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SKETCH
OF
DUNBARTON,
NEW HAMPSHIRE.

BY MISS ELLA MILLS.

MANCHESTER, N. H.
MANCHESTER HISTORIC ASSOCIATION,
1902.

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Sketch of Dunbarton, N. H.

BY ELLA MILLS.

Dunbarton is a town "set upon a hill which cannot be hid." The highest point of land is on the farm of Benjamin Lord, north of the Center, and is 779 feet above the sea level. From that spot, and from many other places nearly as high, the views of hills and mountains are beautiful and grand beyond description.

The twin Uncanoonucs are near neighbors on the south, Monadnock, farther off on the south-west, and Kearsarge twenty miles to the north west. On the northern horizon are seen Mount Washington and other peaks of the White Mountains.

The longest hill in town is the mile-long Mills hill, and midway on its slope live descendants of Thomas Mills, one of the first settlers. Among other hills are Duncanowett, Hammond, Tenney, Grapevine, Harris, Legache, and Prospect Hills.

No rivers run through the town, but there are numerous brooks where trout fishing is pursued with more or less success.

No body of water is large enough to be called a lake, but Gorham Pond is a beautiful sheet of water and on its banks picnics are held. Stark's and Kimball's Ponds have furnished water power for mills, the latter, owned by Willie F. Paige, is still in use. Long Pond, in the south part of the town, was the scene of a tragedy in 1879, when Moses Merrill, an officer at the State Industrial School, Manchester, was drowned in an ineffectual attempt to save an inmate of that institution.

One portion of the south part of the town is called Skeeterboro, another Mountalona, so named by James Rogers, one of the first settlers, from the place in Ireland from whence he [2] came. 1 East of the Center is Guinea, so called because some negroes once lived there. The village of North Dunbarton is also called Page's Corner; and not far away to the eastward is a hill known as Onestack, because one large stack of hay stood there for many years. A brook bears the same name.

Those who know Dunbarton only in the present can hardly realize that 1450 people ever lived there at one time, but that was the census in 1820. The first census, taken 1767, was 271. In 1840 it was 1067; in 1890, only 523. The last census gave about 575.

The first settlement was made in 1740 2 by James Rogers and Joseph Putney on the land known as the "Great Meadows," now owned by James M. Bailey. They were driven away by the Indians for a time. A stone now marks the spot where stood the only apple tree spared by the Indians. Probably the first boy born in town belonged to one of these families. James Rogers was shot by Ebenezer Ayer, who mistook him in the dark for a bear, as he wore a bearskin coat. He was the father of Major Robert Rogers, celebrated as the leader of the ranger corps of the French and Indian wars.

About 1751 William Stinson, John Hogg, and Thomas Mills settled in the west part of the town. Sarah, daughter of Thomas Mills, was the first girl born in town. Her birthplace was a log cabin on the farm now owned by John C. and George F. Mills.

For fourteen years the town was called Starkstown in honor of Archibald Stark, one of the first land owners (though not a resident), and father of General John Stark. In 1765 the town was incorporated, and was named, with a slight change, [3] for Dumbarton 3 in Scotland near which place Stark and other emigrants had lived.

Dunbarton was one of the towns taken from Hillsborough County to form the County of Merrimack. Its centennial was duly celebrated and attended by a vast concourse of invited guests and towns people. A report of its proceedings was compiled by Rev. Sylvanus Hayward. Though small in area and population, Dunbarton occupies a large place in the hearts of its sons and daughters. However dear our adopted homes may become, we still feel that "whatever skies above us rise the hills, the hills are home."

At the centennial Rev. George A. Putnam paid a glowing tribute to his native town, saying: "Dunbarton is one of the most intelligent and best educated communities in New England. I think it will be hard to find another place where, in proportion to its population, so many young men have been liberally educated and have entered some of the learned professions, where so many young men and women have become first class teachers of common schools. My own observation has been altogether in favor of Dunbarton in this particular. And it is clear as any historic fact the superior education of Dunbarton's children has been largely due to her religious institutions and Christian teachers."

That the town is also honored by her neighbors is shown by the following instances: Many years ago it was said that a Dartmouth student from an adjoining town, when asked from what town he came, answered: "From the town next to Dunbarton." Recently the chairman of the school board in Goffstown, in his annual report, compared the town favorably to Dunbarton with regard to the number of college graduates.

