The inhabitants of Rochester’s North Parish drafted and signed a Rochester Division Petition on Friday, May 28, 1802. The NH State Legislature responded with the following Milton incorporation act, on Tuesday, June 8, 1802, which was approved by then NH Governor John Taylor Gilman (1753-1828), on Friday, June 11, 1802.
Rochester’s NH State Representatives of that term were Beard Plummer and Levi Dearborn. (The designated Moderator Pro Tem of the inaugural Town Meeting was William Palmer, Esq., who had been a Rochester NH State Representative in the years 1794-1800).
State of New Hampshire }
AN ACT TO INCORPORATE THAT PART OF THE TOWN OF ROCHESTER IN THE COUNTY OF STRAFFORD COMMONLY CALLED THE NORTH-EAST PARISH INTO A SEPERATE TOWN BY The name of MILTON ~
[Approved June 11, 1802. Original Acts, vol. 17, p. 41; recorded Acts, vol. 13, p. 299].
Whereas a Petition has been presented to the General Court the Inhabitants of that part of the Town of Rochester in the County of Strafford commonly called the North east parish setting forth that some time prior to the year one thousand seven hundred & Ninety four, the Town of Rochester at a legal Meeting warned for that purpose, Voted uanmous [unanimous] that said Town should be divided into three Towns, & a Committee was then chosen to run out and describe the lines of the same, that said Committee accordingly made division of said Town of Rochester into three parts, that afterwards in the year one thousand seven hundred & Ninety four, the said Town of Rochester appointed another committee who were not inhabitants of said Town to examine the lines aforesaid & make such alterations therein as they should judge proper, that said Committee on the twenty eighth day of August in the same year, made their report to said Town of Rochester that the former lines & boundaries of the proposed Towns be established which report was at a legal Meeting of said Town Unanimously accepted that the said Town of Rochester in its present form was so large and the inhabitants so numerous as rendered it very inconvenient for to transact business at their Town Meetings. Wherefore they that that part of the Town of Rochester commonly called the Northeast parish within the bounds hereafter described be incorporated into a seperate [separate] Town the principal facts set forth in said Petition being substanciated [substantiated] and the prayed thereof appearing reasonable. ~
Therefore be it enacted by the senate & house of representatives in general Court convened, that the lands & Inhabitants contained within the Northeasterly part of said Rochester as described within the following bounds Vizt beginning at the Southeasterly corner of the Town of Farmington & running north forty six degrees east to salmon falls river & contain all the lands between Farmington line & the eastern line or boundary of said State which is salmon falls river, be & they hereby are incorporated into a seperate Town by the name of Milton. And the said Town of Milton is hereby vested with all the powers privileges & immunities to which other Towns in this State are or may be entitled to agreeably to the Constitution & the laws of this State to have continuance & succession forever. And be it further enacted that the Inhabitants of said Town of Milton shall pay all arrears of taxes that have been assessed on them by the said Town of Rochester, and shall pay their proportionable part of all the debts due from said Town of Rochester, and shall be entitled to receive their proportionable part of all Monies & debts now due to the said Town of Rochester, and also their proportion able part of all other property of the said Town of Rochester of every kind & description whatever ~ And be it further enacted that William Palmer, Esqr, be and hereby is authorised & impowered to warn a Meeting of the inhabitants of said Milton by posting up advertisements in said Town fourteen days previous to said Meeting and the said William Palmer, Esqr, shall preside in said Meeting till a Moderator shall be chosen for that purpose, and the annual Meeting in the said Town of Milton shall be holden on the second Monday of March annually.
Rochester NH State Rep. Levi Dearborn died while still in Concord, NH, shortly after the passage of the Milton incorporation act.
DIED. At Concord, N.H., very sudden’y, of a bilious turn, Levi Dearborn, Esq., Representative in the State Legislature from the town of Rochester (Portland Gazette (Portland, ME), June 21, 1802).
Rochester NH State Rep. Beard Plummer would be chosen as Moderator at Milton’s inaugural Town Meeting, August 30, 1802 (thus taking over for Moderator Pro Tem William Palmer, Esq.).
Ralph Mansur Kimball was born in Rochester, NH, August 29, 1859, son of Alvah M. and Annie M. (Hayes) Kimball.
Father Alvah M. Kimball died in Rochester, NH, July 2, 1869.
Ralph M. Kimball married in Berwick, ME, November 11, 1882, Miss Carrie Emma Willey, he of Milton, and she of Middleton, NH. John H. Stillings, Justice-of-the-Peace, performed the ceremony. She was born in Middleton, NH, September 10, 1866, daughter of Jonas D. and Abigail (Horne) Willey.
(The children of Ralph M. and Carrie E. (Willey) Kimball were Annie B. Kimball (1883-1925), and Ralph W. Kimball (1899-1981)).
Daughter Annie Blanche Kimball was born in Milton, November 24, 1883.
Ralph M. Kimball had a serious accident on Saturday, December 27, 1884, while working at the Milton Leatherboard Company. (The factory was new in that year).
MILTON, N.H. A Bad Accident. Last Saturday while Ralph Kimball was at work in the basement of Carricabe’s leather board mill in Milton, trying to regulate a belt, his coat caught in the set screw of a pulley and he was whirled round and round until every shred of clothing was torn from his body, including boots and stockings and he was dashed to the ground senseless. He, however, partially recovered his senses and crawled across the rough and icy ground and to the top of a flight of 19 stairs, where he was discovered working his way with his elbows. His body and arms were badly bruised and torn by the set screws, and the left leg broken above the ankle, the bones protruding, and mangled to the heel. In a short time he was taken home, and Dr. Wallace was in attendance with Dr. Scruton of Union who was telegraphed for. The leg was amputated and the bruises dressed. At last accounts he was as comfortable as could be expected and will recover, but it was a very narrow chance. He is 28 years old, has a wife and one child (Farmington News, January 2, 1885).
LOCALS. Ralph Kimball and family of Milton were guests of J.E. Hayes Sunday (Farmington News, February 21, 1890).
HERE AND THERE. At the morning services of the former church were present Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Kimball and their daughter of Milton, who were guests of James E. Hayes; and the Misses Joy, with friends, of New Durham. The Rev. Joseph Joy attended the Free Baptist church (Farmington News, March 10, 1893).
HERE AND THERE.Dr. M.A.H. Hart of the same [Milton] town, and Mr. Ralph Kimball, were in Farmington on Friday (Farmington News, November 15, 1895).
MILTON. Ralph M. Kimball, who has been quite ill during the past week, is now slowly recovering (Farmington News, May 13, 1898).
Son Ralph Phillip [Walter] Kimball was born in Milton, May 4, 1899. He was the second child. His father was a shoemaker. M.A.H. Hart, M.D., signed the birth certificate.
WEST MILTON. Mrs. Ralph Kimball of Milton has a son (Farmington News, May 5, 1899).
Ralph M. Kimball, a janitor, aged forty years (b. NH), headed a Milton (“Milton Village”) household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of seventeen years), Carrie E. [(Willey)] Kimball, aged thirty-three years (b. NH), and his children, Annie E. Kimball, at school, aged sixteen years (b. NH), and Ralph W. Kimball, aged zero years [one year] (b. NH). Ralph M. Kimball owned their house, with a mortgage. Carrie E. Kimball was the mother of two children, of whom two were still living. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Ruth Nutter, a home keeper, aged sixty-nine years (b. NH) and Mary F. Horne, a boarding house keeper, aged fifty-six years (b. NH).
Ralph M. Kimball’s widowed mother lived very close to his household in Milton. She was enumerated on the very same page (and likely on the same street) as them in the census. But there was also much visiting back and forth between them and Carrie E. (Willey) Kimballs’ parents in neighboring Middleton, NH.
MIDDLETON. Ralph Kimball and family of Milton have been visiting Mrs. Kimball’s parents, J.D. Willey and wife (Farmington News, July 20, 1900).
MILTON. Mrs. Ralph Kimball was in Rochester last week (Farmington News, July 27, 1900).
MILTON. Ralph Kimball and family have returned from Middleton where they have been spending a few days (December 7, 1900).
MIDDLETON. Mr. and Mrs. George Willey and children, and Mr. Ralph Kimball and family spent Thanksgiving with Mr. Jonas Willey (Farmington News, December 14, 1900).
MILTON. Mrs. Ralph Kimball and son Walter were in Rochester last Saturday (Farmington News, February 15, 1901).
PERSONAL. Mrs. Ralph Kimball of Milton has been a guest of friends in town for a short visit, this week (Farmington News, March 8, 1901).
It would seem that the wife might have given her cold or influenza to the husband (or vice versa).
MILTON. Mrs. Ralph Kimball is on the sick list (Farmington News, April 19, 1901).
MILTON. The many friends of Ralph Kimball will be glad to learn that he is improving (Farmington News, May 3, 1901).
MIDDLETON. Ralph Kimball of Milton, who has been ill, has been spending a few days in the family of James Willey (Farmington News, May 24, 1901).
MIDDLETON. Mrs. Ralph Kimball of Milton has been a guest of her parents during the past week (June 6, 1902).
Daughter Annie B. Kimball married in Milton, February 4, 1904, George L. Freeman, both of Milton. She was a lady, aged twenty years, and he was a civil engineer, aged twenty-three years. (Her father was a shoemaker). Rev. Myron P. Dickey performed the ceremony. Freeman was born in West Gray, ME, circa 1881, son of George H. and Georgia (Knapp) Freeman.
Freeman-Kimball. Cards have been received in this city announcing the marriage of George Leonard Freeman and Miss Annie Blanche Kimball, of Milton, N.H., which took place Thursday evening of this week. Mr. Freeman, while engaged in the survey of the electric road under Engineer H.K. Lincoln, made many friends in this city (St. Albans Daily Messenger (St. Albans, VT) February 6, 1904).
LOCAL. The marriage of Miss Annie B. Kimball of Milton to George L. Freeman, solemnized last Thursday by the Rev. M.P. Dickey, is attended by the good wishes and congratulations of many Farmington friends. The bride is connected with numerous families of this town, and is well known as a fine violin player. The groom, draughtsman for Contractor Ira W. Jones for several years, is spoken of in high terms. The young couple will continue to reside in Milton (Farmington News, February 12, 1904).
MARRIED. Milton, N.H. – Mr. George L. Freeman, formerly of West Gray, and Miss Annie B. Kimball (Lewiston Sun-Journal (Lewiston, ME), February 29, 1904).
Ralph M. Kimball seems to have visited with his daughter’s in-laws in the summer after the wedding.
MILTON. Mr. Ralph M. Kimball is in Gray, Me., for a week (Sanford Journal-Tribune (Biddeford, ME), August 10, 1906).
Ralph M. Kimball was elected a Trustee and auditor at the Congregational Church in 1907.
MILTON, N.H. At the meeting of the Congregational parish the following officers were elected: President, Dea. B.B. Plummer; clerk, Robert M. Looney; treasure, James M. Gage; trustee, B.B. Plummer, Ralph M. Kimball, James M. Gage; pulpit committee. Joseph H. Avery, Walter E. Looney, Ralph Kimball; auditing committee, Robert M. Looney, Ralph M. Kimball (Sanford Journal-Tribune (Biddeford, ME), March 29, 1907).
Ralph M. Kimball took his eight-year-old son, Ralph W. Kimball, to visit with the boy’s maternal grandparents in neighboring Middleton, NH.
MIDDLETON. Ralph Kimball and little son of Milton are guests of Mr. and Mrs. Jonas Willey (Farmington News, May 3, 1907).
Ralph M. Kimball engaged at this time in poultry farming and gardening in Milton. (Poultry farming was common in Milton).
MILTON. Ralph M. Kimball has recently re-set his incubator with thirty-two dozen eggs, which should hatch about the first week of March (Sanford Journal-Tribune (Biddeford, ME), February 26, 1909).
MILTON. Ralph Kimball took 142 chickens from his incubator last Thursday (Farmington News, March 12, 1909).
MILTON. Ralph M. Kimball is enlarging his poultry buildings, as he intends keeping a large number of hens this winter (Sanford Journal-Tribune (Biddeford, ME), October 8, 1909).
MILTON. Ralph Kimball has on exhibition two potatoes which he raised this year, one weighing two pounds and five ounces, the other two pounds six and one-half ounces. The length of each was nine inches (Sanford Journal-Tribune (Biddeford, ME), November 12, 1909).
Ralph M. Kimball, a farmer (hen farm), aged fifty years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of twenty-seven years), Carrie E. [(Willey)] Kimball, aged forty-three years (b. NH), his son, Walter Kimball, aged eleven years (b. NH), and his boarders, Grace E. Harwood, a teacher (town school), aged twenty-seven years (b. MA), Bessie A. Gushie, a teacher (town school), aged twenty-four years (b. MA), and Laura H. Williams, a teacher (town school), aged forty-one years (b. ME). Ralph M. Kimball owned their farm, free-and-clear. Carrie E. Kimball was the mother of two children, of whom two were still living. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Arthur Larochelle, a laster (shoe shop), aged twenty-nine years (b. Canada), and George A. Downs, a laborer (ice company), aged forty-three years (b. NH).
Ralph M. Kimball, holding Alice K. Freeman, and his mother, Annie M. (Hayes) Kimball, holding Emily L. Freeman, and his daughter, Annie B. (Kimball) Freeman, standing behind them (per James Snyder)
George L. Freeman, a civil engineer, aged twenty-nine years (b. ME), headed a Portland, ME, household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of six years), Annie B. [(Kimball)] Freeman, aged twenty-six years (b. NH), his children, Emily L. Freeman, aged four years (b. NH), and Alice K. Freeman, aged three years (b. PA), his grandmother [in-law], Annie M. [(Hayes)] Kimball, a widow, aged seventy-three years (b. NH), and his cousin [in-law], Morris D. Kimball, aged nineteen years (b. MA). George L. Freeman rented their house at 59 Bright Avenue. Annie B. Freeman was the mother of two children, of whom two were still living. Annie M. Kimball was the mother of four children, of whom two were still living.
Father-in-law Jonas D. Willey died of typhoid fever in Middleton, NH, July 12, 1910, aged seventy-four years, two months, and eight days. He was a married farmer. Charles C. Rogers, M.D., signed the death certificate.
MIDDLETON. After an illness of two weeks Jonas D. Willey passed away Tuesday morning, July 12, at his home in Middleton. Mr. Willey was born in New Durham, May 4, 1836, son of Charles and Abbie (Grace) Willey. About 52 years ago he was married to Miss Abbie Horne who survives him. Three children were born, Fitz, who died several years ago, Geo, H. of Newmarket, and Carrie, wife of Ralph Kimball of Milton. Mr. Willey is also survived by two brothers, Cyrus and Dana Willey, and one sister, Mrs. Augusta Walker, also by three grandchildren and great grandchildren. The funeral was held this Thursday at 1 p.m., Rev. Mr. Coleman officiating and B.F. Perkins in charge of arrangements. Interment in the family lot in Pine Grove cemetery. Mr. Willey was a good citizen and a kind obliging neighbor. He was well known in Farmington, having conducted a meat-cart business several years. (Farmington News, July 15, 1910).
MIDDLETON. Mrs. Ralph Kimball of Milton has been the week end guest of her mother, Mrs. Abbie Willey (Farmington News, July 28, 1911).
MILTON, N.H. Ralph Kimball’s horse has been lame the past week (Sanford Journal-Tribune (Biddeford, ME), August 25, 1911).
MIDDLETON. Mrs. George Willey, who has been at her camp, returned to Newmarket, Sunday. Mr. Willey came in his auto and she returned with him. Mrs. Anny Willey is entertaining her two grandsons, Master Ralph Kimball of Milton and Master George Willey of Newmarket (Farmington News, July 19, 1912).
MIDDLETON. Mrs. Jonas Willey, who has been home here for a few days, has returned to her daughter’s, Mrs. Ralph Kimball of Milton (Farmington New, May 23, 1913).
SOCIAL LIFE AND GOSSIP. Mr. and Mrs. George L. Freeman of Brighton avenue are receiving congratulations on the birth of a son, who has been named George Leonard Freeman, Jr. (Portland Sunday Telegram, August 24, 1913).
PERSONAL. Ralph Kimball of Milton was a business visitor in town Monday (Farmington News, January 21, 1916).
Personal. Ralph Kimball of Milton was in town Tuesday (Farmington News, February 18, 1916).
Mother Annie M. (Hayes) Kimball died of chronic interstitial nephritis in Milton, December 10, 1917, aged eighty-one years, five months, and ten days. She was a widowed housekeeper. M.A.H. Hart, M.D., signed the death certificate.
Local. Mrs. Annie M. Kimball, aged 81, widow of George [Alvah] Kimball, died at her home in Milton Tuesday (Farmington News, December 14, 1917).
Mother-in-law Abigail (Horne) Willey died of gastric carcinoma in Newmarket, NH, January 26, 1919, aged seventy-six years, ten months, and eighteen days. She was a widowed housewife. George H. Towle, Jr., M.D., signed the death certificate.
Ralph M. Kimball, a laborer (leatherboard), aged sixty years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Carrie E. [(Willey)] Kimball, aged fifty-three years (b. NH), and his son, R. Walter Kimball, aged twenty years (b. NH). Ralph M. Kimball owned their house on “Lower Main Street, Milton Village,” free-and-clear. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of George P. Boisvert, a section hand (Boston & Maine R.R.), aged sixty-two years (b. Canada), and Hervey E. Tanner, a carpenter (house), aged fifty-six years (b. NH).
Son Ralph W. Kimball married in Portsmouth, NH, September 12, 1921, Gladys M. Wingate, he of Milton and she of Rochester, NH. He was a chemist, aged twenty-two years, and she was at home, aged twenty-three years. Rev. Isaac Wigginbotham performed the ceremony. She was born in Rochester, NH, circa 1898, daughter of William H. and Mabel L. (French) Wingate.
Ralph M. Kimball died of chronic parenchymatous nephritis in Milton, February 16, 1922, aged sixty-two years, six months, and nineteen days. M.A.H. Hart, M.D., signed the death certificate. He was a married leatherboard mill employee, resident in Milton for fifty-two years, i.e., since circa 1869.
