O' NT ^ O' <^°^ o . » ' .0 \» ^A0< *^^*' _ . J'\ '^^,' >^'"\ '^m' **"■% °-^P-" /"-* .0^ cOJIL"*. '^. '" jl'^'^ ..^••* "'<^ "" .n^^ ,0-0 • .*«;«ftv.^<' v^^^v^ %;^^'\/^ '^V^^V^ \/^&-\ \/ A* . ^ ' • * <^ d^ 6 » <» ^ "^^ NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. HENRY H. METCALF. I; ILLUSTRATED. CONXORD, N. H. : PUBLISHED KY KF.rUBLICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION. 1897. I 6 ' Ccp> -. \ CONTENTS. Introduction ..... Agricultural Societies and Fairs State Board of Agriculture New Hampshire State Grange, Patrons bandry ...... New Hampshire College of Agriculture Mechanic Arts .... Granite State Dairymen's Association New Hampshire Horticultural Society Personal and Farm Sketches Ayers, Augustine R. Bachelder, Hon. Nahum J. Bailey, John Baker, John B. Baker, Hon. William D. Ball, Sumner N. Ballard, William P. Barnard, Joseph Bean, Fred v^ill, Willard, Jr. Bishop, Edward E. . Brown, Herbert L. . Brown, Hon. Manson S. Bryant, Edward Burbank, William W. Burley, Harrison G. Caldwell, Prof. William H Carpenter, George Carr, John M. . of Hus- and the Page. 9 1 1 17 28 34 42 47 49 "3 49 191 362 125 392 96 321 196 366 354 157 181 148 317 345 75 295 103 CONTENTS. Cater, Henry F. Chadwick, William H. Chase, Willard W. . Child, William H. . Clark, Charles L. Clough, Philip C. . Cogswell, Col. Thomas Comings, Erasmus D. Connor, James M. Courser, Thomas J. . Cram, Frank E. Cressy, Addison S. . Duncan, Christy H. Farr, John W. Farr, Noah Fassett, Charles W. V Fisher, George W. Fisher, Warren J. Fox, Perley E. French, Warren A. . Gay, William E. Gerrish, James L. Gibson, Alonzo W. . Goodhue, George W. Gordon, Hon. Francis A Gould, Alfred J. Graves, Bela Greene, Willard T. . Greenough, Gilman . Griffiths Brothers Hadley, Herbert O. Hayes, Charles H. and S Hayes, James M. Hill, Horace A. Hodgman, Marcellus R. Howe, Joseph Drew Hoyt, Charles B. 334 139 198 202 397 221 140 245 61 389 154 238 145 162 223 185 100 178 306 347 283 69 231 201 299 2 17 72 234 394 328 85 402 88 281 187 90 384 CONTENTS. Humphrey, Hon. Moses *^Hutchinson, Emri C. Kelley, John L. Keyes, Henry W. Kimball, Charles F. Kimball, George B. l/hinle, George Peabody Lord, P. M. . Manning, Solomon . Maple Grove Farm McDaniel, Hon. Charles Mills, John C. Morgan, Belden Morrison, John C. Neal, William H. Newman, George Noyes, Henry Noyes, Samuel Titus Ordway, Hon. Nehemiah G Pattee, Stephen C. Peaslee, John Albert Perry, William H. Phillips, Chester H. Pressey, John M. Pulsifer, Thomas S. Ray, Hon. John C. Rice, George G. Rines, Mark Riverside Stock Farm Robbins, L. Harland Roberts, Joseph D. Rogers, Ezra B. Rovve, Jonathan Ryder, William H. Sanborn, Jacob Sanborn, Prof. J. VV Sargent, Walter 23 312 289 240 323 364 132 237 332 109 129 258 252 81 206 350 399 249 165 106 228 93 211 308 315 288 209 293 94 215 340 171 368 179 277 226 115 CONTENTS. Sawyer, Herbert N. Scammon, Hezekiah Shaw, Christopher C. Shepard, James E. Smith, Hon. Charles E. Stinson, Col. William H. Stone, Charles W. Stone, Edmund Tallant, Hon. John G. Taylor, Hon. Jonathan M Taylor, Thomas O. Tenney, Simon A. Thompson, I^ucien . Tilton, Zerah E. Tripp, Warren Trow, Clarence L. Wadleigh, George H. Wadleigh, Milton B. Walker, Hon. Joseph B. Wason, Hon. George A. Waterhouse, Charles H. Wellington, Edwin I. Wentworth, William T. Westgate, William F. Whitcher, Joseph Avery Whitcher, Prof. George H Whitney, George F., 2d White, Samuel S. Whittemore, Sidney B. Winch, Charles Woodward, Frank R. 386 337 136 64 406 273 302 212 150 173 189 124 37^ 243 158 194 127 265 54 255 260 271 359 356 376 381 310 149 267 326 120 INTRODUCTION. While volumes almost without number, setting iorth the work and achievements of men in public and profes- sional Hfe, in railroading, banking, and the various lines manufacture, have been written, printed, and issued to the world, comparatively little has been written, and still less issued in permanent form, concerning those who have won substantial success in that oldest and most hon- orable of human occupations — Agriculture. It is the purpose of this volume to supply, in some small measure, what is wanting in this regard, so far as the state of New Hampshire is concerned : to increase the interest in agriculture in the state and record the suc- cess which has crowned the efforts of representative New Hampshire farmers. If in so doing the writer shall succeed in advancing in any degree the welfare of this great industry, which remains and must continue the basis of our national prosperity, and which, even in New Hampshire, excels every other in magnitude and importance, he will have accomplished all that he hoped for, or had any right to expect. That he may do this by exciting a deeper pride in, and stronger devotion to, their noble calling in the minds of New Hampshire farmers and their sons, he sincerely trusts ; while earnestly reminding the latter that upon the continued and improved cultivation of these New Hampshire farms, upon which have been reared so many of the men who have directed the thought and energy of the nation in times past, lO INTRODUCTION. depends in no small degree our future national welfare and progress, while it brings directly to those engaged therein the substantial reward of intelligent and well- directed effort. From the examples cited in the following pages, it is clearly manifest that farming in New Hamp- shire has been made to " pay," even in the ordinary, material sense of the term. That with intelligent effort and improved methods it may be made to pay even more abundantly in the future, is not to be doubted. AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES AND FAIRS. The first settlements in New Hampshire were made in 1623, but agriculture seems to have been but an inci- dent in the occupation of the inhabitants during the first century of its history, fishing, on the coast, and lumbering in the interior, being the leading branches of industry. Subsequently, however, the people began to turn their attention more and more to the cultivation of the soil, and in the eighteenth century, even before the War of the Revolution, agriculture was the principal employ- ment of a majority of the people. Yet it was not until some time after the beginning of the present century that anything in the line of organized or cooperative effort was made, or attempted, in the state, for the gen- eral promotion of the interests of agriculture. The first agricultural society organized in New Hamp- shire was one in the county of Rockingliam, which was incorporated by the legislature in 1814. Nothing is re- corded of its work for the first two or three years. Two years later, the Cheshire County society was incor- porated (that county then including also the present county of Sullivan), and this society, in the following year — 1817 — petitioned the legislature for an appropria- tion in aid of its work. Governor Plumer, in his mes- sage that year, had commended the cause of agriculture to the favorable consideration of that body, and the result was that an appropriation of $100 tor each of the two societies — the Rockingham and Cheshire — was 12 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. made at that session. Neither of these societies held a fair that year, however; but in 1818, the legislature of that year having voted $300 each to these two societies, and $200 each to the societies in Hillsborough, Strafford, and Grafton counties, which it had just incorporated, both societies held fairs, or " cattle shows," as they were then more generall}^ known, that of the Cheshire society occurring first, on October 7, at Charlestown, and that for Rockingham county, later, at Chester. This Charlestown fair, at which some very liberal premiums were paid, including such as $25 for the best pair of working oxen, $15 for the best milch cow, $15 for the best acre of wheat, etc., is understood to have been the first exhibition of the kind ever held in the state. It is proper to remark, however, that a fair, in the old time and old country acceptation of the term, had been held in the town of Londonderry, embracing the present town of Derry, from the time of its incor- poration under the charter of King George, in 1722, down to 1838. This Londonderry fair was provided for in the king's charter, in conformity with the ideas and habits of the proprietors, who came from the region of Londonderry, Ireland, where such gatherings had long been in vogue. They were holden twice a year, in May and November, their object being to facilitate the sale and exchange of stock and merchandise. Quite an interest was aroused for a time by these sev- eral county societies, one for Coos county having also been organized in 1819, and some very successful exhi- bitions were held ; but in a few years the interest waned, legislative support was also withdrawn, and the socie- ties collapsed and went out of existence. One organized in the then new county of Merrimack, however, in Feb- ruary, 1824, of which Dr. Ebenezer Lerned was the first president, and Hon. Horace Chase, secretary, and which AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES AND FAIRS. I3 held the first fair at Sahsbury in October of that year, continued its existence, notwithstanding all depressing conditions, holding annual exhibitions in different towns of the county until its reorganization under a legislative charter in 1859, and its acquirement and fitting up of permanent exhibition grounds on the plains east of the Merrimack river, in Concord, in i860, where its fair was held that year and for many years subsequently, up to 1874, t^"^^ ^'^^^ ^^^ being in September of that year, though a state fair was holden there as late as 1882. Meanwhile, a few years previous to 1850, a revival of interest in agricultural organization had begun to mani- fest itself in the state. The Hillsborough County society was reorganized in 1847, and held a fair at Milford in the fall of 1849. Agitation for legislative encourage- ment of the agricultural interest had been revived, and efforts been made to secure the establishment of a State Board of Agriculture. On the 12th day of December, 1849, '^ meeting was held in the City hall in Manchester, in response to a call signed by a number of prominent farmers in different sections of the state, headed by Hon. Asa P. Cate of Northfield, to organize a State Agricul- tural society, which was done, Hon, George W. Nes- mith of Franklin being elected president ; John S. Walker of Claremont, secretary ; and Nathaniel B. Baker of Concord, treasurer; with a vice-president from each county, and an executive committee of five members. This society held a meeting in Concord in June fol- lowing, and made an effort, though without success, to secure an appropriation from the legislature, in aid of its work and that of county societies, legislative agri- cultural meetings being held for several evenings in the hall of the house of representatives, for the first time in its history. The organization was chartered by the legis- lature at that session, and its first annual exhibition, or 14 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. fair, was holden in Concord, October 2 and 3, following. The next year, the fair was held in Manchester, and in 1852 at Meredith Bridge, now Laconia. Subsequent fairs were holden in Keene, Dover, and Nashua, as well as Concord and Manchester ; but for many years during the latter part of the society's active existence, the latter city was the place of its exhibition, the last one occur- ring in 1885, thougii an exhibition purporting to be a state fair was held there in 1889. In Sullivan county, a society had been organized in 1848, and another in Cheshire county soon after, both of which held successful exhibitions for many years. The Rockingham County societ}^ was reorganized in 1852. The towns about Lebanon organized what was known as the Connecticut River Valley Agricultural society in 1847, holding a fair in that town. Ten years later this society was reorganized as a Grafton County society, and for a long series of years past, down to 1895, main- tained its fairs at Plymouth. In 1858, a Belknap County organization was formed, which held successful fairs at Laconia for a number of years. A Carroll County soci- ety was organized in i860, but was a short-lived affair, held but one or tw^o exhibitions, and has never been re- suscitated. Straftbrd county effected an organization in 1867, and Coos, in conjunction with Essex county, Vt., in 1869, this latter being the only one of the county societies that has maintained its organization and con- tinued its fairs — the latter being located at Lancaster — dowm to the present time. Local rivalry, and individual jealousy and ambition, soon prompted the organization of other associations in many of the counties, which operated to weaken, disin- tegrate, and finally destroy some of them. In 1856, the Souhegan Agricultural society, embracing the towns in the Souhegan valley and the southern part of Hillsbor- AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES AND FAIRS. 15 ough county, was organized, and held fairs for several years. In 1859, ^ North Hillsborough society had its inception, and held a fair two or three years at Weare. The same year, the Contoocook Valley association, em- bracing the towns in the section about Hillsborough, was formed, and fairs were held there for some time with success. A Merrimack River society, so called, es- tablished in 1858, had exhibition headquarters in Nashua for a number of years. The Oak Park association lield fairs at Greenfield for some time, from 1875, '^"•^ ^'^^ Piscataquog Agricultural societ}^ was established at Goftstown in 187S. In Cheshire county, the Ashuelot society was estab- lished, at Winchester, in 1863 ; the Piscataqua at Ports- mouth, in Rockingham, in 1867 ; the Mascoma Valley at Canaan, in Grafton, in 1870; the Kearsarge at War- ner, in Merrimack, in 1872 ; and the Suncook Valley at Pittsfield about the same time, — the only one of the en- tire number that has maintained a fair continuously to the present time being the Mascoma Valley. In 1876, the Upper Coos and Essex society was organ- ized, with headquarters at Colebrook, and has holden fairs nearly every year since. In many instances, two or three towns have combined in holdincr fairs for one or more 3'ears, the most notably successful arrangement of this kind being the Bradford and Newbury association, which has held remarkably attractive and well-attended fairs for about a quarter of a century. Town fairs have been held, at one time or another, by nearly half the towns in the state, some of them for many years continu- ously with marked success, as in the case of Chester, Derry, Sanbornton, New London, and others. The Rochester fair, started as a town exhibition over twenty years ago, soon overshadowed and practically waped out tiie Strafford County fair, and for many years past l6 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. has maintained interstate proportions, rivaling the New England fair in many respects. With the decadence of the State Agricultural society, and the cessation of its exhibitions, the Grange organ- ization came to the front, and organized a State Fair association, whose first exhibition was held at Tilton in 1886, on grounds fitted up for its use by Mr. Charles E. Tilton of that place, where successive fairs have been held annually ever since, generally with great success ; though the public patronage in the way of attendance is necessarily less than would be the case near a populous business centre. A Grafton and Coos Grange fair has also been held, with generally gratifjnng results, at Whitefield, for about the same length of time ; while for several years another has been held in Keene for Che- shire county. The Patrons within the jurisdiction of Merrimack County Pomona Grange have organized a fair association, and held t^airs on the old Kearsarge grounds at River Bow park, Warner, for the last tliree years, with good results, and a similar organization for Western Rockingham has been in operation for two years. All indications now point to the fact that for some years to come the agricultural fairs, or annual exhibitions of farm and domestic products, will be very generally under the control of the Grange, whether for state, county, dis- trict, or town ; just as the several subordinate Grange organizations have almost entirely done away with the numerous farmers' clubs, and other local agricultural societies, that flourished so generally from fifteen to thirty years ago. STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. Up to the year 1870 there was no department of the state government, nor any official organization connected therewith, having any special cognizance of affairs per- tainincr to the state's fundamental interest — a^jriculture — or authorized to promote its welfare : although fifty years earlier, as far back as 1820, the legislature had taken action in that direction, and provided for the estab- lishment of a State Board of Agriculture. This board was actually organized, held a few meetings, and made one report to the legislature, but there is no recorded evidence of its having done anything farther. The act under which it was established, was approved December 21, 1820, and pro\'ided that the presidents of the several agricultural societies within the state, with one delegate chosen from each society, should constitute a Board of Agriculture, and should convene on the first Monday after the annual meeting of the legislature, at the capitol or other place thought proper, any five members consti- tuting a quorum, elect a president, secretar}-, and such other officers as might be thought proper, receive and examine all reports and returns made by the county societies within the state, select for publication such of them, and such other essays relative to the' improvement of agriculture as they should think conducive to the advancement of agriculture, and annually publish a pamphlet, at the expense of the state, to be distributed by means of said agricultural societies to the people, not exceeding one thousand copies. It also provided that l8 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. it should be the duty of said Board of Agriculture " to examine into the organization of said societies, and their manner of transacting their business, and to recommend such alterations and improvements therein as they may deem expedient." There were at this time six regularly organized agri- cultural societies in the state, one for each county, the tirst having been organized in Rockingham county, which was incorporated by the legislature in 1814, and the second in Cheshire (embracing Sullivan) incorporated in June, 1816, while those in Strafford (embracing Bel- knap and Carroll), Hillsborough (embracing Merri- mack), and Grafton, were incorporated in June, 1818, and that in Coos in June, 1819. The members of the board thus constituted met at the state house, June 11, 1821, agreeable to the provision of the law, and adjourned for one week, when an organiza- tion was formed by the election of Hon. William Badger as president; Hon. Matthew Harvey, secretary ; Hon. Samuel Grant, treasurer; and Hon. Amos Kent, Rev. Humphrey Moore, and Hon. Samuel Grant, committee of publication. The legislature of 1821, then in session, passed an act amending the original statute creating the board, which was approved June 27, and which pro- vided that the annual meeting of the board should there- after be held on the second Wednesday in June, and that from and after the first Monday following the next annual meeting of the legislature, the board should con- sist of one delegate from each county society, instead of the presidents and delegates as originally provided. This legislature also passed a resolution appropriating the sum of eight hundred dollars " for the purpose of promoting the interest of agriculture and domestic man- ufactures in the state," of which the agricultural societies of Rockingham, Strafford, Hillsborough, Cheshire, and STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. I9 Grafton were allowed one hundred dollars each, that of Coos county fifty dollars, and the Board of Agriculture the remaining two hundred and fifty dollars. This appropriation presumably defrayed the expense of the preparation and publication of the first annual report of the board, which was presented to the next session of the legislature, that of 1822, and which was embraced in a pamphlet of 135 pages, including preface, the laws instituting the board, a brief report of the organization, an introductory essay on the rise and progress of agriculture, and a review of its condition in the state, essays on manure, rotation of crops, culture of wheat, culture of Indian corn, and culture of English tur- nips, and an address delivered before the Hillsborough County Agricultural society, at Hopkinton, October 17, 1821, by Rev. Humphrey Moore, who is also understood to have written the introductory essay, and most of the others. No other report of the board appears to have been made, and the board itself seems to have relapsed into " innocuous desuetude," and disappeared from existence. Efforts had been made at different times previous to 1870, to establish a new Board of Agriculture, but with- out avail, although nearly the requisite strength in the legislature was more than once secured, but in that year a measure was passed without substantial opposition, which was approved by the governor July 2, and which provided for the appointment by the governor and council, of " ten practical and intelligent citizens, one from each count}^ in the state, who shall constitute a Board of Agriculture, and hold their oflices for three years." The persons appointed were authorized to meet, at such time and place as the first named might designate, choose a chairman, appoint a secretary, and prescribe his duties. The law provided that they should 20 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. " investigate such subjects in relation to improvements in agriculture and kindred arts as they shall think proper," also that they should " cause to be analyzed samples of such commercial fertilizers as may from time to time be offered for sale in this state, collect and dis- tribute grain and other seeds, keep lull records of their proceedings," and also authorized them to " take, hold in trust for the state, and exercise control over, donations made for promoting agricultural education and the gen- eral interests of husbandry." It was also provided that they should solicit returns and reports from the different agricultural societies in tlie state, and furnish blanks for the purpose ; also that they should make a full report to the governor of all their doings, on or before the first day of May annually, with such recommendations and suggestions as in their judgment the interests of agricul- ture shall require, together with a detailed and explicit statement of all expenses incurred by them. It was expressly provided that the members of the board should receive no compensation for services, but should be entitled to receive their expenses necessarily incurred in the legitimate discharge of their duties. Soon after the passage of the act, the governor and council appointed the following named gentlemen as members of the board provided for : Merrimack county — Moses Humphrey, Concord. Rockingham count}' — ^J. Frank Lawrence, Epping. Strafford county — Charles Jones, Milton. Belknap countv — Thomas J. Whipple, Laconia. Carroll county — W. H. H. Mason, Moultonborough. Hillsborough county — James O. Adams, Manchester. Cheshire county — Sampson W. Buffum, Winchester. Sullivan county — Edward H. Brown, Cro^'don. Grafton county — Luther B. Hoskins, Lyman. Coos county — Nathan R. Perkins, Jefferson. STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 21 In response to the proper call, these gentlemen, with the exception ot" the member from Belknap county, met in the council chamber, at the state house, and organ- ized with Hon. Moses Humphre\' ot" Concord as chair- man, and James O. Adams of Manchester as secretary- Subsequent meetings were held at Manchester, Sep- tember 7, and at Concord, October 14, at the latter of which a sub-committee was appointed to prepare and issue an address to the farmers of the state, which was done. The first public meeting of the board was held in Eagle hall, Concord, November 29 and 30, various topics of interest to farmers being discussed at the several sessions, by different speakers, including Hon. Simon Brown of Concord, Mass., Col. David M. Clough of Canterbury, J. F. Lawrence of Epping, S. C. Pattee and Levi Bartlett, of Warner, Joseph B. Walker of Con- cord, John L. Keiley of Franklin, Dr. W. H. H. Mason of Moultonborough, Hiram R. Roberts of Rollinsford, and many others. Other public meetings were held, during the ensuing winter, at Milford, Winchester, Keene, Lebanon, Derry, Chester, Meredith, and Exeter. During each subsequent winter season a greater or less number of these public meetings, generally known as " Farmers" Institutes," have been held in different sections of the state, under the auspices of the board, the series for the last season, commencing early in the autumn of 1896, having been the most extended, the most generally attended, and by far the most profitable. At these meetings, generally, practical subjects, bear- ing directly upon the agriculture of the state, are taken up and presented at length by able speakers, specially qualified, and then opened to the meeting for general discussion as far as time will permit. For many years past it has been the practice of the board to hold a mid- summer field meeting (^of late in connection with the 22 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. State Grange) either at the beach or the lakeside, and a general two days' winter meeting, which has also for some years been in connection with that of the Granite State Dairymen's association, at both of which able speakers are heard upon subjects of general or special importance. The names of the gentlemen who have served for greater or less periods of time as members of the board since its institution in 1870, are as follows, the same being arranged by counties : Rockingham county — J. Frank Lawrence, Epping ; John M. Weare, Seabrook ; William H. Hills, Plaistow ; John D. Lyman, Exeter. Mr. Lyman has served con- tinuously since January 28, 1885. Strafford county — Charles Jones, Milton ; Hiram R. Roberts, Rollinstbrd ; Joshua B. Smith, Durham ; Albert DeMerritt, Durham ; Lucien Thompson, Dur- ham ; James M. Hayes, Dover. Mr. Jones resigned shortly after the organization of the board, and was suc- ceeded by Judge Roberts, who served five years. Mr. Hayes, the present member, has served since September, 1892. Belknap county — Thomas J. Whipple, Laconia ; Thomas Cogswell, Gilmanton ; Jeremiah W. Sanborn, Gilmanton ; Charles W. Hackett, Belmont; George S. Philbrick, Tilton : George H. Wadleigh, Tilton. Col. Whipple never served, and Mr. Cogswell was soon appointed in his place, resigning in 1872, when Mr. Sanborn was appointed. Mr. Wadleigh, the present member, was appointed in November, 1894. Carroll county — W. H. H. Mason, Moultonborough ; Samuel B. Shackford, Conway; W. H. H. Mason, again ; Alonzo Towle, Freedom ; Charles B. Hoyt, Sandwich. Dr. Mason served six years the first, and nine years the second time, making a longer service STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 23 than that of any other member except Mr. Humphrey, while Dr. Towle served nine years, up to November, 1897, w^hen Mr. Hoyt was appointed. Merrimack countv had but one member, Hon. Moses Humphrey of Concord, who has been the presiding officer of the board from the start, until the appointment, in November, 1897, of Hon. Joseph B. Walker of the same city, upon the completion of twenty-seven years' service by Mr. Humphrey, and his expressed desire to be relieved from further labor.* Mr. Walker, however, * Moses Humphrey was born in Hinsham, Mass., October 20. 1807. His edu- cational opportunities were limited, and his occupation in early life was that of a sailor, which he pursued so industriously and intelligently that he soon came to the command of a vessel. He followed the sea for some years, but finally engaged in the manufacture of mackerel kits, and, having invented certain improvements in the process, he established himself in business in that line at Croydon Flat, in this state, where he had visited relatives in youth, and found a wife. Here he remained several years, until, in 1851, he removed to Concord, establishing his manufactorj^ at West Concord, where he con- tinued to carry on the work for some time, meanwhile engaging to a consider- able extent in agriculture, making many experiments, and taking special in- terest in corn culture, which, as he has always insisted, has been too greatly neglected by New Hampshire farmers. His theory is that New Hampshire can and should produce all the corn consumed within its borders, and that it can be done with profit to those directly concerned. Taking a strong interestln matters of public concern, Mr. Humphrey was chosen a member of the common council of the city of Concord upon the es- tablishment of the city government in 18.53, and the following year was presi- dent of that body. The next two years he was a member of the board of alder- men. In 1861 and 1862 he was Mayor of the city, a position of unusual respon- sibility from the multiplicity of important duties incident to the lireaking (uit and prosecution of the Civil War, and again, in 1865, the closing year of the war, he was called to the same otfice. In 1857 and 1858, he was a member of the .state legislature, and again in 1875 and 1876, rendering efficient service both terms. He was a member of the executive council of the state during the incumbency of Gov. Onslow Stearns, in 1869 and 1870, and, upon the creation of the State Board of Agriculture, for whose establishment he had long labored, he was ap- pointed a member of the same for the county of Merrimack, and continued in that position, from term to term, for twenty -seven years, until November, 1897, serving continuousl.v as president of the Board, and devoting much time and labor to the success of its work. Mr. Humphrey initiated and carried out the work of building the Concord street railway, was its president and superintendent for many years, and effected the change to electricity as a motive power, and has been foremost in many movements and enterprises looking to the progress of his city and state. In politics he has been an earnest Republican. In religion he is a Uni- versalist, and has long been prominent in his denomination in city, state, and nation. On the occurrence of his ninetieth birthday anniversary, he was hon- ored with a public reception in the State House at Concord, which was a marked demonstration of the high esteem in which he is held bj- the people. Hon. Moses Humphrey, For Twenty-Seven Years President of the State Board of Agriculture. STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 25 has been one of the most valued speakers at the insti- tutes held by the board ever since its organization. Hillsborough county — James O. Adams, Manchester ; B. F. Hutchinson, Milford ; D. H. Goodell, Antrim; Joseph Farnum, Peterborough ; George A. Wason, New Boston; Joseph A. Hall, Brookline ; Herbert O. Hadley, Temple. Mr. Hall, who had served two years upon his second term, died in August, 1897, and Mr. Hadley was appointed in his place. Cheshire county — Sampson W. Buffum, Winchester ; George K. Harvey, Surry; Jason S. Perry, Rindge ; Willard Bill, Jr., Westmoreland. Messrs. Harvey and Perry served nine years each. Mr. Bill was appointed in September, 1895. Sullivan county — Edward H. Brown, Croydon ; John S. Walker, Claremont ; Edmund Burke, Newport; Hiram Parker, Lempster ; Charles McDaniel, Spring- field ; Bela Graves, Unity ; William H. Sisson, Cornish. Mr. Brown resigned in December following his appoint- ment, and was succeeded by Mr. Walker. Messrs. Parker and McDaniel served two terms each. Mr. Sis- son was appointed in July, 1896. Grafton county — Luther B. Hoskins, Lyman ; Charles F. Kingsbury, Lyme ; C. M. Tuttle, Littleton ; John E. Carr, North Haverhill ; Charles E. Swazey, Bethlehem ; George W. Mann, Benton; Edward E. Bishop, Bethle- hem. Mr. Bishop was appointed in November, 1897, to succeed Mr. Mann, at the expiration of his second term, December 26, 1897. Coos county — Nathan R. Perkins, Jefferson ; Horace F. Holton, Lancaster; Barton G. Towne, Lancaster; S. B. Whittemore, Colebrook ; F. P. Covell, Colebrook ; Osgood F. Covell, Colebrook ; Joseph D. Howe, Lan- caster ; Loren J. Miner, Whitefield. Mr. Whittemore served longer than any other Coos member — from 1881 to 1889. Mr. Miner was appointed in July 1896. 26 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. Thus it appears that fifty-four different men have been appointed upon the Board of Agricuhure since its estab- hshment, serving from a few months to the full period of twenty-seven years, each, A few of these have been lawyers, several doctors, some merchants, and manu- factures ; but the most have been farmers, and all, or nearly all, directly engaged in agriculture to some extent. Some have rendered little aid in the work of the board, but most have manifested strong interest, and rendered such service as time and ability made possible, while a number have been quite active and efficient in arranging and addressing meetings, and carrying out the general woi-k of the board. The original act establishing the Board of Agriculture, neither defined the duties of the secretary of the board, nor fixed his compensation, but left the board, itself, to do the former, and the governor and council the latter. But by an act approved July 3, 1872, the legislature pre- scribed at length and in detail, the duties of the secretary, making him indeed the executive officer or agent of the board, and practically putting its work into his hands, as well as extending the same materially beyond that origi- nally prescribed, and at the same time fixed his salary at $1,000 per annum. The revised Public Statutes of 1891 put the salary of the secretary at $1,500 per annum. Mr. James O. Adams, of Manchester, who was the original Hillsborough county member, was elected secre- tary upon the organization of the board, and was con- tinued in that position until his death February 7, 1887. Mr. Adams was a ready writer, and an easy speaker, and contributed largely, both with pen and voice, to pro- mote the work of the organization. Mr. Adams was succeeded by Nahum J. Bachelder of Andover, then secretary of the State Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, between which organization and the Board STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 2^ of Agriculture the best friends of agricultural progress in the state had long felt it desirable to effect greater harmon}' and more perfect cooperation, which result was largely accomplished through Mr. Bachelder's appoint- ment to the position which he has since filled with great credit to himself, and to the complete satisfaction of the New Hampshire farmers and the public at large. Since Mr. Bachelder's selection as secretary of the board the duties of the position have been materially increased through statutory enactments. The legisla- ture of 18S9 enacted a measure authorizing the governor and council " to designate a person to collect necessary information in regard to the opportunities for developing the agricultural resources of the state through immigra- tion," and to cause the facts obtained and statement of the advantages offered, to be circulated as the governor and council might consider best, and appropriating $2,500, annually for the purpose. The governor and council designated the secretary of the State Board of Agriculture to attend to the work in question, and by the terms of the revised Public Statutes of 1891, he is specifically charged with that responsibility, the per- manent annual appropriation being reduced to $2,000. The secretary is also made, by the terms of the act establishing a state board of cattle commissioners, a member of that board, and a large share of the labor involved in carrying out the provisions of the law has devolved upon him. In both these important spheres of duty he has rendered zealous, faithful, and efficient service. NEW HAMPSHIRE STATE GRANGE, PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY. Of the many farmers' organizations brought into exist- ence in recent years for advancing the interests of hus- bandry, none have achieved so great success or assumed such a permanent character as the Grange of the Patrons ot Husbandry. The foundation of the organization was laid in the city of Washington, D. C, by seven men, v^'hose names have since become household words through- out the country. The names of these men, which are always spoken with reverence and respect, are, William Saunders, John Trimble, F. M. McDowell, J. R. Thompson, W. M. Ireland, O. H. Kelley, and A. B. Grosh. These men were connected with the agricultural department of the federal government, and thus had an opportunity of knowing the needs of the agricultural class, and realized the necessity of some organization, the work of which could be brought into closer contact with the farmers than was possible through a national or state department. After a thorough study of the ques- tion and widespread investigation, covering months of earnest and persistent work, the framework of the organ- ization was perfected, and submitted to the farmers of the country for an endorsement, on the fourth day of December, 1867. The men who have the honor of bring- ing the organization into existence, and who have the heartfelt gratitude of the farming class from Maine to California, lived to witness the grand result of their STATE GRANGE, PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY. 29 efforts, and three still survive, including the present worthy secretary, John Trimble. The farmers were somewhat suspicious at first of the new organization, and during the first year its progress was slow. Its practical quafities for advancing the inter- ests of the farmer and iiis family were appreciated as soon as understood, and Granges were organized with great rapidity throughout the length and breadth of tlie land. The first State Grange was organized in Minnesota, February 23, 1869, and the second in Iowa, January 12, 187 1. The movement did not reach New England as early as some other sections of the country. The first Grange in New Hampshire was organized at Exeter, August 19, 1873, known as Gilman Grange, No. i, with Hon. John D. Lyman, master. A meeting was held in Manchester, December 23 of the same year, for the pur- pose of organizing a State Grange. Fifteen of the seventeen subordinate Granges organized in New Hamp- shire previous to this date were represented at the meeting. T. A. Thompson, lecturer of the National Grange, pre- sided, and organized the New Hampshire State Grange, with the followincr ofiicers : Master — D. T. Chase, Claremont. Overseer — C. H. DeRochemont, Kingston. Lecturer — John D. Lyman, Exeter. Stezvard — L. T. Sanborn, Hampton Falls. Assistant Stezuard — I. A. Reed, Newport. Chaflain — ^J. F. Keyes, Ashland. Treasurer — D. M. Clough, Canterbury. Secretary — C. C. Shaw, Milford. Gate-keeper — J. U. Prince, Amherst. C^;-^5— Mrs. C. C. Shaw. Pomona — Mrs. J. U. Prince. Flora— Mi-s. A. B. Tallant, East Concord. Lady Assistant Stezvard — Mrs. L. T. Sanborn. 30 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. Since the organization of the New Hampshire State Grange, two hundred and sixty-two subordinate Granges have been organized in the state, thirteen of which have been brought into existence during the year 1897. Two hundred and twenty-eight of the total number organized hold meetings regularly and are doing active work. The first Pomona Grange was organized in New Hampshire in 1883, and the present number of Pomona Granges in the state is sixteen. The total membership of the subordinate Granges is about twenty thousand, there having been a net gain of about fifteen hun- dred during the present year, while the membership in the countr}' at large reaches into the hundreds of thou- sands. The total membership of the Pomona Granges in New Hampshire is about six thousand. The subordi- nate and Pomona Granges of New Hampshire are hold- ing about five thousand meetings annually for the discussion of agricultural subjects and the advancement of their members in social and educational lines. D. T. Chase served as master of the State Grange until 1880, when he was succeeded by George A. Wason of New Boston. William H. Stinson of Dunbarton was elected master, in December, 1883, and served three years, when he resigned, and was succeeded by Charles McDaniel of Springfield. Mr. McDaniel served five years, and in December, 1891, the present master, N. J. Bachelder, was elected. The other officers for 1897 are : Overseer — E. E. Rugg, Keene. Lecturer — Hezekian Scammon, Exeter. Stezvard — Howard B. Holman, East Tilton. Assistant Stezvard — Herbert O. Hadley, Temple. Chaplain — Rev. E. Howard Fisher, Gilford. Treasurer — Hon. Jonathan M. Taylor, Sanbornton. Secretary — Emri C. Hutchinson, Milford. Gate-keeper — Adam Dickey, Manchester. STATE GRANGE, PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY. 3 1 Ceres — Mrs. N. J. Bachelder, East Andover. Pomona — Mrs. S. N. Ball, Washington. Flora — Miss Jeannie McMillan, North Conway. Lady Assistant Stezuard — Mrs. E. E. Rugg, Keene. Alonzo Towle of Freedom is the general deputy, and the master and secretary, with John M. Carr, Wilmot, Joseph D. Roberts, Rollinsford, and James E. Shepard, New London, constitute the. executive committee. The Patrons' Relief Association, which is a life insur- ance compan}^ for members of the Grange, was organized in 1876. The present Grange Mutual Fire Insurance Company was organized in 1888, for insuring propert}^ owned by members of the Grange against loss by tire. This com- pany has risks in force amounting to three million dollars, and is rapidly growing. The total expense to the insured has been less than one half of one per cent, for a three years' period of insurance. The New Hampshire Grange Fair Association was organized in 1886, and has held twelve annual exhibi- tions, generally with marked success. The premium exhibits are limited to members of the Grange. The Grange has wielded a strong influence in national and state legislation by an intelligent and conservative discussion of measures affecting the farming interests. It appeals to the judgment of the legislators by creating a public sentiment in favor of just measures rather than by open hostility or threatening action. It regards differ- ence of opinion as no crime, but earnestly and effectually maintains its position if sound and right. There is no pai'ty politics in the Grange, and it holds itself above the tricks and schemes of cheap political manipulators. It aims to secure the nomination for office of honest and trusty men, who will stand by the indus- trial interests, in all parties, leaving its members to 32 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. affiliate with that party by which, in their opinion, the interests of the country will be best subserved. No secret organization was ever conceived and given birth amid more bitter opposition or found in its pathway more obstacles to overcome than the Grange ; and yet, no association of similar character ever entered a wider field for usefulness, had greater possibilities before it, or won in the same time a higher measure of regard from intel- ligent people for its work. The prime cause of antipathy to the organization at the start, was an erroneous impression in regard to its objects and purposes. The Grange is founded upon principles of such broad and philanthropic character that a thorough investigation must result in a higher appreciation of its ennobling influence. It is an organization formed not merely for amusement, but for the grand object of assist- ing the farmer and his family, not only to agricultural knowledge, but to social and educational culture and to a higher standard of morality. It breaks up the monotony and isolation of farm life by providing means of social enjoyment, the absence of which has been a prolific source of deserted farms. It furnishes the means by which the farmer's education and mental development may be continued in connection with the daily avocations of farm life, and thus enables him in some degree to keep pace with his associates in other business and professions whose daily duties require mental activity and discipline. In the words of one of the distinguished founders of the order, under its influence " Honesty is inculcated, education nurtured, temperance supported, brotherly love cultivated, and charity made an essential characteristic." Another characteristic which commends itself to all, is the proper appreciation of the abilities and sphere of woman, by admitting her to full membership. Through STATE GRANGE, PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY. ^^ these various lines, this organization carries sunshine and happiness to thousands of American farm homes, cuhure and refinement to members of farmers' families, and exerts an elevating influence upon the rural population of the entire land. In addition to its practical benefits in making agricul- ture more profitable, we should remember its higher objects, which are included in the education, culture, and refinement of the farmer and his family, developing a better and higher manhood and womanhood in the broadest sense of the term, thus contributing to the repu- tation and good name of the state and nation. It is no wonder that such an organization has received the hearty endorsement of the more intelligent farmers throughout the country, and become so prosperous and popular in the Granite state, for its principles need only to be under- stood to be appreciated. Notwithstanding the commendable progress which the Grange has made in New Hampshire, it has by no means reached the zenith of its prosperity. The number of sub- ordinate Granges shovild be still increased, for there are agricultural towns at present without the organization, and the number of meetings should be increased in many cases. When these things are accomplished, twentv-five meet- ings being held in each town during the year, the organ- ization will be so far perfected as to extend to all sections the elevating power of the Grange, in purifying the social atmosphere, extending the benefits of education, aiding and abetting the work of the church, and advancing the interests of New Hampshire throughout the entire rural community. 3 N. H. COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND THE MECHANIC ARTS. In compliance with the terms of the act of congress, approved July 2, 1862, making a conditional grant of land to the several states, in aid of the maintenance of colleges whose " leading object shall be, without exclud- ing other scientific and classical studies, and including military tactics, to teach such branches of learning as are related to agriculture and the mechanic arts," which grant had been formally accepted by act of the legisla- ture in the following year, an act was passed by the legislature of 1866, establishing the "New Hampshire College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts," and providing for its location at Hanover, in connection with Dartmouth college. In accordance with this act, the institution was organized and opened to students in 1868. One of the strong reasons operating to insure the location at Hanover was found in the fact that Hon. David Culver of Lyme had left an estate looking to the establishment of an agricultural college in that town, but, the conditions imposed not having been accepted, the property had, in accordance with a further provision, gone to Dartmouth college to be used tor agricultural instruction; w^hile the income of $4,800 per annum, realized from the $80,000 for which the 150,000 acres of ^6 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE, land granted by congress had been sold, was entirely inadequate for the work in hand. To provide a suitable building for recitation-rooms and other necessary purposes, Dartmouth college offered $25,000 from the Culver fund, conditioned upon the appropriation of at least $15,000 more by the state, which was given, and the building known as Culver hall was commenced in 1869, and completed in June, 187 1. Meanwhile, Hon. John Conant of Jaffrey had become interested, and had purchased a farm adjacent to the college, which he gave to the institution. A con- tiguous tract of land, opposite Culver hall, was also purchased by the college, and upon it Conant hall, designed to furnish rooms and board for the students, was subsequently erected, and opened for use in 1874, Mr. Conant having given $5,000 toward the expense^ and the state the balance of the total cost, which exceeded $20,000. Later Mr. Conant increased his benefactions to the college, adding largely to the farm, and establishing a scholarship for each town in Cheshire county. The endowment income, with the small receipts from tuition, even upon the liberal terms of the arrangement with Dartmouth, proved inadequate for the maintenance of the college, and aid from the state was necessary. Up to 1875, about $15,000 in all, aside from the amount given for the construction of Culver hall, had been given by the legislature, and a debt of $7,000 had been con- tracted. More assistance was needed, and the legisla- ture was called upon to provide it. In 1877 an appro- priation of $3,000 per annum for six years was voted, $1,000 per annum to be used toward payment of the debt, $1,000 for salary of a farm superintendent, and $1,000 toward the erection of a new farm house. In 1883 an appropriation of $2,000 a year for two years N. H. COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE. 37 was voted, and in 1885 a perpetual appropriation of $3,000 per annum was provided. vSince 1877 the college has had an independent faculty, whose members have been gradually increased in num- ber from four to fourteen, and the course of study has extended from three years, at the start, to four years. The standard of admission has also been materially raised. When the institution opened, examination was required only in arithmetic, geography, and English grammar. History was added in 1869, algebra in 1877, and physiology in 1886. In 1889 pl^ne geometry was recommended, and made obligatory after 1891. At present, the standard is practically the same as for admis- sion to the scientitic departments of other colleges, and the requirements are stated in detail in the catalogue. By an act of congress, approved March 2, 1887, the sum of $15,000 annually was granted to each state accepting the provisions of the act of 1862, for the estab- lishment and maintenance of agricultural experiment stations " to aid in acquiring and diffusing among the people of the United States useful and practical inform- ation on subjects connected with agriculture, and to pro- mote scientitic investigation and experiment respecting the principles and application of agricultural science." The acceptance of this grant by the state furnished means never before enjoyed for thorough work in scien- titic and practical agriculture. In 1890 the means and facilities for general instruction were greatly increased by the act of congress appropriating to each of the states the sum of $15,000 for the first year, the same to be increased by $1,000 annually until the amount of $25,000 should be reached, whereafter the appropriation should be continuous at the latter figure. The bequest of the late Benjamin Thompson of Dur- ham, of his " Warner farm " in that town, and personal 38 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. estate to the value of $363,000, to the state of New Hampshire, for the establishment and maintenance of an agricultural school to be located on said farm, the scope of instruction being extended, by a codicil to the origi- nal will, to include also the mechanic arts, aroused a deeper interest than had before existed, in industrial education in the state, and the legislature of 1891, by an act approved March 5, accepted the gift, and proceeded, by appropriate enactments, to provide for the removal of the New Hampshire College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts from Hanover to Duriiam, and the con- struction of the necessary buildings and equipments to meet the requirements of the institution upon its enlarged and far more promising basis. 333 The trustees of the college, in compliance with the terms of the act of April, 1891, providing for the removal, and appropriating $100,000 for the purpose, took imme- diate action in that direction. All the real estate of the college in Hanover was disposed of at private sale for $28,000 cash, and arrangements were made for repay- ment to the state by Dartmouth college of the $15,000 appropriated toward the erection of Culver hall. In entering upon the work of removal and rebuilding the college in its new location, the trustees found themselves N. H. COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE. 39 facing a problem of no small difficulty ; but the best available talent was invoked in laying out the grounds, locating the buildings, and developing the natural beauty of the new surroundings. The track of the Boston & Maine railroad at present runs through the college grounds, but the road has in contemplation the removal of the track to the west of all the college buildings, thus removing the objectionable effects of the present loca- tion. In 1892, work was begun for the erection of an experiment station, building a barn, a science hall, work- shops, and boiler house, and the main college building to contain the office, recitation-rooms, library, museum, hall, etc., and carried forward to completion as expedi- tiousl}^ as possible. All the buildings are of brick with the exception of the barn, and are thoroughly con- structed upon approved modern plans. A steam-heating plant warms all the buildings from a central station so as to secure the most comfort to the occupants and avoid the danger of fire. A dam constructed across a small stream, about half a mile from the buildings, furnishes a sufficient supply of water for all the purposes of the college. Since its establishment at Durham, the enrolment of students has increased from twelve to one hundred and forty. The courses of study have been advanced and broadened, and the standard raised, little by little. To meet a demand from the smaller agricultural towns, a two years' course in agriculture has been inaugurated, and has proved successful. In response to a similar demand, a preparatory course of one year's length has been added, which is designed to bridge the gap be- tween the college and the district school. The college offers various courses, which may be scheduled thus : 40 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. 4y ears. 2 4 4 4 4 4 4 3' ears. I y ear. 4 weeks 4 ( ( Course in Agriculture Two years' Agricultural Course Course in Mechanical Engineering Course in Electrical Engineering Course in Technical Chemistry Course in Agricultural Chemistry Course in Agricultural Biology . General Course Preparatory Course . Course in Dairying . Summer Course in Science It is impossible to treat of all these courses in detail, in this connection. The time alloted each suggests its pos- sibilities. Information in full may be gathered from the catalogue, copies of which, as well as the bulletins of the Experiment Station, may be had upon application by mail to the president of the college or the secretary of the faculty. The legislature of 1893 made an appropriation of $35,000 for the benefit of the college, for completing and furnishing the buildings, and for other purposes, since which the only appropriation originating in a request from the college was one of $3,105 made by the last legislature for the purchase of land. The last two legislatures, however, have appropriated $2,500 per annum for the benefit of the two years' course in agriculture and the horticultural department, estab- lished under direction of the legislature of 1895. Reference should be made in this connection to the men to whom the college has been specially indebted for their interest and labors in its behalf, most of whom are now deceased. Professor Ezekiel W. Dimond, who died in 1876, was a most devoted and faithful laborer for the welfare of the institution in its earlier days, and made great sacrifices in its behalf. President Smith, who was strongly interested in the inception of the college move- N. H. COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE. 41 ment and its establishment at Hanover, and gave thought and effort toward its success, resigned March i, 1872, and died soon after. Hon, John Conant, whose financial benefactions to the college exceeded those of all others up to that time, died April 6, 1877. Hon. George W. Nesmith of Franklin, who was elected president of the board of trustees after the resignation of President Smith, and held the position until his death in 1890, gave great aid in various directions, and his memory has ap- propriately been perpetuated by giving the name of Nesmith Hall to the new Experiment Station building at Durham. Ex-Gov. Frederick Smyth, who was the treasurer of the college from the start, and who, having signed the act of incorporation as governor, naturally took a strong interest in its welfare and progress, never failed the institution in any time of need, while health and strength remained. The death of ex-Gov. Benjamin F. Prescott removed from the board of trustees another tower of strength, whose clear insight, fearless spirit, and persist- ent fidelity gave inestimable value to his connection with the college. After the death of Judge Nesmith, Hon. Lyman D. Stevens of Concord was chosen president of the college, and served in that capacity with great effi- ciency and earnest devotion for three years, until July, 1893, when he was succeeded by the present incumbent, Charles S. Murkland, Ph. D. GRANITE STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCI- ATION. While some excellent butter and cheese was made in the state of New Hampshire twenty-hve or fifty years ago, the great bulk of those products sent out of the state was of very ordinary quality, and the term " New Hampshire butter," was never thought of by any- body as embodying anything in the shape of a guaranty of excellence. So far as New England was concerned, Vermont was looked to for really first-class butter, and such continued to be the case, in fact, until within the last six years or less. Indeed, it was not until the unbiased judgment and authoritative decision of the expert judges at the great Columbian exposition, or World's fair, in Chicago in 1893, gave New Hampshire the post of honor by giving her butter exhibits the highest average record attained by any state or any country, and the fact was published to the world, that any one came to under- stand or believe that New Hampshire butter was specially desirable in the market or on the table. Now, however, the situation is materially different. Vermont butter, though just as good as ever and unques- tionably better, since Vermont dairymen, as well as those of other states, have kept pace with the progress of the times, no longer commands the place of honor in the Boston market, or on the tables of the leading hotels and the most fastidious families. New Hampshire is now abreast and even in the lead in this regard, and unless there is a change for the worse in the progressive spirit GRANITE STATE DAIRYMEN's ASSOCIATION. 