661-1900. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=0nUUAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA206

Find a Grave. (2017, July 1). Silence Powers Gilman. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/180911307/silence-gilman

Find a Grave. (2013, November 7). Marcia Powers Hubbard. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/119939563/marcia-hubbard

Find a Grave. (2013, November 9). Dr. Charles Powers. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/120047214/charles-powers

Loring, Amasa. (1854). History of Shapleigh. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=tlzZdV2wqR0C&pg=PA39

MA General Court. (1897). Acts and Resolves Passed by the General Court. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=FmCxAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA555

By Muriel Bristol | February 28, 2021

Moses K. Cowell was born in Lebanon, ME, February 22, 1823, son of Ichabod and Rebecca (Clark) Cowell. (Date arrived at by computation from death record).

Ichabod Cowell, a farmer, aged sixty-one years (b. ME), headed a Lebanon, ME, household at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. His household included Rebecca Cowell, aged fifty-six years (b. ME), Moses Cowell, a farmer, aged twenty-five years (b. ME), and Sewell Cowell, aged twenty-two years (b. ME). Ichabod Cowell had real estate valued at $1,500, Moses Cowell had real estate valued at $500, and Sewall Cowell, had real estate valued at $500.

Ichabod Cowell, a farmer, aged seventy-three years (b. ME), headed a Lebanon (“Lebanon Centre P.O.”), ME, household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Rebecca Cowell, aged sixty-six years (b. ME), and Moses Cowell, a shoemaker, aged thirty-four years (b. ME). Ichabod Cowell had real estate valued at $1,000 and personal estate valued at $200, while Moses Cowell had personal estate valued at $100.

Moses Cowell, of Lebanon, ME, aged thirty-five years (b. ME), registered for the Class II military draft in 1863.

Ichabod Cowell, a farmer, aged eighty-three years (b. ME), headed a Lebanon, ME, household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Rebecca Cowell, aged seventy-five years (b. ME), and Moses Cowell, a farm laborer, aged forty-four years (b. ME). Ichabod Cowell had real estate valued at $500 and personal estate valued at $225, and Moses Cowell had personal estate valued at $1,000.

Young Acton, ME, diarist Ida Isadore Reynolds (1860-1946) mentioned Moses Cowell as being a customer of her seamstress mother, who made him a pair of pants in May 1873 (Heirlooms Reunited, 2019).

Saturday, May 3, 1873: Snowed. Mother made Moses Cowell’s pants. Mr. Hilton here. Edward did not go away.

She encountered him again in his capacity as physician, in February 1874, when he treated her for catarrh.

Tuesday, February 24, 1874:  Fair and Cold. I had a very bad pain in my side. I knit some. Father not very well. Mother got a bad head ache. She spun Five skeins of yarn.  Moses Cowell here. He left me some medicine to Purify my blood and some for my throat and some powder to blow down my throat. This is all for Catarrh. Clara Prescott and Enoch Sherman here.

M.K. Cowell appeared in the Milton business directories of 1875, 1876, and 1880, as a Milton Mills physician.

Moses K. Cowell, aged fifty-one years (b. ME), headed an Acton, ME, household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. Moses K. Cowell owned his house, free-and-clear. His household appeared in the enumeration between the households of Gilbert H. Welch, a farm laborer, aged twenty-nine years (b. ME), and Margarette Ploude, keeping house, aged fifty-seven years (b. Canada).

M.K. Cowell appeared in the Milton business directories of 1881, 1882, 1884, 1887, and 1889, as a Milton Mills physician.

Moses K. Cowell, M.D., reported to the NH State Board of Health on his contagious disease cases in Milton Mills in 1888.

Milton Mills. MOSES K. COWELL, M.D. Typhoid Fever – Four cases, one fatal; two, with the one fatal, in town; one in Lebanon, Maine; one in Acton, Maine. Polluted water in all cases, to which I attribute the disease. Diphtheria – Three cases, none fatal; two in town, one in Acton, Me. Bad sanitary conditions in all cases. Think polluted water the most common source of the disease (Clarke, 1888).

Moses K. Cowell, a physician, aged seventy-six years (b. ME), headed an Acton, ME, household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. Moses K. Cowell owned his house, free-and-clear. His household appeared in the enumeration between the households of Francis Coffrin, a farm laborer, aged seventy-one years (b. NH), and Edward J. Brierley, a grocer, aged fifty-one years (b. MA).

Moses K. Cowell appeared in the Milton directories of 1902, and 1905, as having his house at the Acton bridge, in Milton Mills.

Moses K. Cowell died of senile gangrene in Acton, ME, July 8, 1905, aged eighty-two years, four months, and six days. (Dr. W.E. Pillsbury signed his death certificate).

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References:

Clarke, Arthur E. (1888). Report of the State Board of Health of the State of New Hampshire, 1888. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=DZ4_GY2UvBcC&pg=PA44

Find a Grave. (2016, June 9). Moses K. Cowell. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/164165614/moses-k-cowell

Heirlooms Reunited. (2019, January 29). May Entries in the 1873 Diary of Ida Isadore Reynolds (1860-1946) of Acton, Maine; Future Wife of John Jotham Shapleigh (1856-1923). Retrieved from www.heirloomsreunited.com/2019/01/may-entries-in-1873-diary-of-ida.html

Wikipedia. (2020, December 26). Catarrh. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catarrh

By Muriel Bristol | February 24, 2021

The following two news articles emerged while researching Milton’s Railroad Station Agents. They fall a bit beyond the time frame with which we have concerned ourselves so far, but they do throw some light on  the ultimate fate of Milton’s Railroad Station or Depot building of 1873.

And our readers seem also to retain a considerable interest in and affection for Ray’s Marina. (The marina would rise from the ashes to close finally forty years later).

Ray’s Marina Fire of Monday, December 11, 1972

Fire Destroys Milton Marina. Damage Estimated at $200,000. MILTON – An exploding snowmobile has been listed as the cause of the major blaze which destroyed all by the offices of Ray’s Marina in Milton Monday afternoon. According to Ray Lamoureux, owner of the marina, an employee was working on a snowmobile in one of the bays when a spark set off the fire.

Milton Fire Chief Herb Downs said the fire spread rapidly from the working bay to the upper floor of the structure and then the most of the other building. Firemen from Milton, Farmington and Rochester worked for nearly three hours to put out the blaze, which according to Mr. Lamoureux caused an estimated $200,000 worth of damage.

On Tuesday Mr. Lamoureux surveyed the damage and indicated that he intended to start rebuilding immediately. For the time being the marina will continue operating out of the American Service Station next door with offices in a cottage on the other side of the structure. Mr. Lamoureux noted that although the telephone lines were destroyed in the fire and new homes [phones?] were installed on Tuesday, the numbers will remain the same, they are 332-1511 and 652-4523.

Prior to the location of Ray’s Marina at the site, the area served for nearly 100 years as the Milton Railroad Depot. Several years ago the facilities were moved to Rochester and the building lay abandoned for some time until Ray’s took over in 1963. During his ownership Mr. Lamoureux built onto the original structure and added a showroom and office space. The railroad depot was kept and converted into a repair shop. It was the railroad depot section of the building which was destroyed (Farmington News, [Thursday,] December 14, 1972).

The article was illustrated with four photos, which will not copy well. Their captions appear below.

[Photo Caption:] AS THE BURNT OUT, caved in shell of Ray’s Marina in Milton was being cleaned out on Tuesday, the day after one of Milton’s worst fires, Ray Lamoureux, owner of the Marina, was already making plans for rebuilding. For the time being, the Marina will be operating out of a cottage on one side of the building with their repair shop located in an American Service Station on the other side of the structure. (Photo by AEW).

[Photo Caption:] EVEN THOUGH the flames spread fast through Ray’s Marina in Milton all employees managed to get out of the building safely. According to Mr. Lamoureux, the owner of the business, no employees will be out of work because of the fire. He said, “It will be business as usual” (Photo by AEW).

[Photo Caption:] THE MONDAY AFTERNOON fire, which destroyed Ray’s Marina in Milton, was started when a snowmobile (pictured above) exploded and spread flames racing through the structure that once served as the Milton Railroad Depot (Photo by AEW).

