Author: Muriel Bristol

By Muriel Bristol (Transcriber) | March 14, 2019

In this year, we encounter a report of another major fire in the Milton business district.

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Milton experienced another major fire in its business district. (Stop at the semicolon: the remainder concerns a fire in New York City).

JUST THE JUICE. At Milton, N.H., thirteen offices, bank and several stores burned, at loss of $60000, partially insured; fire on ground floor of six-story tenement house in New York, containing one hundred and twenty families, causes terrible panic, but police use clubs effectually and. drive people out, preventing awful calamity (Leavenworth (KS) Times, January 21, 1881).

This fire, which destroyed about seventeen to eighteen buildings (at a cost of $60,000), may be compared with that of 1874, which destroyed twenty-five buildings (at a cost of $97,000).

(A loss of $60,000 in 1881 may be roughly – very roughly – translated into $1,486,918 in 2019 dollars).

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Previous in sequence: Milton in the News – 1880; next in sequence: Milton in the News – 1882

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References:

Official Data Foundation. (2019). Inflation Calculator. Retrieved from www.in2013dollars.com/us/inflation/1881?amount=60000

By Muriel Bristol (Transcriber) | March 10, 2019

In this year, we encounter some not-so-sharp dealing, Milton’s own “Toby Tyler,” the intrepid Fish Commissioner, and a rescue from Lake Winnipesaukee.

This also was the year that Lewis W. Nute commissioned two paintings of his property on Nute ridge in West Milton.

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The following account argues for everyone having a newspaper subscription, so as to know the general state of things. It used an example of an unnamed Milton ice merchant whose dealing was not so sharp as it might have been, had he only subscribed to a newspaper.

EDITORIAL NOTES. The case of a man living at Milton, N.H., is cited as an illustration of the false economy that places the daily or weekly newspaper among the things that can be cut off to reduce expenses. This man has two large ice houses and during the winter he stored both full of ice. He supposed all other ice houses were full, for he “got along without the papers,” and so did not know the general state of things. Recently he was called on by a Portsmouth man who offered him $600 for his ice just as it lay in store. He did not let the offer grow stale, but picked it up eagerly and cried “done.” In a day or two better offers began to come in and had to be refused, and even as high as $2,000 was sent from the door. The economical gentleman felt pretty sore and wondered he hadn’t heard about things; but his wrath boiled over when with in two weeks the purchaser of the ice turned it over to a Boston ice company for $5,600, clearing just $5,000 by the operation. A daily newspaper costing $8, $10 or $12 a year, or even a weekly costing $2 a year, would have been a fair investment for that man ((New Haven) Morning Journal Courier, March 16, 1880).

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George L. Hoyt was born in Milton, NH, June 7, 1869, son of Rufus A. and Lucy A. (Drew) Hoyt.

STATE NEWS. Androscoggin. The youngest tramp that has put up at police headquarters, Lewiston, arrived on Monday. He gave his name as George Hoyt and said he had lost both his father and mother. He is eleven years old, and be came all the way from Milton, N.H. He is a bright, handsome little fellow, is already quite a pet at the police station (Bangor Daily Whig & Courier, April 15, 1880).

Rufus A. Hoyt, a farmer, aged forty years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census, in June 1880. His household included his wife, Lucy Hoyt, keeping house, aged thirty years (b. NH), and his children, George L. Hoyt, at home, aged eleven years (b. NH), and Dean Hoyt, aged four years (b. NH).

(They lived near Millett W. Bragdon, aged forty-five years, who “runs Excelsior mill.” “Excelsior” is wood shavings, used as a packing material, not unlike Styrofoam “popcorn” today).

George L. Hoyt, a farmer, died in Milton, January 1, 1933, aged sixty-three years.

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NH Fish Commissioner Luther Hayes appeared again, this time in Peterborough, NH.

New England Items. Nine thousand land-locked salmon have been taken from the fish-hatching house at Plymouth, N.H., to the waters near Peterborough, by Commissioner Luther Hayes (Boston Globe, May 27, 1880).

NH Fish Commissioner Hayes, of West Milton, stocked also ponds in Milton, in 1878, and Nottingham, NH, in 1879.

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The steamer Lady of the Lake was active on Lake Winnipesaukee before the current steamer Mt. Washington. She was built in 1849 and had an active career, including several fires and renovations, before being scuttled in Smith Cove in 1895 (“The ‘Lady of the Lake’ made her last trip down the lake last Saturday” (Argus and Patriot, September 20, 1893)). The steamer Mt. Washington, built in 1872, has been her successor on the lake.

On this occasion, the Lady of the Lake fished two men out of the lake after a severe squall.

Severe Storm in New Hampshire. (Special Despatch to The Boston Globe). Weirs, N.H., July 27. – A heavy shower with high winds passed over the lake this afternoon, damaging the boats at the moorings and wrecking boats on the lake. The steamer Lady of the Lake picked up two men in a nearly drowned state, one-half mile out of Wolfboro, at 3.30. One was Abram Sanborn of Milton Mills, N.H., and the other unknown (Boston Globe, July 28, 1880).

Abram Sanborn, a harness maker, aged fifty-eight years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Mary Sanborn, keeping house, aged fifty-seven years (b. ME). The census enumerator recorded their household between those of Asa A. Fox, a carpenter, aged forty-three years, and Francis A. Busch, Jr., works in woolen mill, aged twenty-six years (b. MA). (This same Asa A. Fox lost his Milton Mills grocery store to a fire in 1876).