43 of her dairymen and creamery managers, that proud and satisfactory position will be maintained in the years to come. The leading instrumentality in effecting this improved condition of things is the organization known as the "Granite State Dairymen's Association," the credit of whose inception is due to a few enterprising dairymen, prominent among whom are the two gentlemen who now hold the offices of president and vice-president respect- ively ^James M. Connor of Hopkinton and Charles H. Waterhouse then of Harrington, more recently of the world-renowned Hillside Creamery, Cornish, and now at the head of the dairy school at the New Hampshire Col- lege of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts, at Durham — the former having been president from the start. This association was organized in Concord, March i8, 1884, a preliminary meeting having been held in Man- chester during the previous month, upon a call issued by Mr. Waterhouse, and in pursuance of the suggestions of published articles in various newspapers of the state, written by Mr. Connor. The otiicers elected upon the organization of the associadon were as follows : President— ]^n\itii M. Connor, Hopkinton. Vice-prestdenls — Isaac W. Springfield, Rochester: Geo. B. Wilhams, Walpole. Sccretar\ — ^James O. Adams, Manchester. rra/5«;c/— Charles N. Clough, Canterbury. Trustees. Strafford county— C. H. Waterhouse, Harrington. SulHvan county— P. M. Rossiter, Claremont. Rockingham county — C. H. Hayes, Portsmouth. Hillsborough county — ^J. I. Burns, Milford. Cheshire county— J. H. Milville, Nelson. Merrimack county— J. I. Gerrish, Webster. 44 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. Belknap county — George Brown, Tilton. Carroll county — Charles H. Mason, Moultonborough. Grafton county — Charles H. Boynton, Lisbon. Coos county — Samuel T. No^-es, Colebrook, Mr. Connor has been continued in the presidency of the association from year to year, while Mr. Adams served as secretary up to the time of his death in 1887, when he was succeeded by James L. Gerrish of Webster, who has since held the position. The annual membership fee of the association is one dollar, while live dollars pays for a life membership. While up to the present time too few of the dairymen of the state have united with the association, and taken an interest in its work, it has accomplished much for the advancement of this great industry, which has become a leading feature of American agriculture, and is destined to increase in importance from year to year. In 1886, the association voted to have an exhibit of dairy products in connection with the state fair (the last exhibition held by the New Hampshire Agricultural Society), the prizes offered being provided by the association and the agricul- tural society jointly, the former raising the money for the purpose by subscription. The following winter, a meeting was held by the asso- ciation at the New Hampshire Experiment Station in Hanover, upon the invitation of Director George H. Whitcher, who offered, in behalf of the station, to pro- vide the means for a practical test of the comparative advantages of the two systems of creaming — cold, deep setting, and centrifugal separation. The meeting was an interesting one, the rivalry developed most exciting, and the outcome gave a decided impetus to the separator movement, which has had so much to do with the advance in dairy methods in the state. The great need of the association was proper funds GRANITE STATE DAIRYMEN's ASSOCIATION. 45 with which to carry on the work in an effective manner. At last, it was determined to make a strong effort to secure legislative aid, and a committee was appointed to labor to that end, whose work was done to such effect that by an act, approved August 14, 1889, the sum of tive hundred dollars, annually, was appropriated " for the use of the Granite State Dairymen's Association, to be expended by the executive committee thereof, under the direction of the association, for the purpose of promoting the usefulness of said association to those engaged in dairying in the state." The amount of this appropriation has been expended by the association in prizes for the best dairy products, for addresses by competent speakers from abroad on dairy subjects, and in printing the annual report of the pro- ceedings and meetings, for the benefit of all interested. The annual winter meetings, at which the competitive exhibits have also been made, have been held in connec- tion with the general winter meeting of the State Board of Agriculture, thus adding- to the interest and value of both. Different sections of the state are visited from year to year, thus increasing the value of the work b}^ diffusing as much as possible the advantages resulting from attendance upon the meetings. It was through the active instrumentality of this asso- ciation, whose agent for carrying out the work was W. D. Baker of Rumnev, that the splendid exhibition of New Hampshire dairy products was made at the World's fair in Chicago, which gave the state the prestige it has since held in the line of butter production, and which has been enhanced by the result of each of the several annual ex- hibits in connection with the winter meetings of the association, the last one, at Rochester, November 29 to December i, 1897, surpassing in general excellence any- thing of the kind heretofore witnessed in any state in the 46 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. Union, wherein out of more tlian one hundred different entries of butter by individuals and creameries, not a single one scored below ninety, and the average w^as pro- nounced by competent authority the highest ever attained. This most gratifying improvement in the quality of New Hampshire dairy products, and the commanding position secured for the same in the markets, came through the adoption of the separator system, the general establishment of creameries, the study and practice of scientific methods in feeding, ventilation, and general care of dairy herds, increased attention to cleanliness, and other details to wdiich attention has been called in the addresses and discussions at the meetings of the associa- tion, supplemented and strengthened, of course, by the work of the Board of Agriculture, the Grange, and other organized agencies of general farm progress. The full board of officers of the association chosen at the last election is as follows : President — J. M. Connor, Hopkinton. Vice-Presidents — C. H. Waterhouse, Durham ; G. H. Wadleigh, Tilton. Secretary — J. L. Gerrish, Webster. Treasurer — N. J. Bachelder, Andover. Trustees. Rockingham county — Herman Noyes, Atkinson. Strafford county — A. B. Locke, Barrington. Belknap county — J. W. Sanders, Laconia. Carroll county — Blake Folsom, Wolfeborough. Merrimack county — George M. Putnam, Hopkinton. Hillsborough county — W. H. Ryder, Bedford. Cheshire county — Willard Bill, Jr., Westmoreland. Sullivan county — W. H. Sisson, Cornish Flat. Grafton county — W. D. Baker, Quincy. Coos county — Albert Corbett, Colebrook. THE NEW HAMPSHIRE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. Next to dairying, fruit culture is the agricultural indus- try which should most generally and extensively command the attention and interest of the farmers of New Hamp- shire, the soil and climate of the state, or a large portion thereof, being well adapted to the successful production of various kinds of fruits, especially the apple : yet there has been a decided feeling among the friends of agricul- tural progress in the state, for some years past, that far too little attention has been paid to this matter, although some individuals have accomplished substandal results in this line of effort. The great need here, as in connection with other branches of agriculture, is systematic work along educa- tional lines, which can only be carried out successfully through organized effort, with some substantial tinancial backing. What the Dairymen's Association has done for the dairy industry in this state might and should be accomplished for fruit culture through the instrumentality of some properly-organized society, working to that end, with similar or more substantial support from the state, through legislative action. In the fall of 1893— October 23— in the New Hamp- shire building on the Columbian Exposition grounds at Chicago, there was a meeting of New Hampshire men, called through the instigation of Christopher C. Shaw of Milford, who, at the earnest solicitation of the managers of the exposition, had been instrumental in furnishing the somewhat meagre exhibition of fruit from this state. The result of this meeting or conference was a determina- tion on the part of those present to organize a horticultural society in the state, and accordingly a call was issued by 48 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. the secretary, Mr. W. D. Baker, for a meeting for that purpose in the city of Manchester on December 23, fol- lowing, in response to which call about fifty gentlemen from different parts of the state, engaged or interested in fruit culture to a greater or less extent, met and organized the New Hampshire Horticultural Societ}^ with the fol- lowing officers : President— C C. Shaw, Milford. Vice-President — John W. Farr, Littleton. Secretary — WiUiam D. Baker, Quincy. Treasurer — Thomas E. Hunt, Gilford. Directors — George F. Beede, Fremont ; James M. Hayes, Dover; J. N. Davis, Centre Barnstead ; E. M. Shaw, Nashua; Harvey Jewell, Winchester; Dr. Alonzo Towle, Freedom ; John T, Harvey, Pittsfield ; Thomas S. Pulsifer, Campton ; Charles McDaniel, West Spring- field; J. D. Howe, Lancaster. The first exhibition of this societv, held in Man- chester during the week of October 10, 1894, was eminently successful so far as the display of fruits and vegetables was concerned, but failed to attract the atten- tion and patronage essential to financial success. The legislature of 1895 made an appropriation of $300 per annum for two years, to aid the society in its work, and an exhibition was held in Concord in the autumn of that and the following year, resulting in a most creditable display, on each occasion, but as before, public interest and patronage was too little manifest. The society still maintains its organization, but as the last legislature failed to make any appropriation in its aid, its exhibition in 1897 was made in connection with that of the Grange State fair at Tilton. A permanent appropriation of $1,000 per annum should be made bv the legislature, to enable this society to do the work de- manded for the promotion of New Hampshire fruit culture. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES, HON. NAHUM J. BACHELDER, East Andover. When, in the spring of 1887, upon the death of James O. Adams, who had been secretary from its organization, the State Board of Agriculture looked about for the most efficient available man to fill the place thus made vacant, attention was directed to Nahum J. Bachelder, of East Andover. Mr. Bachelder had been secretary of the State Grange for several years, in which capacity he had manifested a high degree of executive ability, had formed a wide acquaintance among the farmers of the state, and had proved his devotion to the interests of agriculture. There was ample evidence of his thorough qualification tor the general duties of his office, and it was also felt by many that it would be advantageous to both organiza- tions, and the cause in whose interest they were estab- lished, to make the secretary of the State Grange also secretarv of the Board of Agriculture. There were many earnest advocates of such action, and the board took a similar view of the case. Mr. Bachelder was accordingly chosen, and has since holden the position. By his energy and devotion he has raised the standard of the board work, so that it now ranks with the best in the country. The number of institutes holden has been largely increased, and the speakers and subject matter 4 Hon. Nahum J. Bacheloer. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 5 1 considered have been in keeping with the demands of the times. Mr. Bachelder is a native of Andover, born September 3, 1854, on the old homestead on " Taunton Hill," in the east part of the town, now known as "Highland Farm." Here is a typical New England farm home, and the location, which is about a mile and a quarter from the railroad station at East Andover, is one of the most beautiful in Merrimack county, overlooking the silvery waters of Highland lake, and commanding de- lightful views in many directions, embracing some mag- nificent mountain scenery, in which Kearsarge, Ragged, Monadnock, and Ossipee mountains are prominent feat- ures. The farm was settled and cleared from the wilder- ness by Captain Josiah Bachelder, from the town of Hawke, now Danville, who located therein 1782, Nahum J. being his descendant in the fourth generation, the son of William A. and Adeline E. (Shaw) Bachelder. He was educated in the common schools, at Franklin Acad- emy, and at New Hampton Institution. After a short experience in teaching he applied him- self energetically to practical agriculture. He was for a time quite extensively engaged in market gardening. Subsequently he gave his attention to choice dairying with much success, supplying some of the leading hotels in the state with " gilt-edged" butter. Mr. Bachelder identified himself with the order. Patrons of Husbandry, early in its history in this state, having become a member of Highland Lake Grange, East Ando- ver, twenty years ago. He was four years master of this grange, and secretary of the state grange from December, 1883, until his election as master in 1891. As secretary he accomplished much for the progress of the order in the state, and under his administration as master its work has been carried forward with unprece- > o Q < < cq < PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 53 dented success. He was the charter lecturer of Merri- mack County Pomona Grange, and secretary of the New Hampshire Grange State Fair Association from its organ- ization in 1886, with the exception of a single year, until January, 1896, when he declined a reelection, and to his systematic and indefatigable labors the remarkable success of the Association has been largely due. Among the members of the National Grange Mr. Bachelder holds high rank and his influence is strongly felt. He was chiefly instrumental in securing the ses- sion of that body in 1892 for this state, and tor New Eng- land again at Worcester in November, 1895, where his ability and influence were duly recognized by his selec- tion as a member of the executive committee of that great organization. As commissioner of immigration, to which oflice he was appointed by Governor Goodell, and whose duties have since been merged with those of secretary of the Board of Agriculture, he has done much to bring about the re-occupation of the abandoned farms of the state, and as a member of the State Cattle Commission, he has been active and alert in checking the inroads of disease. He has taken an active part as a speaker at the institute meetings of the Board, discussing dairying and other topics in an entertaining manner. His general addresses at grange field meetings and other large gath- erings have gained him a wide reputation as an eloquent and interesting speaker ; while his annual reports as sec- retary of the Board of Agriculture, his addresses as mas- ter of the state grange, and his frequent contributions to the press, upon agricultural and grange? topics, stamp him as a ready and forcible writer. Mr. Bachelder is a Republican in politics, but by no means a politician. He has never sought public office, and has held none, aside from that in connection with 54 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. the Board of Agriculture, except that of superintending school committee for three years in the Democratic town of Andover. In 1891 the degree of Master of Arts was conferred upon him by Dartmouth College. June 30, 1887, he was united in marriage with Mary A. Putney, formerly of Dunbarton, daughter of Henry Put- ney, and a sister of Henrv M. Putney, chairman of the state Board of Railroad Commissioners. They have two children : Ruth and Henry Putney. Their home, as has been stated, is on the old homestead, now known as " Highland Farm," which originally contained some two hundred and fifty acres, but has been increased by recently purchased additions to nearly five hundred. The original frame house, built by Capt. Josiah Bachelder, a century ago, still constitutes a part of the mansion. Additions and improvements have been made from time to time, while a spacious barn 108x40 feet, with cellar under the whole, was erected a few years since. HON. JOSEPH B. WALKER, Concord. While fruit, poultry, and the dairy have come to be recognized as the leading specialties among New Hamp- shire farmers, hay production, pure and simple, has been taken up by some, who have a soil peculiarly adapted to grass, and are located near the cities and large villages, which afford a profitable market and ready means for restoring fertility. Some of the finest farms devoted to this line of production are found in the vicinity of Con- cord, one of the best of these being that of Hon. Joseph B. Walker, located at the head of Main street, whose broad acres lying mainly between the old Northern and Hon. Joseph B. Walker. 56 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. Montreal railroad lines, command the admiring attention of travellers, entering or leaving the city at the north. This farm was hrst owned and occupied by the Rev. Timothy Walker, the noted " first minister" of Concord, great-grandfather of the present owner, and one of the original settlers of the place in 1730, who received a pro- prietor's share in the lands of the township. At his decease, in 1782, the farm descended to his son. Judge Timothy Walker, who conveyed it to his son, Capt. Joseph Walker, and at the latter's decease it descended to his son Joseph B., the present owner, then a lad often years, who did not take possession until 1852, it having been meanwhile leased to tenants, and finally coming into his hands, in a generally reduced condition. Possessed only of such limited practical knowledge of agriculture as he retained from the experience of his childhood, Mr. Walker realized, very soon after assum- ing the management of the farm, that much must be done to bring it into a satisfactorily productive condi- tion, and that he was ignorant of the proper manner in which to go to work to accomplish it. He commenced by adopting the programme of his neighbors, raising a little of everything and not much of any one thing. He soon found this plan unprofitable, and finally arrived at the conclusion that he must raise something which would insure a substantial financial return. Upon due consid- eration hay production was selected as the special line to be followed. To bring his farm into proper condition for successful operation and comfortable occupancy has required the cutting of some fifteen acres of willow and alder bushes, the drainage of thirt^y acres of bog land, the turning over of every acre of tillage land on the farm, the re-building of all the fences, and the modification and repair of nearly all the buildings ; all of which has been accom- a 58 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. plished, while in the meantime Mr. Walker has secured a thorough, practical knowledge of his chosen branch of agriculture. He has raised his average annual hay pro- duct from sixty to one hundred and seventy-five tons, and has at the same time greatly improved its quality. He has entirely abandoned cattle husbandry, his entire stock consisting of three horses, a pair of oxen, and one cow, stable manure from the city being purchased to sustain the fertility, while the hay crop is sold at a good price in the local market. Under his plan of management all his tillage land, which includes something over one hundred acres, the balance of over two hundred being pasture and forest, is brought under the plow about once in five years, and an average crop of from a ton and a half to two tons of hay per acre is secured. No man in New Hampshire has manifested greater respect for the cause of agriculture than Mr. Walker, or done more to command for it the respect of others and to encourage young men in devoting themselves to its pur- suit. Coming of an educated and cultured ancestry : inheriting decided literary tastes ; early acquiring habits of study ; securing a first-class collegiate and prolessional education ; with the ability and position to command the greatest triumphs at the bar, in the field of literature or in public and political life, he, nevertheless, deliberately at the outset of his career, returned to his ancestral farm, and, by no means relinquishing his scholarly habits and tastes, has since devoted himself to the work of demon- strating, not only that agriculture in New Hampshire can be made to pay, financially, but that its pursuit is in no degree incompatible with the fullest measure of intellect- ual development, and the highest social position. Ever since the organization of the State Board of Agriculture in 1870, Mr. Walker has been one of the principal speakers at the meetings and institutes of that PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 59 organization, discussing practical subjects, such as " Drainage," " Forestry," and " Hay Production," with which he has become familiar through his own experi- ence. Indeed, with a single exception, every one of the twenty-four volumes of reports issued by the secretary of the board contains one or more of his papers or addresses. Serving in the state legislature in 1866 and 1867 he was directly concerned in the legislation establishing and putting in operation the New Hampshire College of Agricukure and the Mechanic Arts ; was a member of its original board of trustees, favored the removal of the institution to Durham, and delivered the historical address at the laying of the corner stone of the main college build- ing. Of wide reading and extended travel, he has also spoken and written much upon historical and general subjects. Aside iVom the legislative service mentioned, Mr. Walker was a member of the constitutional conven- tion of 1889 and of the state senate in 1893-4. He was many years a member of the Concord school board and has been a trustee of the New Hampshire Asylum for the Insane and secretary of the board since 1847. In reli- gion he is a Congregationalist and in politics a Repub- lican. Mr. Walker was born June 12, 1822 ; fitted for college at Phillips Exeter Academy ; graduated from Yale in 1844 ' studied law in Concord and at the Harvard law school : was admitted to the bar in 1847, and married Eliz- abeth Lord Upham, daughter of the late Hon. Nathaniel G.Upham, May i, 1850. Their children are, Charles Al- fred Walker, M. D., of Concord; Susan Burbeen, now Mrs. Charles M. Gilbert of Savannah, Ga. ; Nathaniel Upham, a lawyer in Boston; Mary Bell, who died at the age of ten years ; Eliza Lord, residing at home, and Joseph Timothy, of Savannah. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 6l JAMES M. CONNOR, HOPKINTON. Of no New Hampshire farmer can it be more truthfully said " He is the architect of his own fortune," than of James M. Connor of Hopkinton ; and none has been more successful in his work, when all the circumstances of the case are considered. Mr. Connor was born in Henniker, August 21, 1828. His father was James Connor, a farmer of limited means and poor health, who removed to Hopkinton when James M. was about five years old. The only education he received was derived from a few weeks' attendance upon the district school each year before he was fourteen years of age, after which time he was engaged in farm labor and carpenter- ing in this state and in New York, being engaged at the latter trade two or three years after attaining his majority. In 1852, he returned to Hopkinton, bought a fifty acre lot some two miles from the village, and commenced farming on his own account. He improved the land, got some buildings on it, paid oft^ his debt, and in about a dozen years sold it for $800, and bought a 100 acre farm one mile out on the Henniker road where he has ever since resided, running in debt for the larger part of the price — $2,400. Here the main work of his life has been done and well done. He has largely removed the rocks, underdrained the soil, more than doubled the productive capacity of his farm, paid his indebtedness, erected a fine set of new farm buildings, supplied him- self with all the conveniences of farm life, and laid by something for the rainy day which may come to all. For more than thirty years dairying has been Mr. Connor's specialty, and butter making the particular line in which he is engaged. Excellence in production 62 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. was his object in the start, and attaining and maintaining this, by conscientious effort, through experimentation and the use of the best and most improved appliances, he has had no difficulty in securing and retaining a market for his product among the private families of Concord, for twenty-five or thirty of which he furnishes table butter from week to week, together with pork, lard, eggs, and other by-products. Some of these families have been his customers since he first commenced retailing his butter in the city. Mr. Connor keeps ten or twelve cows, and markets from 2,500 to 3,000 pounds of butter per annum. His cows are largel}^ grade Guernseys, many of which are good for 300 pounds of butter each per an- num. He keeps swine as the natural accom- paniment of the dairy, and sells from a ton to a ton and a half of pork annually. He cuts forty tons of hay, or more, and raises a considerable amount of corn, both as a com- plete crop and for en- silage, having a silo of sixty tons capacity. His farm produces also a good amount of excellent fruit. He was awarded by the Chicago World's Fair management two medals and diplomas tor superior exhibits of butter and corn. Mr. Connor was activelv instrumental in the organiza- James M. Connor. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 63 tion of the Granite State Dairymen's association, estab- lished in 1884, having long advocated the same in the public prints, has been its president from the start, and has devoted much thought and labor to the promotion of its work, which has given New Hampshire a place in the front rank of dairy states as regards the superiority of its butter product. In the order, Patrons of Husbandry, Mr. Connor has long been prominent. He was a charter member and secretary of Union grange, organized in May, 1875, has filled most of its offices including that of master for three terms, was the first master of the Merri- mack County council, and master of Merrimack County Pomona grange for 1896. He was for six years a member of the executive committee of the State grange, and has been chairman of other important committees of that body, notably those on taxation and the Agricultural college, taking deep interest in the work of the latter especially. For many years Mr. Connor has written to a considera- ble extent for the press upon practical agricultural subjects, and since his connection with the grange has become known as an earnest and effective speaker upon various subjects in which farmers are interested, and with which he is familiar, and he has been heard with interest and profit in agricultural gatherings in different sections. Mr. Connor has been twice married, first to Judith M., daughter of Ira A. Putney of Hopkinton, by whom he had four children, a son and three daughters, and, after her death, to Mrs. Catherine S. Watson {nee Hoyt) of Warner, a native of Newport, his present companion and helpmeet. Politically he is a Democrat, having served in town offices when his party was in power, and having been its candidate for state senator. He is a member of the Congregational church in Hopkinton, and was for several years superintendent of the Sunday school. James E. Shepard. pp:rsonal and farm sketches. 65 JAMES E. SHEPARD, New London, One of the best-known citizens and most extensive farmers in central New Hampshire is James Eli Shepard of New London — a town, b}^ the way, which, although located back in the Kearsarge mountain region, away from railroad facilities, is favored with a strong soil, and is one of the best agricultural towns in the county. Here are many prosperous farmers, among whom Mr. Shepard holds lirst rank ; and here, too, is a most intelligent community, the influence of that well-known educational institution, Colby Academy, and the pres- ence of large numbers of city boarders in the summer season for many 3'ears past, attracted by the pure air and -beautiful scenery of this elevated region, contribut- ing in a large degree to raise the intellectual standard of the people. Mr. Shepard is a native of New London, born March 13, 1842, and has always resided in that town. He was educated in the common schools and at tiie Colby Academy, and in 1863, at the age of twenty-one years, was united in marriage w^ith Miss Lucia Nelson, and engaged in farming in his native town, which has ever since been his occupation, although since 1870 he has also been extensively engaged in lumbering in his own and adjacent towns. His present home farm, known as the " Sheepfold," embraces about 250 acres of land, much of which is in an excellent state of cultivation. It is situated in the southeastern part of the town, about two miles trom New London village and a mile and a half from Scythe- ville, now Elkins, his post-office address. It is about five miles from Kearsarge mountain, which is directly to the east and is seen to excellent advantage, and six 5 66 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. miles from Sunapee lake. Aside from the home farm Mr. Shepard has about i,ooo acres of outlands, mostly pasturing and woodland, in New London and Wilmot. The farm produces from loo to 150 tons of hay annually. Six hundred bushels of oats were also produced in 1895, together with 100 bushels of rye, twelve acres of corn, and an acre of potatoes. Of the corn about 100 tons were cut into the silo. The stock consists of eighteen horses and about seventy head of cattle, of which forty are thoroughbred Jerseys, bred by the late Henry Ward Beecher, Samuel J. Tilden, and Stilson Hutchins, and purchased from the latter at his Governor's Island farm, in Lake Winnipiseogee, in the fall of 1893. Milk pro- duction is the leading feature of Mr. Shepard's farm operations, the milk suppl}^ for Colby Academy being furnished by him, and the balance of his product being sold to Hood, and delivered at the Potter Place station. He became a member of the order of Patrons of Hus- bandry in 1882, joining Kearsarge Grange at Wilmot Flat, before New London Grange was organized. Sub- sequently he was instrumental in the organization of the latter, was its first master, and was twice re-elected to that position. He was also for two years president of the Merrimack County Council, and was the first master of Merrimack County Pomona Grange, No. 3, organized at Contoocook in the spring of 1886, holding this posi- tion also for two years, and devoting much time and effort to the success of the organization, which ranks among the first in the state. He was one of the most active promoters of the New Hampshire Grange Fair association, was its second president and held the office for three successive years. He was also for four years assistant steward of the State Grange, four years over- seer, and is now a member of the executive committee of that organization. Few men have done more than 68 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. he to advance the interests of the Grange in New Hamp- shire, and no one who has not filled the Master's chair is more widely or deservedly popular. Politically Mr. Shepard is a Democrat, and, Hving in a strong Republican town, has not held public position, as might otherwise have been the case. He was, how- ever, elected as the delegate from New London to the last constitutional convention, being the first Democrat in town chosen to any important office in a period of forty years. He has been prominent in his own party affairs for many years, and was the Democratic candidate for state senator in his district in 1890. In religion he is a Baptist, and a member of the church of that denomina- tion in New London. He is also a strong friend of Colby Academ3s and has been for several years past a member of its board of trustees; and when, after the disastrous fire which destroyed the fine academy building a few years since, there was danger of the discontinuance of the school, or its removal to some other location, Mr. Shepard was a leading spirit in the movement by which funds were raised to insure the continuance of the insti- tution in New London. Mr. and Mrs. Shepard have six children — three sons and three daughters. The eldest son, Charles E., mar- ried Maude Hersey. They have three children, and live on New London hill. He is proprietor of the stage line between New London and Potter Place, and is exten- sively engaged in the livery business, having a stable in New London and another at Potter Place, also two farms. The eldest daughter, Lucy Nelson, a graduate of the Emerson School of Oratory at Boston, is the wife of Wilfred Burpee, of Brown & Burpee, opticians, of Manchester, where she resides. Frank S., the second son, married Stella Hersey and has located on a farm in Sutton, believing that by perseverance and economy PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 69 agriculture may be made to pay, even in a New Hamp- shire hill town. The second daughter, Mary E., is a student at Smith College, Northampton, Mass., class of '97. Mark N., and Emih' T., the youngest children, are at home, students at Colby Academy. A pleasant home life and a generous hospitalit}^ make " Sheepfold " an attractive resort (or a large circle of friends and acquaintances, who are ever cordially wel- comed. JAMES L. GERRISH, Webster. James L. Gerrish, who has written instructively for the agricultural department of the People and Patriot over the noin-de-plujne of" Will Tell," for manv years in the recent past, was born in the town of Webster, May II, 1838, on the 400-acre homestead, upon which he still resides with his brother, Dea. H. H. Gerrish, and which was originally settled by his grandfather, Moses Gerrish, who went from Boscawen directly into the forest, over one hundred years ago. The location proved a pleasant one, commanding an attractive land- scape and fine mountain view. His great-grandfather. Colonel Henry Gerrish of Boscawen, marched to Medford, Mass., as captain of minute men after the Battle of Lexington, was lieutenant- colonel in Stickney's regiment in the Bennington cam- paign, and was present at the surrender of Burgoyne. Through him the family genealogy is traced back eight generations to Captain William Gerrish, who came from Bristol, England, to Newbury, Mass., in 1639. Dea. Jeremiah Gerrish, father of James L., died in 1843, in the midst of a useful life. His mother, who was Jane ■^>»-% im- iSi. t \ James L. Gerrish. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 7I Little, daughter of Dea. Enoch Little, Sr., of Webster, lived until 1877. She had the pluck and energy to raise and educate five children from the farm, the subject of this sketch being five years old at his father's death, and the youngest of the family. He has lived on the homestead all his life, except when absent at school and during one year's service in the army during the late war, when he served as a member of Company E, Sixteenth Regiment, New Hampshire Volunteers, having been promoted and mustered out with the regiment in August, 1863. His education, aside from that gained in the district and private schools of the town, was gained in the academies at Hopkinton, Reeds Ferry, and Boscawen. Mr. Gerrish has spent much time and considerable money in experimenting in the breeding of sheep, of Channel Island cattle, in the application of fertilizers, and in forestry. He built up a good dairy herd before the Granite State Dairymen's Association was formed, has been secretary of that organization for the last eight years, and was largely instrumental in securing a state appropriation in aid of its work. He is an officer in the Guernsey Dairy Company at Contoocook, and has also secured the evidence necessary to found a state herd- book for the Guernsey breed. He established a middle treed of sheep, between the wool and mutton breeds, and has often addressed farmers' institutes, with the board of agriculture, under the direction of both the present and former secretary, upon this and other subjects. His forestry experiments have covered a long series of years, and he has now an experimental acre of pines, which the state, through the secretary of the Forestry Commission, has sought to secure. He commenced early in life to condense his farming and make it intensive and produc- tive. He made and is still making double cropping a 72 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. hobby, raising two or three fodder crops on the same land each season, to the extent of available fertilizers. Mr. Gerrish is a Republican in politics, and has been honored by his townsmen with the various offices in their gift, serving as selectman in 1875-77, and representing the town in the legislature in 1883, when he was made chairman of the Agricultural College committee. He is a member of the Congregational church, deeply interested in the welfare of the church and Sunday- school in town. He has been a Patron of Husbandry several years, and has served as Lecturer in his home grange — Daniel Webster, No. 100, — and in the Merri- mack County Pomona Grange. Mr. Gerrish has been twice married — to Sarah B. Chandler of Penacook, December 22, 1864, by whom he had three children, two now living, Edwin C, a graduate of the New Hampshire Agricultural College, now employed in the office of a large corporation in. Lowell; and Mabel A., in school at Brookline, Mass. His first wife died a few years since, and January 9, 1894, he married Mrs. Mary S. Kenevel of Fort Scott,. Kansas. BELA GRAVES, East Unity. Eighty-seven years ago John Graves, a young man of courage and character, settled near the south-eastern corner of the town of Unity upon a farm, the larger por- tion of which was covered with heavy hemlock forest. Here he established a home, reclaimed the land, and reared a large family. He was twice married, his first wife being Rhoda Gilman ; his second, Phebe Way, the latter a daughter of John Way, an influential citizen of ^ ^^ \ h^ Bela Graves. 74 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. Lempster. He lived to see smooth and productive fields where he had cut and burned the forest, and of his twelve children, six reached adult life, the youngest by the second marriage being the subject of this sketch. Bela Graves was born June 23, 1836, in the house where he now resides, was educated in the district school at East Unity, with a few terms of academic instruction, the last two being at the Newbury (Ver- mont) seminary. Commencing at eighteen he taught district school winters, lor twelve years, the balance of his time being devoted to farm work. He has been twice married, first, October 15, 1862, to Emma M., and, after her death, November 5, 1873, to Eliza M., daughters of Reuben Shepardson, of Claremont. He has five children living: Stella M., wife of E. L. Houghton, of Walpole ; John F. Graves, of Newport; Grace E., a pupil in the Newport high school, and Richard C. and Helen L., the " little folks at home." Mr. Graves has held many of the offices in town, and is at the present time a trustee of the school fund and a member of the school board, having been elected for the third time last spring. He has been the candidate of his party (Democratic) for county commissioner and other important offices. While devoted to the principles of his party, he has not been a politician in the ordi- nary sense, will not stoop to the use of modern political methods, and never held an office which he worked to secure. When the new school law went into effect, he labored to adapt his town to the new order of things, and succeeded, the number of schools being reduced from eleven to seven, and their efficiency materially increased. His efforts in this direction made him unpopular with a certain class, as quite a sum of money was required for new schoolhouses and repairs ; but he has the satisfaction of knowing that his town has a finer PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 75 lot of school-rooms than can be found in any other rural town in the count}'. As a farmer, Mr. Graves is engaged in making milk for the Boston market. He has seventeen cows, but expects to be able to increase the number soon, as his farm is yearly becoming more productive. His crops are twice as great as they were ten years ago, and the limit is by no means reached. Nine years ago he built a new barn, acknowledged to be the best in town, which has a capacity of twenty-five cows in stable room and feed storage. He has about 250 acres of land, of which some thirty-five or forty are in mowing and tillage, and the balance wood and pasture. Mr. Graves has strong faith in the future of New Hampshire agriculture, provided it be conducted upon well-chosen lines. He believes there is a great field here in fruit culture and poultry, for men of enterprise adapted to the business, and that the dairy can be made profitable in all sections where forage can be cheaply produced. He holds that hay should be a specialty on many more farms than at present, and that a little more brain and a little more muscle would work wonders in many cases. He was made a member of the state board of agriculture for Sullivan county in 1893, and has given earnest attention to his duties in that capacity. PROF. WM. H. CALDWELL, Peterborough. A prominent position in the ranks of the educated and progressive dairymen of New Hampshire is occupied by Wm. H. Caldwell of Peterborough, secretary of the American Guernsey Cattle Club. Secretary Caldwell is a native of the town where he now resides, born April PERSONAI. AND FARM SKETCHES. 77 i6, 1866. He is the son of Samuel Hutson and Eunice (Buss) Caldwell, both parents dying before he was nineteen months old, leaving him to the care of a maiden aunt. His preparatory education was received at the famous Allen Bros.' school, at West Newton, Mass. He en- tered the Massachusetts Agricultural College in the fall of 1883, graduating with high honors four years later, having been a leader in the class-room throughout his course, and being awarded the first Grinnell agricultural prize, under Major H. E. Alvord, then professor of agriculture. From July, 1887, to April, 1888, he was assistant in field and feeding experiments, under Dr. Goesmann, at the Massachusetts state experiment station. In April, 1888, he assumed the position of instructor in agriculture at the Pennsylvania state college ; also assistant agri- culturist in the experiment station. In August, 1893, he was promoted to be assistant professor of agriculture, and assistant agriculturist. During the great World's Fair dair}^ tests he secured a leave of absence from the college, to act as superintendent of the Guernsey herd, and to represent the American Guernsey Cattle Club. In May, 1894, he resigned his position in Pennsylvania, having been elected secretary and treasurer of the Guernsey Cattle Club, and removed to "Clover Ridge Farm,"' in his native town, which he had purchased in 1889, and began breeding Guernseys on his own account. This farm is delightfully located, about three fourths of a mile from the railroad station, and commanding a magnificent mountain view. It embraces 139 acres of natural grass land,twent3^ being in timber of fine quality, sixty in pasture, abundantly watered with fine springs, thirty in natural meadow well drained, and the balance in tillable upland. The orchard consists of over 100 78 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. trees, a third of which have recently been set. The herd consists of butter bred cows, full blood and grade Guernseys. Mr. Caldwell says, "It is the dairy cow I am after, and I firmly believe in the advantages the Guernsey has, particularly in crossing with good butter cows." The herd of Guernseys has been selected for large pro- duction of rich milk. It was established by the selection of represent- atives of the choicest strains, and from the leading herds in the country. At the head of the herd has always been kept as fine a Guernsey as could be found in the country or imported from the Island. The herd shows the most remarkable characteristics of the Guernsey — the rich yel- low skin which is so im- portant in the dair}^ distinguishing the Guernsey above all breeds. They show the quiet and gentle temperament which is also characteristic of the breed. Careful records of the milk and butter-fat tests of each animal are kept. The milk and cream from the herd are sold at retail in the village, morning's milk being sold to the regular customers, and delivered in glass jars or in individual cans, as desired. The cream is taken from the evening's milk by means of the DeLaval separator. This is cooled and delivered the following morning to regular customers, or upon special order. The skim milk is William H. Caldwell. PERSONAL AND I-'ARM SKETCHES. 7^ used for raising the calves. The herd is at all times under the inspection of a veterinarian. The animals are not heavily fed for large records, but every means is taken to secure the health, cleanliness, and comfort of the animals. One cow, which was a member of the World's Fair dairy test, made four hundred pounds of butter during a year. Each cow stands in a stall by herself, untied. The stalls are known as the Bidwell stall, and allow the animals great freedom and comfort. Thev are not wide enough for the animal to turn around in, yet give them plenty of room, and no danger of crowding or stepping on one another. Not alone is the farm of interest from its Guernsey herd, but the office of the American Guernsey Cattle Club is located in one portion of the residence, where two clerks are busy handling the heav}^ mail and other work of the club. Here are found sketches and other data on file, regarding all Guernseys in this country, and from the office are issued many publications of interest to Guernsey workers, including the quarterly magazine known as the Herd Register and Breeders' Journal, of which Mr. Caldwell, as secretary of the club, has editorial charse. There is to be found on the farm a good herd of the Large Improved English Yorkshire hogs, some of which were imported from Canada, and all trace to the best herds in England. Plymouth Rocks are the only fowl kept. In one house are found pens of White Plymouth Rocks, and in the other those of the Barred Plymouth Rock. These pens have been carefully mated, and present a very fine appearance. Since his permanent location in his native state he has come much in contact with our agricultural leaders, and is frequently heard, upon dairy and kindred topics, at 8o NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. farmers' institutes and other gatherings, while he is often called abroad to participate in institute work. He is an active and interested member of the Grange, having been connected with the order since 1885. He had oversight of the Grange headquarters at the Bay State fair in Boston, in 1886. Professor Caldwell has also written extensively for the agricultural press, and the results of his experimental Clover Ridge Farm. work have been reported in the bulletins of the Massa- chusetts and Pennsylvania experiment stations. He is a Mason and a member of the Golden Cross. December 25, 1888, he married Miss Jessie A. Rice, of North Hadley, Mass. The home is blessed by one son, born in 1893. His wife sympathizes with his tastes and is his efficient aid and co-laborer in office and edito- rial work. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. OI JOHN C. MORRISON, BOSCAWEN. Few men in Merrimack county are more widely or favorably known in agricultural circles, or by the gen- eral public, than John C. Morrison, of Boscawen. Mr. Morrison is a native of the town in which he resides, born July i8, 1837. His educational advantages were such as the district school afforded. Possessing an ambition to strike out for himself, at the age of nineteen he bought his time of his father, who was a farmer and lumberman, for $300, and engaged, in company with Joseph Eastman, of West Concord, in bu}ing and clear- ing wood and timber lots in various towns of the county, continuing for a number of years. In later years he has been engaged with Davis & Sargent, of Lowell, in the lumber line, buying lots and clearing the same, the logs going down the Merrimack in the annual spring drive. Through his experience in this direction he has acquired a high reputation as a judge of the value of wood and timber lots, his accuracy in estimates being unsurpassed. To this fact was due, largely, his selection by the gov- ernor and council, in 1893, as a commissioner for the appraisement of unincorporated and other lands for taxa- ble purposes — a selection amply justified by faithful and conscientious discharge of duty. The farm upon which Mr. Morrison resides, which is finely located upon the Merrimack river, was purchased by him, in company with an uncle, Joseph Wilson of Lowell, in 1870, the price being $10,500. It included 250 acres of land, easy of cultivation, and natural corn land. He has raised over 1,600 bushels of corn in a single season. He has two silos, of 180 tons capacity. His farming is of the mixed order ; though in company with a brother he has engaged quite extensively and 6 John C. Morrison. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 8^ successfully in horse-breeding, which is still contin- ued. In the order of Patrons of Husbandry Mr. Morrison has taken strong interest, and has been active in promot- ing its growth and prosperity. He has been three years master of Ezekiel Webster Grange, of Boscavven, and two years master of Merrimack County Pomona Grange. He was also for six years a district deputy for the State Grange. He has been actively interested from the start in the New Hampshire Grange Fair Association, of which he has been vice-president and also for several years a member of its executive com- mittee, and chairman of the same, and superintendent of the horse department at the annual exhibitions of the association, and has now been two years president. In religion, Mr. Morrison is of the Baptist faith, and in politics he has been active as a Republican, having been for six years president of the town club. He has served for three years on the board of selectmen in Boscawen, and represented the town in the legislature of 1893, serving upon the committees on agriculture, and towns. He was also president of the council of agriculture, an organization composed of the farmers in the legislature, whose purpose it was to look carefully after the agricultural interests of the state in legislative matters. He is a member of the Masonic, Odd Fellows', Good Templars', and Red Men's organizations, and is a past grand of Contoocook Lodge No. 26, I. O. O. F., of Penacook, and a past chief templar. February 3, 1866, Mr. Morrison was united in mar- riage with Miss Clara D. Simpson, by whom he has two daughters living — Mary Simpson, and Lena Mabel. The home life of the family is exceptionally pleasant, and the hospitality of the Morrison place is enjoyed by a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 85 Though still making his home upon the Boscawen farm, and looking carefully after its management, Mr. Morrison has, recently, established a real estate agency in the thriving young city of Franklin, and, with his char- acteristic push and energy, is doing a prosperous business in that line. HERBERT O. HADLEY, Temple. Probably one of the best known agriculturists among the young men in southern New Hampshire is Mr. Herbert O. Hadley, of Temple. Mr. Hadley was born in Peter- borough, November 20, 1855, being the son of Harvey C. and Henrietta D. Hadley, the former being a farmer of moderate means and also a carpenter by trade. His parents removed to Sharon when he was quite young, where they resided until he was ten years of age, when they located in Temple, in which town he has lived ever since. The mother died a few years since, and the father still makes his home there when not at work at his trade, or visiting his elder son, Dr. C. H. Hadley, of Brooklyn, N. Y. Mr. Hadley has one sister. Miss Helen M. Hadley, who has been a teacher in the public schools as well as a teacher of music and painting, and she makes her home with him. He was married January 12, 1879, to Nettie C, daughter of James E. Burton, a prominent farmer and lumber dealer of the same town. As the fruit of this union they have one daughter, Florence E., now nearly fourteen years of age. Mr. Hadley has served his town in nearly every posi- tion of trust within the gift of the people. He was elected one of the selectmen three years in succession, receiving every vote cast at each election, and has been 86 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. for a number of years, and still is, moderator for both town and school meeting. He was elected a representa- tive to the general court at the November elecdon in 1894, although his party was far in the minority, and was a prominent member of that body, as well as secre- tary of the house committee on agriculture. His voice was often heard on the floor of the house, and in the committee rooms, in favor of any measure which he believed to be for the benefit of the farmer. At the close of the ses- sion he was invited to the room of the com- mittee, and was taken completely by surprise when one of the mem- bers, Mr. George E. Butler, of Haverhill, in a very pleasant speech, presented him with a beautiful gold- headed cane, properly engraved, as a token of the esteem in which he was held by his fellow-members of the committee. Mr. Hadley has been for more than twenty years an active member of Miller Grange, No. 34, of Temple. He was master three years, and lecturer for a like period. He was also a district deputy of the State Grange three years. In December, 1895, he was chosen master of Hillsborough County Pomona Grange, and was also elected assistant steward of the State Grange. He is a member of the Dunster Hill Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Greenville. Herbert O. Hadlev. OO NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. He has, in connection with his farm work, carried on a wholesale and retail meat business for the last sixteen years, and is a very successful auctioneer, being a grand nephew of the late T. K. Ames, of Peterborough, who for fifty years was the leading auctioneer of the state. He is a member and strong supporter of the Congrega- tional church, and in politics always a Democrat. His specialty in farming is raising milk for the Boston market, and he usually keeps thirty or more cows. He was one of the originators of the Temple & Greenville Telephone Co., and is secretary and treasurer of the same, having an office in his residence. JAMES M. HAYES, Dover. James M. Hayes, of Dover, was born at Sandwich, August 3, 1845. He is a direct descendant of Dea. John Hayes, of Dover, the first settler by that name, both on his father's and mother's side, she being Elizabeth, the daughter of Capt. John W. Hayes, of Barrington. Mr. Hayes's parents settled in Sandwich in 1837, and resided there until 1864, when they removed to Dover and pur- chased the farm where he now resides. He was edu- cated at the public schools and Beede's High School, Sandwich, and at Franklin Academy, Dover, and Bry- ant & Stratton's Commercial College, Providence, R. I. For about twelve years he taught in the public schools of Dover and Rochester winters, devoting his summers to his farm. He was married to Miss Martha T. Jenness, March 24, 1869, who lived but fifteen months after their marriage, leaving one son, Jasper J., who resides on the farm with his father. