vices, the parish embracing some of the oldest and most respectable families in town. The Roman Catholic church has a very large attendance and membership, their house of worship, built in 1877, being one of the best structures in town, and the work of the church tending much to good order and morality in the large number brought within its influence. Thus it may be seen that the relig-' ious element of our natures can have its preferences gratified by the different shades of belief and faith here represented. Lancaster academy was incorporated in 1827, and has been the educational centre for a large region, and many who here received the finishing touches of their scholastic education have been and are men of mark and influence in all the walks of life in our widely extended country. Hannah Duston. His father, Daniel Spaulding, was one of the first settlers of Northumberland. Edward married the eldest daughter of Capt. John Weeks, and cleared the farm on the slope of Mt. Pleasant in this town, where he lived until his death, which occurred in 1845. He was a famous hunter, his last exploit being the killing of a wolf, which he had caught in a trap, with a small club, and this when in his seventy-sixth year. His wife lived to be nearly 100 years old, and was a woman of great energy and worth. Among those whose lives were spent almost entirely in town, having come with fathers, the earlier settlers, and who attained prominence in political and social life, were,-Maj. John W. Weeks, whose fame as a soldier was won on the bloody battlefields of Lundy's Lane and Chippewa, and who, after the war of 1812, returned to his farm, and was successively elected county treasurer, sheriff, senator from Dist. No. 12, and member of congress in 1828, serving two terms;—Adino N. Brackett, who filled all the town offices, and represented the town in the legislature a greater number of terms than any other man in the town, who was clerk of the courts for a long time, a man of good judgment, of a decidedly literary and philosophic cast of mind, and a good man ;-Richard Eastman, one of the solid men, upon whose good sense and judgment his fellow-citizens could rely with perfect confidence, and who lived a spotless life, enjoying all the honors his town or county could confer. Before speaking of the Lancaster that now is, I wish to mention more particularly some of the men who have contributed largely to the prosperity and growth of the town in education, morals, and wealth, who have passed away, and now sleep in "God's acre," but whose memories are dear to all who reverence sterling worth and heroic devotion to duty. Among the men whose lives were not very much disturbed by the ambitions and turmoils of political life, but who kept on the "even tenor of their way," were Major Jonas Wilder, Edwards Bucknam, Ephraim Stockwell, William Lovejoy, Andrew Adams, Phineas Hodgdon, Bryant Stephenson, Benjamin Adams, James B. Weeks, and John McIntire. Edward Spauld- Among others in their several puring was a descendant of the famous suits and professions who gained prominence were,-of physicians, Drs. Benjamin Hawking, Samuel Legro, Eliphalet Lyman, J. E. Stickney, and J. W. Barney; of lawyers, S. A. Pearson, Hon. J. W. Williams, Wm. Farrar, C. J. Stuart, Levi Barnard, Gen. Ira Young, Turner Stephenson, John S. Wells, H. A. Fletcher, and William Burns. The merchants were represented by Ths. Carlisle, Wm. Cargill, Benj. Boardman, Wm. Sampson, Royal Joyslin, and R. P. Kent. The farm ers and mechanics by John H. White, David Burnside, Ephraim Cross (father of the lamented Col. E. E. Cross), Warren Porter, Josiah Bellows, Benja. Stephenson, and others, now all gone to the "sleep which knows no waking;" but the descendants of these men are to be found all over our land, in Old Virginia, among the orange groves of Florida, all along the "golden coast where reigns perpetual summer," in the mines and on the ranches of California, along the Pacific slope where the Oregon pours its waters, in Alaska's remotest bounds, on the broad prairies and in the teeming cities of the West, in the Empire state, and wherever enterprise and energy are needed, there they are engaged in all honorable professions and pursuits, while of others their sad requiem is being sung through the pines and groves by the whispering winds on many a Southern battle-field. The Lancaster that now is will occupy the remainder of this paper. From every point of view the location is beautiful, and the general air of neatness which pervades the town is due very much, perhaps, to its grand and beautiful surroundings. Its business and its wealth have very much increased since the completion of the White Mountains Railroad in 1870. Business has been stimulated by the advantages it affords, and traffic of every kind has been very much increased without marring the beauties of nature, or demoralizing the business men engaged in it. To-day the principal business firms are represented by a class of men who stand well in all the moral and social relations of life, who while endeavoring to add to their fortunes and fame, are also doing much to make the town better in all its features. The clergymen are all men of culture, men who have broad and advanced views of life and its duties, and who by precept and example are leading the people to a higher plane of thought and action. The Orthodox Congregational society has for pastor Rev. Sydney A. Burnaby; the Methodist, Rev. A. C. Coult; the Unitarian. Rev. James B. Morrison; the Episcopal, Rev. E. P. Little; the Catholic, Rev. H. A. Lessard. Lancaster academy is presided over by Prof. D. T. Timberlake, and a good work in the cause of education is going on under his supervision. Our physicians are Drs. Ezra Mitchell, E. D. Stockwell, D. L. Jones, and F. Spooner; and two dentists,-Drs. S. L. Wellington and O. H. Kimball. Our lawyers stand as well before the bar of the state as any who make the profession their business. The oldest member of the fraternity is Hon. Wm. Heywood, who has been called the honest lawyer, and associated with him is his son, Henry Heywood. Mr. Heywood is a native of Concord, Vt., a town sequestered among the beautiful hills of the Green Mountain state, and which