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Previous in sequence: Milton in the News – 1879; next in sequence: Milton in the News – 1881

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References:

Find a Grave. (2013, August 17). Abram Sanborn. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/115611001

Find a Grave. (2010, March 8). Luther Hayes. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/49429209/luther-hayes

Lost New England. (2015, July 14). SS. Lady of the Lake. Retrieved from lostnewengland.com/tag/ss-lady-of-the-lake/

Wikipedia. (2018, January 3). Toby Tyler. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toby_Tyler;_or,_Ten_Weeks_with_a_Circus

By Muriel Bristol (Transcriber) | March 7, 2019

In this year, we encounter a fatal equine accident, some thievery, another mill fire, the passing of an elderly veteran, more stocking by the fish commissioner, and some minister shopping.

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The Rev. Willis A. Hadley came to the Union Congregational Church in Milton Mills from Rye, NH, where he had offered a strong sermon.

New England Items. The Rev. Willis S. Hadley, late of Rye, N.H., has received a unanimous call from the Congregational Church at Milton Mills to become its pastor (Boston Globe, January 21, 1879).

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Poor Mr. Charles Chase had a fatal encounter with a horse.

EASTERN NEW HAMPSHIRE. Charles Chase, of Milton Mills, was fatally injured, Tuesday, 7th. He was kicked by a horse in the throat, and died in a few minutes (Vermont Journal (Windsor, VT), January 25, 1879).

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Two burglars from Great Falls [Somersworth, NH] broke into a storehouse at Milton Three Ponds in late January.

NEW ENGLAND NEWS. 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, 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 burglars probably came by train. The stolen getaway “pung” may be defined as a low boxlike one-horse sleigh. (This was winter in Milton).

The same George Whitehouse, with the aid of two other ne’er-do-wells, had robbed a pedler in the ironically-named Fair Play saloon in Great Falls in the prior year (Boston Globe, April 22, 1878).

The owner of the flour barrels managed Milton’s relatively-new railroad depot. 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. NH), and his daughters, Annie J. Corkery, aged fourteen years (b. NH), and Daisy A. Corkery, aged four months (b. NH, in January).

George H. Jones, a farmer, aged fifty-four years (b. NH), headed also a Milton household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Lucy J. [(Varney)] Jones, keeping house, aged fifty-three years (b. NH), and his sons, Charles H. Jones, aged twenty-seven years (b. NH), and Ira W. Jones, sets water wheels, aged twenty-five years (b. NH).

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Milton resident Luther Hayes lost his Portsmouth, NH, saw mill.

New England Items. The saw mill belonging to Luther Hayes at Portsmouth, N.H., was burned yesterday afternoon. Loss, $2000; no insurance (Boston Globe, February 11, 1879).

Luther Hayes of South Milton had appeared as a justice of the peace, and as proprietor of a grist, lumber, saw, and shingle mill, in the Milton business directory of 1877.

We encounter him again in his role of NH Fish Commissioner in October of this year (see below).

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Joseph Page was born in neighboring Wakefield, NH, August 7, 1795, son of Josiah Page.

OBITUARY. Joseph Page, an old and respected citizen of Milton Mills, N.H., died at that place September 20, aged 84 years. He was a veteran of the war of 1812, in which he served faithfully (Boston Post, September 29, 1879).

Joseph Page enlisted in Captain James Hardy’s militia company (August 11, 1814): Nathaniel Abbott, Frederic Ballard, James L. Gowdy, Stephen Grant, Daniel Page, Joseph Page, Hiram Pierce, Obadiah Witham, all of Wakefield; and James Drew, Joseph Pitman, George Stevens, and Stephen Young, all of Brookfield. (Their experience would have been similar to that of Milton’s militia company in the War of 1812).

He married October 7, 1816, Lydia Staples Remick. Their children were born in Wakefield between then and the mid-1830s. They moved from Wakefield to Milton Mills prior to 1850.

Joseph Page, a farmer, aged seventy-four years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Lydia S. Page, keeping house, aged seventy-five years (b. NH), Josiah Page, a farm laborer, aged thirty-six years (b. NH), Hannah E. Page, a housekeeper, aged twenty-nine years (b. NH), Amanda M. Page, at school, aged seven years (b. NH), Clara M. Page, aged two months (b. NH), and Haven Jewett, a farm laborer, aged thirteen years (b. NH).

Lydia S. (Remick) Page died in Milton, March 6, 1871.

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NEW HAMPSHIRE. The Fish Commissioner, Luther Hayes, has been engaged the past week in stocking Langley and Pea Porridge ponds in Nottingham with black bass (Boston Post, October 9, 1879).

NH Fish Commissioner Hayes, of West Milton, stocked also ponds in Milton, in 1878, and Peterborough, NH, in 1880.

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Next we have several ministerial candidates auditioning, as it were, to “supply” pulpits.

Sutton. The Rev. B.A. Sherwood of Milton Mills, N.H., occupied the desk Sunday forenoon as a candidate for the pastorate of the church. We learn the committee intend to secure his services as soon as possible if the people will sign liberally and raise his salary. The church has been without a pastor and regular preaching since Mr. Atwood closed his labors last March (St. Johnsbury Caledonian, October 24, 1879).