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 89 Mr. Hayes has always taken much interest in agri- cultural and horticultural pursuits. He was a charter member of Cocheco Grange, was its first secretary, afterwards serving as lecturer and master of the same Grange. He was also secretary, lecturer, and master of Eastern New Hampshire Pomona Grange, and at the present time is serving his second term as member of the State Board of Agriculture for Strafford County. For a number of years he served as chairman of the General Fruit Com- mittee of the Ameri- can Pomological Soci- ety and is at present a director, and chairman of the Committee on Nomenclature of the New Hampshire Hor- ticultural Society. He has been a frequent contributor to the agri- cultural press, and now conducts the Farm and Grange department of the Dover Enquirer. In politics Mr. Hayes is an active Republi- can. He has frequent- ly been honored officially by his fellow-citizens, having served as ward clerk, selectman, moderator, school committee, and representative, and is at present asses- sor-at-large and clerk of the Board of Assessors of the city of Dover. For many years Mr. Hayes has been connected with the fairs at Rochester and Tilton, in the secretary's office, and has acted as judge either in the fruit or vegetable department almost yearly. James M. Hayes. 90 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. Mr. Hayes makes a specialty of market gardening and small fruits, and does quite a business raising vege- table plants under glass for the market. Of small fruits he raises mostly strawberries, selling plants quite largely in his vicinity. He believes that if farmers around our large towns would do more of such work, instead of devoting their time to the regular field crops, there would be less complaint from them of hard times. JOSEPH DREW HOWE, Lancaster. On one of the hills that adds so much to the beauty of Lancaster, are some of the best cultivated farms in the town, and on one of these farms resides Joseph D. Howe, Esq., highly esteemed for his intelligence, integrity, and devotion to the best interests of his native town. His farm is known as "Maple Hill farm," and there he was born September 17, 184I0 Some of his ancestors were extensive land owners in Marlborough, Mass., and from that town his grandfather, Daniel Howe, came to this section of the country about 1780, and subsequently mar- ried Eunice, daughter of Gen. Edwards Bucknam, she being the first white child born in Lancaster. Mr. Howe's father, Joseph Howe, married Mahala Wood- bury, daughter of Jonathan Woodbury, of Concord, V't., and settled on the farm above spoken of. Mr. Howe was the youngest of a family of eight chil- dren. His parents were most excellent people, consci- entious in their discharge of duty, and they gave their children such educational advantages as their means and the times afforded. His studies were pursued in the district schools, at Lancaster Academy, and at New- bury, Vt. He taught several terms of school in winter with marked success, and he might have become an Joseph Drew Howe. 92 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. educator had he devoted his talents to that pursuit. With the exception of two or three years passed in the West, raih'oading and as a private salesman, his life work has been on his farm, which embraces something more than 150 acres, and on which is a sugar orchard of 1,400 trees, the product being mostly syrup of the finest quality, and an apple orchard which, if not the very best, is unexcelled in Coos county. He has a fine herd of cows of three distinct breeds, all of high grade, and with which he has experimented, weighing the milk of each cow daily, and testing it thoroughly twice a month, and keeping a record that will be useful, as approximating to the real value of each breed for dairy purposes, under the conditions of food and climate here imposed. Mr. Howe has served two years as a selectman of the town, being chairman of the board in 1893, and at the last town meeting was chosen for another year. He was elected to the legislature of the state in November, 1890, receiving a large majority of votes over all other candi- dates, and his service in the legislature was acceptable to his constituents. He was appointed by Governor Smith a member of the State Board of Agriculture, in August, 1893, and is still serving with credit in that capacity. He was also elected a member of the board of directors of the State Horticultural Society from Coos when the society was organized in 1893. But in none of the positions which he has occupied does Mr. Howe feel a more just pride than in his work as a member of the school board of the town, on which he has served six years, four years as chairman of the board, with great credit. He is a member of North Star Lodge, Chapter, and Commandery, F. A. M., to which order he is sincerely attached, and has taken the Scottish rite degrees to the 32d. In politics he is a Democrat, and PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 93 liberal in his religious views. His honesty and business capacity are such that he settles a good many estates of those deceased, and in all the relations of Hfe he endeav- ors to do his duty faithfully and well, and is theretbre trusted and honored bv his townsmen. He has been a member of Lancaster Grange, P. of H., for the last six- years, and aided in the Ibrmation of the new Mount Prospect Grange, in that town. He was united in marriage in 1863, with Miss Mary J. Tucker, of Saranac, N. Y., a woman every way worthy of him, and their domestic relations were happy until her death, April 8, 1894, leaving two sons, Carl Tucker and Joseph Bert, who remain with Mr. Howe upon the farm. WILLIAM H. PERRY, Newport. William H. Perry, son of Daniel and Fanny (Fiske) Perry, is one of the successful and prosperous farmers of the fine agricultural town of Newport. He was born October 12, 1840, on the farm where he now resides, and was educated in the district school and the acade- mies at Newport and Claremont. He served in Co. K, Ninth N. H. V., in the late war, and was wounded in battle. Returning, he settled on the old homestead, now known as " Maple Wood farm," on the " Green Mount- ain" road, about midway between the villages of New- port and Claremont, where he has since devoted himself industriously to agriculture. The farm is an original lOO-acre lot, of which about forty acres is in timber. For the first fifteen years Mr. Perry was engaged largely in the rearing and breaking of steers, for which there was a ready market at remunerative prices. During the last fifteen years dairying has been his specialty, with hogs as an accompaniment. He has a o H CO Q oi PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 95 tine fruit orchard, also raises corn quite extensively, which he regards as a good paying crop. He keeps a dozen cows and sells all his butter to one firm in New- port, and sells, also, from a ton to a ton and a half of pork per annum. A large maple sugar product is mar- keted, mostly at the West. He believes in farm machin- ery, keeps abreast with the times, and has an eye out for all improvements ; but takes little stock in commer- cial fertilizers, preferring to produce his own. He has a fine set of buildings, and his land is in an excellent state of cultivation, producing annually 40 tons of hay, 500 bushels of corn, and other crops. He received a diploma and medal for corn and beans exhibited at the World's Fair in Chicago. Mr. Perry has been promi- nent in town affairs, serving as selectman, school com- mittee, and representative. He is also conspicuous in Masonic and G. A. R. circles, and was a representative of the latter at the National Encampment at St. Paul, in September, 1896. He attributes his success as a farmer to " stick-to-ativeness," and deprecates the vacillating policy so generally followed. RIVERSIDE STOCK FARM— NEWPORT. H. M. Kimball, Manager. The cut on the opposite page, presents a view of the buildings upon one of the best known stock farms in the state — the " Riverside " iarm at Newport, located in the beautiful valley of the Sugar river, about one mile east of the charming village of Newport, which is one of the most beautiful places in the state, and situated in a fine agricultural region. This farm embraces about 650 acres of land, and is admirably adapted for the use to which it has been put — the breeding and rearing of gentlemen's first-class driv- 96 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. ing and road horses, of which there are about sixty now on hand, including fine specimens of the Wilkes, Elec- tioneer, and Lambert strains. The proprietor is E. D. Kimball of Watertown, Mass., a wealthy business man, while the management is in the hands of his brother, H. M. Kimball, who resides on the farm. There is a good half-mile track on the place, where the horses have been trained in the past to a greater or less extent. Of late, however, no training is being done at home ; but several good animals from the farm have been handled by professional trainers at Mystic. A good many prize animals have been sent out from this farm, and in 1893, it will be remembered, a large string of premiums was captured by its superior exhibit at the Grange State fair at Tilton. While it is undoubtedly true that there will never be a time in the future when there will be so great a demand for ordinary horses as has been the case in the past, the time will never come when there will not be a fair demand for well-bred, reliable driving horses, combining the qualities of kindly disposition, endurance, and spirit, such as are raised upon this farm. WILLIAM P. BALLARD, Concord. A representative New England farm home, wherein comfort and content abide, is that of William P. Ballard, on the " Long Pond " road, about two and one half miles north-west of the state house in Concord. The farm embraces about two hundred acres ot land, fifty being mowing and tillage and the balance pasture and wood- land. It was originally settled by Nathan Ballard, in 1792, when his son Nathan, into whose hands it subse- quently passed, was seventeen years old. John Ballard, p-> 98 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. son of the latter, and the youngest of thirteen children born on the farm, succeeded in its proprietorship, and has passed an industrious and honorable life in its man- agement and in performing well the manifold duties of good citizenship : and now, at the age of seventy-eight years, with his estimable wife, Hannah D., daughter of the late Reuben Abbott, of Concord, enjoys a respite from active labor. William P. Ballard is an only son, but has two sisters living. He was born on the old farm, Sept. i8, 1848. He attended the New Hampshire College of Agricult- ure and the Mechanic Arts at Hanover, from which he graduated in 187 1, in the first class ever graduating from that institution. On December 2, 1875, '""^ married Mary E. Bart- lett, of Merrimack, a successful teacher, by whom he has three children living, a son and two daughters. Another son was born to them, but died in infancy. Mr. Ballard was a charter member and the first secre- tary of Capital Grange, No. 113, of Concord, organized in January, 1886; was master of the same in 1889, and has been one of the most faithful and devoted members from the start, serving two years as chaplain and at pres- ent as treasurer. He has also been an active member of Merrimack County Pomona Grange from its organ- WlLLIAM F. IJALLARIJ. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 99 ization, holding the office of steward in 1890 and 1891, overseer in 1892 and 1893, and master in 1894 and 1895, and rarely being absent from his post at any meeting. He was also for two years chairman of the State Grange Committee on the Agricultural College and Experiment Station. He takes a lively interest in educational mat- ters, and served three years as a member of the school board in what is known as the "town district." In relig- ion he is a Congregationalist, being a member and deacon of the North church in Concord. He was a member of the board of assessors from ward 9 in 1894, but has held no other public office, and has sought none. For the past twenty years, since assuming the active management of the farm, Mr. Ballard has made the pro- duction of milk for the Concord market a specialty, keep- ing a herd of about twenty cows, on an average, which are mostly natives. His land is well adapted to corn, and he plants about five acres to that crop each year, feeding the product in meal and fodder, the former being mixed with shorts and linseed. The annual hay crop is from fifty to sixty tons, which is supplemented with Hungarian to a considerable extent. The location of the farm is a pleasant one, the main portion of the tillage land occupying a fine, elevated ridge and commanding a handsome prospect, while the buildings are commodious, conveniently arranged, and in excellent repair, making, altogether, a model farm home. lOO NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. GEORGE W. FISHER, BOSCAWEN. Among the thrifty farmers and representative Patrons of Merrimack county is George W. Fisher, of Boscawen, who has been an industrious and successful tiller of the soil for nearly a quarter of a century. He is a native of New London, born June 26, 1837 ; a son of Levi and Fanny (Wilkins) Fisher. When he was five years of age, the family removed from New London to the old home of his mother, in Merrimack, where he grew to manhood. At nineteen, having received a good com- mon school education, he went to Nashua and was engaged in a sash and blind manufactory till the out- break of the Rebellion, when he enlisted in the Seventh New Hampshire Regiment, and went to the front, serv- ing in South Carolina and Florida, where the unhealthy climate killed more men than the rebel bullets, and where, in the course of two years, he lost his health and was discharged for disability, October 29, 1863. Returning home, he had so far recovered the follow- ing spring as to be able to work, when he went to Man- chester and was employed for eight years in the sash and blind business and as a carpenter. December 14, 1865, he married Mary R., daughter of H. W. Green, of Merrimack, who died from consumption April i, 1868. November 30, 1869, he married Esther P., daughter of Peter Coffin, of Boscawen, and in May, 1872, removed to Boscawen, upon an engagement with his father-in- law, Mr. Coffin, to work a year and assist him in build- ing a barn. At the end of the first year he engaged for another, and so continued for four years, when, in the spring of 1876, he purchased the farm of Mr. Coffin, who removed to another part of the town. Here Mr. Fisher has since been successfully engaged in farming PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. lOI on his own account. He believes in mixed farming, running to no particular specialty, but calculating, if there is a failure in any one line, to make up the loss in some other direction. He has 230 acres of land; keeps four horses, about ten cows on an average, with oxen and young cattle ; kept sheep for many years, and finds a little poultry profitable, keeping about 100 hens. Of late he has been selling milk for the Boston market, finding this the most convenient and profitable disposi- tion of the same. Mr. Fisher is a charter member of Ezekiel Webster Grange, of which he has been an officer for many years, including three years' service as master. He has been three years a member of the Boscawen board of selectmen, and was in 1895 elected for a second term of three years, a member of the town school com- mittee. He is a mem- ber of the Congrega- tional church at Bos- cawen Plain, and was three years superin- tendent of the Sunday- school. He is an active member of the G. A. R., has been a member of Hillsborough Lodge, No. 2, I. O. O. F., of Manchester, since 1868, and was at one time its chaplain. Politically he is a Republican, and well represents the best element of his party. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher have reared three sons, George F., George W. Fisher. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. IO3 born in Manchester, and Winfred and Levi P., born in Boscawen. George F. is employed by Dr. Graves, of Boscawen ; Winfred, who was a partner in the grocery firm of Balch, Chandler & Co., ofPenacook, died, deeply lamented, February 23, 1896; while Levi P. is at home on the farm with his parents. Both the younger sons graduated from the Bryant & Stratton Commercial Col- lege at Manchester. CASS-CARR FARM, WILMOT. John M. Carr, Proprietor. On the westerly slope of Kearsarge mountain, in the town of Wilmot (formerly Kearsarge Gore), is the sub- stantial homestead of the old New England type, now known as Cass-Carr farm. Here Benjamin Cass, a brother of Major Jonathan Cass of Exeter, who was the father of Lewis Cass, settled during the Revolution, and established a home in the wilderness. He was a black- smith as well as a farmer, and by diligence became pros- perous. He was also prominent in public affairs, and was one of the two men named in the act of incorpora- tion passed by the legislature in June, 1807, as author- ized to call the first town meeting in Wilmot. By his first wife, Abigail Bartlett of Salisbury, he had tour chil- dren, including one son, Gersham Bartlett, who was the first soldier from Wilmot in the v^'ar of 181 2, enlisting at twenty 3-ears of age and receiving a lieutenant's commis- sion. This son remained upon the farm. The second daughter, Elizabeth, married Nathaniel Carr, and settled near by. They had two children, Joseph Brown and Sally, who, after their parents' death, made their home at the Cass farm. Ultimately the farm came into the possession of the son, Joseph Brown Carr, who married Mehitable Cilley, I04 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. and became an influential citizen, conspicuous in town atfairs and a colonel in the state militia. They had one son, John Moore Carr, born October 30, 1836, who, upon attaining manhood, decided to remain upon the farm. He repaired and refitted the house which his great uncle, Gersham Bartlett Cass, had erected, and there brought his wife, Rhoda E. Haskins, to whom he was married January 3, 1858. The Cass-Carr farm, including the original lot "No. 16," conveyed to Benjamin Cass, with subsequent large accessions, comprises about 1,000 acres, largely wood and pasture. The buildings, which represent the archi- tectural efforts of four generations, are comfortable and commodious. The spacious barn, 160 feet in length, gives storage for the 150 tons of hay cut on the place, while some 400 bushels of grain are also produced annu- ally. Mixed farming is pursued, with special attention to different lines at different times. Potato culture was once a leading feature, and 3,000 bushels of potatoes produced in a year. Subsequently sheep husbandry was largely engaged in, and 250 sheep kept on the place. At present milk production is the leading fea- ture, about twenty-five cows being kept and some 7,000 cans shipped annually. Ensilage from a silo of seventy- five tons capacity constitutes an item of the food supply. Mr. Carr is a leading and honored citizen of Wilmot, and has served his townsmen as selectman, as supervisor for several years, and in the legislature, to which he was chosen in 1881, being the first Republican elected in that strong Democratic town. He is also now serving his third term as a member of the school board. He joined Kearsarge Grange No. 87 at its re-organization in 1878 ; was five years master and two years lecturer of that grange ; is an active member of the Merrimack County Pomona Grange ; served two years as district deputy of John M. Carr. I06 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. the State Grange, and has been twice chosen upon its executive committee, of which he is now a member. He is a vice-president of the Merrimack County Grange Fair Association, and president of the local section of the New England Milk Producers' Union. ■ He has also been for thirty-five years a member of the Masonic fra- ternity. His son and only child, Joseph Bertrand Carr, a prom- ising 3'oung man, died from consumption at the early age of twenty-four, eight months after his marriage with Luvia M. Collins of Wilmot. Six months later his wife died, and the son's widow, the younger Mrs. Carr, has remained at the head of the household, the guiding spirit of a true New England country home, taking an interest in all that pertains to the success of the farm work and in the social and educational welfare of the community, to whose progress Mr. Carr himself has been such an important contributing factor. STEPHEN C. PATTEE, Warner. Stephen C. Pattee of Warner traces his ancestry back directly to Sir William Pattee, physician to Crom- well and King Charles II, who was one of the founders of the Royal Society and was knighted in 1660. Peter Pattee, a son of William, born in Lansdown, England, in 1648, emigrated to Virginia in 1669, and after re- maining a few years removed to Haverhill, Mass., where he married and became the father of a family. His great-grandson, John Pattee, a son of Capt. Asa Pattee, settled in Warner about 1786, on the farm where Stephen C. now resides, and known as " Maple Grange," and his son, Asa, inherited the place. The latter mar- a\ Stei'Hex C. Pattee. I08 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. ried Sally, daughter of Stephen Colby, one of the early settlers of the town, and their son, Stephen C, the sub- ject of this sketch, ultimately came into possession of the homestead. Mr. Pattee was born, January ii, 1828. He was ed- ucated in Warner, Contoocook, and Bradford, attending select schools in the latter places, and at twenty years of age commenced teaching school in winter, which busi- ness he followed for twenty winters, in this state and Massachusetts. He has ever since been connected with educational matters, having served many terms as a mem- ber of the board of education, and having been made one of the trustees for life, of the Simonds Free High School of Warner, by the will of the donor, the late Franklin Simonds. The agricultural operations in which Mr. Pattee has been engaged have been varied. Previous to 1862 he pursued mixed farming. He then made fine wool a specialty, and when that went down he changed to coarse wool and made lambs a specialty. He has also raised some excellent horses, which have been disposed of at paying prices, always breeding to the best, such as Mam- brino Wilkes, Almont Eagle, Vittoria, and a Son of Vik- ing. For the last six years milk production has been his leading line, his cows being grade Holstein and Jersey, which he considers best for the purpose. Each cow tests above the standard, and in 1894 they averaged $90 for milk delivered at the station. He raised wheat success- fully for many years, and was awarded a diploma and bronze medal for corn shown at the Chicago Exposition in 1893. The tarm has been increased from the original sixty acres owned by his father to three hundred acres, while two new houses have been erected and two addi- tions made to the barn. Mr. Pattee has served his town eight years as a member PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. IO9 of the board of selectmen, first in 1856, at 28 years of age, and last in 1890. He also served in the state legis- lature in 1861 and 1862. In 1871 he was instrumental in organizing the Kearsarge Agricultural and Mechanical Association, which held twenty-three successful annual fairs in Warner. He has taken an active part in Grange work from the outset, and served six years as a member of the executive committee of the State Grange. He has also written much for the agricultural press, having been many years a regular paid correspondent of the People and Patriot^ Boston Ctiltivator, New Enoland Farmer^ Couni7'y Gentleman, and Germantozun Telegraph. He was at one time engaged by the Board of Agriculture to give an address on " Wheat Culture," before the Agri- cultural College at Hanover and at institutes in various localities. Mr. Pattee was united in marriage, January 9, 1853, with Sally Currier, a true and worthy wife, who died May 5, 1895. Their three sons, all living, are Jesse B. Pattee, a lawyer, and Dr. W. H. Pattee, both of Manchester, and George Q^ Pattee, now of Boston. MAPLE GROVE FARM, ANTRIM, Hon. D. H. Goodell, Proprietor. It is more than half a centur}' since New Hampshire had a governor distinctively known as a farmer, but David H. Goodell, of Antrim, who occupied the execu- tive chair in i889-'90, though generally known as a manufacturer, retains and resides upon the farm on which he was reared from childhood, and takes a strong interest in agricultural affairs. This farm, generally known as " Maple Grove farm," from the fine grove of rock-maple trees occupying the grounds in front of the PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. Ill house, which is located at the upper end of Antrim vil- lage, was purchased by Jesse R. Goodell, father of David H., in March, 1841, when he removed from the town of Hillsborough, his son being seven years of age at the time. As originally purchased, it included 165 acres; but with the addition of other farms and adjacent land purchased, it now embraces about 400 acres, while outlying pasture and woodland in Antrim and Hancock brings the total up to 600. Governor Goodell, who has continued his residence on the farm, has made stock raising his prin- cipal line of farm busi- ness, excellence being the object aimed at. For a time he made a specialty of Durham stock, and established a fine reputation for the same in breeding and in butter making ; but some ten or twelve years ago his attention was called to the Hol- steins, when he pur- chased a fine blooded bull and a heifer of that breed, and soon after added five more choice two-year-old heifers, fresh from Holland, selected for him by Dudley Miller, and has since been building up a herd of which he has every reason to be proud, and which is indeed a credit to the state. He has generally about seventy-five head, of which from twenty to twenty-five are milch cows, whose product goes to market in the shape of cream, the milk Richard C. Goodell. 112 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. being retained upon the farm and fed to the calves. The specialty of this iierd is cows of great butter capac- ity. Its reputation is widely extended, and many choice animals of both sexes sold therefrom in the past few years have contributed largely to the improvement of other herds, both in the immediate neighborhood and at a distance. Governor Goodell was one of the early champions of the silo in New Hampshire, and among the first to adopt its use. He has two substantially constructed silos with a joint capacity of about 350 tons. Into these he packs the product of about thirteen acres of ensilage corn each season, and this, with the ninety tons of hay cut on the farm, furnishes ample food for his stock. Since his adoption of the ensilage system the feeding capacity of the farm has nearly trebled. He has long been an active member of the New England Agricultural Society, serving upon the board of directors, and was also for two terms the Hillsborough county member of the New Hampshire State Board of Agriculture, being appointed for three years in 1879, ^"^ reappointed in 1882, and took more than an ordinary interest in the work of that organization. His two sons, D. Dana and Richard C, remain at home. The latter, now twenty-seven years of age, who was educated at Colby Academy, New London, and who subsequently spent some time in the West, though interested in the manufacturing establishment and hold- ing the office of vice-president of the company, has taken special interest in the farm, and is now practically in charge of the same. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. II' AUGUSTINE R. AYERS, North "Boscawen. Augustine Rogers Ayers is a native of Gilinanton, born September 28, 1839. ^^ ^^ '^ ^^^^ of Jonathan and Mary (Rogers) Ayers, and through his mother a descendant in the ninth genera- tion of the noted John Rogers, the martyr ot Smithfield. Removing with his parents to Canterbury when four years of age, he was there reared on a farm and familiarized with all the details of farm life, the care of stock being one of the fea- tures which most fully commanded his devo- tion. Circumstances, however, impelled him to leave the farm and engage in mercantile life in Concord, where he continued, in different lines, for about thirty-three years, with the exception of a term of service in the Union army in the late war, as a mem- ber of the Fifteenth New Hampshire Volunteers. In 1890, feeling the need of a change for the benefit of his health, he determined to return to agriculture. His love for good horses had been indulged to a con- siderable extent while in business in Concord, and upon commencing farm operations upon the old Jacob Gerrish place at North Boscawen, he first turned his attention to the breeding of trotting horses, which he pursued tor a time with success, but on the decline of this branch of Augustine R. Avers. 114 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. farm industry he changed to dairying. His attention having been directed to the Holstein-Freisian as a desir- able dairy animal, he secured, through ex-Governor Goodell and others, a tew good registered animals of this breed, from the Russell importation, and has steadily increased and improved his herd, which now numbers about thirty-five head altogether, including some excel- lent representatives of the best strains. He milks about eighteen cows, giving them good ordinary care and Residence of A. R. Ayers, North Boscawen. making no effort for extra records, but securing very satisfactory results. He wholesales his milk at present to dealers for the Concord market, in pi-eference to selling at the cars, now so generally done in this section. The farm, which embraces two hundred and seventy- five acres, is finely located on the Boston & Maine rail- road. Concord division, running back from the Merri- mack river a mile and a half upon the hills. There are about seventy-five acres of river land of ready access PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. II5 and easy tillage, the balance being pasture and wood land. When Mr. Ayers took possession the farm had been much neglected, but has been greatly improved already, some forty acres having been brought into first class condition. He had eleven acres in corn in 1896, and several acres in oats and potatoes, having raised from three hundred to twelve hundred bushels of the latter each year. He has already built a 100-foot barn with cellar under the whole, a poultry house and cart house, and put in a silo of seventy-five tons capacity, and has many other improvements in contemplation. There are about six hundred apple trees on the place and in the future fruit promises to be an important product. Mr. Ayers is an enthusiastic Patron of Husbandry, having joined Capital Grange of Concord in 1886, and transferring his membership to Ezekiel Webster Grange of Boscawen after his removal. In 1896 he was over- seer of the latter grange, while his wife was secretary and his eldest son assistant steward. He married June 4, 1873, Clara Maria, daughter of Hon. John Kimball of Concord. They have five children — Ruth Ames, John Kimball, Helen McGregor, Augustine Haines, and Ben- jamin Kimball, the eldest being a special student in Cor- nell University. Mr. Ayers is a member of the South Congregational church of Concord, Rumford Lodge, I. O. O. F., and E. E. Sturtevant Post, G. A. R. WALTER SARGENT, Warner. "Elm Farm," charmingly located in the town of Warner, about two miles above the village, on the road to Kearsarge mountain, has been the delightful summer home of numerous rest- and pleasure-seekers for many Walter Sargent. PERSONAL AND P'ARM SKETCHES. II7 years past. Its proprietor, Walter Sargent, is a native of the town, born December 25, 1837, ^'s father, Abner Sargent, being then a partner of Thomas H. Bartlett in mercantile business. His first ancestor in this country was William Sargent, a son of Richard Sargent of the British Royal navy, who settled in Ipswich, Mass., in 1633, and from whom he is a lineal descendant in the eighth gen- eration. When he was about two years of age his father sold out his business in Warner and settled on a farm in that part of Boscawen which is now Webster, where he grew to manhood, meanwhile industriously laboring upon the farm, attending the district school, and the Salisbury, Hopkinton, Franklin, and Contoocook academies, and teaching school, himself, winters, for a number of years. He also worked considerably at carpentering, and ac- quired a good knowledge of the business, which he has since found advantageous in arranging his own buildings and assisting others. At the age of twenty-five years he married Addie C, daughter of Capt. Samuel Morrill of Andover, and was for several years engaged in the m.an- agement of Captain Morrill's farm. Subsequently, in 1867, he removed to Warner and settled upon the farm upon which he now resides. He found the buildings somewhat out of repair, and very inconvenient, and commenced to re-build in a thorough and systematic manner, believing that " what is worth doing at all is worth doing well," and he now has a well-arranged and convenient set of farm buildings. He has also added to the acreage, so that his farm now contains about 250 acres. In his farming operations he believes in thorough cul- tivation, and in mixed farming. He has raised some valuable colts, and breeds Delaine Merino sheep, of which he usually has wintered from fifty to seventy-five. w o CO w H < W PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. II9 His sheep show the advantages of thoroughness in breed- ing, and careful selection. His dairy is mostly Guern- sey and Jersey, from which he usually disposes of his butter to regular customers. The skim milk is fed to hogs, which tends to greatly increase the fertility of the farm. Although he is not averse to buying grain under ordinary conditions, he considers it much more advanta- geous to raise it, and believes he can raise corn cheaper than he can buy it. He usually raises from two to three hundred bushels of corn each year, besides other grain, which is all fed upon the farm. Mr. Sargent has served his townsmen as selectman and as a member of the school board, and aided in the organization of the Simonds Free High school. He has taken an interest in all matters pertaining to agricultural progress and was for several years secretary of the Kearsarge Agricultural and Mechanical Association. He has been a member of Warner Grange since its or- ganization in 1877 ; was secretary of the Merrimack County Council and charter secretary of Merrimack County Pomona Grange. He retains his interest in grange v\ork, but on account of impaired hearing is de- barred from active participation therein. Mr. Sargent's first wite died in 1873, leaving two sons, Frank H., now assistant postmaster at Harriman, Tenn., and George H., city-editor of the St. Paul Piuneer Press. October 3, 1877, he married Mrs. Fannie A. (Fellows) Shaw, youngest daughter of Dea. Richard Fellows of Salisbury, with whom he is now living, and whose gracious manner adds a charm to the ready hospitality which a host of friends and acquaintances enjoy at the Elm Farm home. Frank R. Woodward. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 121 FRANK R. WOODWARD, Hill. Agriculture in New Hampshire, as well as elsewhere, has been greatly benefited by the attention of men who, having devoted themselves primarily to professional life, business, or manufacturing, have been led from love of the soil to devote their leisure, or have otherwise appro- priated time, and expended something of the profits of their business in these other lines, in the management and cultivation of farms. A tine example of this class is Frank R. Woodward of Hill, a successful manufacturer of light hardware, who has been well known in agri- cultural and Grange circles for several years past, in central New Hampshire. Mr. Woodward is a native of the town of Salisbury, born February 9, 1845. His parents, Daniel S. and Dorcas (Adams) Woodward, both came of Revolutionary stock. They removed to Penacook (then Fisher- ville) in 1848, and in 1852 to Franklin, where in the public schools and at Noyes Academy Frank R. received his education. In 1868, he went to Manchester where he was engaged as superintendent of the Forsaith latch needle factory, which business he purchased in 1870, and, two years later, removed it to the town of Hill. In 1873, he sold out the needle business and engaged in the manufacture of glass-cutters and other light hard- ware, for which he has established a world-wide reputa- tion. Mr. Woodward is a public-spirited citizen and has done much to advance the prosperity of the town in the way of building, and carrying out local improvements, putting in an efficient system of water-works, donating the land, laying out, grading, and fencing a fine ceme- tery, etc. Although his agricultural operations are PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 1 23 incidental in a measure they are by no means limited in extent. He has two farms — Pleasant tlill farm, just outside the village, and Birchdale, three and a half miles away. At Pleasant Hill butter-making for local consumers is the specialty, and at Birchdale milk sold at the cars is the main product. He has seven hundred acres of land altogether, much of which is in wood and timber, whose product is cut for use in his manufactur- incr. He has expended a great deal in improving stock and in experiments on farm crops to get the most profitable forage, and has met with good success in this line, having demonstrated to the farmers of the locality that the old, worn-out farms may be made to keep a stock of cows that will yield a profit, and bring up the farms to a good state of production by first using commercial fertilizers to raise the corn crop to fill the silo. He makes his hogs help to renovate the old brush land by cutting the brush and pasturing with hogs, and in two years gets the land, which was too tough to break with the plow, in good condition for seeding down to mowing. He was a charter member and the first overseer of Pemigewasset Grange, No. 107, of Hill, and has also served as master and secretary of that organization, in whose prosperity he has ever been deeply interested as well as in that of the order at large, having been for several years an active member of the Merrimack County Pomona Grange. He is a Royal Arch Mason, Odd Fellow, Knight of Honor, Knight of Pythias, Red Man, and Good Tem- plar, being a charter member of Hill Lodge of Good Templars, and serving for several terms as chief tem- plar. In politics he is a Democrat, and, although living in a strong Republican town, has served upon the board of education, as supervisor, and in other town offices, and in 1884 was chosen representative by a large 124 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. majority. In 1885, after the session of the legislature, he resigned his office as representative and accepted the position of post-master, the same having been given without solicitation on his part. He is a member of the Christian church in Hill, a life director of the society, and has been superintendent of the Sunday-school since its organization. He also has charge of the church property. Mr. Woodward has been twice married. Five child- ren by his first wife are all deceased. By his second wife, Ella E. Hilpert. he has one son, Harold A., born April 29, 1888. They enjoy a pleasant home life and ■dispense a cheerful hospitality. SIMON A. TENNEY, Newport. Simon A. Tenney of Newport, son of Isaac C. and Louisa D. (Buel) Tenney, was born in that town De- cember 18, 1842, being the eldest of six children, largely dependent upon the mother, who plied the needle early and late, making garments for others, that her children might grow up useful members of society. After a lim- ited schooling young Tenney commenced working out by the day, and later, by the month and year, mostly at farming, for about eight years, till at the outbreak of the war, when twenty years of age, he enlisted, serving in all two years and nineteen days in the heavy artillery. For four years subsequently he worked on a dairy and truck farm in Burlington, Mass., when he married and returned to his native town, purchasing an interval farm (Sugar Vale Farm) on the south branch of Sugar river, a mile from the village, where he has since lived and has reared a family of five children. He has greatly im- PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 1 25 proved the appearance and productiveness of his farm^ making a specialty of dairying. He keeps a dozen cows and has retailed the milk in the village for more than twenty years. Mr. Tenney was active in the organization of the Newport Agricultural and Mechani- cal Association, serving as secretary four years and president two, taking a leading part in the management of the town fairs. He was the first signer of the petition for the institution of Sullivan Grange and was its charter secretary, serving two years, and two years as master ; was two years a district deputy, and was chosen master of Sullivan Count}' Pomona Grange in December, 1895. He is a Congregationalist in religion and has been super- intendent of the Sunday-school. Politically he is a Re- publican and has been honored by his party in various directions. He has served as countv correspondent for the United States Department of Agriculture, and news correspondent of various farm and local papers. He is a member of the G. A. R., and past commander of Fred Smyth Post, No. 10, of Newport. HON. WILLIAM D. BAKER, RUMNEY. Among those prominently identified before the public with the dairy interest, now one of the most important and progressive branches of agriculture in New Hamp- shire, is Hon. W. D. Baker of Rumney, through whose efforts, and under whose management, the New Hamp- shire butter exhibit at the World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago in 1893, was collected, transported, arranged, and displayed. This exhibit, it will be remembered, won for the Granite state the first rank among all the states for the average excellence of its exhibits, and gave 126 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. an impetus, thereby, to the dairy business in New Hamp- shire such as could not otherwise have been experienced. A general committee of^ three had been appointed by the State Dairymen's Association to take the matter of this exhibit in charge, the other members of the committee being J. L. Gerrish of Webster and George W. Stanley of Langdon ; but Mr. Baker was designated by the com- mittee to take personal charge of the work, and the outcome proved the efficiency of his labor. Mr. Baker is a native of the city of Philadelphia, born September 7, 1854. ^'^ parents, Samuel D. and Mary E. (Harris) Baker, were New Hampshire people, how- ever, the former a native of Campton and the latter of Rumney, in which latter town they located in his child- hood, on the Joshua Harris place near Qiiincy station, where the mother was born. He attended the town schools and Philips Exeter Academy, graduating from the latter in 1878. In 1885 he married Winnifred A. Woodbury of Island Pond, Vt., and has been since established in the pursuit of agriculture on the home place at Quincy, to which he has added largely by pur- chase, acquiring the main portion of the farm owned by the late Hon. Josiah Quincy, so that he has now about 200 acres of land, his place being known as the Elmwood Dairy Farm. His specialties are dairying and breeding, his stock being Jersey-Holstein cross breeds. Mr. Baker has been a leading spirit in the Granite State Dairymen's Association and a director from the start, and has generally had charge of the exhibit and practical tests of the Association, and has addressed various organizations and public gatherings on practical dairy topics. He made four trips to Chicago as superin- tendent of the New Hampshire exhibit at the World's Fair, taking out 153 separate exhibits of which 103 were awarded medals and diplomas. With the October exhibit PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. I27 he took out a display of fruit, collected at his own expense, showing 60 varieties and 250 plates of apples, the same being credited to the state, and awarded a medal and diploma. This exhibit was instrumental in creating a strong demand for New Hampshire apples at the West. A movement then inaugurated resulted in the organization of the New Hampshire Horticultural Soci- ety, of which Mr. Baker was chosen, and has contin- ued, secretary. He is also an active manager and sec- retary of the Grafton County Agricultural Society, and a vice-president of the National Dairymen's Union. In politics, Mr. Baker is an active Republican, and prominent in public affairs, being chairman of the board of selectmen and library trustees in Rumney, member of the last state senate from the Plymouth district and chairman of the committee on agriculture in that bodv, and also a member of the Republican state central committee. He is an earnest Patron of Hus- bandry, has been master of Rumne}^ Grange and of Grafton County Pomona Grange, and is also a district deputy of the State Grange. Generallv speaking, Mr. Baker is wdiat is know^n as a "hustler," and few men put more zeal and energy into their work than he. GEORGE H. WADLEIGH, TiLTON. George H. Wadleigh, the present member of the Board of Agricultvn^e for Belknap county, is a native of Sanbornton, a son of Joseph D. and Sarah S. (Hunt) Wadleigh, born November 17, 1S50. He remained at home, assisting iiis father on the farm, where a specialty was the raising of a superior quality of corn, until 1881, 128 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. when he married Lilla M., daughter of Benjamin F. and Mary S. (Smith) Cass, of Tilton, and settled in that town, where he has since had his home. Two children have made them happy — Grace M., who awaits them " over there," and Lewis J. Mr. Wadleigh regards agriculture as a scientific pur- suit, and as a farmer puts his best thought into his work. He is progressive, awake to the demands of the times, and ready to discard old traditions whenever science has discovered new truths to take their place. His specialties are stock and poultry raising, and improve- ment is his watchword. He has recently in- troduced an e^xellent herd of red polled cat- tle, purchased in west- ern New York, and the tirst brought into the state. He believes this breed admirably adapt- ed, both for stock and dair}^ purposes. He has a maple orchard of over six hundred trees, and ex- cels in sugar making, having been engaged in it from boyhood. The product linds a ready sale among those who have become acquainted with its merits. He was a member of the Sanbornton Farmers' Club several years before the organization of Harmony Grano-e in that town, of which he was a charter mem- ber, as well as of the Belknap County Pomona Grange, having been chaplain, lecturer, and master of the for- Geokge g. Wadleigh. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 1 29 mer. He was active in the organization of the Grange State Fair Association, and was chairman of the com- mittee to prepare the first premium list. He was one year superintendent of the poultry department, three years of the cattle department, six years treasurer, and is at present secretary of the association. He was ap- pointed a member of the Board of Agriculture in 1894, and has taken .a deep interest in the work of the Board. In politics Mr. Wadleigh is a Republican, and was a representative from the town of Tilton in the legislature of 1893. In Sanbornton he was an active member of the First Baptist church. That he might enjoy a more convenient church home, after his location in Tilton, he united with the Methodist Episcopal church in that place, of which he is at present treasurer, and is also superin- tendent of the Sunday-school. HON. CHARLES McDANIEL, Springfield. Among the largest landholders, best representative t'armers, and most influential citizens of the county of Sullivan is Charles McDaniel of Springfield, a native of that town, born July 22, 1835, a son of James McDaniel who occupied the old homestead whereon his grand- father, of the same name, a descendant of the Scotch McDaniels of the north of Ireland, had originally settled in the latter part of the last century. Growing up on the farm, and thoroughly accustomed to its labors in all directions, the young man, like many another farmer's son, had a taste for mental as well as physical culture, and sought instruction beyond that attainable in the dis- trict school, which he secured b}^ attendance at the academies in Andover, New London, and Canaan, and 9 130 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. himself engaged in teaching, one or more terms per year, from the age of eighteen until nearly forty, making his home with his father meanwhile, and devot- ing a portion of the time to farm labor, until, upon his father's decease, he purchased the interest of the other heirs in the place, and assumed the full management thereof, with which he has since been mainly occupied. The farm, which is located in the western portion of Springfield, has been largely increased in extent under the present owner, and now embraces about 800 acres of land, of which about 150 is in mowing and tillage, and the remainder in pasture and woodland. Aside from the home farm, however, Mr. McDaniel has about 400 acres of outland, a considerable proportion of which is in the town of Grantham. Mixed farming is pursued, with dair3nng as the leading feature at present. An average crop of about 125 tons of hay, supplemented by ensilage from a 75 ton silo, furnishes winter subsistence for the stock, consisting of some 50 head of neat cattle, 100 sheep, and half a dozen horses. From 15 to 20 cows are kept, butter being supplied to private custo- mers, and the balance of cream sold to the Sullivan Creamery, at Grantham. In politics Mr. McDaniel is a Democrat, and has been much in public life, having been elected a member of the board of selectmen, and an overseer of the poor in 1862, and having since served repeatedly as chairman of the board, also as town treasurer and school commit- tee. He represented Springfield in the legislature of 1868, and again in 1891, when he was an active mem- ber of the Committee on Agriculture. He has also been voted for by his party for important county offices, and was the Democratic candidate for congress in the second district in 1894. He was for six years a member of the state board of agriculture for Sullivan count}^ and for Hon. Charles McDaniel. 