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Croydon, Sullivan County, New Hampshire

 

Industries History

HOTELS - Benjamin Barton and Reuben Carroll at Four Corners, and Nathan Hall, William Allen and David A. Sargent, at the East village, have been hotel-keepers.

STORES - The following are among those who have been engaged in trade:

William Cheney, Solomon Clement, Henry Breck, Peter Barton, Hiram Smart, at Four Corners; Putnam & Cooper, Edward Hall, Ruel Durkee, Joel Ferry, George Dunbar and Rufus Hall, at East village, and James Breck, Simeon Edson, Stephen Eastman, Henry Hurd, James and Lyman Hall, Paul J. Wheeler, M. L. Barton, D. N. Adams, Daniel R. Hall, and Harriet Pillsbury at the Flat; Edward Hall, on the hill between Four Corners and East village. A store was run for awhile at the Flat by an association of individuals.

FACTORIES -

Woolen--Nathan Clark, Jr., and Samuel Morse at East village.
Knife-Joel Ferry, East village.
Starch-Paul Jacobs at the Flat.
Kit Factory--Moses Humphrey at Flat.
Excelsior--Pillsbury Brothers at the Flat.
There was a distillery at the Flat, where cider brandy in quantities was made for a number of years by James Hall.

TANNERIES - Rufus and Ruel Durkee at East Village, and Silas Kempton at Flat. The former was continued for many years.

BLACKSMITHS - Levi Dodge, Four Corners; Jasper Back, John Spiller, Harry Leeds, East village; Jacob Dwinnells, Leavit Humphrey, Obid Kempton, Gardner Woodbury, Dennison Humphry at the Flat; David Fletcher, in Brighton district, William G. Huntley.

SHOEMAKERS - Perley Dodge at Four Corners; Charles Day, David W. Frye, Mr. Pickernale, East Village; Jeremiah Kempton, Chase Noyes, Silas Kempton at the Flat.

COOPERS - Folansbee Carroll, John P. Carroll at Four Corners.

CLOTHIERS - Israel Goodwin and Stephen Eastman had an establishment at the Flat, and Nathan Clark one at East village.

CORDING - James Perkins had a cording-mill at the Flat.

CARPENTERS - Joseph Kempton, Edward Kempton, Obediah Dow, Jarvis Adams, Clark Stockwell, Joseph Eastman, William Darling, Charles Partridge, Hubbard Cooper, P. G. Minor, S. O. Powers, H. J. Hurd.

MILLS - The first mill in town was a saw-mill at East village; soon after a grist-mill at the same place, both of which have been in continuous operation ever since, owned by William Sherman, Colonel Boyce, Joel Ferrey, Dana Boston and others. In 1815 James Perkins came from Leominster, MA, and built a saw-mill and grist-mill at the Flat. The former, now owned by Humphrey & Hanson, turns out a large amount of lumber annually.

MILLINER - Augusta V. Hall.

TAILORS - Elizabeth Sanger, Susan Humphrey, Hannah Harding. Dr. D. D. Marsh had a laboratory for a number of years at Four Corners.

LITERATURE - Among those who have made contributions to literature are Samuel Read Hall, who wrote a History of Vermont in 1827, a History of the United States in 1836, and numerous other volumes of interest, relating mainly to schools and educational matters. Baron Stow, D.D., was editor of the Columbian Star at Washington, D.C, and was the author of several books and pamphlets, and wrote much for the public press. John Cooper, Esq., published an "Historical and Statistical Sketch of Croydon" in 1852. Alanson L. Cooper, whose few footprints left indicate that, had his life, been spared, he would have been a favorite with the muses. Hon. Cyrus Barton edited, with much ability, the New Hampshire Spectator, at Newport, NH, and the New Hampshire Patriot, State Capital Reporter and Old Guard, at Concord, NH. Vashti Towne, a sister of John, was a vigorous writer, as her contributions to the press, while at Washington, D. C., amply testify. Rev. Luther J. Fletcher wrote "Gloria Patria" and several textbooks, and contributed much to the journals of his denomination. Augusta Cooper Bristol indulges her pen freely, both in prose and poetry. A volume of the latter, embracing her choicest gems, was published in 1868. Alonzo Allen wrote "Croydon's Military Record."