[Photo Caption:] AS THINGS CALMED DOWN on Tuesday, the written location remained on the chalk board at the Milton Firehouse to tell where the fire had done $200,000 worth of damage the day before. (Photo by AEW).

Ray’s Marina Fire of Tuesday, October 30, 1973

Ten months later a Ray’s Marina boat storage building in Lebanon, ME, burned also.

Marina Blaze. WEST LEBANON, Maine (AP) – A fire here Tuesday leveled a storage building and destroyed its contents, about 65 motor boats and a fork lift truck, fire officials said. The cause of the blaze is undetermined and is under investigation. No injuries were reported. Fire fighters from several surrounding Maine and New Hampshire communities responded to the alarm. The storage building, the property of Ray’s Marina of Milton, NH, is on the Maine side of Milton Three Ponds. The marina itself is on the New Hampshire side (Portsmouth Herald, [Wednesday,] October 31, 1973).

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See also Milton’s Railroad Line, Milton Railroad Station Agents, and Grand Opening of Ray’s Marina

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References:

Foster’s Daily Democrat. (2016, May 12). Rheaume J. (Ray) Lamoureux. Retrieved from www.legacy.com/obituaries/fosters/obituary.aspx?n=rheaume-j-lamoureux-ray&pid=179960532&fhid=4824

By Muriel Bristol | February 21, 2021

Hugh Duncan Grant was born in Canada, December 31, 1870, son of Duncan and Eliza (Graham) Grant.

James McKay, a physician, aged forty-one years (b. Canada), headed a Potsdam, NY, household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of eleven years), Mary McKay, aged thirty-four years (b. NY), his servant, Marc[e]lina LaPoint, a housekeeper, aged twenty years (b. NY), and his boarder, Hugh Grant, a physician, aged twenty-eight years (b. Canada). James McKay owned their house at 89 Market Street, free-and-clear. McKay was a naturalized citizen, having immigrated into the U.S. in 1885, while Hugh Grant was still an alien, having immigrated in 1893. Mary McKay was the mother of two children, of whom none were still living.

CUTTINGSVILLE. Dr. Fiske is entertaining a former classmate, Dr. H.D. Grant of Malone, N.Y. (Southern Vermont Mirror (Danby, VT), June 10, 1904).

NORTHERN NEW YORK. Dr. H.D. Grant has gone down to Dundee, P.Q., to spend two weeks (Burlington Free Press (Burlington, VT), July 2, 1904).

BARTON LANDING. Dr. H.D. Grant of West Derby will take charge of Dr. Parlin’s patients, while the latter is away for the winter (Orleans County Monitor (Barton, VT), October 24, 1904).

BARTON LANDING. Dr. H.D. Grant, formerly of this place, has opened an office at Derby Line (Orleans County Monitor (Barton, VT), April 10, 1905).

Hugh Duncan Grant married (1st) in Newbury, VT, October 12, 1905, Martha Katherine “Mattie” Hamm. He was a physician, aged twenty-five years, and she was aged nineteen years. Congregational Rev. J. Alphonso Belanger performed the ceremony. She was born in Haverhill, MA, July 2, 1886, daughter of Charles W. and Susan L. (Marston) Hamm. (She died in East Hartford, CT, August 18, 1971).

DERBY LINE. Dr. H.D. Grant has closed his office in the studio building and intends locating in the West (Burlington Free Press (Burlington, VT), October 19, 1905).

Dr. Hugh D. Grant, like Dr. Weeks an alumnus of Baltimore Medical College, began practice at this [Milton Mills, NH] place during the latter part of the summer of 1907, and has resided here since that time (Mitchell-Cony, 1908).

Hugh D. Grant appeared in the Milton directory of 1909, as having his house at 12 Springvale Road, Acton Side, Milton Mills.

James Russell Grant was born in Acton, ME, January 2, 1909, son of Hugh D. and Martha (Hamm) Grant, as reported by physician H.D. Grant of Milton Mills, NH.

GROWING GIRLS NEED RED BLOOD. Pallor and Lack of Blood Should Be Corrected to Secure Proper Development. The pallor and lack of blood so often noted in the case of school girls, as well as young girls employed in stores and factories, if not corrected by proper tonic treatment, may reasonably be counted upon as a source of suffering and annoyance until the age of forty is reached. It indicates a lack of blood and with the blood deficient the growing girl cannot properly develop. It is a time when good red blood is urgently needed and the fact cannot be too strongly impressed upon parents. The disease is easily recognized by the yellow-green pallor, breathlessness and palpitation of the heart upon the least exertion, and sometimes, but not always, a tendency to faintness. The one remedy perfectly adapted for the cure of this condition is Dr. Williams’ Pink Pills. Mrs. H.D. Grant of Milton Mills, N.H., whose husband is a physician, says: “When about twelve years of age I began to decline in health and at last became so weak that I could not walk across the room without taking hold of something to steady myself. I don’t know what was the cause of my sickness unless I played too hard and grew too fast. I was very large for my age but extremely pale. I had headaches almost constantly and the only way I could sleep was by taking some sedative. I could not walk upstairs without my knees trembling. My appetite was poor and capricious. My heart seemed to be in my throat. I was thin and fainted frequently. During this time I suffered from weakness common to my sex. “I was treated by three physicians for anæmia but was given up by them and as a last resort tried Dr. Williams’ Pink Pills. I didn’t have any faith in them at first but I took them regularly and soon realized that they were doing me good. I gained in strength and weight, my appetite returned and I am now in good health.” Dr. Grant added: “My wife is a well woman today. She has a good appetite, sleeps well and does her work without any assistance.” Dr. Williams’ Pink Pills are sold by all druggists, or sent postpaid, on receipt of price, 50 cents per box, six boxes for $2.50, by the Dr. Williams Medicine Co., Schenectady, N.Y. (Bangor Daily News (Bangor, ME), January 21, 1910).

H.D. Grant, an M.D. doctor, aged forty years (b. Canada), headed a Bowdoinham, ME, household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of five years), Mattie K. Grant, aged twenty-three years (b. MA), and his children, Herley G. Grant, aged three years (b. NH), and James R. Grant, aged sixteen months (b. ME). H.D. Grant rented their house on Brooklyn Street. He was an alien, who had immigrated in 1887.

NORTHERN NEW YORK. Dr. H.D. Grant of Bowdoinville [Bowdoinham], Me., is the guest of his brother. Dr. J.A. Grant (Burlington Free Press (Burlington, ME), July 24, 1911).

DESCRIBE VISIT OF MASKED MEN. Dr. and Mrs. Grant in Bath, Me, Court. Frank P. Brown, Bowdoinham, Held tor Supreme Court. Contents of Threatening Letter Divulged. BATH, Me, Feb 27 – Alleging that a party of 15 or 20 masked men called at his home last Tuesday night about 9 o’clock to hand him a threatening letter and that one of the party struck him, Dr. H.D. Grant of Bowdoinham appeared in the Municipal Court today against Frank P. Brown, also of Bowdoinham, whom he charged with assault and battery. Judge Keegan found probable cause and young Brown was bound over to the May term of the Supreme Court in sureties of $500, which were furnished by his father, George W. Brown of Somerset Junction, and by James H. Millay of Bowdoinham. Dr. Grant was the principal witness. He said that last Tuesday night he was notified by telephone that a delegation was then on its way to give him a letter warning him that he and Mrs. Grant had better drop an action which Mrs. Grant is planning to bring against another woman in Bowdoinham, A group of masked men soon called and one handed him a letter. The doctor attempted to pull the man’s mask from his face, he said, and the man shot out his fist, striking him under his eye. He had succeeded in so removing the mask that he recognized the wearer as Brown, he said. In the scuffle others jumped at him, Dr. Grant testified, and he fell into a ditch. Dr. Grant’s testimony was corroborated by Mrs. Grant, who said she followed her husband out of the house in an attempt to remove the masks from as many others as possible but she only succeeded positively in identifying three members of the party. She said they are prominent citizens of Bowdoinham. She handed a revolver to her husband, who fired it in the air, causing the party to flee. Dr. and Mrs. Grant testified that one of the party was Charles Berry, their next-door neighbor. Young Berry denied that he took any part in the affair. He said he was playing the piano at his home when he heard a woman’s scream. Rushing out in the direction of the sound, he saw two figures in the ditch and from their voices believed them to be Dr. and Mrs. Grant. He saw a group of men, then more than 200 feet away, running down the street. A moment later a shot was fired and he became so frightened he ran back to his home. The letter handed Dr. Grant and read before the court read, “Since your arrival in this town our citizens have been subjected to many odorous episodes because of your presence. From time to time our peace-loving citizens have conferred together as to the advisability of purging our town of your presence. “But their good old New England blood coursed slowly through their veins and no one could take the lead in a plan to eliminate you. At frequent intervals since you came here you have succeeded in bringing your own and your wife’s misdeeds into the limelight and allowed their poisonous influences to be disseminated among our young people. “Recent events disclose the fact that you are preparing again to bring an obnoxious matter before the public, and for that purpose have instituted a civil suit against one of our old and respected citizens. Patience has ceased to be a virtue, and we therefore take this occasion to advise you to withdraw same on or before March 10, 1915, reminding you that you have too much to lose and nothing to be gained by your failure to do so. “We as citizens respect your rights as a citizen, and believe you should seriously consider the situation and respect our rights, upon which we assure you we shall insist. “Twenty Citizens of Bowdoinham.” (Boston Globe, February 28, 1915).