132 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. eight years past has been a trustee of the New Hamp- shire College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts, devoting much attention to the interests of the institution during the period covering its removal to, and establish- ment at, Durham. In 1895 he was appointed by Gov- ernor Busiel a member of the State Board of Equalization. In the order of Patrons of Husbandry no man in New Hampshire is better known, or more iiighly esteemed, than Mr. McDaniel. He was long master, and is at present secretary of Montcalm Grange, Enfield Centre ; was the lirst master of Mascoma Valley Pomona Grange ; three years overseer, and five years master of the State Grange, also member and secretary of its executive com- mittee, and chaplain of the National Grange from 1891 to 1893. Mr. McDaniel is a member of Social Lodge, F. and A. M. of Enfield, and of the Chapter of the Tabernacle, Royal Arch Masons. In religion he is a Universalist. Mav 31, 1862, he was united in marriage with Miss Amanda M. Quimby of Springfield. They have had five children, but one of whom survives, Cora, a gradu- ate of the New Hampshire State Normal school, for several years a teacher, and now the wife of P. S. Currier of Plymouth. GEORGE PEABODY LITTLE, Pembroke. One of the most prosperous agricultural communities in the state is to be found in the town of Pembroke. " Pembroke Street " is, in fact, a farming village, and the fertile and well cultivatedfields on either side, and the substantial farm houses all along the way, are an unfail- ing delight to the eye of the passing traveler. x\mong the best of the many excellent farms here situated is that PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. of George P. Little, who has won a prominent position in agricultural circles, particularly as a breeder of^ Jersey cattle, in which line he was extensively engaged for many years. The son of Dr. Elbridge G. and Sophronia (Peabody) Little — his mother being a sister of the noted London banker, George Peabody, for whom he was named and at whose decease he was handsomely remembered — he was born at Pembroke, N. Y., June 20, 1834. In 1846 he came, with his mother, to Pem- broke in this state to continue his education at the academy there, he having previously, for a time, attended the Levviston, N. Y., Acad- emy. Subsequentl}' he attended the Gymna- sium and Military In- stitute, a noted school which flourished then at the " Street " in ri- valry with the Acade- my. The winter after he was eighteen years of age he taught school in Pembroke, but went the next year to Portland, Me., where he was in mercantile business live years. Thence he went to Boston where he was similarly engacred for a time; but having developed a strong taste for photoo-ra- phy, he Anally located in Palmyra, N. Y., where he pursued that business for ten years, until 1868, when he came back to Pembroke and purchased the farm where he now resides, erecting thereon a fine residence, spacious George Peabody Little. Oh o p^ PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 135 barn and other necessary buildings, effecting various other improvements, and adding to the acreage from time to time. He has about 225 acres in the home place, witii back farms and woodland, to the extent of some 700 or 800 acres in all. The mowing and tillage includes about 75 acres, and the annual hay product is about 100 tons. As has been stated, Mr. Little was for many years a breeder of Jerseys — registered animals of a superior class, which he sold all over the country. He has also been a breeder of fine horses, and has bought and sold horses exten- sively, but of late he has been inclined to an easier life and has relinquished his activity in these lines. Mr. Little has taken an active interest in public affairs in the town of his adoption, and is one of its most hon- ored and influential citizens. A Republican in politics, he had served as deputy U. S. collector of internal rev- enue while residing in New York. In Pembroke he has been several years town treasurer, three years selectman, was a representative in the legislature in 1876 and 1877 and again in 1890-91. He was treasurer of Merrimack county four years, and a delegate in the last constitutional convention. He is a 32-degree Mason, and Knight Templar, an Odd Fellow, and deacon of the Congrega- tional church in Pembroke. He married Elizabeth N., daughter of Daniel Knox of Pembroke, August 22, 1854. They have six children living, a son and five daughters. The son, Hon. C. B. Little, a lawyer of Bismarck, North Dakotah, has been a member of the state senate and chairman of the judi- ciary committee the last eight years. Of the daughters, Mary G. is the wife of James E. Odlin, Esq., of Lynn, Mass. ; Lizzie E. married L. F. Thurber of Nashua ; Nettie H. is Mrs. Frank E. Shepard of Concord ; Lucy B. is at home, and Clara F. the wife of Herman S. Salt of Brooklyn, N. Y. 136 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. CHRISTOPHER C. SHAW, MiLFORD. Although mainly engaged in other business, in another state, there are few names better known in agricultural circles in New Hampshire than that of Christopher C. Shaw of Milford. Mr. Shaw was born in Milford March 20, 1824, on the farm he now occupies, and which was purchased, by a paternal ancestor, from the town of Charlestown, Mass., about 1744, it having been granted by the legislature for school purposes in 1659. He comes of a patriotic family, three of his ancestors having .served in the Revolutionary war, and one in the War of 181 2. At eigliteen years of age he was clerk of the state militia in Milford, and captain of the same a year later. At this time he commenced retailing dry goods from house to house, and, two years later, opened a country store in Milford, continuing till 1848, when he closed out and established himself in the dry goods busi- ness in Lawrence, Mass. Two years after he removed to Boston, and was similarly engaged for a time on Han- over street, but finally connected himself with the large importing and jobbing dry goods house of J. W. Blod- gett & Co., in which line he has continued, as proprietor or salesman, with the exception of about seven and a half years, immediately following the great fire of 1872, in Boston, which destro3^ed his business and retired him to his farm in Milford. Attracted by the Grange movement sweeping over the great West about this time, and investigating the same, he arranged to have the first deputy of the order coming to the state, visit him at Miltbrd. He soon re- ceived a call from General Deputy Eben Thompson, of the National Grange, and in two days Granite Grange, No. 7, was organized in Milford, with Mr. Shaw as ^^ ^ \ \ lto^ ^ ^^^^^Hk Christopher ('. Shaw 138 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. master. A few weeks later the State Grange was organized, and he was elected secretary, and appointed general deputy. Subsequently, he was made purchas- ing agent for the state. In January, 1877, the state mutual fire insurance company was organized, with Mr. Shaw as president, which position he held for seven years. In December following lie was chosen secretary ot the Patron's Relief Association, and president of the same in January, 1893. From 1873 to 1880, when he resigned all official positions in the Grange to resume mercantile business in Boston, his time was largely spent in organizing subordinate Granges, and otherwise devel- oping the order in the state, and no man is held in greater esteem by the older members of the Grange in New Hampshire. Mr. Shaw has been an enthusiast in the culture of fruit, and a large exhibitor of fruit, vegetables, fancy poultry, Chester county swine, and Jersey cattle at the New England and other leading fairs. He has been a trustee of the New England Agricultural, and a life member of that, and of the Massachusetts Horticultural and American Pomological Societies for many years. While making an exhibition of fruit at the Chicago Columbian Exposition, he became dissatisfied with New Hampshire's showing in this direction, and, with a few others, took action which resulted in the organization of the New Hampshire Horticultural Society, of which he was elected, and still remains, president, and which he hopes will yet become an instrument of great value in developing the agricultural resources of the state, along the lines of fruit and vegetable culture. Politically, Mr. Shaw was born a Whig, but early became an Abolitionist, and graduated into the Republi- can party at its organization. He served the town of Milford in the legislature in 1875 and 1876, and the PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 139 party seven years as a member of its state committee. He is strongly interested in historical matters, and is president of the Milford Historical and Genealogical Society. In religion he is a Liberalist, and is president of the Veteran Spiritualist Union of Boston. He was united in marriage, August 27, 1846, with Rebecca Peabody Hutchinson of Milford, a descendant of Captain Nathan Hutchinson, a Revolutionary soldier and one of the first settlers of the town. They have had three chil- dren, of whom two, Horatio Christopher and Charles Jacob, survive. WILLIAM H. CHADWICK, Sutton. Of rough and rugged surface, but strong soil, which responds satisfactorily to faithful cultivation, the town of Sutton, in the " back-bone" region of the state, includes a number of successful farmers among its population, ol whom William H. Chadwick is a worthy representative. Mr. Chadwick occupies the old home of his father, Edmund Chadwick, in the north part of the town, and embracing 170 acres of land, with a good set of build- ings thereon. He was born August 31, 1848, educated in the town schools, and has spent his life principally upon the farm. His farming is of the mixed order, though milk production is a leading item, the same being sold at the cars in Bradford. He cuts from 35 to 40 tons of hay annually, and uses ensilage as a sup- plementary feed. His stock consists of about 25 head of neat cattle, including eight cows, three or four horses, and a small flock of sheep, from which he usually sells a few early lambs at a good profit. Mr. Chadwick was a charter member of Sutton Grange, and has held some ofiice in the organization 140 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICUETURE. nearly every 3^ear since the start, having been master four years, from 1890, and taking a strong interest in the prosperity of the order. In religion he is a Universalist, and politically a Democrat and as such was elected as the delegate from Sutton, in the last state constitutional convention, though the town is ordinarily Republican. Mr. Chadwick has been three times married, having lost two wives by death, the first being Miss Susie Coburn of Sutton, and the second Miss Emma Morgan of Salem, Mass. A daughter b}^ the second wife is also deceased. His present wife was Miss Effie Merrill of Sutton, by whom he has one child — a son now about two years of age. THE COGSWELL HOMESTEAD— GILMANTON, CoL. Thomas Cogswell, Proprietor. Prominent among the old historic homesteads of Belknap count}^ is tlie Cogswell place in Gilmanton, embracing the contiguous estates of Gen. Joseph Badger and Col. Thomas Cogswell, natives of Haverhill, Mass., who set- tled here, the former in 1763 and the latter at the close of the Revolutionar}' War, throughout w^iich he served gal- lantl}^ with his seven brothers. General Badger was a member of the New Hampshire provincial congress and of the first constitutional convention, and was prominent in public affairs. He died in 1803. His daughter, Ruth, was the wife of Colonel Cogswell. The latter was also an influential citizen, and chief justice of the court of common pleas from 1784, until his death in 1810. In 1820, Thomas Cogswell of Atkinson, a nephew of Colonel Thomas, and son of Gen. William and Judith (Badger) Cogswell, located in Gilmanton, uniting in his possession the Badger and Cogswell farms. He was a young man of twenty-one, having just been united in 142 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. marriage with Mary Noyes. Coming of a strong and distinguished ancestr}-, and endowed with great natural abilities, he soon became a leader of the people, and was conspicuous in all the affairs of this important town, serv- ing repeatedly as moderator, selectman, and representa- tive ; as deputy sheriff, associate justice of the court of com- mon pleas, and member of the executive council, while his success as afarmer was also marked, an addition of some 500 acres having been made to his estate, this portion subsequently constituting the farm of his elder son, the late James W. Cogswell. At the death of Judge Cogs- well, August 8, 1868, his younger son, Col. Thomas Cogswell, Jr., came into possession of the homestead, and its management has since been in his hands. Colonel Cogswell was born February 8, 1841, grad- uated from Dartmouth with the class of 1863, served gal- lantly as first lieutenant and captain of Company A, Fifteenth New Hampshire Regiment, during the regi- mental term of service : studied law with the firm of Stevens & Vaughan at Laconia, and at Harvard Law School ; was admitted to the bar in September, 1866, and immediately commenced practice at Gilmanton Iron Works. After returning to the farm he continued prac- tice to some extent and also became active in political affairs, as a Democrat, serving as school committee, repre- sentative, and selectman for several years. He was a member of Governor Weston's staft' in 187 1, and repre- sented his district in the state senate in 1878. In 1886 he was the Democratic candidate for Governor. He was appointed on the board of railroad commissioners in April, 1893, serving until lie became U. S. pension agent at Concord, July i, 1894, which position he now holds. He is also president and treasurer of the board of trustees of Gilmanton Academy, which notable institution his great-grandfather and great-uncle were instrumental in Col. Tho.mas Cogswell. 144 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. founding. He is a Mason, a prominent Grand Army man, and a Patron of Husbandry. The Cogswell homestead embraces 517 measured acres, and has always been known as one of the best farms in the county, sustaining large stocks of cattle and horses, and producing great crops of wheat and corn as well as hay. Colonel Cogswell has carried out important im- provements in various directions, putting in a new 100-ton silo the past season. The barn is 120 feet in length, and this, and the line stable for horses, are thoroughly appointed, and, together with the fine old mansion, are abundantly supplied with running water, by means of a windmill, put in for the purpose. Colonel Cogswell pro- poses to make dairying his leading farm industry, increasing his number of cows from 15 to 25, now that a creamery has been established in town, in which enter- prise he is a leading spirit. His hay crop is from 80 to 100 tons per annum, and he pastures from 50 to 75 head of cattle for outside parties. He has reduced his stock of horses, but keeps a fine span for driving, a stallion, and a few colts. The farm work is largely done by oxen. x\lthough a lawyer, a politician, and a man of afiairs, Colonel Cogswell is a thorough-going, representative farmer; his sympathies and interests are wath the agricul- turists of the state, and he is an earnest champion of their cause on all proper occasions. Pie married, October 8, 1873, Florence, daughter of R. D. Moores of Manchester, who died Februar}^ 14, 1892, leaving a daughter and two sons. The daughter, Anna M., married Walter J. Edgerly of Gilmanton. Thomas, the elder son, entered Dartmouth College class of '99. Clarence Noyes, the younger, is employed in the wholesale boot and shoe establishment of Parker, Holmes & Co., Boston. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. I45 NORWAY HILL FARM— HANCOCK, C. H. Duncan, Proprietor. Hancock is a rugged upland town, with varied and beautiful scenery, and generally rough though productive soil. Among the most prosperous farmers in this town is Cristy H. Duncan, proprietor of "Norway Hill Farm," located on the westerly slope of Norway Hill, the farm buildings being about half a mile from the village, and commanding a beautiful landscape view. Near the sum- mit of the hill Mr. Duncan's great grandfather. Deacon James Duncan, one of the pioneer settlers of the town, originally located, and the family home has ever since been in this locality. His father, John Duncan, who married iYlmira Chandler, bought the present home place — the nucleus of Norway Hill farm, — forty-two years ago, and here Cristy H. Duncan was born, February 29, 1856, receiving his education in the town schools. Mr. Duncan early developed a fondness for dealing in cattle, and at twenty-one, and for five years after, was extensively engaged in purchasing stock in the lower towns in the spring, bringing the same to the rich pas- tures of Hancock and vicinity tor the summer, and selling again in the fall. December 11, 1878, he was united in marriage with Miss Helen C. Walker, an educated and accomplished young lady, and successful teacher, of Leominster, Mass., who has proved a most helpful and sympathetic companion. About sixteen 3'ears ago he bought a small place of some fifteen acres in extent, adjacent to the home farm, and began active operations In agriculture, making thorough improvement of the soil his object. He has continued on that line to the present time, adding to his possessions now and then, till his present holdings embrace two hundred acres of land in- cluding his original home which became his own resi- 10 u PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. I47 dence after the death of his mother in 1894, his father now residinfj with him. He has extensively improved the buildings and has one of the best appointed barns to be found in the state. It is what is known as a " double-decker," the hay and fodder going in on the upper floor and no pitching up being required. The stables are thoroughly arranged for the comfort of the animals, and furnished with the Buckley watering device. The hay production is about sixty tons per annum, secured from forty acres of mow- ing land. This is supplemented with oats and other crops. For a time Mr. Duncan took considerable interest in stock breeding, devoting special attention to Swiss cattle, but dairying and the boarding of horses now command his principal attention. He keeps about twenty cows, selling milk to village customers, and the balance at the cars, to Whiting, and has fifteen or twenty horses usually in charge. The farm has a good supply of fruit, with three hundred apple trees in good condition. Mr. Duncan has been a member of John Hancock Grange for more than twenty years. He is a director of the Grange State Fair Association, and has long taken an interest in agricultural exhibitions : was a director of the Oak Park Fair Association, during its existence, and subsequently a moving spirit in the Hancock town fair organization. He was also one of the projectors and, for j?ome time, a director of the Peterborough creamery. Politically Mr. Duncan is a Republican and has held various offices in town. He is a member of the Con- gregational church, has been superintendent of the Sunday-school and clerk and treasurer of the society. He is engaged considerably in probate business and is a correspondent for various papers. As a citizen he is public spirited, and actively instrumental in promoting the welfare of the town, in erecting dwellings and in other 148 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. directions', "progress" being his motto in all things. Mr. and Mrs. Duncan have three daughters, aged re- spectively 15, 13, and 10 years. The family are all musical, with a taste for literature also, and their home life is exceedingly pleasant. EDWARD BRYANT, CORNISH, Edward Bryant owns one of the best farms in the town of Cornish, It is situated on the western slope of the Cornish hills, and is one of the most picturesque spots in the Connecticut River valley, commanding magnificent views up and down the river, while in the west, the towering form of Ascutney mountain makes a splendid background. Several New York, Boston, and Phil- adelphia people have been so impressed with the beauties of this region that they have erected summer residences and spend several months here each year. Mr. Br3'ant has sold several parcels of land to them on which to build, and each year it becomes more popular. Mr. Bryant was born on this farm which has been in the family more than sixty years. It contains about two hundred and fifty acres, and is three miles from the Windsor bridge. It is well timbered and watered. The buildings consist of the dwelling house, five barns, and two lean-tos at the home place, and two barns on what is known as the upper place. Mr. Bryant is a well known horse and cattle raiser, one of his horses having trotted in 2 : 36 over Dover track. His cattle are mostly Jerseys and he averages to send three hundred pounds of milk to the Hillside creamery every day in the year. Mr. Bryant is a model New England farmer, and has made a success, and is classed among the heaviest tax- payers in town. His post-office address is Windsor, Vt. PERSONAL AND PARM SKETCHES. 149 SAMUEL S. WHITE, Sullivan. Sullivan is one of the small rural towns of Cheshire county, its population being almost entirely devoted to agricultural pursuits, and including in their numbers a fair proportion of thrift}^ and prosperous farmers who rank among the substantial citizens of the county. One of the best known of these is Samuel S. White, a son of George and Lavina (Ellis) White, who was born Sept. 18, 1850, on the farm which he now occupies and which has been in possession of the family since its original settlement- Mr. White was ed- ucated in the public schools of the town, and at Springfield, Vt., and has always had his home in Sul- livan. Sept. 18, 1873, he was united in mar- riage with Miss Fran- ces A. Locke, daugh- ter of John Locke of Sullivan. They have one son, Winfred J. Another son, Charles E., died at the age of three years. The farm embraces about four hundred acres of land altogether, about fifty acres in mowing and tillage and the balance in pasture and woodland. The hay crop averages from fifty to sixty tons per annum, and several acres of corn are usually planted. The stock consists Samuel S. White. 150 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. of about twenty head of cattle, four horses, and thirty- five sheep. The cattle are largely cows, and milk pro- duction is a leading feature of the farm business, the same being sold to the Whitings at the station in Keene, eight miles distant. Another important item is the maple sugar product, which has amounted in some seasons to 3,000 pounds, twelve hundred trees being tapped. There is also a large apple orchard on the farm, the product ot which reaches 1,000 bushels in good bearing years. Mr. White is an interested and active working member of the order. Patrons of Husbandry, having joined Ashuelot Grange, of Gilsum, in June, 1890, and given no little time and etibrt to promote the success of the or- ganization, believing it to be an effective agency for advancing the interests of the farmer and his familv in every community where it is established. He has served several years as chorister, has filled the stations of stew- ard and overseer respectively and was master for two terms — in 1894 '^^^ ^^95. He is also a member 01 Cheshire County Pomona Grange ; has taken much in- terest in its work, and attended its sessions as generally as circumstances would allow. He received the seventh degree of the order at the session of the National Grange in Concord, in November, 1893. Mr. White is a Dem- ocrat in politics, and a member of the Congregational church, for which he was organist twenty years, and ten years superintendent of the Sunday school. HON. JOHN G. TALLANT, Pembroke. Among the men prominently identified with the large farming interests in New Hampshire is John G. Tallant, formerly of East Concord, now a resident of Pembroke. 152 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. He was born Mar. 2, 1846, and is the son of the late John L. Tallant, of East Concord, one of the largest farmers and most prominent citizens of Merrimack county. Mr. Tallant received a good common school and academical education, but inherited a strong attachment or agriculture, and has persistently and successfully tollowed it, always in the front rank as a farmer, always ready to adopt new^ and progressive methods. Among the specialties of farming, he early gave his attention to the rear- ing and sale of pure bred Jersey cattle, in which line he can easily claim the first place among New Hampshire farmers. He was associated in the Jersey busi- ness for many years with Hon. Joseph H. Walker, of Worces- ter, Mass. Their celebrated Crystal Spring herd was known through- out the length and breadth of the land, from which sales have been made in ever}^ state in the Union. His skill and judgment as a dairyman was widely recognized, and the production of superior butter was a feature of his well managed farm, the excellent quality of which won prizes in many contests in the fairs throughout New England, also securing the much cov- eted gold medal known as the Jersev Bulletin prize. For many years he has been employed as an expert Hon. John G. Tallant. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. I53 judge in blooded stock, dairy tests, and products, and many other departments in many of the fairs. He has been prominently identified with various agricultural associations. In 1893 he disposed of his East Concord farm, and bought the Albert Langmaid place, delightfully located on Pembroke street, and provided with one of the finest sets of buildings in the county, where is now his home. Mr. Tallant has been active in public affairs, having served as selectman, member of the common council, alderman, assessor, member of the town school commit- tee, representative in the legislature and state senator, the latter in 1891, when he was active in the organiza- tion of the farmers of the legislature, for the advance- ment of their own interests, and was first president of the body known as the New Hampshire Council of Agri- culture. In 1892 he was appointed by Governor Tuttle a trustee of the New Hampshire College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts, and has taken an active interest in the management of the institution. He was reap- pointed by Governor Smith, and still holds the position of trustee. He is prominent in the order of Patrons of Husbandry, and was the first master of Rumford Grange, holding the office for three years. In December, 1894, he was chosen master of Pembroke Grange, and re- elected the following year. He has been twice married, his first wife being Addie G., a daughter of the late Hon. Aaron Whittemore of Pembroke, whose death occurred October 11, 1876, and by whom he had three children. In December, 1877, he married Helen B. Wilson, daughter of Captain Daniel W. Wilson, of New Hamp- ton. Mrs. Tallant has ever been an enthusiastic sup- porter in all of her husband's interests, and he is always ready to accord to her good judgment and advice much of his well-earned success. 154 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. FRANK E. CRAM, PiTTSFIELD. In 1768 John Cram of Hampton, N. H., came through the woods to what is now Pittsfield and built a saw-mill, and two years later he moved his family, who had been living in Epsom, to a new house he had built near his mill. This was the first settlement within the limits of the town. He was a man of great energy, and superior judgment, and to him were referred all the disputes that arose among the early settlers of the town, and from his decision it is said no appeal was ever taken. It was from this fact that he was widely known as " Esquire" Cram. Before moving into town Esquire Cram had bought one thousand acres of land, including that on which Pittsfield village stands, for ten cents per acre. He subsequently bought at the same price one hundred acres lying at the northeast corner of liis first purchase. This he gave to his son Tristram, who in turn gave it to his son Reuben, who, at his death, gave it to his 3'^oungest son, Frank E. Cram. This land, therefore, has never been deeded, but has remained in the Cram family for more than one hun- dred and twenty-five years. Frank E. Cram's mother was Miss Polly Berry, a daughter of Lieut. Thomas Berry, who made the famous ride in 1813 from this town to Portsmouth and return in seven and one half hours. The subject of this sketch was born on the old home- stead, January 7, 1847, and has always made it his home. He married Ida A. Young, November 24, 1870. They have had three children, all boys, — Natt A. Cram of Manchester, F. Guy, and Alroy B. who remain at home with their parents. When Mr. Cram succeeded to the ancestral homestead it was in the condition of many of our New Hampshire farms. His aged father had done what he could with Frank E. Cram. 156 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. Frank's help on the farm, but the result was that the fields had "run out." Ere long the most casual observer could at once see that a new hand had taken the management of affairs. Fields that had been untouched for years were plowed, stones and bushes removed, walls rebuilt, and the buildings thoroughly repaired, and shade and fruit trees planted. Nothing was done for show, but everything that was done was to improve the farm — to make it more productive and more attractive. The result was that Mr. Cram was obliged to enlarge his barn and build several out-buildings until now he has one of the largest and most productive farms in this section of the state. Of course a man with such energy and good judgment, could not remain unnoticed by his townsmen, and many times he has been called upon to fill public offices. This he has done not only with credit to himself, but to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. He was tax col- lector two years, selectman three years, road agent two years, representative in 1887, and was elected county commissioner in 1892, receiving the largest vote ever cast in Pittsfield for a candidate for any office, his vote stand- ing 399, to 149 for his opponent. In his farming operations in which he has been so suc- cessful he has always believed in using the best — the best tools, the best seeds, and the best fertilizers ; consequently he gets the best crops that his land can produce. It is a pleasure to visit his farm and look over his growing- crops in summer, to see his bountiful harvest in autumn, or to examine his sleek animals in winter. Mr. Cram belongs to the Red Men, the Knights of Pythias, the I. O. O. F., and the Patrons of Husbandry. In the last order he takes great interest ; in fact it was through his exertions that the grange in Pittsfield was effectually revived in the spring of 1896. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 157 HERBERT L. BROWN, Canterbury. New Hampshire is rightly named the Switzerland of America, with its lofty mountains and beautiful valleys, through one of which flows the Merrimack river, on whose banks is situated, opposite the beautiful village of Boscawen, the farm of Herbert L. Brown of Canterbury, one of the thrifty young farmers and Patrons of Merri- mack county. Mr. Brown is a native of the town in which he resides, born March 20, 1867, the only child of Albert and Ellen (Leighton) Brown. His father is a native of Northfield, and the eldest son of Samuel B. Brown, who, with his father, Abram, were among the most prominent men of their day in the community. His mother is a native of Franklin, and the only child of Thomas and Eliza (Sanborn) Leighton, being a de- scendant of the Cloughs and Fosters, two prom- inent families, Abial Foster being the lirst representative to congress from New^; Hampshire, and several times returned to that body. Three of his ancestors were in the Revolutionary War, and one in the War of 181 2, while his father was a soldier in the late Civil War. Mr. Brown believes in the policy of mixed farming. Herbert L. Brown. 158 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. regarding it as safer and more profitable than to devote all his time and efforts to a single branch. The farm consists of three hundred acres of land, fifty being natural mowing, and cuts eighty tons of hay. In 1895 he raised seven hundred bushels of corn. He keeps from twenty to twenty-five cows, and sells the milk tor the Boston market. He has been quite successful in raising and training colts, among them Homer Wilkes, 2.29; Speed- well, 2.18, and a large number of fine road horses. Mr. Brown is a member of Ezekiel Webster Grange No. 94 of Boscawen, and has filled many of the chairs, being overseer four years, and master in i895-'96. He was also elected assistant steward of Merrimack County Pomona Grange No. 3 in December, 1895. In politics he is a Democrat, and has been two years a member of the Canterbury board of selectmen. He is interested in the temperance cause, being chief templar of Boscawen Lodge of Good Templars No. 127, and is always ready to aid in any good cause or undertaking. WARREN TRIPP, Epsom. The town of Epsom is almost wholly an agricultural community, embracing no considerable village, and no manufacturing industries of any magnitude within its limits. The leading farmer of this town is Warren Tripp, who occupies the old homestead within a mile of the rail- way station at Short Falls, originally settled by his great- grandfather, Richard Tripp, who had previously come from Portsmouth to the north part of the town, and who married Ann, sister of the gallant Major Andrew McClary, of Epsom, who was killed at the Battle of Bunker Hill. His grandfather, John Tripp, passed his lite upon this Warren Tripp l6o NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. farm, as did his father, Jeremiah, whose wife was Chloe Prescott, and who died in 1884, ten years after her decease. Mr. Tripp was born October 16, 1839, being one of a family of six children, of whom himself and a sister, now Mrs. J. L. Prescott of North Berwick, Me., are sur- vivors. He grew to manhood on the farm, and it has always been his abiding place. June 8, 1862, he married Katie M. Bickford of Epsom. Two children were born to them, Florus W., a promising young man who met an untimely death by accident in 1894, and Annie M., who married Blanchard H. Fowler of Epsom, and remains at home, Mr. Fowler being in charge of the farm work dur- ing the frequent and continued absence of his father-in- law, who for some years past has been extensively engaged in lumbering in company with Hon. James B. Tennant of Epsom, the firm operating mills in Hillsborough and Hen- niker, and, previous to 1895, in Moretown, Vt., their exten- sive plant in the latter place being then destroyed by fire. For a number of years in early manhood, previous to engaging in the lumber business, Mr. Tripp did a large business in the purchase and sale of cattle, often handling 2,000 head per annum or more. The original homestead embraces about 100 acres of land, of which about fifty acres is mowing and tillage, but Mr. Tripp has other farms andoutlands, to the extent of some 400 or 500 acres, besides his joint interest in several hundred acres more, owned with Mr. Tennant. He win- tered the past season, 33 head of neat cattle, and eight horses, the former stock being mostly grade Holsteins. The milk from twenty cows goes to the Short Falls creamery, a cooperative concern which Mr. Tripp was largely instrumental in establishing, and w^hich has proved of great advantage to the farmers of the Suncook valley. The stock and forage are accommodated by a l62 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICUI>TURE. spacious barn, 38x91 feet, and another for horses, 36 x 40, recently erected. There are two silos of 60 tons' capacit}- each, in which are stored the product of eight or ten acres of corn, after the ears are picked therefrom. The soil of the home farm is of excellent quality, it being largely a high intervale, free from stones and easy of cultivation. Its productive capacity has been greatly increased under Mr. Tripp's management, and the best improved modern machinery is brought into use in all departments. Politically Mr. Tripp is a Democrat. He has served as selectman, collector and treasurer of the town, and was the candidate of his party for state senator in 1894. He was a charter member and first vice-grand of Ever- green lodge, I. O. O. F., of Short Falls; was subse- quently noble grand, and has almost constantly held some office in the lodge. He is also a member of the Masonic fraternity, of Jewell lodge and Hiram chapter, Suncook, and of Mt. Horeb Commandery, Concord. He was the tirst master of McClary Grange, of Epsom, subsequently twice elected to the same office, and always deeply inter- ested in the welfare of the order, as well as in that of the Granp-e State Fair Association, of which he was presi- dent in 1892 and 1893, and has since been general superintendent. JOHN W. FARR, Littleton. Three miles, northwesterly, from the thriving village of Littleton, in the hill region of the town, is "Maple- wood farm," whose owner, John W. Farr, has long been well known among the farmers of northern New Hamp- shire, and also prominent in grange circles. This is the original homestead, settled in 1802 by Ebenezer Farr, of PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. l6' Chesterfield, to whose son Joseph it descended. John Wilder Farr, son of Joseph and Betsey (Dantbrth) Farr, was born on the farm, May 26, 1826, and has spent his entire life here, with the exception often years devoted to railroading in Massachusetts, New York, and Ontario, being engaged the last four years of that time in charge of track laying on the Great Western Railroad. In 1857 he returned to Littleton, took charge of the farm, and has since successfull}' pursued the agricul- tural calling. There are one hundred and seventy-five acres of land, of which about fift}' acres is mowing and tillage. The soil is hard and rugged, but yields to thorough cultivation and pro- duces good crops. The annual hay product is about thirty-five tons, which is supplement- ed by oats and corn. Mixed farming is fol- lowed, but dairying is a leading feature, the butter from eight or ten cows, mostly grade Jerseys, being generally sold to private customers. Mrs. Farr's reputation as a butter-maker is first-class, her butter having commanded first premiums at state and local fairs, and her exhibit at the World's Fair, Chicago, in 1893, having been award- ed a medal and diploma for excellence, the score being one of the highest attainable. Formerly Mr. Farr made a good deal of maple sugar, of superior quality, and re- ceived premiums upon the same at various exhibitions. John W. I-akiv. 164 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. Mr. Farr first married Eliza D. Phelps, of Merritton, Ont., who died in 1861, leaving two daughters, Etta P. and Nellie E., of whom the latter, now a trained nurse, only survives. His present wife was Miss Alwilda P. Lane, of Lancaster, with whom he was united December 29, 1863, and by whom he has had four children, one dying in infancy. Edward C, the eldest son, is a farmer in the town of Orange ; Mira L. is a teacher in Littleton, and, as well as the youngest son, John W. Farr., Jr., resides at home. White Mountain Grange, Littleton, was organized in 1875, and Mr. Farr was one of the charter members. He has served seven years as overseer and five years as master, and has been a faithtul and devoted member of the subordinate and state granges, having been four years a member of the executive committee in the latter body. He was a charter member of Northern New Hampshire Pomona Grange, and its chaplain in 1896. Mr. Farr was a member of the advisory council of the World's Congress Auxiliary, on Farm Culture and Cereal Industry, at Chicago in 1893, and has been vice-presi- dent of tlie New Hampshire Horticultural Society since its organization, being an extensive and successful fruit grower. He has also been a director and one of the executive committee of the Grafton and Coos Grange Fair Association, and a director of the Grange State Fair. He is a Congregationalist in religion and a Republican in politics, and was one of the representa- tives from Littleton in the legislature of i895-'96, serv- ing on the committee on agricultural college and as chairman of the committee on retrenchment and reform. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 165 HON. NEHEMIAH G. ORDWAY, Warner. Few names are more generally known in New Hamp- shire than that of Nehemiah G. Ordway, his prominence in public lite tor many years having brought him con- spicuously before the people. It may not be so generally known, however, that Mr. Ordway was reared as a farmer, and that interest in agricultural matters has never ceased to hold a conspicuous place among the controlling forces of his nature. Mr. Ordway was born in what is now the north vil- lage at Warner, November 10, 1828, being the son of Nehemiah and Mar\' (Flanders) Ordway. His father was a farmer, and his mother the daughter of Isaiah Flanders, who was also the owner of a large farm, in which was included a large share of tlie territory now occupied by Warner village. At the age of eleven years voung Ordway went to live with his Grandfather Flan- ders, and, possessed of an, active mind and strong and rapidly developed physical powers, he became at once the controlling spirit on the farm, continuing its manage- ment during his grandfather's lifetime, and still owning the major portion thereof, which he received at the lat- ter's decease. October 9, 1848, when scarcely twent}' years of age, he married Nancy Ann, daughter of Daniel Bean, a prominent citizen of Warner, who was the pro- prietor of a large farm and who built and operated the mills near the present "Waterloo" station, otherwise known as "Bean's Mills." This property has since come into his possession, and here has been his summer home for years, the place being known as " Riverside Farm." Altogether Colonel Ordway has about 500 acres of land stretching for some two miles along the course of the Warner river, and including " River Bow park," which l66 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. he originally fitted up for his own private use in training horses, of which he has been an enthusiastic breeder. The "Honest Allen" stock has been his favorite, though he has raised fine horses of various strains. He has at present about fifteen horses and colts, including a num- ber of superior qualities. It is of course out of the question in this connection to give a detailed account of the career of Colonel Ordway, who though reared as a New Hampshire farmer, and continuing his direct personal interest in the agriculture of the state, has been, in the broadest sense of the term, a man of affairs, engaging actively in political and busi- ness life and conducting operations upon the broadest scale. Suffice it to say that before attaining his majority he engaged in mercantile business at Warner, building a store for his own occupancy, while at the same time executing a contract for grading and building the rail- road through that town. He continued in business here for several years, taking an active part in town affairs. He served as sergeant-at-arms of the N. H. house ot representatives in 1855, ^s assistant clerk in 1856, and at the close of that session was appointed sheriff' of Mer- rimack county for five years by Gov. Haile, removing for the timq to Concord, where he also served as city marshal and collector of taxes for some time. Originally a Douglas Democrat he became a Republican upon the organization of that part^^ and was for many 3'ears intimately associated with the late Edward H. Rollins and William E. Chandler in the management of party affairs. He was chairman of the Republican state com- mittee in the Lincoln campaign of i860. As chief marshal of the "Wide Awakes " in that campaign he took 10,000 men from this state to the great Wide Awake demonstration in Boston. At the outbreak of the Rebel- lion, while still sheriff' of the county, his services were Hon. Nehemiah G. Ordway. l68 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. called in requisition by the governor, who commissioned him as colonel, for making arrangements to forward to the front the first regiments raised in the state. Appointed by President Lincoln general agent of the post-office department, and superintendent of mail trans- portation for the New England states, he fulfilled the arduous duties of his position from the spring of 1861, till December, 1862, when he resigned to accept the office of sergeant-at-arms of the national house of repre- sentatives at Washington, to which he was chosen at the opening of the Thirty-eighth congress, and re-elected for five successive congresses or a term of twelve years in all, becommg personally acquainted with 1,200 repre- sentatives and senators. Meanwhile he took an active interest in public affairs in the District of Columbia, and also in business opera- tions. He was the organizer and one of the principal stockholders of the Washington Market company which erected and owns the mac^nificent Center market in that city — the largest and best appointed retail market in the world. He still retains his connection with this company, ot which he has long been president, and has his winter residence in Washington though returning to New Hamp- shire at the close of the Forty-ninth congress in the spring of 1875, when he was elected a representative to the state legislature from Warner, being the first Repub- lican sent from that town. He was re-elected in 1876 and 1877, was a delegate in the constitutional convention of 1876, and a state senator from the Warner district in 1879. H^ ^^^ ^ prominent figure in the legislature dur- ing his service, and was particularly identified with the movement in the interest of tax reform, effecting practi- cal results in that direction. In May, 1880, Colonel Ordway was appointed by President Hayes, governor of the territory of Dakota, 170 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. from which two great states were subsequently erected, which office he held upwards of four years, during which time he was actively engaged, aside from the ordinary governmental affairs, in superintending the erection of nearly all the important public buildings, including the state house at Bismarck, and penitentiaries, asylums, universities, and normal schools, at diff"erent places. Most of the counties were also organized during his administra- tion. He established the First National bank at Pierre, and subsequently the Capital National bank at Bismarck, and was the first president of each, having previoush' had experience in the organization and management of the Kearsarge National and Savings banks in Warner. His labors, public and private, while in Dakota, were so arduous, that his health was much impaired, and since his return he has been compelled to curtail his activities to a large extent, and close up important business enter- prises in which he had been engaged, although he retains his deep interest in public affairs and in the cause of agriculture. He spends his summers at his wife's ances- tral home at Waterloo, personally superintending his farm and other interests, and his winters in Washington. He still retains an interest in Dakota, and owns a resi- dence in Bismarck, the capital of North Dakota, as well as in Washington. Colonel Ordway has always been deeply interested in agricultural fairs, and was associated with Governor Smyth in the financial management of the first'State fair held at Manchester. He was instrumental in establish- ing the old Kearsarge Agricultural society for whose annual fairs he furnished accommodations at his finely equipped "River Bow park," and initiated the move- ment for the organization of the Merrimack County Grange fair held on the same grounds the past two years, in the success of which exhibition he has taken a PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. I7I deep interest, and for which he expended much time and money. In religion, Colonel Ordway tbrmerly affiliated with the Universalists, but in war-time in Washington became a strong admirer and adherent of Rev. Dr. Byron Sunder- land of the First Presbyterian church, where he has since retained his connection. He is a thirty-second degree Mason and Knight Templar, a member of the Warner and Merrimack County Pomona granges, and associated with various important business organizations in different places. Colonel Ordway has three children, — Mabel, wife of Colonel E. L. Whitford, former U. S. pension agent for this district ; Colonel George L. Ordway, who married a niece of the late Vice-President Colfax, and who now is an attorney at Warner ; and Florence, wife of Frank G. Wilkins, attorney-at-law and auditor of the Washing- ton Market company, — all of whom with their families spend the summer in their separate homes in Warner. EZRA B. ROGERS, Jefferson. Ezra B. Rogers was born in Jackson, N. H., December 22, 1832. He received a common school education, and went to Gorham in 1852, where he remained seven years. He then married Miss Lucy Tucker, of Clinton county, New York, and removed to Whitefield, where he lived nine years, engaged in agriculture. Here, as in Gor- ham, he won many friends. In 1868 he bought a good farm near the "old Whipple stand," at Jefferson Mead- ows, where he died April 13, 1892. A widow and two sons survive him. 172 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICUI>TURE. Mr. Rogers, politically, was a Democrat. In princi- ple he was as unflinching as his illustrious ancestors. Quiet and unassuming as he was, his friends soon learned his worth, and in a public capacity he served them many years. He was elected one of the selectmen several times in Whitefield, and served Jefferson as such twelve years. He was town treasurer seven years, and repre- sented his town in the legislature in i874-'75. He was a charter member of Starr King Grange, of which he was an honored member at the time of his death, and was an active zuorking member of the Methodist Episco- pal church for twen- ty-three years. He was a loving hus- band, a kind father, a good citizen, and an honorable man. Lov- ing God and loving his fellow-man, the world is better because he lived in it. Ezra B. Rogers. " Life is ever Lord of death, And Love can never lose its own." Of the two sons of Mr. Rogers, Woodbury O. is a resident of Norwich, Conn., where he is in the service of the Norwich Dyeing and Printing Company. The younger son, John A. Rogers, now thirty years of age, remains on the homestead in Jefferson, and is a prosperous and enterprising farmer. The farm is ot PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 1 73 about two hundred acres in extent. The hay crop amounts to about sixty tons annually, and in 1896 some five hundred bushels of oats were harvested. Dairying is pursued quite extensively, about twenty-five cows and heifers being kept. Mr. Rogers is a member of the board of selectmen in Jefferson, a Patron of Husbandry, and was chosen master of Starr King Grange in Decem- ber, 1895. HON. JONATHAN M. TAYLOR, Sanbornton. The old town of Sanbornton was not only among the largest in the state territorially, but, in former years, among the wealthiest and most populous. It was also then, as now, a superior agricultural town. Among its early settlers was Jonathan Taylor, who moved with his father from the town of Stratham, and settled upon Lot No. 9, in the Second Division, in 1773. This has been the Taylor homestead, descending to Thomas, the son of this Jonathan Taylor, who married Sarah E. Jewett, by whom he had a large family, the sixth son, Jonathan M. Taylor, the subject of this sketch, having been born September 21, 1822. Aware that he had his own wav to make in the world, and not being endowed with vigorous health and strength, Mr. Taylor left home at an early age, after some attend- ance at the district schools and the Sanbornton Wood- man academy, to learn the trade of a blacksmith, and, having acquired the same, he set up a stand for that business at Sanbornton Square, where he established his home, and has since remained, diligentl}^ pursuing his vocation tor more than fifty years, and at tiie same time taking an active part in all the business affairs of the 174 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. town, and winning and retaining the fullest confidence and highest regard of his fellow-citizens. With an inherent love of agriculture, Mr. Taylor began early to acquire and cultivate land as an incidental pursuit, as a matter of health, recreation, and profit, till he now owns about one hundred acres altogether, covered by thirteen deeds, of which about sixteen acres in the vicinity of his residence are devoted to mowing and till- age. This land is in a high state of culti- vation, producing two tons of hay, or more, per acre as a first crop, while a large second crop is usually secured. He has taken special pride in rais- ing and training fine steers, his cattle being generally high-grade Herefords, and he has been a most success- ful exhibitor at state and local fairs both in this line and in dair}' Hon. Jonathan M. Tavlok. cows, as well as vegetables, in the production of which he has had remarkable success. In illustration, it may be said that on a plat of less than twenty square rods, in 1895, he raised two hundred and twenty-five bushels of beets, and, on a still smaller plat, one hundred and twelve bushels of carrots. His corn also has been widely noted for years for its excellence, it being a beautiful eight-rowed variety, improved from the original " Brown" corn of Lake Winnipiseogee. He has won many premi- ums on this, and received a medal and diploma for an PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. I75 exhibit of the same at the Chicago World's fair, in con- nection with which exhibition he had an appointment as a representative from Belknap county in the World's congress of agriculture. His home is a commodious farmhouse, and in 1879 ^^^ erected a fine modern barn. Mr. Taylor was a charter member and first master of Harmony grange, Sanbornton, which at the end of two years had one hundred and seventy-one members. As a deputy of the State grange he was instrumental in organizing most of the subordinate granges of Belknap county, and also effecting in 1887, the organization of the Belknap Pomona grange, of which he was master in 1894 and 1895, it having then attained a membership of over nine hundred — the largest in the state. In 1885, he was elected treasurer of the State grange, efficiently discharging the duties of the office to the present time. For several years he was treasurer of the Grange State Fair association, which he was active in organizing as he had also been in organizing the Belknap County Agri- cultural society, of which he was for two years president. He was a director and vice-president of the Grange Mutual Fire Insurance company, and also a director and president of the Sanbornton Fire Insurance company, organized in 187 1, largely by his influence, as was also the Sanbornton Town Fair association. In politics Mr. Taylor is a Democrat, and was for more than forty years chairman of the Democratic town com- mittee. He has served his town repeatedly as modera- tor, was for seventeen years town clerk, and has been postmaster, representative, and county commissioner, serving also in 1869, by special appointment, as chair- man of the joint board of commissioners of Belknap and Grafton counties, in the trial of the noted bridge case of Daniel Smith v. towns of New Hampton and Bristol. When the movement for the division of Sanbornton and PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 1 77 the erection of the town of Tihon was inaugurated in 1869, Mr. Taylor was instrumental in causing a remonstrance to be entered against tiie division on the petition presented, deteating the petition and subse- quenth' settling the matter by a compromise, much more advantageous in its terms to the old town than the origi- nal proposition. He was town clerk at this time, and upon the division was chosen chairman of the Sanborn- ton board of selectmen and town treasurer, $109,000 passing througli iiis hands in three months during the settlement of affairs between the old and new towns. He was senator from the Fifth district in i883-'84, and Democratic candidate for councilor in the Third district against Colonels E. C. Shirle}^ and John C. Linehan, defeating an election in each case and his opponents being chosen by the legislature. On the occasion of the Sanbornton centennial celebration in 1876, Mr. Taylor acted as president and chief marshal. November 19, 1846, he was united in marriage with Miss Huldah Lane, daughter of Joseph H. Lane of San- bornton, who was his true and faithful helpmeet until her decease, April 22, 1890. Their three children, all daughters, became thorough and successful teachers. Sarah, the eldest, is the wife of Rev. G. W. Patten of Dublin ; the second, Carrie P., is now at home with her father; and Mary H., the youngest, is the wife of H. J. L. Bodwell of Sanbornton. Mr. Ta3'lor is a member of the Congregational church, was eleven years superintendent of the Sunday-school, and has been treasurer of the Congregational Fund asso- ciation since 1878. 12 178 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. WARREN J. FISHER, Haverhill. Among the numerous farms bordering on the Connect- icut river in the town of Haverhill there are few, if any, that bear evidence of better cultivation or surpass in gen- eral appearance the Fisher homestead, located two miles north of the village of North Haverhill on the highway leading to Woodsville, the county seat of Grafton county. Warren J. Fisher, the proprietor, comes of a family well known in the an- nals of New England He was born at Spring- field, N. H., in 1830: a son of Deacon Seth and Polly (Stone) Fish- er. He received an education in the com- mon schools of Spring- field, and removed to Haverhill in the fall of 185 1, where he was engaged in railroad- ing and bridge build- ing for the Boston, Concord & Montreal Railroad until 1858, when he purchased the farm upon which he now resides. It contains one hundred and fifty acres, fifty being under cultivation, and the remainder for the most part heavily timbered. From i860 to 1875 M^- Fisher was an extensive feeder of cattle and sheep for market, but of late has been engaged in mixed farming. He is a charter member of Pink Granite Grange, and Warren J. Fisher. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 1 79 has always taken an active part in that organization. As one of the successful and thrifty farmers of the town, Mr. Fisher attends the prominent agricultural meetings of this and otlier states, at the present writing having just returned from the New York state fair, where he has been refreshing his ideas of husbandry. Politically he is a Republican, and representing the best element of his party, was justice of the peace for many years. In 1858 Mr. Fisher was united in marriage to Harriet N. Morse of Haverhill, who died in 1872. Five vears later he married Louisa H. Bedell of Bath, N. H., his present wife, and sister of the late Gen. John Bedell. WILLIAM H. RYDER, Bedford. Among the most thoughtful, practical, and progressive young farmers in Hillsborough county, may very prop- erly be classed William H. Rvder of Bedford, already well known as a successful milk producer and market gardener. Mr. Ryder is a native of tiie town of Dunbarton, born March 5, 1869, being the third son of Harris E. and Elizabeth L. (Kimball) Ryder, both parents tracing their ancestry back through three centuries. His lather was the owner of a superior farm in Dunbarton, and was prominent in public aflairs in that town, serving in vari- ous offices, and for four years as chairman of the board of selectmen ; but on account of the destruction of his buildings by fire, in 1875, he removed to Manchester, where he remained hve years, the son in the meantime enjoying the benefit of the excellent public schools of the city. In 1880, the family removed to the town of Bed- lord, and again engaged in agriculture ; but William H., I So NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. having acquired a taste for city life, sought and obtained a position in the Mirror office at Manchester in 1885, with a view to the printer's trade, and in a short time had charge of the engine and boilers and the running of the daily press. In October, 1888, he became foreman of the press room in the Manchester Telegram establish- ment, and continued a year and a iialt^ when he left the business and entered the employ of the Nashua Provi- sion company in Nashua, in the beef trade. Here he re- mained until August, 1890, when he went to Boston and was en- gaged with John P. Squire & Co., but was called home by the ill- ness of his father in October Ibllowing. He had now, in fact, all he cared for of the city, and concluded to settle down at home and commence farm life in earnest, which he did with a deter- mination to thorough- ly master the business along the lines of operation selected — milk production and gardening. He has now a dairy of twenty-two choice cows, every one carefully selected with reference to her milk-producing qualities, and the product goes to tiie Boston market, while his garden produce is mainl}^ disposed of in Manchester. He has recentl}^ increased his acreage by leasing an adjoining farm for a term of years, and proposes a corresponding increase in his dairv- His cows receive the best of care — are fed on William H. Rvoer. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. ibl scientific principles, and have a supply of pure water constantly before them, furnished by windmill power. Mr. R3^der is an enthusiastic Patron of Husbandry, having joined Narragansett grange, Bedford, in 1884. He was elected overseer for 1894, and 1895, and master for 1896. He was also steward of Hillsborough County Pomona grange in 1895, and overseer in 1896, and has taken a strong interest in the success of this organization, taking an active part in discussions. He was appointed a district deputy by State Master Bachelder in 1896, and organized two new granges during the year — Naum- keag. No. 241, of Litchfield, and Pelham, No. 244, both under most favorable auspices. Mr. Ryder is a Republican in politics and was elected supervisor by his town in 1894. ^^ '^ married and has a son four years of age. HON. MANSON S. BROWN, Plymouth. The north-bound traveler, on approaching the charm- ing village of Plymouth, over the old Boston, Concord & Montreal Railroad, now a part of the Boston & Maine system, is struck by the beautiful appearance of the broad Pemigewasset valley intervales, below the village, whose fertile acres, in summer time, laden with fine crops of grass and corn, are a special delight to the eye of the practical agriculturist. Overlooking the lower intervales, upon the hillside at the left, is a spacious set of farm- buildings, including a roomy, old style mansion, one of the largest and best arranged barns in the country, and all necessary outbuildings. This was formerl}' known as the "Judge Blair place," having been long owned and occupied by the late Hon. Walter Blair, but now Hon. iMaxsox S. Browx. PERSONAL AND p-ARM SKETCHES. 