LOCAL. Ralph Kimball, aged 62 years, passed away at his home in Milton on February 17. He was a son of Albert [Alvah] and Annie (Hoyt) [(Hayes)] Kimball (Farmington News, March 3, 1922).
George L. Freeman, a civil engineer, aged forty-four years (b. US), headed a Mount Vernon, NY, household at the time of the NY State Census of [June 1,] 1925. His household included his wife, Annie B. [(Kimball)] Freeman, a houseworker, aged forty-one years (b. US), and his children, Emily L. Freeman, a student, aged nineteen years (b. US), Alice K. Freeman, at school, aged eighteen years (b. US), Barbara Freeman, at school, aged thirteen years (b. US), and George L. Freeman, at school, aged eleven years (b. US). They resided at 335 Rich Avenue.
Daughter Annie B. (Kimball) Freeman died in New York, NY, July 14, 1925, aged forty-one years.
Son-in-law George L. Freeman married (2nd) in Portland, ME, September 11, 1926, Ethelyn E. Coe, he of Mount Vernon, NY.
Carrie E. [(Willey)] Kimball was a cook, aged sixty-two years (b. NH), in the Concord, NH, household of John B. Jameson, a businessman (financial), aged fifty-six years (b. NH), at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. Jameson’s house was valued at $20,000, and he had two family servants, Rachel M. Doe, aged twenty-four years (b. NH) and his cook, Carrie M. Kimball.
George Freeman, a civil engineer (consulting engineer), aged forty-nine years (b. ME), headed a Mount Vernon, NY, household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of three years), Ethelyn [(Coe)] Freeman, aged forty-six years (b. ME), his children, Emily Freeman, a secretary (diamond importers), aged twenty-four years (b. NH), Alice Freeman, an interior decorator (decorating firm), aged twenty-three years (b. PA), Barbara Freeman, aged eighteen years (b. ME), and George Freeman, aged sixteen years (b. ME), and his servant, Hilda Lundgren, a servant (private family), aged fifty-eight years (b. Sweden). George Freeman owned their house at 335 Rich Avenue, which was valued at $16,000. They had a radio set.
Ralph W. Kimball, a superintendent (counter factory), aged thirty years (b. NH), headed a Newburyport, MA, household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census, His household included his wife (of eight years), Gladys W. [(Wingate)] Kimball, aged thirty-two years (b. NH), his daughter, Elizabeth Kimball, aged seven years (b. NH), and his brother-in-law, Norman C. Wingate, a machinist (general machine shop), aged thirty years (b. NH). Ralph W. Kimball rented their house at 21 Summit Place, for $32 per month. They had a radio set.
Carrie [(Willey)] Kimball, aged seventy-three years, was a lodger in the Gaffney Home for the Aged, in Rochester, NH, at the time of the Seventeenth (1940) Federal Census. She had resided in the same place in 1935. The Gaffney Home had at that time seventeen residents, all aged women, a head, three helpers, and a nurse.
SOCIAL. The holiday season had brought a tidal wave of engagements to the county. Miss Jane Miller, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Miller, of Mount Vernon, is to become the wife of George L. Freeman, Jr., son of the George L. Freemans, also of Mount Vernon. Miss Miller is Chairman of the Juniors of the Westchester Woman’s Club. Mr. Freeman is a Syracuse graduate (Daily Item (Port Chester, NY),December 31, 1937).
George Freeman, a consulting engineer (engineering), aged fifty-nine years (b. ME), headed a Mount Vernon, NY, household at the time of the Sixteenth (1940) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Ethelyn [(Coe)] Freeman, aged fifty-six years (b. ME), and his maid, Esther E. Bergman, a maid (private family), aged thirty-one years. George Freeman owned their house at 335 Rich Avenue, which was valued at $12,000. They had all resided in the same house in 1935.
Ralph Walter Kimball, a superintendent (fibre factory), aged forty years (b. NH), headed a Rochester, NH, household at the time of the Sixteenth (1940) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Gladys W. [(Wingate)] Kimball, aged forty-two years (b. NH), and his daughter, Elizabeth Kimball, aged eighteen years (b. NH). Ralph Walter Kimball owned their house at 6 Haskell Street, which was valued at $2,800. They had all resided in the same house in 1935.
Carrie E. (Willey) Kimball died of colon carcinoma in the Gaffney Home in Rochester, NH, November 21, 1949, aged eighty-three years. She was a widowed housewife. Charles E. Moors, M.D., signed the death certificate.
George W. Freeman, a consultant engineer (foundations), aged sixty-nine years (b. ME), headed a Mount Vernon, NY, household at the time of the Seventeenth (1950) Federal Census. His household included his wife, [Ethelyn (Coe)] Freeman, aged sixty-six years (b. ME), his daughter, Alice [(Freeman)] Muchnic, aged forty-three years (b. PA), his granddaughter, Barbara L. Muchnic, aged eight years (b. ME), and his maid, Esther Bergman, aged fifty-two years (b. Sweden). They resided at 335 Rich Avenue.
Ralph W. Kimball, a superintendent (shoe findings), aged fifty years (b. NH), headed a Rochester, NH, household at the time of the Seventeenth (1950) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Gladys W. [(Wingate)] Kimball, aged fifty-two years (b. NH), and his daughter, Elizabeth Kimball, a bookkeeper (gas co.), aged twenty-seven years (b. NH). They resided at 6 Haskell Street.
Son-in-law George L. Freeman died in Portland, ME, July 12, 1965, aged eighty-four years.
G.L. Freeman, Sr., Noted Engineer, Dead At 84. WEST GRAY (AP) – George L. Freeman Sr., 84, a prominent consultant engineer who designed most of the construction for the 1939 Worlds Fair in New York died Monday. Freeman also helped design some of the most famous bridges in the United States, including the Golden Gate and Bay Bridges in San Francisco, the Huey Long Bridge in New Orleans and the Triboro Bridge in New York City. A native of West Gray, Freeman graduated from the University of Maine in 1903. He worked for a Portland engineering firm and helped design the S.D. Warren Co. chemical plant in Westbrook. Before his retirement in 1950, Freeman was vice president and chief engineer for Moran, Proctor and Freeman Co., New York City consultants. Survivors include a son, George Jr., Portland; three daughters, Mrs. Emily Sanford and Mrs. Alice Muchnic, both of Mount Vernon, N.Y, and Mrs. Barbara Miller Jones, Sierra Madre, Calif. The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Gray Congregational Church (Bangor Daily News (Bangor, ME), July 13, 1965).
Ralph W. Kimball died November 17, 1981. Gladys (Wingate) Kimball died in 1995, aged ninety-seven years.
On May 23rd, the night sky will be illuminated by the radiant glow of the Full Flower Moon. This celestial event gets its name from the abundance of spring flowers that bloom during this time of year, painting the landscape with vibrant colors.[1][4] As the moon reaches its full phase, its brilliant face will be a sight to behold, casting a warm glow over the Earth below.
The Full Flower Moon holds special significance for many cultures and traditions. In Native American lore, it was a symbol of renewal and fertility, marking the time when nature awakens from its winter slumber.[1][4] Farmers and gardeners alike would look to this moon as a signal to begin planting their crops, ensuring a bountiful harvest in the months to come. Whether you’re an avid stargazer or simply appreciate the beauty of nature, the Full Flower Moon is a reminder to pause and appreciate the wonders of the cosmos and the cyclical rhythms of life on our planet.[1][4]
May 4-5
Get ready for a celestial fireworks show! The Eta Aquariids meteor shower will be putting on a dazzling display in the night sky on May 4th and 5th. With the Moon only 14% full, the conditions are perfect for spotting these shooting stars streaking across the heavens. Grab a cozy blanket, some snacks, and your favorite stargazing buddies for an unforgettable cosmic spectacle.[3]
May 6, 7
The Eta Aquarids is an above average shower, capable of producing up to 60 meteors per hour at its peak. In the Northern Hemisphere, the rate can reach about 30 meteors per hour at the peak.[3]
May 9
Calling all night owls and astronomy enthusiasts! On May 9th, the New Moon will grace the skies, offering a prime opportunity to witness the Milky Way’s galactic center in all its glory. With minimal moonlight interference, the celestial canvas will be a stunning backdrop for stargazing adventures. Who knows, you might even spot a few cosmic surprises![1] Look to the eastern sky just before sunrise on May 9 to catch a glimpse of Mercury at its greatest western elongation from the Sun. With a maximum separation of 26.4 degrees, Mercury will be at its highest point above the horizon, making it an excellent opportunity for viewing.[4]
May 23
Get ready for a celestial showstopper! On May 23rd, the Full Moon will take center stage, illuminating the night sky with its radiant glow. This is the perfect chance to gather your loved ones, spread out a picnic blanket, and bask in the lunar splendor. Don’t forget to make a wish or two – after all, it’s a full moon![1]
May 30
Calling all city slickers and nature lovers alike! On May 30th, the streets of Manhattan will align perfectly with the setting sun, creating the mesmerizing phenomenon known as “Manhattanhenge.” This celestial event offers a unique opportunity to witness the urban landscape bathed in golden hues. Whether you’re in New York or New Hampshire, grab your camera and get ready to capture some truly Instagram-worthy moments![1]
Sources
[1] In-The-Sky.org. (2024). Calendar of Astronomical Events 2024. Retrieved from in-the-sky.org/newscal.php
Ralph Walter Pugh was born in Lynn, MA, April 18, 1908, son of Charles and Amelia (Rockwood) Pugh.
Ralph W. Pugh married in Manchester, NH, May 18, 1935, Rachel Margaret Doe, he of Barnstead, NH, and she of Manchester, NH. He was a shoeworker, aged twenty-seven years, and she was a houseworker, aged twenty-nine years. Rev. Allan Lorimer performed the ceremony. She was born in Milton, February 13, 1906, daughter of James F. and Etta J. (Martin) Doe. (Her father, James F. Doe, died on Plummer’s Ridge in Milton, April 5, 1920, aged forty-eight years. He was a married farmer. M.A.H. Hart, M.D., signed the death certificate).
(The children of Ralph W. and Rachel M. (Doe) Pugh were: Shirley Ann Pugh, Ralph W. Pugh, Jr.).
Ralph W. Pugh was one of those that found the body of Maude Horne, February 4, 1939, when they stopped by her house to pick her up for dinner. (See Milton and the Horne Murder – 1939).
Milton, N.H., Feb. 4 – Believed to have been murdered, the body of Miss Maude Horne, 61, who lived alone on the Farmington road [now Elm Street] in the heart of the town was found tonight on the floor of the living room by relatives who called to take her out for supper. Her Car Missing. Mr. and Mrs. Ralph W. Cobb of Dover, their daughter, Miss Miriam Cobb and Ralph W. Pugh of Milton called at the house tonight. The fire in the stove was out and the pint bottle of milk was still on the doorstep. Miss Horne’s car, a 1935 Plymouth sedan, carrying New Hampshire registration 51,839, was missing from the garage adjoining the story and a half frame house near the Nute High school. … (Portland Press Herald (Portland, ME), February 5, 1939).
Ralph W. Pugh, a fireman (leatherboard mill), aged thirty-one years (b. MA), headed a Milton household at the time of the Sixteenth (1940) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Rachel M. [(Doe)] Pugh, aged thirty-four years (b. NH), and his daughter, Shirley A. Pugh, aged three years (b. NH). Ralph W. Pugh owned their house, which was valued at $1,500. He had resided in a rural location in 1935, and his wife had resided in Manchester, NH. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of George W. Ellis, aged seventy-eight years (b. NH), and Norman V. Dillon, a fireman (leatherboard [mill]), aged thirty years (b. ME).
Ralph Walter Pugh of R.F.D. Union, Milton, N.H., registered for the WW II military draft in Milton, October 16, 1940. He had been born in Lynn, MA, April 8, 1908, aged thirty-two years, and was employed by Spaulding Fibre Company in Milton. His next of kin was his wife, Mrs. Rachel Margaret Pugh. They had no telephone. He stood 5′ 11″ tall, weighed 210 pounds, and had blue eyes, brown hair, and a light complexion.
The Milton Selectmen of 1945 were John G. Gilman, Ralph W. Pugh, and Halton R. Hayes. The Milton Selectmen of 1946 were John G. Gilman, Ralph W. Pugh, and Halton R. Hayes.
MILTON MILLS. By Alfred W. Lewis. The picture “The Man Who Forgot God” was presented at the Free Baptist Church Sunday evening under the direction of Ralph Pugh of Plummer’s Ridge. A delegation from the Milton Community Church and the Rev. Ralph Townsend were present (Sanford Journal-Tribune (Biddeford, ME), March 28, 1946).
Father Charles Pugh died of coronary thrombosis in Barnstead, NH, May 16, 1946, aged seventy-seven years, seven months, and twelve days. He was a married and retired G.E. employee, who had lived in Barnstead for twenty years, i.e., since circa 1926. H.W. Epling, M.D., signed the death certificate.
RECENT DEATHS. Charles Pugh. Charles Pugh, former employe of the General Electric Company and resident of Lynn for 48 years, died yesterday of a heart attack while working in a field near his home at Barnstead, N.H. He was 77 years of age. Born in Heart’s Content, Newfoundland, he recently celebrated his 56th wedding anniversary with his wife, Mrs. Amelia (Rockwood) Pugh. Besides his wife, he leaves a daughter, Mrs. Theodore Dahlquist and four sons, William Pugh, Arthur Pugh, Leslie Pugh, all of Lynn, and Ralph Pugh of Milton, N.H.; two brothers, John Pugh of Newfoundland and William Pugh of Toronto, Canada; nine grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren. Funeral services will be held at the Rhodes Memorial Chapel Saturday at 3 PM. Burial will be in Pine Grove cemetery (Lynn Daily Item (Lynn, MA), May 17, 1946).
The Milton Selectmen of 1947 were Ralph W. Pugh, Robert P. Laskey, and John G. Gilman.
The Milton Selectmen of 1948 were Robert P. Laskey, John G. Gilman, and Ralph W. Pugh. Their salaries as Selectmen and Overseers of the Poor were $225 apiece. (According to an inflation calculator, their inflation-adjusted pay would now be $2,915.96 apiece). Ralph W. Pugh received as $45.17 in expense and mileage reimbursement. (His reimbursement was the smallest of the three Selectmen).
Rachel D. [(Doe)] Pugh was assessed for Milton taxes for a 10-acre plains lot, valued at $400; an 80-acre farm, valued at $1,400; a homestead and garage, valued at $1,200; G.W. & T (growing wood & timber), valued at $50; four goats, valued at $40; pumps and tanks, valued at $185; and stock in trade, valued at $200.
The Milton Selectmen of 1949 were John G. Gilman, Ralph W. Pugh, and Robert P. Laskey. The Milton Selectmen of 1950 were Ralph W. Pugh, Robert P. Laskey, and John G. Gilman.
Ralph W. Pugh, a beaterman (fibreboard mill), aged forty-two years (b. MA), headed a Milton household at the time of the Seventeenth (1950) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Rachel M. [(Doe)] Pugh, aged forty-two years (b. NH), his children, Shirley A. Pugh, aged thirteen years (b. NH), and Ralph W. Pugh, Jr., aged ten years (b. NH), and his mother-in-law, Etta F. [(Martin)] Doe, a widow, aged seventy-six years (b. MA). The house was located in the “4th house on left” (when “Proceeding North on State Highway #16 from Milton Town House.” Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Carl A. Flagg, a manager (service station), aged sixty-nine years (b. NH), and Wilhelm E. Baloodis, a loader in warehouse (woolen mill), aged fifty-two years (b. Latvia).
Milton Mills. By Alfred W. Lewis. School Notes. At the Riverside School, Clayton Waymouth, Maine State fire warden, recently showed films. Mrs. Rachel Pugh of Plummers Ridge, Milton, furnished the movie projector. Pupils receiving 100 per cent in spelling last week were: Ruth Ann Doe, Robert Mee, Robert Rand, Paula Hunter, Donna Doyle and Kenneth Fox (Sanford Journal-Tribune (Biddeford, ME), June 10, 1954).
SCHOOLS. NUTE HIGH. Mr. Roberge was guest speaker at the special assembly held at Nute High because of Constitution Week. Ralph Pugh played the piano for the singing of “America” by the student body (Farmington News, October 6, 1955).
Mother Amelia (Rockwood) Pugh died in Lynn, MA, December 30, 1958, aged eighty-seven years.
Mrs. Amelia Pugh. Mrs. Amelia Pugh, 87, of 29 Michigan Avenue, died last night at her home after a brief illness. She was born in Heart’s Content, Newfoundland, and lived in Lynn for 60 years. She leaves four sons, William J. Pugh and Leslie S. Pugh, both of Lynn, and Arthur Pugh and Ralph W. Pugh, both of New Hampshire; a daughter, Mrs. Theodore Dahlquist of Lynn, with whom she made her home; and ten grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. Services will be held at the W.C. Goodrich Funeral Home, 128 Washington Street, on Friday at 3 PM. Burial will be in Pine Grove Cemetery (Lynn Daily Item (Lynn, MA), December 31, 1958).
Nute High School Dedication and Open House Sunday. Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock Dr. Charles F. Ritch, Jr., Commissioner of Education for the State of New Hampshire will be the guest speaker at dedication exercises to be held at Nute High School, Milton, N.H. The Nute High School Band directed by Mrs. Dorothy Bassett and the Nute High School Chorus, directed by Arthur Mirabile, are to provide the musical numbers. The Rev. Bradley T. Lines is to give the invocation and the benediction will be offered by the Rev. Raymond Laferriere. The keys to Nute High School and the Milton Elementary School will be presented by the Maxam Company, general contractors, and Mr. Hersey of Irving W. Hersey Associates, architect, to Ralph W. Pugh, Sr., chairman of the school board. C. LeRoy Dickson, president of the Board of Trustees of Nute High School, is to preside at the dedication. Open house at the Nute High School and Milton Elementary School will follow the dedication. The public are invited to attend. Pupils attending Nute High School are largely from Milton but in Grades 9-12 there are many tuition pupils from Acton and Lebanon, Brookfield, Middleton, Rochester, and Wakefield, N.H. The freshman class of 54 is the largest in the history of the school (Sanford Journal-Tribune (Biddeford, ME), October 13, 1960).