Rev. Charles E. Stowe married in Cambridge, MA, May 26, 1879, Susan M. Monroe. Despite what it said in the following article, he became minister in Saco, ME. He wrote his mother from Saco in December 1879 and entertained her there in the summer of 1880 (Butte Miner, June 30, 1880).

PERSONAL AND POLITICAL. MRS. HARRIOT BEECHER STOWE’s son Charles has engaged to supply the Congregational pulpit at Milton, N.H. for a year (Pittsburgh Daily Post, October 31, 1879).

Stowe’s mother, Harriet Beecher Stowe, was a well-known abolitionist, as well as having been the author of the novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin.

Although he did not “settle” in Milton, he likely gave at least one audition sermon there and perhaps visited from Saco.

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Previous in sequence: Milton in the News – 1878; next in sequence: Milton in the News – 1880

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References:

Find a Grave. (2010, March 8). Luther Hayes. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/49429209/luther-hayes

Find a Grave. (2015, August 5). Rev. Willis Augustus Hadley. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/150217793

Wikipedia. (2018). Harriet Beecher Stowe. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harriet_Beecher_Stowe

By Muriel Bristol (Transcriber) | March 3, 2019

In this year, we encounter a Milton factory slowdown, J.O. Porter on his home ground, another centenarian, and the activities of a NH fish commissioner. (Milton’s use of White’s Arithmetic textbooks was advertised in this year: Milton’s Arithmetic Textbooks of 1878).

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John Townsend’s son, Henry H. Townsend, started his own blanket mill. It appeared under his name in the Milton business directories of 1873 and 1874. He then took on Sullivan H. Atkins, as a partner.  The partnership appeared as Townsend & Company in Milton business directories of 1876, 1877, and 1880.

Townsend & Company’s woolen felt factory suspended production for a time in early 1878.

TELEGRAPHIC NOTES. Townsend & Co., at Milton Mills, N.H., have suspended, throwing 30 hands out of employment (St. Albans Daily Messenger,  January 3, 1878).

Henry H. Townsend, a woolen manufacturer (felt), aged thirty-seven years (born MA), headed a Milton (Milton Mills P.O.) household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Agnes J. [(Brierley)] Townsend, keeping house, aged thirty-five years (born MA), his children, John E. Townsend, at school, aged eight years (born NH), and Grace M. Townsend, at home, aged six years (born NH), and his uncle, Thomas Townsend, a carder in felt mill, aged seventy-two years (born England).

Sullivan H. Atkins, a felt manufacturer, aged forty-three years, headed a Milton (Milton Mills P.O.) household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his [third] wife, Sarah A. [(Ricker)] Atkins, keeping house, aged thirty-five years, his children, Winnifred Atkins, at house, aged sixteen years, Mary E. Atkins, at house, aged six years, and George A. Atkins, at house, aged four years, and his sister, Emma J. Atkins, at house, aged twenty-eight years.

Henry H. Townsend bought out Sullivan H. Atkins’ share in Townsend & Company in 1880. (The partnership name continued to appear in Milton business directories for several years).

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John O. Porter, who would be later one of Milton’s ice magnates, appeared in his original capacity, proprietor of a Marblehead, MA, livery stable.

Miscellany. The horse and buggy stolen from John O. Porter of Marblehead on Sunday were found yesterday hitched in Abbott’s stable. Mr. Porter received a note from young Barron, who hired the vehicle, where to find his property. Mr. Barron appears to have peculiar ideas in regard to the rights of livery stable keepers. He is a sharp young man, but those eye-teeth of his may prove a trifle too keen ere long. He coolly informed Mr. Porter in the note that he hired his team to go to Salem and that he would find it in Salem. Mr. Porter desires to warn hotel keepers of this precious individual. Hereafter it will be necessary to stipulate with such sharp characters the necessity of bringing the team back. There is a trifling board-bill which Barron forgot to mention in his billet doux. Hotel keepers are warned.

The festive dandelion has appeared, and “bacon and greens” are now in order (Boston Globe, April 3, 1878).

John O. Porter, a harness maker, aged thirty years, headed a Marblehead household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his children, John O. Porter, Jr., at school, aged seven years, Alice Porter, aged four years, Mary Porter, aged one year, his housekeeper, Hannah Glass, a housekeeper, aged sixty-five years, and a boarder, Martin Flynn, a harness shop worker, aged thirty-two years.

Porter and his Marblehead Ice Company appeared in the Milton business directories of 1892, 1901, and 1904.

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As mentioned before, those that attained advanced age were always of great interest. David Hanson Evans had been born in Madbury, NH, May 24, 1778, son of Solomon and Catherine (Hanson) Evans.

New Hampshire. David Evans of Branch Hill Farm, near Milton Mills, celebrated his 100th birthday Wednesday, and thinks he is good for some years yet (Boston Post, May 24, 1878).

Albert L. Evans, a farmer, aged thirty-six years. headed a Tuftonborough household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Harriet M. Evans, keeping house, aged twenty-nine years, his daughter, Abbie J. Evans, at school, aged eight years, his father, Joseph G. Evans, suffering from paralysis, aged seventy-five years, and his grandfather, David Evans, aged one hundred two years.