Very soon after the permanent settlement of the town, a committee was appointed to build a meeting-house at Dunbarton Center. It was finished previous to 1767, and stood in the middle of the common. Before that time it is related that [4] "Mr. McGregor preached in the open air, on the spot now consecrated as the resting place of the dead." This first building was a low, frame structure, without pews, with seats of rough planks resting on chestnut logs, and a pulpit constructed of rough boards. It was replaced in about twenty years by the building now known as the Town House. This was used only for political purposes after the erection of the third church on the west side of the highway.

About thirty years ago the interior of the old building was greatly changed, the upper part being made into a hall while the square pews were removed from the lower part, only the high pulpit remaining. A selectmen's room was finished in one corner, and in 1892, a room for the public library. The outside remains practically unchanged.

The Rocky Hill Church at Amesbury, Mass., much like this at Dunbarton, is still used in summer only. There is no way of warming it, and people of the present day would not endure the hardships their ancestors bore without a murmur. The third church was built in 1836 on the site of a dwelling house owned by William Stark; in 1884 it was remodelled, the pews modernized and the ceiling frescoed.

The vestry formerly stood on the opposite of the common and contained two rooms; prayer meetings were held in the lower room, while up stairs was the only hall in town. There were held the singing schools, and the lyceum of long ago; also several fall terms of high schools; among the teachers were Mark Bailey, William E. Bunten, and Henry M. Putney. More than twenty-five years ago the vestry was removed to its present location near the church and made more convenient and attractive.

For about nineteen years the church had no settled pastor. In 1789 Walter Harris was called, and was ordained August 26. He preached more than forty years. Every man in town was required to contribute to his support for a time until some of the other religious societies rebelled. The "History of Dunbarton" says: "Dr. Harris appropriated the proprietors' grant for the [5] first settled minister, and located himself on the ministerial lot. He also, by a vote of the town, obtained the use of the parsonage lot, with an addition of seventy pounds a year, one-half to be paid in cash, the other in corn and rye." His farm was in a beautiful location south of the center, and was afterwards owned for many years by the late Deacon John Paige; it is now the property of his son, Lewis Paige.

In respect to his farm, buildings, fences, Dr. Harris was a model for the town. Two men once working for him were trying to move a heavy log. He told them how to manage according to philosophy; finally one said: "Well, Dr. Harris, if you and your philosophy will take hold of that end of the log while Jim and I take this end, I think we can move it."

Dr. Harris was sometimes called the "Broad axe and sledge-hammer of the New Hampshire ministry." He was a man of more than ordinary intellectual endowments, and graduated from Dartmouth College with high honors. Prof. Charles G. Burnham said in his address at the Centennial: "The influence of the life and preaching of Dr. Harris is manifest today in every department of your material prosperity, as well as upon the moral and religious character of the people, and will be for generations to come."

Dr. Harris was dismissed July 7, 1830, and died December 25, 1843. His successor, Rev. John M. Putnam, was installed the day Dr. Harris was dismissed; both were remarkable extemporaneous speakers. Mr. Putnam was called one of the best platform speakers in his profession in the State.

At the close of his pastorate he went to reside with his son at Yarmouth, Maine; he died in Elyria, Ohio, in 1871. He was dismissed the day his successor, Sylvanus Hayward, was ordained. Thus for more than 77 years the church was not for one day without a settled pastor. Mr. Hayward was born in Gilsum, N. H., and has written a history of his native town; he was dismissed April, 1866. His successors were Revs. George I. Bard, William E. Spear, who is now a lawyer in [6] Boston, and at present Secretary of the Spanish War Claim Commission, James Wells now deceased, Tilton C. H. Bouton, grandson of Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Bouton, for many years pastor of the North Church, Concord, N. H., George Sterling, Avery K. Gleason, and William A. Bushee. During Mr. Bouton's pastorate a parsonage was built in the north part of the village on land given by Deacon Daniel H. Parker.

The first deacons were chosen in 1790, and were James Clement and Edward Russell. Others were Samuel Burnham, David Alexander, John Church, Matthew S. McCurdy, John Wilson, John Mills, Samuel Burnham (a namesake of the first of the name), who with Daniel H. Parker served for many years. They were succeeded by Frederic L. Ireland and Frank C. Woodbury, the present incumbents.

Church discipline was very strict in ye olden time. What would the people of the present day think of being called to account for such a small matter as this? "A complaint was presented to the church by one brother against another for un-Christian-like behavior in suffering himself to be carried in a light and vain manner upon a man's shoulders to the length of a quarter of a mile. The church accepted the complaint, and summoned the brother before it. He appeared, confessed his fault and was pardoned."

