History of Amesbury - Merrill.org

HISTORY OF AMESBURY. 397
Aug. 9th. A fearful hail storm passed over the Pond Hills
and northern part of Merrimac, doing great damage to the crops.
It swept over Mr. Mason's hill, nearly ruining all the corn and
other vegetables. Apples were so bruised as to be unfit for
market, and dents that were made on buildings and fences may
yet be seen.
Mr. E. H. Rowell, a graduate of the Amesbury high school,
graduated from Dartmouth college June 26th.
1879.
Two of the graduates of the Amesbury high school, viz. :
Herbert W. and Willard P. Boyd, entered Oberlin college in
September, passing the prescribed examination without condi-
tions. This fact speaks well for the reputation of the school.
The above were sons of Rev. P. S. Boyd and aged seventeen
and sixteen years respectively.
Dr. Henry S. Dearborn died August 25th, aged sixty-six
years. He was a botanical physician, and by his skill and
attention to his profession acquired an extensive practice, not
only here but in adjoining towns. He was born at Wakefield,
N. H., and came from Maine to Amesbury about thirty years
ago, where he practiced medicine some time previous to his
removal here.
1880.
Rev. Nathaniel Lasell died at his residence on Walnut hill
February 4th.
On the 20th of March two small boys, Harry and Willie
Babb, sons of Thomas R. Babb, were drowned in Bailey's pond
within a few feet of the road at the Merrimac Hat Factory.
They were playing on the rotten ice and fell through.
Jonathan Nayson, Esq., died April 23d. Mr. Nayson was
born in Weare, N. H., but early in life removed with his father
to this town and served as an apprentice in a drug store.
This business he afterwards pursued for nearly half a century.
He was a Jeffersonian Democrat, and in that notable campaign
of Gayton P. Osgood against Caleb Cushing he did good ser-
vice for his party. He and his brother-in-law, John Caldwell,
started a paper called the "Amesbury Chronicle," which was spec-