David H. Evans was indeed “good for some years yet.” He outlived his son, Joseph G. Evans, who died July 26, 1881, aged seventy-six years. David H. Evans died in Wakefield, NH, September 29, 1882, aged one hundred four years, four months, and five days.

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NH Fish Commissioner Luther Hayes, of West Milton, acquired white perch with which to stock Milton ponds.

LYNN. The News in Brief. Luther Hayes, one of the Fish Commissioners of Milton, N.H., was in town yesterday, and took fifty white perch from Flax Pond home with him to stock a pond at Milton. The fish were caught by John Marior during the past three days (Boston Globe, August 24, 1878).

Luther Hayes of South Milton appeared as a justice of the peace, and as proprietor of a grist, lumber, saw, and shingle mill, in the Milton business directory of 1877.

Luther Hayes, a farmer, aged sixty years, headed a Milton household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his [third] wife, Nellie R. [(Morrill)] Hayes, keeping house, aged thirty-nine years, his children, Lyman S. Hayes, at home, aged seventeen years, Fannie L. Hayes, at home, aged fourteen years, Hattie E. Hayes, at home, aged twelve years, Luther C. Hayes, at home, aged ten years, Clarence M. Hayes, at home, aged two years, and his mother-in-law, Rachel M. Morrill, at home, aged seventy-four years.

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Previous in sequence: Milton in the News – 1877; next in sequence: Milton in the News – 1879

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References:

Find a Grave. (2015, October 25). David Hanson Evans. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/154231987

Find a Grave. (2013 August 12). Henry H. Townsend. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/115352239

Find a Grave. (2013, January 28). John O. Porter. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/104301616/john-o_-porter

Find a Grave. (2010, March 8). Luther Hayes. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/49429209/luther-hayes

By Muriel Bristol | March 2, 2019

Continued from Milton’s Free-Will Baptist Ministers of 1860-81

Scales’ History of Strafford County did not list Milton’s Free-Will Baptist ministers after Rev. Cyrus L. Plummer’s pastorate closed in July 1881. His list is here extended out to 1907.

[William H.] Waldron

This was likely a second pastorate, or even a mere supplying of the pulpit, by former minister Rev. William H. Waldron. He had been previously Milton’s very first Free-Will Baptist pastor for “about one year” in 1843-44. (At that time there was not even a church building).

Rev. Waldron appeared as Milton’s Free-Will Baptist minister in the Milton business directory of 1884.

William H. Waldron lived then on Park street in Dover, NH, in 1884, and for some years thereafter, so he would not have been a resident pastor. His second wife died in Dover in 1888.

REV. WILLIAM H. WALDRON. Rev. William H. Waldron was born in Farmington, July 16, 1817, and died in that town, July 6 [1894]. As a highly respected clergyman of the Free Baptist denomination, he had filled pastorates in Rhode Island and New York and in Farmington and Milton. He had been retired from the active ministry for several years. Rev. Mr. Waldron was a descendant of Col. John Waldron of the revolution (Granite Monthly, 1894). 

Charles E. Mason – 1885-1888

Charles E. Mason was born in Monroe, ME, December 1, 1855, son of Bradstreet and Betsy Jane (Libby) Mason.

Charles Edward Mason, A.M., 1885; B.D., Cobb Divinity Sch., 1885; b. 1 Dec. 1855, Monroe, Me. Son of Bradstreet and Betsey J. (Libby) Mason. Pastor, Free Baptist Ch., Milton, N.H., 1885-88; Bangor, Me., 1888-93; Cong’l Ch., Buena Vista, Col., 1893-94; Challis, Idaho, 1894-97; Trustee, Maine Central Inst., 1888-93; Corporate Mem. of American Board, 1907-12; Pastor, Cong’l Ch., Mountain Home, Idaho, 1897= (Bates College, 1915).

He married (1st), circa 1885-86, Mary M. Files. She was born in Maine, April 11, 1851, daughter of Ruben W. and Julia A.S. Files.

C.E. Mason, of Milton, appeared among those elected to the executive board of the NH YMCA for the ensuing year at its annual convention in Dover, NH, October 2, 1886 (Boston Globe, October 2, 1886).

C.E. Mason appeared as Milton’s Free-Will Baptist minister in the Milton business directories of 1887 and 1889. (The 1889 business directory would have been prepared and published in late 1888).

Edward F. Mason, son of Rev. Charles E. and Mary M. (Files) Mason, was  born in Milton, NH, January 3, 1888.

MINISTERIAL PERSONALS. OTHER CHURCHES. Charles E. Mason was installed as pastor of the Essex Street Baptist Church of Bangor, Me., recently (Christian Union, October 25, 1888).

BANGOR, ME. The Essex Street Free Baptist church pulpit will soon be vacant, Rev. C. E. Mason having resigned to remove to Denver, Col., for the health of his family. The parish has decided to extend a call to Rev. Thomas H. Stacy of Auburn, at a largely increased salary. Bev. Mr. Mason will preach his last sermon in May (Boston Globe, April 29, 1893).

Charles E. Mason, a minister, aged forty-six years (b. ME), headed a Mountain Home, ID, household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of fourteen years), Mary F. Mason, aged forty-nine years (b. ME), and his children Edward F. Mason, at school, aged twelve years (b. NH), and Edith P. Mason, aged three years (b. ID). Mary F. Mason was the mother of four children, of whom two were still living.