183 and for the past fifteen years the home of that well-known and popular citizen, extensive farmer, and active man of affairs, Hon. Manson S. Brown. Mr. Brown is a native of the town of Bridgewater, a son of James and Judith (Harron) Brown, born Novem- ber 30, 1835. I^^s early life was passed in farm labor, with such educational advantages as he was able to secure at the district school and a brief attendance at New Hampton Institution. At nineteen years of age he went to live with an uncle, Theophilus Ladd, who took much interest in his welfare, and atTorded him op- portunities in travel and in other directions, which he turned to the best possible advantage. In 1859, ^^ ^^^^ ^S*^ o^" twenty-three, Mr. Brown re- moved to Campton and engaged in business as a black- smith, where he remained until the summer of 1862, when he enlisted in the I'hirteenth Recriment N. H. Vols., under Col. Aaron F. Stevens. He was a skilful musician, and was duly promoted, until, at the fall of Richmond, he led the bands of the First Brigade in the entrance into that city, April 3, 1865, having served faith- fully with his regiment during its three years' campaign, and being wounded at Fredericksburg and Cold Harbor. After the close of the war, in 1865, he located in Ply- mouth village, where he lived until 1881, having been commissioned as deputy sheriff in 1868, and sheriff of Grafton County in 1874, ^"^ subsequently serving as deputy for that and other counties, under other sheriffs, which office he holds at the present time. In 1881, he established himself upon the farm which he now occupies, which was the property of Kimball Whitney, formerl}^ of Campton, whose daughter, Ann P. E. Whitney, Mr. Brown married. This farm, em- bracing several hundred acres altogether, was one of the first settled in the town of Plymouth, and on it was PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 185 erected the first tVamed building in the town. It in- ckides about lOO acres of intervale, and cuts lOO tons of hay, or more, upon an average, while from ten to fifteen acres of corn and a considerable amount of oats are pro- duced. The stock consists of 40 to 50 head of cattle, and 15 or 20 horses. About 25 cows are kept, the milk from which is mostly sent to the creamery. Mr. Brown has one son, Manson W. H., who lives at home and crives his entire attention to the farm work. He married Miss Lottie Smith, June 25, 1896, and was a charter member and first Overseer of Plymouth Grange ; also a charter member of Lodge No. 47, Knights of Pythias. Mr. Brown owns another large farm and woodlands, and has been extensively engaged in lumbering for many years. Politically, he is a Republican and has been prominent in the councils of his party. He represented the Fourth District in the State Senate in the legislature of 1885-6, and in December, 1886, was appointed state liquor commissioner. In the discharge of his various official duties, and in his business relations, he has been brought extensively in contact with the public, and few enjoy a higher measure of personal popularity. CHARLES W. FAS SETT, Jaffrey. It can be very truthfully said of the subject of this sketch that he has been quite successful in his farming operations during the past few years, and has fairly demonstrated the fact that by industry and perseverance, coupled with intelligence, agriculture can be made to pay even in New Hampshire. Charles W. Fassett was born in the town of Troy, December 3, 1848. His parents were Joseph W. and Sarah A. (Putney) Fassett, who removed to Jaftre}' when NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. Charles W. was about six years of age. The only edu- cation he received was that derived from a few weeks' attendance upon the district school each year, before he was sixteen, supplemented by a course of study in the Bryant & Stratton Business College. October 5, 1876, he was united in marriage with Adelia P. Upton of Jaf- trey, daughter of Thomas and Marietta (Cutter) Upton. The}^ have one son, Fred. W. In 1878 Mr. Fassett commenced farming in Jaffrey, upon a leased farm. After a time, not tind- ing the situation en- tirely satisfactory, he bought a small farm near the beautiful little village of East Jaffrey, running in debt for the larger part of the price, and engaged in the cul- tivation of small fruits and early vegetables, in connection with a small dairy and poul- try raising. The sum- mer boarding interest naturally enhances the value of the village market, and, by care and diligence, Mr. Fassett has found his business quite remunerative, enabling him to nearly clear off his indebtedness and make good prog- ress on the highway of prosperity. Mr. Fassett was one of the twenty-two charter mem- bers of Jaffrey Grange, and was its first assistant steward, his wife serving at the same time as lad}' assistant. He has since served two years as overseer and two years as Charles W. Fassett. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 187 master, and has taken a lively interest in the welfare of the organization. He is a member of Cheshire County Pomona Grange, and has taken all the degrees of the order. He is also active in Odd Fellowship, being a member of Monadnock lodge, No. 90, of Jaffrey, Rebekah Degree lodge, No. 71, and Union encampment, No. 6, Peterborough. In politics Mr. Fassett is a Republican. He has held various town offices of trust, and is now a member of the board of selectmen. He has always commanded the respect of liis fellow-citizens for his integrity and worth. MARCELLUS R. HODGMAN, Mason. The Hodgmans of Mason are old residents of the town, several generations of the family having dwelt within its borders. Marcellus R. Hodgman, a native and life-long resident of the place, an enterprising and progressive farmer, and highly-esteemed citizen, is the second son of Edwin J. and Lovina (Foster) Hodgman, born April 18, 1847. February 13, 1870, he was united in marriage with Anna E. Buttrick, daughter of Hiram N. and Augusta (Bennett) Buttrick of Rindge, commenc- ing housekeeping in the house where he was born, four good hands and two stout hearts being their only capital. In about two years they removed to another place in the same school district, where, two years later, on a cold April night, they were burned out, Mrs. Hodgman making her way with their two little children, shoeless, through the snow to the nearest neighbor's. Not even their clothing was saved from the flames : but still young, undaunted and courageous, they went back to the old home, and started again. i88 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICUI/rURE. Five years later Mr. Hodgman rented the farm where he now Hves, being then without sutlicient means to pay for the stock. Laboring diligently three years, he had sufficiently mastered the situation to feel warranted in purchasing the place, which he then did, and, by per- sistent effort, backed by good judgment in directing the same, he is now entirely out of debt, with a fine farm in good condition, the house having been thoroughly re- modelled, pure running water supplied for house and barn, and various other improvements. Fruit, poultry, and the dairy are leading features in Mr. Hodgman's farm operations, small truits receiving special atten- tion. He has marketed several hundred dol- lars' worth of straw- berries and raspberries per annum, and had at one time three hundred peach trees. A fine plum orchard has just come into bearing. Plymouth Rock fowls are kept exclusively as poultry, about 600 hens and chickens having been cared for the past season. With excel- lent care a good profit is realized. From twelve to six- teen head of cattle are kept, the cream from the dairy going to the Ashby, Mass., creamery. In politics Mr. Hodgman is a Republican, and has been honored by his party in various ways, having served as town and school auditor, as selectman, and as chair- Marcellus K. Hod(;man. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 189 man of the board of supervisors tor the hist ten or twelve years. He has also taken a strong interest in school matters, acting as prudential committee under the old system and as a member of the town school board sub- sequently. Mr. and Mrs. Hodgman have two children — a daughter, Etta E., the wife of George E. Livingston of Greenville and the mother of two tine boys, and a son, Mervin E., who married Lilla E. Hall of Brooklyn, N. Y., in Jan- uary, 1896, and is associated in business with his father. All are active members of Fruitdale Grange, No. 106, of Mason, in which Mr. Hodgman has served as overseer, and contributes materiallv to the exercises and discussions. THOMAS O. TAYLOR, Sanbornton. The old Taylor homestead in Sanbornton, whereon five generations of the name have dwelt, — descending /i>»e^ 19 « '* "lut^ '"'^bR mBH| __i. r mjbI R^k. ^^^^^*'' '^mH^^^HPKQ MBjH ■■I^HB^^^^SH ^^H^^m The Taylor Hoaiestead, Sanbornton. from Jonathan, who came with his father, Nathan Tay- lor, from Stratham and settled on the place in 1773, to 190 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. Thomas, the son of Jonathan, and to Andrew J., son of Thomas — is now owned and occupied by Thomas Os- good Taylor, son of Andrew J. and Polly (Osgood) Taylor, born July 28, 185 1, who was reared and has always had his home on the farm, receiving his educa- tion at the district schools and at the New Hampton Institution. Being the only son, he was associated with his father in the management of the farm, and thus continued after his marriage, January 25, 1876, with Miss Cinda W. Heath of Bristol, and upon his t'ather's death, some six years later, the property passed into his hands. The farm, which is located one mile from Sanbornton Square and five miles from Tilton, on the stage road to N ew Hampton, contains about 300 acres of land, of which 50 acres is mowing and tillage, the amount of hay crop being about 50 tons. Mr. Tay- lor has a silo, but in recent years has raised Hungarian instead of ensilage, as a supplementary feeding crop. For many years Mr. Taylor and his father made the raising of oxen and steers a specialty, producing many premium cattle of the Hereford strain. Of late, dairy- ing has been the leading feature of his farm operations, the number of cows ranging from 15 to 20. He uses the De Laval separator, being the first in the county to adopt Thomas O. Taylor. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. I9I it, and markets his butter at Franklin. He is an enthu- siastic Hereford breeder, and his fine lierd took first money at the last Tilton and Rochester fairs, though coming in competition at the latter with cattle from dif- erent parts of New England. He also produces a con- siderable amount of maple syrup, being among the first to adopt improved methods in its manufacture, as he is prompt to utilize advanced ideas in all lines of agricul- tural work. Mr. Taylor was a charter member of Harmony Grange, Sanbornton, and its first secretary, serving five years. He has since been two years master, and also for two years master of Belknap County Pomona Grange. He was active in the organization of the State Grange Fair association, and has served as super- intendent of the forage and cattle departments, and also as general superintendent for several years, until Janu- ary, 1896, when he was elected treasurer of the associa- tion. He is also a director of the Sanbornton Town Fair association, and has been treasurer of the same, and a director of the town Fire Insurance company. Politically, he is a Democrat ; has served his town as collector of taxes and town treasurer several years, and has been the candidate of his party for county commis- sioner. He is a member of Harmony Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Tilton, and an attendant at the Baptist church in San- bornton. JOHN BAILEY, Claremont. Among the steady-going, thoughtful, and successful farmers of the first-class agricultural town of Claremont is John Bailey, a native of the neighboring town of Unity, son of Eaton and Elizabeth Wright (Sparling) 192 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. Bailey, born June 30, 1833. Both his parents were of EngHsh descent, hence the persevering spirit and sturdy character which he has ever manifested. He attended the ungraded school until sixteen years of age, after which he pursued the study of the higher branches in the academies at Washington and Claremont, prepara- tory to a course at Dartmouth, but was forced to abandon the latter on account of poor health, and entered the dry- goods house of a brother at Claremont, where he con- tinued three years, but was finally compelled to abandon this business from the same reason that compelled the relinquishment of the college course. About this time he was united in marriage with the only daughter of Laban Ainsworth of Claremont, and, purchasing a large farm on the Connecticut river, com- menced farming in earnest. He studied methods care- fully, and determined not to turn a furrow without thor- ough fertilization of the soil, so as to secure the largest crops that the land was capable of producing, realizing, as he did, that the cost of producing 150 bushels of corn per acre is but little more than that of 75 bushels, while the land would thus be left capable of producing two and one-half tons of hav per acre instead of a ton, or a ton and a half. Mr. Bailey's present farm is situated on the Connecti- cut, about one mile south of Claremont Junction, and contains 205 acres, of which 75 acres is tillage, the bal- ance pasture and woodland. He cuts about 100 tons of English hay, and harvests from 1,000 to 1,500 bushels of ears of corn, and from 500 to 700 bushels of oats annu- ally, most of which is consumed on the farm. Since the experiment station at Hanover and Durham has been in operation, Mr. Bailey has followed closely the experi- ments in dairying, feeding stock, and raising crops. He believes that much has been reduced to science, and that PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 193 the thinking farmer can add materially to his store of knowledge from the bulletins issued from the station from time to time. The New Encrland farmei' has had much to contend with in the last twenty years, and Mr. Bailey early began to fortify himself against cheap wool, mutton, beef, grain, etc., raised in the West, b} giving up these industries and going into dairying, sujjplemented by the raising of swine. He has kept from 20 to 40 cows, and raised and fattened as many hogs each year. His butter is sold at wholesale at 25 cents per pound the entire year. Ho.MK (»F John Bailey, Claremont. Mr. Bailey had always turned a deaf ear to all sugges- tions of office-holding, until the new^ school law went into effect, wdien, being a firm believer in all its provisions, he accepted a position as a member of the board of edu- cation. In that capacity he served two successive terms, during which time a new school building was erected and many of the old ones, in sparsely settled districts, abandoned, the scholars being conveyed to graded schools in central pomts. At the expiration of his term of office, he had the satisfaction of leaving the schools 13 194 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. much improved in method, and the standard in the inter- mediate and grammar grades raised materially, while the friction attendant upon ..he change had subsided, and the people became eminently satisfied with the change. Mr. Bailey has a son and three daughters. The son is a farmer in Claremont. Two married daughters reside in Antrim. The youngest, unmarried, is a teacher. In politics, he is an earnest Republican ; in religion, an Episcopalian, CLARENCE L. TROW, MiLFORD. There are some sections of the state in which the poul- try business is an important item of agricultural industry, being followed as a specialty by many persons. Per- haps no town makes a better showing in this line than Milford, where there are several men engaged in the business, keeping from 500 to 1,000 hens each, with profitable results. One of the most enthusiastic of these, although com- paratively new to the business, is Clarence L. Trow, formerly of Amherst, who bought a pleasantly-located poultry farm of ten acres, with good buildings, near the village, in 1894, and by diligence and care is already on the high road to success. He has now 500 hens, and is engaged in egg production mainly, poultr}"^ for market being mainly incidental ; but chickens for the mainte- nance and increase of laying stock are raised. His eggs are chiefly marketed in Lowell, and the poultry sold goes there and to Boston. Mr. Trow was born in Amherst, November 13, i860, being a son of Joseph P. and Foreno F. (Underwood) Trow, and had his home in that town until his removal to Milford. He was educated in the district school and PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 195 at McCollom Institute, Mont Vernon, graduating from the classical department of the latter institution in 1879, with a certificate ensuring admission to Dartmouth col- lege, had he been disposed to pursue his studies further ; but he preferred farm life, and, returning home, was engaged with his father and brother in milk, fruit, and berry production, with the exception of a year or so in the management of a general country store in Amherst village, until his adoption of the poultry business, as heretofore men- tioned. Mr. Trow became a member of Souhe- gan grange, Amherst, (which connection he still retains) in 1879, and has served as Maste r two terms, also as Lecturer and Secretary. He is also Clarence L. Trow. . , an active member of Hillsborough County Pomona grange, and has been an officer in that organization. He has prepared a Grange column for the Farmer's Cabinet at Milford for sev- eral years past, and has written considerably for other papers. He is a member of Gustos Morum lodge, I. O. O. F. Politically, he is a Democrat, but, always resid- ing in a strong Republican town, he has not held office to any great extent, nor has he sought the same, though he served six years upon the school board in Amherst, as tax collector two years, and selectman one year. June I, 1893, Mr. Trow united in marriage with Miss 1 j^, 196 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICUI>TURE. Lucv C. Mitchell of Nashua, who makes him a happy home and brings congenial companionship. Both are members of the Congregational church, and each has charge of a class in the Sunday-school. FRED BEAN, Warner. Among the worthy and substantial citizens of the town of Warner, enjoying an enviable reputation alike in busi- ness and agricultural circles, is Fred Bean, son of Wil- liam H. and Mary (Colby) Bean, born at Waterloo in that town, September 30, 185 1. He was reared to farm labor, receiving such educational advantages only as the district school afforded, and has always been interested in agriculture, although engaged for some ten years in business as a grain dealer in Warner village, finally disposing of his interest in that line on account of his health, and subsequently devoting his attention to farm work . October 16, 1877, he was united in marriage with Frances A. Robbins, daughter of Francis Robbins, for- merly of Sutton. They have one daughter, Stella, born May 5, 1884. Their home is a charming place, known as " Ingleton Farm," a short distance up from the main street in Warner village, on the road to Kearsarge moun- tain. There are about twenty-five acres of choice land in this home place, with well-appointed buildings, pleas- ant grounds, and plent}' of shade and fruit trees, making it a desirable resort for summer boarders, who have been accommodated to some extent in recent years. Mr. Bean has another farm of about one hundred acres, situated opposite the River Bow Park fair grounds. For some time he was engaged, to a considerable extent, in breeding horses, and has a number of good animals in 198 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. this line at present, but has given his attention more to dairying of late, keeping about ten cows, on the average, and selling his cream to the Henniker creamery. He raises from five to ten acres of corn each year, which he husks, and also raises quite an amount of oats, which he cuts for fodder. He has been a member of Warner grange for ten years or more, and has taken much interest in its suc- cess, filling various offices, including that of Master for 1894. He also occupied the Master's chair a consider- able portion of the time in 1895, in the unavoidable absence of the regular incumbent. He has also been active and prominent in Masonry, having been a member of Harris lodge of Warner since 1875, ^^^ which organization he has passed the chairs. In the Grand lodge he has served as District Deputy Grand Master and District Deputy Grand Lecturer. He is also a member of Woods Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, of Henniker, and has served as High Priest in that body. In politics, Mr. Bean is a Republican. He has been three times chosen a member of the board of selectmen, and was chairman of the board in 1891. He was also representative from Warner in i889-'90, during which term an extra session of the legislature was holden. In religion, he is a Baptist, and, with his family, is included in the membership of the church of that denomination at Warner village. WILLARD W. CHASE, George's Mills. One of the most important factors of agricultural suc- cess in New Hampshire is the summer boarding industry, and he w^ho readily combines farming and boarding, thus making a profitable market for his products on his own PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 199 premises, has found the key to prosperity. There are many such men in New Hampshire, and a good repre- sentative of the class is Willard W. Chase, of " Pleasant Home," George's Mills, Sunapee. Mr. Chase, a son of Asa and Mary A. (Abbott) Chase, was born in Springfield, April 18, 1839. He was reared a farmer, enjoying only common school advan- tages, and lived at home until twenty years of age. He then worked out, most- ly at farm labor, until twenty-four, when he purchased from an uncle his grandfather's old farm in Spring- field, and went indus- triously to work im- proving the same, and ultimately erected on it a fine, new set of buildings. January 3, 1870, he married Laura A., daughter of William Moyan of Springfield. In June of the following year he sold his farm, and, in company with Alfred Martin, who married his wife's twin sister, bought the mill prop- erty at George's Mills, and they operated the same to- gether for eighteen s'ears. Meantime, recognizing the eligibility of this beautiful location as a summer boarding resort, they commenced, in 1873, taking a few boarders, and gradually increased. In 1880, Mr. Chase began building what is now "Pleas- ant Home," making additions from time to time, till he has now a finely-appointed house, with accommodations AVU.LAIU) W. LllA.SK. 200 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. for seventy-five guests, and has entertained not less than two hundred persons each season for the last few years. Mr. Chase has thirty acres of good farm land in con- nection with the house. He keeps six cows and pro- " Pleasant Home," George's Mills. duces all the milk, butter, cheese, pork, and lard necessary for the season's use : also fruit and vegetables in abundance. He has one son. Dura A., born March 26, 187 1, who is married and is now engaged in the livery business in company with his uncle, Alfred Martin. He is a member of New London grange, also of Mt. Vernon lodge, F. and A. M., and Tabernacle Chapter of Newport. He was the leading spirit in the organiza- tion of the Sunapee Mutual Fire Insurance company, of which he is a vice-president and director, and in which he holds the first policy, which company, established in 1886, has risks now approaching $200,000. Politically, he is a temperance Republican, and in religion he is affiliated with the Christian denomination, and was superintendent of the Sunday-school of that church in Springfield eight years. He had charge of the Sunday- school of the Union church at George's Mills, as super- intendent and teacher, twenty-five years. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 20I GEORGE W. GOODHUE, Hancock. One of the most substantial and industrious citizens and most successtiil farmers of the town of Hancock is George W. Goodhue, son of Jonas W. and Phebe (Wil- son) Goodhue, born in Nelson, April 20, 1857. His father, who was a farmer, removed from Nelson to Han- cock in 1870, and there resided, until his death in 1892, upon the place in Hancock village near the foot of Norway hill, which his son now occupies. The house, by the way, was built more than one hundred years ago, by Rev. Reed Paige, the first settled minister in Han- cock, and is, therelore, a historic landmark. Mr. Goodhue was educated in the town schools, and has passed his lite thus far in the pursuit of agriculture. At the age of twenty-one years, he purchased of his father WjkfP'^ < ^- ■ .. ) Is^^^^ ^^Ii j^ ^ *i-^ .■S,; i » — S ~ ■*f Home of (jeorge W. Goodhue, Hancock. a half interest in the farm, and a few years later the re- maining half. He has about seventy acres of land, alto- gether, in Hancock, and a hundred-acre pasture in Nelson. His hay crop amounts to about thirty-five 202 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. tons per annum, and he also puts in about sixty tons of ensilage, having been the first man in town to build a silo, some fifteen years ago. He has a fine, modern barn, 36x68 feet, with cellar under the whole, and keeps eighteen to twenty head of cattle and two horses. He makes a specialty of private dairying, producing some fifteen hundred pounds of choice butter per annum, which he sells to special customers in Hancock and Boston. He has a good supply of fruit of all kinds for family use, and a good surplus of apples for the market. He is a member of John Hancock grange, and has filled various offices in the organization, including that of Master for two years. He is also a charter mem- ber of Hillsborough County Pomona grange. No. i. In politics, he is a Republican, and he is also a member of the Congregational church. He has served the town three years as a member of the school-board, four years as selectman, and was a representative in the legisla- ture of iSSp-'po. In September, 1879, ^^^ ^^^ united in marriage with Miss Ella L. Tuttle of Hancock, who is his faithful help- meet and co-laborer in all things. WILLIAM H. CHILD, Cornish. In the year 1775, Stephen Child, from Woodstock, Conn., settled upon a farm of 130 acres, about one mile south of the present village of Cornish Flat. It was a farm valued chiefly for its pine lumber. A bog meadow and rocky hillsides were its prominent features. Here he lived and died. His youngest son, Stephen (father of William H.), born in 1792, also lived here, dying in 1866. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 203 In 1832, the subject of this sketch was born. He graduated from Kimball Union academy, Meriden, in the class of 1856. He spent some time teaching in New Hampshire, Vermont, and Ohio. The faiHng health of his parents rendered it necessary for him to quit teach- ing and remain at home. On the first of January, 1857, he married Miss Ellen F. Leighton, of Hartford, Vt., who also received her education at Meriden. Together they took up the bur- den of life upon the old farm, with some- what dilapidated build- ings, and with a heavy mortgage upon the same. Their union was blessed with five chil- dren — William P., now in Australia, Frank Eugene, dying in in- fancy, Hattie Lillian, wife of R. C. True, Esq., of Lebanon, Ed- win L., who remains on the homestead, and Ida Louise, teacher in the grammar depart- ment of the West Lebanon graded school. Realizing the importance of an education, Mr. and Mrs. Child were willing to make sacrifices to give their children as good an education as their means would allow. The}' have long been members of the Baptist church, and have always been active in church and Sunday-school work. Mr. Child has always taken an interest in the affairs of the town and community. He is now serving his tenth year as member of the town William H. Child. 204 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. school-board, and is also a director of the Cornish cream- ery. He is a Past Master of Cheshire Lodge F. and A. M., also Past D. D. G. M. of M. W. Grand Lodge of New Hampshire. In the year i860, a new barn 30 x 60 took the place of an old one, and this was followed by other extensive repairs. Considerable attention has also been given to the orchard, and the farm produces an abundance of Farm of William H. Child, Cokmsh. choice fruit. All these improvements required a con- stant outlay of money, and in spite of hard work and the most rigid economy and careful management, the debt had not decreased but rather increased, and he began to realize they were no longer young people, and were as yet unprovided with sufficient means to secure the com- forts needful for those in declining 3^ears. At this crit- ical period, his attention was turned to the many acres of swamp land, from which each year was secured but a PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 205 small crop of the poorest quality of hay. After carefully considering the matter, and with the cooperation and assistance of his youngest son, who liad received a year's instruction at the New Hampshire College of Agriculture, he determined to begin the work of underdraining this land, and in 1886 the first tile was laid. The success attending this effort far exceeded his expectation, and so the work is still going on, with gratifying results. Over fifteen acres have now been underdrained, and from this land each year are raised enormous crops. He has taken many first premiums upon vegetables grown on land that had ever been considered worthless. As agent for John H. Jackson, of the New York State Drain Tile Works at Albany, he has not only used but sold large quantities of tile to others who have been wit- nesses of his success. Prominent among these patrons was the late Hon. Austin Corbin, who purchased and used several car-loads. Since beginning operations ten years ago, besides pay- ing all expenses of drainage, he has discharged over $1,800 of debt, that had long been hanging over the farm, besides largely increasing its value and more than doubling the personal property thereon. Although other circumstances have concurred to this end, yet this degree of success is very largely due to reasons before stated, viz. : the largely increased income from the farm. His experience furnishes a practical answer to tiie ques- tion regarding drainage : "Will it pay?" Besides bet- tering his condition financially, he has changed an unsightly piece of land to a beautiful meadow^ (a portion of which is herewith represented), which all the neigh- bors take pride in pointing out to visitors. 2o6 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. WILLIAM H. NEAL, Meredith. Frequenters of the New England fair, and the leading fairs in this state for several years past, who have in- spected the stock departments, will recall the names of William Neal & Son, of Meredith, as leading exhibit- ors of thoroughbred Devon cattle, in the breeding of which, as well as Southdown sheep, w^hich they have pursued to a considerable extent, they gained a high reputation. William Neal was a native of Meredith, born October 28, 1830, and passed his life in that town, as a farmer, the last quarter of a century upon the farm which the son, William H. Neal, now occupies, situated about a mile out of the village, upon the Centre Harbor road, and commanding a fine view of the bay and surrounding scenery. This farm contains about 100 acres of land, of exceptionally strong soil ; while three other lots, con- taining 100 acres more, altogether, are owned in con- nection therewith. The annual hay crop is about sixty tons, secured from thirty acres of land ; while from 600 to 800 bushels of ears of corn, and a considerable amount of oats are also produced. Fruit and poultry are also raised to a considerable extent. For many years. Shorthorn stock was bred here with much success, and Southdown sheep were a prominent feature ; but for twelve years past, Devon stock has been the leading specialty, though the sheep are still contin- ued to some extent. About thirty-five head of cattle are now kept, including sixteen cows, the milk from which is retailed in the village. The stock was originally from the celebrated herd of Harley Hall of Lyndonville, Vt., and has been bred with great care. Some of the ani- mals are of superior value, and the premiums obtained 2o8 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. at the different fairs have been almost surprising in ex- tent, amounting to over $500 in 1896 alone. William Neal married Mary E. Smith of Sanbornton, who died August 27, 1892, leaving two children, Wil- liam H., and Bertha M., another son having died at the age of eighteen years. Mr. Neal himself was killed by a railway train, while driving across the track, on his return from the Grafton Count}^ fair, at Plymouth, Sep- tember 18, 1895. He was a prominent citizen of his town, a Democrat in politics, and had served as select- man, and in other town offices. William H. Neal, the surviving son, who had been associated with his father in the man- agement of the farm, and succeeds him in proprietorship, was born in Meredith, July 5, 187 1. He received a good, practical edu- cation, having gradu- ated at the Meredith high school, and at the commercial col- lege at New Hamp- ton, in 1890, since which time he has been actively engaged on the farm, and is an enthusiast in his spe- cialty. He is a member of Winnipesaukee grange of Meredith, and was Lecturer of that organization in 1896. He is, as yet, unmarried, his sister remaining at home in charge of the household. William H. Neal. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 209 GEORGE G. RICE, RiNDGE. The Rices of Rindge are descendants of the emigrant, Edmund Rice, who came to America from the mother country in 1638. The first of the name to dwell in the town was Abijah Rice, grandfather of the subject of this sketch. Of him it is recorded that he was " a farmer, a man of integrity and unex- ceptionable charac- ter." His second son, Harrison G., was for many years the butch- er of the town, as well as a successful farm- er. He filled manv offices of trust in the town, including- those of selectman and rep- resentative. He mar- ried Elizabeth H. Wood, daughter of David Wood, of the town of Rindge. George G. Rice, eldest son of Harrison G. and Eliza- beth (Wood) Rice, was born in Rindge, July 8, 1845, and was educated and grew to manhood in that town. October 29, 1873, he married Martha F. Hale, daugh- ter of John F. and Rebecca (Bailey) Hale, a direct descendant of Moses Hale, one of the first settlers of Rindge, who located there in 1760, and a kinsman of Col. Nathan Hale of Revolutionary fame. The Hales of Rindge have always been one of the largest and most influential families, u Gkorc;e (i. Rice. 2IO NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. At his marriage, Mr. Rice went directly on to the farm formerly owned by his grandfather, which he had previously purchased. This was an excellent farm, and here lifteen 3'ears of happy and successful farm life were passed. In the fall of 1888, the Cheshire Improvement company purchased Mr. Rice's farm, in order to secure his services as general superintendent, in which capacity he was engaged two years, when he resigned, much to the regret of the company, because he preferred being his own master. He immediately purchased a few acres of land, and again commenced farming on a small scale, as he termed it, and has added by successive purchases till he has now a larger farm than before. He has erected a large and beautiful farm-house and fine barn, with all neces- sary outbuildings. Fine scenery abounds in this region, and Mr. Rice's house, being located on high ground, commands a beautiful view. Mr. Rice has always given his attention to dairying. While on his first farm, he made butter, wliich was re- tailed to private customers ; but at present he is retailing milk in the village. He is a strong admirer of Jersey stock, and has some fine specimens of that breed. In politics, Mr. Rice is a Republican. He has served four years as a member of the board of selectmen, hav- ing been elected in 1889, '90, '91, and '96. He has always been interested in the schools, served as pruden- tial committee under the old system, and has been nine years a member of the scliool board under the new law. He is a thorough temperance man, never using liquor or tobacco in any form, and earnestly advising all young men to let both entirely alone. Mr. and Mrs. Rice have one son, Harris, born April 2, 1881, their eldest, George H., dying in childhood. The family are all active members of Marshall P. Wilder grange. No. 134, of East Rindge. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 21 I CHESTER H. PHILLIPS, FITzw^.LIA^r. In the town of Fitzvviliiain, at the foot of the grand Monadnock, lies the farm of Cliester Herbert Phillips, one of the youngest, one of the most popular and progressive farmers of the town. The farm upon which he lives came into his possession in 1891. Of the two hundred acres that compose it, twenty-tive are under cultivation, fifty are in pasture land, and the remainder is wood and timber lands of spruce, pine, and hemlock. In the win- ter he is engaged in cutting the same. Mr. Phillips was married, April 20, 1892, to Anna M., daughter of Alvah M. Merrill of Plymouth, N. II., who is a fri"'id- uate of the N. H. Nor- mal school. They have one daughter, Mar- guerite, born Septem- ber 13, 1894. Posses- sed of a determined will and good iudo- ment, honesty and in- tegrit}', he is making his farm one of the best in the southern part of Cheshire coun- ty. The making of butter has always been a specialty with him until recently, butter iVom his farm commanding the highest market price. Celery growing also occupies a large share of his time. Situated mid- way between Fitzwilliam village and Winchendon, Mass., he has an abundant market. Corn is raised in sufficient ■% -% Chester H. Phillips. 212 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. quantity to supply tlie needs of the farm. In the near future, he contemplates the raising of raspberries for the market, believing there is a great profit in small fruit. Mr. Phillips has served the town three years succes- sively as selectman, having been chairman of the board in 1895. At the last meeting- of the Republican club, he was chosen county delegate to Keene. In the Order of Patrons of Husbandry, he is an interested member, holding various offices, until in 1894 he was elected master, serving one year, and unanimous- ly elected for another term, which he declined. In the annual town fair association, he has served as secretary or as judge in some of the various departments, always working to promote the welfare and prosperit}' of the cause of agriculture. Mr. Phillips owns two houses, in one of which lives his father, Winslow Phillips, a hale and vigorous man of eighty years and one of the town's most respected citizens, and his mother, Susan (Bent) Phillips, a granddaughter of Rev. Arunah Allen. EDMUND STONE, SVVANZEY. The subject of this sketch is of the eighth generation from Gregory Stone, who embarked at Ipswich, England, in the ship Increas, April 15, 1635. The Stones have been an honored and respected family, prominent in the affairs of every town where they have lived. Edmund Stone, eldest son of Martin and Betsey V. Stone, was born in Fitzwilliam, April 5,1815, and removed with his parents to Swanzey when a child of two years, where he has ever since had his home, the house in which he lives having been erected by his father when he was fourteen ■ Mr V % i y^ 1 Edmund Stone. 214 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. years of age. He was educated in the district school, and after coming of age, worked out at farming for a few years; but, shortly after his marriage with Lucy, daughter of Davis Healey of Swanzey, February ii, 1841, he came home, took charge of the farm, and assumed the care of his parents. He pursued mixed farming with a good measure of success for many years. He also engaced in the wood and timber business in the winter season, thus keeping himself actively engaged throughout the year, and in 1862 erected a stave mill, which proved a profitable investment. After about thir- ty-five years of active life, in the management of the farm and other business, during which time he increased his acreage from one hundred and fifty to about three hundred and sixty, and effected many improvements, he gave the direction of affairs into the hands of his young- est son, Lyman M. Stone, who remains at home and continues the business, and has also added some one hundred and twenty-five acres to the estate. They have about forty-five acres of tillage land, and some twenty acres of meadow too moist for cultivation, the balance being in pasture, wood, and timber. The annual hay crop amounts to about forty-five tons, which is supplemented with a large amount of corn fod- der and other crops, including, the last season, two hun- dred and fifty bushels of turnips. The stock kept con- .sists of about twenty-five head of cattle, three horses, and some sheep and swine. The buildings are well ar- ranged, and the house, which has been thoroughly re- modeled, is a handsome and convenient farm home. Mr, and Mrs. Stone had five children in all, two of whom died young. Those surviving are Seamon A., born July 15, 1842, now bookkeeper of the Phoenix Building society of Chicago, who married Mollie King of that city, and has four children ; Ellen A., born Oct. PERSONAL AND FAHM SKETCHES. 21 5 6, 1843, now the wife of Calvin Davis, a farmer of Rox- bury ; and Lyman M., the son now at home, who mar- ried Leathe J. Greenleaf and has three children, and who is known as an enterprising farmer and public- spirited citizen. After more than half a century of happy married life, Mrs. Stone was " called home "in 1895. Edmund Stone, at eighty-two years of age, is found in the full enjoyment of large mental powers, and good ph3'sical health — a man whom it is a pleasure to meet ; who is reaping the rewards of a temperate, industrious lite in the respect and esteem of his fellow-men. In politics, he has never been a partisan, but has always given his support to the men and measures that he deemed most worthy, regardless of party restraint. He has served his town on the board of selectmen, and was collector of taxes for eleven successive years. L. HARLAND ROBBINS, Mason. The Robbinses were among the earliest settlers of Mason, and their descendants have ever since dwelt in that town. Among the prominent representatives of the famih', there residing at the present time, is L. Harland Robbins, the subject of this sketch, son of Louis and Emil}' (Winship) Robbins, born May 10, 1844. Edu- cated in the town schools and reared to farm life, he has pursued the agricultural calling with devotion and a good measure of success, first working for others and ulti- mately for himself. In December, 1868, he married Abby E. Wheeler of New Ipswich, being at that time engaged in the emplov of an uncle of his bride, in whose service he remained about a year. Subsequently they resided for a 3'ear in 2l6 NEW HAMPSHIRE ACJRICUI.TURE. Townsend, Mass., returning to take charge of Mr. Wheeler's home, the wife of the latter having died. He remained there some time, his wife having charge of the house, and himself engaged upon the farm. He was afterward engaged for a year in Ashby, Mass., and then took charge of the town farm in that place, which he managed successfully two years, when he removed to the farm on which he now resides, which he had pur- chased meanwhile. It was then what is generally known as a " run-down farm," and produced no more Farm Home of L. Harland Kobiuxs, Mason. forage than would have sufficed to keep tliree cows and a pair of horses. Mr. Robbins went to work systematically and ear- nestly, with the determination to effect a change for the better, and he has continued the work of improvement iVom that time to the present, keeping now upon the place a stock of some twenty-tive head of cattle and five horses, two hundred and fifty hens, and ten to fifteen swine, meanwhile having constructed a fine, commodi- ous barn, and thoroughly remodeled the house, so that he has one of the best appointed farm homes in the PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 217 vicinity, the attractiveness of which is materially enhanced by the beautiful scenery with which it is surrounded. Mr. Robbins has followed mixed farming, though making quite a specialty of small fruits at one time, par- ticularly berries, selling from $400 to $500 worth of strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries in a season. He made a trial of peaches, setting several hundred trees, but did not find them a success. Winter dairying is now a leading feature of his farm work, about one hundred pounds of choice butter per week being retailed in Fitchburg, Mass. He believes in raising his own stock, and fine grade Holsteins constitute the main por- tion thereof. Mr. Robbins's first wife died in October, 1878, leaving two children, Melville H., born October 31, 1869, and L. Edith, July 28, 1873. In May, 18S1, he was united with his present wife, Miss Georgianna Hayward, daugh- ter of Austin and Martha (Wright) Hayward, of Ashby, Mass. Politically, Mr. Robbins is a Democrat, and he has served his town as a member of the board of selectmen. Both he and his wife are interested members of Fruit- dale grange. No. 106, of Mason. ALFRED J. GOULU Newport. In the northwestern portion of the town of Newport, four or five miles distant from the village, on the road from Northville to Cornish Flat is the Gould homestead, now known as "Fruit Farm," originally settled by Nathan Gould of Hopkinton in 1790, and now the home of his grandson, Alfred J. Gould, who has long been regarded as one of the most prosperous and successful farmers in the town. Here were reared the ten children of Nathan 2l8 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. and Betsey (Goodwin) Gould, and here their eldest son, Gideon, lived and died at the age of more than fourscore years. Alfred J. Gould, onh- child of Gideon and Sally (Ward) Gould, was born at the old homestead January i8, 1840, and here has always had his home, succeeding to the estate upon his father's decease. He was educated at the district school and at Newport academy, but with a natural inclination for the occupation of his ancestors, has devoted himself closely to airriculture throughout his life, and by thorough cul- tivation has maintain- ed the fertility and in- creased the product- iveness ot the farm, which, originally em- bracing one hundred and fifty acres, now includes about three hundred and fifty, ex- tensive additions hav- ing been made from time to time by his father and himself. From fifty to seventy- five acres are in mowing and tillage, and the annual hay crop averages about seventy-five tons. Mixed farming has always been pursued on this farm, though it had a reputation for the excellence of its dairy products half a century ago and more, and has been known particularly of late for the excellent quality and large variety of its fruit. From twent}' to thirty head of cattle, four horses, and about fifty sheep are usually Alfred J. (jould. 220 NEW hampshirp: agriculture. kept, and the raising of milch cows for sale has been quite a feature in the recent management of the place. So, also, is the maple sugar product, sent to the Boston market largely in the form of superior syrup, of which some four hundred or five hundred gallons are annually produced. He raises annually from a ton to a ton and a half of pork for market, believing it to be far preferable to the purchase of commercial fertilizers. Mr. Gould has a natural taste for fruit culture, and, his soil being peculiarly adapted to the thrifty growth of the apple, he has taken pains to graft to the best varieties all apple-trees springing up on the place, and has set many more, so that he has now on his farm over i,ooo grafted apple-trees. Many of these have not come mto full bearing as yet, though his average product is from one hundred and fifty to four liundred barrels, which will be largely increased in a few years, the Baldwin being the leading variety. He has also about one hundred and twenty-five plum- and as many pear-trees, and many bushels of these choice fruits are also marketed in bear- ing years. Although with characteristic modesty refraining from any active demonstration in the political field, Mr. Gould, who is a Republican, is interested in public affairs, and has served four years as a member of the board of select- men, and was a representative from Newport in the legis- lature of 1889, serving as a member of the finance committee and taking an active interest in all matters of importance coming before the house. He is liberal in his religious convictions ; is a member of Sugar River Lodge, No. 55, I. O. O. F., and also of Sullivan grange. No. 8, of Newport, of which organization he has been several years treasurer. He is one of the Trustees of the Newport Savings Bank. Mr. Gould married Sarah Jane Ayers of Cornish, l»ERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 221 December 15, 1861, who died October 6, 1864, leaving one son, who also died at the age of five years. Febru- ary 3, 1866, he was united with his present wife, Miss Orpha A. Honey of Lempster, by whom he has one daughter, Mary Alice, born June i, 1886, while two sons died in infancy. PHILIP C. CLOUGH, Canterbury. A prominent representative of the well-known Clough family of Canterbury is Philip Carrigan, son of Thomas and Hannah (Hazeltine) Clough, born February 19, 1835, upon the old homestead, now in his possession, and orig- inally owned by his grandfather, Obadiah Clough, where he has ever had his home. Mr. Clouirh was edu- cated in the district schools and at New Hampton Insti- tution, and has devoted his life to agricultural pursuits, studying the best methods and doing thoroughly what- ever he undertakes. The home farm, upon which is a substantial set of buildings, contains about 125 acres. In addition to this, he has about 200 acres more, in two other localities in town, mostly wood and pasture, one lot being the old Hazeltine place, formerly occupied by his mother's family. About 50 acres of his home farm is in mowing and tillage, and is thoroughly cultivated. In former years, wool growing was a specialty on this farm, from 125 to 150 fine sheep being kept for this pur- pose ; but of late dairying has been a leading feature, and of the 25 head of cattle usually kept, about 15 are milch cows, whose production is carried to the cream- ery, a stock company which Mr. Clough was largely interested in establishing, and the cream sold to H. P. Hood & Sons of Derry. The hay product is sup- plemented for feeding purposes by ensilage, for which 222 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. about five acres of Northern corn is usually raised, and cut into the silo, ears and all, at the proper time. Three horses are also kept on the place. The stock kept is mostly of the Holstein breed, and includes some superior animals. Mr. Cloucjh has been a successful exliibitor at the fairs, and at the last state exhibition, at Tilton, won a first prize on bull, and also on milch cow. A good amount of fruit is produced, and in bearing years several hundred barrels of apples are sold. Mr. Clough also buys apples quite ex- tensively for the mar- ket, and owns a hall interest in the Canter- bury Store Co. ; and here it may be said that he has also for many years sold agri- cultural implements of various kinds, being the agent of the well- known Boston firm of George Tyler & Co. Believing in the best tools of all kinds for his own use, he has thus been instrumental in furnishing superior implements to others. Mr. Clough married, August 30, 1866, Mary E. Batch- elder, daughter of Eleazer Batchelder, of Canterbury. Two children were born to them, but both died in in- fancy. About fifteen years ago they took to their home two children — Katie and Henrv Gleason — ffivino- tiiem a good, practical education at the town school and Tilton Seminary. Katie is now engaged in teaching, while Philip C. Clough. PERSONAL AND FAR INI SKETCHES. 2 23 Henry is still at home, caring for the interests ot the farm. Mr. Clough is a member of the Congregational church, and in politics Republican. He has been several times a member of the board of selectmen in Canterbury, and two years chairman, and in November, 1896, was chosen representative to the legislature by seventy-eiglit major- ity, though the town has ordinarily been Democratic. He is a member of Doric lodge, F. & A. M., of Tilton, was a charter member of Merrimack River grange, of Canterburv, of which he has been master, and a charter member and tirst steward of Merrimack County Pomona grange. He was an active promoter of the Grange State fair, and has been superintendent of ditlerent depart- ments and a member of the executive committee. He is also president of the Canterbury & Boscawen Telephone company. NOAH FARR, Littleton. One of the best farms in the thriving town of Littleton, which, although better known as a summer boarding resort and mountain-travel centre, also ranks among the leading agricultural towns of the state, is owned and occupied b}^ Noah Farr. This was formerly known as the Timo- th}^ Gile place, and is located on the Ammonoosuc river, a mile or more below the village. It was on this farm that the first settlement was made within the town limits, a party of temporary settlers having built a rude log barn on the meadow in 1769, and the first permanent settler, Nathan Caswell, coming here with his family in the following spring. In this log barn, the night after their arrival, April 11, Mrs. Caswell gave birth to a son, the first white child born in town. 224 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. Mr. Farr is a native of Littleton, a son of Oilman and Philena (Allen) Farr, born December lo, 1836, on what is known as " Farr hill." He received his education in the town schools, and when eighteen years of age, his father having purchased this farm, he removed with him hither, where he has since had his home, pursuing the farmer's calling, in which he has taken much interest and been quite successful. Tie worked for his father until thirty years of age, and then in com- pany with a brother-in- law, — B. F. Lane, now of Whitefield, purchas- ed the farm. Two years later, he bought Mr. Lane's interest, and has since been proprie- tor. The farm at present embraces 225 acres, of which 50 is in mowing and tillage, most of this being Ammonoosuc River meadow, of great ^ ... . ^ r X Noah Fakk. fertility, SIX tons 01 hay having been cut in one season on a single acre, in two cuttings. Dairying is Mr. Farr's specialty, comparatively little land being devoted to tillage. He was for a time en- gaged in retailing milk in the village, when he kept as many as thirty cows. At present, he is selling cream to the White Mountain creamery, and has reduced his number of cows. He keeps half a dozen horses, and for the past few years has had a number of summer board- ers. His buildings are in first-class condition, a new 226 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. barn — 90x47 feet, with cellar under the whole, without a post, it being supported by iron rods — having been built in 1877. House, stable, and basement are all sup- plied with pure running water. There is also a shop which contains the best equipment of mechanical tools possessed by any farmer in the state, in which Mr. Farr spends much time both pleasantly and profitably. The buildings, as a whole, are generally regarded as the best set of farm buildings in the county. Mr. Farr is an ad- mirer of Holstein stock, and was the first man to intro- duce this favorite milk-producing breed into Littleton, procuring a fine blooded bull of 2,000 pounds weight, some years since, through which the stock of the neigh- borhood was greatl}' improved. Mr. Farr married, first, Mary B. Griggs, of Littleton, in December, 1868, who died in May, 1870. October 10, 1871, he was united with Sarah, daughter of Jerediah Farmer, of Bethlehem. They have two sons, Arthur N. and Albert L., the former living at West Milan, and the latter at home. Mr. Farr was a charter member and first steward of White Mountain grange, and has served as overseer and treasurer ; also as treasurer of Northern New Hampshire Pomona grange. He has also been treasurer of the town school district. He is a Republi- can and a Congregationalist, and has been several years librarian of the Sunday-school. PROF. J. W. SANBORN, GiLMANTON. No man in this country is better known tor his connec- tion with educational and experimental work in agricul- ture than Jeremiah W. Sanborn of Gilmanton, son of George W. and Mary Ann (Brown) Sanborn, born February 4, 1847, on a farm in that town which de- PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 2 27 scended in the family from tlie original proprietor. Educated at Pittsfield and Gilmanton academies, and Concord high school, he was made superintendent of schools in Gilmanton at twenty-one, and a member of the state board of agriculture at twenty-six. Subsequently he served as a representative in the legislature. He was for some years superintendent of the Afj-ricultural colleire farm at Hanover. He removed to Missouri and became dean of the agricultural department of the University of Missouri, secretary of the Missouri state board of agriculture, United States statistician for Missouri, secretary of the Kansas City Fat Stock Show, and director of the Missouri state experiment station. From here he was called to Utah, where he aided in the establishmentof the Utah Agricul- tural college, of which he was the first president. He was also director of the Utah experiment station, and held other positions in that territory. He collected the agricultural exhibits of Missouri for the New Orleans exposition, and those of Utah for the Columbian exposi- tion at Chicago. Later he returned to New Hampshire and became agricultural editor of the Manchester Mirror. He was one of the first, if not the first, among the agricultural college workers to conduct and publish systematic experi- ments, and has been a prolific writer for the agricultural press. He wrote the agricultural section of Gateley's "World's Progress," thepublisher searching Europe and America tor an author for this department. He has been widely called upon in the lecture field, his experience covering New England, the Mississippi valley, and Utah. Many of his experiments are original, and have attracted attention on both sides of the Atlantic. At present, he is conducting his farm of 1,700 acres in Gil- manton on original lines, partly in the public interest. 