other buildings of individuals, shall have been swept away by floods, or destroyed by fire,* for the inhabitants generally to raise funds, by subscription or otherwise, to enable such individuals to rebuild, without any expectation that such funds will ever be returned. But I have known of only one instance of funds having been raised in this way to encourage an individual to commence a new work.

After J. Kendall & Sons had purchased of A. Haws the "old Wilson Mills," where the grinding for a large portion of the inhabitants had been done for nearly one hundred years, they of course controlled all the water, and if either mill was stopped it was the grist-mill; hence the farmers and others, when the water was low, sometimes found themselves disappointed, by not having their meal, and consequently their bread, in due season. In order, therefore, that a new mill might be erected, where grinding could be done at all seasons of the year, and so constructed that the wheat of the farmer could be made into good flour, a handsome sum was raised by subscription, and

* About 30 years ago, 2 Fire Engines were purchased by the town, and they answer a good purpose where there is a supply of water. There are now two well organized companies of engine-men in town.

given to Major Haws, to encourage him to undertake the work in his own private capacity. This he did do. And after improving the mill profitably for a number of years, with characteristic honesty and honor, he called on all the contributors then living, and very unexpectedly to them, refunded to each the full amount of his subscription.

PAPER MILLS.

The first Paper Mill in this town, was erected by Wm. Nichols and Jonas Kendall, Esqs., a few rods below the Wilson mills, and the water was taken from that pond. It went into operation in 1796. It was a one vat mill, and one engine. The value of paper manufactured the first year, did not much exceed $4000.* The mill was destroyed by fire in 1810, and rebuilt the next winter. Jonas Kendall and

Among the first hands employed were Samuel Crocker and Willard Parker. Deacon Crocker is still living. He has always been a sober and a conscientious man, and both by precept and example did much towards preserving and even improving the morals of the boys and others who worked in the mill.

Sons manufactured paper on a cylinder, first in 1825, and in 1833 they put in a fourdrinier machine. While the mill was operated under the firm of Kendall & Sons, the amount of paper annually manufactured was greatly increased. In 1845, the whole establishment was purchased by Edward Crehore, who, having enlarged the buildings, operates with steam power, works ten engines, and makes from sixty-five to seventy thousand dollars worth of paper annually.

In 1801, Nichols & Kendall erected a second Paper Mill some little distance below the first, and in 1804, they dissolved partnership, and Nichols took the lower mill, and in 1818 sold it to A. J. Allen, of Boston, who carried on the business a number of years, when the mill became unfit for use, and was taken down. And in 1850, Allen sold his privilege out to Joseph Cozzens. To this lower mill was attached a grist mill and an oil mill. The value of the oil made there the first year was $1400, and the second over $2300. There was not much

done in the grist mill.

The third paper-mill was erected by Caleb Leland, in 1802. It was a one vat mill, and is about two hundred rods higher up the river than the first. It was occupied by Leland and

others till 1807, when it was sold to Edward Simmons, and in 1836, by him to Wm. T. Parker, of Boston. The value of paper annually made in this mill is about $14,000.

In 1828, J. Kendall & Sons purchased of John Taylor his carding and woollen factory, which they converted into a paper-mill, and connected it with their other mill. All the mills above described are on the river; and during 1851, another dam has been constructed, about a mile above the Parker mill, where another paper-mill is to be erected. And there are two or three other good privileges on the same stream, yet unoccupied.

In 1799, Nichols & Kendall and Ephraim Lincoln purchased a water privilege of H. Leland, and erected a building on a small scale for a woolen factory. In the spring of 1800, Mr. John Taylor, an Englishman, who had come here from the Byfield Factories, in Essex County, rented this building, and put in machinery for carding wool and manufacturing woolen cloth, and occupied it for that purpose till 1810, when, having become naturalized, he purchased additional water-power, and erected a new building near the other, but on a much larger scale, which he occupied till 1828, and then sold to J. Kendall & Sons, as before men

tioned. The first building was occupied a few years by Major T. L. Chase, as a nail-factory.

The first Saw Mill in this town of which we have any account, was located on the Monoosnock Brook, and must have been erected as early, and probably previous to the year 1740; for in December of that year the Selectmen, in the laying out of a private way from O. Carter's through the land of Jonathan, Rufus, and Ebenezer Houghton, after describing the last angle, say, "thence strait to Josiah White's saw mill." This was probably near the place where the F. & W. R. R. crosses the stream, and where a grist mill was erected by Landlord Joseph Beaman, about the year 1775. About the year 1763, another saw mill was erected lower down the stream, by Rufus Houghton.. It was afterwards known as the "Fullum Mill," and is now owned by Mr. J. C. Lane.

Previous to his death in 1806, Major Metaphor Chase had made preparations for erecting a grist mill just below the R. R. crossing, and after his decease, the work was completed, and a saw mill added by his widow, Mrs. Maria Chase. These mills are now owned, or improved by the Messrs. Conants.

In the wet seasons of the year some sawing is done at the old Bartlett mill, which is loca