Deacon McCurdy was noted for his strictness in keeping the Sabbath. No food could be cooked in the house on that day, and no work done at the barn except milking and feeding the stock. He once, however, mistook the day of the week, and took a grist to mill on Sunday, while his wife began the Saturday's baking. On arriving at the mill, he, of course, found it closed, and on going to the miller's house, he learned his mistake. He was so shocked that he would not leave his grist, but carried it back home.

The Baptist Church was organized in Mountalona in 1828. The first meeting house was built by Aaron Elliot, and Isaac Westcott was the first pastor. In the Spring of 1847 meetings were held at the Center; Rev. John W. Poland (since famous [7] as the maker of "White Pine Compound") preached during that season. The next year a church was built.

The pastors were Revs. H. D. Hodges (who, with Rev. John Putnam, compiled a grammar), Samuel Cook, Horace Eaton, Jesse M. Coburn, Washington Coburn, John Peacock (as a supply), Stephen Pillsbury, Timothy B. Eastman, Elias Whittemore, Samuel Woodbury, Adoniram J. Hopkins, Dr. Lucien Hayden, J. J. Peck, Charles Willand, and the present incumbent, S. H. Buffam. This list may not be exactly correct. At intervals no services have been held. Nathaniel Wheeler, John O. Merrill and John Paige were deacons for many years. In 1899 the house was painted and otherwise improved.

The old house at Mountalona was used at times by the Baptists. Methodist services were also held there. It was burned about seventeen years ago.

A Universalist society was formed in 1830 by Nathan Gutterson, Joshua F. Hoyt, Silas Burnham, Alexander Gilchrist and others and services were held in the old Congregational Church. Rev. Nathan R. Wright preached here for four years and lived in a house near the late John C. Ray's which was burned about 30 years ago. It was afterwards known as the Hope house from Samuel B. Hope, one of the owners. Mr. Wright was the father of Hon. Carroll D. Wright who was born in 1840. The family removed from town when he was three years of age.

In 1864 or 1865 Episcopal Church services were held by clergymen from St. Paul's School in school houses in the west part of the town, afterwards in the Hope house. In the summer of 1866 the corner stone of the church was laid on land given by the Misses Stark. The money to build the church was collected by their grand niece, Miss Mary Stark, a devoted churchwoman, who died in 1881. The church is a lasting memorial of her. It is a beautiful building with a seating capacity of 110. The fine chancel window was given by the father of the Rector of St. Paul's School. The church was consecrated in 1868, and named the Church of St. John the Evangelist. For about fourteen years the services were in charge of Rev. Joseph H. Coit, [8] the present rector of St. Paul's School. He was succeeded by Rev. Edward M. Parker, a master of the school, who with the assistance of Mr. William W. Flint, lay preacher, holds services in Dunbarton and East Weare. In 1890 the church was taken down and re-erected in North Dunbarton on land given by David Sargent south of the school-house, in front of a beautiful pine grove. A service of re-dedication was held December 15, 1890. Frank B. Mills was organist and leader of the singing with only a short interval until his removal from town in 1895. The organist at the present time is Miss Sara E. Perkins.

After the removal of the church, a brass tablet in memory of the Misses Harriet and Charlotte Stark was placed therein by Rev. Joseph H. Coit.

Dunbarton has had many fine musicians within her borders. Col. Samuel B. Hammond led the singing in the Congregational Church for a long term of years, resigning in 1875. The choir was formerly large and numbered among its members Mrs. Elizabeth (Whipple) Brown, her daughter, Mrs. Agnes French, Olive Caldwell, now Mrs. Morrill of Minnesota, the daughters of the late Deacon Parker, Mrs. Harris Wilson, Nathaniel T. Safford, William S. Twiss, and others.

Before the advent of the cabinet organ instrumental music was furnished by a double bass viol played by Harris Wilson, a single bass-viol played by Eben Kimball, a melodeon played by Andrew Twiss, and one or two violins. When the church was remodeled the organ and choir were removed from the gallery to a place beside the pulpit. Mrs. Mary (Wilson) Bunten is now organist. For several years a quartette, consisting of William S. Twiss, Frank B. Mills, Horace Caldwell, and Frederic L. Ireland sang most acceptably on many occasions, especially furnishing appropriate music at funerals, until the removal from town of Mr. Twiss in 1884. At various times singing schools were taught by Eben Kimball, Joseph C. Cram of Deerfield, "Uncle Ben" Davis of Concord, and at Page's Corner, by Frank B. Mills.