228 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. He was recently appointed a trustee of the New Hamp- shire Agricultural college. Prof. Sanborn married, June 4, 1872, Belle G. Osborne of Loudon. Their children are Harry W., Alice, and Carl J. JOHN ALBERT PEASLEE, Bradford. Bradford and Newbury are among the rugged towns in the backbone region of the state, but there are good farms and thrifty farmers within their limits, as has been evidenced by the exhibitions of the Bradford and New- bury Agricultural Soci- ety during the past 20 years, with which John Albert Peaslee of the former town has been prominently identified from the start. Mr. Peaslee, son of John and Betsey (Pres- by) Peaslee, was born December 14, 1845, on the old homestead upon which his father was the original settler, clearing it up and residing upon it for sixt3^-two years . Here he was reared and has spent the greater portion of his life. He was educated in the town schools and has always been actively identified with the town's interests. November 22, 1871, he married Miss Maria R. Smith, daughter of Ira Smith of New London. They John Albert Peaslee. 230 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. have one child, a daughter, Lura M. Peaslee, now 22 years of age, who remains at home. The Peaslee tarm, which originally contained about 175 acres, and to which additions, increasing the acre- age to over 300, have been made, has always been noted for superior stock, especiall}' neat cattle, its oxen being particularly fine. Grade Holstein and Ayrshires are now mainly kept, the cows, whose milk is sold at the cars, numbering about forty the past season. Sometimes as many as eighty head of cattle, altogether, have been win- tered, and from three to five horses are also kept. About eighty-five acres of land is in grass, and from_ five to six hundred bushels of corn on the ears produced in an average season. The farm has also a good variety of fruit. The grounds occupied by the Fair Association are a part of the Peaslee farm, and the free use of the same, on which there is a good half-mile track, has been given by Mr. Peaslee to the society since its organiza- tion in 1875, during all of which time he has served as superintendent. In politics Mr. Peaslee is an active Democrat, and has been prominent in the party councils and in public af- fairs. He was elected a member of the board of select- men in 1872, and reelected the three following years. In 1876 he served with John W. Morse and Horace Martin on a commission to fund the town debt. In 1878 he was again elected as a selectman, but did not serve, accepting that year the position of superintendent of the Merrimack County Farm at North Boscawen, at the hands of the county commissioners, the responsible duties of which place he discharged with such excellent acceptance that he was continued in charge during two years of Republican control, until 1881, when he was himself elected upon the board of commissioners, and subsequently returned to his home in Bradford. In 1884 PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 23I he was chairman of the board of selectmen, and repre- sentative in i885-'86 : was chosen a member of the board of education for three years in 1888, and select- man again in 1891, 1892, and 1893. Mr. Peasiee is a member of the Masonic fraternity and secretary of St. Peter's Lodge of Bradford. He has been a justice of the peace for twenty-five years, and does a large amount of business in that capacity, and in the settlement of estates. He is also agent of the Merrimack County Fire Insurance Company. Since 1894 he has resided at Bradford village, but retains the active man- agement of his farm. ALONZO W. GIBSON, RiNDGE. Alonzo W. Gibson is of the eiirhth (generation of the descendants of John Gibson, who came to America in 1639. Born in Salem, Mass., September 2^, 1852, when two years of age his parents, John A. and Mary (Davis) Gibson, moved to Rindge, N. H., which has since been his home. At the age of fourteen years he started out to make his own way in the world, being em- ployed by farmers through the summer, and working for his board and schoolino; winters, until manhood, attend- ing the district schools and one term at an academy. Called home by his father's failing health, he assumed charge of the family, tenderly caring for his father dur- ing the remainder of his life, as he was also the support and dependence of his mother and vounger brother and sisters. After his father's death he purchased the home farm. Subsequently an adjoining farm was added, making one hundred and fifty acres in all, of which thirty is mowing, the balance pasture and woodland. His specialty is 232 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. dairying, forty pounds of gilt-edged butter being pro- duced weekly, which he delivers to private customers in Winchendon, Mass., who also furnish a market for eggs, milk, cream, vegetables, and all farm products. Though not large, the farm is a productive one, and is run on the intensive plan, Mr. Gibson doing most of the work himself with the best attainable machinery, the addi- tional labor required being hired by the day. No farmer in the region is better supplied with machin- ery, some of which, being quite a mechan- ic, he has manutac- tured himselt\ He has just added to his equip- ment a building con- taining blacksmith and carpenter shops, and mill with a six horse- power Baxter engine and saw for cutting wood, of which he has a large amount and which finds a ready market. The pleasant home, an engraving of which is here given, is largely the work of his own hands, he having thoroughly re- modeled the same about the time of his marriage, Jan- uar}' 19, 1887, with Mrs. Idella (Converse) Norcross, daughter of Zebulon and Ann (Mixer) Converse of Rindge. At the time of her marriage with Mr. Gibson, Mrs. Norcross, who came of a family long prominent in this region, had a little son, eight years of age, to whom Mr. Gibson has been a most indulgent father. This son, Ai,<)X/i) W. CjUisox. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 233 Arthur Z. Norcross, is now a student in the State college at Durham, class of '99. One daughter, Florence Idella, now five years of age, has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Gibson. " Meadow View Farm," as the Gibson place is known, is situated on a hill overlooking the Converse reservoir, or meadow, and some of the finest views in the beautitul hill town ofRindge are obtained from different points on the place, making it a most delightful residence. ^ ''^^•-"^ ^ ^ ^- ^ ^^^yl^ *N^ r ^^ H^S|^'^5[-- t\^ ' t ^5 m^^ .-ki HH HHHUk^ ^HH H im^^^p '"HI nl-H|i Pll ''***'«a«i»i»^.. a REsn:)ENCE of A. VV. Gibsox, Rixdge. Mr. Gibson is a thorough believer in the principle of doing business on the cash basis, " owing no man any- thing." He is also a strict temperance man, using neither spirituous liquor nor tobacco in any form. As an earnest temperance worker, he has done all in his power to aid in enforcing the prohibitory laws in the town of Rindge. He is a member of the Congregational church and Sunday-school, and an active member of the Christian Endeavor society, of which he has been presi- dent. Politically he is a Republican, but has never sought public office at the hands of his party or towns- men. 234 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. He is an enthusiastic Patron of Husbandry, and his voice is often heard in the discussions at the meetings of Cheshire Count}^ Pomona grange, of which he is a mem- ber. Both he and Mrs. Gibson were charter members of Marshall P. Wilder grange, No. 134, and both have worked long and faithfully to promote its prosperity. Mr. Gibson has served as steward, overseer, lecturer, and master, and Mrs. Gibson has been chaplain, lecturer, and master, being the first lady master in Cheshire count}'. Both received the seventh degree of the order at the meeting of the National grange in Concord, in November, 1892. MAPLE VIEW FARM, HOPKINTON, WiLLARD T. Greene, Proprietor. Delightfully located upon the highlands overlooking the Perkins Inn and the business square in Hopkinton village, is " Maple View Farm," the home of Willard T. Greene, whose fame as a breeder and trainer of fine horses is only equalled by his reputation as a breeder of fancy poultry. Mr. Greene is a son of the late Hon. Herman W. and Fannie (Willard) Greene, his father having been a prominent figure in New Hampshire politics for many years. He was born in Hopkinton, June 9, 1856, and has ever had his home in that town. He was educated in the district school, at Hopkinton academy, and the New Hampshire Conference seminary at Tilton. With a natural love for horses, he became a successful trainer and driver in early life, and for the last fifteen years or more, since his marriage and occupancy of " Maple View Farm," he has been engaged in breeding fine-blooded horses, mostly of the Wilkes strain. Among the best known of these are " Lady Helen " — 2 :25i, with a trial > 236 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. of 2:142^, and "Simbrino" — 2:22^. He was tlie first man in the state, it is believed, to breed and develop a horse to trot in 2 : 20 over a half-mile track in New Hampshire, and he has brought out a number that have beaten 2 : 30. He has personally given up track driving of late on account of the danger involved, and is devoted exclusively to the breeding of gentlemen's high- class road horses and fanc}^ poultrv. He has bred fan- cy poultry since ' 1874. Plymouth Rocks were his spe- cialty for sometime, of which variety he bred birds selling at $25 each, and some of which have won prizes at leading ex- hibitions all over the country. Of late, he has taken up the Black Lang- shang, which he re- gards as superior to any other of the Asiatic class f o r winter e^g produc- tion. He has a finely appointed, two-story henhouse, with ample yards, and keeps some 300 birds. He breeds about 500 chickens annually, and sells chickens and eggs all over the country, shipping the latter to every state in the Union. "Maple View Farm" contains about fifty acres of excellent land. The buildings are in first-class condi- tion and the house fitted with all modern improvements. WiLi.AKD T. Greene. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 237 Mr. Greene is a Republican in politics and Episco- palian in religion. He has served three years as deputy- sheriff, and twice as a member of the board of supervis- ors. Of late he has done considerable business as an auctioneer. He married, January i, 1880, Etta Comer, daughter of the late George G. Bailey of the Boston Hc7-ald. They have three children — Fannie E., Sadie R., and Gardner B. P. M. LORD, DUNBARTON. P. M. Lord, son of Thomas and Solinda (Messer) Lord, is one of the successful farmers of the town of Dunbarton. He was born August 6th, 1850, and in 1859 I'cmoved with his parents to Hopkinton, where he received his education in the district schools and the Hopkinton academy. December 22d, 1870, he was married to Miss Ellen L. Kimball, youngest daughter of Moses T. Kimball, a prominent farmer of the sariie town. They have one daughter, Neva B., now nearly twenty- one years of age, a teacher by occupation. In 1874, in company witii his father, he returned to his native town and purchased the large and extensive farm upon which he now resides, which, with out- lands, consists of upward of three hundred and fift}^ acres of woodland, pasturage, and tillage. The buildings have nearly all been rebuilt, and about fifty acres have been thoroughly cleared of stone and are now suitably adapted to the use of all kinds of farm machiner}^ by the use of which the work of the farm is now carried on. Mixed farming is practised, but the leading productions are corn, oats, and hay, of which seventy-five tons are cut annually. Dairying is also made a specialty, upwards 2sS NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. of a ton of butter having been marketed to customers in Manchester during a year. Mr. Lord is a member of the Congregational church and was superintendent of its Sunday-school for several years. Has also served as selectman two years, and was a member of the school-board six years, and treas- urer of the town school district six 3'ears. He became a member of Stark grange in 1874, ^"^1 was at that time elected secretarjs and held the position for several years ; was also master two years, lecturer two years, and is now serving as district deputy in the State grange. ADDISON S. CRESSY, Bradford. ''Meadow Brook Farm " is one of the most pleasantly located and productive places in the town of Bradford. Located a mile or more out of the village, toward the " Centre," in the midst of delightful scenery, it is a most eligible resort for summer boarders, numbers of whom have here been entertained for several years past. Residence of A. S. Cressy, Bradford. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. ^39 This is the home of Addison S. Cressy, who was born on the adjoining farm, now owned by a brother, December 20, 1825. His parents were Cyrus and Han- nah (Sawyer) Cressy, and his grandfatlier, Richard, who removed from Hopkinton in 1794, was one of the early settlers of the town. This Richard Cressy was a soldier in the Revolution, and fought at Bunker Hill, and his grandson, Addison S., has now in his possession two passes signed by Gen. John Stark, giv- en him during his ser- vice. Mr. Cressy has al- ways been a resident of Bradford, and en- gaged in agriculture. He first had a small farm near Bradford Centre, but for more ilian a quarter of a century has owned and occupied his present tarm, which contains 240 acres. He cuts about seventy tons of hay per annum, puts in seventy-five tons of ensilage, raises several hundred bushels of corn, and plenty of fruit and vegetables. His stock consists of five horses, and twenty-five to thirty head of cattle, including fifteen good dairy cows, the milk from which he has of late sold at the cars. The buildings are well appointed and in good repair, the spacious house being admirabl}' adapted for the accom- modation of summer guests. Mr. Cressy is a Democrat in politics, and has filled AijuLSON S. Ckessv. 240 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. most of the town offices, including tiiat of collector, selectman for several years, supervisor, also for a long term, and representative in the legislature in 1878. He has also served as treasurer of the town school district, and has been for several years a justice of the peace. He is a member of St. Peter's lodge, F. & A. M,, of Bradford, and was a charter member and several years lecturer of Bradford grange. May 29, 1855, he married Mary E. West. They have five children living ; Milner A. is a farmer in Newbury, Abbie M. is the wife of George Hackett of Claremont Junction, George F. is postmaster at Bradford, while John W. and Nettie H. are still at home. PINE GROVE FARM, HAVERHILL, Henry W. Keyes, Proprietor. Amonor the best known stock farms in New Hampshire for many years past, "Pine Grove Farm," at North Haverhill, has held a conspicuous position. This farm, originally owned by Moses Dow, a distinguished citizen and one of the first lawyers in Grafton county, who set- tled here before the Revolution, and held various impor- tant offices, but modestly declined an election to congress, because he felt incompetent for the position, was pur- chased more than thirty years ago by the late Henry Keyes of Newbury, Vt., president of the Connecticut & Passumpsic Rivers railroad, who carried out extensive improvements, and engaged in stock-raising, breeding fine-blooded Durham cattle and Merino sheep on a large scale. Mr. Keyes died in 1870, leaving a wife — formerly Miss Emma F. Pierce — and five children, three sons and two daughters. The eldest of the sons — Henry W. Keyes — who was born in Newbury, May 23, 1863, IC) 242 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. though still pursuing his studies, assumed the manage- ment of the farm when eighteen years of age, and it has since been in his hands, and its reputation as a superior stock farm maintained and largely extended. The farm contains about 1,200 acres of land in all, of which about two hundred and twenty-five acres are mowing and tillage, including a magnificent tract of Connecticut river intervale, with a large amount of higher meadow and plain land. About two hundred and fifty tons of hay are cut annually, while from fifteen to twenty acres of corn are ensilaged. In the season of 1896, ninety acres of land were under the plow, fifty acres in oats, and forty in corn, the latter being half ensilage and half field corn. All the crops produced are fed on the farm, to the splendid stock of Holstein and Jersey cattle, fine-blooded trotting and French coach horses, Shropshire sheep, and Yorkshire swine, all of which have been selected, or bred, with great care from the best imported animals. The stock the past season embraced about one hundred head of cattle, twenty fine horses, one hundred and twenty-five sheep, and fifty swine. Of late, Mr. Keyes has been crossing the Hol- stein and Jersey with great success, for dairy purposes. His Shropshire sheep have become noted all over the country, and have included the best premium animals in New England ; and the same may be said of his cattle and swine. Indeed, a more extensive display of prize ribbons than is to be seen in his office can with difficulty be found, the same having been won at the New England, Bay State, Vermont, Rhode Island, Grange State, and various other fairs in New England and Canada. The buildings upon this farm are extensive, well ap- pointed, and in excellent condition, every way in keeping with the reputation of the place, and admirably adapted for the purposes designed, standing well in tVom the PERSONAI. AND FARM SKETCHES. 243 highway and commanding a fine view of the beautiful Connecticut valley. The house includes the original Dow mansion, with additions and improvements, and is still the family home, over which the mother presides, Mr. Keyes being still unmarried. Mr. Keyes was educated in the Boston public schools, at Adams academy, and Harvard college, graduating from the latter in 1887. He is a Democrat in politics, has served several years as selectman, was a member of the state legislature in 1891 and in 1893, and was the candidate of his party for senator in the Grafton district in 1894, receiving more votes than his Republican oppo- nent, but failing of an election for want of a majority over all. He has also served one term as a trustee of the New Hampshire College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts. He is a director of the Connecticut & Passumpsic Rivers railroad, a member of Grafton lodge, F. & A. M., and of Pink Granite grange. North Haver- hill. He is also vice-president of the Nashua River Paper Co., of Pepperell, Mass., of which one of his brotiiers is president and the other treasurer, and was actively instrumental in the establishment of the North Haverhill creamery, at which the milk from his dairy is marketed. ZERAH E. TILTON, Bristol. The town of Bristol is generally known for its activity and enterprise as a manufacturing place, yet there are prosperous and progressive tarmers within its borders, prominent among whom is Zerah E. Tilton, proprietor of "New Found Valley Stock Farm," located about half a mile outside the village. Mr. Tilton is a native of the town of Groton, son of ^44 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. Elbridge and Alice (Cummings) Tilton, born May 23, 1858. His parents removed to Laconia when he was seven years of age, where they resided until he was fourteen, then removing to Bristol and locating upon the farm which he now occupies, where he has ever since had his home. His education was obtained in the Laconia ori'aded schools and the Bristol High school, and at the age of twenty-one he engaged with his father in the retail milk business, the partnership continuing until the death of the latter, after which he ran the busi- ness himself until 1895, making seventeen years alto- gether in this line, during which time he kept about thirty cows on an average. This farm contained origin all v about one hundred and fifty acres, but Mr. Til- ton has added thereto by purchase from time to time, until it now embraces four hundred and thirty acres, upon wiiich there are two sets of buildings, while he has also a back pas- ture containing about two hundred acres. The trotting park and fair grounds of the Bristol Fair association are in- cluded within his farm limits. He has about one hundred acres in mowing and tillage, twenty-five acres being under the plow, of which fifteen are generally in corn, and ten in oats and barley, the corn being ensilaged, and used in supplementing the one hun- Zerah E. Tiltox. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 245 dred tons of hay annually cut, along with the oats and barley, in feeding the forty head of cattle kept on the farm, together with five iiorses kept for farm work in the summer, and which are employed in extensive lum- bering operations in winter along with several yokes of oxen. On his home farm Mr. Tilton has a spacious and con- venient barn no feet long and 40 feet wide, with cellar under the whole; also two silos of 125 tons' capacity each. He has also a steam mill for doing various kinds of work on the farm, grinding grain, making cider, and preparing stove wood for market. For a few years past he has made a specialty of Holstein cows, of which he has now about twenty, the milk from the same going to the Boston market. Mr. Tilton was united in marriage with Miss Georgie- anna Weeks of Bristol, May 22, 1887. He is a charter member of New Found Lake grange, was its first over- seer, and served two years as master. Politically, he is a Democrat, and has been the candidate of his party for various offices, but residing in a strong Republican town, has never been elected. ERASMUS D. COMINGS, Croydon. Erasmus Darwin Comings was the seventh of the eight children of Fenno and Rebecca (Smart) Comings, born in Berlin, Vt., June 17, 1826. The family were origi- nally from Connecticut and settled in Cornish, N. H. Left an orphan at three and a half years by his father's death, he aided his motlier till the age of eighteen, when he taught his first school, and afterwards attended the Newbury, Vt., Seminary, conducting the singing in that institution. 246 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. With a decided taste for vocal music, he was under the instruction of the celebrated Lowell Mason, in Boston, for a few months, and soon after commenced his long and useful career as a teacher of singing-schools. For forty winters continuously, nearly every evening of each week he was thus employed in Croydon and adjoining towns ; besides leading choirs in Newport for twenty- five years, helping to start the " Sullivan County Musi- cal Association," and conducting the singing most acceptably at several hundred funerals, down to the present time. His farming operations commenced in Calitbrnia in i852-'53, where he harvested one hun- dred acres of barley, and afterwards, being, with his partner, ac- customed to the use of tools, they worked for several weeks on a wharf and bridge at Stockton for eight dol- lars per day each. On returning to New Hampshire, he added an adjoining farm to the old homestead of his father-in-law, Na- th a n i e 1 Humphrey, thus securing one of the largest sugar orchards in the town ot Croydon. It contains some 1,500 trees, in the management of which he keeps abreast of the times in all improvements for sugar- ing, and has found his net profits averaging $250 a year, — some years as high as $500. He uses, and for thirty Erasmus D. Comings. 248 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. years has held an agency for, the evaporator now manu- factured by the " Vermont Farm Machine Co.," of Bel- lows Falls. This homestead he still occupies, having replaced the old barn burned a few years ago, with another — one of the best and most convenient in town, at a cost of $1,000. He is also quite extensively engaged in the raising of poultry, chiefly of the Plymouth Rock variety, with com- modious, well-arranged quarters, as appear in the left of the picture. In town affairs. Captain Comings has held every im- portant office, and has served as moderator twenty-five 3'ears (from i864-'8o, consecutively), longer than any other citizen of Croydon. In the cause of his country he enlisted a company, with Capt. J. W. Putnam, from Newport and vicinity, in September, 1861, himself being lieutenant, and was mustered into the service with the New Hampshire Sixth regiment in December following. Joining General Burnside's expedition, he was stranded at Hatteras Inlet, in the steamship Louisiana^ operated in that part of North Carolina ; was promoted to captain of Company H in September, 1862, and was discharged for disability in January, 1863. Captain Comings married Caroline Susan Humphrey, January 20, 185S. Their only daughter and oldest child, Alice Vienne, born in 1851, excelled in music, was graduated at the Boston Conservatory, and taught very successfully in Illinois and Michigan, till her lamented death, as Mrs. Orrin F. Hill, at the age of thirty-four years. Of their two sons, Arthur Eugene died highly respected in Colon, Mich., aged twenty-six, and Ellsworth Darwin now resides in Crovdon. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 249 SAMUEL TITUS NOYES, COLEBROOK. The subject of this sketch was born in Columbia, April 25, 1846, being the youngest of ten children of Asa and Lydia (Eaton) Noyes. His parents, who were very poor, having suffered the loss of crops by frosts for sev- eral years, removed, soon after his birth, to East Cole- brook, where Mr. Noyes now resides. His early inclinations were literary, and he fondly hoped to acquire a liberal education. After attending the town schools, he pursued his studies at Colebrook Academy and the New- bury (Vt.) Seminary ; but when he realized that he was needed at home to care tor his parents, who were becom- ing aged, he relinquished the cherished hope and heartily turned his attention to agriculture. As a farmer, Mr. Noyes has been characterized by an intelligent purpose to be governed by scientific principles in the various branches of practical agriculture. He early realized the advantage of intusing the blood of the thoroughbred into his stock of horses, cattle, sheep, and swine. In sheep raising his object was the best cross- bred sheep possible. The foundation stock was Leicestershire, purchased in Canada, crossed with South- down. Later the Shropshire was introduced, and at present the Cheviot is used. The result of this breeding is a flock of fifty fine sheep and lambs which have taken first premium whenever shown. Mr. Noyes was among the first to introduce Durham cattle, having purchased at a very high price some thoroughbreds in Burlington, V"t., and Canada. Several farmers of the vicinitv availed themselves of the opportu- nity to secure male calves, and in a few years the herds of East Colebrook were greatly improved. In 1886, when the beef industry became unprofitable, through the 250 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. kindly advice of J. L. Gerrish of Webster, he purchased a Guernsey bull, fully believing that it would be more advantap^eous to produce butter than beef, and has since made a specialty of dairying. The grade Guernse3's have proved very desirable, removing all doubts which may have originally existed. In 1895, Mr. Noyes purchased four thoroughbred cows and heifers, and now has a herd of forty thoroughbreds and grades, headed by " Rosa's Rydale," the fourth bull used, and royally bred. The mature cows produce an average of 300 pounds of butter each per annum, and the herd of twenty-five cows and heifers *p"" Hon. George A. Wasox. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 257 and the first Master of Joe English Grange of New Bos- ton, and servHig two terms since, as IVIaster of the same organization. He was elected Overseer of the State Grange in 1877, and Master in 1S79, serving in the latter capacity four years and devoting much lime and labor to the work. In 1883 he was appointed a member of the board of trustees of the New Hampshire College of Agri- culture and the Mechanic Arts, and has been reappointed continuously to the present time, being one of the most devoted and interested members of the board, and through long sevice thoroughly tamiliar with the work of the insti- tution. He also served for two terms, previous to 1895, as a member of the State Board of Agriculture for Hills- borough county. In public and political life Mr. Wason has been active and prominent for many years, and has been particularly influential in the Republican party in the county of Hillsborough, having been a member of the board of count}" commissioners tbr six years from 1877, and actively engaged in the management of county affairs. In 1883 he was elected to the state senate in the old Six- teenth district, serving one term. In 1890, and again in 1892, he was chosen a member of the house of repre- sentatives from New Boston, and was closely identified with all measures enacted in the interest of agriculture. In 1894 he was again elected to the senate, trom the new Eighth district. Mr. Wason was the leading spirit in the movement for the construction of the New Boston railroad, by which the advantages of railway communication were secured for his native town, and has been a director and presi- dent of the road from the start, and has been interested in all measures and movements calculated to promote the interests of the town. At his farm, where he now keeps trom twenty-five to thirty-five head of cattle, three 17 258 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. horses, and about forty sheep, he is principally engaged at present in making cream for Whipple's famous New Boston creamery. In September, 1863, Mr. Wason was united in mar- riage with Clara Louise, daughter of Sidney and Louisa (Trull) Hills of New Boston, by whom he has three sons, the oldest, Edward H., being a well-known law- yer of Nashua ; George B. of the firm of Wason & Co., 61 Chatham street, Boston; and Robert S., a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, now with Wason & Co. JOHN C. MILLS, DUNBARTON. Notwithstanding its rugged surface and somewhat isolated location, the town ofDunbarton has long enjo3'ed a high reputation for agricultural prosperity. Among the worthiest and best known farmers in this old town is John C. Mills, who was born and has always resided on the homestead which was first settled by his great-grand- father, Thomas Mills, one of the four original settlers of the town, and now known as " Hillside Farm." Mr. Mills was born on March 8, 1825, being a son of John and Nancy (Bailey) Mills. He was educated in the common school, and has devoted his entire life to agriculture, with lumbering as a prominent incident. He has been a great reader of agricultural books and papers, has made a study of soils and fertilizers, and is unques- tionably one of the best posted men in the town on all matters pertaining to his occupation. His annual hay crop averages about eighty tons. He has an excellent dairy of about fifteen cows, including some superior Jer- ;seys, and makes choice butter for private customers. He does not believe in ensilage for the dairy, but raises a \ PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 259 considerable amount of evergreen sweet corn for supple- mentary fodder, which he feeds dry. His entire stock, including cows, numbers about thirty head of cattle, and three horses. He raises a large amount of fruit and vetr- etables, but makes potatoes a specialt}', raising six hun- dred or eight hundred bushels per annum. He markets his produce mainly in Manchester. Mr. Mills was a charter member and the first steward of Stark grange, Dunbarton, and has been one of the most faithful and devoted Patrons in the state. He has held nearly all the various offices in the subordinate orange, in- eluding that of master, and is now^ chaplain. He was an active mem- ber of Merrimack Coun- ^-^'%^, '. ty Council, having been gatekeeper, chaplain, and overseer of that or- ganization. He has also been prominent in the Merrimack County Po- mona grano-e since its organization, and was for tive vears its chap- JoHX C. Mills. , . -r-."' lain. He was an active promoter and manager of the old Piscataquog Agricul- tural society, which for five years held its annual fair in Goffstown, and contributed largely to its success. He was also actively connected with the New Hampshire Agri- cultural society, was one of its directors for several vears, and was a prominent exhibitor, especially in the fruit and vegetable departments, at its annual fairs in Manchester. ^^ \ 26o NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. In politics, Mr. Mills has been a Republican for the last thirty years. He has been town clerk, supervisor, four years selectman, and has held other responsible offices at the hands of his townsmen, frequently having been selected as the agent of the town in the conduct of suits at law. He was actively instrumental in the work of securing daily mail facilities for the town. In religion, he is a Congregationalist. Mr. Mills was united in marriage April 15, 1847, with Miss Fanny Kezer of Hopkinton, by whom he has had three children — John B. Mills, now a journalist in Grand Rapids, Mich., Sarah A., who died in 1873, and George F., who resides witli him at the home in Dunbarton. CHARLES H. WATERHOUSE, Cornish. No one instrumentality has done more to advance the interests of New England agriculture, or improve the condition of the New England housewife than the intro- duction of the creamery process of butter manufacture. The pioneer in this work in the state of New Hampshire was Charles H. Waterhouse of Barrington, now of Cor- nish, and to him, more than to any other man, is the state indebted for the reputation for excellence which its butter product has secured and maintains in the market of the country. Mr. Waterhouse is a native of the town of Barrington, born September 17, 1835, ^"<^ ^^^^^ ^^'^^ home there until eifi'hteen years of age, securing such education as he was able to gain in the old " Hale school-house" in that town. Starting out in life for himself, at the age men- tioned, with a capital consisting of a fairly good suit of clothes, a pair of blue drilling overalls, a two dollar bill PERSONAI. AND FARM SKETCHES. 261 of the old Strafford bank of Dover, and a good stock of energy and ambition, he made his wa}' to Massachusetts. He secured a position at Tewksbury as assistant super- intendent of the state ahnshouse, and was engaged three years in that capacity, acting the last year, also, as superintendent of the farm connected with that institution. Leaving Tevvksbur}', lie was for one year superintendent of the city almshouse in Charlestown, Mass., and then removed to Dover, where he was encraged in business as a butcher for another period of three years ; but, the Rebellion being in progress, he responded to the call of his country, and, August 11, 1862, enlisted in Company H, Eleventh New Hampshire regiment, for three years. During his army service he was engaged a large portion of the time in the commissary department, his experi- ence fitting him admirably for the work. For seventeen months he had charge of the provisioning of twelve thou- sand men. On returning at the close of the war, Mr. Waterhouse purchased a farm in Barrington, which he still owns, and on which he resided for twenty-one years, actively engaged in its cultivation and management, and also extensivelv engaged as a dealer in cattle. It was on this farm in 1876 that he established the first creamery ever put in operation in the state, whicii he continued with a constantly increasing popularity for the product, until the demand so far exceeded the supply that a change to a better milk-producing locality seemed imperative. In 1885, therefore, he went to Short Falls in the town of Epsom, a favorable location in the Suncook valley, where the farmers had become interested in that direc- tion, and a cooperative creamery was established, under his management. Here he continued for three years, during which time the Short Falls creamery became noted throughout New England. Subsequently he man- Charles H. VVaterhouse. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 263 aged a creamery one year at Strafford Centre, and in May, 1889, went to Cornish to take charge of the Hill- side creamery, then building in the Connecticut valley, opposite the thriving village of Windsor, Vt., whose principal stock-holders were Hon. William M. Evarts and C. C. Beaman, the president of the corporation being Hon. Chester Pike. Here Mr. Waterhouse has remained to the present time, devoting all his skill and energv to the enterprise in charge, with such success that Hillside creamery but- ter holds first rank in iVmerica, winning the highest score at the Columbian exposition dairy exhibit in Chicago, as well as in all minor competitions. The average annual product of this creamery, which, by the way, employs the separator system, is about $50,000. Mr. Waterhouse lias been more actively and promi- nently identified with the dairy interest than an}^ other man in New Hampshire, as evidenced not only by pioneer efforts and continued and conspicuous success in creamer}' work, having won more butter premiums than any other man in America, including $90 at the National exhibition in Madison Square Garden, New York, while in charge of the Short Falls creamery, but also by his intimate connection with organized effort for advancing its prosperit}'. He was one of the prime movers in the organization of the Granite State Dairymen's association, called the first meeting held in furtherance of that object, and has been first vice-president of the association tVom the start, contributing to its success in large measure, both in the exhibition department and in its public meet- ings and discussions. He has also been frequently called to active participation in the work of dairy associations in other states. During the past winter Mr. Waterhouse was in charge of the Dairy School of Instruction at the New Hampshire College of Agriculture in Durham. 264 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. Although still retaining his Barrington farm of 135 acres, upon which his oldest son resides, upon taking charge of the creamer}' at Cornish he purchased there a farm of 235 acres, fifty of which is in tillage, and with a feeding capacity for forty cows, and upon which he has heen making extensive improvements, including the erection of one of the best appointed, thoroughly, venti- lated, and completely equipped barns to be found in New England. It is 140X35 feet in dimensions, and without cellar, the manure being carefully removed, twice a day, to a shed. The Durham is the favorite dairy cow with Mr. Waterhouse, and his feeding specialty is clover and ensilage. As an incident to the dair}' business, he engages quite extensively in pork production, turning oft' on an average about 80 hogs per year. Mr. Waterhouse was a charter member of Barrington Grange, organized in 1876, and was its lecturer for several years. Subsequently he transferred his member- ship to Bow Lake Grange, Straftbrd, where he still con- tinues the same. He is a member of Straftbrd Lodge, F. & A. M., of Dover, and of the G. A. R. In religion, he is a Free Baptist and politically a Republican. While in Barrington he took a prominent part in public aftairs, and was honored by his townsmen with every oftice in their gift, including that of representative in the general court. In 1858, he was united- in marriage with Nancy I., daughter of Daniel Caverh^ of Barrington, by whom he has three children now living, two sons and a daughter. The eldest son, C. Frank, remains on the homestead, the second, Daniel C, resides at Epsom, while the daugh- ter is the wife of Newell B. Foss of Straftbrd. His wife dying in 1887, Mr. Waterhouse married in the year following, Ella, daughter of Demeritt Place, of Straftbrd. PERSONAL AND FARIM SKETCHES. 265 MILTON B. WADLEIGH, Sutton. The name of Wadleigh was conspicuous in the early history of the rugged little town of Sutton, among the foot-hills of old Kearsarge, and representatives of the family have been among its most prominent citizens down to the present time. Robert Wadleifih came from England and located in Exeter previous to 166S. He was a prosperous citizen and in 1680 is shown by the record to have been the heaviest tax- payer but one in the town. His son Thomas w^as a soldier in the French and Indian War and one of the original proprietors of Sutton. He was the father of Capt. Jonathan, w^hose son, Benjamin Wad- leigh, Sr., was tlie sev- enth settler of the town, removing there from Hampstead in 1771? and settling on what has ever since been known as the Wadleigh homestead, about a mile from Sutton Mills and a mile and a quarter from North Sutton, upon a hillside overlooking what is now known as Key- sar Lake, and commanding an extended mountain view. This Benjamin Wadleigh, Sr., was chosen clerk and selectman at the tirst town-meeting in Sutton, held in 1777, and was also the first justice of the peace in town. Milton B. Wadleigh. 266 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. His son, Benjamin Wadleigh, Jr., was also prominent in public affairs, and for many years a judge of the court of common pleas. The latter was the father of Erastus Wadleigh, who was born on the old homestead, and resided there until 1867, when he removed to the Mill village, where he died in 18S1. He was prominent in town affairs and in educational work, having been a successful teacher and for many years superintendent of school- Milton B., son of Erastus and Almina (Challis) Wad- leigh was born December 4, 1839, """^'^^ educated in the « The Wadleigh Mansion. common schools and at New London academy, and has devoted his life to the pursuit of agriculture upon the ancestral acres, large additions having been made from time to time to the original farm of 150, so that there are now about 300 acres in the home place, with outlying woodland and pasture to the extent of about 2,000 acres in all, including a frontage of half a mile or more on the finest shore of the beautiful Keysar Lake. Mr. Wadleigh was engaged for many years in the production of beef, wool, and mutton, keeping from 150 to PERSONAL AND I ARM SKETCHES. 267 175 sheep and raising young cattle also quite extensively. He keeps now from 30 to 40 head of cattle, five horses and about 75 sheep, having reduced tiie latter in num- bers, but improving the quality by the introduction of the Shropshire blood from the well-known Keyes stock at Haverhill. In his farm operations he has practised rotation of land from pasture to field for many years with very satistactory results. His annual hay crop is from 80 to 100 tons, while he harvests about 500 bushels of ears of corn, from 300 to 600 bushels of potatoes, and a good amount of fruit, witli promise of an increase in the latter, from a large number of young truit-trees. Aside from his farm work, Mr. Wadleigh has been for several years past extensively engaged in lumbering. He is also the principal owner and moving spirit in the Sutton creamery, and the leading promoter and treasurer of the Merrimack County Telephone company, which has established a line from Bradford to North Sutton and around the lake. In politics, Mr. Wadleigh is a Republican, and in religion, a Baptist. He has served two years on the board of selectmen. He is a member of the Sons of Temperance, is unmarried, and at the present time the only representative of the Wadleigh tamily in town. SIDNEY B. WHITTEMORE, COLEEROOK. One of the most active, energetic, and well-known men in agricultural circles, as well as in public and political life in northern New Hampshire, is Sidney B. Whittemore, of Colebrook, son of Benjamin and Almira (Chandler) Whittemore, born near the farm where he now resides, July 21, 1839. ^^ ^^^^ educated in the com- mon school and at Colebrook academy, and has devoted Sidney B. Whittemore. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 269 himself actively to agricultural pursuits upon this farm, to which the family removed when he was fourteen years of age, which was bequeathed him by his father, and which embraces about 250 acres of land, of which 75 acres is wood land and the balance pasture and tillage. There is no better farming town in New Hampshire than Colebrook, and this tarm is in the rich, rolling, upland region some four miles east of Colebrook village, and produces abundant crops, including on an average 75 tons of hay, 300 bushels of oats, 1,200 bushels of potatoes, and 100 bushels of buckwheat per annum. Mr. Whittemore was one of the first to introduce pure bred Short Horn Durham cattle into his section of the state, and was for many years successfully engaged in breeding them. Later he turned his attention to butter making, but for the last tew years he has sold milk in the village of Colebrook. He keeps about fifteen horses, brood mares and colts, and has probably raised from calves more fancy matched steers than any other man in Coos county. Aside from his immediate farm work, he has also been largely engaged for many years in the pur- chase and shipment of potatoes and other agricultural products. Mr. Whittemore became a member of Mohawk Grange, No. 28, when it was organized by C. C. Shaw and Col. D. M. Clough, March 30, 1874. ^^ was chosen secretary and continued to hold the oflice until the grange surrendered its charter. Upon its reorgan- ization at East Colebrook, Dec. 7, 1894, he was elected master, and his wife lecturer, in wliich offices they are now serving their third terms, decidedly against their own wishes, but at the urgent solicitation of their fellow Patrons. He was also chosen master of Upper Coos Pomona Grange upon its organization, and has since continued in the office, serving also as a district 270 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. deputy of the State Grange. In 1881 he was appointed member of the state board of agriculture for Coos county and served efficiently for three terms in that capacity. He was also for three terms, from 1885, a member of the board of trustees of the New Hampshire College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts, and was actively interested in the removal of that institution from Hanover to Durham, devoting much time to the work of establishing the college in its new home. In politics, Mr. Whittemore is an earnest and consis- tent Democrat, and has served his party and the public faithfully six years as selectman, five years as a member of the school-board under tlie town system, collector of taxes five years, as moderator for many years, and as representative in the legislature in i885-'86. He was also for two years a deputv sheriff', and two } ears treasurer of Coos county, — 1875 '^"^ 1876. He has been an active member of the Democratic state committee for a long series of years, and at the last national election was one of the regular Democratic candidates for Presi- dential elector. May I, 1861, Mr. Whittemore was united in marriage with Emeline Corbett, daughter of Jesse and Hannah G. Corbett, of Stewartstown. They have two sons, Albert Frank, clerk in Colby's store at Colebrook village, and Everett Sidney, a member of the class of 1897 in the New Hampshire College of Agriculture and the Me- chanic Arts, at Durham. In early life Mr. Whittemore became a member of the Masonic fraternity, and has since been active in the organization. He is also a member of the Knights of Honor, Knights of Pythias, Red Men, and the Order of the Eastern Star, with which latter organization his wife has been prominently connected. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 271 EDWIN I. WELLINGTON, RiNDGE. Edwin I. Wellington, the subject of this sketch, is of the eighth generation in direct descent from Roger Wellington, the emigrant, who settled in Watertown, Mass., previous to 1690, being the second son of Ivers and Mary (Townsend) Wellington of Rindge, born in that town, January 29, 1S60. He was educated in the common school and engaged in business with his father, in farming and lum- berinc- With a view to the improvement of his health, lie spent the winter of 1882-83 in Florida, where he also enoao-ed in lumberincr operations, at Cedar Keyes, Pal ma Sola. In October, 1888, he made an eno^agement with the Cheshire Im- provement company to act as overseer, contin- uing in that capacity two years, and so thor- oughly to the accept- ance of the company that his compensation was in- creased live times during the continuance of the engage- ment. During this term of service he worked for some time with one of the best gardeners in the country, gain- ino- from that association and experience much valuable practical knowledge in that line. Resigning his position with the Improvement com- pany, he commenced farming for himself, in Conner- ^ Edwin I. Wellington. 272 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. tion with lumbering, purchasing land from time to time until he had about 400 acres. His father having died, the care of the home estate, of 215 acres more, also fell to his hands. In his agricultural operations he has devoted himself largely and successfully to market gardening, with potatoes as a leading crop, of which he raised 900 bushels last year. With a large amount of timber on his land, in order to be able to dispose of the same most advantageously he purchased the extensive mill property of Deacon O. D. Converse, and has fitted the mills with the best new and improved machinery, where he is preparing his lumber for market in all desirable forms and also cutting large quantities of wood. He has also a grist-mill and shingle- mill attached, making the business a varied and exten- sive one. Mr. Wellington married, Decmber 23, 1S85, Emma A., daughter of Cecil and Eunice (Shepard) Wellington of Ashby, Mass., an intelligent and accomplished young woman, who has been a faithful and sympathizing com- panion. They have had five children — Lilla S., Mary E., Mark E., Thurza who died in infancy, and E. Olive. , In politics, Mr. Wellington is a Republican, but through often urged to be a candidate for public office he has ir. variably refused. Some years ago, when importuned to accept a nomination for member of the school-board, he suggested that his wife, having been an experienced and successful teacher and being greatly in- terested in education, was better fitted for the place, and at his request she consented to be a candidate, was elected, and has now served five years. Mr. and Mrs. Wellington are active working members of Marshall P. Wilder Grange, No. 134, of Rindge. He has served two years as overseer and is the present master of the Grange. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 273 Their residence is on the old homestead of William Kimball, Mr. Wellington's maternal great-grandfather, in the little villatre of Converseville. He is now buildinix a summer residence on the eastern shore of beautiful Lake Monomonock in Rindo-e. COL. WILLIAM H. STINSON, DUNBARTON. From his active interest and conspicuous position in the Grange, and his prominent connection with the Grange State Fair Association, the name of Col. William H. Stinson, of Dunbarton, is among the most familiar in the state, in agricultural and Grange circles. Colonel Stinson is of Scotch-Irish ancestry, a great-grandson of Capt. William Stinson, who came to this country from the north of Ireland, with his father, John Stinson, when seven years of age, and who settled in what is now Dun- barton, in 1747, establishing his home on land now in- cluded in the Stinson farm. Captain Stinson prospered in his labors, acquired an extensive estate, and became a prominent figure in the early history of the town. His son William inherited a part of the farm, and in turn transmitted it to his son, William C, the father of Col. William H., who was an enterprising and progressive farmer, and a prominent and influential citizen of Dun- barton. William H. Stinson, son of William C. and Sarah E. (Poor) Stinson, was born on the family homestead, July 21, 185 1. He enjoyed the usual common school advan- tages, and subsequently attended Appleton academ}^ at Mont Vernon, and Pembroke academy. Ill health pre- vented his pursuing a collegiate course, and he returned to the parental home, and the pursuits of the farm. 18 C(jj.. Wii.LiA.M H. Stinson. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 275 When the Grange movement was inaugurated in the state, he became interested in the same, and early became an active member of Stark Grange, No. 42, in which organization he filled the positions oflecturer and master, several terms each. In 1879, ^^ was chosen secretary of the State Grange, and appointed general deputy, hold- ing these offices four years, when he became master of the State Grange ; and was subsequently chosen assistant steward of the National Grange. After three years of faithful service as state master, the same being signal- ized by the marked prosperity of the order throughout the state, he resigned, his entire attention then being demanded by his increasing duties as a special agent of the United States Bureau of Labor, under Col. Carroll D. Wricrht. by whom he had been appointed upon the organization of the bureau, and by whom he was continued, and placed in the ranking division upon the reorganization of the same into the present Department of Labor. This posi- tion he held for seven years, when he resigned, and in April, 1895, he returned to the old family homestead in Dunbarton, and resumed the life of an active, practi- cal farmer, in which he has since been engaged, his leading specialty being the raising of milk for the Bos- ton market. This farm, wliich, aside from outlands, embraces about 400 acres, is located about a mile and a half from Dunbarton village, and three miles from "Par- ker's," the nearest railway station, the situation being most delightful from a scenic point of view. The soil is strong, and yields generous returns to intelligent cul- tivation. The buildings are ample, including a barn 140 feet long, provided with every convenience, while the best of improved machinery is used in all farm opera- tions. Colonel Stinson believes in the silo, and carries his belief into practical effect. He was one of the pioneers in the movement for the PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 277 organization of the New Hampshire Grange State Fair, was the first president of the association, subsequently served as vice-president, and at the annual meeting in Januar}', 1897, was again chosen president. He was also a member of the executive committee of the State Grange in 1894 and 1895, and has ever retained and manifested a strong interest in the welfare of the order, and the cause which it represents. Colonel Stinson was united in marriage, in 1885, with Ellen F., eldest daughter of Dea. W. H. Conant, of Mont Vernon, bv whom he has five children — three sons and two daughters. While engaged in departmental work he made his home in Mont Vernon, and was a member of the School Board three 3'ears. In religion, he is a Congregationalist, and in politics, Republican. He was chosen town clerk of Dunbarton at the age of twenty- one years, and subsequently served as chairman of the board of selectmen, treasurer, collector, and member of the School Board, holding this latter position at the present time. He was engrossing clerk for the legisla- ture of i88i-'82, and gained his rank as colonel from service as an aide on the staff of Gov. Charles H. Bell. JACOB SANBORN, Laconia. The lower portion of the old town of Meredith, lying between Long and Great Bays (the latter now known as Lake Winnesquam), which was severed to constitute the town of Laconia in 1855, is in the main admirably adapted for agricultural purposes, especially in the lines of dairy- ing and stock raising, abundant hay production, under proper treatment, being a leading characteristic of the soil. It contains manv excellent farms, among the best 278 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. of which is that of Jacob Sanborn, formerly a part of the " 'Squire" John Smith place, situated about three miles up from the Laconia railway station. The home place embraces about sixty acres of land, of which the greater portion is in mowing and tillage, the buildings consisting of a substantial two-story farm man- sion, a fine barn, 90x42 feet, with cellar under the whole, with the necessary outbuildings. Mr. Sanborn also owns other land, some in the immediate vicinity and some at a distance — the latter in- cluding a farm in Gil- ford — to the amount of about 500 acres alto- gether. Mr. Sanborn is a na- tive of Moultonborough — a son of William H. and Sally Dame San- born, born January 13, 1843. He removed with his parents to Gilford in childhood, and was early inured to farm labor in its most exact- ing forms. He came Jacoi; Saxhorn. , ^ • 1 1 to the Smith place at the age of about eighteen years, and took charge of the farm work for Miss Polly Smith, continuing in her ser- vice until her death some fifteen years later, and so laith- fully and satisfactorily performing his duty that the farm itself was left him by Miss Smith at her decease. From boyhood, Mr. Sanborn has been an ardent lover of good cattle, especially delighting in the rearing and training of steers, and he has made the same a specialty the greater portion of his life. His ox teams have been ^ r^^ i^^V 1 m^ 28o NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. among the finest in the county, both in appearance and efficiency, and under his direction have accomplished a vast amount of work, the same being extensively sought for wherever powerful service in that line was required. He has raised cattle to sell, both for beef and working oxen, in great numbers, breeding many himself and buy- ing others when young. Probably no man in the state is a better judge of the good points of young stock than Mr. Sanborn, and he has seldom made a mistake in the selection of an animal. He lias raised different breeds, at one time being largely devoted to the Durham, but of late his cattle have largely been Hereford grades. He has now (1897) twenty-six oxen and steers, and also keeps five horses and a few cows, but has never engaged to any extent in dairying. He mows some fortv acres of land, and has about ten acres under the plow. As showing the strength of the soil and the measure of fertilization employed, it may be noted that from a field of seven acres, in one season with two crops, he took upwards of twentv- eight tons of hav. Mr. Sanborn is a thorough-going, matter-of-fact sort of man, who always pushes his business instead of allow- ing it to push him. He is a Democrat in politics, but has no desire for public life, and it was only through being actually pressed into the service that he now finds him- self representing Ward one in the Laconia city council. He is a member of Winnipiseogee lodge, I. O. O. F., of Laconia, and a charter member of Laconia Grange, of which he has been treasurer and steward. He is also an interested member of Belknap County Pomona Grange. October 3, 1877, he was united in marriage with Augusta D., daughter of the late Dr. John L. Perley, a well-known physician of Laconia. They have one daughter, Pearl S., a graduate of the Laconia High school, of the class of 1897. