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.

TIlE MERRIMACK RIVER;
kinton in Massachusetts. It was originally settled in 1740, but2 on
account of the French and Indian war, the settlement was abandoned
until after its close. In 1746, the Indians surprised the garrison,
and captured eight persons and carried them away. In 1753, Abra ham Kimball, the first white male person born in the town, and
Samuel Putney, were captured by the Indians. Three days after ward the Indians were surprised and attacked in Boscawen, and Put ney was recaptured, while Kimball made his escape by the aid of a
sagacious do,, which ferociously attacked an Indian as he was about
to bury his tomahawk in Kimball's skull. In 1756, Ilenry Miller
and others received a grant of this township, whlichl occasioned an
acrimonious controversy, lasting several years, whllichl was finally ad justed and pe-ace restored by an act of incorp)oration in 1765, under
the name of IIop)kinton, -the " New" having evidently been worn
off, or at least left oiT.
The Contoocook River meanders through Ilopkinton, receiving in
its passage the AVarner and Blackwater, and furnishes an excellent
water-power. Contoocookville, located at the junction of the MAerrimack and Connecticut Rivers and Contoocook Valley railroads, is a
lively village, and a place of considerable business. In the village
are shops and mills, and large quantities of lumber are manufactured,
as well as in other parts of the town, and shipped to distant markets.
The intervals along the rivers are exceedingly fertile, while on the
undulations are seen many tracts of highly cultivated and productive
*lands. The people are generally engaged in farming, to which the
land is mostly well adapted, and many varieties of delicious fruit are
grown, the soil being unusually good for that purpose, and more
than ordinary attention is paid to its culture.
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