Mother-in-law Etta J. (Martin) Doe was honored as a long-term member of the Multon Community Church in November 1961.
40 YEAR MEMBERS HONORED IN MILTON. Milton. Eight 40-year members were honored at the Forefathers’ Sunday service of the Milton Community church Sunday. They were Mrs. Etta Doe, Mrs. Amy Stow, Mrs. Grace Willey, Mrs. Adah Nutter, Mrs. Katherine Dorr, Mrs. Hugh Innes, Mrs. Peter Lover and Mrs. Grace Dickson (Farmington News, November 23, 1961).
Mother-in-law Etta J. (Martin) Doe took a series of three ambulance trips to the hospital beginning in May 1962.
LOCAL LINES. Last Thursday the Peaslee ambulance took Mrs. Doe, mother of Mrs. Ralph Pugh of Milton, to Frisbee hospital. She had a broken hip. On Saturday Oscar Gagnon of Union was taken to Huggins hospital in Wolfeboro suffering from a heart attack (Farmington News, May 17, 1962).
FARMINGTON LOCAL LINES. Mr. Clarence Peaslee reports two ambulance calls, one Monday when Mrs. Etta Doe was taken from her home in Milton to Frisbie hospital for observation and treatment and Tuesday when Mrs. Dolly Ryder of Milton was returned home from Mary Hitchcock hospital in Hanover after surgery (Farmington News, November 21, 1962).
FARMINGTON LOCAL LINES. Peaslee ambulance took Mrs. Inez Ellis of Milton to Frisbie hospital in Rochester for observation Tuesday and Mrs. Etta Doe from Frisbie hospital to the home of her daughter, Mr. Ralph Pugh of Milton after treatment for a fractured shoulder (Farmington News, December 6, 1962).
Mother-in-law Etta J. (Martin) Doe died of broncho-pneumonia on Route 16 in Milton, March 29, 1963, aged eighty-nine years. She was a widowed practical nurse. She had resided in Milton for seventy-five years, i.e., since circa 1888. George E. Quinn, M.D., of Farmington, NH, signed the death certificate.
DEATHS. MRS. JAMES F. DOE. MILTON – Funeral services were conducted Sunday afternoon at the Milton Community church by Rev. Frank Bunker, Jr., for Mrs. Etta F (Martin) Doe, 89, who died Friday, March 29 at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Rachel Pugh, after a long illness. She was born in Brockton, Mass., and had lived in Milton most of her life. She was the widow of James F. Doe, was a 60-year member of the Lewis W. Nute grange in Milton and a member of the Milton Community church. Mrs. Doe served as nurse at the Daniel Webster Home for children in Franklin for 18 yrs. She was also a school teacher in Somersworth many years ago. Besides her daughter, members of her family include three grandchildren and three greatgrandchildren. Funeral arrangements were in charge of the Peaslee Funeral home in Union and burial will be in Forest Glade Cemetery, Somersworth (Farmington News, April 4, 1963).
UNION NEWS. By Ray Marsh. GRANGE. The Reunion Grange held the last of the three point meetings Friday night. It was an exceptionally fine meeting with 62 Grangers attending. The program was under the supervision of Mrs. Evelyn Chamberlain of Lewis W. Nute Grange of Milton. William Pomeroy of Lewis W. Nute Grange showed a special collection of bottles, many of which were very old. A question-and-answer period followed. Ralph Pugh, Master of the Nute Grange, played several selections on the piano and Donald Stowe did his thing with some humorous anecdotes. We consider the whole three point program a complete success and deserves repeating next year. The Reunion Grange whist party last Wednesday night was well attended and women’s high score went to Polly McKinney, low to Arzelle Littlefield; Men’s high to Emerson Abbott and low to Guy Greenlaw. Annette Dunnells took the cake (Farmington News, October 27, 1970).
Ralph W. Pugh died in Milton, in November 1982.
Discovering life down on the farm. By Tom Long. Globe Staff. MILTON – Walter Kasinskas walked in the door of Levi Jones‘ farmhouse last week and entered another world: a world of straw mattresses, woodstoves, bed warmers and butter churns. “A lot of people have a quaint idea of what farm life was like, but I know better,” says 73-year-old tour guide Milford (Mickey) Galarneau, as he leads Kasinskas and his mother along with a handful of tourists through Jones‘ house on Plummer’s Ridge in Milton, home of the New Hampshire Farm Museum. “I grew up on a farm in North Conway and I know what it’s like to get a load from the woodpile on a winter night. I know what it’s like to wake up with frost on your chin.” During the chatty, anecdotal 45-minute tour of the museum’s six interconnected buildings, Galarneau introduces Kasinskas, a tow-headed 12-year-old from Kingston, to the mysteries of rope bedsprings. thunder jugs, rag rugs. Christian doors and ceiling rails. Kasinskas gets a chance to peek through a stereopticon, to wear a water yoke, to pat a horse-hair rocking horse and try on a 19th century waistcoat. In the parlor, Rachel Pugh, whose family lived on the ridge for seven generations, lets Kasinskas examine a whale’s tooth that belonged to a relative who “followed the sea.” Pugh, who claims to be “83 years young and foolish” also allows Kasinskas to examine a farm ledger that shows a 32-cent debit to pay a farrier for a day’s horse-shoeing. Levi Jones scratched his livelihood out of the woods of the northern parish of Norway Plains, now Milton, in the late 18th and early 19th century. He was an enterprising Yankee who sold lumber, bartered butter and opened a tavern when the farm became a stop on the stagecoach run from Boston to the White Mountains in 1810. The farm remained in Jones’ family until 1977, when Elizabeth Jones willed the property to the Society for the Preservation of New Hampshire Forests and it became the home of the New Hampshire Farm Museum, a collection of farm tools and furniture stored in Exeter-area barns for a decade. “We’ve tried to create a casual, hands-on atmosphere so people can learn about farm life in an un-intimidating manner.” says museum director Melissa Walker as she leads a visitor to the barn. The barn houses an assortment of antique farm tools and furniture including a high-chair that converts into a stroller, several generations of wooden washing machines, a dog-powered butter churn and other original examples of Yankee ingenuity. The artifacts were donated to the museum. The farm’s original furnishings were auctioned off when Elizabeth Jones died. “The blacksmith shops and cobbler’s shops weren’t part of the original farm either.” says Walker. “They were donated by families in Belmont and Kingston. We just got a horse-powered cider mill, too. We’re hoping to raise enough money to raise a barn to house it.” To further illustrate life on the farm, the museum hosts weekly demonstrations: Rock Splitting Day, Stone Wall Day, Quilt Day, Ice Cream-Making Day. Today is Herb Day. Herbalist Chris Whitmann stands behind a table of apothecary jars filled with dried mint and sassafras, explaining the Insect repellant properties of tansy to a visitor. A half dozen scarecrows made on Scarecrow Day guard an adjoining vegetable patch. Though 20 visitors are exploring the farmhouse and outbuildings, the barnyard is quiet. Too quiet. Where are the animals? “In order to keep animals, we’d need to hire a caretaker,” explains Walker. “That would mean paying his salary and probably heating the farmhouse. We can’t afford it. “We used to have an ox named Bucky, but he had a tendency to wander. We got sick of chasing him down the highway.” But young Walter Kasinskas doesn’t seem to mind. “This is the best museum I’ve ever been to,” he says as his tour breaks up. “They let you touch things and the people are real friendly. It was neat. I feel like I really learned what it was like to live on a farm.” New Hampshire Farm Museum – Off Route 16, Milton. Telephone 652-7840. Hours: Tuesday through Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (after Labor Day. Saturday and Sunday only). Admission: Adults $3, children 50 cents (Boston Globe, August 27, 1989). – [Hours and fee information are NOT current (See References instead)].
Rachel M. (Doe) Pugh died in Rochester, NH, December 4, 2000, aged ninety-four years.
Rachel D. Pugh. MILTON – Rachel D. Pugh, 94, of White Mountain Highway, died Monday, Dec. 4, 2000, at Frisbie Memorial Hospital in Rochester. Born Feb. 13, 1906, in Milton, she was the daughter of the late James and Etta (Martin) Doe. She resided most of her life in Milton and was a graduate of McIntosh College in Dover. She was employed as the House Hostess at the New Hampshire Farm Museum in Milton. She was a member of Reunion Grange, Pomona State and National, and also a member of the Milton Historical Society. Rachel was “bad as ever.” The widow of the late Ralph W. Pugh, Sr., who died in 1982, she is survived by her four children: Shirley A. Varney of Madbury, Ralph W. Pugh, Jr., of Milton, Betsy R. Mack of Somersworth and Barbara E. Chick of Milton; nine grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson; several nieces and nephews. She was pre-deceased by a granddaughter, Kim Varney (Portsmouth Herald, December 4, 2000).
PUGH – Rachel D. Pugh, 94, of Milton, died Dec. 4, 2000. Calling hours are from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesday at C.E. Peaslee and Son Funeral Home, 32 Central St. in Farmington. The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2000, at the Community Church of Milton with the Rev. Linda J. Rackliffe, the Rev. Michelle A. Violette and the Rev. Stephen E. Hanson officiating. Interment will follow at the family cemetery in Milton. At the conclusion of the service, a time of reception will be held at the New Hampshire Farm Museum. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in her memory, to either the New Hampshire Farm Museum, P.O. Box 644, Milton, N.H. 03851 or to Strafford Guidance Center, 130 Central Ave., Dover, NH 03820 (Portsmouth Herald, December 4, 2000).
John Garland Gilman was born in Lisbon, NH, August 18, 1910, son of John S. and Ethelyn Maude (Garland) Gilman.
Maternal grandfather Llewellyn D. Garland died of broncho-pneumonia in West Milton, June 18, 1929, aged seventy-two years, one month, and three days. He had resided in West Milton for twenty-nine years, i.e., since circa 1899, with his previous residence in neighboring Farmington, NH. J.L. McLaughlin, M.D., of Farmington, NH, signed the death certificate.
IN MEMORIAM. Llewellyn D. Garland. Llewellyn D. Garland, one of the best known, most prosperous residents of West Milton, passed to the reward of a faithful and dutiful life at his home, “The Garland Farm,” on the Hare road, Tuesday, at 6.45 p.m. The end came after one week of illness of influenza pneumonia, while surrounded by his immediate family, who gave up hope only when every effort of medical science and expert nursing had failed to bring responsive improvement. Mr. Garland was born in Farmington 72 years ago and was the older son in a family of two boys and one girl, the children of Jacob Dudley and Ann (Pinkham) Garland. He received his education in the public schools of his day and grew to manhood possessed of conservative and well balanced judgment that always was manifested in the prosperity that he steadily achieved. By occupation, he was a shoe operative and a farmer, in later years well known to many vacationists who yearly sought the hospitality of his beautifully located and finely equipped farm. Here, as always in the association of lifetime of fellowship and friendly Intercourse with his fellowmen, he gained the reputation of a genial host, a friend in need and in deed. Genial, kindly, generous and just, he was a man whom none sought to reproach, all welcomed as an acquaintance and will miss as a friend and neighbor. January 6, 1877, Mr. Garland united in marriage with Miss Cora Goodall and to the end this couple remained faithful, devoted and companionate, trusting and working together in God’s wonderful scheme of things. Twenty eight years ago Mr. and Mrs. Garland moved from Farmington to West Milton and during that time, in countless ways, endeared themselves to the community, contributing liberally to all its interests and friendly relations. Aside from charter membership with Nute Ridge Grange, the deceased made no fraternal connections, but in the brotherhood of man he enjoyed an exalted leadership. Much sympathy is expressed for the afflicted wife, one daughter, Mrs. John S. Gilman of Laconia, and three grandchildren, John, Barbara and Robert Gilman, all of Laconia. Funeral services were held from the home Thursday afternoon at 1.30, with Rev. T.J. Poelman, pastor of Nute chapel, officiating. Interment was in the family lot in Farmington cemetery (Farmington News, June 21, 1929).
John S. Gilman, a superintendent (public schools), aged forty-nine years (b. NH), headed a Laconia, NH, household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. his household included his wife (of twenty-six years), Maud G. [(Garland)] Gilman, aged forty-nine years (b. NH), his children, John G. Gilman, aged nineteen years (b. NH), Barbara L. Gilman, aged sixteen years (b. NH), Robert C. Gilman, aged nine years (b. NH), and his mother-in-law, Cora B. [(Goodall)] Garland, aged seventy-one years (b. NH). John S. Gilman owed their house at 93 Whipple Avenue, which was valued at $6,000. They had a radio set.
John Garland Gilman married in Laconia, NH, June 12, 1934, Mildred May Lake, he of Milton and she of Laconia, NH. He was a farmer, aged twenty-three years, and she was a nurse, aged twenty-seven years. Rev. E. Jerome Johanson performed the ceremony. She was born in Lincoln, NH, April 19, 1907, daughter of Henry G. and Louise (Bishop) Lake. (Her father, Henry G. Lake, died in West Thornton, NH, December 17, 1926).
Newbury. Word comes from Laconia, N.H., that Miss Mildred May Lake, daughter of Mrs. Louise Lake of Thornton, N.H., became the bride of John Garland Gilman, son of the Laconia superintendent of schools. The father many years ago was principal of Newbury high school (Barre Daily Times (Barre, VT), June 21, 1934).
WEST MILTON. F. McGregor. John Gilman was the successful bidder for transporting West Milton pupils to Nute high school (Farmington News, September 6, 1935).
PERSONAL. Mrs. Cora Flanders entertained for Thanksgiving Mr. and Mrs. John Gilman of Laconia, Mr. and Mrs. John Gilman, Jr., and Mrs. Cora Garland (Farmington News, December 3, 1937).
JOHN GILMAN BUYS YOKE OF SIX-FOOT WHITE-FACES. John Gilman, one of the most ambitious young farmers in the West Milton section has created one of [sensations] in the region by his purchase of a pair of six-foot white-faced oxen. This is the first pair that has been owned in this region […]. Mr. Garland has to find hay for his oxen […] on his large farm spring and summer where […] was as planned. It is remembered that Mr. Gilman’s grandfather, the late Llewellyn Garland, owned about the last of this stock (Farmington News, April 28, 1939).
Father John S. Gilman died of a coronary occlusion at 93 Whipple venue in Laconia. NH, February 17, 1940, aged fifty-nine years, seven months, and three days. He was the Laconia Superintendent of Schools.
Leaves Daughter Here. Miss Barbara Gilman, district nurse, was called to her home in Laconia Saturday by the death of her father, John S. Gilman, 59, who had been superintendent of schools in Laconia for the past 23 years. He died suddenly when apparently recovering from a brief illness with the grip. Miss Vera Willis is substituting as district nurse during the absence of Miss Gilman (Greenfield Recorder (Greenfield, MA), February 20, 1940).
John G. Gilman, a farmer, aged twenty-nine years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Sixteenth (1940) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Mildred F. [(Lake)] Gilman, aged thirty-three years (b. NH), his son, John L. Gilman, aged seven years (b. NH), and his boarder, Lyman Lovely, aged seventeen years (b. NH). Their house was on the Nute Ridge road. They had resided in the “same house” in 1935, excepting Lyman Lovely, who had resided in Franklin, NH, at that time. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Evah H. Nelly, aged sixty years (b. NH), and Peter Bostock, aged forty-five years (b. Russia).
John Garland Gilman of R.F.D. Farmington, Milton, N.H., registered for the WW II military draft in Milton, October 16, 1940. He had been born in Lisbon, NH, August 18, 1910, was a self-employed farmer, aged thirty years. His next of kin was his wife, Mrs. Mildred L. Gilman. Their telephone number was 3419. He stood 5′ 7″ tall, weighed 170 pounds, and had gray eyes, brown hair, and a light complexion. He had a “stiff, right elbow.”
The Milton Selectmen of 1944 were Leroy J. Ford, Arthur M. Flye, and John G. Gilman. The Milton Selectmen of 1945 were John G. Gilman, Ralph W. Pugh, and Halton R. Hayes. The Milton Selectmen of 1946 were John G. Gilman, Ralph W. Pugh, and Halton R. Hayes.
The Milton Selectmen of 1947 were Ralph W. Pugh, Robert P. Laskey, and John G. Gilman. The Milton Selectmen of 1948 were Robert P. Laskey, John G. Gilman, and Ralph W. Pugh. The Milton Selectmen of 1949 were John G. Gilman, Ralph W. Pugh, and Robert P. Laskey. The Milton Selectmen of 1950 were Ralph W. Pugh, Robert P. Laskey, and John G. Gilman.
John G. Gilman, a farmer, aged thirty-nine years, headed a Milton household at the time of the Seventeenth (1950) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Mildred L. [(Lake)] Gilman, aged forty-three years, and his children, John L. Gilman, aged fourteen years, and Nancy J. Gilman, aged eight years. Their house was the 7th one on the right on the Hare Road. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Perley A. Gray, a treer (shoe factory), aged sixty-three years (b. MA), and Roland A. Pageau, a treer (shoe factory), aged thirty-one years (b. Canada).
Mother-in-law Annie Louise (Bishop) Lake died in Laconia, NH, March 12, 1951.
MRS. ANNIE L. LAKE. LACONIA, March 16 — Services for Mrs. Annie L. Lake of 350 South Main street were held yesterday afternoon at the Wilkinson Funeral home with Rev. William P. Neal, rector of St. James Episcopal church, officiating. Mrs. Lorraine Begin Breed was the organist. Bearers were Richard G. Tilton, Robert P. Tilton, John Gilman, Frederick A. Tilton, Alfred Ripley and George Copp. The body was placed in the tomb at Union cemetery to await burial in Woodstock cemetery, Woodstock, at a later date (Concord Monitor, March 16, 1951).
The Milton Selectmen of 1951 were Robert P. Laskey, John G. Gilman, and Leroy J. Ford. The Milton Selectmen of 1952 were John G. Gilman, Leroy J. Ford, and Robert P. Laskey.