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 281 HORACE A. HILL, Derry. Acvriculture in New Hampshire may have retrograded, on the whole, during the last fifty years, as some main- tain, though it is doubtful if such is the case, notwith- standing the depreciation of farm property in various sections. If some farms have grown less productive, and others even returned to the forest state, there are some that have been greatly improved, meanwhile, and are now in better condition than ever be- fore. A fine example of the latter class is found in the farm of Horace A. Hill, of Derry, situated two and a half miles from the railway station, on the main road to Ches- ter. Mr. Hill, a son of Charles and Hannah T. (Hanson) Hill, was born on the farm, No- Horace A. Hill. vember 14, 1839, his father, a native of Chester, having purchased the same and established his home thereon. Here he grew to manhood, enjoying the advantages of the district school, and of Pinkerton academy at Derry Village. Here he has ever resided, and to the cultiva- tion of this farm, from which his father had succeeded, in some seasons, in securing scarcely enough hay to winter a horse and cow, the labor of his life has been mainly devoted, though he was for some time interested 282 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. in lumbering, and has sold agricultural implements, to a considerable extent, for many years. His farm embraces sixty-six acres of land, of which about twenty-two acres are in mowing and tillage, mostly in a single field, which, by thorough cultivation, has been brought into a very productive state, the hay crop aver- aging two tons per acre, while he has grown 108 bushels of shelled corn, and potatoes at the rate of 330 bushels per acre. The rocks and stones have been removed and built into substantial walls, or buried in deep drains which have also materiall}' improved the condition of the soil. The dwelling is a substantial two-story house, while the barn — 67 x 38 feet — framed and constructed under Mr. Hill's personal direction, is one of the best-arranged in the count}^ affording ample storage for the forty tons of hay and other fodder secured, and accommodations for the stock, consisting generally of five or six superior horses and about fifteen excellent cows, the milk from which has in recent years been sold to Hood & Sons, of Derry. Mr. Hill has great mechanical ingenuity, and has a shop on the premises, where he not only shoes his horses, but does every variety of repairing that may be required. There is, in fact, no kind of work necessary to be done on the farm or about the buildings, carriages, or imple- ments, of which he has the best, which he cannot do with his own hands. In politics, Mr. Hill is a Republican, and was elected chairman of the board of selectmen of Derry, in March, 1897. He is a member and officer of St. Mark's lodge, A. F. and A. M. ; a charter member of Nutfield Grange, in which he has held numerous offices, including that of master for two years, was also for two years master of the Eastern New Hampshire Pomona Grange, and four years a district deputy of the State Grange. He was PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 283 for three years assistant marslial and tour years marshal of the New Hampshire Grange Fair, and has been marshal of the West Rockingham Pomona Grange Fair since its inception. He was active in the organization of the Grange Fire Insurance Company, of which he is a director, as he is also of tiie Patrons' Relief Association. In religion, he is a PresbN'terian, and is connected with the church at East Derry, where he has also been several years superintendent of the Sunday-school. November 3, 1869, Mr. Hill was united in marriage with Lizzie H., daughter of Luther Fitz of Chester, who was a successful teacher, and also endowed with fine literary ability. While neglecting none of the details of daily domestic duty, she has tbund time for work in other direc- tions, particularly in the Grange, being at the present time master of Nutfield Grange. They have three chil- dren living — twin daughters, Emma Josephine and Ella May, born June 9, 1S74, graduates of Pinkerton acad- emy, class of 1894, since engaged in teaching, and a son, Albert Lyon, born March 20, 1882, now a student at Pinkerton. WILLIAM E. GAY, Hillsborough. The old town ot Hillsboroutrh, though rouoh and rutil1v. Mr. Burbank is an admirer of fine horses and has raised some excellent colts. Although his agricultural operations are not extensive, he has some fine intervale land which has been well cared tor and produces supe- rior hay and excellent potatoes. His interest in agricul- ture has been mani tested by his active connection with agricultural organizations. He was a charter member and the first master of Daniel Webster Grange ; was chosen master of Merrimack County Pomona Grange in 1891, and was three times elected a member of the exec- utive committee of the State Grange. He was among the prime movers in the organization of the New Hamp- shire Grange Fair Association, and was general super- intendent of its fair tor the first four years, and president PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 32 1 of the association the next two, and undoubtedly de- voted more time to the interests of the association for the first six years than any other man except the late secre- tary, N. J. Bachelder. Upon the organization of the Merrimack County Grange Fair Association in 1895 he was chosen president, and served again in the same capacity the following year. Mr. Burbank is a Republican in politics. He has served as town treasurer, has served on the board of selectmen a dozen years, as moderator a longer time, and represented the town ni the legislature in 1881. He has also been for fifteen or twenty years director of the Merrimack County Mutual Fire Insurance Company. He is a member of Harris Lodge, F. & A. M., of War- ner, and was worshipful Master of the same in 1896. In religion he is a Congregationalist, a member of the Congregational church in Webster, and clerk of the organization, and has also served some twelve years as superintendent of the Sunday-school. September 26, 1865, he was united in marriage with Miss Ellen M. Dow, daughter of Enoch H. Dow, of Con- cord. Thev have had lour daughters, — Nellie L., a music teacher, educated at the New England Conser- vatory ; Sarah C, deceased; Alice M., educated at Wellesley, now the wife of William B. Ranney of New- port, Vt. ; and Annie F., a graduate of the Concord High School of the class of 1897. JOSEPH BARNARD, HOPKINTON. Joseph Barnard of Hopkinton has long been one of the best-known agriculturists of Merrimack county. He was born on the Barnard farm, in the northeasterly part of the town, two miles from Hopkinton village, and two 21 322 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. and a half from Contoocook, November ii, 1817, being a son of Joseph and Miriam (Eastman) Barnard. His grandfather, also named Joseph, a son of Nathaniel Barnard of Amesbury, Mass., settled here in 1765, and the farm, which embraces about 150 acres, has alwa3'S been held in the family. Mr. Barnard's father attained celebrity as a breeder of hne-wooled sheep — the pure- blood Saxony — and won prizes on wool from his flock exhibited at the World's fair in London, and at the New York Institute in 1838 — a bronze medal of Prince Albert at the one, and a silver medal at the other, botii of which Mr. Barnard has now in his possession. He and his father were also amoncj the tirst breeders of Guern- sey cattle in this country, and the Barnard herd achieved wide distinction. He married, October 26, 1849, Maria, daughter of Abial Gerrish of Boscawen, and great-granddaughter of Col. Henry Gerrish of Revo- lutionary fame. They have had nine children, of whom four — two sons and two daughters — survive. One son, George E., is married, and is now^ in possession of the family homestead, Mr. Barnard having fitted up a sepa- rate home near at hand. The farm produces seventy- five tons of hay, five hundred bushels of ears of corn, and a large amount of fruit. About thirty head of cattle are kept, the milk now being taken to the Guernsey cream- ery at Contoocook, and returned to the farm after the cream is separated. Fine butter was formerly produced at home and a medal and diploma were awarded the same for excellence at the Chicago exposition. Mr. Barnard is a Congregationalist and a Republican. He has represented his town in the legislature, and has been for many years an adjuster of fire losses for the Northern and B. & M. railroads. He has written considerably for the press on fruit culture, forestry, and kindred sub- jects. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 323 CHARLES F. KIMBALL, Salem. One of the best farms in Rockingham county is the Kimball farm, located about half a mile from the railway station in the town of Salem. This farm, or a portion of it at least, has been in the Kimball family for more than one hundred and sixty years, and has never been en- cumbered by mortgage. The land was originally pur- chased by Robert Kimball of Bradford, Mass., tVom Ebenezer Eastman and Josiah Peasle}' of Methuen, and was sold by him to his son, Oliver, in 1743, lor forty pounds. Rob- ert Kimball was a grandson of Richard, the first of the family to settle in America, who came from the parish of Rattlesden, count V of S u ff o 1 k , England, in 1634, in the ship Elizabeth^ and settled in Watertown, Mass., but removed to Ipswich in 1637, where he was the town wheel- wright. His son, Ben- jamin, father of Robert, was a farmer and carpenter, and lived in Ipswich, Mass., Exeter, N. H., and Salisbury and Rowley, now Bradford, Mass. Oliver, son of Robert, who was the first to settle on the place, was born in Bradford, May 24, 1724; married Mary Ober in 1745, and died in Salem November 3, 1801. His son, Oliver, who succeeded to the farm, w^as born in Salem, Charles F. I-vLvuiall 324 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. December 7, 1745, married Mary Allen, and died April 20, 1821. He was a soldier of the Revolution, and fought at Bunker Hill. He was a selectman of Salem in 1793- He was succeeded by his son, Joseph, born December 25, 1786, who married Rebecca Hazeltine, February 2, 1815, and died April 28, 1867. He was a prosperous farmer and also a selectman of the town. His son, Charles, father of Charles F., was the next in succession. He was born April 18, 1822, and married, in August, 1844, Celinda J. Hazeltine, born July 31, 1825. He has been a successful farmer, has served as selectman and represented his town in the legislature in 1891 and 1893. Charles Franklin Kimball, son of Charles and Celinda J. (Hazeltine) Kimball, was born on the homestead, March 15, 1853, and has ever resided there. He was united in marriage, September 3, 1874, with Martha Ella Copp of Methuen, Mass., born September 3, 1855. They have one son, Charles Allen Kimball, born July 17, 1876. In 1887 his father deeded him a portion of the farm, and he continued for a few years, successfully, the business of market gardening, in which his father had for some time been engaged, though mixed farming had been the practice of their ancestors. Latterly, the raising of milk, eggs, and chickens for the Lawrence market has engaged his attention, special pains being taken in the breeding and selection of dairy cows. He has also been extensively engaged in lumbering for a number of winters. When deeded to him, the farm con- tained one hundred and fifty acres, a new two-story house and ell having just been erected. He has added two hundred and fifty acres of land and has recently erected a fin€ barn with a capacity of one hundred tons of hay, a horse barn 18x48 and a shed 16x30 feet, and has made other improvements. He has a silo of one 326 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. hundred tons capacity. The stock consists of thirty head of cattle and three horses. The farm is equipped with the best of modern machinery, and the roofs of the buildings have recently been coated with asphalt roofing, which gives them a very fine appearance. Mr. Kimball is a member of the school-board and of the present state legislature. He is a Republican in politics, and he and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is also a member of the Royal Arcanum. CHARLES WINCH, Langdon. Althousli small in extent, Langdon is one of the best agricultural towns in the state, and one of the wealthiest in proportion to population. One of the most progressive and successful farmers in this town is Charles Winch, son of Thomas and Clarissa (Towne) Winch, born in Sullivan, November 13, 1845, and there residing until 1855, when he removed with his parents to the farm in Langdon which is now his home, which had been pur- chased in 1846 bv his grandfather, Archelaus Towne. Mr. Winch lived at home until twenty years of age, enjoying ordinary common school advantages. He then worked one summer in a Keene brickyard, and subse- quently attended Kimball Union academy, Meriden, two or three years, working his way ; but, health failing, he returned home, and for several years worked lor his father in summer and elsewhere in winter, two winters being spent in teaching in Westford, Mass. He then became a joint owner, with his father, of the farm. This place, sometimes known as the " silk farm," because the former owner, Mr. Jennison, once set out the mulberry, procured silkworms, and produced silk to PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 327 some extent, though not successfully, is beautifully lo- cated on a hillside, sloping to the east and south, in the northwestern portion of the town, two miles from Alstead, and is now known as " Sunnyside." It contains two hundred and twenty-tive acres, of which forty-five are in mowing and tillage, the balance pasture and forest. About fifty-five tons of hay are cut yearly, while about ten acres of land are kept under the plow, five being in oats, four and a half in corn, and half an acre in potatoes. The average produc- tion of corn is about 55 bushels, shelled, an acre, and of oats 60 bushels, though a rec- ord of 84 bushels of the latter has been made. The stock consists of about 25 head of grade Durham cattle, 40 Mer- ino and Southdown sheep, and four iiorses. The product of ten cows is sold in cream, at the door, to the Westminster, Vermont, crea m e r y . A good apple orchard produces about one hundred and fifty barrels annually, and a sugar orchard of six hundred trees furnishes a large amount of choice sugar and syrup, which finds a ready market. A poultry house, stocked with barred Plymouth Rocks, is also an adjunct of the place. Mr. Winch is a Republican politically and has filled most offices in the gift of the town, including those ot auditor, collector, selectman, superintending committee Hi ^ 0f^ " ^ "^'■■'ji #v i- ifmM Sk. wl^^^ ■\H r\ y J] Charles Wixc 11. 328 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. and member of the school-board. He also represented the town in the legislature of 1895-6, serving on the com- mittee on agriculture. He is also a justice of the peace and quorum. He is a member of the Congregational church and has been superintendent of the Sunday- school seventeen years. He is a charter member of Alstead Commandery, U. O. G. C, instituted February 12, 1894. December 8, 1875, ^^'"- Winch was united in marriage with Abbie L., daughter of George F. and Betsey (Ward- well) Hubbard, of Sullivan. They have five children, — Elton W., born January 7, 1877 ; Walter T., June 27, 1879, '^o^"^ attending Gushing academy, Ashburnham, Mass. ; Clara A., February 14, 1881, attending Peter- borough High school; Bessie E., May 24, 1883; and Helen L., i\pril 4, 1892. The children, who are the life of the household, are musically inclined, all but the youngest playing on some instrument, and the evenings at home are largely spent in the music room. GRIFFITHS BROTHERS, Durham. The Griffiths tarm in Durham, three miles from the village, and an equal distance from Newmarket, contains 200 acres of land, of which 70 are mowing and tillage, nearly all in a single level iield. This farm is equipped with the finest and best-arrantjed set of farm buildino;s in Strafford county, a handsome two-story residence being connected by an ell with a spacious barn, 41 x no feet, with eighteen-foot posts, and a capacity for 100 tons of hay, while all necessary out-buildings are convenientl}^ provided. This farm was originally a part of what was known as "Moharimet's Marsh," from Moharimet, a 330 M-:W llAMl'SIIlRli AGRICULTURE. noted Indian sagamore of the seventeenth century- Cap- tain Edward Griffiths, a noted sea captain, and a native of London, Enghmd, settled here in 1820. His son, John B. GrifRlhs, born June 14, 1814, bought the farm, and here spent his hie in the successtul pursuit of agri- culture. He dealt largely in neat cattle, and his ox teams were noted tor their excellence. He married Ruth Wentvvorth (a sister of Arioch Wentvvorth, the well-known Boston midti-millionaire), who still survives. John B. Grithths died June 8, 1896; but the larm had previously passed into the hands of his two sons, Edward B. and Arioch W., who were admitted to part- nership in 1874, '^"'^ v\ho, in addition to the regular tarm work, have been extensively engaged for the last twenty-tive 3ears in the manufacture of cider and vinegar. They have a steam mill with all the latest improve- ments, and a capacity for one hundred barrels per day. Edward B. Griffiths was born January 13, 1842. He was educated in the common school, Durham academ3s and Newmarket High school, and has spent his life on the farm, except three years in Boston, in the foreign and domestic fruit trade. May 24, 1876, he married Clara A. Chapman of Newmarket, who died April 4, 1881, leaving one son, David F., born March 27, 1881, who, since attending the Newmarket grammar schools, Edward B. Griffiths. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 331 is a student at the I31iss Commercial colle<^e, Dover. July 2, 1884, he married M. EtFie Furber of Greenland. He is a Republican in politics, and a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, being a direct descendant ot Revolutionary soldiers, one of whom, Eleazer Bennett, was with General Sullivan at the capture of the gun- powder at Fort William and Mary. Arioch W. Griffiths was born August 31, 185 1. He attended the common school, Newmarket High school, and Franklin acade- my, Dover. June 14. 1876, he married Sadie B. McDaniel of New- market. "Fhey have one son, John H., born September 20, 1877. educated at Newmar- ket High school, and the Bryant & Stratton Commercial college, Boston, and now book- keeper for the B. F. Haley Co. of Newmar- ket. Like his brother, Arioch W. is a Repub- lican and belongs to the Sons of the American Revolution. He is also an associate member of the G. A. R., and quite prominent in the order of Knights of Pythias, being a mem- ber of Pioneer lodge, No. i, of Newmarket, and was actively instrumental in the organization of the new lodge at Durham recently. He passed the chairs and became a member of the grand lodge in 1891. He was a charter member of William A. Frye Co., No. 5, U. R. He was for four years first lieutenant of his company and Ario( H \V. Griffiths. 332 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. was promoted from that rank to that of major on the reg- imental staf^\ He was made lieutenant-colonel of the First regiment March 28, 1895, and holds the position at the present time. He has been quite active in public affairs, serving as census enumerator in 1890, as select- man two years, and as road agent in 1896. SOLOMON MANNING, Bedford. A typical representative of a large class of New Hamp- shire farmers who iiave achieved success by patient in- dustry in the cultivation of the soil, is Solomon Manning, whose home is on the Bedford farm where he was born, situated about one mile from the village and five miles from Manchester, upon the highway leading from that city to Amherst. Mr. Manning is the fifth of eight children of Solomon and Mary (Fletcher) Manning, born August 29, 183 1. He is a descendant of William Manning who came from England and settled in Cam- bridge, Mass., in 1635. His mother was a descendant of Robert Fletcher of Yorkshire, England, who settled in Concord, Mass., in 1630, coming over in one of the seventeen ships that arrived in Plymouth harbor that year. Several of Mr. Manning's ancestors have been engaged in the wars of the countr}-, a grandfather having been at the Concord fight, April 19, 1775, and a great- grandfather at Burgoyne's surrender at Saratoga, who died at the advanced age of one hundred and one years, seven months and seven days. Mr. Manning's father located upon this farm in 1825, which is one of the best in this excellent agricultural town. It contains about 300 acres, and is noted as hav- ing been the first farm in town upon which hops were raised. Here Mr. Manning spent his youth in active PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 333 labor, except such time as he was allowed for study in the district school and at McGaw Normal Institute at Reed's Ferry. At the age of twenty-one years he com- menced work for himself, with no capital but courao-e and industr3s purchasing the farm of his father, and buy- ing out the other heirs. Milk production lias been his specialty for nearly forty years, though he was also for many years quite extensively engaged in market garden- ing. For more than twenty years he sold milk in the Manches- ter retail market ; but now sells at home to other dealers. For many winters he was also quite extensively engaged in lumber- ing. His farm pro- duces about 80 tons of hay per annum, and he has silos of 80 tons capacity. His stock consists of some thirtv cows and three or four horses. The buildings are substantial and convenient, two tine barns, ninety and forty-tour feet in length, connecting at right angles. Mr. Manning has been twice married — first to Hannah M. Jones of Andover, Mass., Nov. 29, 1855. Their children were Frank E. and Mary E. Manning. The former is settled on an adjoining farm ; the latter, edu- cated at the Framingham, Mass., Normal school, was lor several years a teacher in Massachusetts, but has been for some time past at home, and a member of the Bedford school board. On December 17, 1863, he was SoLll.MdX MANMXf,. 334 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. married to his present wife, Miss Anstress P. Flint of Bedford. Their children are Harriett F., William S., Julia L., and Margie A. The son is married and resides at home in a new house near the family residence. Julia and Margie, educated at McGaw Institute and the Man- chester Business college, are filling desirable positions in business life, while Harriett is a dressmaker. RiisiniiNCE OF SoLOMOx Ma,\'.\in(;, Bedford. Mr. Manning is an active member of the Presb3'terian church in Bedford. He is a Republican in politics, and has filled the office of selectman and other positions of trust. He was a charter member and first master of Narragansett Grange, of which organization his son Wil- liam was master when it celebrated its twentieth anni- versary. HENRY F. CATER, Barrington. Although Barrington does not take as high rank among agricultural towns as some others in Slraflbrd county, there are some good farms and some excellent farmers within its limits. Prominent among the latter is Henry PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. .•)JD F. Cater, who resides on the old homestead, settled by his grandfather, Joel Cater, ninety-five years ago, and ever since remaining in the family. Daniel Cater, son of Joel, spent his life npon this farm and established a wide reputation as an enterprising farmer and successtul stock breeder. He married Sarah A. Foss, and they reared a family of five children, two sons and three daughters, Henry F. being one of the sons. John W. Cater of Bow Lake, Strafford, a pros- perous merchant and farmer, is the other son, and the daughters are Mrs. J. D. Philbrick, Mrs. C. E. Smith, and Mrs. H. F. Brock of Rochester. Henry F. Cater was born June 4, 1856, was educated in the district school and at Austin academy, in Strat^brd, and Franklin academy, Dover, and has devoted his attendon to agriculture at the old home up to the present time. This farm, which now embraces about ninety acres of land, though originally containing one hundred and fifty, has been noted many years for its excellent cattle, par- ticularly tine oxen and steers, and the present stock com- pares favorably with the best in the region, it being com- posed of fine Durhams, several of which, including a superior bull, are registered full bloods, bred from repre- sentatives of the famous Sutton herd at Center Harbor. The cows are superior milkers and their product is now Henrv F. Ca ii.lv. 33^ NEW HAMPSHIRK AGRICULTURE. sold to retail dealers for the Rochester market, but up to the fall of 1896 had been sold to Hood & Sons for several years, by whom it was pronounced the best re- ceived along tlieir entire route, testing for a year 4.60 per cent, of butter fats. The farm produces about sixty tons of hay, and a silo of eighty-five tons capacity is also filled. Eight hundred bushels of ears of corn have been raised in a year. The stock now kept includes some twenty-five head of cattle, of which eighteen are cows, and three horses. The Fakm Bliluim.s of H. F. Cater, Bakuincjton. location is about four and a half miles from Rochester, and the North Harrington post-office has been kept on the farm for thirty-four years continuously, except for the interruption of a short period during the last ad- ministration. The buildings, which include a substantial two-story house, and barn 40x96 feet, with cellar under the whole, and all necessary outbuildings, are in ex- cellent condition, and abundantly supplied with pure water. Modern farm methods are pursued and a full complement of superior implements is to be found on the farm. Ayers' pond, a delighttul sheet of water, borders PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 337 the farm on the west, and in a charming pine grove on the shore, a favorite resort of picnic parties, Mr. Cater has erected a tasty summer cottage, where the family are enabled to enjoy the beauties of the lakeside without going away from home, and many friends are hospitably entertained. On November 17, 1877, Mr. Cater married Miss Augusta F. Rollins of Strafford. They have one son, Harry Burton, born October 10, 1880, who has been educated at Northwood Seminary and the Bliss Com- mercial college at Dover, and who is strongly interested in agriculture and will make the same his vocation in life. Mr. Cater is a Republican in politics. He was town clerk of Barrington seven years successively up to 1892, and is the present postmaster at North Barrington. He was a charter member and the first master of Cen- tennial Grange, No. 185, of Barrington, but witiidrew in 1896 and united with Rochester Grange as a matter of convenience. He is now treasurer of the latter grange, while Mrs. Cater fills the chair of Flora, and their son is assistant steward. Mr. Cater was also chosen secretary of Eastern New Hampshire Pomona Grange in 1896. Both he and his son are seventh degree members of the order. He is a member of Humane Lodge, No. 22, A. F. & x\. M., of Rochester, and of Palestine Com- mandery, K. T. He is also a Knight of the Golden Eagle. HEZEKIAH SCAMMON, Exeter. The Scammons were conspicuous in the early history of New Hampshire, the first of the name in the colony being Richard Scammon, who came to Boston from the mother country, and subsequently settled in Portsmouth, 22 338 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. where he is known to have been a resident as early as 1640. His eldest daughter, Anne, was the wife of the celebrated Major Richard Waldron of Dover, who was killed by the Indians, and his son Ricliard married Pru- dence, the daughter of William Waldron, and in 1665 settled on a tract of land in the southern part of the pres- ent town of Stratham, which had come into the family possession by royal grant, and has been held therein, a portion of it at least, up to the present time. William, son of Richard and Prudence Sea m m o n , was a soldier in the Indian war of 1696, was a selectman of Exeter in 1699 and 1700, and was one of the first board of se- lectmen of the town of Stratham, incorporated in 1716. Richard Scammon, a great-grandson of William, to whom the ancestral home de- scended, married Abi- gail Batchelder, and was the father of four children, Hezekiah, James, a prominent lawyer of Kansas City, Sarah C, and Col. Richard M., the latter now residing on the homestead. Hezekiah Scammon, the eldest of these children, was born in Stratham, January 31, 1843. He was educated in the district school and at Andover, New London, and Exeter academies, and taught school himself a few terms in early life. January 9, 1867, he was united in mar- riage with Mary E. Jewell of Stratham, when they Hezekiah Scammox. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 339 established their home upon a farm which he had pur- chased, located about one mile from the village, in the town of Exeter, in the cultivation of which he actively engaged, pursuing the same continuously until 1893, with the e.xception of two years, wdien he was engaged in mercantile business. His farm contains about 135 acres of excellent land, and has been principally devoted to dairying. For a time he was extensively engaged in the retail milk busi- ness in Exeter, and kept a herd of about twenty cows. Four years ago he took up his residence in the village, retaining the ownership of the farm and looking after its management, but subsequently leasing it to another. Mr. Scammon stands in the first rank among Patrons of Husbandry in New Hampshire, by virtue of charter membership in Oilman Grange No. i, the first grange instituted in the state. He is also a charter member of East Rockingham Pomona Grange, and was four years master of the same, declining a fifth election. He was for three years a district deputy, and was chosen lecturer of the State Grange in December, 1895. He is well skilled in the work of the order, a thoughtful and force- ful speaker, and a strong and determined advocate of the principles for which the grange organization stands. He is a member of Star in the East Lodge, No. 59, A. F. & A. M., of Exeter, and has held most of its chairs, including that ofW. M., and is also a member of St. Albans Chapter, No. 15. Politically, he has always been a stanch Democrat, and therefore out of sympathy with the majority of Exeter voters, but he has served eight years as a member of the school-board, as auditor and in minor offices. He has two sons, Everett, who holds a promising posi- tion in the Print and Dye works at Medford, Mass., and James, who is in the telephone business at Newburyport. Joseph D. Roberts. PERSONAI. AND FARINI SKETCHES. 34I JOSEPH D. ROBERTS, ROLLINSFORD. Although embracing less than ten square miles of ter- ritory, in which is also located a thriving manufacturing village, Rollinsford is one of the best agricultural towns in the state, being favored with a rich, strong soil, ad- mirably adapted to hay, corn, and fruit production, while it has scarcely any waste land. Its proximity to Dover and Somersworth insures ample market advantages. Among the most prominent and successful farmers of this town is Joseph Doe Roberts, the sixth of seven sons of the late Hon. Hiram R. and Ruth (Ham) Roberts, of that town, born November 12, 1848, on the old Roberts homestead, about half a mile from Rollinsford Junction, which was settled by his great-great-grandfather in 1743, and has ever since remained in the family. Hiram R. Roberts was a New Hampshire farmer of the best type, — a man of excellent character and wide influence — who commanded the respect of his fellow cit- izens, and was, without self-seeking, accorded a liberal share of public honors; but who, above all else, honored and dignified the calling of agriculture. He taught his children the lessons of industry and integritv, and Joseph D., with the others, profited thereby. Although early instructed in the labors of the farm, he was aflbrded op- portunit}' to secure a fair education, and improved the same in attendance at the district school, and at the fa- mous academy of the adjacent town of South Berwick, Me. He also developed a fondness for teaching and pursued the same for a dozen winters, commencing at the age of sixteen, seven winters being spent in the dis- trict wherein resided the late Chief-Justice Doe, for whose father, Joseph Doe, a warm personal friend of his own father, he had been named. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 343 In 1870, having attained his majority, he bought the fine farm of 120 acres, which is now his home, located on the old Dover and Portland turnpike, about half a mile trom his birthplace, and devoted himself to its culti- vation and improvement, although making his home with his parents, until his marriage, July 31, 1873, with Miss Addie E. Littlefield of Wells, Me., when he established a home for himself on the farm, where he has since resided. Dairying, or milk production, fruit raising, and market gardening have been Mr. Roberts's special- ties. The latter was pursued quite extensively for a number of years, but of late has been followed only inci- dentally, to the extent of supplying vegetables lor his milk customers. Of fruit he raises a large amount of all kinds, including sixty or seventy varieties of apples and nearly as many of pears. In the prolific and unprofit- able season of 1896, he harvested 4,650 bushels of hand- picked apples, from his own farm and the old home- stead, which latter he has had charge of since the death of his brother, John H., in 1S89, his venerable mother still residing there. Milk delivered to family customers, for man}- years in Dover, but latterly in the village of Salmon Falls, has been his principal line. His stock averages about thirty- five head, from twenty to twent^'-five being cows, all of which at the present time are registered Holsteins. For some years he had Short Horns, and subsequently bred Ayrshires, but of late has given his preference to the Holsteins, in the selection and breeding of which he has taken much pains. His bull, "Jan. 3d's Prince Sol- dene," from the famous Damon herd of Cochituate, Mass., is a superior animal, and another recently pro- cured from William Rood of Binghamton, N. Y., has a butter record on the mother's side of over thirtv-eight pounds per week. He has exhibited his herd at the 344 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. Rochester fair with great success for a number of years, in 1896 capturing nearly all the first prizes in his class. Mr. Roberts ordinarily cuts seventy-five tons of hay or more on his own farm, and one hundred on the home- stead, and raises about ten acres of corn on both places. He has a silo of ninety tons capacity, and is planning a larger one. His buildings are commodious and conven- ient, and he is abundantly supplied with all the essential modern farm appliances. Politically, Mr. Roberts is a Democrat. He served the town two years as superintending school committee under the old system, and has been for two terms a member of the school board under the new law. He also served for eight years as a selectman, being chairman of the board six years successively up to 1897, and represented the town in the legislature in 1895. Although the county is ordinarily strongly Republican, he has served four years upon its board of commission- ers. In religion he is a Baptist and is associated with the church of that denomination at South Berwick, Me. He is also a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge at Sal- mon Falls. He is a trustee of the Rollinsford Savings Bank at Salmon Falls, and a director of the Salmon Falls (state) Bank, succeeding his father in these positions. He was a charter member and actively interested in the organization of Hiram R. Roberts Grange, of Rol- linsford (appropriately named for his honored father), whose spacious new hall stands near his residence, and was elected Master of the same in December, 1896. He is also a member of the executive committee of the State Grange, elected in 1895. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts have had nine children, of whom seven — three sons and four daughters — are living. The eldest daughter, Elizabeth, is a teacher, a graduate of Salem, Mass., Normal School, and the second is a PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 345 pupil in the Dover High School, while the eldest son, J. Harry, is a graduate of the New Hampshire College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts, of the class of 1896. HARRISON G. BURLEY, Newmarket. The old Burley homestead in Newmarket, located in the southwestern portion of the towai, four miles from the village, and about one mile from Littlerield's crossing, on the Concord & Portsmouth railroad, has been held in the family since its settlement in 1769 b}^ Josiah Burley, a descendant of Giles Burley, who was a citizen of Ipswich, Mass., as early as 1648. The present owner, Harrison Gray Burley, son of Jonathan and Sarah C. (Neal) Burley, was born here, December 9, 1834, "^^^^ has spent his life upon the farm thus far. He w^as educated in the common school and at Blanchard academy, Pembroke, and has devoted his life primarily to the pursuit of agriculture, incidentally dealing in cattle to a considerable extent. The farm, wdiich includes something less than 200 acres, is in excellent condition, with good buildings, well arranged, and all the necessary modern appliances. About forty acres of land are in mowing and tillage, and the annual hay crop averages about forty tons. Four hundred bushels of corn per annum have been produced, and a good variety of fruit is usually secured. A small but choice dairy of grade Jerse}^ and Durham cows is kept, and the butter product of about 1,000 pounds per annum is retailed to private customers. Four good horses are usually kept on the farm, and a number of superior swine. Mr. Burley w^as united in marriage, January 17, 1877, with Fannie E., daughter of the late Jew^ett Conner, 34^ NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. Esq., of Exeter. They have three children — a son and two daus^hters — Walter D., born October 24, 1877 ; Lillian M., now a student at Robinson Female seminary, Exeter, born October 15, 1879; and Winnifred Conner, born November 21, 1889. Mr. Burle}^ is an earnest Democrat in politics, and has always taken a strong interest in public affairs. He has held various offices in the gift of his towns- men, serving several years as a member of the board of selectmen, as supervisor, and as representative in the state legislature in 1872 and 1873. He is a charter member of South Newmarket Grange, served three years as lecturer of the organization, and as overseer in 1897. He is also a member of East Rockingham Po- mona Grange, and has been overseer of the same. His religious affiliation is with the Congregationahsts, and he is an attendant with his famil}^ upon the services of that denomination at South Newmarket, now Newlields. For nearly twenty-five 3'ears past Mr. Burley has been an agent of the Rockingham Fire Insurance company of Exeter, and has been quite extensively engaged in look- ing after its interests, serving also in the capacity of adjuster in determining losses through quite a large extent of territory in his section of the state. Since 1878 he has been a director of the orijanization. Harrison G. Blklev. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 347 WARREN A. FREiNCH, Alstead. Warren ' A. French, lifth son of Charles F. and Aureha French, was born in the town of Alstead, which has always been his home, March 17, i860. His parents were industrious, upright, conscientious people, devoted members of the Methodist church, who, themselves in limited circumstances, brought up their nine children in the way they should go, by impressing upon their minds the importance of industry and integritv. Warren A. attended the district school as far as opportunitv per- mitted, but while quite young commenced working out by the month, cutting four foot wood in winter, and establishing a reputation for industry, perseverance and reliabilitv which he has maintained throuo-h life. April 4, 1883, he was united in marriage with Miss Etta Emmons, daughter of David and Celinda Emmons of Bristol, when they established their home upon the well- known Samuel Goodhue farm in the southeastern part of Alstead, about one and one-half miles from Gilsum village, which is his post-oifice and business address, which farm, prompted by faith and courage, he had recently piuxhased, though incurring large indebtedness in so doing. Here the voung couple entered earnestly upon their life work, and the rewaid of patient industry, sagacity, and enterprise has been theirs in large degree. The farm, which embraces som.e 300 acres, has been thoroughly rehabilitated, and brought into an exxellent state of cultivation, the buildings remodeled and improved, and all the evidences of thrift and prosperity made clearly manifest. Mr. French is a thoroughly progressive and scientific farmer, with improvement and progress as his motto. Thoroughbred Jersey cattle, Percheron horses, Chester < M PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 349 White swine, and Brahma and Plymouth Rock fowls are his hobbies, and he is successful with them all. He cuts in the vicinity of 100 tons of hay, and supplements the same with ensilage, and uses the most improved farm machinery in all his operations. His stock consists of about hfty head of cattle, eight horses, and forty to sixty swine. Mr. French is always loyal to public duty, alive to the interests of his town and neighborhood, and, with his wife, takes an active interest in social affairs. They are both earnest members of the order of Patrons of Hus- bandry, having received the seventh or highest degree. They are also charter members of Social Commandery, of the order of the Golden Cross, in which organization Mr. French is at present a deputy in the Grand Com- mandery. He is a member of Forest lodge, No. 69, I. O. O. F., and with his wife belongs to Golden Rule Rebekah Degree lodge. He is also an active member of the United Order of American Mechanics, and he and his wife are members of the Daughters of Liberty, also the order of Fraternal Helpers. They have served in ^•ari- ous official positions in the organizations with which they are associated, with credit to themselves and benetit to their associates, and by counsel and effort have con- tributed to their prosperity. Mr. and Mrs. French have two children — both daugh- ters — Gracie, born April 18, 1886, and Ruby E., born July 20, 1887, who are the light and joy of a cheerful home. Politically, Mr. French is a Republican. The family are constant attendants at the Congregational church, and all are members of the Sunday-school. 350 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. GEORGE E. NEWMAN, Alstead. No man in southwestern New Hampshire is more gen- erally known in agricultural circles, or is more actively interested in the work of the Grange than George E. Newman of Alstead. He is a native of Gilsum, the oldest of five (three surviving) sons of George W., and Esther L. Newman, born March 5, 1850, in the house in Gilsum village built and owned by his father, which is now the Congregational parsonage, where he lived until twelve years of age, when his father bought the well-known Da^■id Ware farm near the village, and there removed with his f am- ilv, that his sons might have healthy and honorable oc- cupation, and be reared to a life of virtuous industry. The father, in his lifetime, was one of the strong, en- terprising, prosperous citi- zens of the town, of firin principle and fixed integri- ty, and his influence, with that of a devoted and watch- ful mother, who is still liv- ing, shaped well the char- acters of their children. Mr. Newman acquired a good common school educa- tion, and attended Kimball Union academy at Meriden two seasons. At the ajje of nineteen vears his father gave him his time for the balance of his minority. He remained at home one year, working for wages, with the George E. New.max. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 35 1 exception of the winter months, when he taught school with success. His father desired him to pursue a col- legiate course, and offered assistance to that end, but he had developed so strong an ambition for active life that he failed to accept the offer, and, at the age of twenty, bought out the teaming line between Gilsum and Keene, a distance of nine miles, which he C(_)nducted for seven- teen years. One year later, when twenty-one, he pur- chased a half interest in the general merchandise store in Gilsum village, which he run for four years, then selling to his brothers, Daniel W., and Isaac B. New- man. At this time he commenced dealing extensively in live stock and general farm products, thus furnishing a convenient market for farmers in that and surrounding towns. In 1880, Mr. Newman purchased the well-known Aaron Brijirham homestead, situated in Alstead, about a mile and three-fourths from Gilsum, his original pur- pose being to utilize the same as a summer resort, but the attractions of the place proved so great that he deter- mined to make it a permanent family home, and there has been his residence up to the present time. He has made great improvements on all sides, new buildings being erected and old ones repaired, tlie fields cleaned up and their fertility largeh^ increased, so that it is now not only the largest, but also one of the best-equipped farms in town, and among the most desirable in the state. He has about i,ooo acres of land altogether, and his hay and ensilage equal the value of 150 tons of the former, per annum. His stock averages about 100 head of cattle, altogether, thirty horses, and forty hogs. For many years past, indeed, the place has been wddely known as the " Gilsum live stock market," from the extensive business in the purchase and sale of stock in which Mr. Newman has been engaged, greatly to the convenience of his fel- PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 353 low-farmers and others, on all sides, for mik-s around. There are two extensive mica mines on this farm, which have been developed sufBciently to prove their value. The place is also noted for the large quantity and excel- lent quality of maple sugar annually produced thereon. In addition to other business, it may be added that Mr. Newman has been extensively enp-ai^ed in lumberinW^ V / William F. Westgate. 358 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. bought a piece of land for himself which he cultivated, and has continued purchasing from time to time, till he has now about 1,000 acres in all, and is one of the largest land holders, as well as one of the most success- ful farmers in his section of the state. He cultivates from 150 to 200 acres in all, and cuts 150 tons of hay per annum. He has been extensively engaged in stock- raising and dairying, keeping from twenty to fifty cows, the milk from which has of late been disposed of at the creamery. He has usually about twenty horses, includ- ing some fine specimens of trotting stock. He has also raised swine extensively, having some years as man}^ as sixty head, and has found the business profitable. In improving his land, his object has been to get it in condition for long-continued fertility, then seeding to grass for a period of twenty years. It is largely natural grass land, and he has sometimes cut thirty tons of hay from ten acres. He raises quite an amount of corn and potatoes, and has made something of a specialty of barley, growing ten acres in a season, sometimes, sell- ing a large amount carefully selected for seed. He has erected a fine large barn, 45x100 feet, two large sheds, and a horse barn, 40x60, upon his farm, which is situated a short distance from the village, and recently moved a house upon the same, which is fitted for occupancy by farm help ; but resides, himself, with his brothers, Tyler and George H., the former now and for many years a judge of probate, and a sister, in the old family house in the village, which has recently been extensively remodeled and improved. Nothwithstanding his love for, and attention to, agricul- ture, Mr. Westgate does a large amount of law business, with insurance, conve3^ancing, and other office work, and is also extensively engaged as a civil engineer and surveyor, and has always been prominent in public PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 359 affairs. He is an active Republican, and has served many vears as a member of the state committee of his party, and chairman of the county committee. He has served many years on the school-board, of wliich he has been chairman and treasurer ; was a member of the legislature of 1883, defeating Samuel B. Page, was register of probate from 1884 to 1890, and in June, 1895, was appointed judge of the Haverhill municipal court, which position he stills holds. He is a Knight of Pythias, and a charter member and the first overseer of Haverhill Grange, Patrons of Husbandry. WILLIAM T. WENTVVORTH, Dover. The subject of this sketch is a descendant of the emi- grant Elder William Wentvvorth, who came from Eng- land and settled in Exeter, N. H., about the year 1638, in the following order: William^ Ephraim'-, Ephraim'^ Ephraim^, Jonathan'^, Stephen'', William' (Trickey). He is the son of Stephen and Lois (Trickey) Wentvvorth, born at Hiram, Maine, April 11, 1832. When a young man he came to Dover, and was engaged in various occupations. He first worked on a farm, then as a teamster. He assisted in building the Granite State Trotting park, and the Portsmouth & Con- cord railroad from Candia to Manchester, and was also employed in the construction of the Wilmington & Dela- ware railroad. Subsequently, he was for some time engaged in lumbering and pail manufacturing, but finally settled upon the tarm known as the " Long Hill Farm " in Dover, four miles from the city proper, con- taining one hundred and seventy-five acres of land, which he now successfully cultivates. His specialty is dairying, and he now sends his milk 36o NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. to the Boston market. He is a believer in ensilage, and annually tills a large silo, which he considers one of the most profitable adjuncts of the farm of to-day. November 12, 1856, Mr. Wentworth married Miss Lucinda Phipps McDonald. They have one son, Fred Wesley Wentworth, who has entered upon a successful career as an architect at Paterson, New Jersey. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wentworth were char- ter members of Co- checo Grange, and have always labored faith full}' for its suc- cess. They have both been honored officiallv in the subordinate and the Pomona Granges. Mr. Wentworth acted for many 3'ears as the treasurer of Cocheco Grange, a n d Mrs . Wentworth has been for two years its mas- ter. He is a member of Wecohamet lodge of Odd Fellows, and Wonalancet Tribe of Red Men of Dover. Mr. Wentworth has always taken an active interest in agricultural fairs, has been a frequent exhibitor of stock, fruit, and vegetables, and has Irequently secured first prizes. He was for seven years superintendent of the Strafford Count}^ farm, and made many permanent improvements upon the same. He is a Republican in politics, and has frequently been honored officially by his fellow-citizens. He has served as selectman, councilman, alderman, and represented his ward in the William T. Wentworth. •' *4ffT-'Tj^^- , t.H 362 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. legislature in 1 868-1869. In brief, it may be said that Mr. Wentworth is a good example of the New England farmer — progressive, successful, and respected in the community in which he resides. JOHN B. BAKER, Bow. Five miles from the state house in Concord, in the town of Bow, about half a mile west from the Merrimack river, is the Baker farm, originally settled by Joseph Baker, son of a famous colonial surveyor of the same name, descending to his son James, and subsequently to Aaron W., son of the latter, who married Nancy Dustin, a descendant of the famous heroine of the Indian tragedy at the mouth of the Contoocook. This tarm contains about 125 acres of land, with 100 acres of outlands. It was on this place, it may be stated incidentally, that the celebrated Mary Baker Eddy, founder of Christian sci- ence, was born. Aaron W. Baker was a thritty, industrious farmer. He had four sons, two of whom are living. The elder son, John B., pursued the same calling, while Henry M., the younger, graduated from Dartmouth, studied law, followed his profession in Washington with financial success, engaged in politics, and served four years in congress as representative of the second New Hamp- shire district. John B. Baker was born April 6, 1834. He obtained a fair education in the district schools and at the famous Pembroke "Gymnasium," and devoted himself to agri- culture on the homestead, where he remained up to 1892. Dairying was the leading specialty on this farm, under his father's management and his own a superior quality of butter being produced and sold to private cus- PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 363 tomers in Concord, the Downing I'amil}-, for instance, being supplied with table butter iVom this source for more than sixty years in succession. Mr. Baker was united in marriage November 14, 1865, with Miss Sarah Jane Locke. They have had two sons, the younger of whom died at the age of tliirteen. The elder, Rufus H., born March 16, 1870, is a gradu- ate of Dartmouth of the class of 1893, and has adopted the legal profession. He was married to Miss Grace L. Tuck, August 13, 1896. They have a son, Per- ley Dustin, born May 8, 1897. Mr. Baker is liberal in his religious views, and politically a Republican. Resid- ing in a town which has been strongly Dem- ocratic until quite re- cently, he has natural- ly not been called into public service to any great extent, but has served his town as treasurer ; and at the last election, Novem- ber, 1896, was chosen its representative in the legisla- ture, in which body he served efficiently as a member of the committee on revision of the statutes. Some years ago he became interested in the order of Patrons of Husbandr}^ and, there being no grange in Bow, he joined that at Hooksett, being a member of the first class initiated in that grange, with which he was connected several years, up to 1894, when he withdrew and united with the new grange which had been estab- JOHN B. Baker. 