Mary M. (Files) Mason died in Mountain Home, ID, May 14, 1901.

NEWS FROM NEAR-BY POINTS. CONGREGATIONALISTS. A memorial service was held in memory of Mrs. Mary Mason, the wife of Rev. C. E. Mason of  Mountainhome, who had been the secretary of the Woman’s Missionary union (Idaho Statesman, October 5, 1901).

Charles E. Mason married (2nd) in Rock Springs, WY, June 30, 1903, Eleanor W. Shedden. She was born in Pennsylvania, February 21, 1872, daughter of William B. and Sarah J. (Patterson) Shedden.

Rev. C.E. Mason of this [Mountain Home, ID] city preached at the Congregational Church in Rock Springs, Wyoming, last Sunday. His marriage to Miss Ellenor W. Shedden, the former assistant principal here, occurred Tuesday evening of this week at her home in Rock Springs. Rev. H.H. Lyman, the Congregational minister at that place, performing the ceremony (Elmore Bulletin (Rocky Bar, ID, [Thursday,] July 2, 1903).

Charles E. Mason died in Boise, ID, May 25, 1937. Eleanor W. (Shedden) Mason died in Rock Springs, WY, August 5, 1948.

George F. Durgin – 1889-1890

George Francis Durgin was born in Oxford, ME, July 19, 1860, son of Joseph H. and Emma S. Durgin.

Joseph H. Durgin, works in a shoe factory, aged forty-five years (b. ME), headed a Poland, ME, household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Emma Durgin, keeping house, aged forty-five years (b. ME), his children, George F. Durgin, works in a shoe factory, aged nineteen years (b. ME), and Cora E. Durgin, at school, aged fourteen years (b. ME), and his father, Solomon Durgin, a brick mason, aged eighty-four years (b. ME). Both Joseph H. and George F. Durgin had been unemployed for five months of the “current year” (of which there had been only six months to that point). Solomon Durgin had the “sickness or disability” of “old age.”

West Derby. Rev. Mr. Durgin lectured at the F.W.B. church last Monday eve to a full house (Orleans County Monitor (Barton, VT), December 16. 1889).

George Francis Durgin, a minister, married, probably in Milton, ME, January 29, 1890, Helen White Stanton, a teacher, he of Milton and she of Lebanon. Rev. N.C. Lothrop performed the ceremony. (The information in the Lebanon Town Records was based, at least partly, on a bible record possessed by Miss Clara E. Stanton, of Somersworth, NH). Helen W. Stanton was born in Lebanon, ME, October 13, 1863, daughter of James and Catherine Stanton.

A Methodist Conference held at Lisbon, NH, April 28, 1890, appointed G.F. Durgin as pastor in Milton Mills (Boston Globe, April 29, 1890). In the following year he was appointed to Ludlow Centre, MA (Boston Globe, April 14, 1891).

The Brigham (U.D.) of Masons in Ludlow, MA, initiated as a member George Francis Durgin, an M.E. minister, March 15, 1892. He was “passed” there, April 19, 1892 and “raised” there, May 17, 1892. The lodge suspended his membership, November 1, 1904, but reinstated it, December 6, 1904. (Ministers lead a peripatetic life. He lived elsewhere by then). The lodge’s records mention him having a “Vets. Medal, 1942” (see below) and that he deceased May 16, 1948.

George F. Durgin, a Methodist clergyman, aged thirty-nine years (b. ME), headed a Somerville, MA, household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of ten years), Hellen Durgin, aged thirty-six years (b. ME), and his boarders, Laura B. Underhill, a school teacher (b. MA), aged twenty-six years, and Florence Smith, aged seventeen years (b. Canada (Eng.)). Smith was a recent immigrant, having arrived only one year before, in 1898. They resided at 48 Flint Street.

Williamette University conferred a Doctor of Divinity degree (D.D.) upon Rev. George F. Durgin in June 1909 (Statesman Journal (Salem, OR), June 18, 1909).

CALLS STEFFENS WRONG. Rev. Dr. Durgin Criticises Writer’s Plan to Produce Better Moral Character. “Would God damn the nearly 300 babies buried In unconsecrated ground In Copps Hill?” inquired Rev. Dr. George F. Durgin, preaching at the Tremont-st Methodist Episcopal Church last night. Dr. Durgin was speaking of two types of men, Adam and Jesus. He compared the teachings of Lincoln Steffens with those of St. Paul, the teaching of the earth earthy and the teaching of heavenly immortality. “Lincoln Steffens is just now setting forth a pronounced and advanced doctrine of liberty,” said the speaker. “He would abolish all censorship of human associations, in speech, print and action. He would do away with all force. Thus he would abandon all government, abrogate all law, put down all rule and authority and this in order to bring about the rectitude of human living and the righteousness of human character. But Mr. Steffens’ liberty will never produce moral character. “Must all who know not Him remain forever of the earth earthy and end with earth? I think not. Would God damn the nearly 300 babies buried in unconsecrated ground in Copps Hill, and the ancient world, and the present ‘heathen’? Such Is not the God whom Jesus declared” (Boston Globe, December 11, 1911).