The Milton Selectmen, including John G. Gilman, were a part of the Milton sesquicentennial committee in 1952.
150th ANNIVERSARY OF THE TOWN OF MILTON CELEBRATION, AUGUST 10. The town of Milton was incorporated in 1802, when it separated from Rochester, where formerly it was known as the Northeast Parish. Since the first settlement in 1760, the population has increased until now there are 1510 persons in town. They will be joined by many former residents and people from other communities in celebrating the 150th anniversary of the town at a program to be held on Nute high school grounds on Sunday August 10, from one to five in the afternoon. The Goodall Sanford band will be in attendance, the principal speaker will be Hon. Styles Bridges, and there will be other interesting and entertaining numbers. The committee in charge of the occasion consists of Chairman Lyman Plummer, Edward R. Stone, Maurice L. Hayes, Theodore C. Ayer, John G. Gilman, Leroy J. Ford, and Robert P. Laskey (Farmington News, August 1, 1952).
The Milton Selectmen of 1953 were Leroy J. Ford, Robert P. Laskey, and John G. Gilman.
Milton voters to Buy New Road Grader. Milton – John Gilman, selectman, headed a slate of unopposed officials seeking re-election here Tuesday – and all were elected. Mrs. Dorothy Piper was named tax collector. Proposal to increase salaries of town officials was approved, and details will be worked out. A new grader, financed on a long term note of 4 years, will be purchased, and the town has decided to sell the Looney house and use the proceeds for the school reserve fund (Farmington News, March 15, 1956).
Local Lines. Mr. and Mrs. John G. Gilman of Hare Rd., Milton, journeyed to Ashland on Christmas to be with his brother and family, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Gilman (Farmington News, January 2, 1958).
LINE PERAMBULATED. Middleton and Milton selectmen spent three days last week walking the town line – a chore performed every 7 years. John Gilman and Stanley Tanner were the Milton selectmen and Donald Francoeur represented Middleton (Farmington News, January 9, 1958).
MILTON NEWS. Raises for Officials; Gilman Re-elected. Raises for town officials and reelection of John Gilman as selectman highlighted town meeting here Tuesday. Gilman defeated Roy Ford, 174 to 129. Chief Charles Walbridge was reelected over Edwin Hutchins, 194-107. Authorization to spend $10,000 for a preliminary survey leading to a water pollution cleanup was defeated. Budget approved was up about $7,000 from last year to $65,515. Pay Jumps voted were $100 each to town clerk, overseer of tax collector and trust funds secretary, the 3 selectmen and selectmen’s secretary; $50 to Chief of police and alder plus a jump of 50¢ to an hourly rate of $2 (Farmington News, March 15, 1962).
District Nurse Mildred M. (Lake) Gilman made arrangements for a second polio vaccine clinic at Milton to be held in August 1962.
SABIN POLIO CLINIC IN MILTON, AUG, 15. Mrs. John Gilman, local school nurse, is completing arrangements for a second Sabin oral vaccine for polio immunization. Date will be Wednesday, Aug 15. She has pointed out that incidence of polio usually is higher in the late summer and early fall (Farmington News, July 26, 1962).
District Nurse Mildred M. (Lake) Gilman planned and directed a third polio vaccine clinic at Milton in September 1962.
400 ATTEND SABIN POLIO CLINIC AT MILTON. MILTON – Over 400 children and adults attended the Polio Clinic in Milton last week for the Salk shots and the oral Sabin vaccine. The attending physician was Dr. George Quinn of Farmington. District Nurse Mrs. John G. Gilman planned and directed the clinic, and she was aided by the following nurses: Mrs. Glen Walsh of Milton, Mrs. Rachel Feeney of Farmington, Mrs. Robert Tibbetts and Mrs. John Drew, Jr. The record cards were distributed by Mrs. Harold B. Stanley, Mrs. Thelma Thompson, Mrs. Robert Taatjes, Mrs. Everett McIntire, Albert Columbus, C.L. Dickson, Mrs. Alfred Swett, Mrs. Bard Plummer, Mrs. Leslie Chase and Mrs. Edwin K. Boggs. Also helping was Arthur Chase and Miss Roselyn Strid served coffee and donuts to the workers, following the clinic (Farmington New, October 4, 1962).
(Dr. Jonas Salk’s vaccine, which he discovered in 1955, had become commercially available from 1959; while Dr. Albert B. Sabin’s oral vaccine had become commercially available in 1961).
At the March 1965 Milton town meeting, the Moderator acknowledged John G. Gilman’s lengthy service as a Milton Selectman. Mrs. Mildred M. (Lake) Gilman received a floral corsage.
TOWN MEETING. … Prior to the close of the meeting Mrs. Fred Eldridge presented Mrs. John Gilman with a corsage of pink carnations and Moderator F. Everett McIntire gave John G. Gilman a pipe set and a certificate of appreciation on behalf of the townspeople in recognition of Mr. Gilman’s outstanding service as a member of the Board of Selectmen for the past twenty-one years (Farmington News, March 18, 1965).
MILTON WOMAN’S CLUB. … Mrs. John G. Gilman reported that Dr. James Burns of West Milton had donated a blood pressure gauge for use by Mrs. Gilman in the schools and in the district so the money voted in March by the Club to purchase a gauge would remain in the treasury (Farmington News, April 15, 1965).
Mother Maude Ethelyn Gilman died of bilateral broncho-pneumonia in the Concord Hospital in Concord, NH, January 28, 1970, aged eighty-nine years.
MAUDE G. GILMAN. Mrs. Maude G. Gilman, 89, of 196 South St., died yesterday at a local hospital after a long illness. She was the widow of the late John S. Gilman, former superintendent of schools in Laconia. A native of Farmington, she had resided here for 16 years. She was a member of South Congregational Church and its Opportunity Circle. She formerly taught school in Milton and Haverhill. She leaves two sons, John G. Gilman of Milton and Robert C. Gilman of Rochester; a daughter, Miss Barbara L. Gilman of Concord, with whom she resided; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Services will be held at the Wilkinson-Beane Funeral Home, 15 Whipple Ave., Laconia, Saturday at 3 p.m. Rev. Franklin Parker, former pastor of the Chichester Congregational Church, will officiate. Burial will be in Union Cemetery, Laconia. There will be no calling hours. In place of flowers it was suggested donations “may be made in her name to the Memorial Fund of South Congregational Church (Concord Monitor, [Thursday,] January 29, 1970).
John G. Gilman died in Milton, in January 1987, aged seventy-six years.
OBITUARIES. John G. Gilman. MILTON — John G. Gilman, 76, of the Hare Road, brother of a Concord resident, died late Thursday night at his home in West Milton after a brief illness, He was born in Lisbon and was a resident of West Milton for 52 years. He was a self-employed farmer and was also a school bus driver for the town of Milton for many years. He was a 1933 graduate of the University of New Hampshire. He was a selectman in Milton for 21 years. He was also a member of the Milton School Board and the planning board. He was a trustee of the Nute Charitable Association and a member of the Strafford County Forest Fire Wardens Association. Family members include his wife Milred (Lake) Gilman of West Milton; a son; a daughter; three grandchildren; a great-granddaughter; a brother; a sister, Barbara L. Gilman of Concord; and several nieces and nephews. The funeral was to be held today at 1 p.m. in the chapel of the C.E. Peaslee and Son Funeral Home, 32 Central St., Farmington, with the Rev. Dean French, director of the Nute Ridge Bible Chapel, West Milton, officiating. Burial will be in the Hayes Cemetery. Flowers are acceptable or contributions in his name may be made to the Milton Emergency Ambulance Service, c/o Mrs. Sandra Perry, Charles Street, Milton 03851 (Concord Monitor (Concord, NH), January 5, 1987).
Mildred M. (Lake) Gilman died in Farmington, NH, July 22, 1989.
One might gain some sense of the potential advantages of a private subscription library from this contemporary advertisement for a similar Social Library being established at Peacham, VT.
A LIBRARY. The Utility, and benefit arising to every class of people, from SOCIAL LIBRARIES, must be apparent to every intelligent mind. There is no member of society, who has not, at some seasons, leisure to attend to the cultivation of his mind, and the increase of his knowledge, or to amusing himself by reading and perusing books of wit and humor. To effect this, a Subscription paper has been circulated, and a considerable number of subscribers obtained, who have had two meetings, formed and accepted a Constitution, and adjourned till Monday evening, the 21st inst. Any persons in this, or the neighboring towns, who are desirous of becoming sharers in this Library are hereby requested to attend at the Academy, on that evening, at SIX o’clock (Green Mountain Patriot (Peacham, VT), January 11, 1799).
Some Rochester, NH, persons established their own private subscription library in March 1792. Their Rochester Social Library was the second such library in the state. (Nearby Dover, NH, having established the first such library). The initial Rochester library subscribers included a minister, current and former state representatives, justices, selectmen, farmers, merchants, professional men and militia officers.
On the twelfth day of March, 1792, a few persons assembled at the house of Col. John Goodwin and subscribed a paper in which they declared that learning tended to enlarge the views and the tempers of mankind; that it was more profitable and pleasant when enjoyed in a social manner, and as social libraries had been found in other places to serve the cause of learning and virtue, they were agreed to form such a society in this town. Each member was to pay eighteen shillings towards the first purchase of books. Only ten paid their tax before the time appointed, and in all twenty-three paid before the end of the year, some turning in at a fair price such books as they could contribute. The first book mentioned was presented by Mr. Haven, and is entitled “The Principles of Natural and Political Law,” a work then esteemed of great merit. The following titles will show to admirers of the ephemeral literature of the present day, what our fathers considered a substantial nucleus for a public library: ~
Butler’s Analogy of Natural and Revealed Religion, Foster’s Discourses upon the Principal Branches of Natural Religion and Social Virtue, Scott’s Christian Life, Morse’s Geography, Chesterfield’s Principles of Politeness, Goldsmith’s Roman History, Robinson’s History of Charles V, Voltaire’s Charles XII & Peter the Great, Brydone’s Tour, Robinson’s America, Tom Jones, etc., etc.
[Links to these initial library books may be found in the concluding Reference section].
Not one in twenty of those early volumes was in the department of fiction. The first book presented by an author was “A Compendium of Military Duty,” the first of its kind ever published in this country. This was by Jonathan Rawson, an aid of Gen. [John] Sullivan, and a lawyer at Dover. The society voted thanks, and elected him a member of the association (McDuffee, 1892).
(Author Col. Jonathan Rawson was not long a member. He would die in Dover, NH, May 30, 1794, aged thirty-five years. His widow, Hannah [(Gage)] Rawson, appeared in subsequent library membership lists).
The NH State Legislature of 1794 passed subsequently – about two years after the library’s founding – an act to formally incorporate the Rochester Social Library. (Milton and Farmington, NH, were then the Northeast and Northwest Parishes of Rochester respectively).
The named library incorporators included the aforementioned Rev. Joseph Haven (1747-1825); and Rochester’s two then NH State Representatives [Dr.] James Howe (1755-1807) and Aaron Wingate (1744-1822). (Rev. Haven conducted church services in Milton’s Horne Tavern before the Milton Town House and Church was established. He performed the marriages of Elijah Horne (in 1784), Levi Jones (in 1801), Ichabod Hayes (in 1803), Rebecca Wentworth (in 1806), Sarah Hayes (in 1806), Olive Wentworth (in 1807), Elizabeth Hayes (in 1812), Sally Worster (in 1815), and others).
Other named library incorporators included William Palmer (1757-1815), Joseph Clark (1759-1828), Richard Dame (1762-1832), Beard Plummer (1754-1816), and Maj. Richard Furber (1753-1848), who would be NH State Representatives for Rochester in the years that followed; and Col. John Goodwin, Col. David Place (1741-1824), Col. Jonathan Rawson (1758-1794), Maj. Richard Furber (1753-1848), and Capt. Daniel Hayes (1759-1846), who were either Revolutionary veterans or officers of the 39th NH Militia Regiment (or both).
State of New Hampshire }
AN ACT TO INCORPORATE CERTAIN PERSONS HEREIN AFTER NAMED INTO A SOCIETY BY THE NAME OF, “THE SOCIAL LIBRARY COMPANY IN ROCHESTER”
[Approved February 14, 1794. Original Acts, vol. 14, p. 43, recorded Acts, vol. 8, p. 288]
Whereas a general diffusion of useful knowledge in a land of liberty, has a happy tendency to preserve Freedom, and make better men & better citizens ~
Be it therefore enacted by the Senate & house of Representatives in General Court convened, That the Revd Joseph Haven, Honbl John McDuffee, Aaron Wingate, Majr Richard Furber, Capt Daniel Hayes, Joseph Clark, Jonathan Rawson, Coll David Place, Jonas C. March, John Plummer junr, Richard Dame, Daniel Dame, Edward Rollins, Ephraim Kimball, Daniel McDuffee, James How, William Palmer, Beard Plummer, & others their associates, be, & they hereby are formed into, constituted & made, a body politic & corporate by the name of “The Social library Company in Rochester” and that they, their successors & such other persons as may elected in the manner herein after mentioned, shall be & continue a body politic & corporate by the same name forever ~
And be it further enacted, That the members of said society may from time to time elect a director thereof, a Secretary, a Librarian Treasurer, & such other Officers, as they may deem necessary & expedient, & to determine the respective numbers, & the duties their several officers. ~
And be it further enacted, That the members of said society have full power & authority to make & enact such rules & by-laws for the government thereof as may by them be found necessary; provided the same be not repugnant to the Constitution & of this State, and to annex reasonable fines & penalties to the breach of them, not exceeding the value of the delinquent’s share in said library; to be recovered by said Society in an action of debt, to their use in any Court within this State proper to try the same. ~
And be it further enacted, That the said society shall forever have the power, to establish the time & mode of convening themselves together, & the number necessary to constitute such meeting, as also the place which to them may appear most convenient. ~
And be it further enacted, That the members of said society may from time to time, admit such persons to become members as they may judge proper; & shall have power to suspend expel or disenfranchise any member thereof. ~
And be it further enacted, That the members of said society shall forever be deemed capable in law of taking & holding, any donations that may be made them whether the same be in money, books or other personal estate. ~
And be it further enacted, That the members of said society, may sue & be sued in all actions personal & prosecute & defend the same to final judgment & execution by the name of the Social Library Company in Rochester.
The Rochester Social Library librarians during its initial phase were: attorney Joseph Clark (1759-1828), in 1792-96; Rev. Joseph Haven (1747-1825), in 1797; merchant Joseph Hanson (1764-1832), in 1798; taverner Thomas Shannon (1740-1800), in 1799, who died in office (May 29, 1800), and [his son], William Shannon (1779-1813), who served until another was chosen; Joseph Ballard, in 1801-02, who “absconded,” and Samuel Adams took his place; attorney Joseph Clark (1759-1828), in 1803; Andrew Pierce (1774-1852), in 1804; Joseph Sherburne (1765-1807), in 1805; attorney Jeremiah H. Woodman (1775-1854), in 1806-08; Rev. Joseph Haven (1747-1825), again, in 1809-12; Joseph Cross (1789-1833), in 1813; John Smith (1769-1843), in 1814-18; and attorney David Barker, Jr. (1797-1834), in 1819-23 (McDuffee, 1892).
The Rochester Social Library’s records contained also names of the “prominent and respectable” subscribers of its early days.
The list of members on the first book of records evidently includes many who did not sign at first, as well as some who soon dropped out of membership. It is as follows:
John McDuffee, Aaron Wingate, Richard Furber, Jr, Joseph Clarke, Benja Odiorne, John Brown, David Place, Daniel McDuffee, Moses Horn, Junr, John McDuffee, 3d, Daniel Hayes, Junr, Beard Plumer, Jotham Nute, Hateval Knight, James How, Isaac Brown, Jacob Hanson, Daniel Dame, Barnabas Palmer, Ephraim Kimball, Jacob McDuffee, Joseph Haven, Daniel McDuffee, Junr, Lt William Palmer, Ephraim Blasdell, Samuel Palmer, Paul Dame, Lt Edward Rollins, Peter Cushing, Esther Copps, Joshua Lane, Hezekiah Cloutman, Joshua Harford, Ephraim Twombly, Junr, James McDuffee, 3d, Daniel Rogers, Jonathan McDuffee, Col. Jona Palmer, John Plumer, Junr, Jonas Clark March, Daniel Hayes, 3d, Amos Main, Saml Chamberlain, Junr, Richard Dame, Wm W. Blasdell, Revd Robert Gray, Thomas Bancroft, Josiah Edgerly, John Plumer, 3d, John Downs, Thomas Tash, Jr., Esqr, Hannah Rawson, Thomas Roberts, Joseph Walker, Dearborn Jewitt, Moses L. Neal, Edward Cole, Levi Jones, Moses Roberts, Junr, Joseph Hanson, John Haven, Polly Bell (Dover), Daniel McDuffee.
This list includes the most prominent and respectable citizens of that day and it is evident from the first that they felt they had founded an institution not merely for themselves but for posterity (McDuffee, 1892).
The Rochester Social Library remained an available resource for its subscribing members through 1823, a period of thirty years. (Local physicians, such as Milton’s Dr. Stephen Drew (1791-1872), had access to the medical library of the NH Medical Society; and Milton established its own Milton Social Library in 1822).
In 1794 the Association was incorporated by the Legislature, and continued to maintain some degree of life and interest in 1823. At that time there were about four hundred volumes the library, but for eleven years following it was sadly neglected (McDuffee, 1892).
After those eleven years of neglect, Rochester cabinetmaker Charles Dennett (1788-1867) sought to revive the then moribund Rochester Social Library in and after 1834.
He [Charles Dennett] filled various offices of trust, having served as town clerk, county treasurer, representative to the State Legislature, and was deputy sheriff eighteen years. He was on the first board of directors of the Rochester Bank, which was organized in 1835, and was on the first board of trustees of the Norway Savings Bank when that institution was organized in 1851, and was also its president for many years. His integrity and sound judgment were recognized, and he was often chosen as arbitrator in cases among his townsmen, and also acted as guardian for children (McDuffee, 1892).