St. Johnsbury Locals. Dr. and Mrs. H.D. Grant of Bath Maine, and Mr. and Mrs. Fred Heath of Bowdoinham, Maine, were the recent guests of Mr. and Mrs. A.F. Houghton on their way to Montreal on an automobile trip (St. Johnsbury Republican (St. Johnsbury, VT), May 23, 1917).

Hugh D. Grant received a commission as a 1st Lieutenant in the Medical Section of the N.G.R. [National Guard Reserve], February 8, 1918. He was attached to the Third Maine Regiment.

Hugh D. (Martha K.) Grant appeared in the Bath, ME, directory of 1919, as a physician, with his office and house at 82 Pine street.

Hugh D. Grant, a general practice physician, aged forty-nine years (b. Canada), headed a Bath, ME, household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Martha K. Grant, aged thirty-one years (b. MA), and his children, Hurley G. Grant, aged eighteen years (b. NH), and James R. Grant, aged eleven years (b. ME). Hugh D. Grant owned their house at 82 Pine Street, free-and-clear. It was a two-family residence, which they shared with a tenant household, that of Mary E. Wright, a housekeeper, aged twenty-eight years (b. ME).

Dr. Hugh D. Grant of Bath, Me., is suffering from a burn on his left arm sustained in a peculiar manner. He was driving his car on Sewall’s hill, Washington street, when he noticed steam coming from the radiator, which he believed had gone dry. Removing the cylinder cap his movement was a trifle awkward because of his heavy fur coat and before he could withdraw the cap, from the opening, the hot steam quickly went up his sleeve, scalding the arm from the hand to the elbow (Fall River Daily Evening News (Fall River, MA), December 8, 1921).

Hugh D. (Mattie) Grant appeared in the Bath, ME, directories of 1922, and 1924, as a physician, with his office and house at 82 Pine street. They would seem to have divorced between 1924 and 1925.

Hugh D. Grant appeared in the Bath, ME, directories of 1926, 1928, and 1931, as a physician, with his office and house at 141 Front street. (His son, Hurley G. Grant, a student in NYC, had his home residence at 141 Front street in 1931).

Hugh D. Grant married (2nd) in Portsmouth, NH, June 7, 1934, Hazel [Abbie] ((Jaquith) Holland) Gwynn, both of Bath, ME. He was a physician, aged fifty-eight years, and she was a bookkeeper, aged thirty-eight years. They were both divorced; it was his second marriage and her third marriage. Peter J. Hickey, justice of the peace, performed the ceremony. She was born in Durham, ME, March 19, 1896, daughter of Horace G. and Abbie E. (Littlefield) Jaquith.

Dr. and Mrs. Hugh D. Grant will leave Wednesday morning for a two weeks’ trip to Montreal and Ottawa (Bath Independent, October 11, 1934).

NEWLY WEDS TAKE UP RESIDENCE IN BATH. Mr. and Mrs. Fred P. Wilson, whose wedding took place Nov. 3 in Topsham, where Rev. Harry W. Chamberlin officiated at the single ring service, are making their home at 805 Washington street. Attending the couple were Dr. and Mrs. H.D. Grant. The bride, formerly Mrs. Ruby H. Avery, wore brown matelassé crepe and carried bronze chrysanthemums. Mrs. Grant wore a purple gown and carried pink chrysanthemums. The bride’s gift to her attendant was a double compact and the groom’s gift to the best man was a leather bill fold. A wedding supper followed the ceremony. Mrs. Wilson is employed at the Commercial Trading Company and Mr. Wilson is employed by the A. and K. Street Railway (Bath Independent, November 14, 1935).

H.D. Grant was elected Vice President of the Sagadahoc Medical Society at its meeting in the Hotel Sedgwick in Bath, ME, November 16, 1937.

Cyrus Russell Grant, beloved husband of Annie Margaret Gage, died at his home in Dundee Center, Québec, age 78 years. He was born in Russell, ON, on December 14, 1861, and came to Dundee at the age of 21. He is survived by his widow, one son Hugh at home, one brother, Dr. Hugh D. Grant of Bath, ME, three sisters, Mrs. Johnna Kirschner of Ottawa, and Misses Matilda and Ellen Grant of Montreal. Three grandchildren and four nephews, Harley and Russell Grant of Bath, ME, and Kenneth and Howard Grant of New York. He has lived here ever since [—-]. On February 8, 1888, he was united in marriage to Miss Annie Margaret Gage of Dundee who survives him, one son Hugh was born to this marriage. Funeral was held from his late residence to Zion United Church, in Dundee, service conducted by the Rev. J.B. McLean, D.D. of Huntingdon, assisted by the Rev. J.H. Woodside of Kensington. Interred in the Zion Church Cemetery ([Southwest Quebec] Gleaner, December 20, 1939).

Hugh D. Grant, a doctor, aged sixty-eight years (b. ME), headed a Bath, ME, household at the time of the Sixteenth (1940) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Hazel Grant, aged forty-nine years (b. ME), his stepson, Norman Grant, aged fifteen years (b. ME), and his lodger, Arthur Eller, a restaurant owner, aged forty-five years (b. Greece). Hugh D. Grant rented their house at 141 Front Street, for $25 per month. He had attended seven years of college, Hazel Grant had attended four years of high school. The family had resided in the same house in 1935, while their lodger had resided elsewhere in the same place, i.e., Bath, ME. (Arthur Eller appeared in the Bath, ME, directory of 1936, as proprietor of Arthur’s Lunch, at 136 Front street, with his house at 133 Front street).

Hugh D. Grant appeared in the Bath, ME, directory of 1949, as a physician, with his office and house at 141 Front street.

Hugh D. (Hazel A.) Grant appeared in the Bath, ME, directories of 1951, 1953, 1955, and 1957, as a physician, with his office and house at 3 Linden street. (Mrs. Ruth Grant, appeared as a registered nurse (Brunswick), with her house at 26 Liberty street, in 1951. His ex-wife, Mrs. Martha K. Grant, also a registered nurse, boarded with her, in 1951, and had her house at 14 Liberty street in 1953).

Dr. Hugh D. Grant is in Augusta where he is attending the training school of the officers of the Third Maine regiment of the Maine National Guard (Bath Independent, August 21, 1958).

Hugh D. Grant died in Bath, ME, September 29, 1958, aged eighty-eight years. Hazel A. ((Jaquith) (Holland) Gwynn) Grant died in Volusia County, FL, April 29, 1980.

References:

Find a Grave. (2012, April 20). Martha Kate “Mattie” Ham Miller. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/88806158/martha-kate-miller

By Muriel Bristol | February 17, 2021

Milton’s original railroad station stood on the other side of the Salmon Falls River. It was within Milton still, but on that side of the river that was called the “Lebanon side.” The Portsmouth, Great Falls & Conway Railroad (PGF&C) corporation ran things initially from that original station that stood on the Lebanon side. (See Milton’s Railroad Line).