The first School houses in town were few and far between, [9] with no free transportation as practiced at the present time.

Hon. Albert S. Batchellor, of Littleton, in searching the columns of a file of old newspapers recently, came across the following which will be of interest to Dunbarton people:

"Dunbarton May ye 15, 1787.

We the subscribers Promise to pay to Mrs. Sarah Ayers Young three shillings per week for five Months to Teach school seven or Eight Hours Each Day Except Sunday & Saturday half a day, to be paid in Butter at half Pifterreen per lb. flax the same or Rie at 4 shillings, Corn at 3s. Each. Persons to pay their Proportion to what scollers they sign for Witness Our Hands. Thomas Hannette 2 Scollers Thomas Husse 1 Jameson Calley 2 Andrew foster 1 John Bunton 3 John Fulton 2."

Before 1805 Dunbarton had three school districts. The first house was at the Center. Rev. Abraham W. Burnham, of Rindge, in response to the toast, "Our Early Inhabitants," at the Centennial, said: "My brother Samuel, when so young that my mother was actually afraid the bears would catch him, walked two miles to school." This same boy was the first college graduate from town, in the class of 1795. Robert Hogg, called Master Hogg, was the first male teacher, and Sarah Clement the first female teacher.

Another teacher of the long ago was Master John Fulton, who lived on the farm now owned by John W. Farrar. In those days pupils often tried to secure a holiday by "barring out" the teacher on New Year's Day. More than once Master John Fulton found himself in this situation. On one occasion he went to one of the neighbors where he borrowed a tall white hat and a long white coat with several capes. Thus disguised he mounted a white horse and rode rapidly to the school house. The unsuspecting pupils rushed to the door, when, quick as thought, Master Fulton sprang from the horse, entered the school house and called the school to order. At another time, while teaching in a private house in Bow, finding himself "barred out," he entered a chamber window by a ladder, removed some loose boards from the floor (the house being unfinished) and descended among his astonished [10] pupils. Dr. Harris regularly visited the schools, and catechised the children; he prepared many young men for college and directed the theological studies of those fitting for the ministry.

Many clergymen of the town served on the school committee. Districts increased in number till there were eleven. In 1867 the town system was adopted, and the number of schools reduced to four or five. Notwithstanding the short terms, the long distances, and lack of text-books (now provided by the town), Dunbarton has produced many fine scholars, and has provided a large number of teachers for her own and other schools.

I think no family has furnished as many educated members as the Burnhams. A short time prior to 1775 Deacon Samuel Burnham came from Essex, Mass., to the south part of Dunbarton. Of his thirteen children, four sons graduated at Dartmouth College. In 1865 fourteen of his grand and great grand children were college graduates. Not all of them lived in Dunbarton, but Samuel's son, Bradford, and most of his children lived here. Henry Larcom, son of Bradford, was a successful teacher and land surveyor; he represented the town in the Legislature and was also State Senator. The last years of his life were passed in Manchester where he died in 1893. His son, Henry Eben, is a lawyer in Manchester, and was for a time Judge of Probate. He was born November 8, 1844, in the Dr. Harris house, and is an honored son of Dunbarton. He was elected United States Senator by the Legislature of 1901, for the term of six years and succeeded Senator William E. Chandler.

Hannah, eldest daughter of Bradford Burnham, married Samuel Burnham from Essex, Mass.; she died in November, 1901. Her two daughters were teachers for many years; the younger, Annie M., taught in Illinois and Oregon until recently. Two sons were college graduates, Josiah, at Amherst in 1867; William H., at Harvard in 1882. The latter is instructor in Clark University, Worcester, and a writer and lecturer of great ability. A daughter of his brother, Samuel G. Burnham of St. Louis, graduated from Washington University with high honors, ranking second in a class of eighty-two.

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Three sons of Henry Putney were students at Dartmouth College, though the second son, Frank, did not graduate, leaving college to enter the army in 1861.

Thirty or more of the sons of Dunbarton graduated at Dartmouth College, while ten or twelve others took a partial course. John Gould, Jr., and Abel K. Wilson, died at college, Three graduated at Wabash College, Indiana, two at Union College, Schenectady, N. Y., and one each at Yale, Harvard, and Amherst Colleges, and Brown University. It is said that at one time there were more students from Dunbarton in Dartmouth College than from any other town in the State.