The [library] committee reported the names only of “those who had taken books within the last ten years,” [i.e., circa 1824-1833,] and it was voted to remit all fines incurred during that period. The following is the list: Louis McDuffee, Jeremiah H. Woodman, Jonathan H. Henderson, Levi Hayes, Heirs of Jonas C. March, Heirs of John Plumer, 3d, James Adams, Moses Page, Heirs of Nathl. Upham, James Tebbetts, Heirs of David Birke, Jr., Heirs of Richard Dame, Moses Hale, Charles Dennett, John H. Smith, Samuel Chamberlain, Ira Fish, John McDuffee, Jr., Walter B. Knight, Joseph Hanson, Jr., Isaac Jenness, Moses Roberts, Jr. (McDuffee, 1892).
The NH State Legislature passed an act, in July 1834, to legally revive and reincorporate the Rochester Social Library.
State of New Hampshire }
AN ACT IN ADDITION TO AND TO REVIVE AN ACT PASSED FEBRUARY 14, 1794, TO INCORPORATE THE SOCIAL LIBRARY COMPANY IN ROCHESTER.
[Approved July 5, 1834. Acts, vol. 30, p. 468. The act referred to is printed in Laws of New Hampshire, vol. 6, p. 147].
Sec I. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court Convened, That Charles Dennett be and he is hereby authorized to call a meeting of the proprietors of the social Library Company in Rochester, by posting up notifications thereof in two or more publick places in Rochester at least fifteen days previous to said meeting at which meeting a majority of the proprietors present may make, renew, or alter, the by-laws of said Corporation, which shall not be inconsistent with the Constitution and Laws of this State, each share being entitled to one vote and may hold possess and enjoy all the property of said Corporation in the same Way and manner as if the proprietors had called their regular annual meetings and chosen their officers, as by the by-laws of said corporation they were required.
The Rochester Social Library librarians during its second phase were: Judge Noah Tebbetts (1802-1844), in 1834-1842; [Dr.] Rufus K. Pearl (1815-1864), in 1843; attorney Daniel J. Parsons (1821-1893), in 1844-1853; attorney Cyrus K. Sanborn (c1819-1886), in 1854-1868; attorney Henry Kimball (1833-1905), 1869-1871; insurance agent A.S. Parshley (1840-1901), in 1872-1874; and attorney Henry Kimball (1833-1905), again, from 1875 (McDuffee, 1892).
With a new charter, new by-laws, and a librarian thoroughly in earnest, new life was imparted to the society, and an interest was then aroused which has never since wholly died away. From this time the society has been prosperous, with an increasing membership, and respectable yearly additions to its library. The present fee for membership is $5.00 with an annual tax of one dollar. Non-members can use the library by the payment $1.50 per year. The number of volumes is not far from 2,200, and about sixty persons avail themselves of their use (McDuffee, 1892).
The revived Rochester Social Library appeared still in Rochester, NH, directories of 1876, and 1878, over forty years after its reincorporation. (Franklin “Frank” McDuffee (1832-1880), who was its President and a member of its Prudential Committee, was at various times, among other things, a Rochester banker, historian, newspaper columnist, selectman, school committeeman, and NH State Representative. He was a grandson of one of the library’s founding subscribers. Attorney Henry Kimball (1833-1905) was the Clerk and Librarian).
The Rochester Social Library appeared still in NH Business Directory of 1887, fifty-three years after its reincorporation and nearly a century after its original incorporation (Sampson & Murdoch, 1887). (Civil War veteran and fire insurance agent Augustine S. Parshley (1840-1901) succeeded Franklin McDuffee on the Rochester Social Library’s Prudential Committee. His daughter, Lillian E. Parshley (1868-1945), would be the first librarian of the Rochester Public Library).
The Rochester Public Library was the successor of the century-old private Rochester Social Library Company.
The Rochester Public Library first opened its doors to the public January 22, 1894. On its shelves were 2,429 volumes, the gift of the Rochester Social Library Association, an organization which had been in existence since early in 1792 (NH State Library, 1906).
Ezekiel Hayes was born in Madbury, NH, March 9, 1768, son of Daniel and Sarah (Plummer) Hayes.
[Ezekiel Hayes] received from his father the land which became his homestead, adjoining the homesteads of his brothers Daniel and Ichabod. It was situated in West Milton at the southeast corner of the Hare Road, so-called, and the road to Milton Three Ponds. His brother Daniel had a house on the north side of the road opposite. These two fine old colonial houses have been destroyed by fire, and Ezekiel’s land long ago passed from the family (Richmond, 1936).
Ezecal Hayes headed a Milton household at the time of the First (1790) Federal Census, His household included one male aged 16-plus years [himself]. His household appeared in the enumeration between those of Danl Hayes and James Varney. (See Northeast Parish in the First (1790) Federal Census).
“He was a man of small stature, a fashionable dresser with his small clothes and silver knee buckles, and was known as a graceful dancer. He acquired a good property and was considered among the first people of his town” (Richmond, 1936).
Ezekiel Hayes was one of one hundred eighty-three inhabitants of Dover, Rochester, Somersworth, Barrington, and other places that petitioned the NH legislature, in January 1791, seeking a replacement Cocheco River bridge near the lower falls at Dover, NH. It would connect again the public road running from Portsmouth to Rochester and the “Upper Towns.” Prior bridges had been swept away by freshets in 1772 and 1785. Since the most recent bridge loss in the “memorable” freshet of October 1785, which took out many bridges, those seeking to cross the river at Dover had been obliged to travel much greater distance – and that involving a large hill – to the lower bridge near the landing.
… But in addition to these inconveniencies it Very frequently happens from the great Quantity of Lumber hauled to the landing that the lower road is in fact so Crowded with Teams that it is Difficult for horses & almost impracticable for Carriages to pass that way.
Ezekiel Hayes married, October 13, 1796, Mehitable Gale, he of Rochester, NH, and she of Sanbornton, NH. Rev. Joseph Woodman performed the ceremony. She was born in Sanbornton, NH, May 26, 1777, daughter of Stephen and Mehitable (Plummer) Gale.
(The children of Ezekiel and Mehitable (Gale) Hayes were: Stephen Hayes (1797–1837), Nathaniel Hayes (1799–1835), John Hayes (1802–1847), Mehitable Hayes (1807–1832), and Eliza Hayes (1809–1871)).
Son Stephen Hayes was born in Rochester Northeast Parish, i.e., Milton, February 23, 1797. He was a namesake for his maternal grandfather, Stephen Gale. Son Nathaniel Hayes was born in Rochester Northeast Parish, i.e., Milton, August 2, 1799.
Ezekiel Hayes headed a Rochester, NH, household at the time of the Second (1800) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 26-45 years [himself], one female aged 16-25 years [Mehitable (Gale) Hayes], and three males aged under-10 years [Stephen, Nathaniel, and John Hayes (?)]. His household appeared in the enumeration between those of Daniel Hayes and Ichd Hayes. (See Northeast Parish in the Second (1800) Federal Census).
At the first annual meeting held March 14, 1803, Beard Plumer was chosen moderator; Gilman Jewett, clerk; William Plumer [Palmer], John Fish, Ezekiel Hayes, selectmen; Beard Plumer, representative. One hundred and thirty-four votes were cast for governor, of which [Federalist] John Taylor Gilman had 103; [Democrat] John Langdon 31 (Scales, 1914).
Daughter Mehitable Hayes was born in Milton, June 19, 1807. Daughter Eliza Hayes was born in Milton, May 16, 1809.
Ezekiel Hayes had a Milton household at the time of the Third (1810) Federal Census. his household included one male aged 26-44 years [himself], one female aged 16-25 years [Mehitable (Gale) Hayes], two male aged 10-15 years [Stephen Hayes and Nathaniel Hayes], one male aged under-10 years [John Hayes], and two females aged under-10 years [Mehitable Hayes and Eliza Hayes]. His household appeared in the enumeration between those of Daniel Hayes and James Varney.
Ezekiel Hayes and his brothers, Daniel Hayes and Ichabod Hayes, contracted with the U.S. Government to provide ship timbers during the War of 1812.
In partnership with his brothers Ichabod and Ezekiel, he [Daniel Hayes] furnished ship timbers and masts by contract with the U.S. Government for the navy at the time of the War of 1812. The records of this partnership with the details of ship dimensions are preserved (Richmond, 1936).
Father-in-law Stephen Gale died in Sanborton, NH, July 9, 1815, aged seventy-nine years. Stepmother-in-law Phebe ((—-) Page) Gale died in Sanbornton, June 23, 1816, aged eighty-four years.
Mehitable (Gale) Hayes died in Milton, October 19, 1817, aged thirty-nine years, two months.
Tuesday, 21 [October 1817] – I went with my wife to Milton to the funeral of her Uncle Ezekiel Hayes’s wife, who Starved her Self to Death under Conviction that She was not one of the Elect that must be Saved. O my God what evil the doctrins of men have done (NEHGS, 1998).
(The diarist, Freewill Baptist Rev. Enoch Hayes Place (1786-1865) of Strafford, NH, was husband to Sally V. (Demeritt) Place (1789-1880). Her mother, Sarah (Hayes) Demerritt (1764-1855), was a sister of Ezekiel Hayes).
Daughter Mehitable Hayes married, in 1824, Asa Brewster Hayes, she of Milton and he of Farmington, NH. Rev. James Walker performed the ceremony. Hayes was born in Farmington, NH, May 2, 1804, son of Wentworth and Tamson (Hayes) Hayes.
Son John Hayes married, January 13, 1825, Sarah Wingate. She was born in Farmington, NH, December 19, 1803, daughter of John and Mary (Cate) Wingate. (His sister, Eliza Hayes, would marry her brother, John C. Wingate).
Ezekiel Hayes headed a Milton household at the time of the Fourth (1830) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 60-69 years [himself], one male aged 30-39 years [Stephen Hayes], and one female aged 20-29 years [Eliza Hayes]. His household appeared in the enumeration between those of Joshua Ray and John Hayes.
Wentworth Hayes, Esq., headed a Farmington, NH, household at the time of the Fifth (1830) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 50-59 years [himself], one female aged 40-49 years [Tamsen (Hayes) Hayes], one male aged 20-29 years [Asa B. Hayes], one female aged 20-29 years [Mehitable (Hayes) Hayes], one female aged 15-19 years, one male aged 10-14 years, one male aged under-5 years [Asa B. Hayes, Jr.], and one female aged under-5 years.
John Hayes headed a Milton household at the time of the Fourth (1830) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 20-29 years [himself], two females aged 20-29 years [Sarah (Wingate) Hayes], one male aged 5-9 years, one female aged under-5 years [Mehitable Hayes], one male aged under-5 years [John W. Hayes]. His household appeared in the enumeration between those of Ezekiel Hayes and Daniel Hayes, Jr.
Ezekiel Hayes of Milton was elected to the Executive Committee of the Strafford County Agricultural Society in October 1830. (Nehemiah Eastman of Farmington, NH, who would witness Hayes’ last will in 1839, was elected President of the society).
STRAFFORD, (N.H.) CATTLE SHOW. The Cattle Show and Exhibition of articles of Domestic Industry of the Strafford Agricultural Society was held at Gilmanton, on the 6th and 7th of October. – We have not room for a detailed statement of the premiums &c. The following gentlemen were elected officers for the coming year. Nehemiah Eastman of Farmington, President. Wm. Hale, jr. of Barrington, 1st. vice do, Jeremiah Wilson, Gilmanton, 2d, do do, Francis Cogswell, Ossipee, C. Secretary, Daniel Pickering, Wolfborough, Treasurer, John Ham, Gilmanton, R. Secretary. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. Augustus Rollins, Somersworth. Ezekiel Hayes, Milton. Daniel Tucker, Meredith. Richard Furber, Centre Harbor. Paul Wentworth, Sandwich. Francis P. Smith, Ossipee. Elisha Rollins, Wakefield (New England Farmer (Boston, MA), November 19, 1830).
Son Nathaniel Hayes married in Sanbornton, NH, July 19, 1831, Phebe Moody, he of Somersworth, NH, and she of Sanbornton, NH. Rev. Abram Bodwell performed the ceremony. She was born in Sanbornton, NH, December 25, 1799, daughter of Bradstreet and Ednah (Gale) Moody.
Son-in-law Asa B. Hayes died of consumption in Barrington, NH, March 18, 1832, aged twenty-seven years, ten months, and sixteen days.
Daughter Eliza Hayes married, June 21, 1832, John Cate Wingate. He was born in Farmington, NH, October 15, 1802, son of John and Mary (Cate) Wingate). (Her brother, John Hayes, had married his sister, Sarah Wingate).
They lived first in Farmington, till 1836; rem with his father to Northwood, for one year, and thence to Sanbornton Bridge in 1837. He here carried on the blacksmith’s trade; was an ordained deacon of the Congregational Church, and greatly beloved by his pastor (Runnells, 1881).
Daughter Mehitable (Hayes) Hayes died in Farmington, NH, December 28, 1832.
The officers of the NH 39th Militia Regiment in 1834 were Colonel Daniel Waldron, Lt. Colonel Stephen Hayes, and Major Richard Nutter. Other officers included Adjutant J.B. Edgerly, of Farmington, NH, and Quartermaster Jos. C. Wentworth, of Milton (Claremont Manufacturing, 1834).
Son Nathaniel Hayes died in Brookfield, NH, July 10, 1835, aged thirty-five years. At the time of his death he was “Steward of the Methodist Church.” (“The grave contains what thousands idolized but the shrine of the Christian is Heaven”).
His widow, Phebe (Moody) Hayes, married (2nd) William Tyler Trickey (renamed later to William Tyler Milton). He was born in Rochester, NH, March 6, 1795, and served in Capt. William Courson’s Co. during the War of 1812. He does not appear in the list of Milton’s militiamen. He apparently joined or succeeded them in Portsmouth, NH (His first wife, Olive (Pierce) Trickey, died in September 1834).
The U.S. Post Office Department appointed John Hayes as the third Chestnut Hill [West Milton] Postmaster on March 19, 1836. (See Milton’s First Postmasters (1818-c1840)).
Stephen Hayes of Milton, gentleman, made his last will, May 2, 1837. He bequeathed $5 to his honorable father, Ezekiel Hayes; one-third of his estate, both real and personal, to his brother, John Hayes; one-third of his estate, both real and personal, to Ada Brewster Hayes [Jr.] and Tamson Mehitable Hayes, children of his late sister, Mehitable Hayes; and one-third of his estate, both real and personal, to Eliza Wingate, wife of John C. Wingate. He appointed his brother, John Hayes, as his executor. Nehemiah Eastman, Calvin S. Horne, and Apphia Wingate signed as witnesses (Strafford County Probate, 52:107).
Son Stephen Hayes died in Milton, June 8, 1837, aged thirty-nine years, eight months. His last will was proved in a Strafford County Probate court, held in Sanbornton, NH, June 27, 1837 (Strafford County Probate, 51:108).
Ezekiel Hayes of Milton made his last will, March 11, 1839. He devised $250 in money, as well as any notes he might have at the time of his death, to his daughter, Eliza Wingate. He bequeathed $250 each to Tamson Mehitable Hayes and Asa Brewster Hayes, children of his late daughter, Mehitable Hayes. (He had received the money from the estate of his late son, Nathaniel Hayes). He devised his homestead farm, and any residue, upon which he then lived, to his son, John Hayes. He named his son John Hayes as executor, and asked also that the executor arrange for a gravestone equal to that erected for the executor’s mother. Thomas T. Edgerly, Mark Demerit, and Nehemiah Eastman signed as witnesses. (Strafford County Probate, 59:424).
In his will, drawn 11 Mar. 1839 and proved 7 Nov. 1843, he gave to his daughter Eliza Wingate $250, together with all notes due him; to Tamson Mehitable and Asa Brewster, “children of my late daughter Mehitable Hayes, $200 each the money hereby bequeathed being a part of estate descended to me from my late son Nathaniel Hayes”; to son John the homestead and residue of estate, and John was made executor (Strafford County Probate, vol. 59, p. 424) (Richmond, 1936).
John Hayes headed a Milton household at the time of the Sixth (1840) Federal Census, His household included one male aged 30-39 years [himself], one female aged 30-39 years [Sarah (Wingate) Hayes], one male aged 10-14 years [John Hayes], one female aged 10-14 years [Eliza Hayes], one male aged under-5 years, one female aged under-5 years, one male aged 70-79 years [Ezekiel Hayes], and one female aged 20-29 years. Three members of his household were engaged in Agriculture.
John C. Wingate headed a Sanbornton, NH, household at the time of the Sixth (1840) Federal Census, His household included one male aged 30-39 years [himself], one female aged 30-39 years [Eliza (Hayes) Wingate], one female aged 5-9 years [Mary J. Wingate], and two males aged under-5 years [John Wingate and Stephen Wingate], one male aged 20-29 years, and one female aged 15-19 years. Two members of his household was engaged in Manufacture and Trade.
Rev. Enoch Hayes Place (1786-1865) of Strafford, NH, visited with his wife’s surviving Hayes uncles in West Milton in 1841.
Fri 10 [September 1841] – Went to Milton to viset My wifes Uncles Daniel & Ezekiel Hayes Esquires – good viset (NEHGS, 1998).
Ezekiel Hayes died in Milton, October 8, 1843, aged seventy-five years, seven months. His last will was proved November 7, 1843 (Strafford County Probate, 59:426).
Son John Hayes died in Rochester, NH, May 27, 1847, aged forty-four years, ten months.
Sarah [(Wingate)] Hayes, aged forty-six years (b. NH), headed a Rochester, NH, household at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. Her household included John W. Hayes, a stable keeper, aged twenty-two years (b. NH), Henry Hayes, a shoemaker, aged fifteen years (b. NH), Mary F. Hayes, aged ten years (b. NH), Betsy Hayes, aged thirty-two years (b. NH), and Sarah Currier, aged twenty-two years. Sarah Hayes had real estate valued at $1,200.
William Milton, a lumberman, aged fifty-six years (b. NH), headed a Cicero, NY, household at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. His household included Phebe [((Moody) Hayes)] Milton, aged thirty [fifty] years (b. NH). William Milton had real estate valued at $4,000.
