perception, ready wit and aptness in repartee, constant good nature and superior conversational powers, he has made a host of friends, and is esteemed alike in the community, at the fireside and in the social circle. Dr. Sanger was united in marriage, December 22, 1856, with Ianthe C. Kneeland of Victory, Vt., by whom he has three daughters-Ellen L., born December 22, 1866, Lillian E., April 20, 1873, and Katie F., April 7, 1879. With his family he occupies a spacious residence on Main street, in the western part of Littleton village,—a place as widely known for its business enterprise as for the picturesque beauty of its location. RAMBLES ABOUT A COUNTRY TOWN. BY FREDERICK MYRON COLBY. RAMBLE NUMBER XXXVI-Concluded. Stepping across the highway we notice a depression of the road bank, which can be traced under the wall and down towards the present barn. This is the beginning, or rather the end, of the old road that led across the intervale, over the river and up through the woods, to the former Gould road. The Foster barn stands on a portion of it. From there one can follow the old road-bed along to the right of the row of apple-trees in the former field, through the hollow to the railroad track; thence passing below the large elm tree it runs along the west side of the wall that separates the Foster intervale from the Major George intervale, now owned by W. H. Sawyer, and on to the bend of the river, where can still be seen the stone abutments of the old bridge or bridges that once spanned the tide. From this spot it can be followed in nearly a southerly direction over the hill to its junction with the Gould road, a few rods west of the old cemetery or parade-ground. I It makes a charming ramble to follow the track of this deserted highway. Were the old bridge there, and the time June or September, it would be simply delightful. have visited it at all times and seasons up from my boyhood days. In the early autumn it is like a poem-a pastoral of ever fresh delights. The ugliness of stone walls and the Grand Commandery of the state in 1884, and has passed up through the various chairs in that organization until his recent election as R. E. Grand Commander. Politically, Dr. Sanger is a Republican, but takes no active part in political work, and has never sought public office. He is interested in educational matters, and has served six years as a member of the board of education in Union School District in Littleton. He takes much interest in social and business life, and gives a ready support to all enterprises calculated to advance the general prosperity of the town and community. He was for some time a director in the Granite State Glove Manufacturing Company of Littleton, and since the union of that with the Saranac Company has been director in the latter. Dr. Sanger's success is a fair example of what may be accomplished in life by determined purpose and unswerving application, where natural talents have been given as a basis. Commencing practice at a time when the prejudice against his school was strong, and in a community largely adverse in sentiment, by his industry and devotion he has overcome all prejudice and won both popularity and success. With a genial temper, a brilliant intellect, clear de Payens, at Keene, St. George, at Nashua, St. Gerard, at Littleton, and Pilgrim, at Laconia, making ten commanderies, with a membership of one thousand seven hundred and forty. The succession of Grand Commanders has been,-John Harris, Hopkinton; Joseph W. White, Portsmouth; Timothy Kenrick, Lebanon; Andrew Pierce, Dover; Brackett L. Greenough, Bristol; Robert Smith, Portsmouth; Daniel Balch, Manchester; Albert R. Hatch, Portsmouth; John S. Kidder, Manchester; Charles A. Tufts, Dover; Henry O. Kent, Lancaster; William Barrett, Nashua; John D. Patterson, Manchester; Abel Hutchins, Concord; Joseph W. Fellows, Manchester; Solon A. Carter, Keene; John R. Holbrook, Portsmouth; Chauncy H. Greene, Littleton; Albert S. Wait, Newport; Joseph W. Hildreth, Manchester; Benjamin F. Rackley, Dover; Nathan P. Hunt, Manchester; Milton A. Taylor, Nashua; Andrew Bunton, Manchester; John F. Webster, Concord; Don H. Woodward, Keene; Charles N. Towle, Concord; John J. Bell, Exeter; Edward R. Kent, Lancaster; Charles C. Danforth, Concord; Henry A. Marsh, Nashua; George W. Currier, Nashua; Thaddeus E. Sanger, Littleton. perception, ready wit and aptness in repartee, constant good nature and superior conversational powers, he has made a host of friends, and is esteemed alike in the community, at the fireside and in the social circle. Dr. Sanger was united in marriage, December 22, 1856, with Ianthe C. Kneeland of Victory, Vt., by whom he has three daughters-Ellen L., born December 22, 1866, Lillian E., April 20, 1873, and Katie F., April 7, 1879. With his family he occupies a spacious residence on Main street, in the western part of Littleton village,—a place as widely known for its business enterprise as for the picturesque beauty of its location. RAMBLES ABOUT A COUNTRY TOWN. BY FREDERICK MYRON COLBY. RAMBLE NUMBER XXXVI-Concluded. Stepping across the highway we notice a depression of the road bank, which can be traced under the wall and down towards the present barn. This is the beginning, or rather the end, of the old road that led across the intervale, over the river and up through the woods, to the former Gould road. The Foster barn stands on a portion of it. From there one can follow the old road-bed along to the right of the row of apple-trees in the former field, through the hollow to the