There have been several graduates from Normal Schools, Ralph Ireland and Ethel Jameson from the school at Bridgewater, Mass. The former is now teaching in Gloucester, Mass., and the latter in Boston, Mass. Ella and Leannette L. Mills (the latter the daughter of Leroy R. Mills), graduated from the school at Salem, Mass. Lydia Marshall, now holding a government position in Washington, D. C., Mary Caldwell (now Mrs. Aaron C. Barnard), and Lizzie Bunten (now Mrs. James P. Tuttle, of Manchester), took a partial or whole course at the school at Plymouth, N. H. Louise Parker and Mary A. Stinson graduated at Kimball Academy, Meriden, N. H. Many others have been students at McCollom Institute, Mount Vernon, Pembroke, and other academies, and several have taken the course at the Concord High School. Among the teachers of the long ago may be named Antoinette Putnam, Lizzie and Ann Burnham, Jane Stinson, Nancy Stinson, Sarah and Marianne Parker, and Susan and Margaret Holmes. The list is too long for further mention.

Among college graduates who made teaching their life work were William Parker, who died in Winchester, Illinois, in 1865; Caleb Mills, who was connected with Wabash College, Indiana, from 1833 until his death in 1879. He was greatly interested in the cause of education, and was known as the father of public schools in Indiana; Joseph Gibson Hoyt, who was called the most brilliant son Dunbarton ever educated; he taught several [12] years in Phillips Academy, Exeter, and was Chancellor of Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, taking charge February 4, 1859; inaugurated October 4, 1859; died November 26, 1862; Charles G. Burnham, orator at the Centennial, in 1865, who died in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1866; Mark Bailey, who has taught elocution at Yale since 1855, besides spending some weeks of each year in former times at Dartmouth, Princeton, and other places. Samuel Burnham, the first graduate, should have been mentioned earlier. He was principal of the academy at Derry for many years; William E. Bunten taught in Atkinson, N. H., Marblehead, Mass., and in New York, where he died in 1897; Matthew S. McCurdy, grandson and namesake of Deacon McCurdy, is instructor at Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass. Although not a college student, John, brother of Thomas and James F. Mills, spent many years in teaching in Ohio and West Virginia; he died in 1879. Among those who have been both teachers and journalists are Amos Hadley of Concord, Henry M. Putney, now on the editorial staff of the Manchester Daily and Weekly Mirror; William A. (brother of Henry M.) who died some years ago in Fairmount, Nebraska; and John B. Mills, now at Grand Rapids, Michigan. George H. Twiss, of Columbus, Ohio, has been a teacher, superintendent of schools, and proprietor of a bookstore.

Of the native clergymen, Leonard S. Parker is probably the oldest now living. He has held several pastorates, and is now assistant pastor of the Shepard Memorial Church, Cambridge, Mass. One of the early college graduates was Isaac Garvin, son of Sam Garvin, whose name was a by-word among his neighbors; "as shiftless as Sam Garvin" was a common saying. Isaac obtained his education under difficulties which would have discouraged most men, and at first even Dr. Harris thinking it not worth while to help him. He probably studied divinity with Dr. Harris, and was ordained in the Congregational Church, but late in life took orders in the Episcopal Church in New York. There were two Rev. Abraham Burnhams, uncle and nephew, and Rev. Amos W. Burnham, whose [13] only pastorate was Rindge where he preached forty-six years. Thomas Jameson held pastorates in Scarborough and Gorham, Maine; he was blind during his last years. Charles H. Marshall preached in various places in Indiana, and died nearly thirty years ago. Ephraim O. Jameson held several pastorates; he is now retired and living in Boston. He has compiled several genealogies and town histories. Rev. George A. Putnam, son of the second pastor of the church in Dunbarton, preached for several years in Yarmouth, Maine, then went to Millbury, Mass., in 1871, where he still resides—an unusually long pastorate in these times. John P. Mills is preaching in Michigan.

Of the native Baptist ministers were Hosea Wheeler, Harrison C. Page, who died at Newton Theological Seminary just before the completion of his course, and who gave promise of great ability; and the brothers Joel and Christie Wheeler who entered the ministry without a collegiate education, and both preached in Illinois.

Though the people of Dunbarton are too peaceable and honest to need the services of a lawyer, at least a dozen young men entered the legal profession. One of the earliest college graduates, Jeremiah Stinson, having studied law, opened an office in his native town, but devoted the most of his time to agriculture. He met with an accidental death at the age of thirty-six years. Among those who continued to practice law were John Burnham in Hillsborough, John Jameson in Maine, John Tenney in Methuen, Mass., Judge Joseph M. Cavis in California, David B. Kimball in Salem, Mass., Newton H. Wilson in Duluth, Minn., and Henry E. Burnham in Manchester. Only the three last named are now living.