John C. Wingate, a blacksmith, aged forty-seven years (b. NH), headed a Sanbornton, NH, household at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. His household included Eliza [(Hayes)] Wingate, aged forty-one years (b. NH), Mary J. Wingate, aged sixteen years (b. NH), John Wingate, aged fourteen years (b. NH), Stephen Wingate, aged twelve years (b. NH), Henry Wingate, aged eight years, Ann E. Wingate, aged five years (b. NH), and Caroline Wingate, aged two years (b. NH). John C. Wingate had real estate valued at $1,000.
John C. and Eliza (Hayes) Wingate left Sanbornton, NH, and removed to Janesville, WI, in 1853.
In Sept. 1853, he rem to Janesville, Wis. (Runnells, 1881).
Sarah [(Wingate)] Hayes, aged fifty-six years (b. NH), aged forty-six years (b. NH), headed a Rochester, NH, household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. Her household included Mahitable [(Hayes)] Whitehouse, aged thirty-four years, Mary F. Hayes, a common s. teacher, aged twenty years, Mary F. Whitehouse, aged ten years, A. Messer, a daguerreotype artist, aged thirty-five years, and Fanny Messer, aged twenty years. Sarah Hayes had real estate valued at $1,000 and personal estate valued at $2,000. Mahitable Whitehouse had personal estate valued at $1,500.
William Milton, a farmer, aged sixty-five years (b. NH), headed a West Monroe, NY, household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Pheba [((Moody) Hayes)] Milton, a domestic, aged sixty years (b. NH), Thomas T. Milton, a farmer, aged forty years (b. NH), Franklin Milton, a farmer, aged eighteen years (b. NH), and William Belknap, a farmer, aged twenty-four years (b. NY). William Milton had real estate valued at $12,000 and personal estate valued at $2,000.
J.C. Wingate, a blacksmith, aged fifty-eight years (b. NH), headed a Decatur, WI, household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Elisa [(Hayes)] Wingate, aged fifty-one years (b. NH), Anna E. Wingate, aged fifteen years (b. NH), and Caroline Wingate, aged eleven years (b. NH). J.C. Wingate had real estate valued at $600 and personal estate valued at $200.
Daughter-in-law Sarah (Wingate) Hayes died in Rochester, NH, in July 1863.
Son-in-law John C. Wingate died in Janesville, WI, November 26, 1867, aged sixty-five years.
He d. [in Janesville, WI] after an illness of several months, Nov. 26, 1867, ae. 65. He was there also deacon, and “none in Janesville were ever known to speak evil of him” (Runnells, 1881).
Alter Younraus [Winersky], at home, aged seventy-three years (b. NY), headed a Hastings, NY, household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included C. Corinda Younraus, keeping house, aged sixty-six years (b. NY), Thomas Woodbeck, farming, aged eighteen years (b. NY), William Milton, lumbering, aged seventy-five years (b. NY), and Phoebe [((Moody) Hayes)] Milton, visiting, aged seventy-years (b. NY). Alter Younras had personal estate valued at $1,900.
J.H. Wingate, a furniture dealer, aged thirty-four years (b. NH), headed a Janesville, WI, household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Anna M. Wingate, keeps house, aged thirty years (b. NH), Chas. H. Wingate, aged ten years (b. WI), Henry K. Wingate, age five years (b. WI), Willie S. Wingate, aged two years (b. ME), Fannie M. Wingate, aged nine months (b. ME), Fannie [Eliza] [(Hayes)] Wingate, aged sixty-two years (b. NH), Ama E. Wingate, aged thirty-five years (b. NH), Carrie Wingate, aged twenty-one years (b. NH), and Matilda Schroder, a domestic servant, aged seventeen years (b. WI).
Daughter Eliza (Hayes) Wingate died in Janesville, WI, March 8, 1872.
PERSONAL. Mrs. Eliza Wingate, twenty years a resident of Janesville, died on Thursday evening from the effects of an apoplectic fit (Green Bay Weekly Gazette, [Saturday,] March 16, 1872).
Daughter-in-law Phebe ((Moody) Hayes) Milton died in Brewerton, NY, March 15, 1883.
Leroy Jacob Ford was born in Dover, NH, August 10, 1891, son of William H. and Abbie J. (Ricker) Ford.
Father William H. Ford died May 21, 1907, aged sixty-six years.
Abbie J. [(Ricker)] Ford, a farmer (general farm), aged fifty-seven years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. Her household included her son, Leroy Ford, a laborer (home farm), aged eighteen years (b. NH), her servant, Ella M. Bliss, a servant (private family), aged twenty-four years (b. CT), her hired man, Esworth B. Rines, a laborer (home farm), aged thirty years (b. NH), and her boarder, Winfield Roberts, aged sixty-one years (b. NH). Abbie J. Ford owned their farm, free-and-clear. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of James Blouin, a farmer (general farm), aged thirty-seven years (b. Canada), and Nathaniel H. Thompson, a farmer (odd jobs), aged forty-eight years (b. MA).
Leroy J. Ford of Milton was elevated to the Sixth Degree of the NH State Grange in the Mechanics Hall in Manchester, NH, December 20, 1910 (NH State Grange, 1916).
[Future] Father-in-law Henry N. Bliss died in Amherst, NH, December 11, 1911.
Leroy J. Ford represented the Lewis W. Nute Grange at a NH State Grange meeting held in Nashua, NH, in December 1912 (NH State Grange, 1916).
WEST MILTON. Alvah Young of Rochester had been the guest of Leroy Ford the past week (Farmington News, December 5, 1913).
Leroy J. Ford married in Rochester, NH, November 14, 1914, Ella M. Bliss, both of Milton. He was a farmer, aged twenty-three years, and she was a houseworker, aged twenty-nine years. Rev. Charles Homer Percival performed the ceremony. She was born in East Windsor, CT, March 29, 1885, daughter of Henry N. and Minnie L. (Rines) Bliss.
Leroy J. Ford and Mrs. Ford represented the Lewis W. Nute Grange at a NH State Grange meeting held in Manchester, NH, in December 1916 (NH State Grange, 1916).
Leroy Jacob Ford of Milton Mills registered for the WW I military draft in Milton, June 6, 1917. He was a self-employed farmer, aged twenty-five years (b. Dover, NH, August 10, 1891). He was married, of a tall height, with a medium build, brown hair and brown eyes.
PERSONAL. Leroy Ford of Milton was a visitor in town Wednesday (Farmington News, October 10, 1919).
Leroy J. Ford, a farmer, aged twenty-eight years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Ella B. [(Bliss)] Ford, aged thirty-four years (b. CT). Leroy J. Fored rented their house on Church Street. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Fred Downs, a farmer, aged thirty-five years (b. NH), on Plummer’s Ridge Road, and James F. Reynolds, a painter, aged forty-nine years (b. NH), also on Church Street.
MIDDLETON. At the Grange meeting Monday night at Union, those who attended from Middleton were Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Mooney, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Knowles, Mr. and Mrs. C.L. Leighton, Mr. and Mrs. Leon Tufts, George Tufts, Pauline Tufts, Louise Stevens, Wesley Whitehouse and Mrs. Kelley. It was an installation meeting and Mr. and Mrs. Leroy Ford of Milton performed the work in a very pleasing manner. A bountiful supper, consisting of baked beans, pressed meat, pickles, cake, jello, with whipped cream, and coffee, was served (Farmington News, January 18, 1924).
EASTERN N.H. POMONA GRANGE MEETS AT MILTON. MILTON, N.H., April 24. Eastern New Hampshire Pomona Grange met today with Lewis W. Nute Grange, with a large attendance. A public session was held in the afternoon and was opened by singing by the patrons of the local lodge, followed by prayer by Rev Q.H. Chambers of Milton and the addresses of welcome by Leroy J. Ford, master of Lewis W. Nute Grange. The response was by Past Master James B. Young of Rochester, after which the following question was discussed: “Resolved, that the State and Federal acquisition of forest lands should not be encouraged or permitted unless means are provided for the annual payment of taxes thereon to the towns, equaling the rate of tax levied under the same valuation as if privately owned.” The disputants were Charles D. Colman Jr. Charles W. Varney and Charles H. Ward of Rochester and Albert H. Brown of Strafford. There was an address on “Neighbors” by Mrs Edna Crewe of Dover, director of the Dover Neighborhood House; vocal solos by Harold Lincoln and Miss Agnes Rogers of Rochester, readings by Arthur W. McDanlel of Nottingham and the reading of the “Cornucopia,” Pomona Grange paper, by John S. Kimball of Rochester. A closed session was held in the evening, when the fifth degree was conferred (Boston Globe, April 25, 1924).
Mother-in-law Minnie L. (Ricker) Bliss of Farmington, NH, visited with her daughter and son-in-law in March 1930.
PERSONAL. Mrs. M.L. Bliss is visiting her daughter and husband, Mr. and Mrs. Leroy Ford of Milton (Farmington News, March 7, 1930).
Mother-in-law Minnie L. (Ricker) Bliss sought a housekeeper situation, or other steady employment, in mid-March 1930. (The same advertisement would be repeated in May and June 1930).
WANTED. A situation as house keeper by a reliable lady, or will work by day or hour until steady employment is obtained. Experienced in cooking and caring for the sick. Mrs. M.L. Bliss, Care Leroy Ford, Milton, N.H. (Farmington News, March 21, 1930; Farmington News, March 21, 1930).
Leroy J. Ford, a farmer, aged thirty-eight years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of fifteen years), Ella M. [(Bliss)] Ford, aged forty-five years (b. CT), and his boarder, William Court, a laborer (odd jobs), aged seventeen years (b. NH). Leroy J. Ford owned their house on Teneriffe Road. They had a radio set. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Clyde W. Horne, a laborer (odd jobs), aged twenty-three years (b. NH), and William Smith, a laborer (saw mill), aged forty-one years (b. NH).
Mother-in-law Minnie L. (Rines) Bliss died of bronchial pneumonia in Milton, April 27, 1931, aged seventy-two years, eleven months, and nine days. M.A.H. Hart, M.D., signed the death certificate.
The Milton Selectmen of 1932 were Charles S. Philbrick, Louis E. Tibbetts, and Leroy J. Ford.
A CHAT WITH GAME WARDENS CHENEY AND ROBINSON. … Warden Cheney reports that while operating a mowing machine one day last week, selectman Leroy Ford of Milton mowed into a hen pheasant which was brooding on her nest. How badly the bird was injured it was not possible to discover, as she flew away, but Warden Cheney ordered Mr. Ford to transfer the eggs to the nest of a broody hen, which he happened to have, with the result that every egg was hatched and now there are eight baby Ford pheasants, all doing nicely (Farmington News, August 5, 1932).
Mother Abbie J. (Ricker) Ford died February 27, 1933, aged seventy-nine years.
The Milton Selectmen of 1933 were Louis E. Tibbetts, Leroy J. Ford, and Charles S. Philbrick* (“*Deceased December 2, 1933”). The Milton Selectmen of 1934 were Leroy J. Ford, Frank F. Spencer, and Louis E. Tibbetts.
NEW HAMPSHIRE STORM CAUSES HEAVY DAMAGE. … At Milton, the house and barn of Selectman Leroy J. Ford were destroyed by fire, which was caused by lightning striking the barn. The loss, including the newly cut hay crop and all farm machinery in the barn, was estimated at between $6000 and $7000 (Boston Globe, July 21, 1934).
The Milton Selectmen of 1935 were Frank F. Spencer, Louis E. Tibbetts, and Leroy J. Ford. The Milton Selectmen of 1936 were Louis E. Tibbetts, Leroy J. Ford, and Phillip G. Hayes. The Milton Selectmen of 1937 were Leroy J. Ford, Phillip G. Hayes, and Frank F. Spencer.
WEST MILTON. Fred MacGregor. Regular meeting of Nute Ridge Grange was held Friday evening, February 25, with a discussion of town and school warrants the special order of business. L.J. Ford, chairman of the board of selectmen, and Frank F. Spencer, member of the board of trustees of Nute high school and library, were present and aided in the discussion. Visitors were present from Milton Mills, among whom were Mrs. Rosamond Pike, master of Pleasant Valley Grange (Farmington New, March 4, 1938).
MILTON MILLS. By Alfred W Lewis. Town meeting was last Tuesday and passed without much excitement. Stanley Tanner of Milton was elected selectman for three years over Leroy Ford, who has held the office for the past three years. Other town officers elected were as follows Town clerk, Louise Avery; tax collector, Herman Horne; treasurer, Ralph Pike; road agents, Clifton Hersom, Harvey W. Dore, Lawrence Swinerton; town auditors, Charles E. Pike and Bard B. Plummer; police officer, Herbert A. Downs. In the school district meeting Robert Page was reelected to the school board (Sanford Journal-Tribune (Biddeford, ME), March 17, 1938).
The Milton Selectmen of 1939 were Frank F. Spencer, Stanley C. Tanner, and Leroy J. Ford. The Milton Selectmen of 1940 were Stanley C. Tanner, Leroy J. Ford, and Edward R. Stone.
LeRoy J. Ford, a farmer, aged forty-eight years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Sixteenth (1940) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Ella B. [(Bliss]] Ford, aged fifty-five years (b. CT). LeRoy J. Ford owned their farm om Teneriffe Road, which was valued at $2,000. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Hugh Innis, a laborer (leatherboard mill), aged fifty-six years (b. ME), and William A. Hanson, aged seventy-one years (b. NH).
The Milton Selectmen of 1941 were Leroy J. Ford, Edward R. Stone, and Porter J. Durkee.
Leroy J. Ford of Milton registered for the WW II military draft in Milton, June 27, 1942. He was self-employed, aged fifty years (b. Dover, NH, August 10, 1891). He stood 5′ 11″ high, weighed 219 pounds, brown hair, brown eyes, and a light complexion. His telephone number was Milton 45-3, and his next of kin was his wife, Mrs. Ella B. Ford.
The Milton Selectmen of 1943 were George E. Jordan, Leroy J. Ford, and Arthur M. Flye. The Milton Selectmen of 1944 were Leroy J. Ford, Arthur M. Flye, and John G. Gilman.
Sister-in-law Dr. Josephine L. (Bliss) Bates died in Washington, D.C., January 24, 1948, aged sixty-five years.
DEATHS REPORTED. Josephine L.B. Bates, 65, 1028 Conn. av. N.W. (Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), January 28, 1948).
LeRoy J. Ford, a farmer, aged fifty-eight years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Seventeenth (1950) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Ella B. [(Bliss)] Ford, aged sixty-five years (b. CT). They resided on a farm on the second house on the right on Roy Ford Road. Their household appeared in the enumeration next to that of William A. Smith, aged sixty-seven years (b. NH).
The Milton Selectmen of 1951 were Robert P. Laskey, John G. Gilman, and Leroy J. Ford. The Milton Selectmen of 1952 were John G. Gilman, Leroy J. Ford, and Robert P. Laskey. They were also included as members of the Milton Sesquicentennial Committee leading up to August 1952. (See Milton in the News – 1952).
The Milton Selectmen of 1953 were Leroy J. Ford, Robert P. Laskey, and John G. Gilman.
TOWN MEETING. … Results of the annual election are as follows: Total votes cast 432, Town clerk, Isabelle H. Eldredge, 360; Selectman, LeRoy J. Ford, 168; Carl H. Lillejedahl, Sr., 252; winner. Town Treasurer, Charles W. Barrett, 344; Town Auditors, Charles E. Piper, 340; Edwin K. Boggs, 14 (write in). Tax collector, Emma P. Ramsey, 358; Highway Agent; Bard Plummer, 373; Chief of Police, Charles H. Walbridge, 284; winner William L Young 143; Police at Milton Mills, Fred R. Morrill, Sr., 320; Chief Engineer, Herbert A. Downs, 360; First Engineer, F. Everett McIntire, 365; Second Engineer, Donald A. Cheney, 344; Trustee of Trust Funds, 3 yrs., Robert Page, 6 (write-in); Trustee of Free Public Library, 3 yrs., Mrs. Helen Roberts, 6 write-ins (Farmington News, March 18, 1965).
Leroy J. Ford died of cardio-renal failure in Frisbie Memorial Hospital in Rochester, NH, December 14, 1966, aged seventy-five years. Robert E. Lord, M.D., signed the death certificate.
DEATHS. Leroy J. Ford. MILTON. Leroy J. Ford, 75, of Milton, died Dec. 14 at the Frisbie Memorial Hospital. He was born in Dover, Aug 10, 1891, the son of William H. Ford and Addie (Ricker) Ford. He was a 50-year member of the Lewis Nute Grange, Milton, and Selectman of Milton for sixteen years and was Republican town chairman for many years. He is survived by his wife, Ella (Bliss) Ford. Funeral services were held from the C.E. Peaslee and Son Funeral Home in Union Saturday, Dec. 17, at 1 p.m. Services were conducted by Rev. Gerald Miller, pastor of the Milton Community Church. Burial was in Pine Hill Cemetery, Dover (Farmington News, December 29, 1966).
Ella (Bliss) Ford died in Concord, NH, February 8, 1972, aged eighty-six years.
OBITUARIES.Mrs. Leroy J. Ford. MILTON – Mrs. Leroy B. Ford, 86, died Thursday, Feb. 10, at a Concord Hospital after a long illness. She was the widow of Leroy J. Ford. A native of Connecticut, she lived here many years. The family includes a cousin, Mrs. E. Thornton Tripp of Rochester. Services were conducted Sunday afternoon, Feb. 13, at the C.E. Peaslee and Son Funeral Home, Main Street, Union, by the Rev. James F. Shaw, pastor of the Milton Community Church. Burial will take place at a later date (Farmington News, February 17, 1972).
William Shackford Nutter was born in Newington, NH, December 23, 1781, son of Hatevil and Susannah (Shackford) Nutter. (Note his father’s male Puritan “virtue” name: “Hate-Evil”).
(The known children of Hatevil and Susanna (Shackford) Nutter were William Shackford Nutter (1781–1872), John Nutter (1784–1866), Elizabeth Nutter (1786–1866), Mary Nutter (1788–1863), Ann S. Nutter (1790–1870), Abigail Nutter (1793–1842), and Susan S. Nutter (1802–1882)).
