|
married and received as a gift a
tract of land from the principal
proprietors. The citizens of Hills-
borough struggled ‘hard to secure
the independence of our country.
General Benjamin Pierce, a veter-
an of the Revolution, and after-
wards Governor of New-IIamp-
shire, was a resident of this town.
He was father of the late General
Franklin Pierce, who was Presi-
dent of the United States, from
March 4, 1853, to March 4, 1857.
The town was incorporated Nov.
14, 1772.
First Church and Minister. The
first Congregational church was
formed Oct. 12, 1769. The same
year, Rev. Joseph Barnes was or-
dained; dismissed in 1803. A
Baptist Society was organized
May 21, 1813.
Boundaries. North by Bradford,
east by Henniker, south by Deer-
ing and Antrim, and west by
Windsor and Washington. Area,
27,320 acres; improved land, 15,
945, acres.
Distances. Thirty miles south-
west from Concord, and twenty-
three north-west from Amherst.
Railroads. Terminus Contoo-
cook Valley Railroad. It is in-
tended to have this road extended
to Peterborough, where it will
•onneet with the Monadnock Rail-
oad.
HINSDALE.
Cheshire County. This town
lies in the extreme south-west
corner of the State. The surface
is varied, containing mountains,
hills, valleys, and plains or inter-
vals. The soil is of the best qual-
ity, and produces excellent crops
of corn, oats, and tobacco. In
1870, no other town in the State |
j raised one third as much tobacco,
I amounting to 96,850 pounds.
| Rivers. The Connecticut ex-
tends along its western border for
nine and one-half miles, The
Ashuelot passes through the south-
ern portion and joins the Connec-
ticut a short distance below the
great bend, called Cooper’s Point.
The water privileges on this river
through the town are numerous
and valuable. It is also watered
with many smaller streams and
springs. There are several islands
in the Connecticut belonging to
the town. The intervals are ex-
tensive and fertile.
Mountains and Hills. In the
north part is West River Moun-
tain, which extends from the Con-
necticut across the entire width of
the town. The highest peak is
called Mine mountain, and is
about nine hundred feet above
low water mark. Iron ore, beds
of silicate of manganese, and other
minerals are found in several lo-
calities about the mountains.
South of the Ashuelot is Stebbins’
Hill, a tract of excellent land, and
under a high state of cultivation.
The intervals here are broad and
of a superior quality. On a point
of a hill, not far from the Connec-
ticut, are the remains of an Indian
fortification constructed before the
first settlers came here.
Village. The village is located
on the Ashuelot. The valley here
is nai-row, the land rising abruptly
on both sides of the river, affording
but little chance for the village to
expand. The water runs rapidly,
and affords good mill sites. The
main street runs parallel with the
river, and some portions of it is
handsomely shaded with the ma-
ple. Considerable manufacturing |
