The Merrimack River: its source and its tributaries. Embracing a history of manufactures, and of the towns along its course; their geography, topography, and products, with a description of the magnificent natural scenery about its upper waters./ By J. W. Meader.

ITS SOUP CE A.VD ITS TRIBUTARIES.
CHAPTER V.
Tamworth.- Quakers. - Albany. - Chocorua. - Madison. - Mines. - Conway. - The
Notch.- The Willey Family.- White Mountain Railroad.
TAMWORTHI is a most decidedly uneven township, surrounded by
high mountains. Its people are industrious, enterprising, and thrifty.
Apparently hemmed in by impassable barriers on all sides, the
traveller, on reachinlg here, composes himself for a period of quiet,
rational, and genuine enjoyment among the hospitable and intelligent
people with a certainty of success. Or, if lie is so unfortunate as to
be destitute of taste for the wonders and beauties of nature, he
involuntarily casts about him to ascertain if there is any possibility
of escape from this " pent-up Utica."
This town was chartered in 1766, and settled in 1771, by four
families,- David Phliilbrick, Jonathan Choate, Richard Jackman,
and William Eastman.
Tamworth Iron Works went into operation previous to 1800.
The enterprise was started by a MAr. Blaisdell. Bog-iron ore, taken
from Ossipee Lake, was used, and cut nails, anchors, and other heavy
articles were made. It is supposed the nails made here were the
first that were cut and headed by machinery in the country. These
works soon came into the hands of MIr. Nathaniel Weed, a man of
great ingenuity, and who, among other things, made a screw-anuer,
C, In ~ ~~~~~ mad scre -aer
which was said to have been the first implement of the kind ever
invented. Not realizing the vast wealth whichl he could have secure(l
by a patent, he was content with the perfection of his essay. When
the Piscataqua Bridg,e was built, MAr. Weed and many other artisans
were employed; taking with him his auger, he proved a very important personage; the old fashioned pod-auger was dispensed with, and
relays of hands were appointed, whose business it was to keep the
Weed-auger in perpetual motion.
Iron manufacture was here long since abandoned, but mills for
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