Hatevil Nutter, Jr., headed a Newington, NH, household at the time of the First (1790) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 16-plus years [himself], two males aged under-16 years [William S. Nutter and John Nutter], six females [Susanna (Shackford) Nutter, Elizabeth Nutter, Mary Nutter, Ann S. Nutter, Abigail Nutter, and one other], and one slave. (New Hampshire, which had 141,885 persons enumerated in 1790, had one hundred fifty-eight slaves [0.01%]. Newington, NH, which had five hundred forty-two persons, had fourteen slaves [2.6%]. (Milton never had any in any census year)). Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Jona Warner Nutter and Valentine Pickering.
Hatevil Nutter headed a Dover, NH, household at the time of the Second (1800) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 45-plus years [himself], one female aged 26-44 years [Susanna (Shackford) Nutter], two males aged 16-25 years [William S. Nutter and John Nutter], two females aged 10-15 years [Elizabeth Nutter, and Mary Nutter], and two females aged under-10 years [Ann S. Nutter, and Abigail Nutter]. His household appeared in the roughly alphabetically arranged enumeration between those of Wm Neal and Paul Nute.
Hatteville Nutter headed a Milton household at the time of the Third (1810) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 45-plus years [himself], one female aged 45-plus years [Susanna (Shackford) Nutter], one male aged 26-44 years [William S. Nutter], one male aged 16-25 years [John Nutter], four females aged 16-25 years [Elizabeth Nutter, Mary Nutter, Ann S. Nutter, and Abigail Nutter], and one female aged under-10 years [Susan S. Shackford]. His household appeared in the enumeration between those of Mark Miller and Henry Rines.
William S. Nutter married, March 17, 1811, Ruth Wentworth. She was born in Rollinsford, NH, October 22, 1784, daughter of Bartholomew and Ruth (Hall) Wentworth.
(The children of William S. and Ruth (Wentworth) Nutter were Mary Ann Nutter (1812–1896), Hannah Nutter (1814-1840), Elizabeth Nutter (1815–1895), Nancy Ham Nutter (1818-1889), John S. Nutter (1819–1824), Ruth Hall Nutter (1822-1909), William Augustus Nutter (1823-1906), and Susan Nutter (1826–1832)).
Sister Elizabeth Nutter married in Wakefield, NH, November 17, 1811, John Hart, both of Milton. Rev. Asa Piper performed the ceremony. He was born April 17, 1786.
Daughter Mary Ann Nutter was born in Milton, November 4, 1812.
Father-in-law Bartholomew Wentworth died in Somersworth, NH, May 23, 1813.
Daughter Elizabeth Nutter was born in Milton, November 4, 1815. Daughter Nancy H. Nutter was born in Milton, February 17, 1818.
The Milton Selectmen of 1818 were Jas. Roberts, W.S. Nutter, and Hopley Meserve. (His younger brother, John Nutter, was also a Milton Selectman, in 1830).
Son John S. Nutter was born in Milton, December 1, 1819.
Sister Ann S. Nutter married in Milton, circa 1820, Gilman Jewett. He was born in Exeter, NH, January 18, 1777, son of Paul and Elizabeth ((Gilman) Gilman) Jewett.
Daughter Ruth Hall Nutter was born in Milton, August 17, 1822. Son William A. Nutter was born in Milton, 1823.
Son John S. Nutter died in Milton, December 10, 1824, aged five years and nine days.
Daughter Susan Nutter was born in Milton, in January 1826.
Sister Abigail Hubbard married in Milton, January 19, 1827, Aaron Hubbard, she of Milton and he of Shapleigh, ME. Rev. William McKay performed the ceremony. Hubbard was born in Shapleigh, ME, January 26, 1782, son of Aaron and Martha (Nason) Hubbard.
Wm S. Nutter headed a Milton household at the time of the Fifth (1830) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 40-49 years [himself], one female aged 40-49 years [Ruth (Wentworth) Nutter], one female aged 15-19 years [Mary A. Nutter], two females aged 10-14 years [Elizabeth Nutter and Nancy H. Nutter], one female aged 5-9 years [Ruth H. Nutter], one male aged 5-9 years [William A. Nutter], and one female aged under-5 years [Susan Nutter]. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Jas Applebee and Thos Applebee.
Father Hatevil Nutter died, probably in Milton, December 25, 1831, aged eighty-three years.
Daughter Susan Nutter died in Milton, April 19, 1832, aged six years.
Among the fifty-two founding members of the Baptist Church of Milton, October 28, 1834, were William S. Nutter, Elizabeth [(Nutter)] Hart, Susan S. Nutter, Ruth [(Wentworth)] Nutter, Mary Ann Nutter, Hannah Nutter, and Elizabeth Nutter. William S. Nutter was clerk from its founding through 1837. (He was succeeded in that position by his step-nephew Asa Jewett) (Scales, 1914).
William S. Nutter removed from Milton at some time after his resignation as Baptist church clerk, in 1837, and his next enumeration in the Federal Census in Waterboro, ME, in 1840.
Mother-in-law Ruth (Hall) Wentworth died in Somersworth, NH, January 26, 1840.
William S. Nutter headed a Waterboro, ME, household at the time of the Sixth (1840) Federal Census, His household included one male aged 50-59 years [himself], one female aged 50-59 years [Ruth (Wentworth) Nutter], two females aged 20-29 years [Mary A. Nutter and Elizabeth Nutter], one female aged 15-19 years [Nancy H. Nutter], and one male aged 15-19 years [William A. Nutter]. Two members of his household were engaged in Agriculture.
Daughter Elizabeth Nutter married, February 27, 1841, Miles Ford, Jr. He was born in Waterboro, ME, in April 1812, son of Miles and Hannah (Hubbard) Ford.
Daughter Nancy H. Nutter married, October 24, 1841, William A. Kimball. He was born in Shapleigh, ME, September 12, 1813, son of Nathaniel and Mary (Horne) Kimball.
Sister Abigail (Nutter) Hubbard died in Acton, ME, June 21, 1842, aged forty-nine years.
Daughter Ruth H. Nutter married in Waterboro, ME, December 10, 1843, Seth Philpot. He was born in Coxhall (now Lyman), ME, August 29, 1813, son of Isaac and Hannah (Lazell) Philpot.
Son-in-law Miles Ford died in Waterboro, ME, February 21, 1844, aged thirty-one years.
Mother Susanna (Shackford) Nutter died in Milton Mills, November 13, 1848, aged ninety-one years.
William S. Nutter, a farmer, aged sixty-eight years (b. NH), headed a Waterboro, ME, household at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. His household included Ruth [(Wentworth)] Nutter, aged sixty-five years (b. NH), Mary Ann Nutter, aged thirty-seven years (b. NH), Elizabeth [(Nutter)] Ford, aged thirty-four years (b. NH), Elizabeth J. Ford, aged seven years (b. ME), and William A. Nutter, a farmer, aged twenty-seven years (b. NH). William S. Nutter had real estate valued at $1,000.
Wm A. Kimball, a lawyer, aged thirty-six years (b. NH [SIC]), headed a Rochester, NH, household at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. His household included Nancy H. [(Nutter)] Kimball, aged thirty-one years (b. NH), and John W. Kimball, aged six years (b. NH). William A. Kimball owned real estate valued at $2,000.
Seth Philpot, a farmer, aged thirty-six years (b. ME), headed a Waterboro, ME, household at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. His household included Ruth H. [(Nutter)] Philpot, aged twenty-seven years (b. NH), and William P. Philpot, aged five years (b. ME).
William A. Nutter married in South Berwick, ME, May 25, 1851, Sarah A. Wentworth, he of Waterboro, ME, and she of Rollinsford, NH. Rev. John Richardson performed the ceremony. She was born in Rollinsford, NH, in 1830, daughter of George and Judith (Brown) Wentworth.
Son-in-law Seth Philpot died in Waterboro, ME, in 1857, aged forty-six years.
Wm. A. Nutter, a farmer, aged thirty-six years (b. NH), headed a Waterboro, ME, household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Sarah [(Wentworth)] Nutter, aged twenty-nine years (b. NH), Catherine Nutter, aged six years (b. ME), Wm. S. Nutter, aged seventy-eight years (b. NH), and Ruth [(Wentworth)] Nutter, aged seventy-four years (b. NH). William A. Nutter had real estate valued at $2,000 and personal estate valued at $500.
Elizabeth [(Nutter)] Ford, a tailoress, aged forty-four years (b. NH), headed a Waterboro, ME, household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. Her household included Elizabeth J. Ford, aged seventeen years (b. ME), Ruth H. [(Nutter)] Philpot, aged thirty-seven years (b. NH), Wm. T. Philpot, aged fifteen years (b. ME), and Susan H. Philpot, aged nine years (b. ME). Elizabeth Ford had real esate valued at $1,700 and personal estate valued at $350.
Wm. A. Kimball, a farmer, aged forty-seven years (b. ME), headed a Rochester, NH, household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Nancy H. [(Nutter)] Kimball, aged forty-two years (b. NH), John W. Kimball, aged sixteen years (b. NH), Elizabeth H. Kimball, aged eight years (b. NH), and Mary E. Kimball, aged four years (b. NH). Wm. A. Kimball owned real estate valued at $4,000 and personal estate valued at $800.
Sister Mary Nutter died in Milton, January 19, 1863, aged seventy-three years. (“She rests in hope of a blessed immortality”).
Granddaughter Lizzie H. Kimball died of consumption in Rochester, NH, April 14, 1865, aged thirteen years, six months,
DIED. In Rochester, N.H., April 14, of consumption, Lizzie Hale, eldest daughter of Wm. A. and Nancy H. Kimball, aged 13 years, 6 months (Portland Daily Press (Portland, ME), April 15, 1865).
Brother John Nutter died in Dover, NH, April 15, 1866, aged eighty-two years.
Sister Elizabeth (Nutter) Hart died in Milton, June 19, 1866, aged eighty years, six months.
William A. Nutter, a farmer, aged forty-six years (b. NH), headed a Waterboro (“N. Waterborough P.O.”), ME, household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Sarah A. [(Wentworth)] Nutter, keeping house, aged thirty-nine years, Catharine W. Nutter, at home, aged sixteen years (b. ME), Anna B. Nutter, at home, aged seven years, William S. Nutter, a farmer, aged eighty-eight years, and Ruth H. [(Wentworth)] Nutter, at home, aged eighty-six years. William A. Nutter had real estate valued at $2,000 and personal estate valued at $500.
Mary A. Nutter, keeping house, aged fifty-seven years (b. NH), headed a Dover, NH, household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. She had real estate valued at $4,000 and personal estate valued at $2,000.
Elizabeth [(Nutter)] Ford, keeping house, aged fifty-four years (b. NH), headed a Waterboro, ME. household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. Her household included Lizzie J. Ford, teaching school, aged twenty-seven years (b. NH [SIC]), and Ruth [(Nutter)] Philpot, boarding, aged forty-seven years (b. NH). Elizabeth Ford had real estate valued at $300 and personal estate valued at $400. Ruth Philpot had personal estate valued at $700.
Sister Ann S. (Nutter) Jewett died in Milton, November 28, 1870, aged seventy-nine years, eleven months.
William Kimball appeared in the Rochester directory of 1871, as a farmer, with his house on Summer street.
Ruth (Wentworth) Nutter died in Waterboro, ME, March 5, 1872. William S. Nutter died in Waterboro, ME, March 9, 1872, aged ninety years, two months, and seventeen days.
Granddaughter Elizabeth J. “Lizzie” Ford died in Waterboro, ME, May 14, 1874, aged thirty-one years, eleven days).
Elizabeth [(Nutter)] Ford, a seamstress, aged sixty-four years (b. NH), headed a Waterboro, NH, household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census.
William A. Kimball, a farmer, aged sixty-seven years (b. ME), headed a Rochester, NH, household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Nancy H. [(Nutter)] Kimball, keeping house, aged sixty-one years (b. NH), and his daughter, Mary M. Kimball, a school teacher, aged twenty-three years (b. NH). They resided on Summer Street.
Albra G. Chadbourne, a brick mason, aged thirty-six years (b. ME), headed a Rochester, NH, household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Susan H. [(Philpot)] Chadbourne, keeping house, aged twenty-nine years (b. ME), his children, James G. Chadbourne, at school, aged five years (b. NH), and Ray S. Chadbourne, aged one year (b. NH), and his mother-in-law, Ruth H. [(Nutter)] Philpot, at home, aged fifty-six years (b. NH).
William A. Nutter, a farmer, aged fifty-six years (b. NH), headed a Waterboro, ME, household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Sarah A. [(Wentworth)] Nutter, keeping house, aged forty-nine years (b. NH), and his daughters, Catherine W. Nutter, at home, aged twenty-six years (b. ME), and Anna M. Nutter, at home, aged seventeen years (b. ME).
Daughter-in-law Sarah A. (Wentworth) Nutter died in Waterboro, ME, August 24, 1881.
Son-in-law William A. Kimball had a serious fall in February 1886. (He did recover).
GENERAL NEWS. William A. Kimball, a prominent citizen of Rochester, N.H., fell down stairs yesterday receiving severe contusions about the head, besides breaking his jaw. His recovery is doubtful (Portland Daily Press (Portland, ME), February 13, 1886).
Son William A. Nutter purchased some Waterboro, ME, real estate in May 1887.
REAL ESTATE TRANSFERS. WATERBORO – May 10 – Joseph C. Roberts of Waterboro to William A. Nutter of same place, real estate in Waterboro for $105 (Biddeford-Saco Journal, June 16, 1887).
Daughter Nancy H. (Nutter) Kimball died of pneumonia in Rochester, NH, May 5, 1889, aged seventy-one years, four months. She was a married housewife. E.T. Hubbard, [M.D.,] signed the death certificate.
Son-in-law William A. Kimball died of enteritis in Rochester, NH, January 9, 1892, aged seventy-eight years, three months, and twenty-eight days. James Farrington, [M.D.,] signed the death certificate. He was retired widower.
Daughter Elzabeth (Nutter) Ford died in Waterboro, ME, August 24, 1895.
Daughter Mary A. Nutter died in Milton [Mills], September 11, 1896.
Susan H. [(Philpot)] Chadborne, a canvasser, aged forty-nine years (b. ME), headed a Rochester, NH, household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. Her household included her children, Guy J. Chadborne, a telephone lineman, aged twenty-five years (b. NH), and Ray S. Chadborne, a student, aged twenty years (b. NH), and her mother, Ruth H. [(Nutter)] Philpot, a widow, aged seventy-seven years. Susan H. Chadbourne was the mother of two children, of whom two were still living. Ruth H. Philpot was the mother of four children, of whom two were still living. Suan H. Chadbourne owned their house, free-and-clear. They resided at 41 Walnut Street.
William A. Nutter, a farmer, aged seventy-six years (b. NH), headed a Waterboro, ME, household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his daughters, Catherine W. Nutter, aged forty-six years (b. ME), and Annie M. Nutter, aged thirty-seven years (b. ME). William A. Nutter owned their farm, free-and-clear.
WATERBORO CENTER. William A. Nutter and Ebenezer Flood, the former 81 years old and the latter 80, were seen out driving recently. They are two of our oldest citizens and the agility manifested by them in getting around puts some of our younger citizens in the background when the subject of activity is considered (Biddeford-Saco Journal, January 21, 1905).
WATERBORO CENTER. William A. Nutter, [who] has been indisposed, is able to be out again (Biddeford-Saco Journal, August 18, 1905).
WATERBORO CENTER. William A. Nutter continues about the same (Biddeford-Saco Journal, January 5, 1906).
Son William A. Nutter died of senility and lymphangitis in Waterboro, ME, January 26, 1906, aged eighty-two years, one month, and seven days. He was a widowed farmer.
Daughter Ruth (Nutter) Philpot died of valvular disease of the heart at 44 [41] Walnut Street in Rochester, NH, November 9, 1909, aged eighty-seven years, two months, and twenty-two days. She was a widowed housekeeper. She had resided in Rochester, NH, for thirty-six years, i.e., circa 1872, with her previous residence in Waldoboro, ME. (One might infer that she left Waldoboro, ME, after the 1872 death of her parents). Stephen Young, M.D., signed the death certificate.
RECENT DEATHS. Mrs. Ruth Philpot. Mrs. Ruth Philpot passed away Nov. 9 at 8 p.m. at her home 41 Walnut street, Rochester, N.H. She had been seriously ill less than two weeks, but for months her strength had been failing, and she was making ready for this journey. Mrs. Philpot was of the Elder William Wentworth and Dea. John Hall blood on her maternal side being sixth in descent from her immigrant forbears. On her father’s side she was a lineal descendant of Elder Hattvil Nutter. Mrs. Philpot was born in Milton, N.H., Aug. 17, 1822. She was the daughter of William Shackford and Ruth (Wentworth) Nutter. She married Dec. 5, 1843, Seth Philpot of Waterboro, Me. Her husband died a few years after their marriage, and she was left with two children to solve the problem of a living alone. Bravely she met the conditions. Her good nature, keen sense of humor and her generous heart made her many friends. For years she has lived in Rochester with her daughter, Mrs. Chadbourne, and has been happy in her home, cared for and loved by her daughter and grandson, who have anticipated her every wish and tenderly led her failing feet. She was the last of a family of eight children, and a good mother, a true friend and kind neighbor has gone to her reward. Love for her kin was a strong trait with her. She was laid with those who have gone before in the cemetery at Waldoboro, Friday, Nov. 12. She is survived by a son, Wm. L. Philpot, of Sanford, Me., a daughter, Mrs. Susan H. Chadbourne, and three grandchildren, Ruth E. Philpot, Guy and Ray Chadbourne. Funeral services were conducted at the late home, Rev. John Manter, of Whitefield, officiating (Sanford Journal-Tribune (Biddeford, ME), November 19, 1909).
Mrs. (Seth) Ruth H. Philpot appeared in the Rochester, NH, directory of 1912, as having died November 9, 1909, aged eighty-seven years.