railroad track; thence passing below the large elm tree it runs along the west side of the wall that separates the Foster intervale from the Major George intervale, now owned by W. H. Sawyer, and on to the bend of the river, where can still be seen the stone abutments of the old bridge or bridges that once spanned the tide. From this spot it can be followed in nearly a southerly direction over the hill to its junction with the Gould road, a few rods west of the old cemetery or parade-ground. It makes a charming ramble to follow the track of this deserted highway. Were the old bridge there, and the time June or September, it would be simply delightful. I have visited it at all times and seasons up from my boyhood days. In the early autumn it is like a poem-a pastoral of ever fresh delights. The ugliness of stone walls and "worm" fences is disguised by grapevines and ivy and the beautiful clematis; elms and willows join hands across the way; golden rods of all kinds nod in the soft breeze; the hoary apple-trees bend beneath the weight of ripening fruit, and in the ditches and by the river banks you can occasionally see the showy spikes of the cardinal flowers or purple-fringed orchis. Standing by the bend of the river I have seen the fish-hawk dive for his finny prey in the stream, and heard the cry of the heron darting through the shrubbery. If you follow the old path over the hill it is not less romantic and pleasing. It is comparatively easy of access, and to those who love to trace the footsteps of the fathers it has other attractions than those which bring them into communion with nature. This ancient highway was laid out in 1774. The great political and religious centre at that time was the meetinghouse which stood on the parade. As under the Cæsars all roads led to Rome, so in those early days all roads led to the house of God. That was the pivotal point of the town. This road was for the accommodation of the settlers in the west and north parts of the town. Another road led down from the church on the east, and a bridge had been built across the river some twenty rods below the present structure, by the brick school-house, in 1773. This was the first bridge in town and had long been needed. The bridge was built by the aid of Colonel Daniel Warner of Portsmouth, a member of Governor Wentworth's council, and a rich old patrician, who contributed forty dollars towards its erection. Colonel Warner was one of the grantees of the neighboring town of Springfield, and visiting that township once on a time rode through Warner, which was directly in his course. This was in 1772. Noting the absence of any bridge, the generous aristocrat, though he undoubtedly believed it would be of benefit to himself in some future journey, voluntarily contributed this amount, equal to $200 in these days in purchasable power, for the building of a structure across the river. It must have been a great help to the people of our township, who were not in most cases overburdened with ready money. In the warrant for the first town meeting after the incorporation of our borough, called on the 4th day of October, 1774, there appears this article: "8ly to see if the town. will Build a Bridge over the river in this town." At that meeting it was voted to build a bridge over the river "this fall." The bridge thus built was the second in town, and was constructed across the river at this point, on the great bend of the river. How it was built, or who built it, we do not know, but it showed that the town was increasing in population and wealth, and also that the tide of population was drifting in a westward and northward direction. It was not the best place in the world for a bridge. The bank is too low on the north side. At high water the river sweeps down here with resistless force-a roaring flood that cannot always be held within bounds. More than one bridge has been swept away from its foundations at this spot. The first bridge was washed away in the spring freshet of 1783. April 28th of that year there was a special town meeting called, Captain Tappan Evans acting as moderator, at which it was voted "to Bild a Bridge over the River on the Road that leads from the Meeting House to Mr. Benjamin Currier's."* Also it was voted "to raise 15 pounds Lawful money towards Bilding the Bridge above mentioned to Be worked out at 3 shilling per Day." This second bridge was carried away and still another built in its place, which was swept off by the great August freshet of 1826. Nearly every bridge in town was carried off by this flood. The town never built another bridge at this place. The road had already ceased to be a public highway. At the annual March meeting of 1817 it was voted to Discontinue the road from the Gide post near Joseph Currier's acrost the river to the Gide post southerly of Buring Ground to the road leading to hinniker." It was also voted "to raise $800 to pay fine on the indited Road from Ensign Joseph Currier's to hinniker line." The reasons for discontinuing this old highway were several. In the first place, the centre of population had changed, and the church and place of public assemblage were both now on the north side of the river. This, of *NOTE. The Benjamin Currier alluded to was the father of Ensign Joseph Currier, who in his old age came to Warner to live with his son. Being the older man he is thus mentioned rather than Joseph Currier. Benjamin Currier died, an old man, at the Currier place, and his wife, Theodate, who lived to be 97 years of age, also died there, in 1825. |