The people of Dunbarton are proud of the fact that there has been no resident physician in town for more than forty years. The last, a Dr. Gilson, was here for a short time only. Dr. Dugall was probably the first; while others were Doctors Symnes Sawyer, Clement, Mighill, Stearns, and Merrill.

True Morse was a seventh son; so was Rev. Mr. Putnam, but he refused to use his supposed powers. Among the native [14] physicians were Abram B. Story, who died not long since in Manchester, William Ryder, John L. Colby, Gilman Leach, David P. Goodhue, a surgeon in the Navy, John and Charles Mills. The two last named practiced in Champaign, Illinois, and were living there when last heard from. William Caldwell is well remembered as a veterinary surgeon.

Of dentists we may name John B. Prescott, D. D. S., of Manchester, a graduate of Pennsylvania Dental College, and the late Dr. Edward Ryder of Portsmouth.

Nothwithstanding this exodus of professional men and others, many good and wise men made the place their home. Deacon John Mills was town treasurer for thirty-five years, selectman twenty-two years, and representative eight years. He built the house afterwards owned by his son-in law, Deacon Daniel H. Parker, who was also a good citizen; as Justice of the Peace, he transacted much law business and settled many estates; he held many town offices, was a thrifty farmer, and accumulated a large fortune.

Henry Putney, of the fourth generation from the first settler of that name, was another strong man, who with Deacon Parker and Eliphalet Sargent formed a board of selectmen in the troubled times of the Civil War, that did good service for the town. His only daughter is the wife of Nahum J. Bachelder, secretary of State Board of Agriculture. He had six sons, five of whom are now living.

The name of Oliver Bailey has been known in town for several generations. The present representative of that name is one of the elder men of the town, a thrifty farmer, and was formerly in company with his son, George O. Bailey, a cattle dealer on a large scale. His brother, James M. Bailey, still owns part of the paternal acres. Their father, Oliver Bailey, removed late in life, to Bow Mills, where he died in 1889. John C. Ray owned a beautiful home in the west part of the town; he was superintendent of the State Industrial School in Manchester for about twenty-five years before his death in 1898.

The brothers, Captain Charles and William C. Stinson, were [15] wealthy farmers in the south part of the town; the former removed to Goffstown, and his farm is owned by Philander Lord. The house is probably one of the oldest in town. The last years of William C. Stinson were spent in Manchester. Harris E. Ryder was the first Master of Stark Grange which was organized in October, 1874. His buildings were burned in 1875, and not long afterwards he located in Bedford, where he died. His brother, Charles G. B. Ryder, served on the school committee for several years. He removed to Manchester many years ago and was engaged in the real estate business for many years; he died there several years ago. The buildings on his farm were burned in July, 1899.

Major Caleb, son of General John Stark, built a house in the west part of the town which is still owned by the family and is filled with interesting relics. His son, Caleb, was the author of the "History of Dunbarton," published in 1860. He and two unmarried sisters spent much time here, the last survivor, Miss Charlotte, dying in 1889, aged about ninety years. She was a fine specimen of the old time gentlewoman, much given to hospitality. The place is now owned in part by her grand nephew, Charles F. M. Stark, a descendant on the mother's side from Robert Morris, the great financier of Revolutionary times. His only son, John McNiel Stark, graduated from Holderness School, June, 1900. The Stark cemetery is a beautiful and well-kept resting place of the dead. Besides Stark, the names of Winslow, Newell, and McKinstry are seen on the headstones. Benjamin Marshall, and his son, Enoch, were prominent men in town. Many other names should be mentioned, but space forbids.

The daughters of Dunbarton are not less worthy of mention than her sons. Some of the teachers have already been mentioned. Another was Marianne, sister of Deacon Parker, who married a Doctor Dascomb and went with him to Oberlin, Ohio, where he became professor of chemistry in Oberlin College. She was lady principal. It was said that there were two saints in the Oberlin calendar, President Finney and Mrs. Dascomb. [16] Three of her sisters married ministers. Ann married Rev. Isaac Bird, and went with him to Turkey as a missionary; and Emily married Rev. James Kimball of Oakham, Mass.; and Martha, Rev. Thomas Tenney; one of her daughters is the wife of the late Rev. Cyrus Hamlin. Two of Deacon Parker's daughters are the wives of ministers. Louise is Mrs. Lucien H. Frary of Pomona, California, and Abby is Mrs. John L. R. Trask of Springfield, Mass. Dr. Trask has been for many years trustee of Mt. Holyoke College.