PASTOR AND WIFE SURPRISED Rev. Dr. and Mrs. George F. Durgin’s Parishioners Remember Their 20th Wedding Anniversary. Yesterday was the 20th anniversary of the wedding of Rev. Dr. and Mrs. George Francis Durgin, pastor of the Bromfleld-st. M.E. church. Dr. and Mrs. Durgin were enticed to the vestry by a ruse last night and found 70 parishioners and their friends awaiting them. It was a genuine surprise. F.P. Luce in a neat speech presented the couple with a handsome set of dishes and it was some minutes before Dr. Dugan could respond. Miss Barlow of the Hook and Eye club of the Tremont-st M.E. church presented Mrs. Durgin with a large bouquet and she also responded. Rev. Dillon Bronson, Rev. Seth C. Cary, Rev. Dr. George A. Crawford and Rev. Mr. Burch made brief remarks. Vocal selections were rendered by Eunice D. Parker and Mrs. Helen K. Arey. after a collation (Boston Globe, February 1, 1920).

Pepperell. George F. Durgin returned Ludlow to Mapleshade farm, this week. He is one of four members of the Masonic lodge of that place who was honored Tuesday night at a banquet and awarded a 50-year medal (Fitchburg Sentinel, September 12, 1942).

Helen W. (Stanton) Durgin died July 15, 1944. George F. Durgin died in Boston, MA, May 16, 1948.

Aged Minister Dies in Boston. BOSTON, May 17 (AP) — The Rev. George F. Durgin, 87, retired Methodist pastor, died yesterday at the New England Deaconess hospital. He retired, in 1925 after 35 years as a minister. Dr. Durgin served churches in Milton Mills, N.H., Ludlow Center, Chicopee, Somerville and Boston. He was vice president of the East Maine conference seminary in 1914 and later president of Walden university (Portsmouth Herald, May 17, 1948).

John S. Manter – 1890-1896

John Manter was born in Cape Elizabeth, ME, January 6, 1859, son of Zebulon and Mary Manter.

John Manter, b. 6 Jan. 1859, Palmyra, Me. Son of Rev. ZebuIon and Mary Manter. Pastor, Free Baptist Ch., Milton, N.H., 1890-96; Rochester, N.H., 1896-1905; Whitefield, N.H., 1905-13; State Field Sec’y for Free Baptists of N.H., 1913. Res. Milton, N.H. (Bates College, 1915).

He married in Cape Elizabeth, ME, April 30. 1883, J. [Julia] Fannie Henley, both of Cape Elizabeth. Zebulon Manter, clergyman, of Cape Elizabeth, ME, performed the ceremony. She was born in Cape Elizabeth, November 2, 1860, daughter of Benjamin F. and Julia (Trundy) Henley.

Rev. G.F. Durgin supplied the church until Rev. John Manter came to begin a pastorate which continued more than seven years. During Mr. Manter’s residence here the meetinghouse was destroyed by fire and rebuilt on the same site shortly afterward. Mr. Manter closed his pastorate here to accept one at Springvale, Maine (Mitchell-Cony Company, 1908).

The Milton Free-Will Baptist church building burned down in December 1890. The congregation met for a time in the Burley & Usher shoe factory.

MILTON. The subscription list from the sale of pews to erect a new Free Will Baptist church amounts to about $1,000. Rev. John Manter has gone abroad to raise the rest of the necessary funds, so they can commence building as soon as the weather opens Loosen your purse strings, friends , it is a good work (Farmington News, January 23, 1891).

The new church building was up by May 1892.

MILTON. Rev. John Manter preached a good home talk Sunday, as he calls it, but had many visitors in the circle, as Rev. Mr. Osgood was attending the Y.P.S.C.E. convention and no supply came for the Congregational church. The Free Baptist church is a very pleasant house of worship and the beauty is greatly enhanced by the memorial windows. Colored glass gives a subdued, chastened light in a church that seems much more appropriate than the full glare that is admitted by common glass. The new school house has a delightful location above the new church, and will be an ornament to this interesting village (Farmington News, July 15, 1892).

J.S. Manter appeared as Milton’s Free-Will Baptist minister in the Milton business directory of 1894.

John Manter, a clergyman, aged forty years (b. ME), headed a Rochester, NH, household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Fannie J. Manter, aged thirty-eight years (b. ME), Marion E. Manter, at school, aged eleven years (b. ME), and Franklin H. Manter, at school, aged eight years (b. NH). They resided at 7 Woodman Street.

Rev. John Manter, pastor of the True Memorial Free Baptist Church, in Rochester, NH, had his house at 7 Woodman [street], in Rochester, NH, in the Dover Directory of 1905.

Julia (Henley) Manter died in Whitefield, NH, August 28, 1938, aged seventy-seven years. John Manter died in Manhattan, New York, June 8, 1940.

Fred E. Carver – c1896-c1899

Fred Eugene Carver was born in Canton, ME, October 16, 1861, son of Melvin H. and Phebe C. (Drake) Carver.

He married (1st) in Maine, November 19, 1892, Sadie F. Bridges, both of Dexter, ME. She was born in Maine, in September 1873, daughter of Owen W. and Lydia A. Bridges.

His [Manter’s] successor Rev. F.E. Carver remained three and a half years at the end of which time he went to Fort Fairfield, Maine (Mitchell-Coney Company, 1908).