The railroad station depicted in the picture postcards, i.e., Milton’s second railroad station, was built on the Milton side over twenty years later in 1873.

There seems to have been a career progression, at least in later years, from telegrapher to freight agent and, finally, to station agent. At least some of those working “on the ground,” as opposed in the train crews, seem to have been managed by the station agent. These might include baggage handlers, flagmen, freight agent, telegrapher, and, possibly, section hands.

The Milton railroad station agents (or depot masters) of this period or, at least, those that have been identified so far were: Charles A. Sawyer, F.A. Crocket, Daniel Corkery, William T. Wallace, John E. Fox, and Hugh A. Beaton. (Whoever replaced Hugh A. Beaton, after his 1940 death and until the station closed, has not yet been identified).

Charles A. Sawyer – 185?-1874

Charles Augustine Sawyer was born in Wakefield, NH, March 1, 1825, son of William and Mehitable “Hettie” (Richards) Sawyer.

Charles A. Sawyer married in Farmington, NH, May 1, 1853, Amanda M.F. Horne, he of Wakefield, NH, and she of Farmington. Rev. D.D. Tappan performed the ceremony. She was born in Dover, NH, July 24, 1834, daughter of John and Tryphena (Perkins) Horne.

Son George E. Sawyer was born in Milton, in March 1858.

Charles A. Sawyer, a R.R. agent, aged thirty-five years (b. NH), headed a Milton (“Milton P.O.”) household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included A.M. [Amanda M.] Sawyer, aged twenty-five years (b. NH), E.A. [Ella A.] Sawyer, aged five years (b. NH), and George E. Sawyer, aged two years (b. NH). Charles A. Sawyer had real estate valued at $1,000 and personal estate valued at $500. His household was enumerated between those of Hazen Duntley, a blacksmith, aged fifty-five years (b. NH), and Stephen W. Dearborn, a box maker, aged forty-five years (b. NH).

Charles A. Sawyer of Milton registered for the Class II military draft, June 30, 1863. He was a depot master, aged forty-one years.

Daughter Ella A. Sawyer died in Milton, April 30, 1866, aged eleven years. (She is buried in Portland, ME).

Charles A. Sawyer, a R.R. station agent, aged forty-five years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Amanda M. Sawyer, keeping house, aged thirty-five years (b. NH), Anna M. Sawyer, at school, aged twelve years (b. MA), and George E. Sawyer, at school, aged ten years (b. NH). Charles A. Sawyer had real estate valued at $800 and personal estate valued at $650. His household was enumerated between those of William H. Jones, a shoe factory worker, aged thirty-one years (b. ME), and Robert Miller, a shoe factory worker, aged thirty-six years (b. MA).

Son John G. Sawyer was born in Milton, August 19, 1870, the third child of Charles A. and Amanda Sawyer. Charles A. Sawyer was a station agent.

C.A. Sawyer appeared in the Milton business directory of 1873, as the Milton express agent. (C.H. Looney appeared as the Milton telegraph agent).

Charles A. and Amanda M. (Horne) Sawyer, and family, left Milton for Portland, ME, circa 1874.

Chas. A. Sawyer, a confectioner, aged fifty-four years (b. NH), headed a Portland, ME, household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Amanda M. Sawyer, keeping house, aged forty-four years (b. NH), his children, George E. Sawyer, a confectioner, aged twenty-two years (b. NH), Anna M. Sawyer, at home, aged twenty-one years (b. MA), and John G. Sawyer, aged nine years (b. NH), his servant, Costella Ashlund, a servant, aged nineteen years (b. ME), and his boarders, Fred Sawyer, a confectioner, aged nineteen years (b. NH), and Elmer Spinney, an apprentice, aged nineteen years (b. ME). They resided at 321 Congress Street.

Charles A. Sawyer appeared in the Portland, ME, directory of 1883, as a confectioner at 419 Congress street, with his house at 321 Congress street. George E. Sawyer appeared as running a wholesale and retail confectionary at 309 and 315 Congress street, and 419 Congress street, with his house at 311 Congress street.

Charles A. Sawyer appeared in the Portland, ME, directory of 1886, as a confectioner at 419 Congress street, with his house at 11 Fessenden street, D. [Deering]. George E. Sawyer appeared as running a wholesale and retail confectionary at 309 and 315 Congress street, and 419 Congress street, with his house at 15 Fessenden street.

Charles A. Sawyer died of chronic nephritis in Deering, ME, February 11, 1893, aged sixty-seven years, eleven months, and eleven days.

Amanda M. Sawyer appeared in the Portland, ME, directory of 1897, as the widow of Charles A.,, with her house at 11 Fessenden street, Oakdale. George E. Sawyer appeared as a wholesale and retail confectioner, at 309 to 323 Congress street, and 465 Congress street, with his house at 14 Wilmot street. John G. Sawyer appeared as a salesman, at 315 Congress street, with his house at 11 Fessenden street, O [Oakdale].

Amanda M. (Horne) Sawyer died of chronic nephritis at 33 Fessenden Street in Portland, ME, March 14, 1916.

F.A. Crocket – 1874

F.A. Crocket appeared in the Milton business directory of 1874, as the Milton express and telegraph agent.

Daniel Corkery – 1874-c1884

Daniel Corkery was born in St. John, New Brunswick, Canada, circa December 1842, son of Daniel and Mary (Blake) Corkery. (His parents were natives of Ireland).

Daniel Corkery came to the Milton area from California, in or around 1865.

Daniel Corkery married Martha E. “Lizzie” Felch. She was born in Reading, MA, circa 1848, daughter of John B. and Martha A. (Lewis) Felch. (Her parents married in Lowell, MA, February 1, 1847. Her father worked there as a mechanic for the Middlesex Manufacturing Co. woolen mill. Her mother died of consumption in Clinton, ME, in August 1849, aged twenty-eight years (after one year’s illness)).

Daughter Annie I. Corkery was born in Milton, circa 1866.

Daniel Corkery, a sawmill laborer, aged twenty-eight years (b. New Brunswick), headed a Wakefield (“Union P.O”), NH, household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Lizzie Corkery, at home, aged twenty-two years (b. NH), and his child, Annie I. Corkery, at home, aged four years (b. NH). His household appeared in the enumeration between those of James Tucker, engine house superintendent, aged forty-seven years (b. MA), and Edwin W. Junkins, freight master, aged thirty-two years (b. NH).

Daniel Corkery, then of Union, Wakefield, NH, was working as a freight conductor for the Portsmouth, Great Falls and Conway Railroad when he lost his right leg below the knee in a workplace accident.

NEW HAMPSHIRE. Daniel Corkery, conductor on the Portsmouth, Great Falls and Conway freight train, was seriously injured at East Wakefield, Saturday afternoon, by being run over by the engine of his train, which passed over the right leg below the knee. He was carried to his home in Union, and his leg amputated. There is very little doubt whether he will survive the operation (Boston Globe, February 3, 1873).

After recovering from his injuries, Daniel Corkery succeeded Charles A. Sawyer as the Milton station agent.

RAILROAD NOTES. The extension of the Portsmouth, Great Falls and Conway Railroad to connect with the Portland & Ogdensburg road, has been completed, and the cars are now run to Upper Bartlett. More than a thousand men are at work on the mountain near the Willey House (Vermont Journal (Windsor, VT), January 16, 1875).

Eliza M. Corkery was born in Milton, August 22, 1875, daughter of depot master Daniel Corkery and his wife, Lizzie M. Corkery. (She appears to have died prior to the Tenth (1880) Federal Census).

Daniel Corkery appeared in the Milton business directories of 1875, 1876, and 1880, as the Milton express and telegraph agent. He appeared in the Milton business directory of 1877, as a flour and grain dealer.

Two men from Great Falls, Somersworth, NH, stole flour and grain from Daniel Corkery at Milton Three Ponds, and a horse and sleigh from George H. Jones in which to escape.

NEW HAMPSHIRE. In default of $2000 bail, George Whitehouse and Richard Pine of Great Falls were committed to jail Wednesday to await trial for stealing a sleigh, harness and robes from George H. Jones, and a quantity of flour and grain from Daniel Corkery at Milton, Sunday night (Boston Post, [Thursday,] January 30, 1879).