Mary, daughter of Deacon John Mills, married Rev. Mr. William Patrick of Boscawen; Dr. Mary Mills Patrick, President of the American College for Girls at Constantinople, is her step daughter and namesake. Sarah, daughter of Benjamin Marshall, married Caleb Mills who studied theology, though his life work was teaching. Mary F., daughter of Deacon John Paige, married Rev. David Webster, now of Lebanon, Maine. Mary L., daughter of John Kimball of Milford, formerly of Dunbarton, has been for more than ten years the wife of Rev. Arthur Remington, now in Philadelphia. Perhaps the latest addition to the list is Hannah C., eldest daughter of Horace Caldwell, who, January, 1899, married Rev. Avery A. K. Gleason, then pastor of the Congregational Church in Dunbarton, now Raynham, Mass.

Mary A., daughter of Captain Charles Stinson, married Charles A. Pillsbury, known as the flour king of Minneapolis, who died more than a year ago.

Though the rough and rocky soil is poorly adapted to cultivation, Dunbarton is, and always has been, emphatically a farming town. Yet a long list of mechanics might be given. Carpenters, blacksmiths, painters and masons still ply their trades, but the mill-wrights, shoemakers, tanners, coopers, tailors, tailoresses, and pump makers are people of the past. Less than fifty years ago a tannery was in operation at the place owned by Benjamin Fitts, and a good sized pond covered the space opposite the house of Justus Lord. It was used on several occasions by the Baptists as a place of immersion.

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William Tenney was the carpenter who built the town hall; Captain Samuel Kimball, the present Congregational Church, and many dwelling houses. Others were the work of John Leach. The man now living who has done more of this work than any other is John D. Bunten, whose work has always been done in a thorough manner.

The stone blacksmith shop of Jonathan Waite has been used by three generations, now only for the family work. John B. Ireland still uses the shop of his father, while Lauren P. Hadley's specialty is iron work on wagons. During the past few years much timber has been removed by the aid of portable steam mills.

The first store in town was kept by Major Caleb Stark at Page's Corner. He had several successors, among them being Jeremiah Page and John Kimball. At the Center I find, in the "History of Dunbarton," a long list of store-keepers, among whom was David Tenney, one of whose ledgers is still preserved, where the entries of New England rum sold to the most respectable citizens are as numerous as tea and coffee now-a-days.

Deacon Burnham kept the store for many years, and later Thomas Wilson and his son Oliver kept the store. The latter also did considerable business as a photographer for a time. His son in-law, John Bunten, is the present proprietor of the store. The business has increased greatly with the sending out of teams to take orders and deliver goods in various parts of the town.

Among the successful business men who have left town may be named Lyman W. Colby, who was a successful photographer in Manchester for more than thirty years, and whose recent sudden death is greatly to be deplored by his many friends; John C. Stinson, a merchant of Gloucester, N. J.; Samuel G. Burnham of St. Louis, Missouri; and the late Fred D. Sargent, owner of a restaurant in St. Paul, Minn., where he furnished meals to 500 people daily, and to many more on extra occasions. He had also a branch establishment at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, of [18] which his brother, Frank H. Sargent is manager. For several years a newspaper was published by Oscar H. A. Chamberlen, called The Snow-Flake, afterwards The Analecta.

The first library in town was kept at the house of Benjamin Whipple, and was called the Dunbarton Social Library. Some of the books are still preserved. A parish library, containing many valuable works, was collected by Miss Mary Stark, and was for many years the source of pleasure and profit to the attendants at St. John's Church. Some years after her death the books were given to a Library Association, formed at the Center, which in turn was merged with the Public Library, founded in 1892, of which Miss Hannah K. Caldwell was, till her marriage, the efficient librarian. The position is now filled by Mabel Kelly. A library is also owned by Stark Grange.

For the past thirty years or more, many summer boarders have come to Dunbarton. The houses of James M. Bailey, William B. Burnham, and Peter Butterfield, were well filled for several years, while at many other places some people were accommodated. At the present time two houses at the Center, owned by Henry P. Kelly, are filled every summer; also the house of Frank C. Woodbury, the former home of Deacon Parker on the "hill beautiful," where "glorious golden summers wax and wane, where radiant autumns all their splendors shed."