has given birth to many eminent men, among whom was Thaddeus Stevens, Hon. Harry Bingham, and Judge G. A. Bingham. His practice has been extensive, reaching over a long period of years. His blameless life adds honor to our town and to the legal fraternity. Jacob Benton, who has represented this congressional district in the national legislature, came here from Waterford, Vt., in 1843, and pursued the study of law with Hon. Ira Young, then perhaps the leading lawyer of Coös, and, forming a partnership with Gen. Young, has continued the successful practice of law up to this time, besides being a successful and able politician. Benjamin F. Whidden is a native of this town, a graduate of Dartmouth college, represented the town in the general court of the state, and the United States as minister to Hayti. Ossian Ray, a native of Vermont, late a member of congress, began his law practice in this town, having studied with S. W. Cooper. Henry O. Kent, a native of Lancaster, and son of the late Richard P. Kent, is a graduate of Norwich (Vt.) military academy, studied law in the office of Mr. Benton, and began his political career quite young by being elected assistant clerk of the N. H. house of representatives, since which time he has been prominently before the people, and is everywhere known for his honesty and marked ability, having been representative to the general court, and now senator from this district. William S. Ladd is a native of Dalton, a graduate of Dartmouth college, has been one of the judges of the supreme court of the state, and a member of the constitutional convention and of the state legislature. George A. Cossitt is a native of Claremont, commenced practice here in 1843, was cashier of the old Lancaster Bank, and has also been a representative in the legislaure: he has now given up the active work of his profession. Jared I. Williams is a native of Lancaster, and second son of the late ex-Gov. Jared W. Williams, an alumnus of Brown University; has also been in the legislature, is a practical civil engineer, and gives that branch of business quite as much attention as the law. Irving W. Drew is a native of Stewartstown; graduated at Dartmouth college, and began the practice of his profession with Hon. O. Ray, was elected to the senate from this district in 1882, and, declining a renomination, devotes himself to his practice, which is very extensive. Chester B. Jordan enjoys the distinction of having been born in Colebrook, and of having been reared upon a farm. His early education was obtained in the district schools of his native town, and the advantages derived from Colebrook academy. Was appointed clerk of the courts of Coös in 1868, holding the office until 1874, being succeeded by the present highly popular and efficient incumbent, Moses A. Hastings. Mr. Jordan was admitted to the bar in 1875, and became a member of the law firm of Ray, Drew & Jordan. Elected to be one of the representatives of the town to the general court in 1880, he was chosen speaker of the house in June, 1881. As a lawyer he is a hard worker. Everett Fletcher is a son of the late Hon. H. A. Fletcher, one of the foremost practitioners at the Coos bar. He is the junior partner of the law firm of Ladd & Fletcher. After the death of Hon. W. D. Weeks, judge of probate of this county, Gen. Fletcher was appointed his successor. Carl Abbott and D. J. Bailey represent the younger members of the profession resident in town. It surely is an array of names and of talent that cannot be surpassed in the state. Of the merchants, the leading firms are those of R. P. Kent & Son, J. A. Smith, Kent & Roberts, D. W. Smith, Frank Smith & Co., Howe Bros., Bailey &Smith, S. G. and A. G. Evans, and J. R. Parcher. ness of this section of the state, for the sixty years he was a resident of this town. The business is still carried on under the old firm name, his son, Col. E. R. Kent, who was for some years the active business partner, conducting it. James A. Smith is the next oldest business merchant of the town. Mr. Smith has been in trade thirty-eight years, sometimes with a partner, but always at the head of the establishment himself. He is a son of Allen Smith, long known in this community as the first saddler, or, as we say now, harness-maker, in town. He was a veteran of the War of 1812, and a General merchandise-P. J. Noyes a pillar of the Methodist church. Mr. and C. F. Colby. J. A. Smith is still actively engaged in Druggists-Cobleigh & Moore, J. business. M. Rowell, Morse & Davis. Hardware, farming tools, etc.-T. P. Underwood, Geo. W. Lane. Merchant tailors-C. Deitrich. Manufacturing establishments, etc. -Marshall & Eaton, carriages, etc., Richardson & Folsom, furniture, besides which there are several shoe stores. This article can speak but briefly of these various firms and their business. The establishment of R. P. Kent & Son is the oldest in town, Mr. R. P. Kent coming to Lancaster in 1825, and soon entering upon business for himself. He built up an extensive trade, was active and successful in business, and was the leading merchant of the county up to the time of his death, which occurred in April last. The career of Mr. Kent was in some respects a remarkable one. His energy, persistence, and integrity were the elements in his character that gave him a leading place in the busi The firm of Frank Smith & Co. does a larger and greater variety of business than any other firm in this section. Mr. Smith was born in Lunenburg, Vt., in 1833, came to Lancaster in 1855, and commenced with a small capital and small stock in the grocery trade. By a close application to his work he increased his capital and his stock, and the result is his heavy business transactions of to-day. His first partner in trade was Ariel M. Bullard, who died in 1881, and was succeeded by his son, W. E. Bullard, who is still an active partner. The old grist-mill was purchased by the firm, but it was soon destroyed by fire, and a new and well appointed one immediately built, said to be one of the best, if not the very best, in the state. Adjoining they built a large block in which are their offices, the remainder being devoted to their great stock of flour, grain, and heavy groceries. On the opposite |