Summary of News. George Whitehouse and Richard Pike, of Great Falls, N.H., were last week arrested for breaking and entering a storehouse at Milton Three Ponds, and stealing therefrom several barrels of flour, the property of Daniel Corkery. They also stole a horse and pung to carry away their plunder, but the heavy load broke down the pung, and hence their arrest (Argus and Patriot (Montpelier, VT), February 5, 1879).

The two thieves went to prison. George L. Whitehouse at least received a pardon from NH Governor Natt Head in the following December (Boston Globe, December 19, 1879).

Daisy G. Corkery was born in Milton, circa January 1880, daughter of Daniel and Lizzie Corkery.

Daniel Corkery, depot master, aged thirty-nine years (b. New Brunswick), headed a Milton household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Lizzie A. Corkery, keeping house, aged thirty-two years (b. MA), Annie I. Corkery, at school, aged fourteen years (b. NH), and Daisy A. Corkery, aged four months (b. NH (January)), and his helper, William T. Wallace, assistant station agent, aged nineteen years (b. NH). His household was enumerated between those of George Blake, a day laborer, aged sixty-seven years (b. NH), and Huon L. French, a shoe worker, aged twenty-seven years (b. NH).

Kate Corkery was born in Milton, January 25, 1881, daughter of depot master Daniel Corkery and his wife, Lizzie Corkery.

Daniel Corkery appeared in the Milton business directories of 1881, 1882, and 1884, as the Milton express and telegraph agent.

Daughter [Annie] Isabel Corkery died of consumption in Milton, December 28, 1883, aged seventeen years, and ten months. (Her death was recorded also in neighboring Lebanon, ME: Annie I. Corkery died in Milton, December 29, 1883, aged seventeen years, ten months, and twenty-three days. (She is buried in the Prospect Hill Cemetery, in Lebanon, ME)).

Some Railroad Literature. CONCORD. N.H., June 9. – The secretary of state has received for record in the office, a copy of the proceedings of the meeting of stockholders of the Boston & Maine railroad relating to the purchase of the roads, franchises and properties of the Eastern, and of the Portsmouth, Great Falls & Conway railroad, together with certificates of sale (Boston Globe, June 10, 1890).

Daniel Corkery appeared in the Milton directory of 1900, as a shoe beater out, with his house on Main street, near the Post Office. (A shoe “beater out” was one that tended a shoe leveling machine. It shaped and smoothed leather insoles and outsoles, especially imperfections arising out of other assembly operations). Daughter Daisy G. Corkery appeared also as a milliner on Main street, near the Post Office, boarding at the same location.

MILTON. Daniel Corkery, who has been on a trip to Roxbury, Mass., has returned home (Farmington News, April 6, 1900).

Daniel Corkery, a shoe shop hand, aged fifty-seven years (Canada (Eng.)), headed a Milton (“Milton Village”) household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of thirty-five years), Martha Corkery, aged fifty-one years (b. ME), and his children, Daisy G. Corkery, a milliner, aged twenty years (b. NH), and Katy D. Corkery, aged seventeen years (b. NH). Daniel Corkery owned their house, free-and-clear.

MILTON. Kate Corkery is home from a month’s visit in Boston (Farmington News, September 6, 1901).

MILTON. Miss Daisy Corkery is remodelling her house. The upper rooms will be used for millinery. A large bay window is to be added to the lower part for the display of goods (Farmington News, September 27, 1901).

Daniel Corkery died of pyaemia in Milton, September 15, 1902, aged fifty-nine years, eight months, and sixteen days. He was then a flagman (M.A.H. Hart, M.D., signed the death certificate).

Martha E. Corkery of Milton made her last will, apparently in Milton, December 1, 1903. After the payment of her just debts, if any, and funeral expenses, she devised all the rest of her estate, both real and personal, to her two daughters, Daisy J. Corkery and Kate D. Corkery, who she named as joint executors. Harry L. Avery, Henry H. Wentworth, and Louisa M. Wentworth signed as witnesses (Strafford County Probate, 134:25).

Daughter Daisy G. Corkery married in Milton, August 28, 1905, Harry A. Perkins, both of Milton. She was a milliner, aged twenty-five years, and he was a salesman, aged twenty-seven years. Rev. Myron P. Dickey performed the ceremony. Perkins was born in Kenduskeag, ME, circa 1877,son of Charles B. and Abbie (Wentworth) Perkins.

Harry A. Perkins appeared in the Lynn, MA directory of 1907, as a salesman, with his house at 19 Allen avenue. His sister-in-law, Catherine Corkery, appeared as a shoemaker, boarding at 19 Allen avenue; and his mother-in-law, Elizabeth Corkery, widow of Daniel, appeared as having died there January 21, 1907.

Martha E. “Lizzie” (Felch) Corkery died of valvular heart disease in her home at 19 Allen Avenue in Lynn, MA, January 21, 1907, aged fifty-nine years. (She was buried in Milton, NH).

Daughter Catherine D. Corkery married in Lynn, MA, February 21, 1909, Douglas W. Hendry, both of 19 Allen Ave., Lynn, MA. She was at home, aged twenty-five years, and he was a machinist, aged twenty-five years. Rev. Mary E. Miars performed the ceremony. Hendry was born in Boston, MA, circa 1883, son of George and Mary (Tweedie) Hendry.

[WOMAN PASTOR TO WED. Reported in Lynn That Rev. Mary A. Miars Will Be a June Bride and Leave Friends’ Church. LYNN, May 3 – Several weeks ago it was announced that Rev Mary A. Miars, pastor of the Friends’ church, Silsbee st., was to sever her connection with that church. It is now understood that she is to be a bride in June, and will probably never enter the pastoral field again in Lynn. Miss Miars refuses to affirm or deny the report of her coming marriage, and will only say that everything will be made known when the proper time arrives. It is said that the man she is to wed is a resident of Ohio, which is also her native state. Miss Miars has been connected with the Silsbee-st., church for the past 10 years. A few years ago Miss Miars became prominent when she interested herself in Edgar Meikel, the Lynn boy who was arrested on the charge of killing his father, but who was subsequently acquitted. It is understood that when Miss Miars closes her engagement with the Lynn church she will go directly to her home in Washington, O. [Ohio] (Boston Globe, May 4, 1909)].

The last will of Martha E. (Felch) Corkery was proved in a probate session held in Farmington, NH, August 16, 1910 (Strafford County Probate, 134:25).

William T. Wallace – c1884-1891

William T. Wallace was born in Middleton, NH, circa 1861, son of John and Dorothy (York) Wallace.

Daniel Corkery, depot master, aged thirty-nine years (b. New Brunswick), headed a Milton household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Lizzie A. Corkery, keeping house, aged thirty-two years (b. MA), Annie I. Corkery, at school, aged fourteen years (b. NH), and Daisy A. Corkery, aged four months (b. NH (January)), and his helper, William T. Wallace, assistant station agent, aged nineteen years (b. NH). His household was enumerated between those of George Blake, a day laborer, aged sixty-seven years (b. NH), and Huon L. French, a shoe worker, aged twenty-seven years (b. NH).

William T. Wallace married in Milton, May 20, 1885, Sarah F. Downs, both of Milton. He was a station agent, aged twenty-four years, and she was a lady, aged twenty-eight years. Rev. Frank Haley performed the ceremony. She was born in Milton, June 2, 1856, daughter of James and Abigail “Abby” (Ware) Downs.

William T. Wallace appeared in the Milton business directories of 1887, and 1889, as the Milton express and telegraph agent.

William T. Wallace appeared in the Milton business directory of 1892, as a Milton grocer.

Burglars invaded the Three Ponds grocery store of William T. Wallace, as well as the clothing store of Henry F. Mason, in April 1898.

Burglars at Work in Milton, N.H. MILTON, N.H., April 19. The stores of H.F. Mason and W.T. Wallace were entered by burglars last night. At Mason’s a quantity of boots, shoes and clothing was taken, and at Wallace’s a small amount of change from the money drawer (Boston Globe, April 19, 1898).

MILTON. Deputy Sheriff William T. Wallace is attending the supreme court in Dover this week (Farmington News, March 23, 1900).