Rev. F.E. Carver was the Milton minister that found himself on the wrong end of a dispute over liquor sales in 1897. (See The Preacher and the Druggist – 1897).

F.E. Carver appeared as Milton’s Free-Will Baptist minister in the Milton business directory of 1898.

Rev. Fred E. Carver, pastor of the Free Baptist Church, had his house on Church [street], near the Baptist Church in the Milton section of the Dover directory of 1900. This was updated in the 1902 edition to reflect the fact that he had “moved to Ft. Fairfield, Me.”

Fred E. Carver, a preacher, aged thirty-eight years (b. ME, October 1861), headed a Fort Fairfield, ME, household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife [of seven years], Sadie D. Carver, aged twenty-six years (b. ME, September 1873), and his twin children, Paul Carver, and Pauline Carver, both aged four years (b. ME, September 1895).

Sarah “Sadie” (Bridges) Carver died October 5, 1902. He married (2nd) in Maine, May 4, 1904, Jennie M. Anderson, he of Ft. Fairfield and she of Blaine, ME.

The William North Lodge of Masons in Dracut, MA, initiated as a member Fred Eugene Carver, clergyman, January 5, 1910. He was “raised” there March 9, 1910. The lodge suspended his membership, May 12, 1915.

Fred E. Carver, a church minister, aged forty-eight years (b. ME), headed a Dracut, MA, household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Gennie A. Carver, aged twenty-seven years (b. ME), his children, Paul Carver, aged fourteen years (b. NH), Pauline, aged fourteen years (b. NH), Clyde, aged seven years (b. ME), and Eugene Carver, aged one year (b. NH), and a boarder, Jennie Speer, aged forty-two years (b. VT). The resided on Harris street, at it intersection with Vermont avenue and Stone street.

Fred E. Carver died in Portland, ME, August 29, 1948.

Charles B. Osborne – 1900-1907

Charles Benjamin Osborne, was born in Rochester, NH, October 7, 1872, son of Benjamin E. and Alice Osborne.

He married, circa 1892-93, Cora F. She was born in Massachusetts, circa May 1866.

Rev. C.B. Osborne came in January 1900 for a pastorate which he closed October 27, 1907, when he went to Franconia. Since that time the church has been supplied by visiting clergymen (Mitchell-Coney Company, 1908). 

Charles Osborne, a clergyman, aged twenty-seven years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included Cora F. Osborne, aged thirty-four years (b. MA), Alice Osborne, aged three years (b. NH), and Muriel Osborne, aged seven months (b. NH). Malcolm A.H. Hart, a physician, aged thirty-eight years (b. NH), was their neighbor in the Milton Village part of town.

Charles B. Osborne appeared as Milton’s Free-Will Baptist minister in the Milton business directories of 1901 and 1904.

The Fraternal Lodge #71 of Masons in Farmington, NH, initiated as a member Charles B. Osborne, clergyman, May 13, 1905. He was “raised” there March 29, 1906. He transferred to the Blackstone River Lodge, January 4, 1922.

Charles B. Osborne resided in Franconia, NH, in 1910; Burrillville, RI, in 1920; Blackstone, MA, in 1930; and Grafton, MA, in 1940.

Charles B. Osborne died December 16, 1959.

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Previous in sequence: Milton’s Free-Will Baptist Ministers of 1860-81

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References:

Bacon, Edwin Monroe. (1896). Men of Progress: One Thousand Biographical Sketches and Portraits of Leaders in Business and Professional Life in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved from https://books.google.com/books?id=5HFPAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA650

Bates College. (1915). General Catalogue of Bates College and Cobb Divinity School, 1863-1915. Retrieved from https://books.google.com/books?id=VsBBAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA222

Beecher, Henry Ward. (1888). The Christian Union. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=SxcP6vCQc1IC&pg=PA453

Burgess, Gideon Albert, and Ward, John T. (1889). Free Baptist Cyclopaedia. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=3GXiAAAAMAAJ

Find a Grave. (2013, November 9). Fred E. Carver. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/120061681

Find a Grave. (2016, September 19). George F. Durgin. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/170188765

Find a Grave. (2011, October 11). Rev. John Manter. Retrieved from https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/78715212/john-manter

Granite Monthly Company. (1894). Granite Monthly: A New Hampshire Magazine. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=tVwSAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA141

Mitchell-Cony Company. (1908). Town Register: Farmington, Milton, Wakefield, Middleton, Brookfield, 1907-8. Retrieved from https://books.google.com/books?id=qXwUAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA102

Scales, John. (1914). History of Strafford County, New Hampshire, and Representative Citizens. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=nGsjAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA516

Wikipedia. (2019, February 13). Lincoln Steffens. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Steffens

Wikipedia. (2019, February 4). Washington Irving. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Irving

By Muriel Bristol (Transcriber) | February 27, 2019

In this year, we encounter more fires, the appointment of a NH fish commissioner, and a torchlight procession.

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Asa Augustus “Augustus” Fox lost his Milton Mills grocery store to a fire. This description contains the additional interesting information that the local Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) rented his store’s second floor as their meeting hall.

Asa A. Fox, a retail grocer, aged thirty-two years (born NH), headed a Milton (Milton Mills P.O.) household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Hannah H. Fox, keeping house, aged thirty-five years (born ME), Charles D. Fox, at school, aged fourteen years (born NH), and Willie C. Simes, at school, aged seven years (born NH). Asa A. Fox had real estate valued at $3,000 and personal estate valued at $3,800.