Hervey Wingate Dorr was born in Milton, May 18, 1874, son of Charles C. and Melissa E. “Mercy” (Jones) Dorr.
Mother Melissa E. (Jones) Dorr died of chronic hepatitis in Milton, August 7, 1889, aged thirty-four years, ten months, and seventeen days. She was a married housekeeper. C.D. Jones, M.D., signed the death certificate.
Charles C. Dorr, a farmer, aged seventy-one years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his children, Althea Dorr, aged twenty-seven years (b. NH), Harvey W. Dorr, aged twenty-six years (b. NH), Janie M. Dorr, aged nineteen years (b. NH), Ava Dorr, aged seventeen years (b. NH), George E. Dorr, aged fifteen years (b. NH), Daisy B. Dorr, aged twelve years (b. NH), and Ray N. Dorr, aged eleven years (b. NH), and his brother, Stephen Dorr, a farm laborer, aged sixty-nine years (b. NH). Charles C. Dorr owned the farm, free-and-clear. Their household appeared in the enumeration just below that of Leander D. Clements, a farmer, aged sixty years (b. NH).
Charles C. Dorr appeared in the Milton directory of 1902, as a farmer, at Plummer’s Ridge, at the Town house. Brother Stephen D. Dorr appeared as a farmer at C.C. Dorr, Plummer’s Ridge. Son Harvey W. Dorr appeared as a farmer, at Plummer’s Ridge, at the Town house.
Hervey W. Dorr married in Berwick, ME, October 28, 1903, Catherine Marie (McKenzie) Keene, both of Milton. He was a farmer, aged twenty-nine years, and she was a housekeeper, aged thirty-three years. Rev. M. Stevens performed the ceremony. She was born in Newfoundland, circa 1870, daughter of James J. and Anna M. (Folley) McKenzie. (She was divorced from her first husband, Charles H. Keene, and had a son, Carl H. Keene, aged fifteen years).
Hervey W. Dorr and Mrs. Catherine M. Dorr, both of Milton, received Sixth Degree instructions and initiation from NH State Grange officers in Dover, NH, December 21, 1904. Other Milton residents, Addie M. Clements, Etta M. Doe, Ruth Lyman Fall, H.F. Horn, Mary E. Jones, and B.B. Plummer, Jr., were initiated at the same time (NH State Grange, 1905).
Our Grange Homes. Maine. Grange. The following officers of Lewis W. Nute grange were installed Jan. 10th by John A. Edgerly of Tuftonboro: B.B. Plummer, Jr., M.; James F. Doe, O.: Ruth L. Fall, L.; Hervey W. Dorr, S.; Carl H. Keene, A.S.; Mrs. Mary C. Hall, Chap.; Mrs. Nellie B. Webber, Sec; Charles A. Jones, T.; J.W. Johnson, G.K.; Mrs. Ina Webber, C; Mrs. Lucia Jones, P.; Mrs. C.M. Dorr, L.A.S. (Brattleboro New England Farmer (Brattleboro, VT), February 3, 1906).
Milton, N.H. Charles C. Dorr of Milton Ridge has been quite ill at his house the past week suffering from a slight shock (Sanford Journal-Tribune (Biddeford, ME, August 3, 1906).
Charles C. Dorr, a farmer (general farm), aged eighty-one years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his son, Hervey W. Dorr, a farmer (home farm), aged thirty-five years (b. NH), and his daughter-in-law (of six years), Catherine [((McKenzie) Keene)] Dorr, aged thirty-nine years (b. Canada). Charles C. Dorr owned their farm, free-and-clear. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Arvilla (Farnham) Wentworth, aged seventy-three years (b. ME), and Herbert Skinner, ice houses, aged thirty-nine years (b. MA).
Father Charles C. Dorr died of senile gangrene on Plummer’s Ridge in Milton, in 1913, aged eighty-three years, aged eighty-four years, four months, and twenty-seven years. He was a widowed farmer and lifelong resident. M.A.H. Hart, M.D., signed the death certificate.
Hervey W. Dorr appeared in the Milton directory of 1917, as a farmer, and owner of Lakeview Farm, Plummer’s Ridge, 1st north of [old] town house. (His father appeared too, but as a farmer, who had died September 24, 1913, aged eight-four years).
Stepson Carl Howard Keene, of 824½ W. 2nd Avenue, Spokane, WA, registered for the WW I military draft in Spokane, WA, November 17, 1917. He was a single farmer, aged thirty years (b. Boston, MA, August 5, 1887), working for Harry Bester in MacLeod, Alberta, Canada. He was of a medium height, slender build, with blue eyes, and brown hair.
Stepson Carl H. Keene of McLoud, Alberta, Canada, was inducted into the service at Spokane, WA, June 28, 1918. He served in Co. G, 158th Infantry, from then, traveling “overseas,” August 10, 1918, and was with them until September 20, 1918. At which point he was transferred to Co. L, 308th Infantry. The 308th Infantry were a part of the Meuse-Argonne offensive, which ran from September 26, 1918 through the Armistice, November 11, 1918.
Some elements of the 308th Infantry were cut off and encircled during the Meuse-Argonne offensive, becoming known as the “Lost Battalion.”
The following casualties are reported by the Commanding General of the American Expeditionary Forces: Killed in action, 438; missing in action, 983; wounded severely, 3378; died of wounds, 258; died of disease 288; died of accident and other causes, 4; died of airplane accident, 3; wounded, degree undetermined, 931; wounded slightly, 1200; total, 7521. The list for New England is as follows: … Missing in Action. … Carl H. Keene, Milton, N.H. (Kennebec Journal, December 16, 1918).
Private Carl H. Keene (#3139955) of the 308th Infantry was attached to Convalescent Detachment #68 (Sick and Wounded) when it sailed from St. Nazaire, France, on the S.S. Nansemond, February 19, 1919. His emergency contact was his mother, Mrs. Catherine Dorr, reachable by mail through Union, N.H.
CORRECTIONS. Wounded, degree undetermined, previously reported missing in action. Private Carl H. Keene, Milton, N.H. (Kennebec Journal (Augusta, ME), May 23, 1919).
Stepson Private Carl H. Keene was discharged March 11, 1919.
Hervey W. Dorr, a farmer (owner), aged forty-five years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Catherine M. [((McKenzie) Keene)] Dorr, aged fifty years (b. England), his stepson, Carl H. Keene, a laborer (Milton Ice Co.), aged thirty-two years (b. MA), and his boarders, Dana H. Craig, a laborer (Standard Sand Co.), aged twenty-three years (b. VA), and Marion E. [(Morrison)] Craig, aged nineteen years (b. MA). Hervey W. Dorr owned their farm on the Plummer’s Ridge Road, free-and-clear. Catherine M. Dorr was a naturalized citizen, having immigrated in 1885. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Clark Tilton, a laborer (ice company), aged sixty-three years (b. NH), and Parker L. Saunders, a hoisting engineer (Standard Sand Co.), aged fifty-three years (b. ME).
Stepson Carl H. Keene married in Milton, May 2, 1920, Eva M. Lessard, both of Milton. He was a laborer, aged thirty-two years, and she was a domestic, aged twenty-six years. Rev. Owen E. Hardy performed the ceremony. She was born in Rochester, NH, April 11, 1894, daughter of Benoit and Delvina (Dion) Lessard.
Hervey W. Dorr, a farmer (general farming), aged fifty-five years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of twenty-six years), Catherine M. [((McKenzie) Keene)] Dorr, aged sixty-one years (b. NH). Hervey W. Dorr owned their farm in the “farming district” on the Plummer’s Ridge Road, free-and-clear. They had a radio set. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Willis Nickerson, a laborer (ice dealers), aged thirty-two years (b. NH), and Charles Faulkner, aged fifty-nine years (b. NH).
Carl H. Keene, a farmer (general farming), aged forty-two years (b. MA), headed a Milton household at the time of the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of ten years), Eva M. [(Lessard)] Keene, aged thirty-six years (b. NH), his children, Nelson Keene, aged twelve years (b. MA), and Carlyne Keene, aged one year (b. NH), and his boarder, Annette Hill, aged sixty-seven years (b. NH). Carl H. Keene owned their house on Silver Street. They did not have a radio set. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Herbert R. Duntley, aged fifty-two years (b. NH), and Delphine Demerritt, an operator (shoe factory), aged twenty-two years (b. NH).
WEST MILTON. [by] Fred McGregor. Hervey Dorr, Milton highway agent, has commenced operations on the state old project on the Milton and Farmington highway. Here’s hoping Farmington will soon make an effort to match the progress already made by Milton (Farmington News, August 24, 1934).
WEST MILTON. [by] Fred McGregor. Highway Agent Hervey Dorr has been using the “drag” on his section of the Milton-Farmington highway, which has made a decided improvement (Farmington News, April 5, 1935).
WEST MILTON. [by] Fred McGregor. Thursday evening Hervey Dorr and crew have been at work trying to improve some of the West Milton highways, which some of us have reason to believe was the result of the activities of County Commissioner George F. Leighton of Farmington in trying to bring about a betterment of our highways. To state we are truly thankful to him is putting it mildly (Farmington News, September 13, 1935).
WEST MILTON. [by] Fred McGregor. Under the direction of Hervey Dorr, highway agent, construction of the Farmington-Milton road is well under way (Farmington News, October 11, 1935).
Hervey W. Dorr, a road surveyor (public highway), aged sixty-five years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Sixteenth (1940) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Catherine M. [((McKenzie) Keene)] Dorr, aged sixty-five years (b. Newfoundland). Hervey W. Dorr owned their house in the “Milton Community,” which was valued at $2,000. They had resided in the same house in 1935. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of John Tuskey, a farmer (farm), aged fifty-one years (b. MA), and Charles A. Faulkner, aged sixty-seven years (b. NH).
Carl H. Keene, a beaterman (leatherboard mfg.), aged fifty-two years (b. MA), headed a Milton household at the time of the Sixteenth (1940) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Eva M. [Lessard)] Keene, aged forty-seven years (b. NH), his children, Nelson Keene, a stationary fireman (leatherboard mfg.), aged twenty-two years (b. MA), Carlyn Keene, aged eleven years (b. NH), his granddaughter, Sandra Keene, aged one year (b. NH), his brother-in-law, Walter Lessard, an edge setter (shoe shop), aged forty-three years (b. NH), and his boarder, Theodore Moody, a dryer (leatherboard mfg.), aged twenty years (b. NH). Carl H. Keene owned their farm on Silver Street, which was valued at $1,500. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Musetta A. Demeritt, aged sixty-four years (b. NH), and Harry A. Blair, a carpenter (leatherboard mfg.), aged forty-four years (b. NH).
MILTON MILLS. By Alfred W. Lewis. At the Milton town meeting last week the following were chosen to serve the town: Porter H. Durkee was elected selectmen for three years; Leslie O. Chase, treasurer; John E. Ham, tax collector; Charles E. Piper and Bard B. Plummer, auditors; highway commissioners, Milton, Hervey W. Dorr, Milton Mills, Clifton E. Hersom, West Milton, Arnold S. Julin; Herbert Downs, chief of police; William E. Madden, police officer for Milton Mills; John E. Horne, trustee Milton Mills Public Library. At the school district meeting Mrs. Agnes Hayes was elected to the school board, defeating Robert Page who has been a member for the past 30 years. Among the appropriations was $800 for parks and playgrounds $300 of which it to be used in this village. The town also voted to buy a $7000 summer and winter road machine, appropriating $1000 for this year and the balance to be paid by town notes (Sanford Journal-Tribune (Biddeford, ME), March 20, 1941).
Hervey W. Dorr, a farmer (farm), aged seventy-five years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Seventeenth (1950) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Catherine M. [((McKenzie) Keene)] Dorr, aged eighty-one years (b. Canada). They resided in the first house on the right on State Highway #16.
(The main road through Plummer’s Ridge had become NH Route 16, and, after NH Route 16 was shifted to its present location (as the “Spaulding Turnpike”), the main road became instead a part of the White Mountain Highway (NH Route 125). See also Milton and the Spaulding Turnpike)).
Carl H. Keene, a dry mill operator (woolen mill), aged sixty-two years (b. MA), headed a Milton household at the time of the Seventeenth (1950) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Eva M. [(Lessard)] Keene, a cook (school cafeteria), aged fifty-six years (b. NH). Their farm was situated on Silver Street, 0.6 miles on the right.
Hervey W. Dorr died in Milton, November 13, 1956, aged eighty-two years.
DEATHS. HERVEY W. DORR. Milton – Rev. George Currier officiated Tuesday afternoon in Milton Community church for Hervey W. Dorr, 82, former selectman and road agent, who died Sunday. Burial was in Lebanon, Me. Peaslee Funeral home was in charge of arrangements. Mr. Dorr leaves his wife, Mrs. Catherine (McKenrey) Dorr, a sister, Mrs. Daisy B. Ramsdell of Rochester, and a stepson, Carl Keene, with whom he lived. He was selectman from 1926 to 1931 (Farmington News, [Thursday,] November 15, 1956).
The Milton Woman’s Club placed the names of Mrs. William A. Dickson and Mrs. Hervey Dorr on its Honor Roll in May 1960.
WOMAN’S CLUB GAINS HONOR WITH YEARLY SCRAPBOOK. MILTON. – Milton Woman’s Club received Honorable Mention on their scrapbook at the annual meeting at Wentworth by the Sea. The scrapbook committee was Miss Stella Veno and Mrs. Harold Stanley. Club member Mrs. Harold Johnson lettered the book. Attending the meetings were Mrs. Bard Plummer, newly elected president Mrs. Fred Eldridge, retiring president, Miss Stella Veno, Mrs. Henry Johnson and our two club members who serve on the registration committee, Mrs. William A. Dickson and Mrs. Joseph A. Boyd. Mrs. Dickson’s name and the name of Mrs. Hervey Dorr were placed on the honor roll. Mrs. Dickson was present to receive her corsage and Mrs. Dorr’s was brought to her (Farmington News, June 2, 1960).
Stepdaughter-in-law Eva M. (Lessard) Keene died of arterio-sclerotic heart disease at Frisbie Hospital in Rochester, NH, September 10, 1963, aged sixty-nine years. She was a married housewife. Samuel J. King, M.D., signed the death certificate.
Catherine M. ((McKenzie) Keene) Dorr died at the Gaffney Home in Rochester, NH, January 1, 1965, aged ninety-six years.
Deaths. Catherine Dorr. MILTON – Mrs. Catherine M. (McKennery) Dorr, 96, of Milton died on Friday, January 1, at the Gaffney Home for the Aged in Rochester, Mrs. Dorr had resided in Rochester the last four years. She was born in St. John’s, Newfoundland, but had lived in Milton most of her life. She was the widow of Hervey W. Dorr. Their home in Milton was on Plummer’s Ridge. She was the first president of the Oscar C. Morehouse Post #61 of the American Legion Auxiliary, President of the Milton Woman’s Club 1927-1929, a member of Unity Chapter #21, OES, and a member of the Community Church of Milton. Members of her family include a son, Carl H. Keene of Milton; two grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren. Services were held at the Community Church on Sunday afternoon, January 3, with the Rev. Richard Visser of Milton Mills officiating. Burial was in the Prospect Hill Cemetery (Farmington News, January 1965).
Stepson Carl H. Keene died in Milton, April 26, 1975.
The Milton Selectmen of 1945 were 
Kasinskas gets a chance to peek through a stereopticon, to wear a water yoke, to pat a horse-hair rocking horse and try on a 19th century waistcoat. In the parlor, Rachel Pugh, whose family lived on the ridge for seven generations, lets Kasinskas examine a whale’s tooth that belonged to a relative who “followed the sea.” Pugh, who claims to be “83 years young and foolish” also allows Kasinskas to examine a farm ledger that shows a 32-cent debit to pay a farrier for a day’s horse-shoeing. 
John G. Gilman, a farmer, aged twenty-nine years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Sixteenth (1940) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Mildred F. [(Lake)] Gilman, aged thirty-three years (b. NH), his son, John L. Gilman, aged seven years (b. NH), and his boarder, Lyman Lovely, aged seventeen years (b. NH). Their house was on the Nute Ridge road. They had resided in the “same house” in 1935, excepting Lyman Lovely, who had resided in Franklin, NH, at that time. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Evah H. Nelly, aged sixty years (b. NH), and Peter Bostock, aged forty-five years (b. Russia).
On the twelfth day of March, 1792, a few persons assembled at the house of Col. John Goodwin and subscribed a paper in which they declared that learning tended to enlarge the views and the tempers of mankind; that it was more profitable and pleasant when enjoyed in a social manner, and as social libraries had been found in other places to serve the cause of learning and virtue, they were agreed to form such a society in this town. Each member was to pay eighteen shillings towards the first purchase of books. Only ten paid their tax before the time appointed, and in all twenty-three paid before the end of the year, some turning in at a fair price such books as they could contribute. The first book mentioned was presented by Mr. Haven, and is entitled “The Principles of Natural and Political Law,” a work then esteemed of great merit. The following titles will show to admirers of the ephemeral literature of the present day, what our fathers considered a substantial nucleus for a public library: ~
The revived Rochester Social Library appeared still in Rochester, NH, directories of 1876, and 1878, over forty years after its reincorporation. (Franklin “Frank” McDuffee (1832-1880), who was its President and a member of its Prudential Committee, was at various times, among other things, a Rochester banker, historian, newspaper columnist, selectman, school committeeman, and NH State Representative. He was a grandson of one of the library’s founding subscribers. Attorney Henry Kimball (1833-1905) was the Clerk and Librarian).
The Rochester Social Library appeared still in NH Business Directory of 1887, fifty-three years after its reincorporation and nearly a century after its original incorporation (Sampson & Murdoch, 1887). (Civil War veteran and fire insurance agent Augustine S. Parshley (1840-1901) succeeded Franklin McDuffee on the Rochester Social Library’s Prudential Committee. His daughter, Lillian E. Parshley (1868-1945), would be the first librarian of the Rochester Public Library).
The Milton Selectmen of 1943 were 
Some elements of the 308th Infantry were cut off and encircled during the Meuse-Argonne offensive, becoming known as the “Lost Battalion.”
Milton Observer 