William T. Wallace, a grocer, aged thirty-nine years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of fifteen years), Sarah F. Wallace, aged forty-three years (b. NH). William T. Wallace owned their house, free-and-clear. Sarah F. Wallace was the mother of no children. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Frank S. Lee, a housepainter, aged fifty-four years (b. NH), and Frank Thompson, a day laborer, aged twenty-four years (b. MA).

The NH General Court authorized incorporation of the Milton Water Works Company, March 21, 1901, with initial board members Malcom A.H. Hart, Charles H. Looney, S. Lyman Hayes, Charles D. Jones, Fred B. Roberts, Harry Avery, George E. Wentworth, Joseph H. Avery, Ira W. Jones, Arthur W. Dudley, Everett F. Fox, Henry F. Townsend, Freeman H. Lowd, William T. Wallace, Frank G. Horne, Charles A. Jones, and Nathaniel G. Pinkham. It established itself July 19, 1899, with Harry L. Avery as its treasurer (NH Secretary of State, 1901).

Red Men Meet. Last Wednesday night at the regular council of Chocorua Tribe No. 6, I.O.R.M., a class of eleven palefaces was admitted to membership in the order, the work being exemplified by the degree staff of Madokawando Tribe No. 21 of Milton, which is considered one of the leading teams in the state, and certainly does first-class work under the direction of Charles A. Gilmore, formerly a resident of this town and a member of the tribe here. At the conclusion of the ceremonies attending the conferring of the degrees, all marched to the banquet hall to do honor to “corn and venison” prepared and waiting, and to listen to speaking by men prominent in the affairs of the order, and among them were George F. Hersey of Dover, grand sachem of the state, and William T. Wallace of Milton, a chief of the great council of New Hampshire, the sachem and several past sachems, of the Milton tribe, George H. Demeritt, sachem, and other members, old and new, of Chocorua tribe. At an early hour in the morning the company dispersed, each feeling that much had been accomplished in the fostering of good fellowship, and the raising of the local organization towards regaining the eminent position once maintained in the community. It is hoped that soon this tribe can boast of a degree team which will do credit to the order and its home town (Farmington News, April 5, 1907).

William T. Wallace, a shoe factory bookkeeper, aged forty-eight years (b. NH), headed a Milton (“Milton 3-Ponds”) household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of twenty-eight years), Frances Wallace, aged fifty-three years (b. NH). William T. Wallace owned their house, free-and-clear. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Edward Cestrau, a leatherboard mill beater man, aged thirty-two years (b. Canada), and Charles W. Evans, a shoe factory picker, aged forty-two years (b. NH).

Installation. Officers of Minnehaha Council, D. of P., were duly installed by District Deputy Grand Pocahontas Hattie Palmer of Rochester, assisted by past deputy Mrs. Allen of the same city. The ceremonies took place in Grange hall last Thursday evening in the presence of a large attendance of members a delegation of 18 members from the Milton council, including Past Great Sachem William T. Wallace and Past Grand Pocahontas Ina Drew. Chiefs who were raised up are as follows; Prophetess, Melissa Corson; Pocahontas, Edna Hanson; Wenonah, Addle Ham; Powhatan, Ernest Blaisdell; K. of R., Mamie Gate; K. of W., Jennie Marston; C. of W., Nellie Sanders; third trustee, Emma Bradshaw; first scout, Rosa Fall; first warrior, D.W. Cate; second warrior, Everett Corson; third warrior, C.W. Marston; fourth warrior, George Ham; guard of tepee, Emma Bradshaw; guard of forest, C.W. Whitehouse. A social hour, with banquet, concluded a most enjoyable affair (Farmington News, January 19, 1917).

William T. Wallace, a leatherboard shipper, aged fifty-eight years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Frances S. Wallace, aged sixty-three years (b. NH). William T. Wallace owned their house on Upper Main Street in Milton Village, free-and-clear. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of George F. Downs, a meat market owner, aged sixty-three years (b. NH), and Edward A. Connell, a Milton Ice co. laborer, aged twenty-nine years (b. MA).

Milton Leatherboard employee, William T. Wallace, was seriously wounded in a freak accident there on October 31, 1928. He died that same day in the Rochester hospital following an operation there, aged sixty-seven years, and nine months. His Rochester death certificate (signed by Dr. M.A.H. Hart of Milton) explained that he had been …

Struck by a flying blade from a heavy steel fan in the drying room of the Milton Leatherboard mill on the side of his abdomen causing the bursting of a section of the intestines. He was taken to the Rochester Hosp. and died after his operation before recovering from the anesthetic.

LOCAL. Many local friends, and especially the orders of Red Men and Pocahontas throughout the state, regret the tragic and untimely death of William S. Wallace of Milton, who died at the Rochester hospital last Monday as the result of injuries while at his employment at the Dawson paper mill last week. Mr. Wallace was a past great sachem of the Red Men of New Hampshire. For many years he was an employee of the Boston and Maine R.R. as the station master at Milton Also he was a former business man of Milton (Farmington News, November 9, 1928).

S. Frances Wallace, a widow, aged seventy-two years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. She owned her house on North Main Street, which was valued at $1,400. She had a radio set.

Sarah F. (Downs) Wallace died of an intestinal obstruction (and bowel cancer) in Milton, January 2, 1939, aged eighty-two years, and seven months. M.A.H. Hart, M.D., signed the death certificate.

John E. Fox – 1891-1904

John E. Fox was born in Tuftonborough, NH, May 30, 1845, son of George and Drusilla E. (Hersey) Fox.

John E. Fox married in Brooklyn, NY, December 25, 1872, Abbie Frances “Frances” Woodman, he of Tuftonborough, NH, and she of Brooklyn. The ceremony took place “at her Father’s house.” John L. Page and N. Hubbard Woodman, Jr., appeared as witnesses. She was born in Tamworth, NH, circa 1847.

George Fox, a farmer, aged seventy-three years, headed a Tuftonborough, NH, household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Drusilla E. Fox, keeping house, aged sixty-nine years, his son, John E. Fox, works on farm, aged thirty-five years, his daughter-in-law, Abbie F. Fox, works in house, aged twenty-six years, and his grandchildren, Alice E. Fox, aged three years, George N. Fox, aged two years, and Sadie M. Fox, aged three months.

John E. Fox was a Tuftonborough, NH, Selectman in the years 1880-85.

MILTON. Station Agent John E. Fox is proving a very popular man in that capacity (Farmington New, September 4, 1891).

Daughter Lillian E. Fox was born in Milton, July 13, 1893, fourth child of John E. Fox (station agent, aged forty-three years (b. Tuftonborough, NH) and Abby F. Woodman (aged forty-one years, b. Tamworth, NH).

John E. Fox appeared in the Milton business directories of 1894, and 1898, as the Milton express and telegraph agent.

NEWS AND NOTES. Mr. John E. Fox, station agent at Milton, who had his leg broken two or three months ago, has had to have it amputated (Farmington News, September 14, 1894).

MILTON. Men are at work on the railroad repairing damages done by the freshet. No trains went north of here for two days. The track was a foot under water and washed away in some places. The smaller dam at the shoe shops was blown up to prevent the water from rushing through the shop. It was a question whether even that would keep the shop from being washed away (Farmington News, April 26, 1895).

John E. Fox, a R.R. station agent, aged fifty-five years (b. NH), headed a Lebanon, ME, household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of twenty-eight years), Frances A. Fox, aged forty-seven years (b. NH), his children, Alice E. Fox, a teacher, aged twenty-three years (b. NH), Sadie N. Fox, a milliner, aged twenty years (b. NH), and Lillian E. Fox, aged six years (b. NH), and his brother, Henry L. Fox, a paper mill laborer, aged sixty-four years (b. NH). John E. Fox owned their house, but with a mortgage. Frances A. Fox was the mother of four children, of whom three were still living.

John E. Fox appeared in the Milton business directories of 1901, and 1904, as the Milton express and telegraph agent.

MILTON. The New England Telephone Company is to place long distance telephones at the store of Avery, Jones & Roberts, and the meat market of G.E. Wentworth, and the residences of H.B. Amey, Hazen Plummer, D.A. Whitehouse, H.F. Whitehouse, Station Agent J.E. Fox, and D.W. Beede the miller. This will make an appreciable addition to the Milton exchange (Farmington News, October 25, 1901). (See also Milton Gets the Telephone).