The pure air of Dunbarton seems to be conducive to long life. Two citizens passed the century mark. Mrs. Joseph Leach died in 1849, aged 102 years, 9 months. Mrs. Achsah P. (Tenney) Whipple lived to the age of 100 years, 9 months. Her centennial birthday was celebrated June 28, 1886, by a large gathering of relatives and friends. Her only daughter married Joseph A. Gilmore, for many years Superintendent of the Concord Railroad, and also Governor of New Hampshire. Her grand daughter was the first wife of Hon. William E. Chandler, who, doubtless, has pleasant recollections of his visits to his betrothed at the home of her grandparents.

Among the residents of the town who attained the age of 90 years or more were Mrs. Mary Story, 98 years, 4 months, 12 [19] days; Mrs. Ann C., widow of Deacon John Wilson, 98 years; Deacon John Church, 97 years; Mrs. Abigail (Burnham) Ireland, 94 years; There were several others whose ages I do not know. Mr. and Mrs. Guild, near the Bow line, I think were over 90 years. Many have passed the age of 80 years. Deacon Samuel Burnham is now 88 years; he and his wife lived together more than 63 years. Mr. and Mrs. James Stone lived together more than 65 years. Mrs. Stone survived her husband only a few weeks. Colonel Samuel B. Hammond and wife celebrated their golden wedding in 1892.

Stark Grange is the only secret society in town, though some individuals belong to societies in adjoining towns. The membership of Stark Grange is about ninety.

The patriotism of the town has always been unquestioned.

Dunbarton has sent her sons to battle for the right in every war. Seventeen men took part in the French and Indian War, including Major Robert Rogers, and other men by the names of Rogers, Stark, McCurdy, and others.

In the Revolutionary Army were fifty-seven from Dunbarton, including the brothers John and Thomas Mills, William Beard, and others. Caleb Stark, afterwards a resident, though very young, was with his father at Bunker Hill.

Henry L. Burnham used to tell a story of a cave on the farm which was his home for many years (now owned by John Haynes) which once sheltered a deserter from the Revolutionary Army. The man afterwards went to the northern part of the State, and at the very hour of his death, during a heavy thunder shower, the entrance to the cave was closed so completely that the most diligent search has failed to discover any trace of it.

In the war of 1812, eleven enlisted, and twelve were drafted. Probably Benjamin Bailey was the last survivor. Among those who went to the Mexican War were Benjamin Whipple and Charles G. Clement.

Dunbarton sent more than fifty men to the Civil War; several sent substitutes. To three men were given captain's [20] commissions, namely, William E. Bunten, Henry M. Caldwell, who died of fever in Falmouth, Va., in 1862, and Andrew J. Stone, who was killed at the Battle of the Wilderness in 1864. Marcus M. Holmes returned a lieutenant and Horace Caldwell was orderly sargeant; Wilbur F. Brown died of starvation at Andersonville, and Benjamin Twiss narrowly escaped a like fate at Libby Prison. He was suffocated in a mine in the Far West not very long ago.

Two young men went to the Spanish-American War who were born in Dunbarton, and had lived here the larger part of their lives, namely, William J. Sawyer, who enlisted in the New Hampshire Regiment from Concord, and Fred H. Mills, who enlisted at Marlboro, Mass., in the Sixth Massachusetts Regiment. He died in Goffstown, June 26, 1900, of disease contracted in the army.

No railroad touches the town, and probably never will, but an electric car route over the hill has been prophesied.

The mail has always come by way of Concord, and the carrier's wagon has furnished transportation for many people. Hon. William E. Chandler drove the mail wagon for a time some fifty years ago. The postoffice was first established in 1817, at the Center; another at North Dunbarton in 1834; a third at East Dunbarton in 1883. In 1899 the free rural delivery system was adopted, giving general satisfaction to the residents.

I have written chiefly of the past history of the town, but I think I may say that the people of the present day are endeavoring to maintain as good a reputation as their ancestors.

Footnotes

1 (return)
The early writers generally credited James Rogers with being of Scotch-Irish nativity, owing to the fact that he was confused with another person of the same name, who lived in Londonderry. (See Drummond's "James Rogers of Dunbarton and James Rogers of Londonderry.") The Dunbarton Rogers was undoubtedly of English birth, in which case the term "Mountalona," or "Montelonv," must have had some other derivation than that commonly ascribed to it.—Editor.

2 (return)
Probably 1739, and the Rogers family at least came from Massachusetts. This with the Putney or Pudney family seem to have been located in the winter of 1839-1840.—Editor.

3 (return)
From Dumbritton, the ancient name given to a fort raised by the Brittons on the north bank of the Clyde in early times.—Editor.