364 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. lished in Bow, in which organization he served as over- seer in 1896. Five years ago, or in 1892, Mr. Baker removed from the homestead, and now has his residence upon a small but productive and well-tilled farm near the northern boundary of the town, and two miles from the centre of business in Concord. GEORGE B. KIMBALL, Grafton. The observing traveler by rail from Concord to Leb- anon, on approaching the Grafton station, beholds a fine stretch of meadow to the right, and a spacious set of farm buildings, indica- tive of thrift and pros- perity. Here is the well-known Kimball farm, of which the late Peter Kimball, one of the most prominent agriculturists of his time, was for many years proprietor. Peter Kimball, a member of the noted Kimball family of Bos- cawen, was born in that town, March 25, 1817. He was reared to tarm life, but en- GeORGE B. KiMIiALL. gaged for a number of years in mercantile business in different places, and was subsequently for a time on the home farm in Boscawen. He married, February 20, 1851, Nancy A. Adams of PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 365 Grafton, and two years later established liis home on the farm in question, in tliat town, where he was extensively engaged in stock breeding, actively connected with agri- cultural societies, and a leading exhibitor at fairs, up to The Klmi'.all Home, Grafton. the time of his decease, in March, 1881. He left four children, two daughters and two sons. Of the former, the elder, Mary A., is the wife of Dr. E. M. Tucker of Canaan, while Carrie A., the younger, is Mrs. W. E. Swentzel of Kansas City, Missouri. The elder son, Cyrus A., is engaged in the hotel business at Canaan, while the younger, George Ben, remains at home with his mother, and manages the farm, which includes, in all, about 600 acres of land, much of which is in for- est. The mowing and tillage include about ninety acres, much of which is natural meadow, watered by Smith's river, and superior grass land. The annual hay crop amounts to about 100 tons, and there is also a silo of 100 tons capacity. The stock consists of about forty-five head of cattle, including from fifteen to eight- een cows, eight horses, and sixty sheep, with some eight or ten swine. The milk is sold at the station, a mile 366 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. away, for the Boston market. The buildings are excel- lent, including a substantial brick house, and fine sta- ble, and a large stock barn 44 x 100 teet, with cellar under tiie whole, supplied with hot and cold water, and all modern appliances. George B. Kimball was born January 28, 1865. and has spent his life on the farm, which he now manages except such time as was passed in securing an education in the common school and at New Hampton Institution. He is known as " a hustler," and carries on extensive operations by contract, aside from his regular farm work, in lumbering, haying, and other lines, cutting the hay for instance, on some two hundred acres of land for other parties the past season. He is a Republican in politics, and represented the town of Gral'ton in the legis- lature in 1895. He is a member of the New Hampshire Society of the Sons of the Revolution, and of the Knigrhts of Pythias. WILLARD BILL, JR., Westmoreland. Willard Bill, Jr., was born in Westmoreland on tiie old homestead on which he has always resided, October 14, 1839. He was the only child of Willard and Clarissa (Esty) Bill. The Bill homestead has been occupied by father and son tor sixty-two years uninterruptedly. Its extensive area, and its spacious mansion of " ye olden time" are well known, being built in the most thorough manner in 1792, and bearing evidence that timely repairs withstand tiie ravages of a century. The farm that is more complete in every line is rare, though a few may surpass it in some one specialty. It is a landed estate that invites diversified farming, wliich has been pursued by both father and son. PERSONAI. AND FARM SKETCHES. 367 After completing his round of the common schools, Mr. Bill attended the seminary at Westminster, Vt., and Powers Institute at Bernardston, Mass., then under charo-e of that famed teacher, L. F. Ward, where he ranked well in his classes. For three or more genera- tions the Bills have been noted for superiority as teachers of common schools. Willard, Jr., was in wide demand, being especially noted for "straightening" out the unruly schools, in whicii work he was very successful. Mr. Bill has been called upon to act in public and official positions many times, though being very far from an office-seeker. He has been selectman seven years, moder- ator ten years, county commissioner three years, and is at pres- WiLLARD Bill, Jr. ^^^ ^^ active member of the State Board of Agriculture, and of positions of public and private trust he is largely laden. Mr. Bill is easily first in promoting public enterprise in his native town, and his successes have been and are many. The splendid free town library has been ver}' largelv the work of Mr. Bill, having received very little assistance either in the selection of its books, in its management, or in its origination. The town Mutual Fire Insurance association, which for twenty-five years has been a success, was " blocked out" by him, and of which he was secretary for eighteen years, until his 368 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. resignation. In the settlement of estates and in care of them he has always been active, and in this line he has had much to do. " His word is as good as his bond," is a common saying of his townsmen, over which he feels a justifiable pride. Soon after he reached his majority, he was commissioned a justice of the peace, and from that time to the present his services in this direction have been in demand. Mr. Bill's life has been a noted one for diversity of pursuits and for abilit}^ of execution. His counsel is always in demand, his honesty and faithfulness are unquestioned. As a Patron of Husbandry, he has been active and influential, both in the Great Meadow Grange of which he is a member, and also of his Pomona. He has been secretary, master, and chaplain of his grange. April 12, 1866, he was married to Ellen O. Isham of Gilsum. They have had two children, — Clara F. who married Walter S. Hutchins of Fichburg, Mass., and Jennie L., both of whom inherit largely the Bill charac- teristic qualifications. JONATHAN ROWE, Newburv. There is no more rugged territory to be found in the state than that embraced within the limits of the town of Newbury, and yet, notwithstanding its rocky and uneven surface, it is by no means one of the least productive of the agricultural towns of the state, being specially adapted to grazing and stock growing, while potatoes and all the cereal crops are produced in good quantity and superior quality, as all observing attendants of the Bradford and Newbury fair are very well aware. Newbury has, indeed, contributed its full share toward the splendid stock and produce exhibits at this fair since PERSONAI. AND FARINI SKETCHES. 369 its organization, and since the death of the first presi- dent, the late Col. Mason W. Tappan of Bradford, has furnished a president for the fair association, the present incumbent, Jonathan Rowe, Esq., now serving for the fifth year. Mr. Rowe is a native of Newbury, being the oldest son of Himan and Eliza (Ring) Rowe and grandson of the late Rev. Jonathan Rowe, whose name he bears, born Julv 28, 1834, on a farm adjacent to that upon which he now resides, and which is at pres- ent included in the ex- tensive landed estate of Col. John Hay, ad- jacent to his spacious and elegant summer cottage overlooking Sunapeelake. Reared to farm labor, he never- theless secured a good education in the com- mon schools and at the New London acade- my, and, like a large proportion of the in- telligent and enter- JoNATHAN Rowe. prising young men of his generation, was engaged in teaching school in winter for a number of years, with much success in adjacent towns. Possessed of musical talent in a marked degree, he pursued his studies in that direction to a considerable extent, and has, during all his life, sung in the choir at church services and on other public occasions. Mr. Rowe was united in marriage, February 24, 1859, with Louisa M. Stevens, daughter of John and Lois 24 370 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. Stevens of Newbury, and established his residence upon the old Stevens homestead, where his wife was born, and where they have since resided. They have one daughter, Nellie L., and an adopted son, Edward C, died at the age of nine years and live days. The farm was originally a large one, but a portion of it was sold a few years since to Colonel Hay, and it is upon this portion that the summer residence of the latter was Residence of Jonathan Rowe, Newi'.urv. erected. Mr. Rowe pursued mixed farming, with stock- raising as a leading feature. Summer boarding has also been engaged in at the farm to a considerable extent in past years, the location adjacent to Sunapee lake, and commanding a fine view of it, being most favorable therefor. It is about two miles from Newbury station, on the New London road, and about the same distance from Blodgett's Landing. For many years Mr. Rowe was engaged as a produce dealer, buying extensively throughout the surrounding country, and selling in the difterent markets. In this capacity he carred the first potatoes shipped over the Concord & Claremont road after the opening of the line. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 37 1 In politics, Mr. Rowe is a Democrat. He has filled most offices in tiie gift of his townsmen, including those of school committee, tax collector, and selectman, in the latter capacity several years as chairman of the board. He was road agent two years, chosen under the new highway law, and also represented his town in the legis- lature of 1893-4, taking an active part in the practical work of the session. He is a justice of the peace and quorum throughout the state, and has held a commission for more than forty years. Mr. Rowe has been a member of St. Peter's lodge of Free Masons at Bradford, for forty years, and was for seven years W. M. and a member of the Chapter of the Tabernacle of Royal Arch Masons of Newport. He is also an active Odd Fellow, having originally joined Sugar River lodge at Newport, but became a charter member of Massassecum lodge at Bradford, for which organization he wrote the by-laws. He has passed the chairs in the lodge, and also served as district deput}'. He was also for a time a member and otlicer of Brad- ford Grange, Patrons of Husbandry. LUCIEN THOMPSON, Durham. The Thompson family has ever been conspicuous in the town of Durham, and prominent in the history of the state. The first of the name in New Hampshire was Wil- liam Thompson, who was a resident of Dover as early as 1647. His son, John, established himself in Durham, then known as the Oyster River settlement, where he had received a grant of land in 1694, which embraced a part of the present Thompson estate. He married Sarah, daughter of Capt. John Woodman, proprietor of the famous Woodman garrison. His son, Robert, LuciEN Thompson. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 373 located on the present Thompson farm, and built a house upon the same site occupied by the present mansion. Robert Thompson was the father of Ebenezer, familiarly known as "Judge" Thompson, who took a most con- spicuous part in the Revolutionary history of the state, beino- a member of the " Committee of Safety," one of the party which captured Fort William and Mary at Newcastle, Dec. 14, 1774, a leading member of the pro- vincial congress, and the first secretary of state under the state government, serving in that capacity during the entire war period. Subsequently he was for fifteen years a judge of the Supreme Court and of the Court of Common Pleas for Straflbrd County. Judge Thompson built the maifn portion of the present residence on the Thompson farm. His son, Benjamin, succeeded to the estate, and was followed by his son, Ebenezer, a brother of Benjamin, who made the munificent donation to the state for the endowment of the Agricultural college. Ebenezer was in turn succeeded by his son, Ebenezer, whose son, Lucien, is the present proprietor. Lucien Thompson, son of Ebenezer and Nancy G. (Carr) Thompson, was born on the old homestead, June 3, 1859. When he was ten years of age, his father died, and his mother soon removed temporarily to Manchester, where Lucien was educated in the public schools, graduat- ing from the High school in the class of 1877, of which he was the salutatorian. The following year the family returned to Durham, since which time he has been in charge of the farm and actively engaged in the pursuit of agriculture. The Thompson farm, which is located about half a mile to the northeast of the railway station in Durham, embraces about two hundred acres of land at the present time, and produces annually fifty tons or more of hay and other tbdder. Fruit, milk, poultry, and pork are the PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 375 leading specialties. Tiie buildings are spacious and convenient, the dwelling being a fine old mansion with modern improvements, while the main barn, 84x44 feet, with cellar under the whole, is one of the best in the region. Mr. Thompson has been prominently engaged in pub- lic affairs for several years past, having been a member of the board of supervisors in Durham, in 1884-5, repre- senting the town in the legislature of 1887-8, when he was a member and secretary of the committee on educa- tion, and serving as moderator for the last six years. He was appointed a member of the State Board of Agri- culture in October, 1887, and was reappointed for another term in 1890, but resigned in 1892, when he was appointed a member of the board of trustees of the New Hampshire College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts, which latter position he now holds, having been reappointed, and serving also as secretary of the board since June, 1896. Politically, Mr. Thompson is a Republican, and in reli- gion a Congregationalist, and an active member of the Congregational church in Durham. He is a member of the society of the Sons of the American Revolution, and of Scammell grange. Patrons of Husbandry, of Durham, being a charter member, the first secretar}^ and second master of the latter organization. He held the master's office four years, during which time the grange increased greatly in membership and influence. He was also for two years lecturer of the Eastern New Hampshire Pomona Grange, and two years a member of the execu- tive committee of the State Grange. He has strong liter- ar}' tastes, with a penchant for historical research, and has written extensively for the press. He has one of the best private libraries in the state, largely bequeathed him by his aunt, the late Miss Mary P. Thompson of 376 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. Durham, for the proper accommodation of which he has added a wing to tlie family mansion. April 6, 1887, he was united in marriage with Mary Lizzie, daughter of the late Henry A. and Lizzie (New- ell) Gage of Manchester. They have three children, Robert Gage, born Sept. 17, 1888 ; Ruth Elizabeth, March 16, 1891, and Helen Pickering, Jan. 13, 1895. JOSEPH AVERY VVHITCHER. Strafford. The traveler, journeying from Dover to Concord by the old " Province Road," after passing the far-famed Bow Lake, pursuing his way through the long w^oods, comes to a series of long, steep hills, fragments of the old " Blue Hills" : the top is soon reached, aud there. The WinxcHER Homestead, Strafford. sentineled by a sturdy rock-maple tree, planted more than a half-century ago by the hand now resting in the little farm burying-yard, he sees the modest farm home, herewith pictured, the residence of the late Joseph A. Whitcher. A stubborn and rocky soil, under his strong PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 377 hand and quick brain was beaten and molded into a productive, profitable farm, a demonstration that in the middle of the present century farming paid. On this farm, progress was the watchword. The first cast-iron plow used in this region was owned by the Whitchers. They were in the lead in the use of mowing-machine, horse-rake, and other new and improved farm machin- ery . The Whitchers are descendants of Thomas Whittier,* who sailed from Southampton, England, with John Dob- son, master, in the ship Conjidencc. landing in Salem, Mass., in April, 1638. Salisbury and Newbury were respectively the dwelling-places of Thomas Whittier until 1650, w^hen he moved to Haverhill, Mass., where he died November 28, 1696, in his seventy-seventh year. Haverhill records show that on May 23d, 1666, he was admitted as a freeman. Of his ten children we shall notice but two, Joseph and Nathaniel. The line of descent from Thomas Whittier to the sub- ject of this sketch is : Thomas, Nathaniel, Reuben, Benjamin, William, William Jr., and Joseph A. The other son, Joseph, is the head of a line ending with the " Q^iaker poet," John Greenleaf Whittier. William Whitcher, Jr., and his wife xAbigail (Avery) Whitcher lived in Epping, N. H., where their five chil- dren, Naomi, Jonathan E., Susan F., Joseph A., and Caleb F., were born and lived undl 1837. The educa- tion afforded by the district school on Red Oak Hill was all that the income from the little grist-mill and the labor of the father at the millwright's trade could afford. Joseph A. tended the mill and studied his arithmetic, * The names Whittier, Whitcher, and Whicher are used indiscriminately by various branches of the family. , 378 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. geography, spelling, and reading as the golden grain was ground into meal from which the coarse but whole- some food of the sturdy New England population of that time, was prepared. In September, 1836, William Whitcher bought tiie farm in Strafford of Isaac Swain, and in February, 1837, the family moved there. The buildings were old and the farm impoverished, and without suitable stock and tools. Strong hands ~and firm determination, together with frugality, soon bettered these condi- tions. In February, 1839, William Whitch- er died in his fifty- sixth year, leaving the boys to battle with debt. The winter eve- nings were made prof- itable by shoemaking, and the autumn saw waving grain and ri- pening corn. In 1844, the buildings were re- paired ; in 1847 more land was bought, and again in 1869 and 1883 still more was added, so that the farm consisted of two hundred and fifty acres in good condition, with mod- ern buildings, stock and tools, and all paid for from the earnings of the farm itself. In politics most of the Whitchers are Democrats, and Joseph A. was no exception. During the trouble- some days of the war he was one of the selectmen of Strafford, and was active in guarding the rights of his , fellow-citizens. Later, when a few men for political rea- JosEPH A. Whitchkr. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 179 sons attempted to divide the town, his active opposition did much to thwart their designs. In town-meetings his voice was ever heard on the side of economy, and the taxpayers always found him working in their interest. In 1876 he was chosen to represent the town in the legis- hiture and was re-elected in 1877, serving both years on important committees. While at Concord he became familiar wnth the aims of the State Agricultural college, and in 1878 he sent his youngest son to that institution. In September, 1885, while in the full pos- session of mental and physical powers, he was suddenly stricken with apoplexy, and thoucfh livinfj several years, never fully re- covered, but slowly de- clined, passing peace- fully away with his wife and sons around his bedside, Jul}' 7, I 8 9 I . He was a kind and affectionate husband, a just and thoughtful father, a true and loyal citizen, his full share of life's work cheer- full}' and faithfully done, and the world the better for his having lived. August 28, 1846, Joseph A. Whitcher married Martha Emerson, a self-reliant woman, who had helped to sup- port her father's large family by money earned as weaver in the Cocheco mills at Dover, to and from which she many times walked. Martha (Emerson) Whitcher wearied not of honorable toil, and at eighty years was Chas. W. Whitcher and Nephew. 38o NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. doing her life's work cheerfully, uncomplainingly, ever anxious for the happiness of others. No truer wife, no better mother ever lived. Five children blessed the union of this couple, two girls, Abbie E., and an infant, both dead, and three sons, Charles W., Joseph E., and George H., all living, and who, with Harold P., son of Joseph E., are all the male representatives of the family of William Whitcher. Charles W. Whitcher lives on the old farm, and, though an invalid, is active and useful in the community. As a boy, he was an exceptionall}' good scholar and attended Pittsfield academy with a view to obtaining a college education, but sickness compelled the abandonment of this plan. In politics, he is a Democrat, and has been a member of the board of education many times, and has also taught many terms ot school in his native town. For a year he was the clerk of the New Hampshire Experi- ment station at Han- over, under his broth- er. Prof. George H. Whitcher. Joseph E. Whitcher is now the main de- pendence of the fam- ily, in managing the farm and building up the herd of thorough- bred Ayrshire cattle, now the chief source of income. He re- JosEPH E. Whitcher. ^^-^^.^^ ^ g^^^j educa- tion at Coe's academy. He is a Democrat, yet he cares little for political matters. He is a member of the PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 381 Grange and an Odd Fellow, with a host of friends and few enemies. He married Abbie D. Perkins of Straf- ford. They have two children, Harold P., whose por- trait is shown with his Uncle Charles, and Alice. Jo- seph E. Whitcher is one of New Hampshire's best farmers. PROF. GEORGE H. WHITCHER, youngest son of Joseph A. and Martha Whitcher, was born Nov. 23, i860, and attended school at Coe's acad- emy in 1S76, and Pittsfield academy in 1877. In August, 1878, he entered the Freshman class of the Agricultural college at Hanover, and graduated in 1881, having led his class, taking the Smyth prize for best essay. He re- turned to the farm for a year, and then engaged in the manufacturing business in Massachusetts. In Decem- ber. 1883, he was chosen superintendent of the college farm at Hanover, assuming control in March, 1884. In April, 1885, he was chosen professor of agriculture, be- ing the first to occupy that chair. On Feb. 22, 1888, Professor Whitcher was chosen director of the experi- ment station, the work of organizing and equipping that institution falling largely upon him. When the question of the removal of the college to Durham was agitated. Professor Whitcher was among the first to advocate the change, and worked persistently both at the college and before the legislature to secure the adoption of a plan that should accomplish the desired result. The first work of construction at Durham was com- menced Sept. 14, 1891, under Professor Whitcher's per- sonal supervision, and the finest barn in the state was erected, one with modern conveniences and so located that level entrances were had for the basement and three floors. The plans were drawn and the design origi- 382 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. nated by Mr. Whitcher, and the work completed under his oversight. The experiment station was also built by Professor Whitcher. In the lecture field he has been employed many times by the Maine and Massachusetts boards of agriculture, and has lectured in most of the towns in New Hamp- shire, and at Dairyman's associations in Vermont and other states, delivering over five hundred lectures on practical agriculture. He represented the experiment station at the national meetings, twice at Washington, once at Nashville, and once at New Orleans. Professor Whitcher was the first to point out and dem- onstrate the need of more potash in fertilizers for New England, and the for- mulas first prepared and tested by himself, both at the home farm in Strafford, and on the college farm at Hanover, are used by hundreds of the best known farmers in New Hampshire, Massa- chusetts, and Maine. The bulletins from his pen, issued by the ex- periment station, have been recognized as authoritative not only in the United States, but in England, Aus- tria, and Australia, and some of them were reissued, with credit, by the experiment stations of other states, because of their scientific and practical value. In politics, Mr. Whitcher is a Democrat, who never deserts his party or Pkoi'. CiKoiUii-: H. Whitcher. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 383 principles. Circumstances have always been unfavor- able for political preferment, as he has lived in strongly Republican towns, but in 1890, as a candidate for the legislature in Hanover, he cut the normal Republican majority of one hundred down to less than thirty. Since he has lived in Durham he has been almost unanimously elected as member of the board of education, and in 1896 was chosen treasurer, against a Republican majority of eighty. In the fall of 1896 he ran for the legislature under the most unfavorable circumstances, owing to the stampede of Eastern Democrats in the Br3'an campaign, and while the normal Republican majority in the town was about one hundred and twenty-live, he was beaten by only twenty-seven votes. In the spring of 1897, he was elected second member of the board of selectmen in Durham, by a large majority. Since the removal of the college to Durham, he has bought a tract of land, formerly swamp and pasture, and improved it, raising hay, potatoes, strawberries, and fruit. On this land he has personally designed and con- structed six modern houses, a dormitory and a four-story business block, known as Whitcher block, in which is one of the tinest halls to be found in any country town in the state. A water supply for these and other houses has been constructed on his own land, and house lots sold to others, until the residence section of the town is now largely on his land. For two years he acted as general agent for the Bowker Fertilizer Company. The natural mechanical ability, which he inherited from his father, stands him in good stead, as he designs and makes working drawings for his buildings, and then personally superintends the construction and puts in the heating apparatus according to his own ideas and plans, thus saving much of the cost of building. Professor Whitcher is an enthusiastic Odd Fellow, a 384 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. member of Good Samaritan lodge, No. 75, of Hanover; he is also a Patron of Husbandry. At present he is engaged in erecting an electric light plant for the town of Durham. CHARLES B. HOYT, Sandwich. No town in our state is better known for its fine farms and progressive farmers than Sandwich, and among all the beautiful domains that dot the Sandwich hills, none is more beautiful or more widel}' known than the old Hoyt farm, which stands on a high liill overlooking the village, and was set- tled about 1768 by Joseph Hoyt, and ever since occupied by his descendants, the pres- ent occupants being Benjamin Burleigh Hoyt and his son, Charles B. The original farm, with additions made from time to time, now embraces 560 acres. The owners are en- gaged in mixed farm- ing, hay being the principal crop. Twen- ty-two head of cattle, three horses, and a fine flock of twenty-one sheep are being kept, and this is about the average stock. Charles Burleigh Hoyt, the son of Benjamin B. and Caroline (Quimby)JHoyt, was born in Sandwich, Decem- Charles B. Hoyt. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 385 ber 12, 1859, ^^^'^ ^^^' years has been recognized as a leading citizen, being active!}^ interested in all that per- tains to the welfare of the town. He was graduated from New Hampton Institution in 1882 ; taught school several winters, and was a member of the school-board for six years. When the creamery was started in 1889, he was one of the prime movers, did much toward its establish- ment, and was a director and clerk of the corporation until its sale to private parties in 1894. In politics, he is a Republican, being at the present time one of the select- men, and moderator of the town-meeting. In '95 and '96 he was deputy sheriff for Carroll county. He joined Red Mountain lodge, A. F. and A. M. in 1885, of which he was master twice. In the Grand lodge he was for two years R. W. Grand Lecturer for district number six, and is now serving his second term as R. W. district deputy grand master for the same district. From the early days of the order of Patrons of Hus- bandry in Carroll county he has been an earnest and efficient worker. He was a charter member of Mt. Israel Grange, its lirst lecturer, and master for three years. He was also a charter member of Carroll County Pomona Grange, of which he is the present master. He has held the office of District Deputy of the State Grange, since 1894, and to his interest and wise counsel much of the success of the order in the district is due. In November, 1897, he was appointed a member of the State Board of Agriculture. He is unmarried. His only brother, George S. Hoyt, with his wife and two children, resides upon a farm about two miles distant. 25 386 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. HERBERT N. SAWYER, Atkinson. Many of the towns along the southern border of the state are favorably situated with reference to agricultural success, on account of proximity to the excellent markets afforded by Massachusetts cities, prominent among which is Haverhill; and Atkinson, one of the best agri- cultural towns in Rockingham count3s is particularly favored in that it adjoins this flourishing city whose mar- ket advantages are among the best. The leading farmer of Atkinson, and one of the most extensive milk producers in the state, is Herbert N, Saw- yer, son of Jesse x\u- gustus and Elizabeth B. (Noyes) Sawyer, who was born on the farm where he now resides, and which has ever been his home, July 6, i860. This farm, which is located near the southern bor- der of the town, about a mile and a half from the Academy village, and six miles from Haverhill, was pur- chased by Mr. Saw- yer's father, who was a native of Atkinson, reared on another of its excellent farms, in 1853, and has been materially improved since that time. The land has been brought into an excellent state of cultivation, and the buildings are among the most commodious and complete Herbert N. Sawyer. 388 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. to be found upon any farm in the county. A substantial two-story house is connected by an ell with a spacious stock barn 40 x 120 feet. There are other necessary buildings, and a new dwelling, near by, occupied by the elder Mr. Sawyer since Herbert N. took charge of the farm work upon his marriage, Oct. 17, 1886, with Miss N. Grace Pettengill of Atkinson, an intelligent and accomplished yovmg lady, who proves a most efficient and encouraging helpmeet. Mr. Sawyer was educated in the public schools and Atkinson academy, and his highest ambition has been to discover and apply the most intelligent methods in pro- moting agricultural success, while neglecting none of the obligations of citizenship or the just demands of soci- ety. Butter production was formerly the leading specialty of the farm, but milk for the Haverhill retail market has been found more protitable of late, and to this attention is mainly given. About sixty cows are kept, selected for their milking qualities, and eight horses are used for farm and marketing purposes. There are about one hundred and forty acres in the home farm, and another farm of seventy acres, near by, has been purchased by the 3'oung man. The hay crop reaches about one iuindred tons, and about sixteen acres of corn are raised for fodder, which is cut and ted dry in preference to ensilage. A steam-engine lurnishes power for cutting, also for unloading hay and fodder, sawing wood, pumping water, and other necessary work, the fine mechanical ingenuitv of Mr. Sawyer devising means for applying the power to a great variety of uses. Mr. Sawyer is a Universalist in religious belief, and a Republican in politics. He was elected on the board of selectmen in 1895, '96 and '97, and has been a member cf the school-board since the town system was adopted. He has been an active member of Atkinson Grange since PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 389 1890, and master for 1896 and 1897. He is also a mem- ber of Mizpah lodge, I. O. O. F., of Haverhill, Mass. For several years past, Mr. Sawyer has been an agent for the sale of Bradley's fertilizer and various agricultural implements, in his section of the state- Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer have two sons, Arthur Herbert, born March 8, 1889, and Clifford Augustus, Aug. 30, 1894. THOMAS J. COURSER, Webster. Few men in Merrimack county enjoy a larger acquaint- ance than Thomas J. Courser of Webster, whose genial manner and active business characteristics have brought him into familiar relations with a large number of peo- ple. Mr. Courser is a son of the late William B. and Nancy (Morey). Courser, born in the town of Wilmot, July 20, 1837. I" ^"^^s infancy, his father, who was a farmer, removed to the town of Warner, locating in the district known as " Schoodac." His parents being in limited circumstances, he began at an earlv age to make his own way in the world, earning his own living after nine vears of age. He attended the common school as far as practicable, and subsequently secured the benefit of instruction for a few terms, at the Con- toocook academy. He had become thoroughly familiar with the labor and methods incident to general farm management, and at the age of twenty-one entered the employ of Dr. Robert Lane of Sutton, where he was engaged for eight years. May I, 1866, he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah E. Todd of New London, and located on the farm in Webster which he has since occupied, in the westerly portion of the town, about five miles from Thomas J. Courser. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 39I Warner village, where is his post-office and business address. This farm embraces about 200 acres of land altogether, and produces some fifty tons of hay, with a good amount of corn and other crops. Mr. Courser has also some 400 acres of land elsewhere, in Warner and Sutton, largely pasture and woodland. He raises cattle, sheep and hogs, quite extensively, and usually keeps half a dozen horses. He sells cattle to a considerable extent in the local market, and has purchased quite extensively for Brighton and Watertown for the last twenty-five years, thus coming into business contact with the farmers through a large section of this state and Vermont. His first wife dying, Mr. Courser subsequently (Octo- ber 26, 1876) married Addie E. Marden of New Boston, his present wife. Three children by the first marriage are living — a son, Fred W., who has always remained at home, and now has practical charge of the farm work, and two daughters, Emma J. and Sarah A., edu- cated at New Hampton and Warner, and now located in Concord. One son, Charles Henry, by the second mar- riage, now nineteen years of age, is a student at the New Hampshire College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts at Durham. Energy and industry have characterized Mr. Courser, both in his farm work and his commercial operations, through his entire career thus far, and these, with strict integrity, have insured substantial success, as well as the respect and confidence of his neighbors and asso- ciates. Nor has he been unmindful of his duties as a citizen. He is a thorough-going Democrat in polidcs, is always in attendance upon the state and county con- ventions of his part3s and works earnestly for its success. He has served two years as deputy sherifl^, and four years upon the board of commissioners for Merrimack 392 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. county. In 1892, although his town has always been strongly Republican, he was elected to the state legisla- ture, and rendered efficient service in that body. Mr. Courser joined Warner Grange, P. of H., in 1879, ^^^ ^'^^^ been an active member, holding the offices of steward, overseer, and master, and is a member of the Merrimack County Pomona Grange. His wife is also an efficient and devoted member of both the Subor- dinate and Pomona Granges. He is also a member of Central lodge, No. 67, I. O. O. F., of Warner. SUMNER N. BALL, Washington. Among the men who have succeeded in demonstrating the fact that agriculture can be made to pay in a rocky and mountainous back tow'n in New^ Hampshire, a dozen miles from railroad facilities, even in these recent years of hard times and business depression, is Sumner N. Ball of Washington, a son of Dexter and Hannah Ball, born in that town June 3, 1854. He lived at home on the farm, and worked in the shops of his native town, meanwhile improving the educational advantages offered by the public schools and Tubbs Union academy, until twenty-one years of age, when, in 1875, he went to Antrim and entered the employ of Hon. David H. Goodell, subsequently governor of the state, upon whose famous " Maple Grove Farm " he was foreman for five years. He then purchased the job printing plant in Antrim village, and established a local newspaper — the Antrhn Reporter — in connection therewith, conducting the same successfully for another five years' period, at the end of which time he disposed of the business, and, in 1886, returned to Washington and purchased the old homestead which had been owned by his grandfather. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 393 John Ball, who went from Antrim to Washington in 1835, '^"<^^ ^^^^^^ "'' 1883. The farm, which had been leased to tenants upon his grandfather's death, had become somewhat ^' run down," and the buildings were going to decay ; but the latter have all been put in good condition, and the land brought into an excellent state of cultivation. The farm embraces 250 acres of moist clay loam. It is situated on a high elevation about a mile and a half west of Washington Center, and bordering on Mil- len Lake, one of the most beautiful sheets of water to be found in New Hampshire, being finely located for summer boarders. It is now known as " Oak Hill Farm." Cows and sheep are the principal stock, and thoroughbred an- imals are sought in each line. Butter, lambs, poultry, and maple sugar are the products mainly relied upon for revenue. Mr. Ball was united in marriage, November 26, 1884, with Miss Carrie B. Brooks of Antrim. They have two children — ^John S., born August 30, 1886, and Nina M., February 27, 1889. In religion he is a Bapdst, and in politics a Republican. He has served his town four years as a selectman, and ten years successively as a member of the school-board, being secretary and treas- urer of the same most of the time. He is at present a Sumner N. Ball. 394 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. town auditor, and also a member of the board of trustees of Tubbs Union academy. In 1896 he was the candi- date of his party for representative in the legislature, and lacked only five votes of election in a decidedly Democratic town. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and has passed the chairs in his lodge. He is also an active member of Lovell Grange, No. 5, P. of H., in which organization he has taken a deep interest, and served as master from 1893 to 1897, during which time the membership was doubled. He was master of Sulli- van County Pomona Grange in 1895, and is at present a State Grange deputy for District No. 17. Mrs. Ball is also active and earnest in Grange work, and is the present worthy Pomona of the State Grange. OILMAN GREENOUGH, Atkinson. There is no man in the section of the state contiguous to the Boston & Maine railroad between the town of Exeter and the city of Haverhill, Mass., who enjoys a wider acquaintance, or is more favorably known than Gilman Greenough of Atkinson. Mr. Greenough is a son of the late Richard and Hannah B. (Towle) Green- ough, born on the old " Peter Clement place," where he now resides. May 29, 1835. ^^ ^^^^ educated in the common schools and at Atkinson academ^^, where he was for some time under the instruction of William C. Todd of that town, the well-known educator, now specially noted for his recent liberal donation to the Bos- ton public library, for the maintenance of a newspaper reading-room. Though born and reared on a farm and making agri- culture the basis of his life-work, Mr. Greenough has 39^ NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. been extensively engaged as a land surveyor and con- veyancer since early life. He has also a very extensive business as a probate attorney, and in the settlement of estates; and, as the only acting justice in the town, his services are frequently in demand in the adjudication of questions involving the public peace, as well as matters of private right. In April, i860, he was united in marriage with Mary C. Carter of Hampstead, who is still living. They have two children, Frank W., born January 19, 1 861, and Ada Mary, October 2, 1864, the latter now being the wife of W. E. Ham- ilton of Haverhill, Mass. The son, Frank W. Greenougii, is now the active manager and a part owner of the homestead farm, which embraces about two hundred acres of land. From fifty to sixty tons of hay are annually produced, and four or five acres of field corn, and some two acres of corn for fodder. The leading industrj- is the production of milk for the Plaistow and Haverhill markets. About twenty-five head of cattle, mostly Holstein, are kept, and about the same number of swine, the latter being kept principally for the purpose of clearing up and improving wild land. Mr. Greenough is a Universalist in religious belief, and politically a Democrat, and has been prominent in Oilman GKEEXouciH. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 397 the councils of his party in Rockingham county. Although residing in a town usually Republican, he has been its treasurer for sixteen consecutive years. He has also served as collector, selectman, and supervisor, and is now, and has been for nearly twelve years past, a member of the school-board. In 1894, he was the can- didate of his party for county treasurer, and although not elected, received a very flattering vote in his section of the county. He is a member of Atkinson Grange, No. 143, and has been lecturer and overseer of the same. He is also a member of West Rockingham Pomona Grange, and is now serving his tifth year as treasurer of that organiza- tion. CHARLES L. CLARK, Marlborough. Among the best-known and most actively interested Patrons of Husbandrv in the county of Cheshire, for several years past, has been Charles L. Clark of Marl- borough, who was born in that town, February 9, 1840, a son of Fuller and Adaline (Porter) Clark, his paternal grandfather being Thomas Clark of Troy, and his mater- nal grandfather, Asa Porter, a Revolutionary soldier. He attended the common schools of his native town, and the High school for some years, and was also for several terms under the instruction of Rev. Dr. S. H. McColles- ter at Valley Seminary, Westmoreland. When the war of the rebellion broke out, he was study- ing medicine under the instruction of Dr. Samuel A. Richardson. He promptly enlisted in what was the Second N. H. Volunteers, drilled three weeks, and was taken sick, so that he was unable to proceed with his company to Portsmouth, where the term of enlistment 398 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. was changed to three years. Subsequently, he enlisted in the Sixth regiment, with which he served three years and ten months, coming home as first lieutenant com- manding Company B. During his service he partici- pated in twenty pitched battles, and many minor engage- ments. After his return from the war, Mr. Clark was for many years in mercantile life, but for seventeen years past has been engaged in agriculture, having purchased a farm on the borders of Stone pond in Marlborough, I- •^, i U i !HtP'"Tilir "LAKEsmE" — Residen'Ce of C. L. Clakk, Marlborough. upon which he has effected great improvements, erect- ing a fine new set of buildings, and working a wonderful transformation in the general appearance of the place. Market gardening and the dairy are the specialties at " Lakeside Farm," as Mr. Clark's place is designated, about a dozen choice cows being generally kept, and the butter sold to private customers. Mr. Clark has been twice married : first to Mary E., daughter of George V. R. and Nancy V. Farnum, by whom he had one daughter, Mary Edith ; second to Ellen L., daughter of John E. and Cleora Whitnev, by PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 399 whom he had two children, Charles W., born December 20, 1869, and Helena J., born June 5, 1877. The son, a worthy and prominent young man, wlio was married, and resided at home, was accidentally killed while blast- ing rocks, October 21, 1897 ; the terrible blow nearly prostrated his father, who has been in ill health tor some years through a severe injury which badly shat- tered his nervous system. Mr. Clark is a Republican in politics, but has never sought political ofHce. He is associated with the G. A. R., the Red Men, the American Mechanics, the Daughters of Liberty, Odd Fellows, and the Masonic fraternity, having taken both the Chapter and Commandery degrees in the latter. He has been a member of Marlborough Grange for ten years, serving two years as assistant steward, one year as overseer, three years as master, two years as master of Cheshire County Pomona Grange, and two years on the executive committee. He was also two years vice-president of the Cheshire County Grange Fair Association, and one year president. In religion Mr. Clark is a Baptist, and held the ofiice of deacon sev- eral years. Mr. Clark is a ready parliamentarian, and an easy speaker, and is at home either in the chair or on the floor in the numerous public gatherings in which he par- ticipates. HENRY NOYES, Hampstead, The Noyes family has long been among the most prominent and respected in southeastern New Hamp- shire, and the late Edward R. Noyes of Hampstead was one of the best-known and most substantial citizens and successful farmers of that town. His homestead was PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 401 located about two miles from the centre villa<;e, on the east road, leading to Haverhill, Mass., via Westville, and the same distance from East Hampstead. Here he passed a well-spent life, honored the farmer's calling, and reared a family to habits of industry and thrift. Henry Noyes, son of Edward R. and Elvira P. Noyes, was born on the homestead, April 11, 1S54, and hei-e grew to manhood, receiving sucii education as the com- mon schools afforded. Early in life he en- tered the employ of his older brother, Leonard, who was located adja- cent to the homestead, and was extensivel}' engaged in business as a butcher, driving through his own and neighboring towns. Subsequently, upon his brother's death, he took the business himself, and materially increas- ed it, doing business in several New Hamp- shire towns, and in Haverhill, Mass., some six miles distant, his sales amounting to about $1,500 per month. April 27, 1879, ^^^ ^'^^ united in marriage with Ida A. Thomas of Atkinson, and located on the William C. Little tarm, which he had purchased, adjoining the homestead, the latter passing upon the father's death into the hands of a younger brother, Wallace. This was known as an excellent farm, and had been kept in a fine state of cultivation for the production of market 26 Henry Noyes. 402 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. vegetables, but since passing into the hands of Mr. Noyes has been devoted mainly to stock feeding and milk production, the latter being sold of late to dealers for the Haverhill market. Extensive improvements have been made upon the farm, which includes about 300 acres of land. Rocks and old fences have been removed, the buildings modernized and fitted with all conven- iences, including running water ; and a general appear- ance of thrift and comfort pervades the premises. Mr. Noyes cuts from eighty to one hundred tons of hay, and raises about three hundred bushels of field corn annually. He keeps about thirty head of cattle and fourteen horses, a number of the latter being required in his extensive meat business. Mr. Noyes is a practical man, alwa3's works with a definite object in view, and seldom fails to accomplish his purpose. He ranks with the best farmers in his section, and his social and financial standing is of the highest. In religion he is a Universalist, and in politics a Democrat, but he has never been an aspirant for politi- cal honors. He is a member of Atkinson Grange, No. 143, and has been treasurer of the same. Mr. and Mrs. Noyes have five children — Edward Moody, Forrest Henry, Lee Wallace, Olive M., and Florence P. CHARLES H. HAYES & SONS, Portsmouth. The most extensive breeders of Ayrshire cattle, and among the largest general farmers in New Hampshire, are Charles H. Hayes & Sons of Portsmouth. Mr. Hayes is a native of Cambridge, Mass., a son of Charles and Rebecca (Goodwin) Hayes, born Jan. 13, 1835. In 1842 his father removed with his family to PERSONAL AND FARM SKJ<:TCHES. 4O3 Portsmouth, buying and locating upon the well-known " Shaw farm," two miles out from the city proper, on the Greenland road, then owned by Capt. Andrew Hus- sey, which he carried on until his death in 1884, ^^'^^ son having been associated with him for many years previ- ous, in the proprietorship and management. The home farm contains about three hundred acres of excellent land, and about two hundred acres of outland have been added. While general farming has been pursued, stock-rais- ing and market gardening have been the leading fea- tures, and for more than a third of a century Ayrshire cattle have been at the front on the farm. In May, 1873, the barns and entire stock were destroyed by fire, but energy and perseverance soon accomplished restora- tion, and the herd now embraces ninety-two head of cat- tle, most of which are registered animals. In addition to these, some eight or ten horses are also kept. These cattle have all been raised on the farm, and bred with great care. The reputation of the Hayes Ayrshires, indeed, extends over a large section of the country, and sales from the herd are frequently made to parties in the different New England and central, and even Southern and Western states. Exhibits Irom this stock have attracted marked attention, and won leading prizes at State and New England fairs for man}' years, fairly sweeping the board in their class at the last New Eng- land fair in Portland — the result of a fixed determina- tion to succeed, formed thirty-two years before, when a solitary third prize only was secured at the same fair in that city. The excellence of these Ayrshires as milk- producing animals is shown from the fact that the aver- age product per head, of the forty-five cows kept on the farm, has been something over six thousand pounds for the 3'ear. The milk is sold mainlv at wholesale in Ports- -^ {f ^^i': *% %._ PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 405 mouth, though a retail milk route has been conducted for years. The surplus now goes to the Portsmouth creamery, recently established. The sales of cattle and milk from the farm, for 1891, amounted to $3,978, and the same for 1894 to $4,390, while the herd was kept good in numbers and qualit}' by the stock raised on the farm. About two hundred tons of hay are annually cut on the farm and one hundred and twenty-five tons of ensilage put in. For the year 1897 ^^^^ '^^J pi"odnct, including first and second crops, exceeded 250 tons. About tbrty acres of land are kept under the plow, the larger por- tion ot which is devoted to the production of vegetables for the Portsmouth market, of wiiich over twelve hun- dred bushels were stored at Thanksgiving time in 1897, after daily sales throughout the season. Aside from vegetables, from one to two acres of strawberries are also raised. The orcharding on the farm is also exten- sive, a thousand barrels of apples being secured in pro- lific years. About fifteen men are employed on the farm in summer and five or six in winter, the average annual cost of labor being over $2,000. Mr. Hayes was united in marriage Aug. 24, 1859, with Lucy M., daughter of Washington Sweetser of Portsmouth. They have four children, three sons and a daugiiter. Charles Sweetser, the eldest son, born July 24, 1862, married Sarah Rebecca, a daughter of Henry Bean of Newington and lives at home. Florence Good- win, the daughter, born July 30, 1867, married Irving O. Cummings, M. D., son of Dr. E. G. Cummings of Con- cord. They reside at Brewster, Mass. Philip Adrian, the youngest son, born Oct. 14, 1870, also resides at home, and with his father and elder brother, is actively engaged in the fiirm work. H. Percy, the second son, born Sept. 8, 1869, is now managing the Portsmouth creamery, recently established. 406 NEW HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURE. Mr. Hayes is a Congregationalist and a Republican, and has served in both branches of the Portsmouth city government. CHARLES E. SMITH, Newfields. If the traveler who was wont to stop at the Kimball House in Dover back in the " seventies" (and most dis- criminating travelers who visited that city in those days did so), were to leave the Concord & Portsmouth train at Littlefield's crossing, some day, and follow the highway a quarter of a mile to the north, he would come to a modest set of buildings on a two-hundred acre farm, and, seeking out the master of the premises, might be surprised to find in his person the same bluff, stalwart, genial and jovial Charles E. Smith, whose hearty greet- ing as landlord of the Kimball House is still remembered with pleasure by all who called it forth, and he would be welcomed as cordially as in those other days. Mr. Smith is now on his " native heath," his farm being a part of the old homestead on which he was born, as well as his father and grandfather before him, the place having been owned in the family for several generations. He is a son of the late Daniel R. and Deborah B. (Wig- gin) Smith, born January 5, 1831. He was reared on the farm and devoted his early life to farm labor, aiding in clearing up many of the acres which he now occupies. In the fall of 1862, however, he abandoned agriculture, and went into business in a grocery store at the village of South Newmarket, now Newfields, where he con- tinued two years and then went into a hotel in the same place, which he managed five years, going thence to tiie Kimball House, before mentioned, in Dover, which he conducted most successfully for more than ten years. PERSONAL AND FARM SKETCHES. 407 While in Dover, Mr. Smith, who has always been a zealous Republican, devoted considerable attention to politics, in which he had already taken more or less interest. He served for some time as chief engineer of the fire department, and was elected to the state senate from the Dover district at the first biennial election, in November, 1878. Returning to South Newmarket in 1881, he has since giv- en his attention to agri- culture, though resid- ing for some years at the village, adjacent to which he has a large tract of land, which he cultivates, as well as the farm upon which he has made his home for two or three years past. He pursues mix- ed farming, with no particular specialty, and takes solid comfort in the hon- est toil incident to the farmer's vocation. Mr. Smith has been for several years a member of South Newmarket Grange, and master of the same the past year. He is also a member and past chancellor of Pioneer Lodge No. i, K. of P., at Newmarket. He is the present moderator of the town of Newfields, and has held most of the offices in the gift of his townsmen, including that of representative as far back as 1868, before his removal to Dover. December 7, 1865, he was united in marriage with A. Augusta Burley, a sister of Harrison G. Burley of New- market, whose cheerful companionship he still enjoys. Charles E. Smith. PUBLISHER'S NOTE. The printing of this volume was commenced in the summer of 1S96, beginning with the main body of the work — the " Personal and Farm Sketches " — opening at page 49, and has continued to December, 1S97, such progress being made as tire preparation of sketches and the securing of pictures for illustration has permitted, no little delay having been occasioned many times by difificulty and disappointment in the latter direction. The work being in press for so long a time, it happens that the situation is now different with reference to some subjects from what was the case at the time the matter referring thereto was printed. For instance, Mr. John C. Morrison of Bosca- wen, one of the first subjects, is now deceased, having passed away some time after that portion of the book in which his sketch appears, was sent to press. In two or three other instances members of the families of other subjects, who have been referred to as living, have since died ; while in other cases, men spoken of as holding certain ' positions at time of writing have subsequently retired therefrom, and some now hold positions which they did not occupy when written of and the matter was sent to press. This explanation is made to remove what might otherwise be a well founded suspicion of carelessness in the preparation of the work. C 74 <» ♦TXT* .0^ '^ 'o... ^> V .* ,^". '-* o . » • A <. jPv-^ ^ oVj^X)^* A^ '^ •! ^'% 01 o^ *^ .^'