MILTON. John E. Fox has returned to his duties as station agent, after a vacation of two months (Farmington News, March 4, 1904).

MILTON. John E. Fox sold his house to Mrs. Belle Penney, and is to move to Derry (Farmington News, May 6, 1904).

John E. Fox was a Wolfeboro Selectman in the years 1906-08.

John E. Fox, a home farm farmer, aged sixty-four years (b. NH), headed a Wolfeboro, NH, household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of thirty-seven years), Frances A. Fox, aged fifty-seven years (b. NH), his children, Alice E. Fox, a day school teacher, aged thirty-three years (b. NH), Sadie M. Fox, a bedding company bookkeeper, aged thirty years (b. NH), Lillian J.E. Fox, aged sixteen years (b. NH), and his boarder, Julia C. Dore, aged seventy-one years (b. NH). John E. Fox owned their house on North Main Street. Frances A. Fox was the mother of four children, of whom three were still living. Julia C. Dore was the mother of five children, of whom three were still living.

Abbie F. (Woodman) Fox died June 15, 1915, aged sixty-two years.

John E. Fox, a widower, aged seventy-four years (b. NH), headed an East Kingston, NH, household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. He rented his house on Depot Road.

John E. Fox died October 3, 1923, aged seventy-eight years.

Hugh A. Beaton – 1904-40

Hugh Arthur Beaton was born in Jefferson, OH, October 8, 1873, son of Charles and Eliza A. (Hill) Beaton.

Hugh A. Beaton married in Lancaster, NH, August 19, 1894, Myrtle F. Hartshorn, both of Whitefield, NH. Rev. R.T. Wolcott performed the ceremony. Beaton was a laborer, aged twenty-one years, and she was a domestic, aged nineteen years. She was born in Lunenburg, VT, circa 1875, daughter of Vernon E. and Edith (Tyler) Hartshorn.

Daughter Ione Edith Beaton was born in Lunenburg, VT, December 30, 1894, daughter of Hugh Arthur Beaton, a telegraph operator, aged twenty-one years, and Florence Myrtle Hartshorn, aged nineteen years. (The record was amended in 1952 to correct the mother’s name from “Abbie” Beaton to Florence Myrtle Hartshorn).

Hugh A. Beaton, a telegrapher, aged twenty-six years (b. OH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of seven years), Myrtle Beaton, aged twenty-five years (b. VT), and his children, Ione Beaton, at school, aged five years (b. VT), and Hazel L. Beaton, aged three months (b. NH). Hugh A. Beaton rented their house in Milton Village. Myrtle Beaton was the mother of two children, of whom two were still living.

Daughter Hazel Leola Beaton was born in Milton, February 4, 1900. She died of cholera infantum in Milton, September 21, 1900, aged seven months, and seventeen days. (M.A.H. Hart, M.D., signed the death certificate).

FITZDALE. Mrs. Hugh Beaton of Milton, N.H., is visiting her mother, Mrs. V.E. Hartshorn (St. Johnsbury Republican, February 25, 1903).

Daughter [Gladys Marjorie] Beaton was born in Milton, June 17, 1903, daughter of Hugh A. Beaton (telegraph operator, aged twenty-nine years, born Jefferson, OH) and Myrtle Hartshorne (aged twenty-seven years, born Lunenburg, VT).

MILTON. Mrs. Hugh Beaton started Monday for a visit to her old home in Vermont (Farmington News, April 8, 1904).

H.A. Beaton appeared in the Milton business directories of 1905-06, and 1909, as agent for the American Express Company.

RAILROAD NOTES. An extra eastbound freight passed through here [Portsmouth, NH] on Tuesday with fifty empty cars for the Conway branch, to be used for ice shipments (Portsmouth Herald, May 23, 1906).

Hugh Beaton, a B&M Railroad station agent, aged thirty-six years (b. OH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of fifteen years), Mirtle F. Beaton, aged thirty-six years (b. VT), his children, Iona Beaton, aged fourteen years (b. VT), and Gladis Beaton, aged five [six] years (b. NH), and his boarder, James Hayes, aged eighteen years (b. NH). Hugh Beaton owned their house, free-and-clear. Mirtle F. Beaton was the mother of three children, of whom two were still living. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Joseph Avery, postmaster, aged sixty-five years (b. ME), and Charles Houston, a B&M freight agent, aged twenty-eight years (b. NH). (Next beyond Houston was The Sampson hotel).

CONCORD. Ione Beaton of Milton, N.H., is visiting Miss Grace Smith (St. Johnsbury Republican (St. Johnsbury, VT), July 27, 1910).

Rochester Div., No. 65. Bro. H.A. Beaton, agent at Milton, has just recovered from a severe attack of blood poisoning. He was relieved by Bro. C.L. Beaton, while incapacitated for duty (Order, 1910).

Union brother C.L. Beaton was Hugh A. Beaton’s actual brother, Charles L. Beaton of Portsmouth, NH.

The case of Myrtle G. Bodwell vs. the Boston and Maine railroad, which was tried at the February term and resulted in an $1800 verdict for the plaintiff, then opened for retrial, the verdict having been set aside because of newly, discovered evidence. The plaintiff seeks $5000 damages for injuries alleged to have been sustained from being thrown from a platform at the Milton station through the sudden starting of a crowded train, Aug. 12, 1910 (Portsmouth Herald, October 3, 1911).

H.A. Beaton appeared in the Milton business directories of 1912, and 1917, as agent for the B&M Railroad and the American Express Company.

Rochester Div., No. 65. Bro. H.A. Beaton, Milton, has a new Ford runabout. Wish we all might “of-ford” an auto this year (Order, 1912).

Hugh A. Beaton of Milton had a 22½ horsepower Ford automobile registered (as #2182) between January and August 1912.

WRECKERS BUSY ON RAILROAD. Mixup in Local Yard and Another in Milton on Conway Branch. After working for four hours or more to replace a 125-ton locomotive on the rails near the Green street crossing on Thursday Afternoon, the wrecking crew of the Boston & Maine railroad were ordered to Milton on the Conway branch where they worked all night to clear the tracks of two ice cars, one of which tipped over after leaving the rails. They arrived back at 8.30 this morning (Portsmouth Herald, December 12, 1913).

LOCAL. A fine time was enjoyed at the Thanksgiving ball given under the auspices of Charity Temple No. 44, Pythian Sisters, at A.O.U.W. hall, Milton, Tuesday evening of last week. About 75 couples were in attendance. The grand march was led by Mr. and Mrs. E.A. Hodgdon, the next in order being Mr. and Mrs. E.A. [H.A.] Beaton. Music was furnished by Peerless orchestra of Rochester. A fine supper was served and all in all a good time was enjoyed by everybody. About $64 was cleared, which fund is to be used for the new shoe firm which is to locate in Milton. Ralph Whitehouse was the successful contestant in the silver service contest. The committee of arrangements consisted of Mrs. E.A. Hodgdon, Mrs. H.A. Beaton and Mrs. S.G. Blaisdell (Farmington News, December 4, 1914).

Daughter Ione E. Beaton married in South Berwick, ME, March 18, 1915, Edward A. Connell, she of Milton and he of Littleton, MA. He was an iceman, aged twenty-three years, and she was a house worker, aged twenty years.

Hugh Arthur Beaton of Milton registered for the WW I military draft in Milton, September 12, 1918. He was a B&M R.R. station agent & operator, aged forty-four years of age (b. October 8, 1875). (For some reason, he clipped two years off of his age). His nearest relative was Myrtle F. Beaton of Milton. He was of a medium height, with a stout build, blue eyes, and brown hair.

EAST CONCORD. Mr. and Mrs. Vern Hartshorn have returned home from an extended visit with their daughter, Mrs. Hugh Beaton at Milton, N.H. They were accompanied home by Ed. Cornell (Caledonian Record (St. Johnsbury, VT), September 3, 1919).

Hugh A. Beaton, a Boston & Maine R.R. station agent, aged forty-six years (b. OH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Myrtle F. Beaton, aged forty-four years (b. VT), and his child, Gladys M. Beaton, aged sixteen years (b. NH). Hugh A. Beaton owned their house on Lower Main Street (at its intersection with Silver Street), free-and-clear.