Edmund Wheeler published the "Croydon Centennial" in 1866, and the "History of Newport" in 1879. Solomon M. Whipple, M.D., was a member of the editorial staff of the New Hampshire Patriot for several years, and his address, while president of the New Hampshire Medical Society, and other matters have been published.

Hubbard A. Barton early indicated a taste for literature, and, besides his many offerings to the press, he has been, and now is one of the editors and proprietors of the Arqus and Spectator, at Newport, NH. Sullivan Barton, a brother, has, from boyhood. been a liberal contributor to the press. Elizabeth A. Harding, who wrote the " Welcome Ode" at the " Centennial," indulges her pen in prose as well as verse. Mary Cooper Gardiner's " European Tour," 1884-85, indicates a ready pen and ripe scholarship. Josiah Ide makes frequent contributions to the weekly press and also to many popular magazines of the day. James C. Grandy is a ready writer, makes frequent contributions to the press, and is entitled to credit for valuable assistance rendered in producing this historical sketch.

LIBRARY - The Croydon Social Library was established in 1806. It contained many standard works of great merit, and exerted a decided influence in moulding the character of the young men of the town.

EDUCATION - Early, the wife of Moses Whipple, an intelligent lady, received the children of the first settlers at her house, and taught them free of charge. The first school-house, a small structure twenty feet square, was built in 1771, and eight pounds was raised for the purpose of education. The second district was formed in 1780, and one hundred and fifty dollars assessed for school purposes. In 1834 the town was divided into ten districts for school purposes. From the beginning Croydon has paid due attention to mental culture; has taken much interest in the schools, and, for the most part, has employed only the most competent and efficient teachers and superintendents.

The following are a few of the many noted teachers the town has furnished:

Samuel Blanchard John Wheeler.
Lemuel P. Cooper. Horace Powers.
Moses Haven John Towne.
Baron Stow. Alexander Metcalf.
Abijah Powers. Levi W. Barton.
Calvin Kempton. James Powers.
Moses Eastman. Lyman Hall.
Samuel Powers. Alonzo Allen.
Griswold Ward.  


 

Mrs. Moses Whipple. Mrs. Anna W. Metcalf.
Mrs. General Emory. Mrs. Augusta C. Bristol.
Vashti Towne. Mrs. Harriet A. Loverin.
Mrs. M Cooper Gardiner. Mrs. Nellie L. Barton.
Mrs. Ellen C. Danforth.  


The following have been superintendents of schools:

Jacob Haven. William Barton.
Moses Haven. Hubbard A. Barton.
Lemuel C. Cooper. Sullivan Barton.
John Cooper. Harriet A. Loverin.
Dellavan D. Marsh. Harriet Fowler.


PHYSICIANS - Reuben Carroll, Nathaniel Leavitt, Dellavan D. Marsh, Ezra Gustin, Williams Barton, Sherman Cooper, Albina Hall, and Drs. Alden and Cooper, have been resident practicing physicians. F.S. Putnam, son of Stillman, after graduation at the dental college, opened an office in town. He is now at Newport, NH

The following is an imperfect list of native and former residents who have turned their attention to the medical profession:

LAWYERS - Samuel Morse was the only practicing lawyer that ever located in town. He was a native of Dublin, NH; graduated at Dartmouth in 1811; came to Croydon in 1815; was elected representative in 1834, and delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1850; he died January 1, 1865, aged eighty-one years.

The following is an imperfect list of natives and former residents who have turned their attention to the legal profession:

CLERGYMEN - The following are among those who have given their attention to theology:

Croydon | Sullivan County | New Hampshire
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Based largely in part on the History of Croydon, by Edmund Wheeler, published in 1886 as part of History of Cheshire and Sullivan County, New Hampshire, by J. W. Lewis and Co., Part 2, pages 150-167. Edited, annotated, broadened and corrected by Dennis N. Partridge, Copyright 2001. All rights reserved.

 

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