NEW ENGLAND BY MAIL. Milton Mills, N.H. The store of Augustus Fox at Milton Mills, was destroyed by fire Tuesday night. Loss $6000; insured in the Home, New York, for $4300. The second story was occupied by the Odd Fellows, who lost everything (Boston Globe, March 9, 1876).

District Deputy Grand Marshal Edward J. Brierly reported the March 8 loss in a letter and followed that with his annual report.

MARCH 9 – Received a letter from D.D.G.M. [District Deputy Grand Marshal] EDWARD J. BRIERLEY that Miltonia Lodge room was burned. Loss about $500. Saved charter and some of the regalias and working books. This is the only Lodge in the State that I have not visited officially, But I learn by Brother BRIERLEY that they continue to meet, and are preparing a new hall. (See D.D.G.M. BRIERLEY’s report ).

MILTONIA LODGE, No. 52, MILTON MILLS. I installed the officers in January and July. Our Lodge has during the past six months labored under unfavorable circumstances, owing to our loss by fire. However, we have met every regular night with fair attendance. By the kindness of Motolinia Lodge, we have done some work. Although we met with quite a loss, we have a better fund in the bank which we shall draw on sparingly as possible in fitting up anew. We are in hopes to occupy our new hall soon and to continue the good work. – Edward J. BRIERLEY, D.D.G.M. (IOOF, 1872-81). 

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The Democrat officials mentioned were not actually “guillotined,” as such. They were simply replaced in their positions by Republicans.

NEW ENGLAND SPECIALS. More Nominations to Supply the Place of Guillotined Democrats in New Hampshire. [Special Despatch to The Boston Globe]. Concord, N.H., July 25. At a meeting of the Governor and Council today the following nominations were made: Fish Commissioners, Luther Hayes of Milton, Samuel Webber of Manchester, Albina Powers of Grantham; Judge of Probate, Hillsboro County, Henry K. Burnham, Manchester; Special Justice of Police Court of Manchester, Henry W. Tewksbury (Boston Globe, July 26, 1876).

We last encountered Luther Hayes as president of the Strafford County Fair in 1875. The newly-nominated NH Fish Commissioner will be found next busily performing his fishy duties in 1878, 1879, and 1880.

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The Milton house in which shoe manufacturer George B. Wentworth had once resided was destroyed by fire in September.

NOTES. Milton, N.H. Yesterday morning a house at Milton Three-Corners, formerly occupied by George B. Wentworth, was burned. Loss $6000 (Boston Globe, September 15, 1876).

George B. Wentworth, shoe manufacturer, aged forty years (born NH), headed a Dover household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Angie [(Leavitt)] Wentworth, keeping house, aged thirty years (born ME), Charles B. Wentworth, attending school, aged eight years (born NH), and Frederick Wentworth, aged two years (born NH). George B. Wentworth had real estate valued at $15,800 and personal estate valued at $48,800.

Wentworth had been born in Rochester, circa 1829-30, son of Beard and Sarah (Roberts) Wentworth. He died in the hospital at Haverhill, MA, January 13, 1888, aged fifty-eight years, from a punctured lung sustained in a train accident at Bradford, MA, January 10, 1888.

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The Hayes and Wheeler Battalion No. 1 were Milton Mill’s Republican partisans, advocating the presidential ticket of Rutherford B. Hayes and William A. Wheeler.

New England Special Condensed. The Hayes and Wheeler Battalion No. 1 of Milton Mills, N.H., are arranging for a grand torchlight procession, with speeches, music, etc., on Monday evening October 17 (Boston Globe, October 14, 1876).

The presidential contenders were Democrats Samuel J. Tilden and Thomas A. Hendricks, Republicans Hayes and Wheeler, Greenbacks Peter Cooper and Samuel F. Cary, Prohibitionists Clay Smith and Gideon T. Stewart, and American Nationals James B. Walker and Donald Kirkpatrick.

Democrats Tilden and Patrick won the national popular vote, while Republicans Hayes and Wheeler won the state-based Electoral College vote, and, thus, the election.

Presidents are elected by States, and not by the people directly. The people determine the choice of their State. Otherwise, it would be only a bi-coastal election, of the major Federal Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA), rather than a true national election.

In a national popular vote, New Hampshire would not exist at all, except as a fractional minority part of the Federal Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT Combined Statistical Area.

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Previous in sequence: Milton in the News – 1875; next in sequence: Milton in the News – 1877

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References:

Find a Grave. (2013, July 31). Asa Augustus Fox. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/114695724

Find a Grave. (2016, December 2). George B. Wentworth. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/173418957/george-b-wentworth

Find a Grave. (2018, March 8). Luther Hayes. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/49429209/luther-hayes

I.O.O.F. (1872-81). Journal of Proceedings of the R.W. Grand Lodge of the State of New Hampshire. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=GcuVn6tKSTAC&pg=PA709

Wikipedia. (2018, December 16). Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_Order_of_Odd_Fellows

Wikipedia. (2018, December 14). 1876 United States Presidential Election. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1876_United_States_presidential_election

YouTube. (1876). For Hayes and Wheeler Too. Retrieved from www.youtube.com/watch?v=PH06u6p7UkQ