RUNAWAY HORSE STOPS TRAIN.  Becoming frightened when his heels hit the sleigh behind him, a horse belonging to Edward Hammond of Rochester ran away down the Boston & Maine railway tracks in that city toward Milton yesterday afternoon. At the Milton station a north-bound passenger train was about to start, and word was sent to the engineer to look for the horse and sleigh. The animal had become entangled in a culvert cover however, and had a broken leg, before the train approached it, the engineer stopped the train and the horse was shot (Portsmouth Herald, January 24, 1923).

WEST MILTON. … one hundred dollars was appropriated to beautify the grounds near the railroad station at Milton, the work to be done under the direction of the Womans’ club (Farmington News, March 23, 1923).

PERSONAL. Mrs. H.H. [H.A.] Beaton and family party were in [Farmington] town from Milton Tuesday (Farmington News, August 24, 1923).

WRECKING CREW SENT TO MILTON. The local wrecking crew of the Boston & Maine Railroad were sent to Milton, on the Conway branch, today, to replace a buggy and one freight that became derailed on a siding (Portsmouth Herald, October 4, 1923).

BRING IN TWO B&M WRECKED ENGINES. The two locomotives No. 919 and 1376 which were wrecked in a collision between a snow plow train and a passenger train on the Conway branch near Milton last Wednesday were hauled to Portsmouth by the Portsmouth wrecking train and are now on a side track in the roundhouse yard. They will be held here until orders are received from the motive power department to send them to shop at Billerica, Concord or Somerville. The front end of both engines is badly damaged (Portsmouth Herald, February 24, 1924).

Daughter Gladys M. Beaton appeared in the Portsmouth, NH, directory of 1928, as a teacher at the West Junior High School in Portsmouth, with her residence at Milton. Her paternal uncle, Charles L. (Annie H.) Beaton, appeared as a ticket agent for the B&M R.R., with his house at 50 Orchard street. (In 1930, she resided with her uncle and aunt at 50 Orchard street (See Milton’s Hare Road Teachers, 1890-26 for a fuller account of Charles L. and Annie J. (Horne) Beaton).

Hugh A. Beaton, a railroad station agent, aged fifty-six years (b. OH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of thirty-five years), Myrtle F. Beaton, aged fifty-four years (b. VT). Hugh A. Beaton owned their house on South Main Street, which was valued at $1,300. They had a radio set.

Daughter Gladys Marjorie Beaton married in Chocorua [Tamworth], NH, June 27, 1931, Edgar Brown Bruce, she of Milton and he of Lebanon, ME. He was a teacher, aged twenty-four years, and she was a teacher, aged twenty-eight years.

Hugh A. Beaton was assessed for Milton property in 1932, which was valued at $1,100, and for which he was taxed $27.52 (Milton Town Report, For the Year Ending January 31, 1933). (A mil rate of $25.02 per thousand).

BATCH OF SMILES. “Aunt Sarah Shapleigh,” a jolly old soul, once well known to Milton people and who resided for some years in the house now owned and occupied by station agent Hugh Beaton, once told this little anecdote: A young girl who was deficient in her orthography was one day studying her spelling lesson and called to her mother in an adjoining room saying, “Marm, what does t-h-e spell?” Her mother impatiently answered, “Dod zounds, Suzette, ain’t I told you a thousand times and more that t-h-e spells feledelfy’?” – Rochester Courier (Boston Globe, April 10, 1933).

The former occupant of Beaton’s residence, “Aunt” Sarah (Bragdon) Shapleigh, widow of Richard Shapleigh, died in Milton, December 26, 1893, aged eighty-seven years, one month, and twenty-six days.

MILTON. Mrs. H.A. Beaton is in Springfield, Mass., visiting her daughter [Ione E. (Beaton) Connell] (Farmington News, November 30, 1934).

Station Agent James A. Reed of Wakefield, NH, received a visit from Station Agent Hugh A. Beaton of Milton.

UNION. Hugh Beaton, station agent at Milton, called on James Reed, Sunday (Farmington News, September 25, 1936).

Hugh A. Beaton, station agent at Milton, NH, appeared in the B&M Railroad employee’s magazine of December 1937, as being on the sick list.

ALTON AND ALTON BAY. Mrs. and Mrs. Charles [Hugh A.] Beaton of Milton are guests this week of their daughter and husband, Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Bruce (Farmington News, February 24, 1939).

Hugh A. Beaton died suddenly at the B&M railroad station in Milton, at 3:30 PM, February 12, 1940, aged sixty-six years, four months, and four days.

Strafford County medical examiner Forrest L. Keay, M.D., viewed the body and determined that Beaton had died from “Some form of heart disease. He had walked up the R.R. track about 50 yards from the station and dropped to track and died there.”

Was Brother Of Local Man. Hugh A. Beaton, 67, station agent at Milton for many years, and brother of Charles L. Beaton, agent at the Boston & Maine station in this city, dropped dead Monday while at his work (Portsmouth Herald, [Tuesday,] February 13, 1940).

IN MEMORIUM. Hugh A. Beaton. Announcement of the sudden death of Station Agent Hugh A. Grant at Milton on February 12 brings sorrow to many friends and acquaintances in this locality. Mr. Beaton dropped dead while about his duties in the B&M railroad yard at Milton, Monday afternoon. The deceased was 67 years of age, and had been in the employ of B&M for about 45 years. For nearly 40 years he had held the position of station agent, freight agent and telegraph operator at Milton, and was widely known among his townsmen and to the traveling public. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, a brother Charles Beaton, also a railroad man of Portsmouth, and one sister, for all of whom much sympathy is expressed. Funeral was held Wednesday morning at the Baptist church in Milton, with services in charge of Fraternal Chapter, No. 71, A.F. & A.M., of which he was a member (Farmington, February 16, 1940).

Edward Connell, a paper company beater engineer, aged forty-nine years (b. MA), headed a West Springfield, MA, household at the time of the Sixteenth (1940) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Ione Connell, aged forty-five years (b. VT), his children, Maynard Connell, a mail clerk for a magazine paper company, aged nineteen years (b. NH), and Shirley Connell, aged seventeen years (b. NH), and his lodger [and mother-in-law], Myrtle Beaton, a widow, aged sixty-four years (b. VT). Edward Connell rented their house at 23 Church Street.

Myrtle Florence (Hartshorn) Beaton died in 1955.

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See also Milton’s Railroad Line

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References:

Find a Grave. (2013, July 25). Hazel L. Beaton. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/114383725/hazel-l-beaton

Find a Grave. (2013, July 25). Hugh A. Beaton. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/114383726/hugh-a-beaton

Find a Grave. (2014, April 18). Marjorie G. Bruce. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/128165539/marjorie-g.-bruce

Find a Grave. (2011, July 7). Jane E. [Ione E.] Connell. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/72972420/jane-e.-connell

Find a Grave. (2014, July 1). John B. Felch. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/132138904/john-b.-felch

Find a Grave. (2015, January 9). John E. Fox. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/141122102/john-e-fox

Find a Grave. (2016, January 9). Katherine “Kate” Corkery Hendry. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/156883697/katherine-hendry

Find a Grave. (2016, January 9). Dayse G. Corkery Perkins. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/156882515/dayse-g.-perkins

Find a Grave. (2013,October 20). Charles Augustine Sawyer. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/119019275/charles-augustine-sawyer

Find a Grave. (2011, February 26). Sarah Bragdon Shapleigh. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/66176250/sarah-shapleigh

Order of Railroad Telegraphers. (1910). The Railroad Telegrapher. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=6VmjAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA69

Order of Railroad Telegraphers. (1912). The Railroad Telegrapher. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=L44tAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA897

Wikipedia. (2020, November 20). Portsmouth, Great Falls and Conway Railroad. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portsmouth,_Great_Falls_and_Conway_Railroad

Willis Henry Auctions. (2018, December 2). Lot 124A: Historic and Rare Railroad Lantern. Retrieved from www.willishenryauctions.com/catalogs/antiques-estates-auction-sunday-december-2-2018/lot-124a-historic-and-rare-railroad-lantern/